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Walking in here, I felt like a smarter member of society amongst these Ivy League students busy studying here on a Saturday night drinking their second or third cups of coffee. I wasn't the one studying, but I had felt sympathy for them and I reminisced for a second on those nights in college when I used to sacrifice my Saturdays staying in and hitting the Calculus textbook with dried tear streaks over each page....then around 2AM, I would reconsider my actions and stay up all night playing with friends.... Ah, how I've missed you, college.
Somehow, I forgot about Nussbaum and selfishly wrote about my own college experience. Here, their Chicken Parmasean Panini is surprisingly good even at 11PM and their chocolate chip rugelah looked yummy.
They're open late and brightly lit with wooden tables perfectly at your disposal to clutter all your school crap over them. Study hard, students. Remember, grades aren't everything.
Nussbaum and Wu is like crack to me. If i didn't get my daily fix, i would never make it to my 9 am philosophy class...actually i never made it to that class for a variety of reasons...
The staff, despite what others have said, ARE cordial. They service tons of people daily and if you go in for the lunch rush, you're definitey not going to get a conversation while you wait. look at the line and be reasonable.
With that said, heres is a typical day for me:
Lady: Hi Bibiana! the Strawberry yogurt?
Me: Yes, and I got a bacon croissant today
Lady: Yes, your so skinny!
( its a running joke, since i eat the parfait at least once a day)
But they actually know my name, always give me the freshest desserts and let me know to come back later if its not, and its nice to know I made somebody's day just by giving them a simple compliment like noticing a haircut or smile ( seriously, columbia students can be quite ungracious). I came back from break after my freshman year and they STIL remembered me. That's love.
Yes, the Black and White cookies are a must, as are the cupcakes, the yogurt parfaits, the bagels or croissants, and anything chocolate.
I come to Nussbaum & Wu for 3 reasons:
1) Cappuccino - it's like 10 steps from my office
2) Croissant - it's part of my morning ritual and it's always fresh. Actually their vanilla yogurt parfaits are a great way to start your day too.
3) after 3 dessert run - It's the only way I make it to 6pm
Now don't get me wrong - nothing here is above average. It's just dependable, consistently fresh, basic food. I grab breakfast from here all the time because it's convenient. The staff is friendly and quick. There's inside and outside seating if you have nowhere to go.
From what I've seen they also have lunch food: paninis, salads and sushi. I've never ordered these and I don't know how they are, so beware. But their desserts taste really good. The fruit tarts are always fresh and the actual tart is nice and crumbly like a pie crust. The custard is good too, it's not some generic whipped cream wannabe.
So this is a good place for dessert, a quick breakfast, and to catch your breath with a cup of cappuccino.
I live in Harlem, where it is difficult to find 2 things: good bagel shops and unsweetened iced tea. Fortunately, just up the hill is Morningside Heights and this place, Nussbaum & Wu.
Fast:
I walked in and saw lots of seating and a big, yummy looking menu. At the cash register, I ordered my bagel with lox and cream cheese, which the cashier promptly yelled to the young men preparing the food.
What I wanted:
I was pleased that when I asked to make sure the iced tea was unsweetened, she said "Well, of course!" as if anything else would have been disgusting (and I agree).
Expensive but accommodating:
I came with $12 cash and was shocked when my total turned out to be $12.75. WAY more than I planned to spend on breakfast. I felt awkward as I showed the cashier my insufficient bills, to which she gave me a smile and a "shhhh," and rang it up anyway. Thanks again, anonymous cashier!
Not intimidating:
I realized after paying that I had gone about the whole process wrong. You are supposed to order from the young men, and THEN pay. Oops. But contrary to what I have seen elsewhere, nobody made me feel stupid for going at it backwards. They were very nice.
Yummy:
Big portion. Very tasty.
Bottom line:
Lost a star for the price, but everything else was top notch. Next time I'll try saving money by ordering lox spread instead of the actual fish.
Nussbaum and Wu feels like a cafeteria -- it's a place where Columbia students buy coffee, croissants, and bagels (in fact, N&W seems to accept Flexpoints- or whatever it's called- so it has literally become a kind of cafeteria). That said, given that the Columbia neighborhood is cafe impoverished (at least from my vantage point- a Boston transplant) N&W is as close as it gets to a place where you can hang out and read a book. There's nothing cozy about it; in fact, it's as institutional as it gets, but by Morningside standards, this does the job.
Went for lunch. Paninis were pretty tasty but to be honest I enjoyed the bagel with cream cheese even more (some of the better bagels to be found up here in Morningside Heights). Desserts all looked wonderful, only had the chance to sample the cheesecake which was tasty but I would probably try something different next time. Really nice atmosphere for breakfast or lunch.
Great for Bagels!! They have some great tofu cream cheese options and their bagels are pretty good and their prices are reasonable. I haven't had any of their other food but they have salads and other random things as well as cookies and other desserts. In warm weather they have outdoor seating.
Columbia university area staple cafe. If you live, work or study in this neighborhood, this is one of the best places to hang out, eat, study.... Also a nice factor is that this place never changes - I was eating at this place 10 years ago and the staff is still the same.
The bagels are pretty good, sandwiches delicious, and their baked goods are yum. The only draw back is that they are expensive. If you custom order a couple items you could hit the $10 - $20 range very fast. My advice: order off the combined menu (breakfast before 11 for under $5 and sandwiches with soda for $8.
The coffee though, I have to say, is about the same quality as the cart trucks on the street (but more expensive). It may satisfy your urge for "coffee" but if you want something better head over to Oren's or Starbucks.
I rounded to 4 stars out of loyalty. Nussbaum is my neighborhood bagel spot, everyone has one, and we're all attached.
Weekend mornings this place is packed with Columbia students recapping the night before as well as neighborhood families grabbing breakfast. Don't let the long lines scare you, the efficiency in this place is unbelievable.
The bagels here are delicious and cheap. It's a classic NY bagel whatever the other reviews say. It's true what people have said about some of the other food. They'll make a good sandwich, but some of the prices can get away from you there. They do have a mix-in salad bar which is a prix fixe of $7 something and has a nice selection of ingredients. And they have you typical deli dessert spread, but the goodies are delicious.
Unfortunately, I can't speak to the coffee, but enough people order it that they must be doing something right.
As for the service, they guys here are super nice. People who are intimidated with the shouts of "next" got the wrong idea. That's just their way of efficiency, they're really accommodating, and many times have double-checked with me to make sure they got my order right, and will always redo something for you.
Also mentioned is the vast amount of outdoor seating when the weather is nice. And there's no credit card minimun, which is a huge plus at a deli. Definitely check out Nussbaum if you're in the area!
Another win for Columbia University (and yet another reason to lament the lack of yummy places to eat near the Medical Campus)!
Met with a friend here for a quickie bagel breakfast. There's always a line, but they move it pretty quickly. I got a garlic bagel with a vegetable spread, and they toasted it for me. I found out that they charge more if you put the cream cheese on the side (they do give you quite a bit).
The bagel was great! Way better than other "New York Bagels" that can be found in Manhattan. The garlic stayed on my breath for a really long time, which means that they did the bagel right. The vegetable cream cheese was actually just plain with shredded carrots and scallions, but they were fresh!
Lots of seating, sunny space, great place to grab breakfast.
When I first moved to New York, I'd roll out of bed on Sunday, walk 20 blocks to Nussbaum & Wu, fetch a bagel and cream cheese, and crawl back into bed with the NYTimes. I thought the bagels were fantastic.
Four years later, I love the memory, but the bagels just don't hold up. Texture, flavor, crust -- all hinting toward what it should be, but not even really approaching the mark. Better than non-NYC bagels, but don't really hold a candle otherwise.
So good! I've been here twice now and it's been good both times.
I just think their bagels are the best. And the their bagel with two eggs is only $2.50. Great deal, doncha think?
Admittedly, the mirrors in the middle are a little strange, but it's well lit and a good place to relax and maybe read a book.
Decent bagels, but unexceptional. they turn the toaster way, way too high so if you order a bagel toasted, you may as well order it blackened. if the bagels are not toasted they have a crappy, Lender's-like consistency.
don't get any food here besides the bagels because it's terrible. the coffee is pathetically weak.
I will probably never forgive you, Nussbaum & Wu.
Not for the decomposing tuna/cheese melt panini that you somehow fooled me into purchasing. I'm usually not one to leave food behind (the starving children-thing gets to me) but that shit was nasty.
Not for the awkward mirrors and greasy tabletops. Not for the crowd that you attract or the baffling lack of seats in your lackluster establishment. Not for the use of your hip atmosphere to charge food approximately 300% more than what they are worth.
Not for the paninis that you keep there for mad hours, or that you even believe you can make paninis well. Not for your overpriced bagels.
Will I buy from you again? Ugh, probably. The worst eatery is one that doesn't prevent me from going back.
I had some coffee flavored hot water at this place. Weak coffee at a coffee shop is inexcusable.
NOT GOOD. I ordered some food from them today and while it was very convenient and very timely the food was horrible. I had their club sandwhich...disgusting. I couldn't even bring myself to finish half of it and I was pretty hungry.
Most things are just medicore..friendly service, except that it gets pretty crowded so it takes a long time for them to take your order. Nothing is worth the wait, except for maybe the knishes. All other items can just be purchased at the supermarket across the street. Though being around stressed out college kids cramming before finals will give you a smug grin.
I work around the corner from here so at least once a month something pulls me into Nussbaum either in the morning or at lunch (high traffic times). I like the bagels and desserts. But every time I go there I promise myself never to return. Their service is offensive. Thier prices will attack you if you are not ready. Only buy items that have posted prices and under no circumstances should you ask for a substitution. Once "Next!" is yelled at you - firmly place a short order. Then when the cashier yells "Next!" pay him/her and don't make eye contact.
The bagels/muffins/breakfast stuff is all very good. The sandwiches are terrible, probably because they make them days in advance and just leave them under the counter waiting to be microwaved. schlopfest. I usually defend nussbaum but this morning they gave me an onion bagel. I didn't order that shit. Who the fuck would get lox spread on an onion bagel? Damn.
Solid coffee. Good bagels. Not especially good for studying/work, and nothing too exceptional about the food.
During the fairer seasons, the outside seating is a big plus for lunch.
I come here for breakfast and I can't help but order one of their panini sandwiches. They are delicious and grilled to order. There are all types of fillings and they are hard to pass up on....It seems tough to order a bagel when you can have a hot grilled panini with fresh mozzarella, eggplant, roasted red peppers, grilled chicken and arugula.....I don't go here for bagels anymore. There are better places for that in this neighborhood(like Absolute Bagel)
The morning time is busy and packed with patrons. When you are in front of the counter, you lose your thoughts because really there are so many choices. What to Eat??? The guys behind the counter are moving along at a pace faster than you are ready for. You think you have decided what you want to eat and then when they ask you, you get all confused under the pressure to order fast enough.
I guess we come here only when the weather is nice and we can sit outside. That is the deciding factor for us. It is on Broadway and one of the only places you can sit outside without waiter service for breakfast and watch everyone go by on their way to class/work.
So we(my girlfriends and I that breakfast out after dropping the kiddies off at school) like it O.K. We go here when we want to chill, be outside, and have a decent breakfast without being rushed or waited on.
Spotty but wonderful. Want a bagel? 80, maybe 90% of the time you'll get a nice, tasty bagel. But if you roll the dice wrong, critical miss! You get a cold, misshapen lump of crap with butter on it. There appears to be no pattern at work here.
Nonetheless, it's tasty and cheap, so whatever. Sit, read the paper, chat up the staff (no, really! it's possible) and get back to what you're doing.
If there were ever to be a place that would be considered "my place", Nussbaum & Wu would win based on pure proximity. I sometimes stumble in here when I mean to go to my closet. I'm freaking Glenn Close, I'm so close. (tm Margaret Cho)
I'm usually in a handful of times a week, but being a carbivore, I typically stick to the foods in the phylum bageloid. The toasted bagels are quite good. The only one I make a point to stay away from is the Everything, as it tastes like Everything, If You Consider Salt To Be Everything There Is. They also put a metric ton of cream cheese on, which can either be a delicious value or an unnecessary mess to scrape off depending on your leanings.
The Black & White cookie is worth the hype. The coffee is also fairly good and screaming hot. I haven't ventured to the salad bar yet, but they have a veritable cornucopia of veggies and dressings. I was particularly impressed by the roasted red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes, but it doesn't really take much to impress me.
I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the "customer service". If you're at the main counter, just make sure you know what you want and can articulate it well. During the day the staff swings between efficiently brusque and roll-eyes-at-you irritable. It's way more relaxed in the evening, though. They stay open until midnight, too.
I guess my feelings are all over the place about N&W. All things considered, the late hours, plentiful seating, and good basics make it worthwhile for those around Morningside and the campus.
The coffee here is so-so. The menu of sandwiches and paninis and bagels and spreads is vast but nothing out of the ordinary or especially mind-blowing. The make-your-own salad thingy in the back is the best bet, in my opinion.
A lot more atmosphere and aesthetic appeal (read: cozier) than the Starbucks and Oren's around, which is why it's still probs my preferred place to meet up with ppl or chat for a bit in Morningside -- but Central Perk this is not.
Acceptable food close to where I'm living this summer. My fellowship is handing out what basically amounts to a per diem meal plan at a few limited places in the Morningside Heights area; N&W is one of them and one of the better ones.
The paninis are better than they look (I like the chicken parmigiana and the italiano) and the salad bar is solid. I haven't tried the smoothies but in today's heat they looked great. The coffee is high-octane and acceptable. I'm not a bagel person but they look okay (not burned.) I bought a black & white cookie the other day, with the intention of nibbling on it for the next few days; I devoured it within 5 minutes of purchase.
Spinach knish was meh. Hazelnut coffee was burnt. Service was brusque. But the chocolate profiterole was DELICIOUS (albeit overpriced). And I like having a place to sit and have coffee that isn't Starbucks. I don't live in the neighborhood, so I probably won't go back, but I had a lovely time. Plus the manager gave me a donation for an auction at Fordham, so that was a bonus.
Now that Columbia Hot Bagels is no more, this is the premier bagel place on Broadway above 110th. They also make sandwiches and have a ton of great pastries.
This is a favorite hang out for the studying crowd and its warm weather outside seating is a great place to people watch.
Do not pass up on a Black and White cookie.
Awesome bagels, they deliver, and they have tofu cream cheese! I wish more places did, too!
Lots of choices!
It's your run of the mill bakery and bagel shop. My bagels have always been fresh and afforable and the service prompt (though being greeted by the cashier with the words "NEXT!" instead of "May I help you?" was not pleasant--though not uncommon 'round these parts.) It's nothing to rave about nor run back to. But it is a safe choice for their fare, nonetheless.
Nussbaum & Wu is one of the places I miss about living in Morningside Heights. Okay the food isn't fantastic, but I do like the coffee and their sandwiches. And some of the desert-y stuff. Their bagels are okay, and the service is kinda eh. But stuff is cheap here, and I used to enjoy sitting at the center seating area on the tall stools and reading the paper while taking my daily dose of coffee. I like the sense of relaxation here (even during the crazy busy lunch/brunch hours) because this place was always a nice hiatus from campus life -- whether during weeknights or weekend afternoons. It's got outdoor seating, good lighting, and a good variety of foods to choose from. I have only fond memories of this place. Okay mostly fond.
This Columbia University area staple is one of my favorite stops in the neighborhood. You could eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in this cafe. Every meal is perfect to go or you can eat at the tables inside or outside, if any are free.
Like any good New York cafe, Nussbaum has an assortment of fresh bagels. With a wide selection of cream cheeses and delicious egg,or egg white and cheese sandwiches, Nussbaum's bagels always please. You can also make a bagel sandwich, with anything that wish to pay for on it, but I tend to stick to the basics.
Their salad bar offers a few types of lettuce that you can build a salad with. You can add vegetables, fruit, cheeses, and much more to your customized salad, even down to the dressing. At $7.95 it is a healthy and filling meal that is made to order. Most people don't know this, but each salad comes with a mini bagel or half bagel, which you can choose from as you pay at the register. Look for them and if they're not there you can ask.
Their paninis are decent, but a bit overpriced. If you are looking for a sure thing then stick to the bagels and salads, but the ultimate indulgence comes with their cases filled with mini cakes, cookies, muffins, and all of the sugary carbohydrates you can think of. The only real drawback with the place is that the line can get extremely long at certain times and it can get hot while you wait.
I have been eating regularly at Nussbaum & Wu since 2002 and will continue to do so. I can take their convenient meals to class, the park, or my room and I always get what I want. This is a great one stop shop for a meal fit for a college student's budget and anyone's appetite.
Um...it's a deli? It may even be a really good deli, but it's a deli, folks. I had a chicken salad on a bagel. Pretty good. And an iced coffee - also pretty good. I like the seating area too - marble tables are nice, but really, this is just a deli. I can't believe I haven't tried their black and white cookie yet since it was recommended by the divine Ms. Heather H. I'm rehearsing for my next show up here, so I'm sure I'll try it eventually. Maybe then I'll bump it up a star.
This place is okay, but the fact that people are calling it the best bagels in the neighborhood (let alone all of NYC!) is totally crazy. The best bagels in NYC do live in the neighborhood, but they are at 108th and Broadway at Absolute Bagels! If you haven't been there, go, NOW! They are waaaaaaay better than Nussbaum & Wu's bagels.
I know this is weird and probably implies some sort of vitamin deficiency, but those big round cookies with the multi colored sprinkles? Totally amazing.
Overpriced but definitely tasty. Very tasty. Love the russian pannini. And fruit tarts. If you are a Columbia student, not a bad place above which to live.
I don't like the price or taste of the coffee, but the pastries are really good. If you're looking for coffee and a bagel go to 111th street (the place next to the Heights).
I always forget this is a deli too. I was disappointed in the bagel selection. I had been informed by everyone and their mom when I arrived in Morningside Heights that Nussbaum was the place to go for a myriad of bagels and cream cheeses. But sadly, there were no blueberry bagels that I had been longing for, and I settled for Cinnamon Raisin. The bagels are great, as is the hot chocolate, and it's a great spot when the weather's good to sit outside over a cup of coffee with a friend or even read the newspaper by yourself. But don't go here on a weekend morning - you'll be waiting in line until the next morning.
Nussbaum & Wu is my favorite bagel place on the planet. When I lived on the Upper West Side and went to Columbia I almost had to time my class schedule to ensure a mid-morning bagel egg & cheese. But the best part about this place is not the bagels, it's Sharon, the famous Nussbaum Lady. This woman is incredible - she's the cashier who within a week will know your name, know what you're ordering, and also know everyone in line behind you. Now on my rare trips back from SF Nussbaum is my first stop, and Sharon makes me feel as if it's the highlight of her week to see me. She makes friggin everyone feel that way! This time I had to share a table with a whole group of her fans. Seriously, where in Manhattan does a cashier seem like the happiest, nicest, most welcoming person on the planet? Here!
Uninspiring food, well-lit and comfortable interior.
Solid bagels and a pretty wide variety of spreads. Can't say much for the paninis though - I tried the meatless variety and it felt a little stale.
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Manhattan Valley
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Morningside Heights
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Manhattan Valley
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Morningside Heights
Category: Colleges & Universities
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