Massive, chewy bagels w/ a huge variety of cream cheese. A true NYC bagel institution that's worth the wait.
A quintessential New York bagel experience, Ess-a-Bagel has been serving up massive, chewy bagels with a delightful crust since 1976. This beloved establishment, with multiple locations, offers a dizzying array of 18 house-made cream cheese flavors alongside a full menu of bagel sandwiches. Despite the notoriously long lines, the generous portions and classic flavors make it a worthy stop for any bagel aficionado.
Ess-a-Bagel is renowned for its large, chewy, and crusty bagels, a hallmark of New York's Jewish-American deli scene. Customers rave about the extensive selection of 18 house-made cream cheese flavors, from sweet to savory, and appreciate the generous sandwich options. While many consider the bagels exceptional, a few opinions suggest they are merely average or not worth the long lines.
"Customers frequently recommend the bagels themselves, especially with a generous amount of cream cheese. The Lox Spread Bagel and the everything bagel with lox are specifically mentioned as good choices. Some also suggest trying the cream cheese sandwiches or the bagel with egg and cheese."
Customers generally have a positive sentiment towards Ess-a-Bagel, often praising the size and texture of their bagels and the wide variety of cream cheese options. However, some find the bagels to be mid-tier or not worth the hype, and a few have noted inconsistencies.
Important Note
Some customers find the bagels to be mid-tier or not worth the hype, and there are differing opinions on bagel size, particularly concerning Goldbelly orders versus in-store purchases. One review mentioned microwaved eggs for hot sandwiches, which detracted from the experience.
"States that while Jamaican patties and dumplings are good in NYC, they can be found elsewhere, but acknowledges bagels as a uniquely superior NYC food."
Positive"A commenter remembered the original Ess-a-Bagel location being near 21st St & 1st Ave, across from Peter Cooper."
Neutral"Contradicts the previous comment, stating that bagels in Westchester are mostly mediocre."
Negative"A commenter recalled the original Ess-a-Bagel location on 1st Ave where they did not toast bagels."
Neutral"A commenter confirmed that Ess-a-Bagel is an old-school establishment that has been around for decades."
Neutral"Highlights bagels with different cream cheeses as a noteworthy food in NYC."
Positive"Lists chicken/lamb over rice, bagels, and Thai food as significant NYC food experiences."
Positive"Identifies pizza and bagels as foods that have increased in their NYC routine."
Positive"Disagrees with the notion that Westchester does not have incredible bagels."
Neutral"Claims bagels are better in Jersey than NYC, though acknowledges NYC bagels are better than those in the Northeast."
Negative"Believes bagels and pizza are as good on Long Island as in NYC, but not in Westchester."
Neutral"Simply states 'Bagels' as a food that has become more prominent in their NYC routine."
Positive"When asked about the best thing about living in New York, the commenter's answer is 'bagels'."
Positive"Only eats bagels in New York City, finding them disappointing everywhere else."
Negative"Mentions 'A slice and bagel w/lox' as a NYC food experience."
Positive"One commenter stated that the bagel from Ess-a-Bagel looked like the best item in the original post."
Positive"Mentions bagels, pizza, halal, and bacon egg and cheese (BEC) as common NYC foods."
Neutral"Believes NYC pizza is generally superior to other cities, even the less reputable slice shops, and notes that toppings for hot dogs are also excellent in NYC."
Positive"Lists chicken on rice, bacon egg and cheese on a roll, and a slice of pepperoni pizza as key NYC food experiences."
Positive"States that bagels and pizza are not as good outside of NYC, and notes the lack of pizza by the slice in other cities."
Negative
