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Ess-a-Bagel

Bagel Shop and American Restaurant$$$$

Turtle Bay, New York

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Ess-a-Bagel

8.4^/10

1,465

ratings

Ranked #6 for bagel shops in New York
The experts at Eater and New York Habitat recommend this place
"Keep your order simple and enjoy some of the best bagels in NYC."(10 Tips)
"Best lox & bagel I have ever tasted!"(31 Tips)
"If that’s your style, this is the best everything bagel in the city."(38 Tips)
"The white fish salad is delicious."(4 Tips)

343 Tips and reviews

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lively
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breakfast food
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good for a quick meal
cream cheese
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great value
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chopped liver
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The Corcoran GroupSeptember 9, 2013
The lox sandwich here has been voted best in the city - we love it on a whole wheat everything bagel with lite scallion cream cheese. The lines here can be crazy during the weekends, so be prepared.
Yerna GillesSeptember 10, 2014
THE place to eat delicious bagels... Everything there is amazing!! Go for belly lox even if they say it's salty! Plus there is a free Wi-Fi ;-)
GothamistAugust 1, 2014
Some claim Ess-A-Bagel's offerings are too big. We beg to differ, and will continue to indulge in a crispy, colossal everything bagel loaded with scallion cream cheese, lox and tomato. Read more
EaterJanuary 23, 2018
This classic NY shop first opened in 1976. Its 2 locations have long lines for the chewy bagels, but people just picking up bagels & cream cheese can sneak to the back, where the line is much shorter. Read more
Chris DursoAugust 31, 2018
The bagels deserve all the hype they receive. Keep your order simple and enjoy some of the best bagels in NYC. If you’re from Jersey, don’t expect a traditional egg sandwich, as I learned. Still A+.
Al SAugust 1, 2017
Been here 5+ times
Best bagels I've found in NYC. I'm partial to the salt bagels but they're all good. Egg and cheese on salt is a serious sandwich. Bagels are huge, come hungry, leave full. Show up early to avoid line.
Polina WeitzMarch 13, 2022
The "signature favorite" bagel is absolutely delicious! It has salmon/nova with scallion cream cheese, tomato, lettuce, onions and capers. The line can be long to enter, but they deliver!
Ilke T.August 13, 2015
On a sunday morning usual wait can be almost an hour. For me it was worth it, nova (the one with salmon) was great. Buy and eat them in Central Park. Totally recommended!
Scott KleinbergNovember 2, 2018
Been here 10+ times
Terrific bagels. Best in NYC. But there’s always a really long wait. If you are happy with just a plain bagel you can go to the express line which often has little to no wait.
LaylaAugust 28, 2022
Great bagels. Don’t make the mistake we silly tourists made and add cream cheese to other fillings 😂 they add a huge dollop, which is meant to be the sole topping… 🫠
PaddyJune 24, 2016
Favorite bagels in the city! We always get the same; plain bagels (for me), everything bagel (for her) and 1/2 lbs of scallion cream cheese and 1/2 of jalapeño cream cheese.
Melanie GordonMay 25, 2013
The best bagels I have ever had! And amazing cream cheese spread with a variety to choose from! The bagels were so good I had to buy some to bring back home to California with me when I left NYC!
Bradley SacksNovember 4, 2018
You have to get the salt bagel with Apple and cinnamon cream cheese and smoked salmon (lox)
Russell HirschornDecember 29, 2015
Top NYC bagels, if you are passing by and dnt know what to order: Scooped, toasted, lox spread (for those with larger pockets-scallion cream cheese and sliced lox), tomato, onion.
Jenna Odett LaskinSeptember 20, 2016
Been here 5+ times
Pro-tip to skip the line if you're not getting a sandwich: any bagel, any spread by the 1/4 lb., coffee, go to the front on the right.
Sadira HassellJuly 1, 2022
Been here 5+ times
Their bagels are amazing and I am extremely happy that they had non-dairy cream cheese options. I had tofu scallion cream cheese and it changed my life. Yummy!
Ryan BoyleJune 17, 2013
all their cream cheese flavors are as good as their bagels, and their bagels are as good as you'll find. my friend got a cinnamon raison bagel with raison walnut cream cheese and it was amazing.
Bokyung ParkMay 19, 2019
If you hesitate to make a decision, A Signature Favorite (with fresh lox, onion, capers, lettuce and cream cheese) will be a good option. But it’s weird that they don’t have blueberry bagles.
Jordan PfeffleDecember 23, 2015
Great bagels! Waited in line about an hour, however. But, they brought out samples while we waited which was fun. Try the pumpernickel bagel with scallion cream cheese - great combination!
LuborJanuary 4, 2015
Great bagels but I had better in NYC before. I will give the place another chance when I visit NYC again. Everybody says bagels here are the best so I might have just chosen a bad combination.
Álvaro Marchán AlarcónJanuary 26, 2016
Make sure you know what you want/how you want your bagel, otherwise waiter's eyes will be rolling in dismay. It's a quick service on a busy location! Delicious fillings nevertheless
Stuart CoatesMay 15, 2015
You could leave here spending $3 or $30 depending on your tastes and your level of restraint. I got out of there with a lox bagel and a cinnamon raisin bialy for just over $10.
Simran DassDecember 11, 2022
I’m so impressed with the quality of these bagels. Definitely recommend the signature bagel, and the morning classic was a popular choice as well. The service is incredibly slow - I waited 2 hours
Nick LosiJanuary 14, 2017
Go in the summer, bring a book, get whatever bagel you'd like, and relax with both in one of the best parks in the city, Geenacre Park, middle of the block on 51st.
SolJanuary 2, 2019
Doughy, chewy inside with a crunchy outside. If that’s your style, this is the best everything bagel in the city. Scallion cream cheese for the win.
Greg BarbosaJuly 27, 2016
The bagels here a great, and worth the wait. Pay attention to the line though! It snakes through the store, but there are multiple people that can attend you.
Hannah SDecember 12, 2016
Went late Saturday morning and there was a long line but moved relatively quickly. Had friends from out of town and the bagels did not disappoint! Will try ordering ahead next time.
Rebecca BigmanAugust 24, 2013
Amazing bagels but what makes this place better than any other in NYC is the cream cheese so make sure and order a bagel with cream cheese. I recommend the apple cinnamon :)
New York HabitatOctober 21, 2011
Want to delve into a traditional NY bagel? The fluffy bagels at this Midtown East establishment are not only delicious, but very cheap. Get it with some cream cheese and lox for the classic sandwich.
Nienke LNovember 10, 2014
The bagels taste really good! But be prepaired, it can be very crowded. So it will take a little while before you can order. But it is worth it.
Katherine M.April 28, 2014
Gothamist says, "Some claim Ess-A-Bagel's offerings are too big. We beg to differ, and will indulge in a crispy, colossal everything bagel loaded with scallion cream cheese, lox and tomato." Read more
Rowan QuirkJanuary 1, 2017
This is the best bagel place in Murray Hill, and possibly the whole city. I actively go out of my way to get bagels from here!
Jenny CrowleyApril 5, 2016
Great bagels. Efficient service. Got a breakfast sandwich, then bought a cinnamon raisin bagel to eat later on my flight. Couldn't wait. Ate it on the cab ride to the airport. #noregrets
Jinnie LNovember 10, 2014
bagel with smoked salmon (or lox) & scallion cream cheese♥ everything bageland lox is yummy too! good cream cheese selection, love it!!
OppNovember 10, 2018
Skip the line. Go inside and to the back, just get a bagel and a side of cream cheese. Amazing.
Greg SchaentzlerFebruary 10, 2017
Chewy, crusty, gut-busting bagels. Old NYC to the fullest, complete with chandeliers and wood paneling. They don't toast, 30+ cream cheeses, have takeout line for bagel only orders as well, so no line
Penny SunAugust 15, 2014
Being a bagel-holic, You definitely can't go wrong with Ess-a-Bagel! Their bagels will make your day! My favourite bagels shop in NYC!
Christopher OstrosJanuary 19, 2012
Been here 25+ times
Some people need to relax and realize that for a good New York bagel, there is going to be a line during peak-hours. Hands down, the best bagel in Manhattan, especially whole-wheat everything bagels.
Michael ShayefarJanuary 24, 2018
Go for the fresh baked everything bagel w/ scallion, jalapeno or regular cream cheese. Avoid toasting. Avoid adding veggies. Stick to simple here and you will be happy! MR: 9.2
DApril 20, 2022
Good place for a quick breakfast/lunch bagel, if there’s no queue. Choices are a plenty for every taste.
Ernesto RdzNovember 27, 2016
A classic and one of the best in town, sometimes to crowdy but it's worth it
AmateurConciergeJune 4
One of NYC’s finest bagel establishments. Now willing to toast your bagel (sacrilege!)
Jennifer AustinOctober 12, 2023
The Signature bagel was everything I had heard it would be - Pure Deliciousness! The wait in line was totally worth the experience.
Maria BAugust 7, 2015
The bagel with everything was great! For sure, I can say, the best I've tried. But it was not worth a 40mins wait and the price, in my opinion.
Jamie ShawJuly 27, 2015
Wide selection of bagels and filling – expect a wait though, it can get busy around breakfast on a workday.
Kate GomesMay 1, 2015
Lovely old school bagel place. No real explanation of the system so we figured out it while we were in line. But bagels were huge, cheap and delicious!
Stefan StathopoulosDecember 31, 2016
You have to taste at least two different kinds of bagel with flavors cheese to see why all these people waiting out in the cold for some.Tip: Another express line if you only need to get some bagels.
Nancy BrownJuly 19, 2014
The sandwich line can be really long - if you want bagels only go to the back of the store (loop to the right of the line)
ドーラMarch 7, 2011
Puppy seeds bagels with sun-dried tomato cream cheese and lox are delicious. Huge hand-made bagels with a very generous portion of cream cheese for just $3.50. Plenty of indoor seating. Great service.
Nathan WrightFebruary 20, 2016
Ess-a-Bagel's Everything Bagel is truly everything. Get it with veggie cream cheese. You will wait in line. Sometimes for 45 minutes.

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