I did eat other stuff in NYC besides pizza actually. I ate tons and tons of bagels, and guess what… I fell in love. No, don’t worry. I’m not going to get rid of my darling Mr. P (who would buy my bagels then?).
You see, I have always had a love affair with bagels from as far back as I can remember. They are my favourite breakfast food. How I adore them with a schmear of cream cheese, slithers of smoked salmon, and freshly cracked pepper. But sometimes I eat them for dinner, sometimes for lunch… there’s always an excuse for a delicious bagel. Carbs and me, well, we have a special relationaship, and it’s based on pure love.
I’ve always toasted my bagels, but it seems that in NY, amongst the big shot bagel retailers, toasting your bagel just isn’t the done thing. They are of the opinion that if a bagel is really good and really fresh, toasting the bagel actually detracts from it’s bagel-y goodness. Go figure. In fact, in some places, asking for your bagel toasted is taken as almost an insult! Being that I ALWAYS toast my bagels, I really didn’t think that raw bagels were going to be tasty. But for the first time in my life, I was wrong 
.
Like with my exhaustive pizza sampling, I also tried bagels at three different places. Of the three, our least favourite was at H&H Midtown Bagels (not to be confused with H&H on the Upper West Side, the really famous one, yeah, it’s confusing, I know). These were the smallest bagels of the three, and the least interesting. There was just nothing special about these. The cool thing about H&H Midtown is that they had a seating area. H&H on the Upper West side does not. What would be the fun of buying a delicious bagel and eat them without cream cheese or anything? That would have sucked a bit. Although next time, I may just go and bring my own cutlery, slice my bagel, and schmear it up myself. Oh, life is hard. I hear that those bagels from H&H on the Upper West Side are amazing. Any of you tried them?
Here is a picture of the bagel Mr. P got. It’s the classic combo of lox, sliced tomato, onion and cream cheese. While it was not bad by any means, it is a far cry from the next two places. So my recommendation is to give H&H Midtown a miss. I give this place a 5/10.
The next place we went to was the highly acclaimed Ees-a-Bagel. I’ve got to tell you, those bagels were pretty awesome. They were big fat carby delights full of deliciousness. The thing about Ees-a-Bagel is that your food gets served with some very brusque and almost rude attitude on the side (although it does come for free LOL). When you get to the counter, you better know exactly what you want, or prepare to pay the consequences. There are so many cool choices as bagel fillings, however, that it sounds easier than it is. Plus there are a lot of pushy customers waiting behind you. Where is one’s pepper spray when they need it, I ask you? Still, when you do sit down and enjoy your purchase, it’s kinda worth it, cause they are so good. Nasty attitude aside, I would not hesitate to come back. Mr P and I give Ees-A-Bagel a 9/10.
Again, lox, cream cheese and red onion, this time on an onion bagel. Looks much better than the first one, no?
But now, I want to tell you of my favorite NYC bagel place. The place which Mr P and I both award the 10/10 to: Murray’s Bagels. Once we discovered it, we kept going back again and again. Of all the wonderful places I had the pleasure of eating at while in New York, this is the place I miss most. This is the place that brings me near to tears of longing. I would like to tell you that it was some fancy restaurant which took my heart, but no. It was most definitely Murray’s. The first time we went, I got this beauty: cream cheese and sable (also known as black cod).
OMG! BLISS!!!!! Oh, and by the way, I know I’m not kidding anyone with that “diet” cream soda. It’s just the way I rationalize things LOL.
Mr P chose a very similar looking bagel of sturgeon and cream cheese. Our bagels that day were kind of expensive because of the exotic smoked fish, but hey, that’s how we roll (and that’s how we become rolly pollys). You just don’t see smoked versions of those fish here in the UK. Why spend that much for some fancy fish? “Cause I’m worth it,” she said, with a flick of her hair. I am happy to say that although the fish is on the pricey side, they give you plenty of it.
In the words of Rachel Zoe, ” I die.”
So, the bagels themselves, what’s special about them? Oh, where do I even begin? First of all they are giant behemoths of a bagel. One couple I saw were actually sharing their bagel. Mr. P and I looked at them and laughed. AS IF! The texture is pillowy but very chewy. Chewy enough to dislocate your jaw (and I mean that in a good way). The crust, and this is true for all the flavours I’ve tried, has a the slightest bit of crunch to it. I have found that the bagels seem to have tiny areas which are are a bit more crusty than others, and biting into one of those crispy bits is nothing short of divine. What kind of weirdo would want to share this? Hello?!? I’d take anything I couldn’t finish (like that ever happens) home and keep it under my pillow for safe keeping while I slept! Fish and all.
Murray’s has a no smoking policy, fish being the exception .
This is one of their specialty sandwiches: The Rivington Street Sandwich.
The Rivington bagel has two kinds of fish: Novia Scotia Salmon and sable. Eating it is a messy job because it is stuffed to the brim with goodies. It’s hard to keep it all together while you are chewing away. Don’t worry though, I managed.
Check out the cinnamon raisin bagel. It is a work of art. Look at the marbling of the cinnamon!
Now that I am back in the UK, the thought of a delicious Murray’s bagel almost brings a tear to my eye. I loved it that much. As for the whole toasting thing, that was a revalation. But I’ll tell you what, I wouldn’t try that trick in the UK. Our bagels here really do need toasting 
. Oh dear, how am I supposed to enjoy a UK bagel when I know what a really good bagel is supposed to taste like now? Yep, I think trouble is going to be a’brewing. I am not used to not getting what I want.
HH: “Murray… please… come back!… I need you”
Murray: “Frankly my dear Housewife, I don’t give a damn!”
HH: “*Gasp* Then I will follow you back again to NYC and gobble all your bagels with Mr P’s money… I will eat him into the poor house if I have to. As God is my witness, I will never go hungry for good bagels again!”
… ah the drama… but ya know, a girl’s gotta do what a girls gotta do .
After reading this post, I am SO craving a fishy, lox-y, cream cheesy bagel. And I wanna go to New York.
looks incredible!
Hahaha ! That a great way to call your beloved Murray!
You will make me crazy, every time I visit your blog I feel to plunge into the screen and taste those wonder foods!
Bagels looks soooooooooo tempting!
I am on my knees. You are truly such a great read! And those bagels are the best looking ones I have ever ever ever seen.
xo
try bagels on the square next time you are in nyc. they are my favorite! murray’s are great too!
Wowee, those are some super super looking bagels with the smoked fish – although the cinnamon swirly one has my heart because it is so pretty.
I insist: you should become a writer…I would buy ALL your books!!!
(btw) What did I do in NY I didn’t see this? Have to go back !!!
I have never really cared for Bagels, kinda hard and chewy but I suspect that the ones here in Australia are nowhere near the real thing. I must say your after reading your review they sound like a must, because I’m worth it…..The cinnamon swirl one looked super delicious.
Oh you are the best reviewer, love your writing and sense of humour, but you know that by now!!
“But for the first time in my life, I was wrong”…classic statement there HH, I’m surprised you let that out of your dior lipsticked mouth…:)
So where is the nearest bagel, cause as usual I’m kinda hungry right now.
xoxoxox DJ
Oh I meant to say that cinnamon one is just awesome looking.
What a fun adventure. If you do come back to NY, H & H Bagels on the UWS are indeed good. However, a bit further uptown, my favorite places are Lenny’s Bagels on Broadway between 98th and 99th (the oatbran with everything bagel is my fave, and yes, they will toast if you request). Also, Absolute Bagels on Broadway in between 107th and 108th Streets. (I know it sounds far uptown, but really it isn’t. It’s in the Columbia University area). IMHO, these two spots are the best, and beat out the UWS H & H. Just carbs for thought
Glad that you got the low down on Murray’s. Its a favorite. I do love Ess-A-Bagel, but don’t live or work near either of their shops anymore, so Murray’s has became our favorite (w/ white fish salad). Very impressed that you decided to make your own Bagels. When you come to NYC again, you can try Absolute Bagels on B’way and I think 106/107 th st. They are great as well. I have never been a fan of H&H, small and overpriced. Not so great at the UWS location. Same as midtown.