BAGEL REVIEW: Best Bagel & Coffee

My search for the best bagels in New York continues….

Usually when a restaurant or café in New York includes the word “Best” in its name, it’s usually anything but. However there are definitely a few exceptions to that rule. Best Pizza in Williamsburg is actually pretty good. So is Ben’s Best when it comes to a delicatessen. And Best Bagel & Coffee might just make the best bagels on the west side of Midtown.

This somewhat under-the-radar spot had been on my list for a long time now. I was surprised to see a line out the door at 11am on a weekday afternoon. I figured if anything this place would be crowded before work or at lunch. Guess I am truly late to the game.

The line moved faster than anticipated and I then dealt with their frustrating ordering system. You order from one person and then take your ticket to someone else to pay and then wait for someone else to hand you your order.

Despite the monotonous system, you could see that there is a focus on quality. The bagels are made on premises right in front of you and I saw them bring a few trays of hot bagels out. I asked the cashier which were the most hot and he gave me a few choices. If Everything is one of those choices, that’s always going to be the winner for me.

The Everything bagel was warm enough but I wouldn’t say it was hot. No matter, it still had a fresh soft pull to it and a bit of a crust. I might say it was a little too soft. I would have liked a bit more bite.

But it was incredibly fresh and gives a good sense of what the texture of a real untoasted New York bagel should be. They also get major points for not overdoing the cream cheese schemear. Normally there’s an obscene brick of cream cheese, but here I barely had to wipe any off.

I also loved how heavy-handed they were with the Everything seasoning. Usually there’s just a hint of garlic, salt, sesame, poppy seeds, etc. Here both sides of the bagel were generously dredged in it so no bite went unfulfilled.

The bagels are certainly up there when it comes to the best. Now I can’t speak for their coffee, but I imagine Stumptown and the like would have a thing or two to say about that.

Does Best Bagel & Coffee have the best bagels in NY? Despite the obvious name, these bagels are actually pretty good and are most likely the best near the Times Square area. That says a lot and so they earn an 8 out of10.