BAGEL REVIEW in New York: Bagels & Schmear

It’s not uncommon to ask yourself: Is this a deli, coffee shop, or bagel joint? In many cases in New York, the answer is all three. Bagels & Schmear certainly is, however the name it proclaims out front indicates that bagels should be the thing taken most seriously here. That’s why I was here.

In addition to the plastic wrapped coffee cakes and deli meats on display, they also seem to make their own bagels in the back hidden away from view. When asked what was hot, the employee exclaimed “Everything!” But he wasn’t being curt by saying everything was fresh. He meant the everything bagel just came out of the oven.

So after waiting in a short line of weary local workers, I got my hot everything bagel with a schmear of scallion cream cheese.

Immediately, I was dismayed by the weak display of seasoning. I think an everything bagel (or any non-plain bagel) should be pretty close to covered. This looks like a plain bagel got slightly cross-contaminated.

Despite that sad showing of flavorings, the bagel was indeed warm and soft. Evidence being that the cream cheese immediately started to turn into a gooey puddle.

There was no major crispness on the exterior, but it had a nice plump chew. I did get some subtle onion notes – was that from the cream cheese or the one or two onion granules clinging to the outside of the bagel?

Pricewise, I was also surprised that it was on par with some of the new fancy bagel shops around the city.

It’s nothing special, I’m afraid. Yes, it is a classic New York bagel made on premises so is still impressive to an outsider. I know the few tourists who wandered in were excited to stumble upon a no-frills legit local spot. But as far as the actual bagel goes, it was just totally fine for New York.

Does Bagels & Schmear have the best bagels in NY? It’s as local as it gets, so there are no Tik Tokers or hordes of tourists, but for New Yorkers, the bagels themselves, which earn a 7 out of 10 are about as adequate as they come.