Best Bagel in Manhattan, New York

Day 32: The Big Apple means bagels! Today was a day I have been looking forward to the entire road trip because I get to try New York’s bagels. Not just any bagel - a bagel made from an old, established grocery store started back in the early 1900s with special techniques to make them recognizable as ‘New York Bagels’.

It sounds like a lot of hokey-pokey marketing, and it is, but there is a larger story behind the magic of the New York Bagel. I found an article detailing the history of crafting the bagels in the early 1890s in dark, hot kitchens underneath the bakery with boiling water, extreme temperatures (sweating profusely, unsanitary, filthy clothing) and a lot of physical labor to work the tough dough.

Bagels became so popular in the New York area, that one of the fiercest unions of the time was launched in the 1950s, Bagel Bakers Local 338 (there were other unions too, but not like this one).

Without machinery to undercut them, bagel bakers were able to command high salaries and if demands weren’t met with contracted grocery stores (they only sold to stores, not directly to the public) they would go on strike. Yes, they had ‘bagel famines’!

Seriously, read about the forgotten history of bagels in New York. It is absolutely fascinating.

Ok, enough about bagels…for now 😉 Chad and I parked about an hour out of Manhattan at Cracker Barrel for the night. I woke to see a cop car driving by our car making its rounds around the restaurant, hotel, and small strip mall. I didn’t know that at the time and I thought they were going to come for a visit.

I woke Chad, we cleaned the car and put the sleeping materials away, (rubbed the lines off our faces from the sleeping masks lol) and tried to look awake. Alright, alright, we will get going to New York. Thanks for the early-ish wake up call (7:30 a.m.).

The night before, I researched places to see in Manhattan while Chad reviewed the logistics of parking and subway routes.

On the way to the parking garage, I mentioned, “wouldn’t it be awful if it was closed by the time we got there?” I was referring to the bagel place I had secured (bagel brain over here!).

Having not been in my head, Chad responded, “New York? Yes, it would be bad if ALL of New York was closed!”

Ah, the magic of misinterpretations.

Parking: Town Square Garage, New Jersey - $25 all day parking

Subway Train: PATH

I thought I could sneak the blog out in the morning (after having tried to upload pics to the website with phone hotspot – so slow) and had attempted to use a Starbucks after parking to get the blog out. Also, terribly slow uploading speeds. Until later, I guess. But, it was a great office view of the New York skyline.

EEEEEEE, my first underground train! What a smell! But, first the ticketing process. Chad tried to ask one of the working guys collecting cash from machines for the best way for us to pay for travel (do we get a refillable card, a ticket etc.) and the guy abruptly said, “nope” and wanted to return to work.

Chad burst out a hardy laugh and complimented him on his honesty; that made him smile. He then helped us learn how to use the machines, walk through the turn-style ticket booths and how to board the correct train(s). Smiling, he wished us well and we ventured forth!

What a stench! Oil, metal, stale air, humans, garbage, and who knows what wafted in the air. I have now been welcomed into the city lol. The trains whizzed by and I was amazed at how large the terminals were underground. When we did board, we had to cram in (oooooooo sardines!! I am a sardine now!) and we rode the ‘F’ train under the water over to Manhattan.

We made our first transfer, popped above ground and starred at the buildings briefly before finding our next staircase down into the dungeons of Manhattan. Unfortunately, we missed our connecting train because we didn’t take their ‘1-minute’ boarding time seriously enough haha.

Now, all I need is a Subway sandwich and to eat it on the subway!

Looking up inside the tunnel, I pointed to a security camera we were standing directly under (less than a foot from Chad’s head).

“We are under the Manhattan mistletoe!” exclaimed Chad.

Surfacing from the subway system into clean (well, I guess cleanish) air, we walked the rest of the way to the bagel grocery store called Russ & Daughters (original location, lower Manhattan). There was a long line inside, so we took a number and finally ordered. There were all kinds of people in the store and we chatted with the Asian clerk making our meal. He said this was a slow time and that usually it is a 2-hour wait out the door for bagels. We were defiantly in the right place!

Eating, tasting, nibbling and enjoying the treats took place on a bench right outside the store.

#1: Norwegian Lox, sesame seed bagel, regular cream cheese spread, tomato slice, red onion slices, capers $14

#2: Everything bagel, lox cream cheese spread $6

Katie’s Review - Crunching on the outside, chewy dough on the inside. Tough-ish to rip apart for each bite (that’s a good thing) and the ingredients complimented each other well. The lox spread included other spices in the mix with the lox and cream cheese (that was a surprise!).

I would say the bagels I ate today are very similar to the bagels I LOVE in Fargo. Yes, Fargo does have an excellent Jewish deli, BernBaum’s, and their bagels (secret recipe handed down from within their family) are stellar. I’ve been spoiled with great bagels in Fargo and the New York bagels feel like home rather than a mind-blowing experience. That’s when you know you have a good bagel!! Both still different tasting/feeling, ever so slightly, but quite good.

Take a little drive and head over to BernBaum’s in Fargo, now at their new location on Broadway, for an ever-changing foodie experience. Ah, New York….yes…. I would also recommend Russ & Daughters haha.

Chad also like the bagels, but he isn't as enthused as I am about the experience. He was just floored as to how much gourmet sandwich bagels cost!

This post is getting long! Until next time!

Coming Soon - Part 2: Day 32 in Manhattan