There are few places or experiences that I would describe as life-changing. For a bagel enthusiast like myself, Bagel Shop – a nondescript bagel storefront on the corner of 93rd Street – might just fit the bill.

It’s quiet and unassuming. On the outside it looks like any old bagel store and you’d probably stroll right passed it. Even during peak hours it is far less crowded than the well known neighborhood spots (H&H, Ess-a-bagel, etc.)

What it lacks in flash, it more than makes up for in quality. It’s a bagel that is truly next level. An elegantly crafted, soft and doughy, yet crunchy specimen that emerges from the boiling water like a bagel baptism. The aroma of everything bagels is so intense, so mouthwatering, that catching a whiff from the street is as irresistible as the siren’s song.

Price

Perhaps the cheapest bagel in the neighborhood and also far superior quality to any other place in the neighborhood. In terms of price to quality ratio, it puts Bagelworks, H&H, and Pick-a-bagel to shame.

Service

Service is far above average for a bagel shop. Ordering is super simple and well organized, staff are very friendly, and they call your name on the loudspeaker when it’s ready. It’s a near perfect score for service.

Quality

There’s a reason their fans are so dedicated, driving distances as far as Philadelphia just to get a bagel here. The freshness is so great, that even days later the flavor is magnificent and they still taste fantastic. I tested their flavor by eating different varieties (everything, cinnamon raisin) un-toasted and without any spreads. They scored near perfect in this category by comparison to other bagel stores. If you eat one, chances are you’ll be so blown away you’ll eat another in the same sitting.

Recommendation

I mentioned Absolute Bagels to an Upper East Sider and they directed me here, making a bold claim that Bagel Shop was “far superior.” While I’m not sure if I can back this claim, I can assure you that it is certainly on-par with the top shops in the city, maybe the country.

Bagel enthusaists know that no two bagels are alike. Some places, like Absolute Bagels are known for their jumbo size and rich density that serve as a filling meal. Others, like Upper East Side’s Bagelworks are fluffy and light enough to eat several in one sitting.

I recently moved to Upper East and quickly found that my bagel knowledge in this area was severely lacking. While there’s the typical Manhattan bagel chains like Pick-A-Bagel – a place I consider both bland and overpriced – I soon stumbled upon a neighborhood spot known as Bagelworks.

Clearly a neighborhood favorite, Bagelworks greets me with a line out the door and down the street. Their cream cheese selection is on point as is their wide selection of bagel sandwich options. The interior has the distinct smell of freshly baked everything bagels – just enough to get your mouth watering.

Price

Cheaper than nearby Pick-A-Bagel by a considerable amount and the quality is far greater as well. Not the cheapest Manhattan bagel, but certainly not the most expensive at all. Bagel and cream cheese will run you around $3.50.

Service

Service is average. Not too friendly, but not stern either. True neutral.

Quality

Light and fluffy with a low bagel density. Its soft touch finishes with a slight crunch. Everything bagel was good, but lacking the distinct flavor and jumbo size of its west side competitor, absolute bagels . I’ve had several bagels so far and I keep craving more. On the one hand, this shows they are a true contender for Upper East Side’s featherweight bagel champion. On the other hand, those who prefer a more dense bagel may be disappointed.

Recommendation

If you’re in the area, this is the place. It’s not the best in the city, but it’s a top pick for the neighborhood.

Long Island City was always a dead zone for bagels. Clever Blend? Yeah, right. LIC Bagels and Deli? No, thanks. It wasn’t until last weekend when I thought I had discovered the oasis in the bagel wasteland of Queen’s western-most neighborhood: Bricktown Bagels & Cafe. Situated on the LIC waterfront and just a five minute trip from Grand Central, this exposed-brick bagel shop could easily draw upon the bustling tourist hordes of midtown Manhattan. But is it worth the trip? I had to find out.

Like most people, I arrived on a frigid February morning in my rollerblades. For those of you wondering, this place is rollerblader friendly (points for that). 

Service

After ordering I noticed the service was quite slow. As usual, I don’t place a great emphasis on service. What matters most is one thing: bagel quality and quality to price ratio. 

Quality

When my bagel arrived it was very warm with a generous portion of cream cheese melting off the side. These were the bagel’s big strengths in my opinion. 

The texture of the bagel itself was correct. After taking a bite it had the right amount of crunch while still being slightly chewy and fluffy on the inside. 

I’m going to be harsh here: it could have been better. The disappointing end to the bite was the severe lack of flavor. I ordered a cinnamon raisin bagel and it lacked that distinct kick you expect at the end of each bite. Fewer raisins than expected and an overall lack of cinnamon left a surprisingly bland taste in my mouth.

Price

The cozy atmosphere and fair price point (only $2.75 for bagel and cream cheese, about $0.75 less than manhattans main competitors) make up for it a bit, but in its current form I can’t describe this as top tier. 

Recommendation

It’s the best bagel I’ve had in LIC, but the bar is low for that. It’s good in a pinch, but needs a more sophisticated flavor profile to truly win over this bagel boy. 

There were times where I was naive enough to believe that midtown bagel hype like Ess-a-bagel and Best Bagel were the only good shops in Manhattan. Then I discovered all of the great downtown options. But it wasn’t until I took a trip up to Harlem that I truly expanded my bagel knowledge with what was possibly the absolute greatest bagel texture I have tasted thus far.

Walk into Absolute Bagels on a weekend afternoon and you may see a bunch of kids from Columbia hanging around in a place that looks unimpressive on the surface. But what this old school cash-only spot lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in taste, size, and made-with-love bagel craftsmanship.

Price

One of the most reasonably priced if not the cheapest bagels I’ve had in Manhattan of this caliber. On par with Baker’s Dozen.

Service

The friendly neighborhood spot. If you’re a regular, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Seating is limited and it’s more of a to-go spot in my experience. Definitely less crowded than midtown bagel spots during peak hours. Downside is it is cash only.

Quality

Baker’s Dozen earns five stars for quality in my book. It excels with its rich flavor profile, a perfectly balanced texture, and a soft pillow like texture that is the perfect balance of not too chewy and a slight crunch when toasted.

Recommendation

While it may be out of the way from some with its West Harlem location, I recommend all bagel enthusiasts make this bagel pilgrimage at least once. Don’t forget to hit the ATM first and grab a selfie in front of the Seinfeld diner down the street.

Ask anyone what they think of when they think of a New York City bagel and I guarantee you Greenpoint won’t be at the top of their list. Ask me before I went to Baker’s Dozen and I would have probably agreed. However, after stumbling upon a nondescript storefront on Manhattan Avenue, I discovered a bagel with a wonderful balance of quality, customer experience, and price.

At a glance, the Green Point bagel market has places that are higher quality, but more on the expensive side such as Bagel Point . It has old-school shops such as Peter Pan which is well-priced, but the bagels are small, it’s often too crowded to get a seat, and takes forever to get your food.

Price

Baker’s Dozen is a blend of these pros and cons. An egg and cheese here will cost you only $4, which is the cheapest I’ve seen at any New York shop I’ve visited (minus Peter Pan).

Service/Seating

The service is quick with many seating options, and the staff is always friendly.

Quality

Bagel texture is soft and chewy (but not too chewy). Been here about six or seven times so far and have never gotten a bagel that was subpar in terms of texture. Cream cheese portions are usually generous, though can vary occasionally.

Recommendation

Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Brooklyn or are on the hunt for a strong balance of value and quality. Take the G to Nassau Ave and eat inside or if the weather permits, take it to go and eat at nearby McCarren Park.