Tompkins Square Bagels

"Hand rolled, kettle boiled and oven baked daily on the premises, Tompkins Square Bagels are a legend amongst the East Village community, serving up some of the tastiest bagels in town. Their founder Christopher Pugliese, learnt the art of bagel making when he was 15 working alongside some of the most renown bakers in the industry. He mastered how to put extreme care into every aspect of the bagel making process, always making sure to pay great attention to even the most minute details to create glorious tasting bagels. Opening Tompkins Square Bagels was his ‘love letter’ to the area, a neighbourhood shop built by local craftsmen and artists to be enjoyed daily by East Village natives. As your nose detects the smell of fresh baked bread your mouth will start watering at the wide selection that is on offer: over 14 types of bagels, 37 unique flavours of cream cheese (including vegan options) and 10 types of nut and fruit butters. Get creative with your order and build your own bagel down to a tee, they even have gluten free options available. There’s a huge choice of enticing cream cheese flavours including: the Bacon herb, Scallion, Lox Spread, Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Apple Cinnamon, depending on whether you go for a sweet or savoury bagel. Although I can never seem to make it past the classic whole wheat everything bagel with lox and cream cheese – it’s just too damn good! If you do want to try something a bit different though, check out their speciality sandwich board full of their cult-worthy creations. There’s usually a line here but the service is quick and you’ll be devouring your custom built bagel in no time. If the weather is good, head over to Tompkins Square Park on the other side of Avenue A, to eat it just like the locals do."

"8.0 - for a bagel shop to get into the 8s, you know this place is special. Fluffy bagels of every flavor combined with epic sandwich options & fillings. The line can get long but they are incredibly efficient with the ordering process which makes it fly by. "

"Suggestion from Carlye Wiesel, 3 locations "