Ess-a-Bagel, Inc. Reviews

I went here to grab a bagel for breakfast. It proved to be a very busy shop with the line going down the street, but it was so worth it. Staff came around the line with samples to try for the waiting customers and the queue went down quickly. There is a big choice of bagels and so many different cream cheeses with so many other items on the menu.

The line for this place was crazy long, we waited about 30 minutes. I am not sure if its 9th best in NY but it was quite good! I learned a trick if you just want bagels and are willing to put the spread on yourself, you can skip the line and walk up to the bagel counter and buy both in an instant. If you want egg or something special, then the line it is! The bagels were great! I would not recommend the sun-dried tomato spread, it was not for me and the fresh squeezed OJ was packaged not fresh like other bagel joints.

Picked up a dozen everything bagels for my trip home. Very good bagels and worth a try if your into bagels. A bit larger and tend to be "deformed" compared to the average bagel.

Excellent bagels, wide variety and good price for either breakfast bagels or sandwich! A little hint, as for butter or cream cheese on the side!

This was very near our hotel and so we ventured here for some breakfast on our first day, we were not deterred by the queue which was out the door when we arrived, especially as it was double the size when we left! I think what seemed obvious when we got inside was that it was rather chaotic and not very efficient, they may have benefited from more of a system in the ordering, that saying it had a large selection and there were menus available inside before getting to the counter which helped with choosing before getting to the counter. I enjoyed avacado garlic cream cheese with grilled chicken filling however the salt bagel for me just had too much salt on so it could not be finished! Overall good sized tasty bagels

It's no secret that I absolutely love this place... and it's sibling uptown. This is the best bagel I've found in NYC. I always try to pick up a dozen (13) on my way back to Boston. My favorite here is the poppy... and sesame. True greatness! Stopped in on a Sunday... line is always out the door. I knew to call ahead and have them put aside my order... remember, you don't need to wait in line for "Bagel Only" ordering. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - "Hall of Fame"

To be honest i saw the crowd and i knew that it is a famous and good place xD i went their got an onion bagle with egg and cheese .. Tasty but hated the long lines i had to wait

I loved this place. It's slightly intimidating just to decide what you want but you have a long time in line to do so. I ended up having a multigrain bagel with chocolate chip cream cheese. It was so delicious. And huge. I ate half for lunch and half later. The bagel itself was tasty, not dry and not too dense - just right. The iced coffee was good too. The guys behind me said the egg sandwiches (on a bagel) were great, and I really wanted one also but I'll have to have that next trip.The staff look a bit "serious" but honestly I think it's just their thing, they seemed light when I talked to them so I don't need a fake smile to make it a great place. I stayed to eat in and the tables are so close together. The older couple next to me started a conversation and turned out to be so interesting. It really felt like a NY experience. If it were near where I was staying I would have gone many more times but I went out of my way to go there and am glad I did. I'll be back for sure.

I live in the area and can tell you there is none better. There are many bagel stores in the area and there is no comparison.

Went in on a Thursday Morning. The deli is as busy as expected. I ordered egg, bacon and cheese with cinnamon raisin bagel. The bagel isn't special but warm and good.

Outstanding bagels, hot and fresh, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Spotless dining area. Highly recommend, best bagels in NYC

Been going here for years. The service is great and the bagels are good. Great variety they have the best scallion cream cheese and vegetable cream cheese my favorite bagels there are between toasted cinnamon raisin w melted butter and the garlic with scallion cream cheese! Go and try it! A tip! The line has been getting ridiculous don't wait! Just order it for delivery! They have enough men running delivering around the city! Coffee is good too!

So freaking good. So many options. The bagels are what carbohydrate dreams are made of. The sandwiches are actually heavy to hold. Generous portions and delicious. Totally worth the wait. Two words: salt bagel

How more “New York” can it get lining up for warm bagels at one of NYCs old favorites? You won’t be disappointed- take some to go - they are just as good at home. Lining up and eating in is a pleasant experience since they moved to current location. Not to be missed!

My first visit to the new lower Manhattan location. Small, like the original, and slicker than the original that started it all... nicer, but less character. The staff is less experienced than the old spot. That said, the bagels are still the best in NYC... and I never miss picking up a dozen or 2 when I'm in NYC. Had an egg salad on a poppy seed bagel while I was there... so good. The bagels here are a real treat. TIP: With any bagel, keep out what you'll use in the next day or 2 and slice and individually bag (sandwich zip lock) the others and put in the freezer to keep fresh. Toast as needed.

We'd love to visit if only it was a lot closer than 2000 or so miles away. Hopefully not too many visitors to Whitefish, MT were confused!

Came here off peak luckily, as I saw the queue on Sunday morning! Bagel was absolutely brilliant. Cream Cheese bagel and a Cream Cheese & Lox Bagel came to around $15. Shame the staff weren't friendly at all, especially the woman at the cashier who didn't even acknowledge us as she was on the phone. Visit here for the bagel though...you'll struggle to find any better in NYC.

Staff are pleasant, helpful andpolite. The bagels have plenty of filling and are as tsty as can be. Ambiance just as good.

Incredibly bagels! I had the salmon with cream cheese, tomato and lettuce, it was incredibly filling! The one thing I would say is we went during peak lunch time and there was a super long queue with minimal seating. But it was still worth a visit for their amazing bagel and glad we went!

An institution in New York about bagel. Highly recommended. A ton of different variations of bagel await you there. We stayed here for breakfast and didn't regret it. Great store!

The bagel were really good. (The simple ones, only with some kind of cream cheese were reaaly cheap also). We tried with with fish salad (my favorit), with salmon, with tofu and herb cream cheese. The salty bagel it's realy salty (a layer of salt as we used to see a layer of suggar in the donuts). Worth the line!

Of course, New York is a city famous for bagels, and as such, there are bagels shops all across the city. Ess a bagel however, is by far the best I found, and judging by the line on a weekend morning (I waited over an hour to get mine) the locals agree. A massive selection of bagels and toppings, as well as coffee and some fantastic looking deserts. They are also open til late (9pm on week nights) and if you avoid the afore mentioned brunch and lunch crowd service is incredibly quick. A real New York institution that is well worth the visit.

.... and lots of other stuff too! Awesomely good. Service is excellent. Even when mobbed ( always), staff is outstanding! Don't let long line deter you. They move you thru quickly. Definitely a stop worth making.

Best bagel I've ever had! Be prepared to wait in line! FYI there are 2 order counters; one for bagels and cream cheese only (much quicker) and another line for bagel sandwiches and toasted bagels! There's only one washroom.

Found this place on trip advisor (thank you)... Thought this place was great, old authentic deli serving.... Bagels! Loved the old decor. Cinnamon & raisin bagel with walnut cream cheese was delightful.... A must try for those looking for authentic NYC x

Read the reviews of this place before we went as it was just around the corner from our hotel. I did find the comments about the staff a bit daunting as it was our first trip to the city but when we visited I found them to be quite pleasant. Id suggest you know exactly what you want by the time you are served. Everything moves a little faster in NYC than it does here so locals are not forgiving when you dither lol. We avoided the long queues by going later in the day so id recommend that you visit in the afternoon or evening and therefore you will probably encounter happier staff. Their bagels and sandwiches are out of this world! I tried a few different bagels and cream cheeses and they were all so good. My husband had the pastrami sandwiches which he said were excellent. All great value for money too. We will dream of the food here forever!

Took a while to get in adn find a seat but we did and the food was excellent and reasonably priced for NYC

What an amazing place. The long queue outside and in reflects the local's opinion of the quality. Many thanks to Bonita for looking after us and getting our bagels, followed by a quiet and tasty lunch round the corner in Greenacre Park.

I've tried this place a couple times and each has fallen below exception. Their bagels are tough, burnt, and flat. Their cream cheese (chive in my case) was just ok. Also, their organization is poor. On a busy Saturday morning they only had one cash register going, despite having at least two, from what I could see, available. As a positive, they don't skimp on the amount of meat or cream cheese put on the bagels. Note - don't get the eggs as they are cooked in the microwave. Over all, there are many competitors in the very near vicinity that has this place beat on quality of bagel and efficiency - try them instead. The wait is not worth it in this case.

Excellent bagels. Great that this store reopened after closing for a while. There is a long line to get a cool sandwiches, there is another line for takeout bagels

Helpful counter staff, very good spreads and a good amount of seating. Great place to visit when you need a sandwich or bagels.

I love Ess-a-Bagel. Just like every New Yorker has a favorite pizza joint, we all have favorite bagel places too, and this is mine. I was super jazzed about this new location opening closer to me, but the speed of service - or lack thereof - is deterring me from choosing this as my preferred location. The bagel-only line goes extremely fast, but the sandwich line seems to be incredibly inefficient. If I am one of the first several people in line, it should not take nearly 45 minutes for me to purchase a lox sandwich. Please don't make me wait so long for this deliciousness!!!

Voted in 2014as Best BagelinNYC, when I arrived the line was outside around the corner. The bagels are fresh from the oven, good chewy and recommended size and Itried one everything with whitefish salad and another one with lox and onions ...great experience ! Topped this with a very fluffy chocolate chip muffin and a great cup o' Joe and I was on my way to exploring the Big A. Did I mention 42 $ for the three of us?

I absolutely love bagels, good bagels that is, and Ess-a-Bagel is my favorite. There seems to always be a line (sometimes out the door) but it is so worth it to wait if you have the time. Pay attention, place your order and move along. I love the everything bagel with smoked salmon cream cheese so much that I dream about it. Enough said.

The place to go to for a tasty repast. Freshly prepared. Well wrapped. We sat at an inside table. Very plasant.

This place has the best bagels I have ever had in my life! Wow! The service is excellent with many options to choose from. I highly recommend a visit to Ess-a-Bagel

The real thing - i was sceptical but these bagels really are better. Generous portions of bagel and smear, long lines, worth the wait. cant wait to go back.

We decided to stroll over and get a bagel for breakfast. The place was extremely busy but the staff was quick. We ordered out bagels to go because of lack of seating. The bagels were amazing. The poppyseed is completely rolled top and bottom in poppy. The roasted garlic was amazing and would chase off any vampire and the pumpernickel was great as well. The cream cheese is light and fluffy. Best bagel ever!

I first had Ess-a-Bagel when I went to NYC on family vacation 5 years ago and they started my obsession with blueberries. My first stop when I came back to New York last week was Ess-a-Bagel! I checked into my hotel then went straight to get a bagel! I had a plain bagel with blueberry cream cheese and it didn't disappoint! I love their blueberry cream cheese and it's definitely worth it!

This is a very famous stop for bagels, always a long line. If you slide past the main line (usually out the door), head to the counter towards the right at the back. If you just want a bagel and cream cheese, this is your counter. (If you want a breakfast sandwich or something fancy, stay in the very long main line). We were able to get our food pretty quickly, and enjoy our bagels a little sooner.

Visited here because I had read they do fantastic bagels with loads of choice of fillings, was not disappointed. Sometimes the line can be extremely long we waited maybe 30mins or more the first time. The bagels are big and I shared with my (teenage) daughter and its was enough for both of us - we had the Ess-a-BLT with garlic and avocado cream cheese and the really stack the bagel. Definitely worth a visit, apparently it is pricey but it's in Manhattan so dining/eating isn't cheap. Never knew you could get more than 10 varieties of cream cheese until I went here! Well worth a visit if you're in Manhattan

Guess its to be expected to not have the nicest people to work with in NYC, but the staff are crankier here than other restaurants we went to, maybe because its morning. The bagels were really good here, we went twice and got a variety between sandwiches and the oreo cream cheese (gotta try this). Food is good and it was a bargain at $22 for 5 people. Also had a chocolate, cream cheese muffin, which was also yummy.

Visiting NY this week and decided to pick up some lunch to take to Central Park (which is a short walk away). Unfortunately, we did get there around lunch time and had to wait in line for about 45 minutes.....totally worth it! I got a everything bagel toasted with scallion cream cheese/tomato/lettuce and cheese and fruit bowl. My daughter got the BLT. It was about $26 for 2 sandwiches, 3 drinks, fruit bowl, and a banana. If ever in NY, I will definitely be back!

Amazing bagel and great service. Got a garlic with chive cream cheese- hot and fresh! Would definitely come back!

I've been to this place twice in 4 days! It was just so good I had to come back. Excellent variety of bagels and fillings and very friendly staff. First time I went there was no line but the second time was on a Saturday morning and the line went out the door. I waited in line because it was so worth it! Highly recommend the nova + scallion cream cheese on a sesame bagel= heaven!

I have eaten here twice in two days. It is that good! The first night I had a sesame bagel with tomato, bacon, lettuce, mayo, and cheese. It was awesome. The bacon was super crispy. It was a really big sandwich so no side needed. The second night I had a sesame bagel(I know not adventurous but it was so good the first night) with egg, tomato and plain cream cheese. Again a huge sandwich so no side. This was made with real egg not the rubbery fast food eggs. Messy sandwich but awesome. I also purchased a cinnamon babka to bring into the office the next day and it was divine. It also didn’t last long. Wish I had this restaurant at home. I would eat here all the time!

I went there on a Monday for lunch. The bagels were amazing, totally worth the long line to get them. Would go back in heartbeat.

The bagels are to die for! And they have sooo many options to choose from so I went for the classic cream cheese and lox and oh boy I had to come for seconds. Also the staff is really friendly and helpful and helps you choose if you're unsure abput your order. They have great coffee, too!

Was in NYC for a few days. Wanted to find a great bagel. Ended up here. Got a pumpernickel with cream cheese. Didn’t get it toasted cause that’s apparently taboo in NYC. Was TERRIBLE. Tough, chewy (like rubber), no flavor, literally hard to eat. Threw away half. Hated it. Screw the no toast MO in NY...would have been fine toasted. Not great. Not fresh. But warm and crispy I would have liked it.

Large choice of delicious bread. Fresh ans various kind if product. Very kind service as well. I recommend !

Great bagel! Few different choices of bagel, you would be able to pick from many different ones, a bit pricy tho but still worth to taste it! Service is very nice and “calm” absolutely relaxed environment.

We live in Georgia and finding great bagels is beyond not good. Of course, New York is the place for bagels, right? Well, yeah. Our daughter put us on this place and oh boy, it does not disappoint. The bagels are warm and delicious. We loved it so much, we took a baker's dozen home to Georgia. The pumpernickel raisin was excellent and the sesame bagels were the bomb! We ordered cinnamon raisin and sesame to go...home. Can't wait to eat each and every one of them. If you want great bagels, go to Ess!

Considering the name of the place, the server seemed to need help understanding what a bagel was…. Ok so having been here a few times, the bagels were lovely, the service is slow and at times it’s like talking to a plastic hairbrush…. Even to the point of saying they do not do something as a filling; and yet , we then have to point it out on the menu for it to “click”. I mean breaded chicken is breaded chicken , it’s not that hard to understand, we are English, we speak the language fairly well, we invented it! We found that after 3 times visiting, it got worse. Service was rude, did not understand simple requests, at one put we needed to repeat the same order 6 times! Since when has Egg Mayo bagel been a mystery ! … well it is to these guys , i might as well be saying I killed his new puppy by the way they rudely respond…. Go, but be warned, you may want to take a colouring book and pen so that you can draw little L pictures to help explain your order !

Massive Bagels, very delicious and filling. long queue but quick. make sure you clearly mention all the ingredients you want in your bagel. great for breakfast.

We have been advised to try this place as they serve genuine high quality baggels. I am not an expert but based on our experience plus the cohorts of customers coming in at 8 am it seems these guys are pros. They serve baggels in various combinations while the staff are friends and joke with the tourists. Price wise it seemed expensive. We paid 25 bucks for 2 salmon and cream baggels. Not an expert but you could get a proper main course lunch for 2. I guess you pay for the authenticity.

Bought a dozen bagels here because of the hoopla. I suspect that most reviewers here never had a real bagel. While the taste was fine, they were hyperinflated and reminded me more of bread than a bagel. Some were so big they had no holes. The onion or sesame seeds were only on the top side, while the bottoms were flat, both characteristics of mediocre bagels.

Came here on sat morning and there was already a queue for the bagels. I ordered a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel and it cost us $14.95. I thought it was ridiculously expensive to pay that for a bagel. The cream cheese is delicious, one of the better bagels I had during this trip but I don't think I'd come back again as for the price I was expecting something way better.

Disappointed with the new Ess a Bagel! No one seems to know whats going on there, they have a lot of people working with no training. I ordered a bagel w/ nova and creamed cheese and it was like a big deal I also order a 1/2 pound of kosher salami and there was confusion. The nova was sliced way to thick! The salami the same One slice is like the thickness of 3 thin slices. Napkins were hard to find there was a line like you were going to a night club. I asked the cashier for a black cherry soda and she had no idea what that was she said please point to it in the cabinet and tell me the can color! the person who took my order could not make the sandwich she was standing behind the counter telling one guy to cut my salami and another to make my sandwich. Place looks clean, but not he workers. One workers hat originally black was so dirty it looked white from either flour or dirt. Tables were disorganized and rocking on the floor, they said they deliver but they said they do not have menus yet. Prices on the signs do not match the prices in the cashiers computer so watch what you pay for! They had on the sign a sandwich with chopped liver I asked about that and they said we don’t have that, why have it on the board, its computerized and its also flashing so fast you cannot read it!

This is bagel nirvana. Whenever I stop in, as I did over the Thanksgiving holiday, I still am thrilled at the prospect of taking my first bite. Simply the best bagel ANYWHERE. Love the poppy seed the best.

Nothing better than a NY bagel. It's the water they say. Whatever it is, this place is a wonderful Jewish bagel shop! Try it, you'll love it. (Right around the corner from The Waldorf)

This place is the symbol of the decline Bad place and expensive not good bagel If you want a good bagel search some other restaurent

Went this morning- long queue out the door- but worth the wait. I had cream cheese and smoked salmon. Loads of different kinds of bagel bit I had plain and it was lovely.

I had read the reviews about this place and was determined to visit on our recent trip to NYC. We waited in line for about 30-40 minutes (the queue was out the door and up the street) and there were both locals and tourists there. It's always reassuring when locals are waiting too, you know it's a good place! We were not disappointed. My brother had smoked salmon and cream cheese, my mum had strawberry spread and my boyfriend and I had egg and bacon. They were all sooo good! All I would say is expect to wait a while but it is worth it!!

Deciding not to have breakfast at the hotel, I walked into Ess-a-Bagel. The line was out the door. All I wanted and needed was a cup of coffee. The cashier asked if she could help and I said "Coffee, please!!". In two seconds flat, there it was in front of me. And was it ever good! Later in the morning I went back for a bagel. It was large enough to feed me for four days. Never had a better one. If I lived in NYC, I'd join the line every day, no matter how long it was.

Always crowded, and always good. Excellent stop for breakfast, kosher and delicious. A New York institution, it is fun, and filling. If you are visiting, and decide to take some home on the plane, get a couple extra bags, or everyone on the plane will be wanting one as the delicious aroma is hard to contain.

This is a must visit while in NYC. The bagels are huge and taste amazing! Coming from Montreal, where there has always been a competition between cities, I have to say that their bagels are just as good. Being as crazy as it is each day the staff are so friendly. We bought our bagels and coffee and headed up to Bryant Park each day. A great way to start the day.

Walked in on a whim for a snack. After listening to the locals placing their orders we quickly figured out everything bagels were just what you get at this place. So both of us decided to get one. I ordered a nova lox sandwich and my girlfriend got her bagel with jalapeno cream cheese. The cook informed us they had just come out of the oven and helped us with options since it was our first time there. We were both really impressed with the bagels. It's just impossible to get them that fresh where we're from. Don't expect anything fancy. Just good bagels served in paper wrappers and helpful/efficient NYC service.

I needed a NY Bagel fix and was just a few blocks away. Arrived late morning and stood in quite a line for about 30 minutes. I ordered just an onion bagel with cream cheese and I wasn’t disappointed. Can’t find hand rolled bagels this good anywhere outside of NYC. Worth the wait. I will go back and try something more next time.

Having relocated to Virginia where all bread tastes like a Biscuit compared to New York and New Jersey, the first thing I grab the first morning there are Bagels! It’s like coming home. We were staying on E 50th and Essa Bagel was just around the corner so first thing I popped out of bed and headed there. I was not disappointed. Grabbed a bunch of Everything Bagels and a smear of veggie cream cheese and pigged out! They were fantastic and while very busy the staff was friendly and efficient. Found a great place.

I'm not a New Yorker, and until I visited I didn't realize what all the fuss was about. But after visiting, I now know that 1) bagels in NYC are definitely better than anywhere else in the world and 2) of the 6 bagel shops I tried on my week-long trip Ess-a-Bagel was the best. The bagel itself was perfectly springy, doughy and flavorful. The bagels are so big there essentially no middle hole, which means there is no where for the schmear to fall out. Tons of schmear and meat options- frankly it was hard to decide what to try. We ate here around 11 on a weekday and the place was fairly busy but no lines.

Yes, you will wait outside and yes, they will ask you very loudly to close the door if you leave it open when going into the deli. Once you enter into this food paradise, prepare to be overwhelmed by the choices. It's probably the only place in the country I would pay $14.50 for a lox and bagel sandwich. The bagel is as near to perfection as you can find and the lox is delicious. Then again, if you want any other sort of combination it is there. Staff is reasonably patient when you are placing your order, but always good to know what you want in advance. On my second trip, I did order online. It worked out great and had no problem taking my food with me to eat on the run. Nice alternative. So forget the chain restaurants - this is the stop to be at for a wonderful deli experience.

I’ve been to this store/restaurant and it’s almost always jammed. They just opened a new store on 32nd St and 7th Avenue. Went in Wednesday around 10 AM and it was relatively empty. Same quality. lol cream cheese and onions on a fresh hot bagel, mmmmm

Nothing beats the bagels here. I love the poppy seed bagels most, but all are amazing. They just took out a whole wheat from the oven, so had that right then... amazing! The line was crazy this past Sunday... to the door.. business as usual. So, grabbed a bakers dozen and avoided the wait (separate line).

Stood outside in the cold for about 10 mins,, line wrapped around the store but it was worth the wait, very delicious , very soft and good

The bagels are great. The coffee's not bad, either. You can get anything you want here (excepting Alice), and the cream cheese is served the way it was intended- in a gigantic pile that's nearly as thick as the fist-sized bagel in your hand. Grab a baker's dozen and pack your carry-on bag; you're not going to find bagels like this anywhere in Des Moines or Denver. The line can be big, so try to avoid breakfast and lunch when the place is packed with tourists -and- locals. The one on 1st tends to be less crowded than the one on 3rd.

The Bagel Was Huge, Delicious and I Want More. Got the "Everything" Bagel w/Sundried Tomato & Herb Cream Cheese Combination. Toasted to Perfection. Did I Mention it Was HUGE. Reputed to be the Best in the City – I Have not Tried them All, But would Say That This is a Damn Good Bagel.

We stay in this area during the NY trip. The line is always long out of the shop since early morning till late lunch. They serve various type of Bagel and you can customize the ingredient or material. Seats are limited but quick turn. My opinion...It is not worth the wait for 30 mins but if short line, i would recommend.

Bagel was a bit too full of dough. Bacon and Egg on a poppy seed bagel met my expectations. Bagel was tasty but a bit too much dough. Otherwise the bagel I was looking for on this trip to the city.

What a great slot to get Bagels. Of course it was very busy and one waits in line BUT it is worth it. We enjoyed everything with whitefish, Sesame with nova and delicious HOT cups of coffee. Highly recommend it.

They say these are the best bagels in New York and I can definitely agree!! You can literally get anything you want on a bagel, its amazing. People will queue for half an hour just to get a bagel - must say something!!! If you're a bagel fan you must visit here!!!!

Truly, this is the only bagel worth eating - simultaneously dense and chewy on the inside and crusty on the outside - so big the hole disappears - a serious bagel. They are down to one store now, so at breakfast and lunch expect to wait in a long line if you are getting anything on your bagel. Still worth it, but they aren't fast so have patience. If you can't wait, skip the line and go to the back and just buy bagels....by themselves they are delicious. Ask what is hot/warm/just out the oven and get at least one of those; you'll be in bagel heaven as you snarf that one down. I always get a dozen or 2 to take home to the West Coast with me and put them in the freezer. The best of the best?.....Pumpernickel

Been going to this spot since I was a kid in JHS. Still make the 30 min trip every so offend to get my fix. I go to the 3rd Ave spot now. Hopefully the Murray hill one will open soon

I think this is the best bagel I've ever eaten, in fact yes, it is the best I've ever had! It was massive and filled us up for ages, and the amount of fillings was impressive, I couldn't decide so mixed 2 together and had salami egg and tomato, my other half decided to make his own which cost more but it was worth it. I've never had a sandwich let alone a bagel filled so much to perfection. It was busy, lunch time on a Saturday but we found a seat. I can't wait to go back to NY to get another one of these!

Very large hand rolled bagels. A nice selection of spreads. I had a veggie Tuna on a whole wheat bagel. Very good. So New York. They had Mah Jong lessons! Very busy. Line moved fast.

I have been to the other location of Ess-a dozens of times on my visits to NYC but have never been to the 1st Ave location. Smaller inside but still the same awesome bagels. Highly recommend!

Is supposed to be one of the must eat places. For the Asian taste - this may not be the best one. The long queues are intimidating. Fortunately, it was not so hot a morning but having had just some tea and several blocks of walking - the appetite was heightened. Online ordering also meant to revised service and almost got us to the Mac outlet across the street. Some explaining got us our Bagels but these were easily the MAA- Much About Average.

We had to try at least one local bagel shop during our stay. This one was closest, so we chose it. It was super busy! Line out the door. The nova sandwich was delicious as was the egg and tomato sandwich. However, don't get anything besides basic coffee or juice. Any of the fancier drink menu messes everything up. The owner/manager scolded the line for moving out of the line area. This was off-putting. This place has to get huge crowds daily, so you'd think this would be better managed. Not so. Get these delivered if you really want to try them.

This little bagel shop was few minutes away from DoubleTree I stayed at and looked like a great choice for breakfast. Bagels are HUGE, and delicious, but be ready to wait. We waited about an hour for our bagels and it was worth it! I say one specialty bagel can be shared. There is a separate line if you want just bagel and a smear and that is faster.

Ess-a is back... they've moved down a couple of blocks (19th). The store is bigger and better... modern. The same great chow. Had a great bagel with egg salad... perfect! News Flash: They toast the bagels here now... never did it at the old spot. Welcome back... NYC's best bagels.

Yes, the bagels are very good here, as is the lox sandwich. However, the chocolate babka was the worst I ever had. I had to throw it out it was so dry. The matzoh ball soup had great matzoh ball soups but the soup tasted like empty water. Also, I had to wait 45 minutes in line to order and pay for my meal. I don't know that I will ever visit this place again.

Went there on Sunday due to the good recommendation in trip advisor. The place has its soul, I like it. Tips: be there early, went there at 7.30am, yet there were early birds started queuing. I would recommend "Everything" bagel, full of taste! Pair that with salmon and cream cheese. Eat it there while it's still hot. They also served kosher (based on the menu on the board). Fast service and staff were friendly, great combo to start your day with great breakfast.

to ca ll it a chain, is a bit much.... but zhey should be... because they are that good.... Please never ask them to toast the baagels, because they are baked on premises and are always fresh, in the morning rush the place has lines... i mean reallly long lines. Ess-a-Bagel was established in 1976 on 1st Avenue in the Gramercy section of Manhattan by Florence and Gene Wilpon and Florence’s brother Aaron Wenzelberg. History: ​Coming from an Austrian baking family, it is not surprising that within two years our hand-rolled bagels were voted the best in the Tri-State area. We have continued to win national acclaim, not only for our bagels, but also for our luscious appetizing, salads, varieties of cream cheese, choice meats, and individualized catering orders. Ess-a-Bagel has the finest assortment of cakes, pastries, rugelach, muffins, and cookies. Espresso, cappuccinos, and multi-flavored coffees brewed fresh. Ask about our daily flavors.

Stopped in at 3PM. No line but still excellent bagels. A few days later at 6:50am....went right to the bagels, got a dozen and was out in 5 minutes. Yet from my hotel window I could see a line out the door and around the corner on Sunday morning. We had matza ball soup, bagels (ironic I know) and left stuffed for an afternoon snack. I particularly enjoyed the pumpernickel raisin bagels. But in a bagel-off between Ess and Absolute, I must say that I think Absolute comes in ahead by a nose. The location is harder to get to if you're in midtown though.

The taste of their bagels is indescribable. A mix of great and fresh materials, with their famous dough and combinations to die for. It really is the greatest bagel store I have ever tried.

To me this is an "original" bagel place. Many creamcheese selections, many bagel selections... a few other things. The bagels are top notch, I found the creamcheeses just average. However, the big thing during our visit was the friendliness of staff... they really made our stay memorable. Thanks!

It was great big fluffy bagels lots of creamed cheese, fresh sliced lox! To bad it is closed! They say they are opening another in the area I hope so and I hope its the same but the original owners have passed away and left it to the children so who knows!

Although this place is very touristic w very long lines, it is worth the visit. If the line starts inside the shop (usually during week days) it is worth waiting. If the line starts outside the shop forget it, go somewhere else and try it another time. If you only want a bagel w cream cheese only the 2nd line is a lot shorter and faster. I have had a toasted poppy seed bagel w the white fish salad and it was awesome. This time I tried their special: herb cream cheese, lox, cappers, etc. It was very good, but I think it was pricy.

If you are the one to enjoy a good bagel, then this is a good place to visit. Whether for breakfast, lunch or late night snack, there is no reason to go away hungry. You have a good choice of all sorts of bagels, so my advice is to go and bagel it.

The lines are long, especially on weekend mornings, but they do move and the odors once you're inside are half the fun. The bagels are justifiably famous, and the variety of ingredients with which to have them is excellent. My preference is for a bit of cream cheese, and I should have asked to have it on the side. As it was, the cream cheese was too thickly lathered on and dominated the serving of lox. That said, it's a very good and very New York experience.

I tried several times to have a bagel on the morning but every time there was to many people queing. At least, I had more time on Monday morning and I can buy bagels for my husband and I. For the morning we only took toasted bagels with butter. Amazing! We love it so much that few days later, before going to the airport we took salted ones (salmon and cream cheese / roosbeef and cheese). Still amazing Bagels are fresh and prepared on demand. You should be patient if you come on the morning. End of afternoon is ok (we wait around 10min). It is possible to eat here. You also can buy raw bagels sets (for home)

World-class bagels ! We came with a friend, and she warmly recommended the place. And we were fulfilled ! Bagels are delicious, fresh, generous. There are at least 9 different kind (from plain to pimpernickl), and the seasoning and topping choice is huge). The personnel is very efficient, and Beverley, the owner is a wonderful and nice person. I highly recommend this place.

The long line is for made to order sandwiches. Go inside, there is a shorter line for bagels and smear. The "Signature Favorite" was delicious....made with lox, smear, caper, onions, tomatoe, lettuce on a chewy bagel. I like how they mix the capers and onions in the cream cheese, much easier to eat and the capers don't roll off. Genis!

Went there on a Saturday morning. The line was extremely long but moved along pretty well. The interior has very limited seating but if you're just there for a bagel to go skip the line and go straight to the back of the store. Had a salt bagel w/sausage, egg, and cheese with coffee. Delicious and as fresh as it could be. Highly recommended.

I love this place, the bagels are brilliant and the oreo cream cheese is to die for. I can't wait to come back in January 2016!

Nott every to be missed. . .the worlds best bagels! Everything and anything on a bagel. If you are not there early; you will wait to get in. . .

Went there yesterday and the place was closed. Apparently, after 39 years here they couldn't come to terms with the lanlord. So I had to drive uptown for an Ess A fix at their 3rd ave location. No better bagel anywhere.

My man Steve hooked it up. Everything bagel, nova lox, scallion cream cheese, and sliced onion. The bagel was chewy and delicious (and ENORMOUS, I had to push my lunch plans back). Stop in if you have the chance, you won't be disappointed.

This are without a doubt the best bagels in the great city of New York. Totally worth waiting to get one.

I just can't taste any other bagels after I tried these ones, warm, with cream cheese and smoked salmon,. The staff is absolutely lovely!

These bagels are the best my daughter cant wait to go back and get more to bring home. Very friendly service especially the man you pay

These are the best bagels I've ever had! And I've had a lot of bagels. So good! The only thing is they give you way too much cream cheese and I saved some for later :) no wasting for this girl!

Best bagels ever. The cream cheese choices are plentiful and can fantastic. Great location, staff is great. Well worth the walk for coffee and a bagel. Highly recommend.

It doesn't matter what part of town I visit when in NY I always find a way to make it to Ess-a-Bagel. The bagels are fresh not just recently made fresh but made at the facility within hours fresh. They have other things to offer other than bagels if interested. Salads meats sandwiches, staff is friendly food is great and not expensive.

This is a very popular spot but they are extremely organized and have a good system to manage the line ups. The bagels are HUGE, warm and delicious. It's also very reasonably priced.

The queue was right up to the front door and worth waiting for because the bagels we ordered were delicious. I had a smoked salmon with plain cream cheese on a fresh multi-seed bagel and it was packed! My husband ordered the Signature bagel which he loved. We ate these for brunch and they kept us going until dinner! I would definitely recommend this even if you have to wait for a seat and squeeze in. Look around and you'll realise you're surrounded by locals - it's the real deal!

I read about this place here on tripadvisor so we went on Sunday morning. The line was to the door (and later out the door) so we took that as a good sign. People that work there care about customers and business, they walked the line with samples of cream cheese on bagel chips with a smile. Breakfast bagel sandwich was VERY GOOD. Limited seating but it moved pretty fast.

Best bagel I’ve ever had! Was fresh and delicious! Worth a little queueing! Would recommend the everything bagel with whatever you have!

Hands down the best bagels I’ve ever had!! Generous and tasty fillings. Great staff, very helpful and friendly. Be prepared to queue at busy times though. This place is very popular with limited seating and we waited 45 minutes to get to the front of the queue. I would definitely recommend!

It is totally worth the wait!!! Or if you just want a few unsliced bagels and cream cheeses in 1/4lb tubs, skip the line and walk straight to the back. You’ll be out the door with the best bagels ever, hot steamy and fresh awesomeness! (I took a Baker’s Dozen home to NC)

I was brought up in New York, and have come to believe that Ess a Bagel (and perhaps a few other bagel shops) define what is a great New York bagel. Thankfully, the bagels are delivered by kind, courteous staff. That's all great. But a few years ago they lost their space on the west side of First Avenue, across from Peter Cooper. Now they've re-opened on the East side of First Avenue, a few blocks south. The new space is antiseptic white, too brightly lit, and so lacks the warmth and character of the old. The bagels are as good as ever (perhaps even better) but I do miss the old place. I could go into details -- bagel size, shape, color, outside crust, inside chewiness, salmon spread taste, saltiness, quantity used on the bagel they served me. Trust that Ess a Bagel bagels survive any such scrutiny. But I'm hampered in my ability to offer a detailed comparison with other bagels because when I'm in New York City, Ess a Bagel bagels are my bagels of choice, and I can't even remember eating another brand.

This is my favorite bagel, anywhere. They are all great, but the poppy seed is a thing to behold. So great. Chewy and perfectly cooked. Loved my dozen (13) that I picked up on my recent NYC visit. Love it here... and their other location, just as great.

When you get there you will have to wait. I had a hot everything bagel and tuna, and my wife had a hot cinnamon raisin with walnut raisin cream cheese and all I can say is wow. Totally worth the wait and they ship fresh!

I have been told that the reason NYC bagels are so good it because the water in NYC. I have to agree there is something in the water, these are the most amazing bagels I have ever had. After we left we came back a few hours later and the line was around the building!! So so good!!!

It's awesome to know of a place that does what they do better than anyone else. When it comes to bagels, you've found it. This place, and their other location, makes killer bagels. Stopped by to pick up a dozen... price now 16.20 (for 13). Love it here!

My go to stop when I'm in town. The bagels and large and loaded with toppings (especially the ET bagels). They have it all. Smoked fish, spreads and even sandwiches. Be prepared to wait as they can be crowded. I call ahead and order my bakers dozen (13) to take back with me.

Maybe my expectations were set to high based on the feedback of the personi who took me there but I found the bagels just ok. I have had much better in plenty of other places even outside of New York. The lines were long but it looked most of tourists (I guess New Yorkers know where to get the real good bagels). The coffee was mediocre. The only intriguing thing was the array of unusual salads that they have for their bagels (herrings, white fish, eggplant, etc.). I don't think I will go back.

Ess-a Bagel has been our Go-to bagel joint for years. With a line out the door on weekends, you'd better be prepared to place your orderly quickly, as well as talk some smack with the guys behind the counter. Fresh lox, various cream cheeses, and warm bagels in the back await. You'll be back.

Awesome Online Experience Was able to order the night before for morning pick up @8:30am. Was a little nervous we’d have a longer wait but it was ready and we were in and out in under 10min.

As I bit into a toasted poppy seed bagel with cream cheese today I said to myself, "There's no better bagel anywhere". At least I've never had one, and I've had many around NY and around the world. If anyone has a contender, please let me know.

Great place located in mid-town to grab a bagel which you can customize to your hearts content. My favorite was always whitefish salad. Loads of other kosher options as well. Just be prepared to queue a while, but it moves fast.

This is the best place to have bagels & cream cheese in NY. They have wide variety of cream cheese flavors & really good! I always have this bagel when in NY. The line is always long in the morning, the best time to visit...when bagels are freshly baked.

I like staying with tradition as much as the next guy, especially if that tradition offers quality and value, but our experience at Ess-a-Bagel was a real disappointment. We walked across town to get here based on several reviews I had read about the place. They have been known to offer some of the best bagels in the city. When we arrived in the morning there was a line of customers, the atmosphere was anything but pleasant. The staff looked stressed and seemed disorganized. The place feels old and worn out. The ordering/paying system is antiquated and inefficient. They did have a vat of boiling water behind one of the counters, which I assumed was for boiling the bagels. When we finally got our bagels they were just ok, not particularly fresh. Its too bad because we really wanted to like the place.

After a long hiatus Ess-a-Bagel is finally back on First Avenue in the twenties. Across the street from its old digs in a buch brighter better laid out space. But I still miss its old cramped quaters. The bagels and cream cheese selections were stillof excellent quality. The service was good, but I missed the the "old team". The belly lox and nova were expertly sliced. I had to wait for some bagels to come out but it was worth it!

Bagels are outstanding traditional NYC bagels. There is a place to sit and eat, but it was crowded. Worth fighting the crowds for.

No stop is complete to New York without getting a New York bagel so why not stop at ess-a bagel one of the best in Manhattan!

We were there around 2 p.m. The place was not as busy as we expected. I looked at the menu online before and we knew what to order. So I didn't experience any problem ordering. And the guy was nice. He made a suggestion on what kind of spread goes better with smocked salmon. Our sandwiches were very good. My son's roast beef sandwich was so big that we asked to pack the second half and he ate it later. The bags itself was soft and warm. We tool whole wheat everything bagel. It was a great quick and affordable lunch.

I grew up eating this stuff and I know this is really quality whitefish. The bagels are delicious and HUGE. Just more leftovers for me.

Amazing bagels, also breakfast sandwiches. The best bagels I've ever had. Clean deli with a ton of options. Can't wait to go back!

the bagels must be great because the service isn't. Do the owners even go there to see what terrible service it is. WE paid $25 for delivery which took over 2 hours. Will never go there again!

Definitely not Bruegger’s or Einstein. Their bagels were fresh and hot even at 10 AM. They were big, thick, had a good crisp crust and a thick but light interior. No need to toast. I enjoyed a sesame with lox cream cheese. My wife enjoyed a plain with chocolate chip cc. The Friday morning line was out the door but moved quickly. It was packed, but we didn’t need to wait long to find a table.

Absolutely delicious! The menu is huge and I wanted to try everything. The Reuben fusion was my fave. The monti cristo was good. Both were on everything bagel. It was popular but we got a seat at a table to chow down. The staff were busy but friendly.

I’ve been coming to ess-a for 20 years. Best bagels on earth! I always bring some home for the family. My favs are pumpernickel, everything and sesame. Great nova and lox spread.

Although many reviewers believe the bagels & toppings merit the wait in the long line around the block, I wanted coffee and a breakfast pastry. I might as well have been at a convenience store. The coffee was pedestrian, the chocolate pound cake tasted like it was a couple of days old and the employees were in a sour mood.

We ate here at the Time Out DUMBO l. Great bagels. I had traditional bagel with lox and all fixings. It was marvelous with quick service.

I have been trying to get to Ess-a-bagel for years. Finally dispatched the husband to go there, as it was right around the corner from the hotel. We ordered 4 bagels and took a baker's dozen back to Boston. Husband waited for 30 minutes on Saturday at noon. He said the line moved pretty quickly. I go to NY a lot, but this was my first NY bagel. I was skeptical when he brought back a bag full of bagels that weighed a ton. After my first bite, I was hooked. I had the honey grain bagel with chocolate chip cream sees and it was the best. It wasn't overly sweet and it tasted like Nutella was mixed in. The bagels are very filling and cover you for two meals, so plan accordingly. I have my bagels stash in the freezer and am so excited to eat one for brunch this weekend. Worth the trip and wait. Rainbow bagels are next on my list...

Popped in on our first day in the Big Apple and had our first bagel. Great start to the day, lots of fillings to choose from and amazing value for money.

After reading many pleasant reviews I decided to grab brunch here one morning. I heard the line can get long and it was certainly out the door at 11am. Once inside the line was out of control (overcrowded and fire hazard)and the staff had a difficult time courteously handling the situation. After one hour I was finally able to order. The shop has quite an impressive selection of fresh bagels, cream cheese and meat assortment. I ordered a egg bacon and cheese bagel which was delicious yet I was shocked to see my egg being cooked in a microwave (that was different). While it was tasty, $7 for a bagel was pricy. Worth visiting once but for the wait and cost I found other shops equally as yummy.

Our second time at this magic Bagel place after a few years and nothing has changed which is a good thing here! The Reuben Sandwich style bagel with Pastrami, Sauerkraut and molten Swiss Cheese was fantastic. We took five different Bagels home which you can get at the fast lane if you want them without anything.

Fantastic - everything you want in a bagel and bagel shop. Old-school decor and fantastic product. Tried the day after Murray's - both are great and completely worthwhile. This is probably more convenient to a major subway stop (went to the Muarry's on Avenue of the Americas) at the 51st and Lexington stop. The folks behind the counter were a little hard to understand - spoke quietly. The bagel itself might just be slightly better than Murray's; the thing that puts Ess-a-Bagel over the top for me is toasting. I read that you couldn't get toasting there, but they definitely toast. Had a cinnamon-raisin with butter - perfect, maybe a little heavy on the butter. But it was crispy on the outside, chewy and dense on the inside, and just perfect overall. There is a world of difference between this and anything sold in plastic anywhere. Do your self a favor and try these if you already haven't.

Wow, the bagels are superior here. I'm a bagel lover and found their bagels as good as any I've ever had. I think they've been doing this for over 40 years ands the crowds show how popular the food and service are.

Love it here. Best bagels in the city, perhaps anywhere. Perfect texture, chewy... trust me. A bakers dozen costs $15... very fair. Picked up a dozen, mostly poppy. Also a sandwich for lunch... poppy w/nova and cream cheese. Heaven.

This place was amazing!!! We got multiple bagels and a few different cream cheeses that where incredible. The people working there where all super sweet and helpful on our first time. The bagls where so crunchy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. Best Bagel I have ever had.

Walked here with our family from our hotel in mid town manhattan...worth the walk and wait on a busy Saturday morning! The Lotz bagel was best I've ever eaten!!

By far some of the best bagels we have tasted! Go early because the line wraps around the building. They have a bagel express line if you are only ordering bagels otherwise you can order online pick up if you don't want to wait in line. Staff at the counter are not so friendly... I guess they are so busy because of the amount of people in line. Bagels are worth the wait! My favorite "The signature"

Bagels are hot and fresh. Be prepared for long lines if you want a sandwich or toasted bagel, but if you can schmear and slice yourself, skip the line and order from counter. Seating and space is tight, as it is in many NYC restaurants. All told though, the bagels are worth it, thus the 5 stars!!

Love Ess A Bagel!!! I’ve been coming to this place for over 20 years!! I no longer live in NYC but when I come to the city this is where I go for my “bagel run” and they still have the best bagels in NYC IMHO. Didn’t realize they had moved from their old location but now that I found them again - I am one happy camper! Just need to work on sorting out the line - was glad that you can still go to the bagel counter to just get bagels to go - the deli line was long but they do their best to move things along.

Busy day planned so we decided to grab a NY favorite for breakfast. We arrived around 9:30a.m. and found a line out the door. Locals knew to go right in to go to a shorter line just for bagels and cream cheese tubs only. The sandwich line is the long line. You can also call or order online and pickup at checkout--fyi. I stood in line (about 8th in line outside) for a total of maybe 35 mins. I ordered two plain bagels toasted with cream cheese, a coffee with cream, and a hot chocolate. All very basic but very good. Worth the weight. Enjoyed people watching. The tables fill up and empty quickly--no laptop users just sitting and taking up space rudely. This place gets efficient and fast. Loved it.

My husband nearly lost it when he saw the line or the door, but it was an indication of how good the bagels are here! Like another reviewer said, if you just want a good old-fashioned bagel and cream cheese, you can skip up to the bagel line and pick up there, which is what we decided to do. Warm, flavorful and filing. Thumbs up for this gem!

A true NYC experience. Queues can be really long so avoid peak times. Opens at 7am, so go early to get your bagel. I had a poppy seed bagel with cream cheese and lox and a coffee for $15. Super highly recommended!

Ess-, which means "eat" in Yiddish, a-bagel, is a long time bagel store in Manhattan. It now has a few locations. Its bagels are distinctive because they are thicker than most store's bagels and superior in quality to any store-bought bagels. They are made in store. They will serve as a very filling snack or small meal. Visitors can dine in at the store or takeaway. Worth a visit if near one. If you have never tried a bagel, this is the store to have your first bite. With a "smear", Yiddish for spread, of whitefish or cream cheese. Wonderful!

I had a turkey club on everything bagel and my boyfriend had a corned beef on an everything bagel. We wanted to go back for breakfast but we didn't have time.

Based on the recommendation of a friend, who is a New Yorker, for the best place to buy bagels....we visited Ess-a-Bagels on 3rd Ave near the corner of 50th. We've been to several bagel bakeries in the area and this is by far the best and most authentic bagels we have come across. We stopped in around 7:30 on a Sunday and there was already a line. However, if you are not ordering coffee or a hot food items, skip the line and head directly to the bagel counter in the back of the store. Place your order and pick up your bagels from there..be advised the fella working the bagel counter is a no-nonsense kind of fella. Quickly know what and how many you want, grab your bag and head the cash register. You will not be disappointed as the bagels were still warm and were very delicious.

I ordered bagels online so they were day old and they were still amazing. When I get to New York this is a must experience.

A NYC institution have to go on every trip. It’s an experience in itself choosing what you want but the staff are very helpful. Food is great. Go and experience the real NYC bagel.

We thoroughly enjoyed our bagels from the time out market branch! The service was quick, friendly and the food was delicious.