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Ess-a-Bagel

3.7 (572 reviews)
Closed 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Ess-a-Bagel Takeout or Delivery

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ESS-A-BAGEL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Stephanie C.

I'm honestly really disappointed by this spot, given the popularity and the amount of positive reviews I had. My partner and I decided to grab a bagel every morning and the line for this spot was OUT THE DOOR. So we figured, okay, let's try it! It has to be good with the amount of people waiting , right? Nah, the bacon egg and cheese and sausage egg and cheese were okay. I did like the bacon to egg ratio on this one, but the sausage lacked flavor. My biggest gripe honestly was the fact that the bagel was really quite hard and not steamed at all. We didn't want it toasted, but steam should have been an option instead of just a raw bagel. It was disappointing but we still tried to make the best of it! I would not visit this spot again though and would try other bagel spots.

Josh B.

Did you see that awful Times article about DoorDash heavy users? Seems like it only existed to expand misogynistic "avocado toast" rhetoric to a wider target? "You losers, don't you realize it only takes 30 minutes to whip up pecan-crusted monkfish rillettes with a cilantro-lime reduction plus a side of speck-and-kohlrabi sliders?" Anyhow, I'm pre-empting criticism of my fiscal policies by confessing that I didn't need to order a $5.49 Natalie's orange juice, and beverage pricing is the reason for a mere 4-star score. The everything bagel is dreamy. Today it was sold but there was no need for my brief hesitation on the non-standard everything I got in its place (I think it was whole wheat but I wouldn't state that under oath). The scallion cream cheese was action-packed. The service is friendly, and for a "one minute to track 18" type, the briskness is appreciated.

Jennifer M.

So many options for bagels and savory or sweet cream cheese options. Gluten free bagels available! Staff was very friendly! Will update once I try my bagel Update: My gluten free bagel was soft & thick. Eggs tasted like rubber as if they had been microwaved. Too much cream cheese and very little flavor. Hubs regular everything bagel was rock hard. So hard he said it cut the roof of his mouth. Again, eggs seemed microwaved and rubbery. He was not impressed. $35 for two bagel sandwiches and a huge let down. Definitely sad we wasted our first "NYC bagel" experience here.

Bacon Egg and Cheese
Matt C.

I'm glad we had an Ess-a-Bagel outpost near us in Midtown. We walked here on a chilly morning and the cafe was bustling. Tables were full, guests were warming up and escaping the cold with hot coffee and hot bagels. Nothing better I tell you! This was my first time at Ess-a-Bagel. My wife had great memories of coming here many years ago. It was our first morning in the city and all I wanted was a Bacon Egg and Cheese. This one satisfied the craving! Made fresh to order and served piping hot, I had to wait impatiently as it cooled down. The bagel was fluffy and soft with good chew. The best part of the sandwich was the perfectly melted cheese. Just ooey and gooey and melty cheesiness. The ratio of bread to egg/meat/cheese was not to my preferred liking, as I felt it was more bread heavy, but this was still a commendable sandwich! Definitely a noteworthy spot in the never ending bagel conversation in New York!

Creme cheese
Julyssia O.

Favorite bagel sandwiches in NYC! The staff is very nice, knowledgeable and accommodating to your order at this location. There's lots of seating here and it's so clean. I love the variety of cream cheese they have , truly endless! These bagel sandwiches will fill you up leaving you satisfied and eventually returning! (especially to try all those unique and fresh cream cheeses!)

Outside
May W.

I've tried a handful of bagels in NY and Ess-a-bagel just doesn't stack up anymore. Both the onion and cinnamon raisin bagel were hard inside and outside. The one saving grace is the lox cream cheese, which was delicious. I'd just buy the cream cheese and get a bagel at Best Bagel or Liberty bagel.

Yin K.

First time at this bagel place as they seem pretty busy with multiple stores so I've decided to give it a go. Popped by on a Friday morning and got myself a whole bagel made signature favorite. Got it with a blueberry bagel which is my favorite. Unfortunately, while it tasted great, but personally, I thought the bagel was too hard and chewy. I love a fresh, crunchy outside and soft and light airy inside and this ain't it. Healthy amount of cream cheese and a thick layer of lox. Sweet, creamy and savory at the same time.

Aanchal V.

After a long, exhausting day at the Annual NYC India Independence Day Parade, my friend and I decided to grab a little comfort food. Comfort is exactly what I did not find here. I ordered a toasted onion bagel with scrambled eggs, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and chipotle mayo. Sounds delicious on paper, right? Well, the dream ended the second I saw the "scrambled eggs" get reheated in a microwave. Frozen egg patty à la McDonald's/ Burger King style--not the fluffy, fresh eggs I expected. My appetite instantly took a nosedive. Strike two? The bagel. Rock. Hard. Like, I-choke-on-every-bite hard. Not warm, not fresh, just... jaw workout material. To make matters worse, the eggs (patty? puddle?) were bizarrely runny and leaking everywhere, turning the whole sandwich into a slip 'n slide. My friend--who happens to be a doctor--literally watched me choking my way through this sandwich and had to step in. When she tried it herself, even she agreed the bagel was inedible. The cashier offered to remake it, but by then, I already knew a second round wouldn't magically transform the experience. All in all, my "comfort bite" ended up being an overpriced disaster. Between the microwave eggs, rock-solid bagel, and sheer disappointment, I left hungrier, crankier, and pretty sure I won't be back.

Chive Cream Cheese on Poppy Seed Bagel
Brian L.

Overall: Overall I think Ess-a-Bagel has better cream cheese, but a worse bagel than other spots in New York. Food: I got a poppy seed bagel with chive cream cheese. The cream cheese to bagel ratio was fantastic. The chive cream cheese was very smooth and well made. The bagel itself was a bit on the harder end. Service: They work fast but depending on when you come the wait can be long. Ambiance: Not a ton of seating, most likely you'll want to get your order to-go and eat somewhere else.

Mina N.

This place was hyped up to me but I honestly thought it was just okay. A salmon lox will easily put you above 20 dollars... that's a pretty pricy bagel. I felt that the bagel was really hard and chewy, like I was working through an overmixed batch of dough. 2 stars because they were generous with their filling (cream cheese and salmon), but the bagel itself.. I was sadly not impressed with it

Signature Favorite
Lizz M.

A friend told us to check out this bagel place. I've tried a few other ones and I was not disappointed. My sandwich had the perfect amount of cream cheese. You must now exactly what you want because they were just when we arrived but the line moves fast. I wasn't sure what I wanted until I saw a deal on the signature sandwich that came with an iced coffee and chips, perfect lunch combo. My mom got a sesame bagel with Oreo cream cheese and she absolutely loved it. Said it was sweet but not too sweet for her sweet tooth. They have a code to use the bathroom which they'll give you after you order. A few tables to sit and a long table against the window. No outlets that I saw to charge items after being out all morning. It's close to the subway and easy to get to.

Mayura P.

I looked up must eat bagels in NYC and Ess-a-Bagel popped up so we had to try it. It's a typical bagel shop which serves different types of bagels, schmears, bagel sandwiches, dessert options, coffees, etc. The place was crowded and there's not much seating available inside. We picked our order and enjoyed our breakfast / brunch at Greeley Square Park which is diagonally opposite. We ordered everything seed bagel with avocado cream cheese (my fav), plain bagel with oreo cream cheese (my kid loved this) and eggsplaining sandwich on everything seed bagel. We enjoyed our breakfast/brunch. The bagels are thick with generous amounts of cream cheese.

No bad days.
Kurt I.

The bagel spot near Penn Station. My go to, huge black iced coffee, whole wheat everything bagel with tofu scallion schmear. This dude is fed and quite happy.

The Signature Favorite (no onion, sub jalapeño cream cheese) on an everything bagel

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4.1(1.6k reviews)
0.6 miMurray Hill, Kips Bay, Midtown East
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Wednesday girl dinner is a must try. For $25, you get a martini, salad (Cesar or market), and fries…read more(truffle or regular). I got the market salad with grilled chicken which was very filling and packed with flavor. The grilled chicken was an add on so cost a little bit more than $25 but still an amazing deal. 10/10 recommend!

Stopped into Cask Bar & Kitchen in Murray Hill for a casual dinner and loved the quirky, cozy vibe;…read moreit kind of feels like having dinner in your grandma's living room (in the best way possible). Think vintage wallpaper, little knick-knacks, and warm lighting. It's got character. I ordered the market salad with mixed greens, honeycrisp apples, goat cheese, candied pecans, and sherry vinaigrette. It was a hearty portion - super fresh and flavorful, and honestly more than I could finish (not a complaint!). I also ordered a Diet Pepsi with grenadine; they don't carry Diet Coke, which I almost docked a point for, but the mix was unexpectedly delicious. Highly recommend it. My date ordered the hanger steak and said it was absolutely amazing. Only hiccup: his first glass of wine he got came out hot... like, microwave-level warm. Fortunately, the server brought a new (cold) one and the rest of the meal was smooth sailing. Service was friendly, the vibe was homey and relaxed, and the food was solid across the board. Would definitely come back, especially for that salad and another round of grenadine magic.

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Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner - Corned beef and pastrami

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3.9(1.7k reviews)
0.7 miMurray Hill, Midtown East
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After a weekend of rich, indulgent meals, we were looking for something a little more…read morestraightforward and comforting. We also wanted to try a classic pastrami on rye--but without committing to the long lines at Katz's Delicatessen. Sarge's ended up being the perfect alternative, just a quick five-minute walk from our hotel. We arrived around 5:00 pm on a Sunday and were seated right away, which already felt like a win. The meal started with coleslaw and both a half sour and full sour pickle--such a classic deli touch, and a great way to kick things off. I ordered the half sandwich with matzah ball soup, and the portion sizes were no joke. The soup alone could have been a full meal: a huge bowl with an equally massive matzah ball. The broth was warm and soothing, and the matzah ball was incredibly light with a perfect texture. The half pastrami on rye was just as impressive. Even "half" was stacked high with flavorful, tender pastrami. Adding a bit of mustard from the table brought everything together--it was simple, classic, and exactly what I was hoping for. Not only was it one of the more reasonably priced meals of the trip, but it was also genuinely satisfying. If you're looking for a no-fuss, traditional deli experience without the wait, Sarge's is a great option.

Absolutely terrible experience at Sarges Deli. The waitress was incredibly rude from start to…read morefinish, acted annoyed every time we asked for anything, and made us feel unwelcome the entire meal. Service was so bad she deserved no tip whatsoever. On top of that, the food was overpriced and nowhere near worth the attitude. If you want REAL deli quality, good portions, and professional service, save yourself the frustration and go to Katz's instead. Night and day difference in both food and customer service.

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Ess-a-Bagel - bagels - Updated May 2026

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