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    Pick-A-Bagel

    3.4 (296 reviews)
    Closed • 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    About Pick-A-Bagel

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    PICK-A-BAGEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Innards
    Jane D.

    Pick-A-Bagel is something of a red-headed stepchild* in our Great Bagel Metropolis. Locations appear in close proximity to clusters of excellent bagelries (e.g. Tal Bagels, Ess-a-Bagel, Broad Nosh or, depending on your leanings, Absolute, H&H, Pop-Up, etc...). But in such star-studded company, Pick-A-Bagel is a bit of an afterthought. * Not that I have anything against redheads or stepchildren. Please feel free to insert your own politically incorrect idiom of choice. Here's why: - Bagels are not fresh out of the oven. I mean, they must be fresh out of the oven at SOME point, I guess, but I've personally never caught them fresh on morning or afternoon visits. (Compare this to Tal, Ess-a-Bagel or Broad Nosh, where bagels are almost always fresh out of the oven. And when they are not, they were baked just a few hours prior.) Staff at this UES location shrugged and nodded when I asked whether bagels are baked on premises, but I was not entirely convinced after they tried to give me a bialy straight out of a plastic package. - Probably as a result of the prior, bagel crusts are neither crisp nor gently chewy, and are only good when toasted. - Everything bagels come unevenly seasoned. Some bagels in our batch had nice coverage; others were as sparsely sprinkled as Larry David's pate. (In their favor, however: Everything seasoning *is* applied to both the top and bottom.) - To our tastes, bagels are undersalted. That could provide some leeway for lox, capers and cream cheese, I suppose, but if you keep things simple like we do with cream cheese or nothing at all, bagels can come across as bland. To be clear, Pick-A-Bagel is not awful. I like the density / rise, I like that the everything seasoning includes some sunflower seeds, which not all establishments use. I like the reasonable size, the usually discernible hole. In parts of the world where NYC style bagels aren't in such abundance, Pick-A-Bagel would be a perfectly fine bagel. But in NYC, it's fourth string.

    Pumpernickel bagel
    Neha M.

    Quick place to grab a bagel! It's a little expensive but the bagels are huge and the cream cheese is decadent. The jalapeño cream cheese is tangy and paired well with the bagel.

    Sausage egg and cheese
    Anthony P.

    Got a sausage egg and cheese here - have come to Pick a bagel before and it is an authentic NYC bagel place but still wouldn't consider it amongst NYC's best. I would say, solid, and does our bagels justice, but hit or miss sometimes. Probably more expensive than other bagel places - unfortunately the UES just be like that. Chicken salad - big chunks of chicken, not too much mayo or crunchy celery bits (how I like my chicken salad) Black and white cookie - this was pretty fluffy and fresh, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it here. All in all, happy with what I got and I live around the area so probs will come back. Although, if you're looking for NYC's best bagels, there are other spots. If you're a local and need to scratch your itch, this place will do the trick.

    Bagel, egg, and cheddar cheese on an everything bagel
    Josh R.

    I gave this place another shot. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese with cheddar cheese. It was $8.84. The toppings themselves were high quality, but the everything bagel didn't have much flavor. This place is just okay.

    Alexa T.

    I was craving a bagel and found this place on my morning walk. I got an Everything bagel with scallion cream cheese ($6.76). It wasn't the best bagel I've ever had but it was fine. I think you can get the same bagel for less at a different bagel shop.

    Ordering station
    Marla F.

    I rarely leave 3 stars or less but today was at least my 5th or 6th visit to this Pick A Bagel location since I moved uptown. They get your order wrong -- every. single. time. I called today to let them know that once again they forgot ALL THREE fresh ingredients on my bagel. Ordered a toasted bagel with bacon, egg and cheese plus lettuce, tomato and red onion. Bagel was delivered by GrubHub without lettuce, tomato or red onion (which you pay extra for). The man at the location offered to send a new correct bagel to me but I couldn't wait because I had to leave for work. He explained that they keep forgetting fresh ingredients because there's separate hot and a cold workstations. So utilize this feedback, no? I can't be the only person consistently receiving wildly incorrect orders. Train employees to communicate between workstations so a sandwich can be constructed to completion. Overall, I'd say 90% of the time I order from here they forget ingredients. The man offered to refund me 59 cents LOL but GrubHub was nice enough to give me a $7 credit. Never ordering from here again, it's just an absurdly run location. Side note -- The Gramercy/Flatiron location is much friendlier and never gets orders wrong!

    Kaitlin W.

    I got fresh squeezed orange juice and an onion bagel with cheese, egg and jalapeño cream cheese, I also had half a bagel with cream cheese. The bagels were good and I really enjoyed the jalapeño cream cheese.

    Everything bagel w/ veggie cream cheese
    Piper B.

    An absolute must try if in nyc!! This was the best bagel place i've ever been to. Came for breakfast everyday of our trip it was that good! The chicken noodle soup was also incredible! Still think about this place very often wish we had something like this at home!!

    Posted 09/25/17
    Marianne W.

    I'm going to be nice and give them Four Stars. In my opinion it's hit or miss if I get friendly service. Sometimes I get a snobbish vibe from the employees. This area in the East 70's is more expensive to reside and do business than a mile north where I reside. Like I've said about the other locations it's a treat for me. After a while I endure the hassle for a Muffin or Bagel and Cream Cheese. That was the case early one morning this past week. If you're in the neighborhood I recommend. Or you can go a couple blocks north there's another well known Bagel Shop with the same if not worse vibes from employees. You gotta put up with it if you like the product.

    Onion Bagel w/ Egg + Cheese. Vegetable Cream Cheese.
    Sandy Y.

    Always solid and reliable. Doesn't stray too far from what you would expect and is always consistent.

    Betsy S.

    I went here to get a dozen bagels for my family- if you get a dozen you get two free. The bagels are expensive but worth it. I should've asked for zip up bags for the bagels so they would stay fresh-- but I managed. Make sure you note the hours so you don't get shut out of getting your bagels!!

    Nicholas G.

    They have every possible breakfast option you can think of. They even have yogurt with granola and fruit which wasn't the best thing but it is a bagel shop. The problem was the granola was a little soggy. All good. The bagels are always solid here and that is what you should stick to. This place has a few locations in NYC and this one is a solid neighborhood spot. It is reliable and gives you plenty of options. What more could you want?!

    Over priced breakfast

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    6 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Bagel and cream cheese were mediocre. Lots of flavors which is nice but not my top choice for a bagel. Service is quick though!

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    1 year ago

    Love their bagels and salmon spread. Just be ready and confident when you order and you will be good!

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    $25 for a basic bagel with water not worth it at all. No need to fill up 85 characters for that.

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 8

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    JoJu - Upper East Side - The Joju Banh Mi - Vietnamese ham, head cheese, pork pate, pork sausage, with mayo, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrots, and cilantro

    JoJu - Upper East Side

    4.4(33 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Yorkville, Upper East Side

    Very good banh mi sandwiches. I went with the chicken one, was solid. Got myself some mayo and the…read morejalapeños. Word of caution here they were spicy hot and gave me hiccups. Chicken thighs were nice and flavorful. Veggies bright and fresh. As for the restaurant it was Bright, Modern with a clean vibe despite a B grade: place is super small and I was fortunate to get a table. Better for takeout. I will come back to sample more of their fare. Great for a quick nosh or to pick up dinner on the way home from work.

    I've been clamoring - CLAMORING - for a place like this in the Upper East Side. Most Asian…read morerestaurants in this neighborhood are fancy sit-downs, so it was exciting to see a quick, casual stop for Asian "finger food" (for a lack of better word) within my vicinity. Joju specializes in modern Vietnamese cuisine, serving meals like bahn mi, loaded fries, and rice meals. The menu recently added soy garlic wings, and since I am a fiend for Asian-style fried chicken, I of course had to have it. While all of the beverages looked tempting, especially their non-alcoholic soju refreshers, I needed caffeine to offset the afternoon slump that was about to follow, so I ordered a Vietnamese coffee. The wings were huge! It was notably crunchy, saucy, and juicy. There was a decent skin to meat ratio, (I so hate biting into a mouthful of breading), and the meal came out piping hot. It was clear the chicken had been fried per order. Those who know me know that I can't live without rice and would eat it with almost any meal, including fried chicken, so I did request it on the side, although the wings don't come with it. The man who took my order did me a solid and served it with mine, anyway. Good lad! I've been wanting to try Vietnamese coffee for a while now, and it was everything I imagined it would be. Sweet with a bitter backend - but not too bitter! I'm still new to coffee, and I pucker up at anything too intense. This was just right. My meal at Joju satisfied me, mind, body, and soul. I hope it is here to stay, and I hope that a shop like this is a catalyst for other quick Asian food stops to follow. Korean and Filipino restaurants - I'll be waiting!

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    LyLy Vietnam Cookhouse - Hanoi Pho (@joeynht)

    LyLy Vietnam Cookhouse

    4.5(184 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Upper East Side, Yorkville
    •$$

    I was recommended this restaurant by my Vietnamese friend who knew I'd be in the area soon. They…read moreget busy, so I made reservations in advance, though it wasn't hard to do so 2-3 days before we planned to go. We were seated very quickly. Restaurant is small and cozy, was a bit hard to get to the booth area due to how close together the tables are, but still felt fairly private and not like we were overhearing conversations. Service was great, we got menus quickly, were asked if we needed more time after a few minutes. We ordered phos, and I also got a Thai iced tea and we got the water spinach for the table. The drinks came out very quickly, as did the pho! They also gave us hoisin sauce and sriracha if needed. Broth was good and flavorful, meat was well cooked (I got chicken). I also really enjoyed the water spinach, it was really well seasoned and I'd definitely get it again. Also everything was a good amount so I definitely felt full by the end of it. They also have only one restroom, but there were many times where it wasn't in use, and it was very well maintained and clean. No complaints and would highly recommend!

    I've been a regular customer at LyLy, ordering takeout frequently and dining in quite a few times…read more Unfortunately, today's lunch experience was very disappointing, particularly when it came to the service. After being seated, I waited about five minutes without even being offered water. Since I was on a tight lunch schedule, I tried to get a waiter's attention to place my order. He acknowledged me and said he would come over, but never did. Throughout the entire meal, there was no service beyond someone bringing out my food. Nobody checked on me or made any effort to see if I needed anything. What made the experience even more disappointing was that, as I was leaving, the same waiter who had ignored me didn't even bother to acknowledge me or say goodbye. The restaurant wasn't even close to being full, so I genuinely don't understand why the service was so poor today. As someone who has supported this restaurant through frequent takeout orders and dine-in visits, I expected much better. Good food matters, but basic hospitality and attentiveness are just as important. Unfortunately, today's experience fell well short of expectations.

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    LyLy Vietnam Cookhouse - Lychee daiquiri

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    All'Antico Vinaio - La Favolosa

    All'Antico Vinaio

    4.2(124 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Upper East Side
    •$$

    I first found this place through TikTok, where people were hyping it up in Italy. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised to find out they had a location in New York City, so I obviously had to give it a try. There are a few locations, but I decided to visit this one because it was the most convenient for getting to and from home. I got there around 7:00 PM, which felt a little close to closing time since Google said they close at 9:00 PM, but it wasn't busy at all. In fact, I was only the third customer to place an order. I ordered the La Summer sandwich and added pesto. After sitting down and taking my first bite, I immediately understood the hype. Without a doubt, this is one of the best sandwiches I've had in a very long time. I'm not even a huge sandwich person when it comes to subs and deli meats, but everything tasted incredibly fresh. The ingredients paired together perfectly, and you could still taste each one individually. The only thing I'd change next time is the meat. I had no idea prosciutto was a type of ham, but honestly, it didn't even taste like ham to me. It was sliced paper-thin, slightly salty, and worked surprisingly well with everything else. Next time, though, I'll probably add salami just to see how it compares. Overall, this sandwich was a solid 10/10, and I will absolutely be back--whether it's to try a different sandwich or, if we're being honest, order the exact same one again with salami added. I will say it's on the expensive side, but that's New York City for you. Apparently, all of the ingredients are flown in from Italy. After tax and tip, I paid a whopping $28 for a single sandwich. That said, it was incredibly filling and definitely kept me satisfied. The workers were also really nice and accommodating, and the indoor seating was beautiful. The atmosphere felt like a fancy Italian café, complete with couches and artwork throughout the space. I wish I had taken pictures, but honestly, I was too busy enjoying what might be the best sandwich I've had in years.

    This is such a great spot for a quick Sammie that is big enough for two. Don't let this place…read moreintimidate you. The menu inside breaks down all of the sandwhiches, you roll up to the deli counter when they say next, spill out your order (add/remove stuff to your order) and you're done. The most overwhelming thing is deciphering the Italian sandwhich menu. I hit up the Italian Hot. Pretty decent! I added sun dried tomatoes...but it would have been just as good without it. Be PREPARED this Sammie has some chili honey liquid /oil sauce they put on it and it's tasty but it's a lot. The staff are friendly - just focused on getting your order and getting it to you so you can enjoy. The wall is pretty interested they have made their own decor out of door panel fixtures.

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    Pick-A-Bagel - bagels - Updated October 2026

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