Absolute Bagels
“My go-to is the everything bagel with the lox or garlic & chive cream cheese with onion/tomato/lettuce toppings.”
“Usually long lines in the morning but totally worth the wait and the line moves surprisingly quickly.”
“The other reviews mention this and it's true: for no frills, delicious bagels on the UWS, you gotta come here.”
Absolute Bagels
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Inexpensive
8 reviews
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I was super lucky that this place was only three blocks from where I was staying but next time in New York, I'm totally prepared to go out of my way to come here. There was a line (although it moved quickly) and it was HOT with no AC, but man, I would gladly sweat it out again for another bagel.
Even if their bagels were terrible – which they are totally not, quite the opposite in fact – I would have still been impressed by their cream cheese selection. So many choices, both savory and sweet! Also, the person in front of me in line ordered each half with a different spread and I totally stole their idea and did the same, because hey, you can try more than one! Ultimately I went for a toasted onion bagel with half garlic and chives cream cheese and half sun-dried tomato cheese. I had a moment of regret after I asked for it toasted thinking maybe the bagel is good enough as is or it will end up being burnt and hard, but it was toasted to perfection. Crispy and warm, but still soft on the inside. The tomato side was good, like a deconstructed pizza bagel but the garlic and chive side was just plain magical. If I had quick access to a fridge and didn't need to take the bus back to Boston that evening I would have grabbed as much as I could of it, plus every kind of bagel they offered, and eaten many happy breakfasts. As is, I guess I'll just have to settle for dreaming of it.
After seeing a line out the door of Absolute Bagels on numerous occasions, I decided to venture over and finally try it out. I was surprisingly disappointed. I really wanted to love it, especially since it's in my neighborhood and easy to get to, but I just wasn't feeling it. To start, you need cash. I feel like a lot of these popular places only take cash (making it more trendy) but I feel like it's time to upgrade. When I ordered, I asked for a breakfast bagel with egg and cheese. I asked what kind of condiments they had to accompany it and they practically laughed at me. Wasn't quite sure what was so funny because at my favorite bagel place, there is an assortment of options, including hand-crafted espresso drinks. I decided to go with a herbs spread/cream cheese. I also ordered a small cranberry thai iced tea. It came to about $10 total which isn't terrible but I think they could decrease the price on the iced tea by a dollar at least.
The egg on the bagel wasn't cooked. It was straight out of some shaken carton egg yolk business. It wasn't even remotely warm when I touched it. I'm used to steaming hot fresh eggs. This just didn't cut it for me. I couldn't help but wonder what exactly it was that I was eating.
This spot does have several places to sit but it's often packed. I'd be prepared to grab it and go. I mean, at your own risk.
This is the best bagel in Manhattan, don't let anybody tell you otherwise.
Simple, quick, satisfying.
What more could you want for breakfast!? I got eggs on a toasted sesame with the chive/garlic cream cheese. The bagel was so very good — crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the chive/garlic cream cheese was out of this world! The portion size is perfect and so very authentic! Just wish they offered fresh juices or something (the yuppie in me is coming out). Again, no frills, simple and delicious.
Will definitely be stopping by again — and bringing friends!
I think I found my bagel spot on the West Side. The pumpernickel with regular cream cheese was good. The bagel and smear cost $3.
Love NYC bagels. Nothing in LA compares.
Absolute is a quick and easy spot to grab a bagel on the go. Service was fast. Line moved fast also.
I always order my go to's,
Everything Bagel w/ Sun Dried Tomato Spread – $3.95 – Great chewey bagel. Toasted add that layer of crunch. Sun Dried Tomato Spread was creamy with chunks of tomatoes mixed in. I get it on the side because it's always to much and I get to use it on multiple bagels.
Onion Bagel – $1.70 – Basic onion bagel.
Good bagel spot out of the many NYC bagel shops.
The best time to come during weekdays are before 8am or after 11. Weekends definitely before 8 or afternoon. It really depends. Sometimes there's long line at 10am or empty at 9.
The bagels are good, but definitely not the best. I still like the one david's bagel on 1st avenue, 18th street the most after trying so many bagels just for taste. The bagel is on the smaller side because I can finish one easily haha. The cream cheese is the real deal here, especially the tofu ones! There are so many choices for tofu cheese. My favorite is walnut raisin. I'll buy just for my usual bread. Great for vegetarian/vegan. The spread is not thick here. Anyway, good choice nearby but won't worth coming all the way here. Btw, the egg bagel doesn't taste any special at all
Really great bagels! When I moved to the UWS, I had no clue I'd be around the corner from one of the most famous bagel places in the city. If you come here, do it first thing in the morning. If you get here after like 830 there will be a line out the door. If it's the weekend, the line will stretch all the way down the block. Service is curt but efficient; don't bother trying to strike up a conversation. Prices are mostly reasonable.
The bagels are the reason you come. They're a little on the small side, but crisp, light and airy all at once. They also make hem in front of you, so you know they're fresh. My favorite is the cinnamon raison but the everything bagel also is good. Options are traditional so don't expect any fancy rainbow colored nonsense. On the flip side, the cream cheese is bullshit. It's a light, sweet cream cheese unlike what a traditional Jewish deli would serve. Not my cup of tea. They do have some interesting options though like strawberry, jalapeno, walnut raisin, but they are really just mixing things into their lame base option. My girlfriend likes to get the apple cinnamon cream cheese on a cinnamon raisin bagel, but that's way too dessert like for me. You'd be better served to just grab bagels here and use your own damned cream cheese. Still worth 4 stars even just for the bagels though.