Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish

“I like that they also put capers with their lox and shmear, adding a nice dimension to each bite.”

“Best smoked whitefish I've ever had.”

“Their Nova Scotia cream cheese and their bacon & eggs bagels are top notch, second to none in Manhattan.”

Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish

Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Caters: Yes

Price range.

$ Price range Under $10

8 reviews

  1. Oh my goodness, was this a good bagel! I had an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and a Naked OJ.  I was in heaven. The bagel was chewy and perfect and the cream cheese had a ton of scallion, just the way I like it. I was only in NYC for a bachelorette party, so I am so glad the girls decided to go here for breakfast. My one complaint: The way the line is set up is confusing, so at first, you have to look around to figure out what you are supposed to do. Whatever, it was worth it and I would give that bagel and cream cheese 5 stars if I found it on the sidewalk.

  2. 3-stars, at least until I have a chance to stop in, experience their customer service, and try some more of their menu.

    Solid bagels; not my favorite in NYC by far…but solid.  Pumpernickel was EXCELLENT.  Whole-Wheat Everything was a little off the mark in terms of city competition.  Excellent, fresh cream cheese spreads, and solid delivery.

    Will make it a point to try them some more, and report back!

  3. You had me at hand rolled, and kettle boiled…..
    Even though this is NYC, it is not easy to find a REAL bagel, especially in the fast food crammed area that is midtown. So here is a jewel, Zuckers, they are a true deli, that makes hand rolled, kettle boiled bagels in many varieties offering over 12 different types of spreads, and fish choices. They make bagel sandwiches to order, and offer their own specialties, which include several cheese, meat, and salad options, plus an assortment of toppings and sides. You are not limited to bagels either, Zuckers offers wraps, rolls, and sliced breads. The coffee is pretty good, typical deli, and they have teas, plus sodas and juices. You cannot go wrong here. Service is real quick too. Never have an issue here, and I have never had a stale bagel, the turn over is too fast to allow that! Sometimes during peak hours you may have to wait a bit for your order, but nothing extraordinary.

  4. My first authentic lox bagel in NYC was a success. I got the Traditional Bagel ($11 err) which was cream cheese, salmon, tomato, purple onion, and capers — I got w/o capers. It was really big and delicious but very messy, everything was spilling out, but I guess that's what's expected. Very tasty though! And I'm guessing the steep price is due to NYC & right by grand central station.

  5. Good bagel – expensive – better than San Francisco – but not awe-inducing or worth the calories/gut bomb. They ran out of the best varieties, eg onion.

  6. I prolly wouldn't go back here but I think I may have ordered the wrong things. I had the roast beef on the everything bagel. The bagels are decent but I kinda feel like this was a wasted meal. I hear the pastrami's much better.

    Typical Manhattan bagel shop feel and service. Yeah, sure try it…

  7. Zucker's makes a mean bagel, and with sandwich options, you can carb load with a ridiculous amount of variety here. I ordered a breakfast sandwich for lunch with a flat whole wheat bagel, eggs, chicken sausage, cheese, avocado, and lettuce. Compact and warm, oozy with cheese, the food was definitely delicious and filling. They also do lunch sandwiches with grilled chicken, turkey, roast beef, etc etc and the places definitely gets packed. Food is a solid 4 stars. This is a legit bagel. Prices are good.

    Layout and customer flow is tricky. The space is very narrow and long, with the ordering process starting all the way in the back. I would recommend grabbing a takeout menu or picking what you want before you get there because the wall menus are hard to read unless you're obnoxiously in the middle of the line. They also have so many options that it can be very overwhelming trying to pick something to eat, not get run over by the line, and the yelling between the kitchen, the assembly line, and the customers. The cashiers are also apt to make mistakes, and rather than let things slide (for your benefit), they nickle and dime every add on, keeping the lines long. The guys behind the counter are also apt to make errors, neglecting to put things on the side or omit ingredients. The tight space makes everything feel pretty chaotic. The catering also lacks some of this mindfulness. Everything may get there, but you may have two tubs of regular cream cheese vs one low fat and one regular. And I also wish they would label the SIDES of the cream cheese containers – once the tops are off nobody can tell what kind you're looking at.

    There's some seating, maybe maxing out at 20. But being how loud it is here, I wouldn't recommend it for a lunch meeting.

  8. Again I am yelp mystified as to why this place has low reviews. Tuckermans has got to be on my all top 10 lox and bagels places. But, again still wondering is it me or is Yelp getting an excess of hate reviews from area delis.

    Zuckerman's made me a beautiful Sable and cream cheese poppy seed bagel. I can only image that it was the owner, or manager but explained to me the Sable is just smoke black cod. Remarkable, I never knew that. I never knew that black cod which is also a type of rock fish which is also Chilean sea bass is so versatile and yet so damn good when smoked.

    The staff is so friendly and have such a positive outlook I'm still wondering why just three-star reviews.

    If I lived in New York I'd live in this place here.

Rate and write a review

Lexington Avenue 370
New York 10017 NY US
Get directions
Monday, 6:30 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, 6:30 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, 6:30 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday, 6:30 am - 7:00 pm
Friday, 6:30 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm