Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company — Restaurant in New York

I've been having Brooklyn Bagels since I was a teenager. Truly an exceptional bagel and potentially an archetype of what the new york bagel should be. One of new yorks finest bagels.

Seasoning level: The seasoning level on all of the bagels is much better than most shops, especially local competitors (thompson square bagels and bagel bobs) - especially for the everything and poppy bagels, which are usually completely covered with seeds. The everything might sometimes be a little salty - but thats better than an underseasoned bagel.

Crust: The crust on these bagels is supurb. The thickness of the crust is optimal so as to provide structure but not make it too difficult to bite into, and the flavoring of the crust is perfect because they always seem to achieve the perfect golden brown color. Very consistent.

Size: This is one of the largest bagels you can get in the area. Getting a bagel with cream cheese is almost enough for two people/meals, even if you can usually devour more than one bagel from other shops.

Dough: The flavor of the dough is surpurb. The color of the inside of the bagel is off-white, which makes me believe they are keeping it old-school and use barley malt syrup in the dough. No matter what their secret is, the bagel's inside is structured, flavorful, and chewey, making it distinct from the "circular bread" you get from lower quality bagel shops. However, the bagels are not often hot by the time they are served, so you would be forgiven for asking to get your bagel toasted.

Price: The price of a bagel with plain cream cheese is up there - around $4.50 with tax - and the price sky rockets to as much as $7.20 depending on if you want a specialty cream cheese. For the bagels with cream cheese, I say this is expensive but worth it, because the quality of the bagels AND the exceptional quality and flavor of the cream cheeses they use (I don't know how they do it). For the egg sandwiches, I would stay away - they are quite expensive and the quality of the eggs in particular is often lacking compared to other bagel shops, and often overly greasy. Stick with the bagel and cream cheese.

Overall, this is truly a remarkable bagel shop - a place I have been going to for many years and will continue to go to. The pride they take in making their bagels perfect is clear in their consistency of product and in the incredible flavor. Truly a treat...

I am not surprised the 'mom's credit card" clan from NYU goes here or that social media is the director of good taste. I was not terribly impressed about my $5 bagel with cream cheese. It wasn't very flavorful and was too "light," having more of a white bread consistency than a bagel. The cream cheese was colorful and flavors such as "Bison Bacon" stood out but I wouldn't trust the taste and I would pay $3 for a shmear again to find out. The vegetable cream cheese was fresh but more like scallion with some carrot shreds in it (they were kind of large flat pieces). It took longer than expected and they rushed people out at one o'clock. Many people came to the door, including an old lady in a walker whom they told not to come back again so late. Perhaps she couldn't get there fast enough or remember?Why do they close at 1pm? She couldn't have opened the door on her own anyway and the manager was kind to let her in. But this does not have the same "always welcome" connotation that Bobs Bagels has around the corner, and was twice the price. What business reprimands any customer? If this business takes all the clientele and Bob's closes, there will be another part-time business on 8th Street upcharging students instead of serving the community as Bibs has done for so many years and parading as a "better bagel". The bagels are NOT better than Bob's and there is very limited seating. The inference is 'give us your money and shoo!' Frankly, I imagine they can't afford the rent, but is there any point in having bagel sandwiches for $11 if you are not even open for lunch or dinner? Also, Bob's has better quality kosher bagels and foods and all of their sandwiches, including whitefish and salmon are cheaper and better. So are the drinks. You don't appreciate the good things and prices...

Continuing bagel crawl in Manhattan, I homed on to Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company, where Mercer meets 8th St., on rebound; after checking a bunch of rated places on E Houston St. .....which were either opening late, or not inviting enough.

BB&CC is an upscale place, neat and ordered; patrons can see bagels being prepped, rolled, boiled and peeled out of oven. We went for everything bagel + scallion cc; jalapeno-asiago bagel + jalapeno-asiago cc; blueberry bagel + strawberry cc. All spot on, so was the coffee. Self service nook uses space intelligently, with milk, heavy cream options, along with sweeteners. Also serve fresh squeezed orange juice for the snobs. Seating for about a dozen in twos & along curtain wall. On this Sunday morning, 29 minutes after opening, my ticket # was 60..... could observe heavy footfall of regulars, mostly NYU academic types. who sure have good taste. Can't blame them for getting hooked to this habit forming stuff. Of the two honor & recognition combos on menu, one is Foxy. Indignity: The other special combo - which essentially replaces bacon with ham in iconic Long Island BECSPK - has been introduced as 'The Trenton'. As a Long Islander, I'll never forgive them for this...