Curley's Bagels — Restaurant in New York

Great choice for specialty bagel

As someone born and raised in New York, I’m always on the hunt for a solid bagel spot and Curley’s Bagels caught my attention. It’s a grab and go place, but the inside is surprisingly beautiful and thoughtfully designed. Definitely more elevated than your average bagel shop.

When I walked in, I was impressed by the variety. They had tons of specialty bagels, options with avocado and eggs, and even gluten-free bagels, which is a great choice for anyone with dietary needs. I was tempted to try something creative, but I decided to stick with a classic: a sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese “my personal favorite”. Lol

The woman at the counter was super kind and helpful, and the overall vibe from the staff was warm and welcoming. Even though it was busy, my bagel was made quickly. I also grabbed a coffee, which had a nice bold, dark roast flavor. They offered oat milk, almond milk, and half and half something for everyone.

Biting into the bagel, it was everything I wanted: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and packed with generously spread scallion cream cheese full of flavor and fresh herbs. Honestly, it felt more like a luxury bagel experience than your typical deli stop.

I spent about $9 for a bagel and coffee, which is a bit on the higher side, but the quality made it worth it. Plus, it was within walking distance from my doctor’s office, so it felt like a great find in the neighborhood.

If you’re nearby and want a quick, delicious bite with great service and thoughtful options, I definitely recommend checking out Curley’s...

This is a neighborhood spot that I’ve been going to for a handful of times now so I’ve given them a fair shot.

Pros: Staff is very kind and sweet! Ordering process is easy and straightforward. Shop is always clean Line is efficient and fast Good cream cheese to bagel ratio Sandwiches are pretty great (albeit a little expensive) Good iced coffee

Things they could work on: I’ve tried several bagels from Curleys now and can say that it’s a hit or miss within the variety. Bagels taste better when they’re toasted, giving a nice crust and inside is chewy. Some I’ve tried end up being slightly drier (ie: egg everything)

A couple times now I’ve gotten the wrong items in my order. First time was near their grand opening and the line was very long. I figured they may be ironing out kinks in their process. The actual order was still good so I didn’t give much thought. Second time: I got their lox royale on zaatar(toasted), and a plain to go. However when I got home one bagels was the wrong kind. They had given me egg everything on the sandwich and given the cost($18), was a slight disappointment. I could be wrong but It didn’t seem like it was toasted either because the bagel itself was cold to touch when I picked it up. I really wanted to like this sandwich but it wasn’t the bagel I wanted and because of price I can’t justify the mistake. The plain bagel had a nice outer crust but the inside was dry.

I do want to continue to support a local spot but due to these hiccups I’m not sure if I’ll be stopping by as frequently. I hope the shop can take these comments and make necessary...

To the Owner, please read all these reviews, they are important.

I did, to make sure I was not the only one with this feedback. I'll give the bad first to end on a high note. I'm sure some of these cons may get better as this is a new place. I get the economic issue currently in NYC but the first 2 con items needs to change. I just hope the owner reads these and cares about the feedback.

First off, like many others, Sunnyside needed a good bagel spot. We can all agree on that. Thank you for this.

Cons: Way over priced Very small bagels (non-standard bagel size) Coffee is not decent No Onion or Garlic bagels No Nova bagels No selection of different cream cheese spreads (limited) Small specialty menu Cheap cheese for sandwiches Expensive to have additional toppings No discount for removing topping if you have a diet restriction No gluten free bagel option No tables (could use 3-4 high tops outside Wait time after ordering is long

Pros: Tastes are good Flavor options were unique (specialty bagels) Ordering is quick Very upbeat atmosphere with decent music selection Friendly help staff (I was not rushed when placing my order) 2 park benches outside for sitting Clean Got everything I ordered.

I'll give another review in 2 months to see if...