Tal Bagels — Restaurant in New York

Decent bagels, but confusing service. Come here almost every Sunday to pick up bagels. For people who are just picking up bagels (not prepared sandwiches) there seems to be inconsistency on what the protocol is. I typically wait on line but have seen many people just go straight to the front if they only want bagels.

After waiting in line to get my dozen bagels, I asked the cashier if I should wait in line or go to the front for just bagels, and got a very defensive response as she seemed to think I was complaining. I made it clear that I'm just trying to understand what the process is supposed to be, and she couldn't give me an actual answer.

She said when she looks busy helping customers I should get in line, but if she's not busy I could come to the front. But of course, it's when it's busy that people cut to the front for just bagels. So clearly not the case.

Even if this is the rule, this is not helpful, how do I judge how busy she is? Do I wait in line and then cut everyone if she seems to be having a lull?

To be clear, this isn't the cashier's fault. Tal, implement a clear rule or process. Does everyone wait in line? If so, stop people cutting for just bagels. If you can cut the line, make it clear...

I was walking down Lexington avenue on a crisp Fall day when I wandered into tal bagels. I ordered a flat sunflower seed bagel with pastrami and mustard. Little did I know it’s about to be the best sandwich of my life. While the attentive fellow behind the counter was cutting the hot pastrami he took straight from the oven, the manager that was standing next to me told him to cut the rest of the piece of pastrami into my sandwich. A warm feeling of excellence went through me as a soothing wave, while I was watching the fellow create a pastrami glacier topped with a wonderful yellow smudge of mustard on the toasted bagel. I asked him to cut it into 4, so I can enjoy it a little longer. They handed me the brown bag with a complimentary cold silky coleslaw that was the prefect counter balance to the bagel. I unwrapped it, the sunflower seeds were charmingly decorating the bagel and adding genuine playfulness to the experience, the sandwich was hot, fresh, and irresistible. It was all gone within a few minutes, and I savored every bite of it. Pro advice: share it with a...

It was my first time entering Tal Bagels even though I had been past them numerous times. Upon entering this location was bustling with people inside. The location had a good flow of a line and it wasn't that much of a wait to get to the counter to order. I ended up getting an egg and cheese on and everything bagel, but don't be fooled they have a wide spread of cream cheeses if that is what you are craving. I had to Wai about five minutes because it seems as though their everything bagels sell out fast and they were making a new batch. Once I received my bagel I went to sit outside because there was no seating on the inside available, not a big issue, I don't mind the morning New York traffic sounds. My bagel was hot and fresh and tasted great but it was nothing too different from many places I have frequented. All in all I would definitely come back to Tal and try some of their cream...