Tompkins Square Bagels | East Village Bagels — Restaurant in New York

Review is about dine-in experience of breakfast bagel at Avenue A establishment - maintenance is clean, colorful, distinctive, also offering clear sight to baking-boiling WiP. Only a confident house an be so open. Staff is cheerful with a sense of humor. Bedazzled by the myriad sandwich choices with alluring bynames, I strayed from intended purpose of sampling signature bagels in their barest character. Hope others do not get in similar mixup. Order taking was efficient. Even patient, as I flubbed over, and over, aimng to sample something offbeat. Somewhere in my mumble (and accent), request for add-on sundried tomatoes got translated to grilled tomatoes. Of course, my mistake was professionally repaired. Thanks. Double jalapeno (bagel & cream cheese) was spectacular. Everything bagel with sundried tomato cheese was, somehow, unremarkable. We liked that bagels were not overloaded with schmears. Coffee - strong & bold. Speciality order of no froth and hot milk came as lots of froth and lukewarm concoction, instead 🥳. Bagel size isn't as large as bragged in reviews. We know couple of places - not far - where they are as big, if not bigger. Indoor seating is for 8 along the alley leading to colorfully painted backyard; and another dozen on rustic, counter-height stools. This is essentially a takeout joint, with branded bagel wrappings but no provision for plates etc. to facilitate dine-in.

Laudable: Mini canvasses adorn cavern-end walls and add to aesthetic appeal on one hand and double-up as art gallery for a local artist. 👏🏼

The downer: Midway through our breakfast, a store worker opened the backyard door wide, to let in late fall draft. 🥶 We were prevented from closing the door because in-store bakers needed fresh air and respite from heat build-up in their section of store. The chill immediately hit my immuno-compromised wife. While we'll deal with effects of this incidental apathy over next few days, hope owners are more mindful of getting the ventilation system repaired - for the sake of staff, in...

Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A is an absolute must-visit if you’re in the East Village. I’ve been there three days in a row now, and despite the line stretching out the door, it’s totally worth the wait. This place is a neighborhood institution that should be protected at all costs.

I went for the everything bagel with whitefish and paired it with an iced coffee. The bagel itself was perfectly toasted, with that classic chewy texture you expect from a good New York bagel. The seasoning on the everything bagel was spot-on—not too heavy, just enough to give it that signature flavor.

The whitefish spread? Amazing. It was creamy and rich without being overwhelming, and it complemented the bagel perfectly. You can tell they take pride in their ingredients here. Each bite was satisfying, and I found myself wishing I had ordered two.

The vibe inside is relaxed but bustling, filled with locals grabbing their morning fix or stopping by for lunch. The staff is efficient and friendly, which makes the long lines feel less daunting. They keep things moving quickly, so even if you have to wait, you won’t be standing around forever.

If you’re planning to visit, definitely check out their menu online beforehand. They have a ton of options—different cream cheeses and sandwiches that all sound tempting. I’m already thinking about what I’ll try next time.

One thing to note: parking can be tricky in this area, so if you’re driving, be prepared to circle the block a few times or find street parking further away.

Overall, Tompkins Square Bagels hits all the right notes for a classic NYC bagel experience. If you’re in the area, don’t sleep on this place. It’s one of those spots that truly embodies what New York bagels are all...

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN OVER 25 AND WANT TO LEAVE WITH YOUR SELF ESTEEM INTACT, GO ELSEWHERE

I came in to get a bagel and out of nowhere a man behind the counter says to me with a smirk "what can I get you Miss... I mean... MA'AAAM" (drawing out the "ma'am" for maximum effect) and starts chuckling to himself.

Ouch.

To be clear, this guy wasn't from the south or somewhere where it would be normal to call a woman "ma'am" even under more tactful circumstances. The way he delivered the line was clearly planned to get a reaction out of me but I was too stunned in the moment to say anything back. (for reference I am in my very early 30s, nowhere near ma'am age, not that it really matters. This would be an inappropriate way to treat a woman of any age)

I later learned that this exaggerated miss/ma'am flip is something being spread online in misogynist "incel" groups to deliberately try and make women feel bad about aging. Then, if the women get upset, they will accuse her of being crazy and claim that they were only trying to be "polite".

Either way, I don't really need commentary on my perceived age while I am just trying to get breakfast and will not be returning. There are way to many great bagel stores in New York to have to put up with this. (Ess-a-Bagel, Davids Bagel, Apollo,...