AlwaysInvestigating: Bagel Boss Invades Manhattan

The Gluttoness — April 23, 2009

We know, there are plenty of places to get great bagels in New York City. You’ve got the famed H&H, Ess-A-Bagel, Pick A Bagel, the under-appreciated Bagel Bob’s (near NYU), and a slew of Murray’s Bagels and its spinoffs. So what’s the big deal about Bagel Boss coming to New York City? Well, many Strong Island natives claim these as New York’s best. (The fact that it did not get a shout out in DJ Lubel’s life-changing power ballad Ode To Murray Hill can only be attributed to human error.) The argument isn’t entirely crazy. If you’ve ever had a Bagel Boss bagel hot from the oven with a schmear of cream cheese, you know the deal. Even the structure of these crusty bad boys is impressive— they scream homemade. A quick twist breaks open the outer shell revealing a moist, soft center.

These archetypal bagels are worth a trip to 15th and 1st Ave., just don’t look for the Bagel Boss sign you’d find outside any one of the twelve Long Island locations. Bagel Boss has taken over what was once La Bagel and the awning hasn’t been changed yet. Loyal Bagel Boss devotees will instantly spot the store’s standards: the heralded Mushroom Egg Salad (peppered with fried onions like Sammy’s chopped liver), their creamier-than-thou Baked Salmon Salad, and a fabulous Tuna Salad, chock-full of dried cranberries and chunks of apple. Sure, you can enjoy your bagel just as much with Cream Cheese on a Cinnamon Raisin or Scallion Spread on an Everything, but at Bagel Boss the top-notch salads are as integral to the overall experience as the bagels themselves.

Though business would have probably already been bumping had they opened up in Murray Hill, as word spreads, this Kosher establishment will quickly gain steam amongst Long Island imports and city folk alike. Weekend mornings are sure to be dating gold if you’re looking to meet a nice Jewish girl with an affinity for Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel. We wouldn’t say it’s the new boss of New York City bagels, but the bagelry’s Egg Salad is definitely throwing elbows and it is a welcome addition to the East Village.

Bagel Boss is located at: 263 1st Avenue