How To Order A Bagel:

Okay, so there is one item of food where I consider myself a proper snob – bagels. The best bagels in the United States are in the Tri-State Area, and I am not interested in any other opinions. My favorite bagel spots are in New York City. When I visit other cities, bagel quality is my number one complaint. Why are New York City bagels so good? The quality comes from generations of Eastern Europe immigrants and the local tap water. New York City brings in tap water from Upstate New York. This clean, fresh water is what gives the bagels the proper chewiness (bagels need to be boiled in vats of water, often with molasses before they are baked).

For me, the perfect bagel is always a lox everything bagel (scallion cream cheese, red onion, capers, lox, and maybe tomato). Some of my favorite memories living in New York City are of me and my friends peeling ourselves out of bed, putting on sweatpants, and quickly making a caffeinated beverage so that we can beat the bagel line. We walked in knowing our orders, so waiting in line was our chance to gossip about the night before and people-watch.

If you are visiting New York City, I want you to leave with as much love for bagels as I have. For me, that starts with a guide to ordering bagels properly.  

Recommendations:

You want to start an argument? Declare one spot as THE BEST bagel spot in New York City. Everyone has their preferences, and it largely comes down to what neighborhood they live in and what type/texture of bagel they prefer. For me, these are my favorite places:

• Tompkins Square Bagels (all locations): For your regular bagel needs. 
• Apollo Bagels: This is a sourdough bagel, so it is a controversial addition to the list.
• Simply Nova: For an authentic Jewish deli experience.

Bagels are a serious pursuit in New York City. There are few other reasons New Yorkers will get up on a Sunday morning and stand in line for 30–45 minutes. Please respect the rules of engagement below:

Perfecting Your Order:

• Get your caffeine before you order a bagel. The order of your morning should be: 1) Coffee 2) Bagel Shop 3) Park or Apartment to Eat Your Bagel. If your bagel line is 30 minutes long, you don’t want to be under-caffeinated and waiting. Trust!
• Decide: sweet or savory, plain bagel or bagel sandwich? There are mountains of cream cheese and toppings in the display case to add to your bagel. Order what you want, but “mixing genres” will earn you a comment from the person behind the counter or a pointed look from locals. (Ex. A sesame bagel with blueberry cream cheese is a savory bagel with a sweet cream cheese).
• Toasted or not toasted? Not toasting a bagel can mean that it is chewy rather than crunchy. Over toasting a bagel creates a mountain of crumbs. For me, this question is about bagel texture and is entirely personal. Think about the answer as you mentally build your bagel. (I prefer lightly toasted.) 
• Sandwich structure: a bagel, like any other sandwich, is built with care. Whatever is at the bottom of the bagel will inform the flavor profile. Cream cheese should be on bottom, with lox on the top.

Ordering With Like A Local:

• Know your order BEFORE you get to the counter. In some bagel places, an employee will walk around taking orders, often halfway down the line. If the line is 30 people deep, this makes sure your bagel is ready when you make it to the counter to pay. When in doubt, I recommend an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese.
• Think beyond the bagel when you are ordering. For example, a lot of bagel places will have fresh squeezed orange juice or black and white cookies. Try adding a sweet treat to your order! 

The Camera Eats First:

• Pre-plan a second location. If the bagel shop is full, you don’t want to eat your food standing outside on the street. I recommend walking to a local park to people-watch and eat your food. I promise, there will be other patrons doing the exact same thing.
• The Perfect Picture: Getting the right picture of your bagel is essential. How to do it? You want to hold your bagel in your non-dominant hand, showing off the layers of filling before you take a bite. Bonus points if you get the park in the background!

When visiting NYC, I would argue that getting a bagel is as iconic as seeing the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. In the same league as a slice of pizza and a scary sidewalk hotdog, a bagel is a culinary symbol of the city. Why does the bagel deserve its legendary status? For me, it’s the experience — standing in line, vanilla iced latte in hand, you feel that chaotic, youthful energy New York is known for. Now that you’ve heard my pitch, I’m going to graduate you to an “Expert on All Things Bagel.” When you visit New York City, I hope you’ll order your bagel with the chutzpah of a true New Yorker.