The humble bagel. Is there anything it can’t do? It’s the perfect cure for a hangover, the ideal mid-afternoon snack, and the fastest method of eating a huge amount of bread. There are a plethora of bagel stores around NYU, and I ranked three of the most popular: Brooklyn Bagel Company, Bob’s Bagels, and Murray's Bagels. At each of these spots, I ordered a toasted everything bagel with plain cream cheese for experimental consistency. I ranked the bagels on a few key features: freshness, flavor, price, and fluffiness.
The Spots
Brooklyn Bagel Company
Freshness: They were putting new bagels into the bins behind the counter as I walked in. 10/10.
Flavor: This bagel was by far the most flavorful of the bunch. If you're someone who likes their bagel super packed with flavors, this is the place for you. It was so bold that it honestly was a little overwhelming for me, so I dropped its score slightly. 9/10.
Fluffiness: Extreme fluffy, but not as fluffy as some of the others. 8/10.
Price: $3.54. This was the most expensive out of all of the bagel places I visited.
Bagel Bob's
Freshness: Pretty average for a bagel in NYC. Tasted like it had been made that day. 8/10.
Flavor: This bagel was the least flavorful of ones I tasted. It definitely had the everything-bagel taste, but, in comparison to the others, it needed more of that 'everything.' 8/10
Fluffiness: Super fluffy. Just look at the photos! 10/10
Price: $3.26.
Murray's Bagels
Freshness: Crazy fresh. 10/10.
Flavor: When I think of an everything bagel, this is what comes to mind. The perfect balance of flavors and toppings. If I could, I would eat it everyday. 10/10.
Fluffiness: Pretty similar to Brooklyn Bagel. 9/10.
Price: $3.25. Almost the exact same price as Bagel Bob's.
Overall Thoughts
Honestly, you can't really go wrong with any of these three places. All of them offer up fresh, addictive bagels for cheap. My winner would be Murray's Bagels-- the overall flavor of it was unbeatable.