bshor wrote:I'd like to buy bagels for my son's upcoming bris, and I have lots of discriminating New York bagel consumers coming. But I live in the South Loop, so sparing the time to go up to the 'burbs or even way North is difficult...

Any recommendations on best bagels around downtown and further south?

Sure, NYC Bagel Deli on North Avenue- not quite south loop but not too far from you.

i was finally introduced to bagels from NYC Bagel Deli and was quite impressed (seeing as i wouldn't typically drive outside of the city limits for bagels) -- my friend swore to me that i would no longer go to panera for bagels....

be forewarned: parking on a weekend can be a nightmare. i wouldn't even try getting in the tiny shared parking lot (doesn't it also have a starbucks?).

the homemade veggie cream cheese is a thing of beauty, IMO. i prefer savory bagels, and loved their nice & salty everything bagels, and in keeping with the recent thread re: toast or no toast, i actually found i did NOT need to toast NYC's bagels, even though i would almost always toast other inferior bagels (i.e. asiago from panera).

cheers,
miss ellen

bshor wrote:I'd like to buy bagels for my son's upcoming bris.....
Any recommendations on best bagels around downtown and further south?

When I lived downtown i still schlepped up to Skokie to have Kaufmanns assemble a tray for me. Some things are absolutely positively worth the effort. And for the occasion of your son's bris a drive to Kaufman's is one of those things. BTW Mazel Tov and congratulations on your simcha.

I believe Treasure Island stores carry NY Bagel & Bialy bagels if you want to save the trip out the Edens to Touhy. The wonderful thing about NYB&B is that they are open 24 hours. With a new baby, maybe you're up in the middle of the night for a fast zip out the expressway! At any rate, in my opinion these are the best bagels in Chicago and always fresh when you buy them at the bakery. You don't know how long they sit at T.I. or other spots that carry them, and all bagels, as noted above, go downhill fast.

Mazel Tov. Don't watch if you're squeamish... My brother is still upset 15 years after watching my son's bris.

I don't know what your definition of "way north" is but JB's Deli in Gordono's Pharmacy in Andersonville sells bagels from New York Bagel and Bialy. Depending on traffic, it could just be a 20-30 minute ride up Lake Shore Dr. to the Bryn Mawr exit. Still may be far, but closer (and depending on traffic faster) than going out to the main NYBB outpost on Touhy.

JB's Deli
5501 N Clark St.

Burhop's in Wilmette also carries NYB&B products; not just their bagels but some bialys and bialy loaves, too. And their hand-slice lox, I believe, blows away what's offered at NYB&B.

=R=

Burhop's Seafood
1515 Sheridan Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
847 256-6400

I didn't have a chance to try any, but I happened to notice that Chicago Bagel in Wheeling now also offers hand-sliced lox.

An encouraging trend!

Chicago Bagel & Bialy
260 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
847/459-3632

Not pictured
Kaufman's Bagel & Delicatessen
4905 Dempster St., Skokie, IL 60077, 847-677-9880

For completists' sakes.

For years I have driven past the Bagel Bin in Deerfield, always when they were closed. (They close at 4 p.m., 2 on Sundays.) The other day, going by at breakfast time, I finally stopped in. It's a cute little place, the counterman was very friendly and I scored a hot "everything" fresh from the oven, with cream cheese.

What a disappointment!

Though crisp and flavorful enough on the outside, the bagel's interior was airy and soft. The cream cheese was simultaneously gummy and slimy. I didn't finish it. It cost $2.55.

I should have kept going south on Milwaukee to Chicago Bagel, where a much better, properly chewy bagel and schmear would have been $2.29.

Bagel Bin
20554 Milwaukee Ave.
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 808-0202
http://bagelbininc.com

Chicago Bagel & Bialy
260 S. Milwaukee Ave.
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 459-9000
http://www.chicagobagel.com

I believe Treasure Island stores carry NY Bagel & Bialy bagels if you want to save the trip out the Edens to Touhy.

Does anyone know if Treasure Island's bagels are still NYBB? I'm craving a pumpernickel bagel but I now live in Hyde Park, so options are few.

For the love of God, where can one get a decent bagel in this city??? I am not aware of any authentic bagel bakeries (places that bring in bagels don't count). I go to Skokie when I can, but this situation makes me want to go into the bagel-making business. I actually think Brueggers makes a very respectable bagel, but they are not in Chicago. And don't get me started on Einsteins and Panera. Chicago really throws in the towel when it comes to anything New York style...

CharlotteBeth wrote:For the love of God, where can one get a decent bagel in this city??? I am not aware of any authentic bagel bakeries (places that bring in bagels don't count). I go to Skokie when I can, but this situation makes me want to go into the bagel-making business. I actually think Brueggers makes a very respectable bagel, but they are not in Chicago. And don't get me started on Einsteins and Panera. Chicago really throws in the towel when it comes to anything New York style...

New York Bagel & Bialy generally makes my favorite bagels in the area, and they're right off the Edens at Touhy (east) just east of Cicero. For something closer to Montreal-style, head to Reno in Logan Square. I've had a couple of great bagels at Little Goat Bread . . . but also a couple of clunkers.

That being said, I'm not a fan of Bruegger's . . . It had been a long time since I had their bagels, but recently had a couple for breakfast on a visit to Minneapolis. Other than lacking in flavor, I found them to be way too chewy and lacking a proper crust. I found them to be very similar to what you typically find at Einstein's, which is just not to my liking.

CharlotteBeth wrote:For the love of God, where can one get a decent bagel in this city??? I am not aware of any authentic bagel bakeries (places that bring in bagels don't count). I go to Skokie when I can, but this situation makes me want to go into the bagel-making business. I actually think Brueggers makes a very respectable bagel, but they are not in Chicago. And don't get me started on Einsteins and Panera. Chicago really throws in the towel when it comes to anything New York style...

Is Oak Park close enough?

Your local independent coffee shop might also carry bagels from New York Bagel & Bialy. Kitchen Sink on Berwyn gets theirs from them.

In a pinch, I've been satisfied with a bagel from NYC Bagel Deli. Locations at 1001 W. North Ave, 300 S. Wacker and 515 N. Dearborn.

Kitchen Sink Cafe
1107 W Berwyn Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone:(773) 944-0592

NYC Bagel & Deli
http://www.nycbd.com/

But I really want a place I can go to get them hot. I'm surprised that there isn't anything in the city.

I drive from Wisconsin to NYB&B, don't feel bad.
The place on Touhy doesn't use numbers, (number machine is always out) so a long cue always forms and it's the same cue for whether you want just bagels or sandwiches. The counter guy asks "how many" so he can get the correct size bag but people don't listen, so he gets frustrated. Was there last Monday about 1:30pm. line of 12 people or so but they have the best bagels in the midwest, and warm to. 13 to the dozen, they supply plastic sleeves to keep them fresh.
Counter guy asks they guy in front of me, "How many?", guy says 8. counterman gets small bag, puts in the 8 bagels, the guy then says, "Ill have 4 of those."
Counter guy ask me the same, I reply, 4 regular, 4 egg and one pumpernickel. Took all of 30 secs.
Maybe they need to put the Rules for Ordering on the back wall! It sure would speed things up.
I can't believe i spend all that time and effort for a bagel!.
But we did have nice Lox & Bagels on New Years Day.
Cheaper than from Russ & Daughters.-Dick

CharlotteBeth wrote: I actually think Brueggers makes a very respectable bagel, but they are not in Chicago.

One of the things I was thrilled about in moving from Minneapolis to Chicago was escaping Brueggers.

CharlotteBeth wrote:But I really want a place I can go to get them hot. I'm surprised that there isn't anything in the city.

There are: Reno, NYC Bagel Deli (the one on North), Little Goat Bread (I think). Reno is excellent. NYC Bagel Deli is decent (better than Bruegger's). Haven't been to Little Goat yet. Hotness will depend on your timing.

Here are a few bagel shots from Reno.

Ooh, thanks so much!! Great pics! Will definitely head over there.

I love the bagels at Reno, but they're special occasion bagels for me. I'm not one to worry about sticker shock most of the time, but these bagels, as good as they are, are ridiculously priced. Still, that doesn't keep me away.

Reno's "Hook" Sandwich


For 95% of my bagel eating needs, I rely on the NYB&B Touhy outpost. Open 24/7, always fresh and near my house.

P.S. Reno only has bagels in the morning until they run out (usually by lunch time or shortly thereafter)

Reno
2607 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 697-4234

New York Bagel & Bialy
4714 W Touhy Ave
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
(847) 677-9388

BTW an email I sent to NYB&B about how to decrease wait time and improve service resulted in a very nice reply but with the limited space, until and if remodeling occurs, it is what it is.-Dick

lougord99 wrote:

CharlotteBeth wrote: I actually think Brueggers makes a very respectable bagel, but they are not in Chicago.

One of the things I was thrilled about in moving from Minneapolis to Chicago was escaping Brueggers.

I am not a fan of their sandwiches and other items but they at least make an east coast style bagel that is made in house. I think they're pretty good. Way better than Einsteins.

CharlotteBeth wrote:

lougord99 wrote:

CharlotteBeth wrote: I actually think Brueggers makes a very respectable bagel, but they are not in Chicago.

One of the things I was thrilled about in moving from Minneapolis to Chicago was escaping Brueggers.

I am not a fan of their sandwiches and other items but they at least make an east coast style bagel that is made in house. I think they're pretty good. Way better than Einsteins.

I would never tell anyone to move to Chicago for the bagels!!! lol

Rene G wrote:There are: Reno, NYC Bagel Deli (the one on North), Little Goat Bread (I think). Reno is excellent. NYC Bagel Deli is decent (better than Bruegger's). Haven't been to Little Goat yet.

Is the location that is now NYC Bagel Deli formerly home of Lincolnwood's NY Bagel & Bialy? I went to that North Ave. store in the belief that I was going to NY Bagel & Bialy, and discovered it was NYC Bagel Deli instead. It's all academic, because I couldn't get into the parking lot and had to head elsewhere, but I'm just wondering if I'm "making it up" that it used to be NY Bagel & Bialy, or if it really was.

riddlemay wrote:

Rene G wrote:There are: Reno, NYC Bagel Deli (the one on North), Little Goat Bread (I think). Reno is excellent. NYC Bagel Deli is decent (better than Bruegger's). Haven't been to Little Goat yet.

Is the location that is now NYC Bagel Deli formerly home of Lincolnwood's NY Bagel & Bialy? I went to that North Ave. store in the belief that I was going to NY Bagel & Bialy, and discovered it was NYC Bagel Deli instead. It's all academic, because I couldn't get into the parking lot and had to head elsewhere, but I'm just wondering if I'm "making it up" that it used to be NY Bagel & Bialy, or if it really was.

No. It's always been NYC Bagel Deli (disclaimer, it's possible that for a short time it had a different name, but it was never NYB&B)

stevez wrote:No. It's always been NYC Bagel Deli (disclaimer, it's possible that for a short time it had a different name, but it was never NYB&B)

OK, thanks. I find it helpful occasionally to learn just how much of "reality" is a fictional construct I just decided to believe.

riddlemay wrote:

Rene G wrote:There are: Reno, NYC Bagel Deli (the one on North), Little Goat Bread (I think). Reno is excellent. NYC Bagel Deli is decent (better than Bruegger's). Haven't been to Little Goat yet.

Is the location that is now NYC Bagel Deli formerly home of Lincolnwood's NY Bagel & Bialy? I went to that North Ave. store in the belief that I was going to NY Bagel & Bialy, and discovered it was NYC Bagel Deli instead. It's all academic, because I couldn't get into the parking lot and had to head elsewhere, but I'm just wondering if I'm "making it up" that it used to be NY Bagel & Bialy, or if it really was.

NYC Bagel Deli opened at 1001 W North in the year 2000 (or maybe slightly earlier). Before that, a cheesecake bakery was located there.

I didn't realize they made their own bagels at NYC Bagel Deli. I seem to remember going once and not being thrilled but maybe I'll give it another go.

CharlotteBeth wrote:I didn't realize they made their own bagels at NYC Bagel Deli. I seem to remember going once and not being thrilled but maybe I'll give it another go.

Of course, merely making bagels in-house does not guarantee good bagels. I can name many places that make poor bagels in-house.

Rene G wrote:

CharlotteBeth wrote:But I really want a place I can go to get them hot. I'm surprised that there isn't anything in the city.

There are: Reno, NYC Bagel Deli (the one on North), Little Goat Bread (I think). Reno is excellent. NYC Bagel Deli is decent (better than Bruegger's). Haven't been to Little Goat yet. Hotness will depend on your timing.

Here are a few bagel shots from Reno.

As usual he nails it! Yes I know I'm running the pics again, but they are gorgeous. And after making mine at home, the shaping is a beast, I'd definitely go to Reno, or Skokie for bagels.