Worth it, says Antonina. What it is, reliably, is open early, fast, and consistent, with a huge spread of bagels and sandwiches and a line that never once made me nervous about the time.
Everything I’ve written about Pick A Bagel on New York Dearest, in one place. It’s on two of my lists, Best bagels in Midtown and Every bagel I’ve tried, ranked. Below you’ll find every list it’s on with what I wrote there. At the end, where it is and what’s near.
The bagels are solid, everyday-good rather than transcendent, and that is exactly the point. When you are running to a meeting near Columbus Circle or the theater-district offices, you do not need a religious experience. You need a hot, fresh bagel in ninety seconds. Pick A Bagel delivers that with zero drama, 6am to 5:30pm on weekdays.
Bagel: dependably good. Line speed: quick and calm. Verdict: the no-anxiety option.
The bagels taste mass-produced to me.
I know people love this place and I respect that, but I’ve been multiple times and I just don’t get it. The bagels taste mass-produced to me. They’re big and they have a huge selection of cream cheeses, but the actual bagel texture is too soft. It reminds me of a bagel from a grocery store that’s trying really hard. If you’re standing outside a Pick A Bagel and there’s literally nothing else within walking distance, fine. But if you have options, use them.
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