|
Manhattan Notes -
Restaurants
|
|
Monday, 12 January 2009 18:58 |
Pick a Bagel on Third by Martha Cooney
On a weekend morning, there will be a long line of eager breakfasters still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes as a result of racing to beat the crowd at Pick a Bagel, so you'll have to keep your own eyes wide open to snag one of the rickety high tables or tiny square seating areas that are hard to come by in the crowded space. I ignore the hordes around me by focusing on all that beautiful food behind the glass counter. There's every type of classic Jewish delicacy here -split open belly lox, Israeli salad, liver pate, all kinds of spreads including vegetarian and vegan options, and a case of mouth watering desserts as well that the out-of-towner might find exotic: almond horn; hamentaschen; black and white cookies. The range of options for having your bagel is vast, but my personal choice is the ultimate New York Salty Snack: an everything bagel with lox spread (and coffee, in your favorite We Are Pleased to Serve You Greek-style cups). Make sure you get extra napkins because the spread on the bagel is heavier than your own body weight. The clientele is entertaining to watch as you attribute stories to each (the couple that just met last night; the pair of elderly friends who've been coming here for thirty years; New Jerseyans). This place is not fancy, and I doubt anything has changed in twenty years. But whenever I'm near Twenty-Third, I find myself gravitating toward the Home of the Salty Snack. I once got a wisdom tooth pulled at NYU Dental Clinic, just blocks away from Pick a Bagel. My last meal before descending into weeks of Jell-o? What do you think?
Pick a Bagel on Third, 297 Third Avenue, between 22nd and 23rd Streets.
|
