Photo by Rachel.
Upper West Siders’ dreams have been answered. At least for those of us who dream about bagels.
A sign for the new H&H Bagels popped up this week at 526 Columbus Avenue between 85th and 86th street, confirming the news we first reported almost exactly one year ago: a new H&H is coming to the Upper West Side!
Now, technically, it’s not the H&H Bagels. This isn’t owned by the same people who opened the first H&H. But it is a kind of cousin to the original.
H&H Midtown Bagels East at 2nd Avenue and 80th street was once a branch of the original West side store on 80th and Broadway. But after the original company’s bankruptcy in 1980, a new owner took over the East side store. Both stores were then named H&H Bagels, but the West side owner, Helmer Toro, eventually sued the East side store, forcing it to change its name. That’s how H&H Midtown Bagels East was born.
While financial and legal troubles forced the original H&H out of business in 2011, H&H Midtown appears to be thriving. It also makes handmade bagels and gets good reviews. What’s more, they’ll actually put the toppings on for you, unlike the old H&H.
We checked with the new H&H, and they say they’re hoping the new location is open by late summer. This spot used to be a laundromat, so it’s not the easiest project to turn it into a restaurant.
“I can’t wait for it to open as this spot will be a welcome addition to the Avenue after the sudden closure of the Jackson Hole diner,” wrote John McDermott, who sent in the photo below.
Thanks to everyone who sent in tips.
Jackson Hole closed?!? When did that happen?
Last week.
About a week ago:
https://www.westsiderag.com/2016/06/09/jackson-hole-closes-suddenly-after-42-years
Jackson Hole’s food was awful. Is anyone surprised it closed?
Those many people who disagree with you.
Nice to hear, but – the bagels at Fairway are, and always were, superior to H & H.
Not to start another bagel war but…You are right about Fairway’s bagels. I consider myself a bagel maven and know the smaller ones are the best. It’s the ratio of crust to dough. Every Sunday morning my dad would drive miles to Toddy’s in Far Rockaway so we could feast on the best bagels, bialys, whitefish, nova, sturgeon, and sabel. I don’t know if they are still there on Central Avenue. This was over 60 years ago.
I think Toddy’s in Cedarhurst? Brings back memories!
Could be. I moved from Cedarhurst in 1960. At that time it was in Far Rockaway.
ha! Never knew they started in Far Rockaway. I guess the reference to Central Avenue threw me as I remember them from Cedarhurst’s Central Ave in the 70s. Good times.
Sadly, fairway’s bagels and rolls are tasteless and undercooked. Westside market is far better. And btw, fairway raised their prices a while back on all their bread and rolls. I want them to succeed but the quality on everything they sell now is pretty dismal. The grilled chicken breasts were so awful…we just threw them out. And so it goes……
Fairway bagels are too big and they taste like cardboard.
I eat the bagels from Westside Market too.
I think FW bagels ARE from H &H!
Maybe, but you have to go into Fairway to get them.
What do you want – for them to deliver the bagels to your pad?
Of course you have to go into the store.
When was the last time a shoe store sold shoes on the sidewalk?
He was being facetious.. try to keep up !!
I buy my shoes online. There are times when I can’t deal with Fairway.
Is it any special brand of bagels at Fairway?
UWSider,
You are a regular riot Alice!
Bah HA!
Pretty funny that a store on the UWS will have both “Midtown” and “East” in its name. Perhaps it should be called “H&H Midtown Bagels East, West”
Ha! Totally agree, except it should be “… East – West.”
I agreed — until recently– about the Fairway bagels being really good. Early this week I bought bagels during the morning and I returned them because they tasted as if they had been frozen. I was really disappointed. I wonder if they are altering their methods downward because of the stress of their bankruptcy proceedings?
Kosar’s
you can do returns on bagels?
that reminds me of the Seinfeld line, when Kramer is uring him to return fruit:
“fruit is a gamble.”
Any word on when it’s opening?
They’re aiming for late summer.
W80th … bagels warm from the oven and Zabar’s whitefish salad. mmmm … hope to do it again.
YAAASSSS……
But is it the same recipe?…
Well, for the hole in the middle at least.
If you want perhaps the best bagel in Manhattan, just venture up to Absolute on Broadway and 107th (or maybe don’t; tje lines are long enough).
I’ve been there two or three times now and I’m unclear on why it’s the sensation people make Absolute out to be. I felt they were were average and not special at all, but I’m admittedly no maven. Can you or others inform me why some think they’re so good?
Only during the main rush times, especially Sat/Sun morning. Can get in/out quickly most other times.
Seems like no one acknowledges Absolute Bagels on Broadway between 107th and 108th. I’ve been eating their bagels since forever. They’ve been open for more than 20 yrs.. One of the few mom and pop shops.
I’m a fan of Absolute. Just wish they were officially kosher.
Have you mentioned that to them? Perhaps they would consider obtaining kosher certification if enough people were to express interest in seeing them do so.
I appreciate we live in NYC and bagels are such a big thing for so many people, but I never tasted a bagel in five decades nor do I ever want to try one. They just look so unappealing and tough to chew like a piece of rawhide. Don’t understand the fascination, but hey, glad others dig them. I’m happy to stick with a good old blueberry muffin.
I would assume that the typical bagel is lower in sugar and calories than the typical muffin.
@Brock — go to Absolute Bagels on 107th + Broadway before 10am. Get a hot, just-out-of-the-oven bagel. You will have no teeth worries, it will be as soft as (and better), than cake.
“Tough to chew”, yes.
My dentist told me that many fillings are lost in chewing bagels and other breads.
I not only lost a 4-month-old filling that way, but part of the tooth fell off as well!
Absolute bagels are superb by any standard, hence the lines and devotees. we can always handle another bagel store!
H&H next to Zabars was a joke to me – no spreads by them – dark and rude service. The bagels at Absolute are good (live on 106) but the spreads are inferior for what they charge….all cash…owner is laughing all the way…and even Absolute bagels are not as good as they were years ago….I’ve been going there about 25 years. Sometimes they are dry and mealy….not what I am use to.
“and even Absolute bagels are not as good as they were years ago”
Few things are, I’m afraid.
There’s a morning coffee/bagel cart on Bway & 97th. I’ve thought they were H&H for years now, not sure who their wholesale supplier is but they have the “chewy” texture of boiled/baked H&H. Their bagels come in a 2nd to Westside since mornings aren’t my thing and when I crave one I go to Westside right up the street (walking past Lenny’s Bagels which are too “cakey” for me). Who knows what Lenwich will be like that’s opening on the same block on Bway just north of 96th. BTW, is Lenny’s and Lenwich the same company?
they are the same co.
Lenny’s Bagels and Lenwich (formerly Lenny’s) are unrelated.
The question was: “is Lenny’s and Lenwich the same company?”
Bring back Columbia Bagels!
I’ve always wondered about your handle. Too short to be an md5sum.
Lender’s LOL
Great news! More Bagel Shops are needed. I hope this one can stay in business.
I like the bagel wars in the comments section. There could be an article just on that “WSR Readers Chime in: Bagel Wars” .
The bad news here is the loss of the laundromat. If your building doesn’t have its own machines, you’re more and more out of luck these days.
Yes – that was my laundromat. 🙁
Tal Bagels on 89th (ish) and Broadway are great. Big and doughy. And they’re on Seamless! I never really cared for H&H. I think “You’ve Got Mail” made it seem much better than it actually was.
Who’s doing the best *kosher* bagels on the UWS right now?