Kossar's Bialy's ... and bagels too!
I made a 45-minute detour to what may be the only bialy baker left in Manhattan: Kossar's Bialys on the Lower East Side - where they're also famous for their bagels!.
Boy was it worth it. This bagel was faithful to my recollections of crisp, yeasty, chewiness. The air holes within the dough were microscopic. My jaw worked pleasantly hard into the mildly tangy dough.
And once I got the rest home, they disappeared. The fam - who are as a lot rather opinionated .... devoured them under piles of lox & cc (far more than a restaurant would allow). We analyzed Kossar's textural and flavor notes compared to all those who came before. Finally, we agreed .... no small feat for a family with a teenager.
Kossar's was our favorite bagel of the many we'd tried since moving back home to NYC. .Just remember: Kossar's doesn't serve -sandwiches, eggs, coffee, etc. It's not an eat-in; its an old school baker, traditionalist to some and artisinal to others. Either way the bread is the sole focus.
One of the finest in NYC!