Shelsky's of Brooklyn: Appetizing & Delicatessen

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Overview:

Old-fashioned Jewish deli in the heart of Cobble Hill. They offer a wide variety of  deli staples including smoked & cured lox salmon, whitefish, sable and herring. You can get this piled high on bagels or a bialy.  There is a huge range of creative sandwich options that also extend into salads, spreads and deli meats. Check out the Spicy White with smoked whitefish salad, roasted hazelnuts, fennel, oranges, cucumber salad and sriracha chili sauce on rye. 

Information:

Address:  141 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: (718) 855-8817

Neighborhood: Cobble Hill

https://www.shelskys.com/

Price: $$

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Blank Slate Coffee + Kitchen

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Overview:

Blank Slate is tucked away in an inconspicuous pocket of Madison Ave but that doesn't seem to stop hoards of people from finding this all day coffee shop. Patrons can grab-n-go with juices and coffee or stay & relax in the space that has 7 tables and several communal seating areas.  The cafe menu is excellent, offering large portions of all day breakfast, sandwiches and salads. Small plates include fun snacks like truffle popcorn, goat cheese dip and deviled eggs. Worth checking out for a lively afternoon of work or breakfast/lunch on the go. They have recently opened a gourmet market next door offering grocery items and a fun list of build your own avocado toast & Black Seed bagels

Information:

Address:  121 Madison Ave #5, New York, NY 10016

Phone:  (212) 683-7800

Neighborhood: Midtown East

Price: $$

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Kossar's Bagels & Bialys

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Overview:

Kossar's was opened in 1936 by Morris Kossar. Today it is the oldest remaining Bialy bakery in the United States. The establishment was taken over by new ownership in recent years but remains committed to upholding the traditions of this great Jewish appetizing shop. They offer a range of items to go or for dining in. In their cases you’ll find stacks of cream cheese, cured fish, loaves of babka, and fresh challah. You can choose from fresh bins of brick oven baked bialys and kettle boiled bagels. They will stack your bagel high with any combo of salmon, sable, white fish, or egg salad. For something a little modern, they have gooey chocolate babka French toast and pizza bagels. I look forward to many more years of their success. 

Information:

Address:  367 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Phone: (212) 473-4810

Neighborhood: Lower East Side

Price: $$

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Black Seed Bagel

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Overview 

Black Seed is a Montreal style bagel concept from the team that brought you Mile End Deli. Since opening a few years ago they have gained a cult-like following in NYC and have expanded to three locations. Each bagel is hand rolled, boiled in honey water, and then baked off in a wood fired oven. The result is pretty phenomenal. They offer over 25 sandwich combos ranging from traditional bacon, egg & cheese to adventurous like smoked salmon with tobiko cream cheese. All the jewish breakfast favorites are available plus lunch combos like a banh mi, chicken salad with bacon, and buffalo cauliflower for my vegan peeps. Finally, they have pizza bagels which, if I'm being honest, is really the most important thing any bagel shop can do. 

Information

Address:  176 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10009

170 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Hudson Eats @ Brookfield Place
200 Vesey St, New York, NY 10080

Phone:  (646) 484-5718

Neighborhood: Nolita, East Village, Battery Park 

Website: https://www.blackseedbagels.com/

Price: $

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Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner

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Overview:

Pastrami, matzo ball soup & other Jewish deli fare are found at this updated diner that's open 24/7

Information:

Address: 548 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

Phone: (212) 679-0442

Neighborhood: Midtown East

Website: https://www.sargesdeli.com/

Price: $$

 

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Kossars

Few NYC foods are as steeped in tradition as the ones found at Jewish appetizing stores. They were opened by the hordes of immigrants that poured into the Lower East Side in the late 1800's from Eastern Europe. Sadly these are a dying breed. Once you could find 100's of these stores and today there are only a handful in the city. The phrase “they don’t make ‘em like the used to” applies directly to Kossars. They are keeping the tradition alive. 

The store was opened in 1936 by Morris Kossar. Today it is the oldest remaining Bialy bakery in the United States. The establishment was taken over by new ownership in recent years but remains committed to upholding the traditions of this Jewish great cuisine. I spent some time with owner David Zablocki and he had a story behind every ingredient and a passion that is unparalleled. There is a reason for every vendor he works with from the whitefish he gets, to the bakery that makes his babka recipe, to the facility he uses to cure his salmon with his own recipe. You want to know the secret to staying open for 80 years in the greatest food city on earth? You need to give a shit. A big shit. About every product and ingredient that walks in and out of your establishment. Zablocki is a man who gives a big shit.

Kossars offers a huge range of items to go or for dining in. In their cases you’ll find stacks on cream cheese, cured fish, loaves of babka, and fresh challah. You can choose from fresh bins of brick oven baked bialys and kettle boiled bagels. They will stack your bagel high with any combo of salmon, sable, white fish, or egg salad. For something a little modern, they have gooey chocolate babka French toast that tastes like heaven. They even have my childhood favorite, pizza bagels. I look forward to many years of their success. Here’s what we had:

THE CLASSIC - Sliced Nova, Everything Cream Cheese, Tomato, Red Onion, Capers, Dill

THE YENTA - Whitefish Salad, Pastrami Salmon, Lettuce, Shaved Celery, Tomato, Red Onion

Babka French Toast - 2 slices of our delicious chocolate or cinnamon babka. Served with butter and syrup

Address: 367 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Phone :(212) 473-4810

kossars.com