Grabstein’s Bagels has opened its doors at 50 East 96th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues. When we first found out about the new spot, we wondered if this Grabstein’s was related to the famous Grabstein’s Delicatessen from Canarsie, Brooklyn, which shuttered around 1999. So, we took a trip over and can confirm these are not the Brooklyn Grabstein’s.
However, it does turn out that the proprietors also own Pick A Bagel, which has locations on both the Upper East Side and in Midtown West.
The team behind Grabstein’s – Alan Philips, Jiansong Chen and Pongshing Chiu – were also the key ingredients in the opening of Wu + Nussbaum at 2897 Broadway, at West 113th Street. This was the former home of Nussbaum and Wu, which closed in June of 2019 due to apparent neglect and health violations. They chose the name to pay homage to the original bakery, which was beloved by many, especially Columbia University students.
Grabstein’ Bagels is “Family Owned and Operated Since 1985, with kettle cooked hand rolled Authentic New York Bagels,” reads its Instagram page.
They were sold out of cinnamon raisin bagels when we arrived on Monday afternoon. They did have a flat (‘flagel’) cinnamon raisin, but we were craving a classic, so we tried an everything bagel with cream cheese and it did not disappoint.
Grabstein’s menu also touts a lineup of iced drinks, coffee, and a La Marzocco Espresso machine. They suggest adding lox to your sandwich for full effect and also offer avocado toast, oatmeal, BLTs, egg sandwiches, burritos, salads and something called ‘Eggs in a Cup,’ which is 3 eggs, avocado, cheese and spinach served in a cup. We’ll have to try that next time.
A staffer at Grabstein’s told us they don’t currently have a phone number or a website. Also, no ‘to go’ menus at this point.
Very disappointing. Another failed bagel recipe. A great bagel is not easy to achieve, and Grabstein’s proves how difficult the process can be.
I picked up some bagels on Saturday afternoon. They had some cinnamon raisin and pumpernickel left, and both were very good, probably better than anything I’ve had on the UES in years. No phone, website, social really except for weeks-old posts on Insta and they haven’t even claimed their Yelp page yet. Gotta get on the ball!
Why don’t you call this shop Ripoff’s Bagel’s, since you ripped off Grabstein’s name to promote your own selfish interest. Willie and Eddie Grabstein were never in the bagel business. They bought their bagels at Flatlands Bagels and walked across East 82nd Street to pick up their bialys at Bell’s Bialys like everybody else in Canarsie. They didn’t even bother to complete with the local bagel shops since they were gifts from God and Willie and Eddie stuck to their deli business since they were the masters. Where were you guys in the bagel business since 1985?
That’s a lie!!! You are a bunch of fake, phony frauds!!! I hope you go bankrupt for trademark infringement!!! You even ripped off the font from Grabstein’s facade!!! Goniffs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A PHONE NUMBER????? I CAN’T NAVIGATE YOUR SITE AND CAN’T EVEN SEE A MENU TO ORDR FROM.
For a few years now I have been looking for a real, traditional, old fashioned bagel, like the ones found in the 80’s when I first moved to New York. At long last, I have found it! None of those fluffy, cushy that they sell for bagels in most places, that are nothing but bad, industrial bread. GO GRABSTEIN’S!!!!!!!
Awful service. Sell hard bagels and overcharge and refuse to refund money. Rude, lazy, ignorant staff. Karen is the worst. She is an angry manager who is argumentative and deliberately obstinate. There is no one to complain to, by design. Don’t go! Go to TAL bagels instead and save yourself the angst.
This place is awful. Lazy staff standing around on their phones rather than helping customers. Food takes forever. Bagels suck. Not even an authentic name. Just a fraudulent attempt to make it sound Jewish.