ZipPicks Awards
Best Cheap Eats in Upper West Side
Best Bagels in Upper West Side
Best Breakfast in Upper West Side
Master Critic Review
Zabar's
8.5
Zabar's combines a landmark appetizing store with a busy upstairs café where bagels, smoked fish, and coffee fuel classic Upper West Side breakfasts. Regulars treat it as a one-stop morning ritual, grabbing lox sandwiches, blintzes, and baked goods before or after shopping the market downstairs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Toasted bagel with Nova lox, Cheese blintzes with sour cream, Smoked fish platter
Scores:
Value: 8
Service: 7.2
Consistency: 8.5
Food Quality: 8.6
Atmosphere: 6.8
Cultural Relevance: 9.2
What makes it special: Iconic appetizing market with an upstairs café for classic lox breakfasts.
Who should go: Bagel-and-lox fans who like bustling, old-school counters.
When to visit: Weekday mornings or off-peak hours to avoid long queues.
What to order: Nova bagel, cheese blintzes, smoked fish platter.
Insider tip: Order food first, then browse the downstairs counters while it’s prepared.