FYI: everything is free Monday - Wednesday during their pre-opening shakeout. Limit 2 bagels per person, and no option to buy. It seemed like a lot of the old staff was there, which was really heartwarming to me. The inside has been renovated, and the whole space is brighter.
I got my usual everything with lox spread. I would say the bagel is a little different from before--fluffier on the inside, but a little crispier on the outside? But this is an n=1, and I also don't trust my sense memory.
In any case, I'm really excited they're back and with so much of the old team.
I agree, they were a bit fluffier on the inside, but a little crispier on the outside and the other person I went with noticed it was crispier too. I think they were also slightly smaller than I remember from a year ago, but that might be because they're giving them out free. Loved seeing the old staff there, I was worried it was going to be a total shakeup and they were just using the name, but it seems like business as usual.
It was just inconsistency. I had one very normal sized absolute bagels and one smaller one. They were baked sligjtly longer than normal. I would not say that it’s meaningfully different. They have new equipment and everyone has been out of work for a year.
That's good to hear, mine were both similarly sized and textured so I wasn't sure if it was the new default size or not. I wouldn't expect everything to be 100% perfect on a soft open anyway, some inconsistency is expected. Either way they were solid.
I think you're right about the size. But things also haven't gotten cheaper in the past year, so shrinkflation could also be part of the story. I don't remember the prices on the menu board for the bagels, so I'm not sure if they're the same price as the old shop.
I'm really hoping you're right that it remains business as usual (or at least, close to it)
I just meant that they're in the process of figuring out their flow, fixing inefficiencies, and working though their opening jitters before a formal opening; they're technically in a "soft opening". I think that's why they're not yet charging.
I walk past there a lot to get my kids from daycare and I’ve seen a couple of the former employees going in and out during the renovations. I know it’s new owners but it looks promising that they at least have some OG staff.
A place has opened calling itself Absolute Bagel. That’s not the same as the old place being back. If you don’t believe me, visit the hedge fund/private equity backed business calling itself H&H and tell me how it compares to the old H&H.
Lots of familiar faces in there and the bagels are similar too - it may not stay the same absolute bagel forever but right now it is still pretty close to the one that closed last year
What a dumb post. I just got back from new absolute, practically with tears in my eyes. The old staff was all there. It’s the same bagel and it was such a joyful vibe. Plus everything was free.
Sometimes people are thinking a certain way in their mind and don’t understand that their phrasing can be taken differently. Reread your post and reconsider your wording if you truly think you were simply asking if they’re any good.
Your post seems less inquisitive and more making a point that it’s different owners just using the name/location. More so assuming it would be bad… That’s a concern everyone had. But as the articles and photos have said/shown. It’s the old recipes and more importantly the old staff are there, so they should know how to do things the same way as before.
This is obviously important to many people. These are people that I may not really know, but feel a connection with from seeing them at the shop for years. I know I was sad seeing the photos/hearing the stories of the staff basically crying when the old place closed down. It was great seeing the photos from West Side Rag with the familiar faces back at the store.
Nah, none of that is in my post. People using their imaginations to make that up in my comment text are being wildly sensitive about a bagel store that’s been open for a day. “Is it good?” is all I asked, because in the same situation, the new bagel store has been bad in the past. It’s a reasonable question and I even justified why. Freaking out about that is not a me problem.
You clearly haven’t been following the news, so don’t proudly post your misinformation. The old absolute closed suddenly when the owner chose to retire. The new absolute obviously needs a new owner. But many of the old staff are part of the new operation, a fact which has been repeatedly reported on in local outlets like West Side Rag in the lead up to this opening.
What misinformation? I asked a question. There are no claims in my comment. Are you being paid to silence questions about the quality of these bagels? Edit: also I’ve been reading the WSR articles, which focused on how this was not affiliated with the old Absolute, so it’s entirely legitimate to ask “how are the bagels?” Which someone kinder than you answered.
I really hope this business isn’t astroturfing to stomp on this legitimate question, since I’d really like to hear honest reviews of the bagels at this new store instead of these weird accusations
You are the one being negative. I asked if the bagels are good. Apparently you don’t know the answer and are only capable of making accusations. Why even comment? It’s pretty weird that you also didn’t even answer if you’re being paid to silence questions about the bagel quality. Very creeped out by this tbh.
Weird that both of you responded exactly the same way. Dunno whose sock puppet y’all are but it makes it seem like y’all are trying to manipulate social media regarding this business. I’ll find somewhere else to get bagels, this is too weird.
I am not paid by New Absolute, and it’s a bit far fetched to claim that anyone here has been. I was only disappointed by your original post which sounded like a fairly negative spin on a new bagel shop opening with similar staff, recipes, and naming as the original. I’m happy they opened and I want to see them succeed.
H&H bagels are factually inedible now and no one is ever in there but out of town fools (on UWS at least).
Hoping this won’t be the case - the absolute situation doesn’t feel like this recent epidemic of PE sponsors buying a beloved brand and expanding into multiple locations and shit-ifying the food.
I really hope it isn’t but given how totally ruined the H&H brand was you can understand how a person might be concerned about that happening again. It was just so, so disappointing and having been burned before, I don’t want to set my expectations too high.
Some of the wild reactions in the chat here have really put me off though, so I think I’ll give this place a while before I visit and see how people like it longer term. If it’s good it’ll still be around.
The current H&H has some of the most disgusting kitchen sanitation habits. Im talking like dropping the sandwich cutting knife in the trash and taking out and continuing to use it.
Or getting egg shell in the mixing bowl, fishing it out with gloves hands, but continuing to use those gloves while finishing prep on deli sandwiches.
Basically, assume anything you order has been smothered with an extra dose of bacteria.
They’re open 8am - 12pm or whenever bagels run out (wasn’t clear if they’d stay open later if they still had some bagels)
I arrived in line at 10:45 and was leaving the store by 11:11. The line extended just past the door of the supermarket next door. Honestly I think it would have been quicker but people kept trying to order more than two bagels and staff kept having to explain that wasn’t possible
By the time I got inside they were out of egg bagels and lox spread so if you want either I’d go earlier
Pretty sure they were also giving away free black coffee (or at least I didn’t see anyone pay)
There are tip jars for cash tips and even though the bagels are free I dropped a few dollars in! The team is so, so nice and they’re working incredibly hard
Also a PSA that shouldn’t have to be a PSA: you’re wearing a coat but the staff isn’t. You’re going to get inside, let the door close and wait outside if you can’t fit. Some of them looked miserable and I felt so bad
So glad to hear this! I confess that in its absence, I have started (is this cheating? lol) on Fairway (hi Shoprite) and Kossar's bagels, and will probably do a direct comparison to figure out a preference. The Fairway ones were surprisingly good and by far the easiest to pick out of the bin and buy.
I am hoping the line isn't as long as it was for the original :)
Where all these transplants coming from? They love to ruin local spots for the people who live near. There should be a separate line for locals and not out of state folks but hey blame the internet
It's right next to Columbia University and has always had a giant line and it's a reopening event from a wildly popular place. Bagels and Creme and Broadway Bagels are still nearby if you don't want to wait in line, hell Absolute being back will probably shorten the lines at those places a lot.
Is Absolute bagel legit or just hype? I went there for the first time two weeks before they closed their last location and my bagel was raw in the middle.
They also didn’t carry hot sauce and I had to go to a bodega next door to buy hot sauce for my BEC 🚩
FYI: everything is free Monday - Wednesday during their pre-opening shakeout. Limit 2 bagels per person, and no option to buy. It seemed like a lot of the old staff was there, which was really heartwarming to me. The inside has been renovated, and the whole space is brighter.
I got my usual everything with lox spread. I would say the bagel is a little different from before--fluffier on the inside, but a little crispier on the outside? But this is an n=1, and I also don't trust my sense memory.
In any case, I'm really excited they're back and with so much of the old team.
I agree, they were a bit fluffier on the inside, but a little crispier on the outside and the other person I went with noticed it was crispier too. I think they were also slightly smaller than I remember from a year ago, but that might be because they're giving them out free. Loved seeing the old staff there, I was worried it was going to be a total shakeup and they were just using the name, but it seems like business as usual.
It was just inconsistency. I had one very normal sized absolute bagels and one smaller one. They were baked sligjtly longer than normal. I would not say that it’s meaningfully different. They have new equipment and everyone has been out of work for a year.
That's good to hear, mine were both similarly sized and textured so I wasn't sure if it was the new default size or not. I wouldn't expect everything to be 100% perfect on a soft open anyway, some inconsistency is expected. Either way they were solid.
I think you're right about the size. But things also haven't gotten cheaper in the past year, so shrinkflation could also be part of the story. I don't remember the prices on the menu board for the bagels, so I'm not sure if they're the same price as the old shop.
I'm really hoping you're right that it remains business as usual (or at least, close to it)
I just added the new prices to my other post here. I forget what they were last year, so I'm not sure how they compare.
What’s a pre-opening shakeout and what time is that?
I just meant that they're in the process of figuring out their flow, fixing inefficiencies, and working though their opening jitters before a formal opening; they're technically in a "soft opening". I think that's why they're not yet charging.
Last day of pre opening is tomorrow, Wednesday.
I feel like they really missed an opportunity to change the name to Relative Bagels.
Lollllll
love it
Hahahahah I am sure most people didn't get this joke 🤣
I was there at 8am, the bagels were as good as ever and fresh. A lot of the old staff was there and it was good vibes all around.
The bagels were free today, but it looks like they have tablets to take cards going forward.
The interior is rennovated and has a fake grass wall and a mural, but it's largely the same.
Prices:
*Edited to confirm they have cards and add the prices, I just went back through my pics and I took one of the board.
Any feedback?
Bagels are good!
Since it’s been a year it’s hard to say for certain, but definitely seem like their old recipe (at least for the everything bagel I had)!
Anyone know what scope of renovation was? The write up on the issues before close was pretty grim but I want to get back on board if possible…
I walk past it on my way to work and looks like the entire inside was gutted, so looked extensive
Gutted and beautiful inside.
There’s pics on I think Westside Rag — unrecognizable and looks very clean and sleek
Link?
Westside Rag = easy to find.
I know, I’m a regular reader. I asked for a link because I can’t find the photos they mentioned.
There’s more coverage in WSR and ILTUWS now
Free bagels until they run out as long as you don’t put anything on them
I'm waiting for "Come with me to New York City's brand new bagel spot" TikTokers.
We need to scare them away… tell them the tales of roaches and rat droppings
Any word about the roaches, er, flavor enhancers?
Yeah, they use them in their cinnamon raisin bagels…..
*Crunchy cinnamon raisin
LOL
I believe these are not the original owners or staff. Just great marketing by the new owner. Hope the bagels are good.
I walk past there a lot to get my kids from daycare and I’ve seen a couple of the former employees going in and out during the renovations. I know it’s new owners but it looks promising that they at least have some OG staff.
Reports have said some staff has been rehired
Lots of the same staff were there today
That’s nice to hear. Silver Moon keeping staff on was a great precedent
Inaccurate. Some original staff are there. No original owner because he retired and closed the original after they got bad health ratings.
This is dumb af. All the old staff is there and the bagels are the same if not better. Op sucks.
“I believe” is speculation which is meaningless. Unless you have bona fide info to share, you’re just stirring the pot unnecessarily.
Can someone go and give us a review
Plain raisin bagel is nice and crunchy
Yay, glad it's back!
I’ve gotta say, the renovations pain me. But obviously necessary, and wish them the best.
Not being able to observe a layer of grime from the outside seems like a positive.
I appreciated the patina but understand that is not a universal feeling haha.
I didn’t hate it until I realized the carpet matched the drapes and I was in fact eating off the carpet.
Pain you? Really? Why?
Sometimes people have positive memories of things and then the things change.
A place has opened calling itself Absolute Bagel. That’s not the same as the old place being back. If you don’t believe me, visit the hedge fund/private equity backed business calling itself H&H and tell me how it compares to the old H&H.
Anyway are the bagels any good?
Lots of familiar faces in there and the bagels are similar too - it may not stay the same absolute bagel forever but right now it is still pretty close to the one that closed last year
Ok, that’s great news then. Hopefully they keep that mojo going.
That makes so much sense about h&h!! Those bagels suck now!
What a dumb post. I just got back from new absolute, practically with tears in my eyes. The old staff was all there. It’s the same bagel and it was such a joyful vibe. Plus everything was free.
And then the sky opened up and God himself said “this is the best bagel on the planet” and everyone clapped?
Honestly can’t tell if you’re being serious. How should anyone know if it’s good without asking if it’s good?
Well don’t make up bullshit then
What is made up in my post? I asked a question about whether the bagels are good and you decided to freak out. Try and relax.
Dumb dumb
It’s really weird that two people both making the same false accusations have decided to start insulting me just for asking if the bagels are good.
Anyway I’m gonna skip this place now, seems like there’s some social media manipulation going on here and I don’t go in for businesses that do that.
Sometimes people are thinking a certain way in their mind and don’t understand that their phrasing can be taken differently. Reread your post and reconsider your wording if you truly think you were simply asking if they’re any good.
Your post seems less inquisitive and more making a point that it’s different owners just using the name/location. More so assuming it would be bad… That’s a concern everyone had. But as the articles and photos have said/shown. It’s the old recipes and more importantly the old staff are there, so they should know how to do things the same way as before.
This is obviously important to many people. These are people that I may not really know, but feel a connection with from seeing them at the shop for years. I know I was sad seeing the photos/hearing the stories of the staff basically crying when the old place closed down. It was great seeing the photos from West Side Rag with the familiar faces back at the store.
QED
Nah, none of that is in my post. People using their imaginations to make that up in my comment text are being wildly sensitive about a bagel store that’s been open for a day. “Is it good?” is all I asked, because in the same situation, the new bagel store has been bad in the past. It’s a reasonable question and I even justified why. Freaking out about that is not a me problem.
You clearly haven’t been following the news, so don’t proudly post your misinformation. The old absolute closed suddenly when the owner chose to retire. The new absolute obviously needs a new owner. But many of the old staff are part of the new operation, a fact which has been repeatedly reported on in local outlets like West Side Rag in the lead up to this opening.
What misinformation? I asked a question. There are no claims in my comment. Are you being paid to silence questions about the quality of these bagels? Edit: also I’ve been reading the WSR articles, which focused on how this was not affiliated with the old Absolute, so it’s entirely legitimate to ask “how are the bagels?” Which someone kinder than you answered.
I really hope this business isn’t astroturfing to stomp on this legitimate question, since I’d really like to hear honest reviews of the bagels at this new store instead of these weird accusations
We don’t need your negativity in here
You are the one being negative. I asked if the bagels are good. Apparently you don’t know the answer and are only capable of making accusations. Why even comment? It’s pretty weird that you also didn’t even answer if you’re being paid to silence questions about the bagel quality. Very creeped out by this tbh.
Lack of self awareness, weird comments, see ya 👋
So two people just randomly decided to make false accusations about “misinformation” in response to my question?
And you still won’t answer if you’re being paid to post?
Yeah, I’ll be skipping this place, creepy stuff here.
Bye bye clown
Weird that both of you responded exactly the same way. Dunno whose sock puppet y’all are but it makes it seem like y’all are trying to manipulate social media regarding this business. I’ll find somewhere else to get bagels, this is too weird.
I am not paid by New Absolute, and it’s a bit far fetched to claim that anyone here has been. I was only disappointed by your original post which sounded like a fairly negative spin on a new bagel shop opening with similar staff, recipes, and naming as the original. I’m happy they opened and I want to see them succeed.
H&H bagels are factually inedible now and no one is ever in there but out of town fools (on UWS at least).
Hoping this won’t be the case - the absolute situation doesn’t feel like this recent epidemic of PE sponsors buying a beloved brand and expanding into multiple locations and shit-ifying the food.
I really hope it isn’t but given how totally ruined the H&H brand was you can understand how a person might be concerned about that happening again. It was just so, so disappointing and having been burned before, I don’t want to set my expectations too high.
Some of the wild reactions in the chat here have really put me off though, so I think I’ll give this place a while before I visit and see how people like it longer term. If it’s good it’ll still be around.
The current H&H has some of the most disgusting kitchen sanitation habits. Im talking like dropping the sandwich cutting knife in the trash and taking out and continuing to use it.
Or getting egg shell in the mixing bowl, fishing it out with gloves hands, but continuing to use those gloves while finishing prep on deli sandwiches.
Basically, assume anything you order has been smothered with an extra dose of bacteria.
Can we stay on topic please? We’re celebrating Absolute, who cares about H&H, haven’t been the same for decades now!
Thank god.
Absolutely
Update for anyone curious like me:
They’re open 8am - 12pm or whenever bagels run out (wasn’t clear if they’d stay open later if they still had some bagels)
I arrived in line at 10:45 and was leaving the store by 11:11. The line extended just past the door of the supermarket next door. Honestly I think it would have been quicker but people kept trying to order more than two bagels and staff kept having to explain that wasn’t possible
By the time I got inside they were out of egg bagels and lox spread so if you want either I’d go earlier
Pretty sure they were also giving away free black coffee (or at least I didn’t see anyone pay)
There are tip jars for cash tips and even though the bagels are free I dropped a few dollars in! The team is so, so nice and they’re working incredibly hard
Also a PSA that shouldn’t have to be a PSA: you’re wearing a coat but the staff isn’t. You’re going to get inside, let the door close and wait outside if you can’t fit. Some of them looked miserable and I felt so bad
Congrats fam I’m very jealous
Do the eggs still feel like sponges?
Do they still have their unique offerings? The mozzarella tomato vinaigrette special? The cranberry Thai tea?
Ate they better than the bagels and cream place on amst and 105-6?
That’s not difficult
Is it me or are the bagels sweeter than they used to be? That being said the consistency is right
Nooo :(
Still better than any other bagel I’ve had since they closed!
So bagels are free until Wednesday as long as you don’t add any lox, cream cheese, etc? If you want those things up there are you able to purchase?
I got a free number 1 cream cheese. People were ordering sandwiches and I didn’t see anyone paying anything. They also had a two bagel limit.
So glad to hear this! I confess that in its absence, I have started (is this cheating? lol) on Fairway (hi Shoprite) and Kossar's bagels, and will probably do a direct comparison to figure out a preference. The Fairway ones were surprisingly good and by far the easiest to pick out of the bin and buy.
I am hoping the line isn't as long as it was for the original :)
Sounds like you haven’t been spoiled yet by Absolute. The crust, the savory flavor. I recently tried Zucker’s bagels- no flavor. No comparison.
Yay!!!!
Fuck talk about a trip down memory lane
I ain’t waiting in line for a bagel. That’s tourist behavior.
Is anyone on line now?? What's the sitch?
Heading over now, I’ll lyk
In line now, maybe 30 people, not even to the corner and moving super fast
Thank you!!!! Thinking of going soon!!!!
New Absolute Bagel is a hit! (WSR article)
Mid
Is it still cash only? Anyone have the prices?
They take card now, just not today.
Do. They BOIL. The bagels?
If they’re not boiled, they’re not bagels. Are you new around here?
Ah, meant on site still. In that giant vat up front
Where all these transplants coming from? They love to ruin local spots for the people who live near. There should be a separate line for locals and not out of state folks but hey blame the internet
lol you’re talking about a business that on a normal day has a line around the block and is a staple of both upper westsiders and Columbia students…
It's right next to Columbia University and has always had a giant line and it's a reopening event from a wildly popular place. Bagels and Creme and Broadway Bagels are still nearby if you don't want to wait in line, hell Absolute being back will probably shorten the lines at those places a lot.
Is Absolute bagel legit or just hype? I went there for the first time two weeks before they closed their last location and my bagel was raw in the middle.
They also didn’t carry hot sauce and I had to go to a bodega next door to buy hot sauce for my BEC 🚩
It’s legit, sounds like an unfortunate mishap that you got a raw bagel. Their bagels are like beautiful clouds.
YUMMY MORONS
If it ain’t Leon’s I don’t want it! 😞
Will they be kosher this time?
I like absolute power gym. I like knickerbocker bagels and apollo bagels more.