Modern Bread and Bagel
Upper West Side, Manhattan
Total Score
Ranks & Awards
Store: Recently opened (just before COVID), properly a bakery rather than a bagel store. All GF menu. Friendly, attentive staff. Many pastry/cookie options. Modest but present lox offering, 6-8 cream cheese options all well-whipped. No bottled drink options, all made. Clean, professional, bakery aura. No cooking aromas present. Closer to patisserie style than NY bagel sensibilities. 4.5
Bagel: All GF options. Mid-sized bagel. Flawless topping composition in variety and density. Toppings fell off easier (presumably to inherent nature of GF process) slightly messier experience than normal as a consequence. Best bagel without being a bagel. The primary element that makes it not a bagel - lack of 'heavy' feeling from eating - is itself a positive characteristic. No 'less than' feeling from the experience, but the subtle differences are apparent, certainly when eating for review. Knows it's not a bagel exactly and comes hard with the other elements to compensate. Best gluten-free bagel in New York City. 4.5
Cream Cheese: Impeccable cream cheese, tightly whipped and light. Warm from the heat of the bagel and fluid. Messy while eating in a sumptuous way. Scallions present at a strong ratio and good size for texture delivery. 4.5