StreetLevel: More Dough For Fourth Avenue

Why do these buildings here and down Union continue to be occupied? They are leaning so much it is unbelievable the city has not condemned them.

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 2:59 PM

We also got A.R.E.A. Bagels earlier this summer, on 5th Avenue near St. Marks. They have extended (though not 24 hour) hours, and the food is great. They offer many bagels and spreads plus fancy choose-your-own ingredients salads, paninis and burgers like most mid-town Manhattan lunch places. I've been going there for lunch a few times a week, but I'm looking forward to trying out the competition on Union!

Jen KG

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 3:08 PM

this place looks really charming.

good to hear about it.

thanks.

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 4:11 PM

was there this afternoon, ordered one of the sandwiches for lunch. i have to say was pretty impressed. everything was fresh and the owner was really cool and down to earth. definitely will be going back... going to try the bagels and coffee tomorrow morning...

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 4:40 PM

Looks great. Would like a place like that here in Clinton Hill somewhere on Fulton St between Classon and Clinton Ave.That would be greatttttttttt.Hope someone is listening.Myrtle's Bergenbagels is a little trek from me.

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 5:49 PM

The baking is on premises so it is fresh... Bagels are excellent!

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 6:03 PM

The bagel joint on Bergen Street near the police station is the very best in Brooklyn. Hands down.

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 6:11 PM

I tried an onion bagle. It was an embarrassment for a new york bagel. Will not return.

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 6:28 PM

i had the bagels this morning and they were excellent. as the previous reader stated the baking is done on premises and they were great. be there tomorrow morning see you there :)

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 8:06 PM

6:11 is right on. Bergen Bagle is excellent. I used to go there all the time when I lived in PH.

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 8:13 PM

The Bagels are baked Fresh daily. Spoke with the owner today. He is starting to bake twice daily. I have to try lunch

Posted by: guest at September 5, 2007 8:51 PM

Walked in this morning and I have to say, WOW. The smell of the fresh Bagels were so overpowering that I had to order a full dozen hot bagels for my co-workers(im sure i will have one or two more on my way in to work) and that was after I ordered my own bagel with cream cheese. Bagel I got was fantastic and the service was equally good. I was in and out in under 5 minutes. Looks like I found my morning breakfast shop right before I jump on the R train....

Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 9:30 AM

This place will be worthless one the AY is built...

I plan to try this place this weekend. The selection looks incredible.

Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 9:56 AM

the A Y ??????

Posted by: guest at September 8, 2007 9:41 PM

Andalusian Yodelplex.

Posted by: guest at September 9, 2007 12:41 PM

Brownstone Bagel & Bread Company is a charming place that I welcome to the neiborhood. The owner was very nice and the staff was great! Not to mention the tasty bagels... yum..! You MUST try them all!

Looks like i found my new breakfast place!!!!!

Posted by: guest at September 10, 2007 11:49 AM

I went there last weekend, and the bagels were great, but I missed my typical latte on the side, had to drink regular coffee instead. The ever-present owner, who was greeting everyone at their tables, said the espresso machines would arrive soon. hopefully they don't go too expensive, if they stay cheap I'd definitely hit them most mornings.

Posted by: guest at September 19, 2007 4:37 PM

I live 1.5 blocks away and was very thrilled to see this place being built. After giving them 4 tries, I've got to say that BBB is a big disappointment for the following reasons:
1. The bagels are very mediocre. A perfect NYC bagel should be chewy/doughy on the inside and it should have a thin, but crispy crust. BBB's bagels are either too dried out or undercooked and the crust is very thick.
2. Other breads are equally mediocre and quite flavorless.
3. They keep their breads out in the open on top of the main counter. I've seen several customers leaning over them, breathing on them and even sneezing on them. These are the same breads that your sandwiches will be made with. Yuck.
4. They have a huge beverage fridge, but it's stocked with a dismal selection of cold drinks.
5. The coffee is truly awful, muddy and grainy tasting. Even the nearby corner delis make a better cup of coffee.
6. They constantly run out of things you want. And they don't know how to make their so-called signature sandwiches. I ordered a sandwich that claimed to come with "shaved reggiano," but I wound up with some soft and bland cheese (maybe Muenster?).
7. The "baby field greens" for my sandwich came out of a large cardboard box sitting on the floor near the cooler. Yuck again.
8. Yesterday I ordered a sandwich and witnessed the staff arguing about it in front of me. The sandwich maker asked one of the kitchen helpers to get him something from the cooler and the guy yelled back: "Get it yourself!" They were all so pissed off, I was worried that they may be doing god-knows-what to my food in the back.
I will not be buying anything "freshly made" from this shop, perhaps just packaged goods.
I was impressed that I was able to get food there at 4:15 in the morning, but that's about the only positive thing I can say about this place. Taksa

Posted by: guest at September 21, 2007 9:57 AM

r u kidding??? the place is good... i go there every morning, have a great cup of coffee with my plain bagel and sundried tomatoe cream cheese.
last saturday i had a prosciutto, roasted pepper w/capers sandwich on the focaccia and it was to die for...
the owner is always polite and courteous and waves to me when i walk home.. def works too many hours :)
taksa get a life.......its a bagel shop not le cirque

Posted by: guest at September 22, 2007 11:21 AM

The owner does work many hours. He is always there

I think the place has awesome bagels, great coffee and damn good pressed sandwiches

Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 8:07 PM