Tal Bagels Express

I get bagels here and chocolate croissants almost every time I come to visit the Metropolitan Museum.
The bagels are always fresh and are way superior to the ones at Kossar’s on the LES.
the staff are always attentive and friendly

I feel compelled to write a review here. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 20 years and the theme with this place is consistent– bagels are acceptable but not extraordinary and the customer service is lacking. It is rare when an order is properly executed and the people behind the counter are frequently unfriendly. Go 2 blocks north to Hot and Crusty or 3 blocks east to H&H– both are just as expensive but the quality of food and help are much better. I only go here for bagels and appetizing when I don’t have the time to go to these other places.

They do not have sausage or bacon. Only turkey bacon. I ordered an egg sandwich on a bagel with extra turkey bacon and an OJ and was somehow charged $ 15. The turkey bacon is completely inedible. Also, for paying for extra bacon, I got maybe 4 pieces. Not that it matters since I wont be eating it anyway. This place is also extremely slow.

The bagel shop I had bookmarked had a line out the door, so I just kept walking towards my destination and came across Tal.
It’s not a big shop, but the line moves quickly — took me about 5 – 7 minutes to start eating my toasted lox and cream cheese bagel ($ 11) from when I walked in.
From what I can tell, lox bagels are just expensive in general, and this is on the lower side for a lox AND cream cheese bagel — pretty decent flavors.
The one qualm I have is that I asked for a toasted bagel, and my bagel was barely warm, so the texture just wasn’t jiving with me. I’ve already got some chewy textures going on with the lox; I don’t need 2 extra (not warm) layers of chewiness with my bagel!
The lox and the cream cheese were pretty great, though — if Tal is on your way to somewhere and you need a snack, it’s not a bad choice.

Ordered from tals on lexington instead of my typical order from tals between a 2^nd & 1^st (which is awesome by the by). My mistake!
Completely different experience. This shop delivered a lox bagel that for the price is pathetic (2 thin slices), more onion then lox…
They also do not follow special instructions.
Sticking to what I know.

I have been there on a few occasions-​bagels when requesting toasting– are not toasted and water logged. Staff is rude and arogant.
Today was the last straw when a snippy clerk did not respond when I asked for help. Finally after three minutes, some fool came out, sneered and offered me service. I declined. Don’t waste your time.

Bagel with vegetable cream cheese taste soooo ggggoooooodddddd… This Bagel joint has different kinds of cream cheese spreads, such as salmon lox (I didn’t try it, but I might go back and buy it). Best deli made cream cheese in my POV, Junkin’ Donuts can’t do that!!!
I took one star, sorry :(because the blueberry muffin always ran out. That blueberry muffin tastes like heaven mmmm.

Came in here ordered Bagel and a soup. Both were delicious and hit the spot… the service was good and the price is absolutely typical
This is your typical new york bagel spot so if thats what you’re craving then you wont be disappointed.

Hi Everyone,
I just walked into Tal Bagels. This is my every Sunday morning breakfast spot before I go for my morning walk. I normally have salmon and cream cheese on a flat every thing bagel. But this morning I decided to live a little and have a hot Pastrimi sandwich its amazing.

Went here a few months ago on a Sunday morning around 9 am and they were out of Everything bagels. Gave them another chance today (Saturday) at 8:30 and they were out of Plain bagels. Plus, when I ordered «two everythings and a plain, all with regular cream cheese» the counter guy looked at me like I’d ordered in Latin. On the third try, the Manager standing behind him understood my order. The bagels are pretty good, though. Say 3 stars for the bagels with a mandatory 2 point deduction for being a poorly run business. I may be back to give an extra deduction depending on whether my toddler will eat the backup bagel I had to buy. I kinda hope she won’t, since whole wheat bagels are a crime against nature.

The place is too small for the long lines every morning. The bagels and cream cheese are good, not very cheap, but they’re good. Normal for the Upper East Side. But the fresh orange juice is the best I’ve had. The cashiers can be a little rude and the $ 5 minimum on cards is ridiculous.

The most amazing salmon on a lightly toasted bagel I have ever had. The staff was excellent! Provided great service. We were given free samples (which we found is NOT the norm in NYC). It was defiantly worth the visit!

The bagels here are better than Hot & Crusty, but they still leave me searching for better bagels in New York City.
Spreads are also average.

It was raining and cold outside and I just wanted to grab a hot cup of black coffee. I went to this café and asked for a small cup of black coffee. This old guy who appears to be the owner of the café asked for $ 4 for the coffee. I understand this is Upper East Side and things are generally more expensive but I just bought a Small Black Coffee in a paper cup from a cheap looking café.
Next time I will go to the starbucks in the next block and pay only $ 2 for a better cup of coffee and friendlier customer service.

The bagels are decent and there aren’t many other good bagels in this neighborhood. The service is the worst, though. The servers get made at you for ordering a bagel without anything on it and are just gruff in general. The everything bagel could use more toppings.

Decent bagels and ok location. Kept trying to upsell me on coffee.

A brusque staffer served up a decent $ 1.10 sesame bagel, an annoying price in terms of change rendered with a $ 5 card minimum.
Prior to the day of my visit, 2 listings existed, but it seems like they finally merged ‘em at my request.

The bagels here are amazing! The prices and customer service not so much…
I stood in what I thought was the line for about 5 minutes until they told me it was the other line. I ordered a toasted whole wheat everything bagel with cream cheese and my total was about $ 5. (The guy in front of me ordered some kind of bagel sandwich so his total was $ 12 — that seems really pricey to me for a bagel, but I don’t know what he got on it)
But my bagel was amazing! Warm and soft and crunchy and so, so good! I almost wanted to go in and order another one, but I didn’t wanna fork over another $ 5. The bagels themselves are only $ 1.10 each, it’s the cream cheese that gets you. (You’re better off getting a ¼ lb. container) and I guess it isn’t too bad considering it’s in the UES.
Overall I would come back here if it was on my way. The customer service isn’t the greatest but they’re fast, perfect for everyone in NY who’s in a hurry all the time.

I’m just amazed of the bad attitude of pretty much all the employes at this place. As an immigrant myself I’m nothing but thankful for the opportunities this country offer me.
I just want to tell them, Don’t turn your American dream into everybody else’s nightmare. Doesn’t do any good for the people you represent, yourself and the rest of us. If you want to be rude, pack up and go back to where you came from
#iwannaenjoymybagel

A native NYCer and nearby resident recommended this Tal Bagels to us, and we thought it was fine and fulfilled our bagel needs. My whole wheat everything bagel with lox cream cheese was toasted nicely, and the Barbie pink cream cheese was applied with a heavy hand, so much so that it filled up the hole… mmm. Yes, the line system was confusing, a sign would be useful, but a helpful employee explained where to stand to order.
I don’t get all this disdain for the staff; the guys working were friendly and polite. I actually had more beef with the other customers, like this older lady with a dachshund in a freakin’ dog carriage, obliviously blocking the entrance with two other obstructive women. Seriously?