There's a number of items on the menu at Zabar's that I'd still have to go back and try, but we were on a tight schedule and had a time crunch this trip to the city. We went in and got two things of the numerous items that we had on the list. We got the black and whites, as well as a couple of chocolate babka. The cookies themselves were just alright. However, the babka, my mouth is watering thinking of it. It's a shame it'll be a while before I'm back on the UWS, because I'd go back this moment to try the other things on the menu. The babka was definitely a standout. The bread itself was good, and the filling was great. I'd eat that again and again and again. Just on that, this place makes me want to return. There are a number of things I'd still like to try, but that babka was that good that it'd be a good reason by itself to return. read more

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Overpriced. Customer service is nonexistent. Two guys working, a mostly empty shop. One prepared a bagel with cream cheese the whole time. The other stood with his back to me and talked to his coworker. I waited 8 minutes and left. Went to Bagel Nosh a few blocks north. Shop was packed. One guy taking orders for everyone in line. Three guy assembly line preparing orders. Two women ringing up. I was out in 3 minutes. (Yes, I timed it. I'm petty.) If making a bagel was a sport, Zabar's Cafe would be a little league team in last place. read more

The star food item there is definitely the pineapple cheese strudel. It deserves a trek there for that item alone. I did get a few other items: garlic and potato knish - bland and the garlic on top was just bitter one of the bourekas - I don't remember which one I got, but it was fine I tried the goods immediately, and later I reheated them for another taste test. Only the pineapple cheese strudel stuck out to me. read more

Zabars Ruined Father's Day This is for a review of their online ordering and shipping. I ordered $200 worth of lox, bagels, and babka which was guaranteed to be there the next day (Sat), just in time for Father's Day. Sat rolls around, and there is no package even though it shows its in the process of being delivered on a UPS truck. Sunday rolls around, and the shipping says changes to Monday. I call on Sunday, speak to Michelle, and tell her my next day order didn't make it in time for Father's Day. She offers me a refund of the entire amount, or to reship the entire package. I choose the latter. She confirms and confirms next day shipping as well. The next day, I get my original package with spoiled lox in it. I throw away most of it and give the babkas I bought to mailman, since Zabars is sending me another package as agreed. But no, I get two voicemails. One saying my order has been delayed due to something being out of stock. Then I get another one, saying there was a misunderstanding, someone spoke to their manager, and only the lox will be delivered. What??? Although I understand that Zabars is not responsible for UPS's delivery fiascos, you can't just say you will deliver the entire order again, and then renege and say only part of it will be delivered. My Father's Day was ruined, and then Zabars offered to send THE WHOLE ORDER to make it better. Just because the UPS guy delivered my products eventually, they were still not delivered until 3 days later. I am truly disappointed in Zabars and especially since the manager lied and said that I had a misunderstanding that the entire order would be reshipped and the woman had originally said only the lox would be. Nope- I have her on voicemail apologizing for sending ONLY the lox. This is a bad way to do business. I am 100% sure they claimed the shipping damages from UPS also, what a scam. 0 stars for absolutely crap customer service, lies, and not delivering on their promises. read more

Breakfast burrito was mid, could tell it was premade because the very center was cold like it was not heated properly after refrigeration. Not much meat inside. The chocolate babka was really good though. read more

Zabar's - Breakfast burrito, Chocolate babka - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

This is an amazing market/store. Everything you need for a picnic or for cooking at home. The produce is amazing and the cheese and meats are second to none. Obviously a local place but has an enchanting historic vibe. Definitely worth a trip to experience if you're in the area. read more

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Store was pretty empty when we stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for lunch which was a pleasant surprise. I got the prosciutto panini which consists of fresh prosciutto mozzarella, tomato, and basil, on ciabatta. The bread had lots of flavor, and the meat was nice and fresh. The portion was large, I actually had some leftover which is unusual for me. The store did get a little busier, but was still a lot more empty than I've seen it on previous visits. They have some small tables to sit at which was very convenient. read more

Zabar's - Prosciutto Panini - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

This iconic family owned gourmet food store in the Upper West Side of Manhattan is famous for its bagels, smoked fish, lox and salmon, coffee, cheeses, olives, deli favorites, a housewares section and baked goods. Founded in 1934, it's a NYC institution. It is fun to walk around to see everything. I purchased a box of the Black and White cookies $11.98. They were delicious. read more

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Having grown up in the nabe, this deli holds a special place in my heart. On a cool summer morning, stopped in for coffee and an onion bagel with shmear, all for $7.50 -- a deal! The place was busy with happy diners chomping and slurping. read more

Zabar's - Breakfast of champions that will keep you full all day long! - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Zabar is definitely a culinary experience in New York City. Plenty of prepared food, pickles, nova salmon, coffee beans, bread. The store looks cramped with products, some are unique that you can't find anywhere else. Definitely check it out when you're visiting. read more

Zabar's - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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It's heaven inside Zabar's! I have never been anywhere like it. A long time Institution and it was my 1st time there. Loved the appetizering counters (meats, cheese, bakery, etc) I have mail ordered Cinnamon Babka so I could have a slice of New York at home. I wanna go back!! read more

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If you are not from NYC, GO. It is a fantastic grocery/deli/emporium. UWS. 79th St stop on the 1 then walk one block north to 80th. Look for the Tudor-style facade. But more than a grocery, it is an institution. People watch and appreciate...and smell--cheeses, olives, meats, coffee. Don't miss the blintz', fruit tarts in the back left corner, and the birthday/occasion cards. Best selection. I stock up. Great flour sack dish towels. Food downstairs and home goods upstairs. Grab a few reusable grocery bags. They make great conversation pieces back home. And they have a nifty cafe on the corner for immediate gratification. I live in Texas. I never go to NYC without a trip to Zabars. Oh, and they have a sr discount for home wares. Don't forget to ask for it. read more

This store is located on a busy street with lots of activity and people coming in and out. This store sells more than just coffee and bagels. This is a mega store of appetizing, deli, bakery, and many, many food products - some you've never seen. Upstairs is a store of gadgets and kitchen toys and loads of merchandise. This store requires some time to get through. It's so big and interesting that you need to stroll causally. This is well worth your time if you're visiting locally. I will certainly stroll back through when I'm back in the area. read more

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This is a specialty grocer with a zillion great products. They also have a bakery department and a bagel sandwich department, both of which you need to visit. The cheese department is at the entrance and if you are a cheese freak, this will be your happy place. The chocolate rugelach were the best I have ever had. The cinnamon ones were fine but the chocolate ones were phenomenal. I wish I had bought more than just two. Apparently, "nova" is different than lox. They look and taste the same to me but I am clearly a novice. The nova bagel sandwich, with tomatoes, capers, onions, and a huge shmear of cream cheese, was fantastic. The counter man probably spent five minutes carefully cutting the nova slices. It was a thing of beauty to watch and weirdly relaxing. I did not love the potato garlic knish. It was very dense and a massive belly bomb. However, if you love garlic more than life itself, this may be for you. Trust me, no vampires will get within a mile of you if you eat this thing. If I lived close to a shop like this, and had a lot of disposable income, it would be spent here. This is well worth a visit. read more

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The New York institution. Came here with a local and got the hookup. Instead of buying the made bagels and nova, we bought some loose bagels, the salmon pieces in the cooler and a half pint of schmear. The result is a fully loaded breakfast that is off the charts. The salmon here is the best I have ever had and at a great value. This will be a standard for me whenever I am in NYC. read more

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Cute bakery in the upper west side. There isn't much seating and it took about 10 minutes for our food to be ready. The bacon, egg, and cheese in a roll was okay, nothing special. The babka was so delirious, I would order again! read more

Zabar's - Babka and bacon, egg, cheese in a Kaiser roll - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

When a place has been around as long as Zabar's (#1) and still family owned and operated, it becomes an institution. As one of the most iconic Jewish establishments in the city, they've been a fixture on the Upper West Side selling bagels, coffee, fish, cheeses, and a myriad of traditional pastries. They are a historic part of New York City and one that is not to be missed. On the outside, it looks like a glorified grocery store, but stepping inside is like a visit back in time. There is no modern aesthetic with a pretentious vibe, this is as real as it gets. The aisles are tight, the crowds can be fierce, even the staff can get pushy, so it's not all roses here. It's also not just grocery but also a housewares store which specializes in cookware, kitchenware, with plenty of house tsotchkes (#2) but it's an experience and the kind of place where tradition and NY practically are mixed into one place. Some highlights include a dedicated coffee section with in-house roasted blends, as well as a fish counter with cured and smoked fish, ranging from salmon to white fish salads. There is an olive station showcasing some very impressive variety and cheeseheads will love their selection of cheeses from all over the globe. The latter is some of the best I've seen in all of NYC. And of course, there are endless Jewish delicacies here from common items like bagels and latkes to Ashkenazi specialties such as blintzes, knishes, and matzo ball soup. The black and white cookies are excellent, as are their reuben sandwiches. One shouldn't leave without trying their incredible chocolate and cinnamon babkas. It really is worth the hype and makes for an excellent gift. There are definitely some non-Jewish items that feel super random such as jambalaya, ropa vieja, grilled paninis, Greek salads, and multiple Italian specialties that I think were brought in to appease the crowds coming from all over. While I don't discount their versatility with other cuisines, I don't necessarily recommend them over anything they specialize in. The prices have crept up over the years, but it's still affordable given how premium the neighborhood has become. Folks who can't make their way here should consider ordering their products online, since they can ship almost anything across the country. Seating is a challenge and the only seating that I'm aware of is on the corner where frozen yogurt is also being sold. It's likely going to be crowded, so I would recommend walking two blocks down to the Riverside area and heading to River Run Playground / Hudson River and enjoying a little nature, people watching, and views of the NJ skyline. (#3) ___________ (#1) Just short of a century. (#2) A common Yiddish term in NY that basically means small items, that could be knick-knacks, trinkets, or swag. (#3) I know this sounds like a joke, but NJ is looking more and more skyscraper laden these days. read more

Zabar's - I 3 NY Cookies - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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This is the best place in NYC for amazing smoked fish. We were recently there right after the passing of the owner. The shop had a little memorial to him. The prices in the cheese department are still very affordable and the selection is immense. We purchased olives, bagels, lox, sable, herring etc for a fantastic feast. They also roast their coffee beans, have a cafe next door, do catering and the household department on the second floor has every gadget you ever wanted and many that you never knew existed! I live in California but as an ex New Yorker Zabar''s is always on my most do list. The rye bread is so delicious as well. read more

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I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Of course I appreciate it so much more now that I no longer live in NYC and miss it dearly. I make it a point to shop here every time I come home to visit and order their coffee on Z-Peat! I am shocked I never wrote a review! This is the only location and they have a cafe attached for grab and go coffee and some food. I think I have been in the cafe once or twice. When you first enter the store, the wonderful cheese section bombards you. There are so many different cheeses from around the world, you are definitely bound to find rare ones you will love. They have packaged cheeses and then a counter with like 100 other cheeses they can cut for you. There is an upstairs that has everything but food. Kitchen supplies, merchandise, Zabars swag that you have to pay for when you are up there. I have found some unique kitchen goods up there. It reminds me of the shops I have visited every time I went to visit my family in Europe. To get upstairs, there is only one way up & down, which is right after the cheese section. Then there's a cake counter in the back. Omg all the desserts I ordered from there are amazing. There are also shelves of nuts and dried fruits there. There is a deli section, where you can get all sorts of meats, prepared meals, soups. Of course there is a seafood section. I mostly visit the bakery and coffee counters. It is a decent sized store but very jam packed with products and people. I have never went there when it was dead. The staff is 50/50 on friendliness. I cannot recall many employees smiling when I have been there all these years. We have been shopping here as a family for over 20 years and I easily spend $150 each visit. read more

Zabar's - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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THE BABKA. Make sure to get this. It was ~$6 for 2 warm pieces and you get to choose what kind you want. We got 1 cinnamon and 1 chocolate to try both, but next time I would just get the chocolate because it was so much better. Maybe that's unfair since I favor chocolate, but it was gooey and they did not skimp on the chocolate! You can pay extra to get ice cream on top. We also ordered sandwiches, I liked the Cuban which comes on foccocia bread. Sandwiches are best eaten there since they come out warm. There isn't a ton of seating inside. read more

I'm usually not a fan of lox but their bagel and lox sandwich with onion and capers was so good. Their everything bagel with scallion cream cheese was also good. We ordered several bagels to go and eating in the next day was still great. I'd come back for the bagels but they also have a lot of specialty items like cheese, meats, spices. read more

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A New York Institution! The appetizing counter, cheese, breads, meats and bakery. I was in heaven. Iconic. read more

Zabar's - Bagel with lox - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

The Classic Nova sandwich at Zabar's is exactly what you'd expect from an NYC institution - their signature everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and piled-high nova salmon. When it first arrived, that freshly toasted bagel had the perfect crisp exterior giving way to a chewy center. Fair warning though - by the time I was halfway through (about 15 minutes later), the toasted bagel had firmed up more than I'd like. That initial perfect texture gave way to something a bit too crunchy. Maybe it's the double-toasting effect from their preparation? Still, the quality ingredients shine through - the nova salmon is some of the best I've had (thick-cut and buttery), and the scallion cream cheese adds just the right zing. At nearly $20 with tax, it's definitely a splurge for a bagel sandwich, but you're paying for that authentic Zabar's experience. Pro tip: Eat this immediately at the counter for peak texture. And maybe ask for light toasting if you're not diving in right away! read more

Zabar's - Classic nova bagel sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

What an amazing gem of a store! Worth a trip uptown. This place is a beautifully cluttered hodgepodge of all things gourmet and delicious. More cheese than I've ever seen. Fantastic housewares too! I have never seen more different kinds of smoked fish! I learned the different kinds of lox, belly lox, etc. . My husband and I stocked up on amazing side dishes (everything from fresh salads, to hot dishes, pasta salads, etc.). We WILL be back!!! read more

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Zabar's needs some improvement when it comes to refunding items that don't make it into your bag. I've already been twice this week. Day 2, I only purchased 2 items, as the other items I returned to purchase weren't in stock. You can see I checked out at 7:17 & they close at 7:30. Got home and 1 of the TWO items I purchased was not in the Zabar's bag. I call tonight, explained to the manager what happened, and that I only bought two items. The manager tells me to "bring the receipt in so we can track the item". What kind of customer service is this? Your cashier is busy chatting with her colleague about store closing, doesn't put both items in the bag, and now I have to pay MORE money to get back uptown, so you can "track the ($4) item"??? NOPE. The day before this, I spent over $150, not a single item missing. I recommend that you watch them like hawks as they ring your items and make sure everything makes it in the bag. I posted a photo of both receipts, side by side, Dec 15th & Dec 16th, to verify this. It's sad that an actual manager thinks this is acceptable customer service. That said, I will say that I had such warm, friendly, and competent service from Destini L on Dec. 15th. Perhaps Destini L. would be a better candidate than the manager who took my phone call tonight (Dec 17th). read more

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Zabar's has been on my NYC bucket list for a long time. I walked around pretty slowly and made sure I saw it all. I left with 3 lbs of coffee, a small tray of noodle kugel, and a few gifts. The service was friendly and speedy. It's a NY institution and I'm glad i got to see it! read more

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It's good to be back in the foodie Mecca. Disappointed that a few of the items I wanted upstairs were not in stock. All of the gourmet prepared food items looked outrageous. The warm, homemade strudels, knishes. ... the homemade pasta and outrageous appetizing is like no place else read more

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Zabars... a New York institution and a world famous gourmet food store. Known for its smoked fish, bagels and prepared foods, it's always fun to walk around. The cheese selection is incredible, and there's no shortage of tempting sweets and baked goods. Always fun to walk around. Second floor has a nice housewares department. read more

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I could have spent all day in there! Would be perfect for planning a dinner party! Great selections. I would have given it 5 stars except the staff was NOT at all friendly or helpful! 4 stars for variety and the selection of quality goods. read more

Honestly, what can be said about Zabar's that hasn't been said already. This is so much more than a supermarket on the UWS. It's an institution, it's an icon, it's a family owned business that has served the community for almost 100 years. I love coming here for the lox, which runs about $64/lb currently, though my favorite section of the store is their mustard selection. They have everything from French classics like Maille (RIP Maille mustard bar) and Edmond Fallot to domestic finds like Terrapin Ridge and Stonewall Kitchen. read more

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Zabar's is such a classic New York spot and totally worth visiting for the experience alone. While the bagel and cream cheese selection was a bit more limited compared to other places, the black and white cookie was excellent. I also loved the overall market vibe it's fun, iconic, and feels like a true NYC local. read more

Zabars is a one of a kind store that's been operating at the same location to close to a hundred years. Buses pull up with tourists who need to experience Zabar's to enjoy theiir smoked lox,( even if they have to wait up to an hour! ) . If you're lucky, you might get Ray, who's been working behind the llox and smoked fish counter for decades! While I live on the east side of Manhattan, when we're entertaining friends for brunch or lunch, I'll come here for everything from their whitefish salad to their delicious homemade apple studel! I think they have the best and freshest roasted coffee beans and i believe they sell over 10,000 pounds a week! Since i work on the west side, sometimes, I'll just come by to breathe in all the aromas of the different food departments. And upstairs tgey sell every imaginable kitchen appliance as well as the finest knives , pots and all kinds of cool merchandise! And tgey are open 365 days a year! read more

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They need to do some serious employee retraining at this place based on my experience. Despite the fact that the counter was not busy at noon on a Sunday, and there were 5+ workers back there, service to assemble 2 bagels was incredibly slow. They also messed up the order with the incorrect cream cheese flavor on one of the bagels. The amount of cream cheese on the other bagel was pathetic (see the photo). The packaging job on the bagel with lox had part of the bagel sticking out of it. What a disappointment. read more

Zabar's - Barely any cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

My best friend had a beautiful order from ZABAR's sent to me in Palm Springs California The order arrived to my home and left on my doorstep at 10:05 am. I left my home at 10:00 am to go to urgent care for a severe upper respiratory infection. I was there for hours. When I returned home I immediately opened the box. With only 3 small ice packs the Lox, whitefish salad and the cream cheese with lox were warm to the touch, ruined!!! I called customer service and I was told they weren't responsible, because my friend should have told me that I was getting a delivery. I was a very good customer when I lived in NYC in the 1980's!!! Because of this, I will never give ZABAR'S any more business and I am telling all of my NYC friends about this horrible customer service. read more

I am a looong-time customer and remember when the smoked fishes were just piled one on top of another in the refrigerated case, as opposed to everything shrink-wrapped in plastic. My "beef" is with the whitefish salad, which used to be truly fantastic; incomparable. During the past several years, however, whenever I buy their whitefish salad, the bits of celery are limp, not crunchy. This is an indication that this whitefish salad was made too long ago. As an occasional issue, one could forgive, but this has been a consistent issue (sometimes limper than others). Last week, I even reached in the back of the case for a later "use by" date (4/23 instead of 4/22). Still, kinda limp. And too much mayo. At $25.98/lb it should be more freshly made. I can imagine it is difficult to predict how fast it will sell, but after 92 years, I think they could have figured this out. read more

well, never have I ever had a bagel sandwich and frozen yogurt for breakfast before - can't believe that this bagel shop that is such a long time institution literally has frozen yogurt and no one told me. in the most impulsive way I hopped back in line to order frozen yogurt and got the Caribbean coffee flavor. this was such a dense froyo, so creamy but took work to push that spoon through. oh and a massive serving for only four dollars. oh my goodness - OK back to what they are known for. of course we both had to get the lox bagel sandwich. one on everything bagel and one on Poppy. The locks were so delicious. A smoky flavor and not fishy at all. The tomatoes were perfectly ripe and added a bite of brightness to the dish. - they put cream cheese on both sides of the sandwich. do I need to say more?!?! ( I will ) - the bagels themselves had such a good crusty outer layer. total crunch factor. I wish that they were a bit thicker but the flavors of everything were so good. it's hard to complain too much. this is definitely not one of those cream cheese for bagel shops where you're wiping cream cheese off of your hands. the focus is definitely on the salmon and they only have 4 flavors. read more

Zabar's - Nova bagel sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Purchased crème fraiche from Isigny. Zabars seems to get lots of different crème fraiche's that are a nice change from the standard Vermont creamery that is ubiquitous. The diestra and the American hackleback called my name today. Caviar service always permits skipping the line at Zabars but I never do. It just feels impolite. read more

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Zabar's, known for their smoked fish and deli counter is an iconic spot in New York. As a visitor to the city, I wish I could have taken so many of their delicious looking deli case items back to NC with me. We sampled a few items from the bakery and grabbed a small container of smoked whitefish and crackers to eat in the park. The prices are a little high in my opinion. The items we sampled were OK. I'm glad I got to visit but I wouldn't be going back for those items if I find myself there again. I think Zabar's is meant for people who want a gourmet meal ready to heat at home without needing to prepare. The items in their deli case all looked amazing. It wasn't particularly crowded while we were there although there was a fair amount of people in the store. There were a few people waiting at the deli counter and bakery counter. It was a little confusing to me being a visitor what the procedure was at the counters. Are they calling people by number? Or just waiting in line? We ended up getting items from the packaged refrigerator case and the bakery counter anyway. I liked the variety of speciality grocery items available there. The dried fruits, specialty crackers and cocktail bread/toasts that are perfect for appetizers and meat and cheese boards. read more

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Matzo ball soup was a great! The bread they gave with the soup was chewy and good.Thought it was dry and kept munching on it. Pass on the spinach knish it was a bit dry for me and frozen in the middle.Going to try the latkes next time and purchase the coffee when going back home read more

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My goodness. This is what a lox bagel (from the cafe) is all about... I will never be able to enjoy the sludge they pass off as bagels and lox in Portland ever again. Came to the cafe for an early breakfast. The traditional lox with the works is where it's at. And their coffee (latte) is also one of the best ones I've ever had. Super friendly gents working as well. Second visit was a lot busier, and the lox not as good... I knew I should have just left well enough alone... but that's the way. Greed and lust are too powerful. The actual store/market next door is a zoo with (going to stereotype here) at least half of the people there being UWS silver spoon entitled schmucks. Didn't buy anything, but I remember from shopping here 20 years ago, their selection is amazing... hope you've got enough silver spoons to shop here regularly. read more

Zabar's - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York