Soul Food can take on many forms. Having grown up in the South, when I think of Soul Food, golden fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and perfectly cooked collard greens flood my mind. The comfort foods of my childhood. High in both fat and salt, these foods are guilty pleasures in which we happily indulge. But as the son of native New Yorkers, I am also partial to a different breed of Soul Food. When I reminisce of the knoshes of my parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents, a handful of old-world favorites stand out. Foods that are so simple, yet nonetheless agonizingly elusive. The perfect bagel fresh out of the oven, smoked salmon sliced paper thin, the tart richness of silky cream cheese, and the contrast of a smoky, oily whitefish: the Soul Food of Manhattan. Established by Ukrainian immigrants in 1934, Zabar's remains the quintessential source for some of the world's most authentic and toothsome appetizers, deli meats, smoked fishes, breads, olives, cheeses, and hundreds of other kosher and gourmet items. But what is most striking about Zabar's is their devotion to simplicity in a decade that overly reveres complication. Zabar's is old school Soul Food that is wholesome and ingenious. They serve up the classics with remarkable consistency and a passion for tradition. Their fish counter offers favorites such as pickled herring with sharp white onions, numerous varieties of smoked salmon from around the world (classic nova and dill-dusted gravlax are my personal recommendations), and of course their signature smoked whitefish. Needless to say, American and European foodies are not the only clientèle that hold Zabar's in such high esteem. Japanese tourists flock to Zabar's to sample their exquisite seafood selections. Their roast beef, made from Japanese wagyu, is more addicting than heroin. It is rich, buttery, sliced impossibly thin, and cooked to a perfect medium rare. Zabar's bakes throughout the day and a fresh loaf of their spongy, eggy challah will shake your very core. My perfect Zabar's experience: Get a hot bagel smothered in cream cheese, heavy on the lox, a center-cut chunk of whitefish, and park yourself in their cafe to indulge in some serious Northern Soul Food. read more

My friend and I went in for lox and bagels. Everyone kept directing us to the prepackaged ones but I wanted fresh fish on a warm, toasted bagel, so Devin (the flirt behind the fish section) suggested that we buy the slices of salmon from him by the ounce and go next door for the bagels. That's exactly what we did, and we couldn't be happier with our meal. We ended up buying $30 worth of fish (smoked salmon, pastrami salmon, and black cod). I got an everything bagel with cream cheese and piled that salmon on my bagel. Delicious! I ate the black cod by itself, and let me tell you...that thing melts in your mouth! Sooo sooooo goooodddd!!!!! Mmmm... read more

Zabar's - Everything bagel with an assortment of fresh fish (smoked salmon, black cod a.k.a. sable, and pastrami salmon) - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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I feel uncomfortable panning a NYC institution, especially since our visit to Manhattan was nothing short of amazing. Will try again next visit. The pictures on Yelp for Zabar's are incredible. But first impressions are lasting. I ordered a bagel with lox and schmear. The counter help reached into a fridge and pulled out a pre-made sandwich, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. It tasted fine as did the matzah ball soup served in Styrofoam. But if that's what you get from Zabar's then what's the point? read more

Cafe was solid, but not impressive. I can heat up food at home in a microwave...don't need to watch other people do it. Microwave matzoh ball soup was meh. Remember to order everything from your man. If you add anything at the end, it sends everyone spinning out of control. Mini-mart style dining with decent food. Deli/Market is amazing, but you'll be more amazed at how much cheese you'll try to eat. read more

My favorite New York Bagel stop. Period. Typically, the seats are always filled but with Central Park several blocks away, that doesn't matter. If you plan to stick around for a seat, take it in - some of these patrons have been coming for decades and meet every week. Nothing is bad on the menu - I'm a huge fan of the bagel & nova as well any of their egg sandwiches. The staff is pleasant and engaging. read more

Zabar's - Just a reminder, their delivery service is great. We ordered bagels and they arrived within 3 days. - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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.when i dont know what im in the mood for , a stroll through here will bring up about 10 different cravings. it might be where i truely fell in love with lox on bagels. read more

Zabar's is the epitome of the UWS. Bagels and spreads, fresh juices, cheeses, breads and babkas, anything gourmet that you can imagine. Unique and quality housewares too. read more

Friend nearby sent me a HUGE package from here. Received it next day. Rugelach was good, but dry. Black and white cookies were nowhere as good as others I've tasted. Liked the K-cup coffee though. Smooth and mild. read more

Consistently excellent place for groceries. Their cheese department is ridiculous; awesome selection of the basics, bizarre and delicious stuff I've never heard off, and everything is pretty reasonably priced. Also, their bread department is top notch with heaps of choices that they will slice on request. Their fresh rye is amazing by the way, whenever I get one, I'm already 5 slices in by the time I finish walking home. Aside from this hey also have a great olive selection, really good deli style pickles, prepared foods (though they're kind of pricey), and cakes (try the Delancy poppy swirl cake, by the checkout area). Highest recommendation. read more

My chef friend BG tells the story of a stop at Zabar's, during which he asked about the condition of the lobster salad. The man behind the counter sighed, and said something like, "Ya come ta Zaybahs, and ya have ta ask is it fresh." I made the mistake of NOT asking when I visited the café at the corner of Broadway & 80th, and ordered a panini. I watched in disbelief as the man behind the counter reached into a bin, pulled out a pre-made sandwich, tore off the cellophane, and popped the sandwich into the panini griddle. While the coffee was good, and I had the privilege of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Sunday lunch crowd, I couldn't get over the cellophane. I should have stuck to the stuff behind the regular deli counter, and probably would have, it there had been decent weather for a park picnic. read more

Zabar's is an institution. IMO, there's nothing better than a cup of coffee and cheese danish or muffin from Zabar's. Their specialty foods are great. But I have to say, I was very disappointed w/ their matzoh ball soup. How do you mess up Jewish penicillin, at this place?!? read more

Pretty much this was like walking into heaven. After wandering Central Park for the morning, my friend thought we should pop out of the park for a bit to wander the Upper West Side and maybe stop in to a place called Zabar's. I followed blindly because that's what I had been doing all weekend. And it was a good strategy. And in this case, an excellent strategy. Oh my god I wanted to literally move in here. Wandering around the store was just wonderful. Have a little sample here, a little sample there. Ogle the goodies here, smell the goodies there. We ended up getting some food to take back into the park with us for a light lunch. And to my delight, it wasn't even that expensive. Yes, I could live here. (And by here, I do mean in Zabar's.) read more

What an amazing grocery store! If only I had a kitchen to cook with the mouth watering mozzarella, fresh homemade gnocchi, vast assortment of smoked fish (H&H across the street!), and divine deli offerings! One day I will rent an apartment instead of hoteling it just so I could say I did my groceries at Zabar's. Mmmmm mmmmm good. read more

So hey, we went on Thanksgiving for a last-minute ready-to-eat feast (it's a true holiday when you don't need to cook). It is a pretty huge specialty store, jam packed with people. I got really excited in there, and started making some impulsive buys, but none of which I regretted. I tried the CHOCOLATE BABKA ($7.98) that many are raving about. That thing is no joke. I find that I tend to microwave a majority of my desserts to soften/warm them up; that did wonders to my baba. The cheese is great; my friend ate a large block (0.5 lb?) of monterey in 1.5 days. She started splitting atoms when she got to the last bites. I think we will be going back to that department soon. The cost can rack up before you know it, but I like treating myself here. read more

Ok... i think the trick is to go either, right when they are about to close... or early on a weekday morning. It is just SO busy... people are hitting you with deli meat & their bodies & their children... it is overwhelming... but i guess, "VERY NYC" as they say. The payoff is the quality of food is top notch. The prices, however... they are top notch as well... a half pound of herb turkey deli meat cost me almost 9 bux. But the selection of cheeses in divine, and the make their own bread that is out of this world!!! So... i guess these are all trade offs. read more

Zabar's is a landmark. Yes, it's crowded and has long lines and high prices, but if you need nova and bagels, this is the place to go. They also have a wide range of gourmet items (though not necessarily every day non-gourmet brands). Also an excellent selection of cheeses and prepared foods. The upstairs -- where I almost never venture -- has a large selection of housewares at surprisingly reasonable prices. read more

Great gourmet market! I just stopped by for some lunch items. My favorite part is walking in and getting hit by the aroma of cheese. Very happy with the service at the deli station. And since it was raining, they gave me a discount on the umbrella ($4 to keep my dry = happy face). Only thing I would have liked better is warm deli food. I got the garden vegetable rice and the roasted veggies. The Zabar caffe at the corner of the street sells great coffee for a good price. Small = $0.90. Yummy soup, too. i.e. Salmon Chowder. MmMmm! read more

This place is incredible. First, the bagels. I had a plain onion, untoasted and all, not wanting to disrupt the integrity of the bagel. It was baked the perfect amount so that the onions were crispy but not burnt, and the bagel doughy but not hard. Then of course there's the baked goods in the store. CHOCOLATE BABKA! And the upstairs which contains walls of kitchen type knick knacks you never knew you needed until you saw them. Definitely I must see everytime you go to the upper west side. read more

This review is for a gift mail order sent out to Bozeman Montana. We got a Fish platter style/Smoked Fish Kit with a huge smoked whitefish included. It was fantastic!! Included bagels , cream cheese and pickled herring. Wow! Great customer service on a follow up call with Sheri Using them for a holiday gift now. read more

Is it worth reviewing Zabar's? It's a New York institution of our time, it has a thousand reviews, it is what it is. I remember when I first moved to New York, I was drawn to Zabar's but overwhelmed by it. I would venture in briefly, glance around myself, and wish that I knew how to buy things there. Now I am an actual customer at Zabar's a couple of times a week. There are many obvious and well-founded ways to nit-pick it, but the bottom line is, it's a wonderful place to find lots of favorite foods once you locate them. The hard-working cashiers and staffers would have good excuse not to be pleasant, but they are. And atmospherically, it's like a busy crazy holiday in there all the time. Love. read more

Absolute heaven, and if I could buy this entire store and keep it attached to my house for easy access, I would. Upon entering, one is flooded with the smell of cheese, and delicious, gourmet varieties at that. There are so many to choose from, previewing customers to the variety that Zabar's carries in all aspects of food. Upstairs, the place is littered with cookware, of which I have several items. I'm dying to purchase goods from their bakery, as well as some of their prepared foods. For caffeinne addicts, they seem to know their coffee, what with the huge, specialized bags of it lying around in one section. Specific products..hm...I'm gotten naturally sweet, dried mango which is leathery and delicious, as well as a lovely, dark red fruit soup which is perfect either warm or cold, with a dollop of yogurt. A person who knows their food has every reason to get up here (hell, I came from Queens), and just get lost in it all. read more

This place has been here since i can remember!! My grandmother used to take me all the time and we'd get cheese and meat and then get a snack in the cafe on the corner! I went back yesterday and it was just as i remember it! Every gourmet food you could imagine!! The cheese and Olive bar or so affordable Everything here is amazinggggggg upstairs they have a kitchen dept. with everything too! At like 6 sushi and sandwhichs go a dollar off to ! god I want to write more about this place later!!!!!!! read more

I'm not as familiar with the Upper West Side of NYC as other areas but Zabar's has been on my "Bucket List" for a long time. Started as a counter and has grown to an entire city block. It must be experienced in person to understand it. Jewish owners who have passed down through generations. It took an entire afternoon but I saw it all. Dried fish, caviar, a deli, fine cheeses, baked goods all finest quality. They cater and sell through a catalog. Upstairs is filled with housewares like a world of copper. A personal shopper can be had to fill orders after an interview. The only word of caution is the jaw-dropping prices. I'm so pleased to have been at Zabar's. read more

Had a terrible customer service experience. Please be warned of Zabar's return policy as they do not back their products. We ordered a gift basket where refrigerated produce arrived warm. We asked how they recommend we resolve this and the response from the store manager was to review the policy online. They do not cover shipping costs for returned goods and were highly aggravated that we called to discuss a resolution. We will never buy from them again, I hope this helps others before you choose to purchase anything from Zabars. read more

so one fine super sexy sunny summer saturday sitting in central park i selected a super sumptuous tuna salad sammich on whole grain bread with a pickle and a cold cucumber salad on the side from Zabars. Quite possibly the best dang tuna sammich in the history of sammiches!! I will nevah evah have a tuna sammich quite like that again from anywhere else. there just is no possiblity that two such glorious creations can exist simultaneously in the universe. That 5 stars is for that TUNA sammich alonneeeeee. read more

I don't know how I ve never review Zabar's Its a great place. The ULTIMATE smoked fish, prepared food, sandwich, gourmet, housewares, etc place. And don't forget the Coffee and bread. MUST HAVES: they make sandwiches, Turkey with anything is great, Lox, coffee, knishes, rugelach, onion rolls, cheese...any. Don't go there hungry....you will buy waaayyy to much. read more

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

AHHHAHAH ZABARS.... A place where i learned to ignore peoples bad attitudes. A place i learned how to just smile anyways. A place i once worked in. Its a wonderful place for those that dont work there!! Jesus because this place could get packed especially during jewish holidays and xmas; watch out for closed doors because of so many people. Watch out for many snotty customers together with very sweet ones that you'll never forget. Many faithful customers as well. I worked in just about every department there and it was great my favorite department was catering (oh yess catering) away from the loudness, grouchy, and mean people. =] Away from the common sense questions hehe oh how i loved those... Okay well yes i can say not all employees there know how to be nice all the time but we are all human i cant say some customers dont deserve it because some really do but anyhow. I was hooked on there crossiants and chicken salad and there cherry cheese strudle OH and i cant forget there cinnamon raisin bread YUMMMY....:D bagels are good too though especially early in the morning when they are still warm!! :D Yea a place many people enjoy A place that i ONCE enjoyed and now have nightmares about... But they do have a great selection things. Oh and there smoked salmon YUMMM!! read more

Leaving NYC tonight and came across this place which is close to where I am staying. The aroma and the people going in and out of this location got me curious... Zabars is so much more than bagels A gourmet specialty store, in which you can shop for food, meats, chesse, coffee, pots, pans, uniques items to name a few. They also deliver in NYC and send out gift items in the U.s. Call or email for more information. Zabars is New York . When coming to NYC enjoy Zabars for a taste of New York City. Flavers from around the world. I love this place read more

Pastrami, Rye, Horseradish mustard, sour pickle.- and Calamari Salad Perfect. read more

First let me disclose that I never made it up to the second floor where they have all the kitchen accessories and stuff like that. Ok, I love Zabar's. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Zabar's. The little 'express' shop next door where you can just pop in and out real quick is fine, but shopping in the actual Zabar's market is the experience you want. And just shopping there is an experience in itself. The place is loaded with so much great food, you want to take it all home. But the center of gravity at this place is the Deli section. The deli meats are all excellent, and, yes, a little pricey, but you're not going to find corned beef/etc this good on the cheap. The deli also has knishes, although i'm not sure if they do the cabbage knishes any more. There are TONS of prepared dishes in the deli section, like chicken schnitzel, brisket, and many others. Then, there's a mini-deli section for the smoked fish, where on weekends you can usually get a free sample. It's almost impossible to walk past and not by some smoked salmon. There's also sable and whitefish and all the other stuff my grandparents always ate when I was a kid, grossing me out, long before I developed a sense of taste. Anyway, also next to the large deli section is a large cooler filled with pre-cooked, packaged meals for one. The variety is mind-boggling. First, there are tons of soups...all the ones you'd expect like matzah ball soup, borscht, lentil, etc. But the meals, which typically average around eight or nine dollars, vary greatly and represent many different ethnicities. You can get a simple meatloaf with mashed potatoes, or something more exotic with a side of couscous. It's the perfect place to shop for a bachelor, although everyone, not just bachelors, shops there. So when you go you want to make sure to grab some of the different bread products. The babka is pretty good - not the best babka I've had, but good enough. Bagels - let's face it, you can get great bagels almost anywhere in NYC, so it's your call. But there are tons of desserts, cheeses, and all the great foods that you can sit around and munch on all day. There is also fresh produce, but that's another thing you can find anywhere in NYC. The staff is harried, but friendly and helpful. The checkout lines aren't too long, and the real challenge is waiting until you get all the way home before digging into your bag to start munching on your purchase. In conclusion: please, Zabar's, never leave us. read more

Stopped here for a quick nosh a few years ago when visiting NYC. At street level they have a nice fast-moving-line deli, with prepackaged items and some tasty made to order sandwiches. Upstairs they have a fantastic cheese shop as well as a housewares store. It's like they took a whole Bed Bath & Beyond (the kitchen section anyway) and squeezed it into 1000 sq ft space! If I was a Manhattanite I would probably be here every weekend. I got some nice souvenir mugs for $1. They also mail-order a lot of their items (check them out on the internets.) I love NY. read more

This one-stop market has everything, from a wide assortment of fresh olives, cheeses, meats, seafood, breads, and deli food. Upstairs is a flea market of anything kitchen/house related, tools, accessories, and the like all piled high along the walls and shelves. But you sort of have to expect that when walking into a place like this in New York City. Everything is packed and condensed so tight, there's hardly any breathing room. People will be squeezing by you every which way, so try not to get angry if someone gets in your way or if you get bumped once or twice. But if you can get over that, you will be privileged to get some fresh foods at half decent prices (for New York City). Some of the counters near the deli/seafood will also give out free samples. On the day I went, they were giving out free samples such as prosciutto, and also a seafood cream cheese on bite-sized bagel chips. Located right next store on the corner is their cafe, serving coffee, soups, and paninis. Seating is tight with two long community like tables with narrow chairs lined up side by side, a little too close for comfort. A lot of people seemed to be drinking the soups, but I was looking for something with a little more substance, so I got the Panini #5 - Cuban Sandwich - Porchetta Ham, Swiss Cheese, Sour Pickle, Garlic & Olive Oil on Ciabattini. I was a bit letdown when I saw the lady grab the wrapped pre-made sandwich from the display fridge. The panini was unwrapped and grilled on the panini press for several minutes. The sandwich was decent with a nice balance of saltiness from the ham and piquant from the Swiss cheese. However, I found it lacking in pickles as there were 2-3 paper thin slices of pickle that could have well been excluded from the panini. I also tried Panini #9 - Classic Grilled Cheese - White American Cheese, Garlic & Butter on Italian Ciabatta bread, which was actually served on normal pieces of bread rather than Ciabatta. The cheese was simple American cheese at heaping quantities, oozing on all sides in humongous globs. If grilled cheese is your thing, I'd recommend it, but I however, found it quite boring as I would have preferred a sharper or saltier cheese. On the bright side, all paninis are fairly priced at $5.95 each, though I'd probably grab hot food from Zabar's market and avoid the cafe altogether. read more

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Don't have much cash but need your Jew-food fix? Here's the place to go. They have a great selection, and its all cheap. I dropped by and had some blintzes, some latkes, and some matzo ball soup. That plus a couple bottles of seltzer (Boylan's Lemon, oh how I love thee) ran me $11. The latkes were pretty tasty, though I would prefer straight-up applesauce to the chunky spiced stuff they have. The blintzes were okay - nothing Earth-shattering. The soup was pretty bland. The big thing Zabar's has going for it? Atmosphere. You go in, you get your food, and then you sit down smack-dab next to a BUNCH of other New Yorkers. Some who just moved here, others who have been here since FDR. You chat, you nosh, you have a little fun. Then you go across the street and get your H+H fix! read more

I stopped by this place on the way to a concert in Central Park and everything was just pretty average. I got a turkey panini, a round savory pastry (forgot what the name was called), and a steamed almond milk. I was least impressed with the panini as I could really only taste the turkey and nothing else. The pastry was well stuffed but I couldn't tell what ingredients were inside. The almond milk was tasty, but the portion was way too small, basically only received 8 oz. Inside the store looked like your regular deli. read more

Not very impressed with the bagels or coffee. The shop part is great but I wouldn't go back for their bagels.

The best and more affordable deli in Manhattan. Nothing goes wrong with Zaber's. Great deli food and baked goods ready to be consumed along with European speciality products. The selection of cheese and Italian sausages is only breathtaking. The cafe next door is as nice,but only wish it were a little bigger. Given the popularity, the place is always packed with tourists and locals. Prices are lower compared to, for example, Wholefoods. read more

My true spiritual home. I haaate, HATE crowds and lines, but happily put up with them here. The cheese section in this place is as large as the entire natural-foods market where I live... sigh... Watching the guys at the fish counter make paper thin slices of lox, nova, etc is impressive indeed. So now you know: when I die, please scatter my ashes on the threshold of Zabar's! read more

Seriously. What happened to me when I went there twice and found nothing special to buy? Even after I bought a box of their most famous olives on my second visit, I was still not a fan of it. Maybe I just set up a much too high level from it after I have went to all the other supermarkets in UWS, fairway, west side, gristci, citerella, whole food...you name it. read more

Zabar's has the best bagels, and strudels! I love coming here and getting some food but that always turns into a massive grocery shop. They have a delicious bean salad they sell as well! The baker department is amazing, the cheese department, the deli counter, just everything is so yummy!! The only downside is the long line. But if you go during the day or off hours you won't hit the Uppper West side family crowd with babies and stroller rush. I give this spot 5 stars. It's a staple of Manhattan! read more

I've always seen a long line of patrons waiting on the deli side so when Zabars was featured in Andrew Zimmerman's show, I knew I had to check the place out. This deli is amazing. Not only for the selection of food but also for the freshness. The panini's are amazing and this place has got the art of bread making down to the tee. The panini bread was chewy and fluffy at the same time. I found myself craving another panini right after I inhaled the croquet Monsieur. You can't customize your panini's but there's a wide variety to choose from. Their baked goods are delicious as well. The spinach and feta croissant was crispy and fluffy. Definitely freshly made. Andrew Zimmerman highlighted the fresh smoked salmon, I would say it seemed oiler than most smoked salmon which just means there is more vitamin E in there. The deli offers an array of premade sandwiches (egg salad, tuna wraps, turkey and provolone), salads, meals (spaghetti, meatloaf were the two I saw) and a whole variety of baked pastries, quiches, and rolls. There is an ice cream station as well as an eclectic assortment of coffees they offer. They even offer steamed almond milk! Yum! Definitely try this place out if you are in the area. There isn't much seating though so be prepared to take your food to go read more