The Bagel Zone

this is my fav bagel/​sandwich place in my neighborhood. yes they used to have their own unique, bready, non-​NY bagels which were fantastic, and now with the name change those bagels seem to have disappeared. still, the same guys are working there and everything still tastes great. for veg*s besides eggs there is vegan cream cheese and vegan egg salad-​like thing, i think.

A classic bagel shop with a friendly owner and terrific food. Not into bagels? Try the sandwiches.

It seems the old Bagel Zone is officially dead. Went in there super early last week and saw them bringing in bagels from KEY FOODS next door. I kid you not. I was still able to order the same sandwich I used to know and love, but although the toppings remain the same, the actual bagel is anything but.
Maybe they’re still working on the kitchen? I’m going to try going back in a few weeks to find out. Until then, thumbs down on the supermarket bagels.

I love (d) the bagel zone. While their plain bagel with cream cheese can be a little bland, their variety of sandwiches are great, and the guys who work there are extremely friendly and welcoming.
When I realized it had closed I was very sad, but when I visited «The Native Bean», I was very excited to see that all was the same. I spoke with the owner the other day, who said that they are paying rent month-​to-​month and looking for a new space in the area, hopefully around 4^th or 5^th street.

Sadly, this place seems to have left the building. I L-​O-​V-​E-​D their bagels — seriously the best in the city in my opinion, but walking by the old hangover haunt yesterday, a new sign is up entitled: «The Native Bean». Therefore, I have three theories: 1) the bagel zone has moved, 2) the bagel zone will now offer delish bagels AND delish coffee & tea, or 3) the bagel zone is nevermore. I am desperately hoping for #1 or #2. Let’s all cross our fingers that The Bagel Zone is sticking around!!!

Wow, I am really sad to do this, but…
The new «Native Bean» has taken the place of «Bagel Zone». It seems that it is still the same owner and all the same guys work there and no interior work was done. It appears they simply changed names BUT BUT BUT a huge difference was made. They no longer carry the old bagels they had! They now carry H&H bagels, while, not terrible, come nowhere close to the delicious fluffy and light bagels they used to carry! (See mine and other reviews to confirm this). I’m really bummed out. Apparently they used to buy bagels from a small little place that relocated or went out of business or something. Truly disappointing if you ask me. RIP Bagel Zone!!!
This place is sticking around… It’s just been renamed Native Java or Native coffee or something… Just FYI…
There are bagels up the wazoo in New York City, but Bagel Zone bagels are a different monster. They are flakey and pastry-​like and lighter than most bagels. The first time I had one, I was converted. They have a variety of different sandwiches and spreads which, so far, have all been really tasty. Their egg salad is great! I have one point of contention, which is that I have to disagree with the other reviews regarding the service, which is awful. The guys here seem sweet, but I have waited a ridiculous amount of time on numerous occasions for seemingly easy orders. They seem to get really overwhelmed when there are more than one or two customers. But the service is a small price to pay for these delicious and original bagels.

i’m on a 5-​star review kick. i will only review places which are EXCEPTIONAL in one or more categories and will knock your socks off.
to add to this list, BAGEL ZONE.
i actually remember when this place started out. Al (owner) was super-​cool (i think that’s the california version of cool) and he is at once warm, inviting, friendly… one of the best, brightest, most genuine smiles you’ll see. just like his shop. a crazy shop at that, which looks like an old antique sale… except i don’t dare ask if any of that stuff is for sale because they feel like his family heirlooms or something.
now MOST bagelshops have family heirlooms and they’re called «last week’s bagels». not this shop — they are always warm and toasty and i SECOND the nomination for no-​toasting (as leslie R did — scroll up or down depending on how many votes she has, as we’re in direct competition).
i always get #2 (lox, cc, tom, onion)…but instead of the cc i go for tofu scallion because it WILL knock your socks off. it’s the best brunch-​time sandwich (and only $ 5.99!) in the east village any SAT or SUN… and when i’m writing music /​lyrics and all that crap i go to bed at 3 or 4, wake up at 12, head down there at 2 or 3pm for breakfast (because just like you, no matter what time i eat my first meal of the day, i eat breakfast).
and that damned sandwich is so fricken’ tasty… that i will eat there until my last living days on this earth. or until i leave nyc. or until they close down. which i hope never happens.
i’ve probably known Al for 20 cumulative minutes over 10 years’ time.
he’s helped me thru a couple relationships, been there for me, offered friendly advice, helped me thru some heartache with his kind words.
all the while ringing me up.
he’s like god (in those movies where the character in the corner that you least expect is god).
but if they had «what if god was one of us» song playing in that movie i would have to get up and leave.
and so would Al — because he is a man of class and genuine character.
check out Al’s BagelZone. always there for you.

The prices here are pretty fantastic. The first time I came here, I got a bagel with with butter and jelly and a can of coke. When he said it was $ 2.25, I asked if he’d included the coke. Maybe I go to too many places that are way overpriced, but it was a pleasant surprise to get a good deal! I go here frequently, and the staff is usually really friendly.
I would recommend against getting bagels toasted, though. They usually toast things too much. Also, free wifi!

Best bagel I’ve ever had. That should pretty much say it all. I’ve never even had anything else on the menu. Everything bagel with lox spread for a little less than $ 4. The best is when you get a nice hot bagel and they don’t have to toast it. Their bagels are for real people. One minor complaint is they take so damn long to put cream cheese on a bagel. Sometimes it takes like 10 minutes just to get my order but it’s worth it.
EDIT:
I am sad to announce that Bagel Zone is no more. Like others have said it has been replaced with Native Bean. The interior and the workers are still the same but NOT the bagels! I was extremely bummed when I found out that they no longer made their own bagels in-​house. They didn’t even have to tell me, I could tell just by looking. No more light, airy, fluffy bagels! They are now replaced by the same hard, bland, overpriced (now $.99 instead of $.75) bagels you can find anywhere in the country. I would give Native Bean 1 star. Don’t quote me, but it seems like the new guy that came in has changed everything. I will go once more in a few weeks to see if maybe they realized that they made a mistake and went back to making their own bagels, but if they didn’t, I’ll never go back again.

Bagel Zone! Sounds like a theme park.
Nice place to sit and have a bite to eat. They have the most delicious veggie chicken sandwiches. The oatmeal is seriously a meal and then some. You could probably split it with someone. The bagels are fluffy and I like them but I agree with Sara T they are different and sweeter. The coffee is good does the trick.
The staff is wonderful and the regulars that frequent Bagel Zone are characters.
Plus free wi-​fi. And they have bathrooms in the back, just ask.

Best café au lait in the city!
The café au lait is consistently good. It doesn’t matter who makes it, it’s perfect! After Bagel Zone’s café au lait, I started ordering them every other place I went in the neighborhood; but to no avail. Nobody comes close.
Bagel zone also has some of the best sandwiches! Try the Tunisian tuna salad or the chicken cutlet sandwich. Or there is one sandwich with turkey and bacon and horseradish which is a classic choice. Really, any sandwich you choose will be a winner.
I do have to mention that the bagels are perfect for sandwiches, but plain, they are a little on the doughy side.
Overall:
— Friendly service.
— Unrivaled café au lait
— Best sandwiches in the East Village/​Alphabet City area
— Reasonable prices
— Low key atmosphere, not crowded
— Now that’s it’s summer, they have opened up the wall facing the street

Bagel Zone, when I think about what I miss about NYC Bagel Zone’s in the top 5. The bagels have their own flavor, thin and chewy. The Turkish coffee is nice, just make sure you have the time it’s a long process but well worth the wait.
It’s true the ambiance is tops at this place. I’d say for Hustle & Bustle of NYC this is a bit of a haven from the craziness.
Sometimes I miss NY :(

My friend was obsessed about this place and managed to drag me here one not so bright and early Sunday afternoon. Being a loyal fan of H&H and Ess-​a-​Bagel, I wasn’t all that impressed with their selection here (i’m with the — crispy on the outside but doughy and chewy on the inside — type).
But then I realized that people go here not for the bagels, but for the atmosphere. the five or so guys who own and run this place are a few of the nicest owners i’ve come across, making this place unbelievably cozy. Seriously, I could grab a book, get a cup of their Moroccan tea, and sit here for hours, and they wouldn’t mind one bit. I’m giving it five stars because the atmosphere is that good.
We also believe that this is the secret meet-​up place for the up and coming stars (band members, actors and their agents), as well as the already up and fully arrived ones (Heath Ledger!) Shh. keep this between you and me.