"At Best Bagel on 35th Street, you’ll see a hanging sign advertising a Texas beef sandwich with melted mozzarella and barbecue sauce. Not exactly what comes to mind when you hear “classic NY,” but don’t sell the place short. Their bagels are puffy and chewy, with a touch of sweetness. Big, semi-glossy, and on the flatter side, they always taste fresh even when they aren’t piping hot. If you’d rather not go the Texas beef route, there’s a huge variety of schmears that range from lox and blueberry to bacon honey sriracha." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah