Eli Zabar's

Okay, here’s the deal—this isn’t MEANT to be priced like regular grocery prices. If you go into grand central market, I think it’s fair to say that—generally speaking—these are treat purchases for special occasions, like a fancy snack for your train ride or a fun dessert to bring home from your trip to NYC. And this is a great place to do that because Eli Zabar is a native New Yorker who has been in the gourmet food business since 1973. The grand central market location began in 2012. Their food is traditional Jewish deli food with more of a gourmet spin: you’ll find your favorites like babkas, marshmallows (in various flavors) and the BEST MERINGUES IN THE CITY. I’ll now talk at length about the meringues specifically because it’s deserved. Are they about $8? Yes. But I specifically will brave grand central crowds to get them, and my family is always mad I don’t bring home more. They come in several flavors in big glass containers by the register: the flavors are almond, pistachio, and chocolate among others. With the nut meringues specifically, they are ripples with caramel and nut pieces and everything just collapses and melts into your mouth in the most beautiful and delightful way. I cannot explain the physics of it, but it’s divine.

I was wandering around Grand Central Terminal looking for new foods to conquer. As I was looking at the unique pastries on display, a guy started talking to me about exotic fruit cakes! He saw me inquire kindly to the friendly cashier about the ingredients of the cakes. Upon consideration, he told me that if I were to try one of the fruit cakes, I will come back for more. After arriving home later that day, the flavor of the fruit cake changed my taste for fine dining forever. It was delicious. I will come back for it! 4.95 for the apricot cake Russian slice! I then came back weeks later and got a Russian crumb cake. They also have a selection of cakes and breads neatly and carefully packaged for the hungry eye. Check out Eil Zabar’s at Grand Central Market!

The one star is not for the shopping experience but for the small blueberry pie I purchased to bring back home after my NY vacation. I couldn't wait to eat this pie. When I tried to cut a piece, the crust was fine, but the filling was a BIG disappointment. It's was chewy, dry, and gummy. It looked shriveled. It had no flavor and stuck to my teeth like eating a gummy candy. I can't believe I paid the amount I did for such an awful product. I have had commercial snack pies that were better than this experience. To bring a pie 🥧 across the country to have it be so awful is a big letdown. The crust was too thick for the gummy filling too.

Your one stop shop for creative Halloween 🎃 bakes goodies! They not only look super cute but taste great! If you’re hosting a party, grab your edible cookie treats right here!

Cuisine - Jewish American Taste - Good Variety - Ok-ish Food Authenticity - Good-ish Location - Excellent Ambience - pretty Good Service - staff is decent Prices - Very expensive buffet considering quantity Massive usage of plastic where as good could be served in glass plates but they chose plastic boxes for each customer. Totally far from being environment friendly #NOTRECOMMENDED for environmental reasons

Eli Zabar’s bakery that is located in Grand Central Station is a gift to all New Yorkers as well as anyone arriving or departing New York City. They have an outstanding selection of kosher breads as well as fabulous desserts. They have specialty items such as Tagelah and honey cake for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Pricing here is insane. $11 for a lemonade that costs $4 normally, $7 for chocolate milk that Murray’s sells for half the cost. Unfortunately they also do not have prices out for most of the things so you’re surprised by the insane markup at checkout.

It all looks good, BUT!! Bought a choc chip cookie that who knows how many days (weeks?) old. Literally like breaking a piece of balsa wood. A tip: go downstairs to magnolia or one on the other bakeries.