Gertel's Bakery

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This venue is closed.

Hunters for an authentic piece of rugulah need look no further than Gertel's Bakery. Tucked into a forgotten corner of the Lower East Side, this Jewish institution—with its hand-bent neon sign, worn interior and devoted clientele—embodies the proud, if slightly grubby, part of New York City that refuses to change. Bearded old men chat in Yiddish at the bakery's two tables, while kosher keepers from all over the city line up for the challah bread, baked fresh daily. Classic Jewish pastries like the prune-filled hamentaschen set the bar high, but nothing surpasses the dense, moist, slightly flaky rugulah, equally satisfying in chocolate, strawberry, raspberry and apple flavors. — Keach Hagey