A cheap and slightly retro New York experience

jamesviola79 from 10009 | Posted on 1/26/08

Don't come here expecting great service or even great food - what makes Zabar's Cafe such a fun experience is the unique public interaction. From students to parents to eccentric elderly Upper West Siders, you never quite know who you'll get talking to at the large communal counter. On my first visit I spent an hour chatting with three middle-aged women, who seemed fascinated to hear about my life and my young foreigner's view of New York. And if you don't mind spreading your own cream cheese on your bagel, there's really no better way to kill a half-hour on a Sunday afternoon. Listen out also for the hilarious live in-store announcements, which occasionally draw attention to exotic cheeses, but generally extol the virtues of Zabar's own rye bread, as fresh batches are removed hot from the oven: "We feel it's the best rye in Manhattan."

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