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Television personality Ted Allen knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and he has a soft spot for bagels, the quintessential New Yorker morning meal. So where does he go for the best breakfast and brunch? Allen, who is known for Chopped, Queer Eye and Top Chef and is a spokesperson for Pepcid, shares his favorites with Time Out New York.
Ess-a-Bagel
Allen is one of many who consider Ess-a-Bagel the best bagel in town, even though the original location closed earlier this year (sniff). “Nobody does it like them,” he says of the still-warm bagels that New Yorkers line up for.
831 3rd Ave (212-980-1010)
Mile End Delicatessen
“There’s no point in comparing them to New York bagels,” Allen says of the direct-from-Montreal bagels at Mile End. “They’re more dense and sweeter.” And still delicious, obviously.
53 Bond St (212-529-2990)
His own house
Allen also bakes his own bagels at home, saying, “It’s sort of like brewing beer. When you make them, you understand what’s happening.” He combines the homemade recipe, found in his cookbook In My Kitchen, with a compound cream cheese made with tarragon from his garden.
Empire Diner
When he’s in the mood for a sit-down meal instead of a to-go bagel, Allen turns to this deco diner for its “diner classics with a chefy spin” from founder Amanda Freitag. His go-to order there? “Eggs Benedict. I can’t not order it.” 210 Tenth Ave (212-596-7523)
Written by Alyssa Haak