OG beach shot from the pier. July 16. What is your masking score? Paul Goldfinger © Blogfinger.net Click for bigger look.
By Paul Goldfinger. Editor and restaurant reviewer @Blogfinger.net.
We did an impromptu mask survey on the OG boardwalk nearby. As 40 people strolled or jogged or biked by that morning (about 8 am) 12% were wearing a mask. But those who weren’t were mostly busy distancing, however many were not. No sign of any enforcement.
July 20, 2020. Blogfinger photo. ©
It was 7 am downtown when the All- Star Bagel shop on Main Avenue opened. A senior male without a mask approached the open door and was served a coffee. He then turned around and breezed right by me. (yes, I wore a mask because that is usually expected in bagel shops—-of which I am sort of an expert) Most have a sign that says “no mask, no service.”
A boy then went to the window for bagels and he had no mask. (see photo) In both cases, the customers were within about one foot of the masked waitress who served them at the door.
The risks conveyed during these two bagel shop transactions may not have been severe, but they could have been safer. The waitress may have been safe (maybe) but what if one of those customers had left a cloud of virus in midair just waiting for the next customer to step up?
By the way, the quality of the bagel experience there was good. The thickness and texture of the toasted sesame bagel which I sampled was very good, and it was prepared exactly as ordered (which is not always the case in other bagel shops) but there was a mild spicy flavor present, probably due to some flavoring, and detectable by only a few aficionados. That flavor bothered me, but most would probably not notice. I will try them again with a different flavor.
I had gone to another bagel shop recently called Bagel Express on Sunset Avenue. They hand roll their bagels, and the quality is very good, but I found their “everything bagel” to be inedible due to excess salt, and the owner was rude.
Bagel Talk outside the OG gates is a nice operation, but their bagels are only average.
The famous “Hot Bagel Shop” in Ocean is very popular, but their bagels, which are very good, are as big as your head. However you can “”scoop” them or cut out the center, but don’t cut your hand (bagel injuries are mentioned in the Torah.)
I have such an injury on my left thumb sustained when someone called my name as I sliced an onion bagel. The scar is still there, but the laceration was successfully treated with a cream cheese and lox compress by a couple of Jewish doctors who were there fressing* in my dining room.
But, back to All- Star Bagel, the sloppy anti-virus effort could be a deal breaker for some. But that’s something the “all stars” could easily correct, and we will check it again. Maybe one of their fans will suggest that they read this post.
Pop’s bagels at the Asbury Circle has a no-nonsense sign (below.)
Pop’s Bagels at the Asbury Circle. Note the sign on the door.
We will keep up our search for the best bagel shops in the area. There are fans who would travel long distances for a first rate bagel and lox sandwich. Maybe they would travel as far as Buffalo:
From the show “42nd Street:”
*Trans: Fressing means “The act of eating without restraint; devouring.“
When I want a great bagel I go to Zabars’s on Broadway, in New York. They also have the best assortment of smoked salmon and incredible cream cheese. Just slice some red onion and add a few capers if you like.
Bagel shop in the Belmar shopping plaza on Main Street (next to Brandl’s restaurant) has a pretty good bagel and is easy to get to by car or bicycle.
Highly disappointing is how my husband and I found the bagels served at Joe’s Bagel on Route 35, Spring Lake Heights area.
I didn’t know that Cobblestone bagels existed, but that intersection area is complicated.
Part of the bagel experience involves ease of getting there, quick processing of the order, and then finding a place to enjoy it before it gets cold. Most bagel shops have pretty good coffee, so that step is easy.
When you place your order, make sure you speak slowly and loudly (through the mask) so they don’t get your instructions muddled. Another option is to just buy the unprocessed bagel and take it home to be prepared just the way you like it, and make your own coffee.
Have you tried…What about a Bagel in the Cobblestone Village in Ocean Twp?
The bagels at the route 66 (Asbury) circle are pretty good.
A lot of people do like the Hot Bagel Shop in Ocean but I am indifferent and would not go out of the way to buy there.
I have not tried the shop in town, and would not unless and until they comply with safety protocols. Masking is a must, including over the nose.
Editor’s note: We have written about the Hot Bagel shop in Ocean. You can find those posts by typing into our search box on top of the page.
The bakery at the Asbury Circle in that adjacent strip mall by the Urgicenter is called “Pop’s” Their bagels are very good and the staff is friendly. That’s where I currently have been going. But if that Circle’s traffic is intimidating to you, then skip it.
Wegmans has wiped out its bagel department. They have eliminated the crucial boiling-in-water step and they don’t let you choose an assortment. Their bagels are all sold as packaged goods. So they have fallen from the top tier of Blogfinger’s favorite bagel stores. Also their cafe´is closed and you cannot even prepare your own coffee.
There is a very popular bagel place in Bradley Beach on Main Street called “International Bagels.” I need to check them out again. I stopped there over the July 4 weekend, and it was a mob scene, so I left.
Or you like your bagels with crunchy crust and chewy inside without a lot of dough, ask them to “scoop” your bagel and then toast it twice. Watch out for the cream cheese melting onto your shirt.
PG: I really enjoyed the above article about bagels. It was informative and humorous. I will take your advice as I also enjoy an “everything” bagel.
However, the issue of masks and distancing at the beach is what I’m commenting on. This past weekend there were massive crowds entering the beach without masks. These beach-goers were from out of town– specifically the hot spot, New York. I observed the multitudinous NY license plates.
Also, the line to get on the beach on Sunday stretched all the way to Bradley Beach. No distancing; a piddly number of masks.
I can’t help but think that the Ocean Grove residents are getting the short end of the stick here. I’m sure OG residents would be compliant. But the CMA prefers to fill the purse with badge sales outrageous in numbers and to many who could care less about our policy, our beach rules, our Covid restrictions.
And btw, one of the New York license plates opened a window and threw out a t-shirt and a pair of sandals they didn’t want and a cup onto the street .Abhorrent behavior we have not seen before, and we don’t wish to see in our town.)
For mask and distancing adherence the CMA needs to stop selling so many badges. No consideration for the residents as usual. $$$