Review of Friendly Bagels of Bayport, Long Island.
Last night good friends raved to my wife and me about the French Toast Bagel that they regularly bought at Friendly Bagels on Montauk Highway in Bayport, NY. Based upon our friends’ recommendation I was inspired and got some this morning. My wife and I had intended to eat them with maple syrup (our family’s French Toast tradition) but with their delightful French-Toast smell and taste we chose to use only butter. Maybe next time for maple syrup, because we will be back for more.
I want to add a small point about the name of the Bagel Shop, Friendly Bagels. When I arrived, there was a line and the owner, Haken, was engaged in a light-hearted conversation with one of the customers in front of me. Behind me, entered a young lady who Haken recognized by name, and told her something about her father’s last visit to the shop. They both chuckled about the incident and then Haken waited on me. It seemed clear to me that he knew and cared about his customers and their lives and everyone in the store reflected the “friendly” atmosphere created by the gregarious owner.
When I interviewed Haken I asked the question, “How do you make a great bagel?” He had some very specific answers that helped me understand why his bagels tasted so good and were textured like the bagels I knew from the old days in Brooklyn (I am 75 years old.). He said that he used a “classic New York” recipe that was at least 30 years old when he got it, he pre-formed his bagels and boiled them in water before he baked them, and he was very “clear” about the quality of the water that he used. Because of his classic recipe, each bagel had the perfect chew and shiny crust of the Brooklyn bagels I remember from my youth.
If he placed a fan in the transom over the door to blow the wonderful aromas out into the street his customers would not be the only ones to enjoy the delicious smells of his shop. I am looking forward to returning.

Just went there, literally messed up the entire order and i only ordered two bagels..

This place makes the best bagels that I ever tasted!