Regional favorite Baker’s Crust partnered with iconic bagel company, Ess-a-Bagel, to bring authentic New York City bagels to Virginia Beach in a new venture.
In August, the business opened Baker’s Crust Bagel in Hilltop North Shopping Center in the former Your Pie space. The bagels come partially boiled from New York and are freshly baked by Baker’s Crust Bagel shop. Ess-a-Bagel has operated in Manhattan since 1976.
Baker’s Crust owner John Stein wanted to bring more authentic New York bites to his newest restaurant, so the menu also features Carnegie pastrami, black and white cookies and authentic New York-style cheesecake, a recipe developed in collaboration with Carnegie Deli. Other specialty items include lox, whitefish salad and house-baked chocolate babka.
Eric Williams, a Baker’s Crust consultant, said the menu showcases the best and most authentic versions of items that one would find in a New York City deli.
“We get Gaspe Nova cold-smoked salmon fillet and hand carve it thin to make the lox,” Williams said. “It takes over an hour, and then we use the extra in the smoked salmon cream cheese.”
Customers will find a creative selection of schmear, or cream cheese, to go with the bagels. Spreads include flavors like Oreo cookie, smoked salmon, red velvet, avocado garlic, maple bacon and seasonal varieties.
Adam Cohen, Baker’s Crust marketing director, said the most popular sandwich so far has been the Carnegie Pastrami, which features a half pound of Carnegie pastrami, Boar’s Head Swiss, sauerkraut and Gulden’s spicy mustard. Customers can also substitute coleslaw and Russian dressing.
A unique menu offering called The Wookie is an open-faced bagel dressed with peanut butter and brûléed marshmallow fluff. Breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, acai bowls, grab-and-go salads and a coffee bar featuring regional Three Ships Coffee are also available.
Cohen said Baker’s Crust Bagel is all about New York City cuisine and ambiance. He said the restaurant not only brings the “quintessential New York bagel,” but black and white New York iconography, Ess-a-Bagel artwork and reclaimed historic NYC wood that was crafted into a communal table by Benevolent Design, a Virginia Beach furniture company.
“Baker’s Crust Bagel is a passion project,” Stein said. “It’s a labor of love with the goal of bringing authentic New York excellence to Virginia.”
Rachel Davis, an employee at the bagel shop, said customers frequently ask if their bagels have New York water. The answer is yes.
“You can taste New York in the bagel,” she said.
Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net
___
If you go
What: Baker’s Crust Bagel
Where: Hilltop North Shopping Center, 1624 Laskin Road, Suite 754, Virginia Beach
Info: Bakerscrustbagel.com
