Comments on: Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish: Smoked Salmon Meets Style in TriBeCa

By: The NYC Food Guy

The NYC Food Guy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:16:46 +0000

Amy,
Personally, I think Brother Jimmy’s is more of a bar with food than a restaurant with a bar. I’d go to RUB over Brother Jimmy’s every time. That being said, I’ve only eaten at Brother Jimmy’s once or twice and nothing impressed. Anytime I hear about someone having a great time there or see some raucous facebook photos, it’s all booze related. You always see people smiling stupidly with a big blue fish bowl never a rack of ribs.

What do you recommend at RUB? I’m a big fan. Have you had the brisket chili cheese fries?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:51:26 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time I was near Penn Station I noticed that a Brother Jimmy’s BBQ had opened right there, on the corner across the street. I’ve never eaten at any of their locations. I’m a big fan of R.U.B.

How does Brother Jimmy’s stack up?

By: HowfreshEats

HowfreshEats — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:53:55 +0000

14 types of lox? Cot damn. All I need is some belly and I’m good to go. The fishier the better. Might have to check this place out if I ever get down that far.

Speaking of R&D, I had the Super Heebster a couple of weeks ago. Serious business.

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:52:12 +0000

Thanks for the comments about food close to penn station. I’m living right beside it can vouch for Skylight Diner for certain things, for example, their skin on fries, and burgers are great, however their “buffalo wings” have a disgusting sauce and their lamb Gyros are disgusting reformed meat. I would recommend McGarry’s Irish pub on 9th just around the corner from Penn station, their overall menu is really good, and their crabcakes are really good, but then being Irish I may be biased.

By: Ulla

Ulla — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:19:04 +0000

I will have you know that I got an email about this blog post, read it and had to have a lox bagel for breakfast, the great thing is that I ate half for breakfast and the other half for lunch. Great!:)

By: The NYC Food Guy

The NYC Food Guy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:15:45 +0000

Bob B.,
First off thanks for the kind words. In regard to your question “why did I write ‘real sandwich shop’? This is a direct quote from the proprietor of this business, which in hindsight I probably should have referenced. I didn’t intend to knock Russ & Daughters by any means, no one has more respect for a long standing NYC institution than I do. As far as what the owner of Zucker’s intended his statement to mean, I infer he looks at Russ & Daughters as more of an appetizing shop that makes sandwiches while he considers his shop a sandwich shop that also does appetizing. Sorry for the confusion. Keep up the good comments.

By: Bob B.

Bob B. — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:19:28 +0000

I’ve been to both and Russ & Daughters isn’t a throwback. It’s not a copy of an old original institution, it IS an old original institution They’ve been in the same place for almost 100 years and were a pushcart in the neighborhood before that. My grandma bought the same bagels and lox and herring and whitefish and baked salmon salad and chopped liver spread there that I do now and it’s as good now as ever she says. You wrote, “but Zucker’s is a “real sandwich shop,” which, if you know your history, sounds insane. I’m not sure what isn’t real about a very long-running family business based around bagels and lox. I’m curious as to why you wrote that. I like your writing and thought you knew more about great food history than that indicates.

By: FN

FN — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:43:45 +0000

I live in Brooklyn but am in Paris on a long-term work assignment, so I go back and forth. I miss the quintessential NY things and bagels is no 1 on the list! Add to the list: bialys, pizza and basketball.

By: The NYC Food Guy

The NYC Food Guy — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:04:00 +0000

FN,
I do what I can. Do you live in Paris or just travel there often?

PEPPER,
You’re welcome.

Nathan,
Consider this site home away from home. How about you start up the Chicago chapter for us?

Jake,
Ha! It’s always better with lox, tomato and onion.

Allison,
Hopefully the youngsters who go to school near here now can appreciate this gem.

cd,
They DO NOT pre-make their sandwiches. These photos were from an eating event.

hill,
Per wriskit’s recommendations, Stage Door Deli would be fine for your purposes. It’s a diner/deli on 33rd and 8th Avenue, right outside the back of Penn Station. If you want a really simple coffee shop though you can go to Andrews’ on 7th Avenue and 35th street; nothing special but does the basics fine. There’s also Skylight Diner on 34th street and 9th avenue which has been around forever and has a real diner feel. I can’t speak for the food there, however. Either way, if you’re expectations aren’t really high, you’ll be fine. This is not a neighborhood known for being gourmet.

By: wriskit

wriskit — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:36:27 +0000

Hill, the stage door deli also has a website and menu with photos: http://www.stagedoordeli.com