damnlines for iPhoneLive lines & push alerts — freeGetdamnlines.comA 1976 institution whose 3rd Ave flagship draws a line out the door for oversized hand-rolled bagels and thick schmear sandwiches.
831 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022
No camera at Ess-a-Bagel yet — these are the closest live lines we cover.
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at Ess-a-Bagel yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
The 831 3rd Ave flagship is the one people mean when they talk about the Ess-a-Bagel line. The Infatuation's Midtown review describes "lines that stretch out the front door," then adds that "the lines move fast." Reviewers describe weekend mornings where the Sunday line is "always out the door," with 30-minute-plus waits reported.
There are two lines, not one. In a Yelp thread the shop's owner spelled it out: an express line for bagels only, which skips the servers and any sandwich prep, and a separate regular or advance-order line if you want a sandwich built to order. Another Yelp commenter said ordering ahead "could save you 10-15 minutes or more"; the owner noted online-order pickup runs about 30 minutes depending on foot traffic.
Timing is everything, and it turns fast. On Yelp, regulars recommend getting in line by 6:30 to 7:30am. One recounted arriving at 7:30 to only a few people ahead, then watching the line grow "almost out the door" before finishing a bagel. Mid-afternoon and evening are described as the quieter windows. damnlines does not have a camera at Ess-a-Bagel, so we can't show a live count here.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: No reservations - per NYC Tourism's listing, Ess-a-Bagel is a walk-in, counter-service bagel shop, not a reservation-based restaurant.
Walk-ins: Per NYC Tourism, the line is often out the door, though you don't need to wait in line if you're just placing a straightforward bagel order, and you can call ahead to have an order set aside.
Per NYC Tourism: Mon-Sat 6am-9pm, Sun 6am-5pm.
Reviews and regulars describe weekend-morning waits of 30 minutes or more, with the line stretching out the front door. The Infatuation's Midtown review notes the line moves fast despite its length. damnlines does not have a camera at Ess-a-Bagel, so we can't show a live count.
Yelp regulars recommend getting in line by 6:30 to 7:30am. One warned that at 7:30 there were only a few people ahead, but the line was "almost out the door" within the hour. Mid-afternoon and evening are described as quieter.
Yes. In a Yelp thread the shop's owner said there's an express line for bagels only, with no sandwich prep, and a separate regular or advance-order line for sandwiches made by the servers.
One Yelp commenter said advance or pickup orders "could save you 10-15 minutes or more" and use a separate pickup line. The owner said online-order pickup runs about 30 minutes depending on foot traffic.
Reviewers describe the Sunday line as "always out the door." Weekend mornings draw the longest reported waits, so regulars aim for early or order ahead.
No - per NYC Tourism it's a walk-in, counter-service bagel shop with no reservation system.
Yes, per NYC Tourism you walk in and order at the counter; the line can run out the door at busy times, though simple bagel orders can move faster and phone-ahead orders are also an option.
Sources: The Infatuation: Ess-a-Bagel (Midtown review) · Yelp Q&A: what time to get in line to avoid the long wait · Yelp Q&A: does ordering in advance cut the line, is there a separate line · NYC Tourism: Ess-A-Bagel - Midtown East
