Located in the Cross River Plaza, Empire Bagels is the ideal spot for high school students to grab a quick meal before, during, or after school. The atmosphere, prices, and cuisine of this small little bagel shop are unmatched and keep bringing students back for more.

When someone walks into Empire Bagels, they immediately feel an extremely laid back vibe. The shop only has five tables resulting in a cozy setting for the customers. Furthermore, the employees are always laidback and willing to interact with everyone in the store. Because of the atmosphere of Empire Bagels, it is the perfect spot for athletes to fuel up after school. Whole teams often stop in for a quick bite and a nice spot to relax before heading to a grueling practice. Empire Bagels is no fine dining restaurant, but the laidback vibe of the small, cozy shop is a main reason for why it is such a great place to eat.

In addition to an unmatched atmosphere, the affordable prices of Empire Bagels make it a can’t miss. High school students usually don’t have tons of cash and thus can’t spend lots of money when buying food. However, this is not a problem when shopping at Empire Bagels. Plain bagels only cost $1 dollar and breakfast sandwiches only cost $3.25 depending on toppings. Pastries range from $2-$2.25 and while the most expensive item on the menu are the paninis which cost $7.50. John Jay student Richard Jones says “Empire Bagels offers high quality food for unmatched prices.”

Furthermore, the food at Empire Bagels is delicious and the menu is filled with many different selections. To start off, their bagels are excellent. Always fresh and never stale, Empire Bagels has a wide election bagels ranging from your standard plain bagel to an elaborate rainbow bagel. No matter which bagel you order, you will surely enjoy it. Even though it is a bagel shop, Empire Bagels also serves egg sandwiches personalized to the customer’s wanting. Hashbrowns, bacon, hot sauce, and sausage are all popular items customers order on their sandwiches. Additionally, Empire Bagels also serves lunch sandwiches such as grilled to perfection paninis. John Jay student Brendan Carberry recommends the #10 panini consisting of chicken cutlet, cheddar, bacon, and bbq sauce. In addition to all of the items on the menu, students can also grab freshly baked cookies and cinnamon buns displayed in the counter. For such a small and affordable shop, options for customers are endless.

Empire Bagels has all the right qualities for a restaurant and is a perfect spot for high school students to stop in.