New York Water Bagels FAQ

A: Yes! All of our bagels at Poppy Seed Bagels & Catering are made using traditional New York baking methods. We precisely control our dough temperature and kettle-boil our bagels before baking them fresh on-site every morning. This creates the classic NY texture—crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside.

A: We bake a wide variety of fresh bagels daily, including:

• Classics: Plain, Everything, Sesame, Poppy Seed, Onion, Garlic, Salt, Rye, Pumpernickel, Egg, Whole Wheat, and Whole Wheat Everything.
• Specialty & Sweet: French Toast, Cinnamon Raisin, Blueberry, Rainbow/Tie-Dye, Blue, and Seasonal varieties.

A: Yes! We whip all of our cream cheese spreads in-house daily using premium, fresh ingredients. We offer classic Plain, Scallion, Veggie, Lox Spread, and Jalapeño, as well as house-made specialty spreads like Chipotle and sweet varieties. Tubs are also available for individual purchase to take home.

A: Our customer favorites include:

• Sweet Life: Bacon, egg, and American cheese served on a French Toast bagel with syrup.
• Bumble Bee: Bacon, egg, scallion cream cheese, and hot honey.
• Big Jack: Sausage, bacon, eggs, and hot honey.
• The Jersey: Fried eggs, Taylor Ham (pork roll), American cheese, and ketchup aioli.
• Angry Avocado: Eggs, avocado, bacon, and chipotle cream cheese.
• The Harbor: Sliced Nova Lox, scallion cream cheese, capers, tomato, and red onion.

A: We serve both breakfast and lunch all day! Our lunch menu features specialty deli sandwiches, sliced turkey/ham wraps, chicken salad, tuna salad, BLTs, and fresh specialty paninis or pressed sandwiches.

A: Yes, we offer wrapped gluten-free bagel options for guests with gluten sensitivities. Please note that because we operate a fresh flour bakery on-site, cross-contact with gluten can occur. If you have severe celiac disease, please inform our team when ordering.

A: Yes! Many of our traditional water bagels (Plain, Everything, Sesame, Poppy Seed, etc.) are naturally vegan. We also offer plant-based tofu cream cheese spreads, fresh avocado, and dairy-free milk alternatives (like Oat or Almond milk) for all hot and iced coffee drinks.

A: While our shop is not a certified Kosher or Halal facility, we offer a wide selection of vegetarian options, fresh fish options (like Nova Lox), egg sandwiches, and non-pork breakfast items.

A: Our kitchen handles common allergens including wheat, dairy, eggs, sesame seeds, soy, and tree nuts. If you or anyone in your party has a severe food allergy, please let us know when placing your order so our staff can take extra precautions during preparation.

A: Keep your fresh bagels at room temperature in a paper bag for the first 24 hours. After that, pre-slice them and place them in the freezer in a zip-top freezer bag. You can take them out anytime for up to 3 months, and they will taste amazing!

• Toaster: Place your pre-sliced frozen bagel directly into the toaster on defrost or a slightly higher heat setting.
• Oven (Best Bakery-Fresh Texture): Lightly mist or splash the outside of an un-sliced frozen bagel with a little water, then bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes until the crust is crispy and the center is warm and chewy.

A: We are located at 2220 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10303.

Our store hours are:

• Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

A: You can order directly online at Nypoppyseed.com for fast pickup, call our shop directly at (718) 233-8656, or visit our store in person. Delivery is available through our website and primary delivery partners.

A: Absolutely! Ordering online ahead of time at Nypoppyseed.com allows you to walk right in and pick up your order at our designated pickup counter without waiting in the main line.

A: Our peak morning rush is typically between 7:00 AM and 10:30 AM, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Placing an online order 15–20 minutes ahead during these times is recommended!

A: If you need to modify or cancel a standard takeout order, please call our store immediately at (718) 233-8656. Once an order has entered the oven or kitchen prep line, modifications may no longer be possible.

A: Yes! We are one of Staten Island's premier high-volume catering providers. We specialize in corporate breakfasts, medical and hospital deliveries, school functions, construction/utility site meals, and private parties.

A: We regularly service commercial clients across Staten Island and the surrounding areas, including:

• Hospitals & Healthcare: RUMC Labor & Delivery, Staten Island University Hospital, and local medical clinics.
• Utilities & Logistics: Con Edison, National Grid, and local Amazon fulfillment centers.
• Retail & Commercial: Kohl's, Macy's, auto dealerships, and local corporate offices.
• Education & Community: Local public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and neighborhood churches.

A: Our catering offerings include:

• Bagel & Schmear Boxes: Assorted fresh bagels, sliced and served with 5 tubs of house cream cheeses, butter, and jelly.
• Buns & Yolk Sandwich Trays: Trays of hot egg, cheese, bacon, and sausage breakfast sandwiches served on bagels or wraps.
• Hot Breakfast Platters: Large platters of farm-fresh scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, breakfast sausage, and seasoned hash brown tots.
• Continental & Sweet Platters: Fresh seasonal sliced fruit platters, Greek yogurt parfaits, and muffin/pastry platters.
• Box O' Joe: Portable 96oz hot coffee boxes complete with cups, stirrers, sugars, and fresh milk/creamer.

A: We recommend placing catering orders at least 24 to 48 hours in advance so our baking staff can allocate proper dough batch sizes. For large corporate events, school functions, or multi-day orders, booking 3–5 days in advance is ideal.

A: Yes! All catering orders come complete with paper plates, napkins, plastic cutlery, and spreaders for cream cheese upon request.

A: All catering cancellations or major headcount adjustments must be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled delivery or pickup time. Cancellations made within 24–48 hours are non-refundable as ingredient prep and staffing are finalized.

A: We accept cash, all major credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), and contactless mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay).

A: Yes, there is convenient street parking and nearby lot space available right around our shop on Forest Avenue for quick pickup and drop-in visits.

A: Yes! Gift certificates/gift cards are available for purchase directly at our front register in any custom dollar amount.

A: Yes, menu options, individual item availability, and pricing are subject to change without prior notice.