I stopped by Bagels and Bialys in Albertson this past weekend to pick up bagels and ran into a group of friends who apparently make this their regular weekend breakfast spot. I’ll admit, I was surprised. Even a little disappointed. The décor leaves a lot to be desired, and I expected more from this crew.
These are people who feel far more aligned with Thomas’s Ham & Eggery Diner or Maureen’s Kitchen than a no-frills bagel shop.
One friend, however, insisted I try the bialys. It is in the name, after all—how bad could they be? Yet interestingly, no one at the table had actually ordered one. Either they didn’t know what they were missing…or they assumed the bialys weren’t worth their time.
For those who only know bialys in passing, think of them as the forgotten sibling of the bagel. Bagels are boiled before baking, which gives them that shiny crust and dense, chewy bite. Bialys skip the boil entirely. They’re simply baked, resulting in a lighter, softer interior. Unfortunately, good bialys are hard to find these days. Most bagel shops treat them as an afterthought, churning out dense, bread-heavy imposters that miss the point entirely.
That is not the case here.
At Bagels and Bialys, the bialys are done right. Crisp on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, with a proper onion-and-poppy seed center that actually tastes like something. The one I had was unmistakably fresh—warm enough that it felt like it had just come out of the oven. When I tore it open, it was slightly steamy, which is always a good sign.
While this shop is well known for its bagels—and they are excellent—the bialys are the quiet stars of the operation. The thing you don’t expect to be this good, but absolutely is.
The bottom line: you don’t come to Bagels and Bialys for the atmosphere. You come for the food. And if you care about bialys, this place may very well serve the best ones on Long Island. Fresh, crisp, airy, and flavorful—exactly what a bialy is supposed to be.
If you’re looking for a great breakfast, stop by Bagels and Bialys. Order a bagel if you must—but do yourself a favor and get a bialy too. It’s in the name for a reason.