Sonny's Bagels
I actually thought their bagels were pretty good (best bagels in the area in my book) the only thing that stopped me from going there more regularly was the lack of egg sandwiches. I heard on the FB groups that the bagel recipe may have changed, so I'll have to go and evaluate. The place was always a little grubby, so it'll be interesting to see if it still feels like a proper old-school bagel shop with a bit of freshening up!
They are a cross between the old school bagels and what you find in most bagel places today. However I thought they were better than average and really glad to see it cleaned up. I don't see how they can do egg sandwiches there but would be nice.
If they significantly changed the bagels they have lost my business.
max_weisenfeld said:
If they significantly changed the bagels they have lost my business.
What he said. It was the "old school bagels" that made them great. 
I like the updates and it seems to me the bagels are pretty much the same.
Sonny's has become my favorite bagel shop over the last 17 years. I'm glad they freshened up but I like that they're keeping things relatively simple.
mikescott said:
The new owner at Sonny's has really stepped up and the place is much improved. The front area has been cleaned up, new refrigerators, new floor and ceiling tiles, more cc choices, and much better service. Plus he is going to offer some seafood options on weekends. And the bagels are much better than they were under the prior owner.
If you had given up on them, it is time to revisit.
What was broken that needed to be fixed about the bagels themselves. Not talking about the interior or the range of options. Just the bagels. They are what matter most.
So anyone who was there in the past year, knew the place was going to die unless it was fixed including the bagels which had become tasteless. The new owner has done a great job in a short time with fixing up the place and improving the recent tasteless version of the great bagels we USED to get.
They still make the bagels on the premises (which is more than I can say about a lot of places that sell bagels in the area).
And leave it to MOL and few hyper-critical people who hate to see anything change, even if it is for the better.
mikescott said:
And leave it to MOL and few hyper-critical people who hate to see anything change, even if it is for the better.
Not me, Poppy. I never liked Sonny's and so never went to Sonny's. I am not change-averse however so I'm happy to give the new ownership a try. A change at Sonny's could only be a good thing as far as I am concerned.
A nephew of mine who grew up and lives in LA hates NJ bagels because they are too "chewy". We are definitely experiencing the decline of civilization.
ska said:
A nephew of mine who grew up and lives in LA hates NJ bagels because they are too "chewy". We are definitely experiencing the decline of civilization.
he must have been to Bagel Chateau.
My kids like Bagel Chateau, but I can't eat their bagels because they seem like they are basted with oil or butter when they are cooked, since they are not boiled first.
We used to be Sonny's regulars, but for the last year have been driving out to Supreme Bagels in Springfield for our weekend bagel fix. Maybe I will try Sonny's this weekend...
A few weeks ago I met the new owner, very friendly. I had a large order which wasn't quite ready and he asked me if I could wait a few minutes and offered me a cup of coffee (gratis) while I was waiting.
Oh and the bagels are good.
I went there yesterday, first time in about 6 months. The place looked good, the service was great, and the bagels were very good. I've lived in South Orange since 1971, and yesterday's bagels were very much like the classic Sonny's. I'll definitely go back!
This is an old article so much has happened since it was written but it is a good history of the "Watson" bagel.
ska said:
H & H was always overrated. There were much better bagel places in nyc.
agreed.... H and H were the biggest, not the best.
I walked past H&H every day on my way to and from work. If I managed to avoid that temptation, the aroma of Zabar's croissants usually did me in.
Best bagels in The City? We were happy (when we lived on West 79th St., in the 80's) to enjoy the best bagels in walking distance, and H&H was closer to us then than Sonny's was when we lived in S.O...
-s.
BTW: Here's a shot looking East from our flat...
No, even if we could afford it...
BTW, I'm considering changing my MOL name to Woda...
-s.
The place is hopping and they are boiling and baking bagels at a furious pace.
Also they have spreads and fresh-sliced nova. And they take credit cards now if it wasn't mentioned before.
I have six hot and fresh bagels in my car and the aroma is enticing to say the least. I may have five when I get home.
The new owner at Sonny's has really stepped up and the place is much improved. The front area has been cleaned up, new refrigerators, new floor and ceiling tiles, more cc choices, and much better service. Plus he is going to offer some seafood options on weekends. And the bagels are much better than they were under the prior owner.
If you had given up on them, it is time to revisit.