There’s no such thing as the best coffee or bagel or pizza slice in New York City
Summary
A straphanger delivers a fiery anti-list manifesto: there's no single best bagel, pizza, or coffee in New York, just good spots everywhere, and waiting in line for any of them is "absurd." Kareem pushes back. The debate spirals into line culture, vibe gatekeeping, and whether New Yorkers have lost their minds standing outside bars. The rider's take? Lists are garbage made for out-of-towners, and "the thing that's closest to your house that's really good is the best one." Kareem disagrees on principle but gets behind the anti-line sentiment, though he admits he's a vibe guy who'll wait if the energy's right. They name-drop specific spots (Carmines for pizza, Nova Bagel) and run into Isaac Likes mid-interview. Short and spicy.
Full Transcript
So what's your take? There's no such thing as the best coffee or bagel or pizza slice in New York City. The thing that is best about New York City is that there's really good bagels and pizza and coffee everywhere. So the thing that's like closest to your house that's really good is the best one. 100% disagree.
What? What do you think? I've had very bad bagels, pizzas, and coffees in New York City. And often times I'm disappointed because I used to be like you. I used to be like, "It's the greatest city in the world. They have great bagels, pizzas, and coffees." But every once in a while, you step into a bagel pizza coffee place and it's not good. Not all of them are good, but the idea that there's one best one and everyone should be waiting in line for three hours to get it, that's absurd.
What the hell are the lists for? The lists are for out of towners.
No, the lists are for the New Yorkers. No, the lists are for nobody. The lists are garbage. The people are paying to be on those lists.
There are two lists. There's a naughty list and there's a nice list. No one should be on a list. I—okay, if you wait in line for an hour for coffee, first of all, what's the point of even drinking coffee? You're supposed to grab it on your way to a place.
True. Not—that's not the activity. Waiting in line for pizza is not the activity. Coming home from a bar and grabbing a slice is the activity.
Well, I think New Yorkers like lines. I know. And I think that's wrong.
I also think that's—I can get behind anti-line sentiment. I'm really anti-line. I feel like line culture has gotten so out of control. There are so many lines. There are so many restaurants here and the idea that you would wait in line at a restaurant when there's another restaurant next door that I can get. Ridiculous. And oh my God, when people wait in line for bars because the vibe in there is good. Just be cool and bring a good vibe elsewhere. No, no, no, no, no. I think if the vibe is on, you got to go in.
No. If there's a line, the vibe is off. I'm a vibe guy, and if the vibe is good, I'm getting in.
Once word spreads about the vibe, it's a fake vibe. Pro gatekeeper. Keep your gates high and your line's short. Where's your best pizza? Carmines.
Where's your best bagel? Nova Bagel.
Where's your best coffee? I don't even know what it's called. It's just like a shop.
Have you heard of Isaac Likes? Shout out. Isaac Likes. I will not.
What is the best pizza? What is the best pizza place? I don't think that guy brings a good energy. No, I like—I like Isaac Likes. I like—this is a pro Isaac Likes steak. I see—I see you on Instagram, man.
Hey, I love you. I love you. What's going on? How you doing? All right. All right. Good to see you. Keep up the good work.
That guy brings the best vibe. And I bet you he's not waiting in line.