Hot & Crusty

This location is closed in Grand Central Terminal, there is no signage to say if/​when they will reopen or being relocated within GCT. Sadly I need to find another place for my morning bagel…

Like many bakeries, Hot and Crusty does some things better than others. I very rarely go for their cakes or other sweets, but I do buy their breads, especially their challahs. They have a convection oven in the back, so they’re the only bakery in GCT that, especially on a busy Friday afternoon, can sell you a still warm loaf just out of the oven. Plain, raisin, chocolate or with seeds on top, they’re all good. I like their raisin walnut bread too.

I got a chocolate chip challah $ 5.25,which was huge and a lot of chocolate in it.
I sliced and toasted it and it tasted very did.
Since both zabars and Zaros don’t sell chocolate chip challah, this is the only place in and around grand central station that I can get one.
Will try another breads.

I was here on Saturday looking around for a cupcake to bring back to my daughter when I spotted a mouse nibbling on the seven grain bread. I kid you not! My husband managed to snap a pic that is hard to see, but believe me it was a freakin mouse. I told the worker and she simply stated that the mice come up from the downstairs eateries. Really!!! Needless to say I didn’t buy anything there.

I always pass this place on my way to work so today I thought «I’ll try a bagel and give them a shot». Well I guess it wasn’t meant to be. Not only did I stand in front of the bagel guy for what seemed like 10 minutes without getting acknowledge (mind you, he was greeting people who were walking up as I stood RIGHT in front of him… maybe he didn’t like my hat or my scarf?) I even took out money so he wouldn’t think I was homeless; not that I look homeless but still.
To me customer service is about acknowledging everyone who comes your way; a simple smile or «hello, can I help you?» or «I will be right with you» would’ve been ok. Took my money elsewhere and will continue to just pass this place like before.
PS: Learn some manners French bagel guy!!!

I’ve come here a few times on my way to the shuttle train for a coffee or a muffin. Its conveniently located right next to the entrance of the subway in grand central, and it rarely has a line. Unfortunately, I need to agree with the other Unilocal reviews and admit that they need to work on their customer service. The woman who works at the register is very inpatient and unfriendly. Apparently I did not have my $ 2.50 ready fast enough for her today for my banana walnut muffin, and she rolled her eyes and took the next customer’s order while I was standing there with the money in my hand. So rude. The coffee is bland and not very strong. You’re better off waiting on a long line at Starbucks for better coffee/​service.

This store definitely needs to work on their customer service skills. While I was headed to work at 6 in the morning, I decided to grab a bagel and cream cheese from this store. Just like everyone else at 6 AM, I was tired and drowsy and I forgot to mention that I wanted to get my bagel toasted.
After the guy forgets to ask me if I wanted the bagel toasted, he cuts it then asks me after if I did. Because I didn’t tell him before he cut the bagel, he yells at me in front of other customers.
I’m truly sorry for not specifying prior to the bagel not being cut, but wouldn’t you presume it be the staff member’s duty to ask the customers if we wanted a bagel toasted? I guess different businesses have different policies towards customer dealings. As a human being expressing his opinion, I don’t think yelling at customers will ever bring good business.
Oh, the bagel was good I suppose.

So usually I have a great experience here, most of the staff are friendly and great but there’s two women there… one Indian woman who seems to be a supervisor… everytime
I go there she is shouting at someone!!!
The a couple of weeks ago I went to the
Other end, the one nearest the end of the ramp… there was a woman there, I think Indian? But of fairer skin? I asked for a chocolate croissant and a diet coke. I give her the cash while I wait for the croissant… I ask to make sure the coke is In the bag… She hands the bag to me… no coke. And then SHAKES her tip cup at me! ‘Dont forget to tip!!!’ I stop my Phone conversation… And i notice that Theres no coke in my bag? I’ve been charged for it,
I asked for her to make sure it was in the bag… and she has the
Nerve to shake her tip cup at me?
I don’t think I need to tell you what happened after this…

Dear tourists,
Are you thinking about getting your first real NYC bagel from here? Fuhgeddaboudit!
This place produces bagels that are as NYC-​style as I look like Taylor Swift. And as much as I idolize her, let me assure you, I’m too tan to bear any resemblance to the country-​pop star.
For a bagel to be true NYC-​style, it needs to be boiled and my everything bagel most certainly was not. This of course meant that my bagel also had no slightly crispy crust and definitely no dense, chewy inside. In fact, it really just tasted like toasted bread in a round form. And to add insult, they have the audacity to charge $ 3.00* for this garbage, hoodwinking all of you wandering about Grand Central.
If you still decide to give it a shot, be warned the counter guy WILL menacingly stare at you as you mentally kick yourself for realizing too late they have a B rating from the health department.
Oh and I have to agree with one of the reviewers below me who in 2008 commented that they cheap out and add just enough cream cheese to cover your bagel. Looks like they haven’t changed much in 6 years.
Your friendly New Yorker,
Nameeta
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*$ 3.00 with veggie cream cheese; $ 2.60 with regular

Horrible costumer service! I ordered one bagel like I always do and was charged for two. I explained that they owed me an additional three dollars back and she insisted I ordered two bagels. She finally agreed to give me two dollars back. At this point I’m frustrated and late for work and insist on receiving my full $ 10.20 back that I paid initially. The manager or owner came over and shut the register drawer and said «no — you’re no longer a customer.» I waited an additional two minutes and and she finally have me my $ 10 back. As I was leaving I verbalized how frustrated I was by telling them it cost me $.20 to deal with them and I still don’t have food. The manger or owners response was «F You!» Keep in mind the guy that actually makes the bagels is telling them the whole time that I only ordered one bagel. I will NEVER be returning and am spreading the word!!!

My bagel with veggie cream cheese was pretty good.
But their health dept grade was a B.
They were fairly efficient so I can’t say they were awful.
Plus my friend Jason was there so I got to make a Hot & Crusty reference to him before he could make one to me. It’s always fun to call your friends Hot & Crusty.

Really bad black and white cookies…

The muffin was so-​so, but it looked like there were better options.
Located near the Southeastern entry of Grand Central (by Vanderbilt St.), this location has two main areas to order from, split by an odd division. Anyway, you can pick up your $ 3 croissants or other pastries here early in the morning as you rush to/​from the Shuttle.

Terrible terrible service. There is a woman there every morning who will interrupt you before you can even tell her your complete order. She then proceeds to get pissed when she repeats back incorrect orders and I correct her. Had she just listened the first time neither one of us would be frustrated. She has done this every single time I go. I have gone 3 times and never EVER again! In NYC we are all sleepy and groggy and in a rush in the morning. There is no need to start your day at this coffee/​bagel stand. .it will ruin your commute. The bagels are also not terrific and the coffee is bitter which only added injury to insult. They are located in grand central on the way to the S (shuttle).

I would only recommend their croissants. They are light and buttery. Also, go to the side closest to the Subway Shuttle. The service is better. The young woman will remember you and your previous orders. I wouldn’t dare try anything else.

Here’s a little tip. If a paying customer steps up to your open register to place an order at the place where you work, it may be a good time to cut off your conversation with your co-​worker.
All I wanted was a Black & White cookie. I chose Hot & Crusty over Zaro’s because their cookies were a few cents cheaper. I’m cheap like that. Plus, the store was right in front of us, and Zaro’s wasn’t. I’m lazy like that.
But, when I stepped up to the register, the ladies there completely ignored me and kept right on with their conversation. Something about some antics some guy had gotten into. It was riveting, apparently, because neither of them even bothered making eye contact with me.
It took my husband stepping into line behind me for them to break off their dull storytelling.
They didn’t say good morning to me; they spoke to him. They didn’t ask how they could help me; they spoke to him. They dealt directly with him, which totally made me feel insignificant and invisible.
So, you know. Thanks for the cookie and the soul-​crushing moment.

Having just returned from Africa in reverse Marcus Garvey-​esque fashion, I found myself in quite a pickle: in dire need of some carb-​filled goodness that I had been missing for so long to soak up the alcohol, but late for a train. Ess-​a-​bagel was just out of my grasp so Hot & Crusty had to suffice.
Sadly, it did not. The bagel was light and airy, but something in the taste o the dough was altogether artificial and the lox cream cheese was hugely disappointing and skimpily rationed. Lesson learned: miss the train, get the bagel you dream of from an ocean away.

Hot & Crusty? More like Cold & Terrible.
Describes both the toasted bagel I regrettably got this morning, and the customer service.

We also got taken by «the train’s leaving soon, let’s grab something quick» and ended up with a «crusty» cup of chocolate mousse… yes, …
Like others, the name made us hesitate — a lot … «Hot and Crusty»…
But, the one last cup of chocolate mouse in the window looked fresh.
Imagine our surprise when we got in the train and noticed that, no, we didn’t get the fresh one in the window, but one that was like 2-​days old. Ended up tossing the $ 4 cup of chocolate mousse in the trash.
I would’ve given 2 stars (the éclair was a little stale but what can you expect at the end of the night)…but to see a nice-​looking mousse in the window and be given the switcher-roo…1 star…
Instead: Go downstairs and get a slice of pizza. The turnover is fast. The pizza is hot and baked fresh! And tastes good!

I don’t know about you but I do enjoy an elephant ear cookie every so often.
but the name of this place alone makes me not want to buy my cookies there.
really? who came up with hot and crusty? the word crusty sounds like something you’d find on a homeless person. crusty feet, crusty hands, crusty eyes… umm gross.
If it wasn’t because I was running late, i would have never entered this place. They say location of business is important but I think so is a name of a joint. Their employees however, are very nice, earning them 2 stars!
p. s. no they dont have the best bagels ever, as suggested on some reviews. not even close