Mr. J. Takes a Hike to Mile End

By on February 10, 2011 7:43 pm in Food, Video

Spurred by Heather Quinlan’s story about a new place at Atlantic and Clinton that will offer Montreal style bagels, and your correspondent’s comment on that story pointing out that such bagels are now available at Mile End, on Hoyt Street just south of Atlantic, as well as by a New York Times review in this week’s food section, our man with cam set out for Boerum Hill and Brooklyn’s temple of Canadian-Jewish cuisine. On the way back, he stopped off at a few favorite spots along Atlantic. His verdict on Mile End’s bagel, lox and cream cheese “Beauty”? At about $20 (tax, tip and coffee included), it won’t lure him away from his usual New York style bagel and lox at Cranberry’s. Video after the jump.

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  • Livingston

    Thanks for the foodie forays, Karl. Really enjoy sharing your “epicurious” adventures.

  • oldtimer

    the soup, smoked fish sandwich, and fries are great! I wouldn’t walk there for a bagel, but the other stuff is well worth it.

  • Anon

    Don’t go to Mile End for bagels and lox. Go there for the smoked meat. Better yet, the poutine with smoked meat.

  • E

    Can;t believe you’re doing a review based on a bagel from a place that specializes in smoked meat. Blogger fail.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Wasn’t a review of Mile End. I was there to experience the Canadian bagel which is why I ordered a bagel with lox at Mile End. I thought I made that perfectly clear with the title “In Search Of The Canadian Bagel” . Didn’t the introduction with video of the perspective bagel shop on Clinton and Atlantic provide you with a clue? Even included pictures of a Canadian bagel. Duh!!!

    E, I think you failed to comprehend the obvious.

  • oldtimer

    It was a confusing review. I agree with E, wasn’t clear. Sorry Karl. In the video you talk about the “restaurant” their seating, etc…not just the bagel. It’s a tough crowd I know Karl, just want to give that place their fair due.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    No problem. I stand corrected.

  • Eddy de Lectron

    I think it was pretty clear the main focus of the video was the “Montreal Bagel” not the restaurant, however, I think the mention of other businesses on Atlantic was unnecessary.

  • lois

    WOW – what reviews you got of your video. Did people think this video was up for an Oscar? Anyhow, I liked the video and it saved me a trip to Mile HIgh to find out about their offerings. Maybe I’ll stop by when I’m down that way. Stick to your guns, Karl and stick to your favorite bagel. Twenty bucks is a lot for a bagel. PS – I loved your comment at the end about the similarities you found between the sketch of the bagel and HF.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    lois,

    I’m just happy they took the time to watch. Guess the “Couples Valentine Massage” at Providence Day Spa, for a bargain basement price of $320 plus tip (ugh), is not Eddy’s cup of tea. Seriously, the only thing worse than a bad review is total apathy.

    Constructive criticism is always welcome.

  • http://loscalzo.posterous.com Homer Fink

    Folks – Mr. Junkersfeld is an EXISTENTIAL filmmaker and must be respected on those terms. He does not use this films as a bully pulpit but rather as a vehicle with which to share his personal experiences.

    Thank you.

  • oldtimer

    The real issue here is the lighting in the video….karl….don’t listen to anyone including myself. make your reviews the way you like to! i may speak up but take it with a grain of mile end kosher salt.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Cogito ergo sum

    Je pense donc je suis

    Dubito ergo cogito ergo sum

    oldtimer, you are entirely correct, the intensity, color and focus in the film was a bit off. You are a wise oldtimer with a keen sense of lighting patterns. lol

  • nabeguy

    Karl, the next hat I get you is going to be a beret because you truly are an artiste whether you believe it or not.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    For those of you who may care, not many, my man nabeguy bought me a hat for Christmas. I was truly touched. Seriously. How touched was I?

    Go to the videotape:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybev0XGIy9Q

  • Heightsman

    It’s a blog folks. Enjoy it for what it is and be thankful.

  • Anon

    The problem is that you’ve got a post knocking a place and comparing apples to oranges. If you wanted to compare Cranberry’s to Mile End, you should have compared Mile End’s closed face $9 sandwich to Cranberry’s closed face sandwich at $5.75. Yes the trendier sit down restaurant will be more expensive. But comparing that beautifully prepared open face sandwich, plus coffee, plus tax, plus tip to just the cost of a bagel sandwich is a bit disingenuous.

    “So I had the tasting menu at Per Se and the fries that came with it wasn’t what I was expecting. Next time, I’m going to just go with McDonald’s and get a large fries at one percent the cost.”

    The here implication of course being that the three Michelin star restaurant isn’t as good as McDonald’s. And that Per Se is way over priced because that $295 tasting menu costs more than a large fries at McDonald’s. A fair comparison and conclusion?

  • bornhere

    The video Karl has posted commemorating his “new nabe hat” is an all-time treat. Joy like that IS a gift! Way to go, nabe and Karl :)

  • David on Middagh

    @Anon: Valid points, but Karl did show the menu in his vid. I think we all could make an appropriate mental comparison: 50% more expensive sammich for the experience of a “trendier sit down restaurant”.

    Karl gets bonus points for “Dubito ergo cogito ergo sum.” Bonus, from the Latin, of course.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    All I meant to convey was that I am a simple man with simple taste and the bagel at Cranberries made by my man “Moses” with similar ingredients is fine by me.

    I didn’t mean to denigrate Mile End. If it came out that way I apologize.

    A tough crowd on this blog. Roger Ebert got nothing on you guys.

    Funny that you mention “Per Se”. Two weeks ago my wife and I went there very early in the evening when the place was empty and couldn’t get pass the maitre de who informed us that we could not be seated because I had jeans on. As I said, I’m a simple man with…….

  • E

    He really meant because you didn’t have the new trendy $300 fashion week jeans on. ;)

  • oldtimer

    Karl…How about a full review of best bagels in Brooklyn? Midwood, to Bay Ridge, to Montgue street?

  • Eddy de Lectron

    Karl, To clarify: I enjoyed your video, I thought it gave a clear picture of a Montreal bagel, at least without trying one myself. I just thought some of the of the content was a little extraneous and that may have led to confusion (not with me but with others).

    Yes, I think $320 for a spa visit is a ripoff… LOL

    Thanks and keep the great work you do coming…