Plugs — Joey Scalabrino
New York food, drink, and leisure recs from the man behind Apollo Bagels + LINKS
Plugs is The Angel’s recs column. Every week, you’ll get six picks—a restaurant, a bar, a shop, an ingredient, a person, and a treat—from someone in New York who knows what they’re talking about, plus a selection of Angel-curated links. Plugs are for paid subscribers of The Angel only; upgrade your subscription to receive all six!
#97/#2 is Joey Scalabrino, a native New Yorker from the LES and the founder of Apollo Bagels, the exceedingly (and rightfully) popular new-school bagel shop rooted in old-school technique. Prior to Apollo, Joey was a partner at the Williamsburg pizzeria Leo, where he began developing his naturally fermented, boiled bagels. He launched during the pandemic as a pop-up out of the soup kiosk at Fanelli Cafe (iconic), then took the bagels on the road to Casa Lhasa in Ibiza, Lolo Wine in Austin, and Elena in Montreal, among others. In early 2024, he opened the first Apollo shop in the East Village, swiftly followed by locations in the West Village, Williamsburg, FiDi, Hoboken, and Midtown. To say Apollo has single-handedly reshaped the New York bagel scene would not be an understatement. The formula—a simple, classic menu of open-faced bagels comprised of quality ingredients, plus orange juice and coffee—is both elevated and accessible, a bullseye for what modern New Yorkers want and need. Zohran Mamdani went for the first time recently and gave it the thumbs-up on PIX11 News. And, FWIW, Joey is just getting started. Here he is with his Plugs.
Restaurant — Souen
After maybe a few too many trips to Paris, I was feeling a bit sluggish in early 2024. Right before opening Apollo, I knew I needed to lock in, and since then, I’ve cooked about 80% of my meals at home. Souen has always floated around my life. An institution. Something my older peers would admire when I was in my 20s. I get it now. I crave it constantly. It’s clean, grounding food. the kind that lets you continue your day or get a great night’s sleep without your heart racing. Eating Souen regularly is good training for your palate. It sharpens your sensitivity, so when you finally sit down at places like Le Veau d’Or or Bridges, the food tastes even better.
Bar — Carmine’s / Apollo Bar
I love Carmine’s because it’s a great place to watch Knicks and Rangers games. It has a genuinely wholesome neighborhood vibe, which feels increasingly rare, and the food is actually amazing.
