Soho’s post-pub grub options just got an injection of big New York energy. From today, July 2, the NYC-style bagel shop on D’Arblay Street will stay open until 11pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, serving a dedicated “bodega nights” menu of chewy, heartily stuffed bagel sandwiches from its takeaway window. Until now, it has closed at 5pm.
The new after-dark line-up includes the It’s Chopped Cheese. It’s Bagels founder and fashion photographer Dan Martensen – a born-and-raised New Yorker – says it’s a flavour combination rarely found in London: a quintessential New York bodega staple, usually made by chopping minced beef, cheese and onions together on a griddle before piling it into a sub with salad and sauce.
“The chopped cheese is a perfect example of a classic New York sandwich, something that’s hearty and heavy,” he tells Broadsheet. “If you’ve been drinking and need something like a big old sloppy sandwich, that’s the one to get.” The It’s Bagels version is made with the shop’s salt beef instead of beef mince. “It actually works really, really well,” he says. “I like it better than the one you get in New York, personally.”
The Brunson Bagel is a nod to the “God level” New York Knicks guard, Jalen Brunson, who recently led the team to its first championship win in 53 years. The special, based on Brunson’s reported bodega order, stars a hashbrown, egg and cheese with spicy mayo.
Meanwhile, there’s also the Bodega BEC, with bacon or sausage, egg and cheese, as well as The New York Reuben starring pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and mustard.
At night, the Soho shop will screen classic New York films in its windows, with the subtitles on. Expect Italian American mob films, New York comedies and, at some point, The Muppets Take Manhattan. “People are going to be walking by the shop, and because it’s D’Arblay Street, it’s quite quiet, so you can just hang out and eat a bagel and watch a movie,” says Martensen.
For now, Bodega Nights is a Soho exclusive (sorry, Primrose Hill and Notting Hill), though Martensen says the idea could eventually work elsewhere. “If we open in east London someday – which is definitely on my list of things to do – then I could see us doing a late-night thing there.”
It’s Bagels Soho night hatch opens from 6pm–11pm from Thursday to Saturday.
