After some not so great experiences at Gotham five-plus years ago, I avoided them. Last summer I stopped in with some friends who were in town and had planned to brunch at the Old Fashioned but hadn't anticipated the hours-long wait so decided to just grab something quick instead.
In the past, I'd always ordered a plain bagel, untoasted, and plain cream cheese. When they very first opened, my selection was unbearably salty; later it was just dry and cakey. On my return to the land of Gotham I went with a bagel sandwich - the Yellow C.A.B - cheddar, avocado, and bacon. So good. The bagel was chewy and didn't have me reaching for a glass of water to rehydrate. I've returned to Gotham and this sandwich many times since. The bacon is thick and crispy and full of flavor. The avocado is fresh and creamy. The melted cheese pulls it all together. It's a great choice for when you need something hearty but don't have the time and/or desire to do a whole sit-down meal.
I've also tried the spicy pineapple & mint and cranberry lavender juices. Definitely a tasty addition. The spicy pineapple took me a couple sips to acclimate, but once I got over the unique flavor and pulpiness I was into it. The cranberry is extremely tart (no grape juice blend here) and has a pleasant floral aftertaste.
The only thing keeping me from five stars is that the untoasted plain bagel with cream cheese route is still dry. I have to say I was surprised - I've had the plain bagel in sandwich form many times now and it's had the chew I've craved. Unheated, though, it's just not there. The honeyed cherry cream cheese was good (and was in a portion big enough for two bagels) but it just couldn't make up for the texture of the bagel itself. I think my next attempt will be ordering the cream cheese on the side and taking it home to warm it.