I am a transplant from NY, and I have tried nearly every independent bagel store in Charlotte. Serveral advertise "NY Bagels" and most of them are doing so falsely. Poppy's Bagels has the only bagel I have ever eaten outside of Long Island that tastes like a NY bagel. It is perfect. Also, the veggie cream cheese is amazing and very close to authentic. Since finding Poppy's I have been back several times...it feels like I'm at my local bagel shop back on Long Island. My search for the perfect NY bagel is over....Poppy's is the only place to go for bagels, hands down.