A Slice with a Hole: The Story of the Pizza Bagel at Gotham
Ask any New Yorker, and they’ll tell you: there are few things more sacred than bagels and pizza. They're the twin pillars of East Coast street fare—handheld, hot, and steeped in tradition. So what happens when these two icons collide? You get the pizza bagel. It’s a mash-up that feels almost too good to be true. And now, for the first time ever, Gotham Bagels is giving it the Gotham treatment.
Now available! The Pizza Bagel is officially on the menu—permanently—at all Gotham Bagels Chicago locations. That’s right, it’s not a limited-time sandwich. It’s a hot, melty, deli-style sandwich you can count on to be there every time you crave something savory, satisfying, and just a little bit nostalgic.
What Exactly is a Pizza Bagel?
The pizza bagel may not come with the prestige of Neapolitan pies or the old-world charm of a wood-fired crust, but don’t underestimate it. This bite-sized powerhouse packs all the flavors of your favorite slice into a crisp, chewy vehicle you already love: the bagel.
Traditionally, a pizza bagel might look like a bagel half dressed up like a mini pizza. But Gotham’s version goes a step further, served sandwich-style and closed-faced.
The Gotham Pizza Bagel, By the Slice
Here’s how we’re doing it in Chicago:
Pizza sauce—rich, tangy, and herby, made to complement rather than overpower.
Aged mozzarella—smooth and stretchy, melted to perfection.
Your choice of pepperoni or spicy Italian sausage—two classic toppings, each with serious flavor.
Romano cheese—adding a salty, nutty finish.
A dash of oregano—because no pizza (or pizza bagel) is complete without it.
Stacked between two fresh, hand-rolled Gotham bagel halves, it’s a hearty, cheesy sandwich that channels the soul of a New York slice with the chew and crust of an old-school bagel.
Built on Bagel Bones
At Gotham, the bagel is never an afterthought. Every single one of ours is hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked the old-fashioned way. We learned the trade from the best—through years of tradition passed down from bubbe to bubbe, honed in the bagel shops of Long Island and Brooklyn, and sharpened by the Midwest hunger for the real deal.
The foundation of our Pizza Bagel is one of these chewy masterpieces. We use our classic plain bagel as the base—neutral enough to let the sauce and cheese shine, but still full of that deep, malty flavor and crusty bite Gotham bagels are known for. The high-heat bake crisps the edges just right, locking in every layer of flavor.
A Little History, A Lot of Personality
Though its exact origins are fuzzy, the pizza bagel started gaining traction in the 1950s and 60s, when quick-bake, kid-friendly meals became a staple of the American kitchen. By the '90s, they were everywhere as frozen snacks—easy after-school meals that came two per pack and were usually gone in seconds.
But while many remember the pizza bagel as a nostalgic novelty, Gotham sees it as something worth celebrating—and reimagining.
A Sandwich for the Slice-Lovers
There’s something extra satisfying about biting into something that’s more than the sum of its parts. Our Pizza Bagel isn’t just a novelty or a nostalgic throwback—it’s a well-balanced, crave-worthy sandwich that fills the gap between bagel and pizza in the most delicious way possible.
Whether you’re a die-hard bagel traditionalist or someone who’s been known to eat cold pizza for breakfast, the Pizza Bagel is ready to become your new go-to. It’s everything you love about both foods—folded into one, baked fresh, and served up with that signature Gotham attitude.
So next time you're near one of our Chicago locations, stop in and meet the newest member of our bagel family. The Pizza Bagel is hot out of the oven—and here to stay.