OTR Bagel Bar
Sanju Lamichhane, Owner of OTR Bagel Bar
OTR Bagel Bar is a slice of Brooklyn in the heart of the Queen City. They peddle quite the array of bagel flavors, like Flamin’ Hot Cheeto, Grippo’s, and Fruity Pebbles to name a few. And for years, they’ve remained a steady source of off-the-wall bagel flavors, early morning 80s pop and an ever-rotating selection of local art and pottery. This past fall, founding owner Marshall Mann sold the business, and welcomed in a new owner who is excited to keep OTR Bagel Bar a Findlay Market staple while also bringing in a handful of her own fresh ideas.
Sanju Lamichhane took ownership of the space in October of 2023. She has extensive experience in the restaurant industry. Her family has owned and operated restaurants for years, including Cafe de Paris downtown. But she was in the market to purchase a business that had a solid customer base where she could do more in-house baking. When she came upon the opportunity to buy OTR Bagel Bar, she couldn’t pass it up.
Since acquiring the business, she’s been working alongside her staff, getting to know the menu from the inside out before she makes any changes. “It’s so many things to learn,” she says. If you’ve ever ordered from OTR Bagel Bar, you know the secret is to get there early. The more eccentric flavors sell out early. “I didn’t realize people bought so many bagels!” Sanju laughs. “This first year I’ll just be taking notes and learning.”
She’s been leaning into the time consuming process of bagel making. The recipe is essentially 4 ingredients—flour, water, yeast, salt—but the manner of execution makes a significant impact on the end product. OTR Bagel Bar hand rolls all of their bagels, a process that is often shirked off to machines. Although it requires more time and elbow grease, Sanju prefers the texture and flavor that only hand rolling provides. “It makes every bagel different,” she says. “And it requires strength.” She jokes about learning to roll bagels with her non-dominant hand so she isn’t lopsidedly strong in one arm.
Sanju doesn’t have plans to downsize the bagel menu. In fact, the breadth of options is something Sanju loves about OTR Bagel Bar. “We have so much to offer,” she says. She delights in seeing her guests’ reaction to just how many options they have to choose from. “They come in and have that joy in their eyes.”
Published January 2024