Exhibit 23.1

                        Consent of Independent Auditors
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We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-3  No.  33-97054)  of  Manhattan  Bagel  Company,  Inc.  and  in  the  related
Prospectus,  in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-15587) of Manhattan
Bagel Company, Inc. and in the related Prospectus, in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8 No.  33-93764)  pertaining  to the 1994 Stock Option Plan of Manhattan
Bagel Company,  Inc., in  the  Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No. 333-15393)
pertaining to Amendment No. 1 to the Stock Option  Agreement made as of April 1,
1996 between Manhattan Bagel Company,  Inc. and CRC, Inc., as amended and in the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No.  333-15577)  pertaining to the 1996 Stock
Option Plan of Manhattan Bagel Company, Inc. of our report dated April 24, 1998,
with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Manhattan  Bagel
Company,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for
the year ended December 31, 1997.

                                        /s/ Ernst & Young, LLP
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Princeton, New Jersey
April __, 1998