bagel help

[deep-shag.livejournal.com]

Hi! I am moving to the area in January, from a land void of a decent bagel. How are the bagels there? Where should I get them?

Comments

[elements.livejournal.com]

Sadly, Boston too is a land devoid of a decent bagel. There are some OK bagels: Dunkin Donuts (believe it or not!), Brueggers, Einstein & Finagle in the Boston area, and some mediocre bagels at local Davis-area cafes.

But honestly, I've never had a truly great bagel in Massachusetts. :(

[faux-eonix.livejournal.com]

I concur, there aren't really any good bagels in the area. Bagel Rising in Allston is pretty much the best I've found.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Agreed!

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Kupel's in Brookline isn't bad. Anyone who's originally from New York will roll their eyes and rant at the idea of Boston bagels, but for non-New Yorkers, I'd recommend Kupel's or Bagel Rising.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

There's a little bagel place/diner in Arlington by Mill Street, Bagels by US. They import H&H bagels from NY. Very tasty.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Remember, any bagel can be improved if you slice it properly (http://www.georgehart.com/bagel/bagel.html)

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

+1

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Finagle-A-Bagel does properly boil their bagels before baking. They have many frou-frou versions, but they do feature all the Six True Varieties: Plain, Onion, Sesame, Poppyseed, Salt and Egg.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I'm so grateful to Finagle for still having the swiftly vanishing salt bagel.

[ceo]

I find Finagle's bagels gummy and weird, and Dunkies' are toroidal Wonder bread. Bruegger's is an OK bet, but the ones that seem closest to NYC bagels are Iggy's, which I think Diesel sells. They also have a bakery off in the industrial wastelands of far-west Cambridge, but I haven't been there.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

I agree that Iggy's are the best you can get in Cambriville, and perhaps in greater Boston, but that's not saying much. They're kind of an odd cross between New York and Montreal style with a super chewy crust. Unfortunately, my best advice is to go to New York and bring home several dozen, they freeze well.

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I really dislike Dunkin Donuts bagels, and further dislike the fact that they don't spread the cream cheese for you (they give you a small plastic container that has enough cream cheese for half a bagel if you ask me).

Magnificent Muffin in Teele Square has decent bagels and they don't skimp on the cream cheese.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Also agreed!

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

ps. welcome to the neighborhood.

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Katz's Bagels in Chelsea is probably the closest thing I've found to a New York bagel. Kupel's and Bagels By Us are both decent choices too. Bagel Rising makes great sandwiches.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Mhmm when I was a kid my mom would get us pizza bagels from Katz's!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I like Bagel World...I know they are in Salem & Danvers, I think they have other locations too though.

[etana.livejournal.com]

OMG Bagel World was my aunt's FAVORITE place ever. Then she died.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Do us a favor, don't ask where you can find a good burrito.

[diego001.livejournal.com]

So where can you find a good burrito?

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

Im really happy for you if you like bruggers or whatever, and imma let you finish, but Au Bon Pain has one of the best bagels of all time.

[raysimoto.livejournal.com]

Oh, this made me happy.

[beatniktea.livejournal.com]

Its not anything authentic or crazy, but Brueggers bagels are pretty tasty. And the cream cheese flavors are great! :)

[nurrynur.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to chime in and say that I've yet to find a place with better veggie cream cheese than Bruegger's. Almost to die for!

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I agree that this is a land of devoid of bagels... Bruegers are pretty standard, not bad. I don't like Dunkin Donuts' round bread product, and Bagels by us was somewhat disappointing.

I've found that my best bet is Iggy's which you can get at Whole Foods. I might have a different answer if there was a bruegers anywhere near me. I'm not sure what Diesel sells...

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

if it helps, you're within daytrip distance of NYC unless you keep to the speed limits or run into traffic...

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

Traffic? Between here and NYC? NEVER! B-)

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

New York.

[ceo]

Or make your own. I've had my bagels raved about by native New Yorkers.

[cheeseydreams.livejournal.com]

This was going to be my suggestion!

[whaler.livejournal.com]

Breuggers>Finagle>Dunkins

[obie119.livejournal.com]

Magnificent Muffin's bagels are from H&H as well - that is why they are so good!

[motive-nuance.livejournal.com]

The JP Licks in JP also boils&bakes H&H bagels, but I don't know of any other locations that do so.

[dashford.livejournal.com]

It's a hike, but a lot of people go for Rosenfeld Bagel in Newton Centre. Apparently using malt rather than sugar or corn syrup give their recipe a more authentic taste. Katz's in Chelsea is also very good.

[masswich.livejournal.com]

Seconds on Rosenfeld's in Newton Centre (its on the Green Line D if you don't have a car.) Really, the best ones I have had around here, although I haven't been to Katz's. I think Kupels is overrated and their cream cheese has often been out too long. Bagel Rising is OK but I find it below the Brueggers line.

Somerville is unfortunately devoid of decent bagels. Perhaps an opportunity for an entrepreneur?

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I have no idea, but now I have a serious craving for a bagel with cream cheese. Real cream cheese, none of that "lite" or flavored stuff.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Me too. Now pondering where I can get one in Ball Square...

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

For gods' sake, don't ask about where you can get the best pizza.

Provincialism, I swear.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

To the OP, just wanted to let you know that this thread made me crave a bagel & cream cheese so hard that I went out and got one and am eating it now. I got it at True Grounds coffee house. It's not especially good, but it's hitting the spot. :-)

[gingicat]

Kupel's does Montreal-style bagels, which my Detroit-born Dad thinks are the best. :)

Brueggers is decent.

Still, I make my parents bring bagels when they come up from NYC.