37 replies to this topic

[JanMcBaker]

Seeing this thread pop up reminds me that I spotted Rolings bagels in the little greengrocer's at 20th and Rittenhouse (Sam's?). Didn't get any, so not sure if they are as good as they were last I had them, a couple of years ago. If the quality's held up, they are the standard hereabouts. If, that is, you like your bagels boiled, crusted and gnarled, like they used to make them in the shtetl.

If you like them puffy-pillowy and doughy... sorry to hear it.

Wow!! They sound like the real deal! I was getting ready to try my hand at making my own. Haven't had a real bagel in ages!

[mrbigjas]

Seeing this thread pop up reminds me that I spotted Rolings bagels in the little greengrocer's at 20th and Rittenhouse (Sam's?).

maxx's

[Bobby 2 Shakes]

I brought some NY Bagels (2 salt, 2 sesame, 2 egg) to Linda & Jerry Mullane at Pig Daddy's BBQ in Drexel Hill. They're both NY natives (he's originally from Inwood, she's originally from the Bronx) and were recently lamenting the sad state of bagel affairs in this area (Hot Bagels has new owners and changed their bagels), so after reading this thread I brought them some NY bagels from Haverford Ave at City Line at the strip mall next to the corner McDonald's.

They were especially impressed that the salt bagels had both sides salted.

[MikeyTree]

I'll add some fuel to the fire.
If only we had a real Montreal bagel...

http://www.stviateur...19f935f6560e4c3

Ahh, I miss Montreal bagels. I'm from Toronto originally, and there are several excellent Montreal-style bagel bakeries there. Montreal bagels are a lot lighter than NY bagels, with a extremely thin crisp crust and a soft chewy inside, somewhat like a good fresh soft pretzel. They're a little bit sweet, and they're cooked in wood ovens, so they have a light smoky flavor in them as well, plus the taste of the toasted sesame or poppy seeds coating them.

I miss them, and gorge myself whenever I go back to Toronto to visit.

[Andrew Fenton]

I'll add some more praise for New York Bagels. If you live in Center City, it's a schlep out there, but it's worth it. I've been a couple of times now, and been very impressed. Most recently, I arrived at 6:45 AM, right after they opened (don't ask) and scored a dozen hot bagels: crusty and tough, but oddly light-textured. Good stuff.

[Andrew Fenton]

I checked out Spread Bagelry this morning. I don't know from Montreal bagels, but these were as described: a little smoky and a little sweet. The sweetness I could do without, but the wood oven gives them a nice flavor. One of the three I bought was a little burnt, which I guess is a sign of its artisanal character but really, I could skip that too. Also, $2 for a bagel? Oy. Or I guess, "yo."

Oh, and Sarcone's now has bagels on weekends. They taste like what they are: an Italian bakery's interpretation of a bagel. So, matte rather than shiny and less dense than a classic bagel. They're good, not great, but still, it kind of makes me happy that Sarcone's is making them.

[zeffer81]

I checked out Spread last week as well. Bagel was decent; definitely not as breathtaking as I was expecting. Prices, however, were pretty breathtaking. $5 for bagel w/smoked salmon cream cheese with no discernible salmon flavor. Pluses--coffee was delicious, friendly employees and the space is airy, sunny and comfortable.

[Tim Dolan]

I was there yesterday morning and totally agree with you, the bagel was just ok and not some awe-inspiring thing. Also, $10 for two bagels, one with butter and jam and one with cream cheese, and a coffee is relatively steep. I guess it's cool if you're in the area but I won't be going out of my way to get back there.