507220 Tue Apr 08 01:44:30 -0700 2008 31 12 Boston Area 0 3572360 What's the best NYC-esque bagel place in Boston? (The closer to Harvard Square, the better). If it helps, I'm a big fan of Ess-a Bagel in Manhattan. Tue Apr 08 01:44:30 -0700 2008 115104 cmm3 1 3572570 Here's a thread that might give you some ideas: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/334678 Personally, I can't find a really good bagel in the Boston area. I don't mind Kupel's in Brookline and used to like Zeppy's (before they closed the Randolph shop), but lately, the only place I've gotten a decent bagel is at Expresso Royale/Bagel Rising on Newbury Street. Tue Apr 08 05:45:42 -0700 2008 3572360 14771 hiddenboston 2 3577836 it's too bad they don't have "i love bagels" on the east coast. that was my favorite bagel place in california. great breakfast sandwiches.... Wed Apr 09 12:41:12 -0700 2008 3572570 181893 daylight 3 3697954 There is a "i love bagels" on the east coast. It's in NY on long island. I love that place. They might have other ones in other states on the east coast too. I know that "i love bagels" in NY is way better then the one in cali. NY bagels, and pizza is that best. no other state compares with it. Sun May 18 06:04:49 -0700 2008 3577836 193192 absurdny 1 3572741 Rosenfeld's in Newton Center is the best in the area by far....... Tue Apr 08 06:59:57 -0700 2008 3572360 11301 Science Chick 2 3573471 Second that. Rosenfelds is awesome. Not a clone of Ess-a-bagel (which is also great) but IMO they are hands down the best in the Boston Area. Tue Apr 08 10:19:37 -0700 2008 3572741 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 3 3577500 I third! The best sunflower bagels in the biz. Wed Apr 09 11:24:35 -0700 2008 3573471 146261 saltyair 2 3615411 I would have to agree 100% with Science Chick. Growing up in NJ, I can say it's the real deal. Mon Apr 21 11:54:15 -0700 2008 3572741 185317 Kazy Ctn 1 3572759 Iggy's makes really nice seeded bagels. Not New York style, but very good nonetheless. Tue Apr 08 07:04:01 -0700 2008 3572360 78269 FoonFan 2 3576539 Supposedly, Iggy's are more Montreal in style. Wed Apr 09 07:54:45 -0700 2008 3572759 13819 Karl S 1 3573499 I'm a big fan of Ess-a-Bagel as well, and the closest I've found here is Cafe Fresh Bagel in Needham or Dedham. Pretty close to the best NY ones, at about 1/2 the price. Tue Apr 08 10:24:51 -0700 2008 3572360 64696 winedude 1 3574745 Bagels at Rosenfelds are tasty but too small and they're too cheap to give you a baker's dozen. Cafe Bagel in Needham and Dedham, and Bagel's Best in Needham are both good. Best chain is Finagle a Bagel. Zeppy's is overrated. Tue Apr 08 15:36:20 -0700 2008 3572360 63181 ShelT54 2 3574764 Rosenfeld's bagels aren't too small; everybody else's are too big. A classic NY bagel is half the size of the monstrosities purveyed these days. Of course, even in NY, it's hard to find a classic NY bagel any more. Tue Apr 08 15:42:07 -0700 2008 3574745 51989 bartleby 2 3576537 Small bagels are GOOD bagels. They are a sign of the use of malt instead of sugar to feed the yeast, creating the classic dense crumb. Finagle a Bagel are not bagels - they are bread doughnuts. Brueggers more classic flavors (like plain, pumpernickel, poppy) are the best of the local chains - Bruegger's uses malt for those, IIRC. Just avoid the sweet or novelty flavors. Wed Apr 09 07:53:43 -0700 2008 3574745 13819 Karl S 3 3580102 Finagle uses a mix of malt and sugar in their bagels. I tried one of their chunky vegetable bagels the other day and really enjoyed it (but I'm not bagel purist). Brueggers makes a really great rosemary and olive oil bagel. Yum! Thu Apr 10 06:11:01 -0700 2008 3576537 13574 pamalamb 4 3580643 Finagle bagels are way too airy and soft for me to consider them bagel-worthy. A really good bagel is smallish, a sturdy boiled crust with the shine from an alkaline wash, and so dense that it requires work to chew it, and should go stale relatively quickly (not quite as fast as a proper hard roll goes stale, but within a day). Thu Apr 10 08:34:59 -0700 2008 3580102 13819 Karl S 1 3575183 In Salem & Danvers there is Bagelworld Tue Apr 08 17:47:41 -0700 2008 3572360 13798 ipsofatso 2 3576538 And Reading. Those can be good, if a bit too large. Wed Apr 09 07:54:27 -0700 2008 3575183 13819 Karl S 1 3575281 When I lived in Cambridge, Formaggio Kitchen sold H&H Bagels every day until they ran out. They may still. Tue Apr 08 18:21:31 -0700 2008 3572360 102066 almansa 1 3577760 Katz's in Chelsea makes the best alongside Rosenfeld's in Newton. Katz's bagels are 4 ounces, which is the standard NYC size. Most bagels these days are bigger and more like bread. Wed Apr 09 12:26:41 -0700 2008 3572360 71350 lergnom 2 3577913 Katz and Rosenfeld are my two go to places for bagels. I like Rosenfeld's I don't get to Newton that often. Love the Katz pizza bagels too. Wed Apr 09 12:52:51 -0700 2008 3577760 11222 Infomaniac 1 3581146 Rosenfelds. Period. Thu Apr 10 10:17:36 -0700 2008 3572360 165701 supergirl1964 2 3589830 I'll second everyone who has mentioned Rosenfeld's. I never thought they're small, nor do I agree with the other complaints. They'll be closed from April 18-30 for Passover BTW. Sun Apr 13 11:20:17 -0700 2008 3581146 18264 steinpilz 1 3581346 Diamond Bakery in Newton (4 Corners) and Rosenfelds in Newton Ctr. Thu Apr 10 11:03:08 -0700 2008 3572360 180338 hoolese 2 3581771 I thought Diamond was gone? I know they changed hands recently and previous reports were not positive. Here's the thread... http://www.chowhound.com/topics/466748 Thu Apr 10 12:38:25 -0700 2008 3581346 11301 Science Chick 3 3581776 Yeah, Diamond is/was not very good. Especially with Rosenfeld's just up Beacon Street from there. Thu Apr 10 12:40:19 -0700 2008 3581771 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 1 3589274 in all fairness to the idea that rosenfelds is too cheap to give you a bakers dozen, if you get one of their frequent buyers cards, after you buy twelve dozen you get a dozen for free. a better deal overall when you end up with a free dozen rosenfelds bagels! Sun Apr 13 07:42:17 -0700 2008 3572360 72635 hyde 2 3592031 And they advertise in those "envelopes full of coupons" (ValuPak?) that show up in the mail - at least in some areas. They offer coupons for 8 bagels for the price of 6, and 18 bagels for the price of 12. Mon Apr 14 07:12:59 -0700 2008 3589274 112680 overproofed 1 3589431 Picked up my bakers dozen of bagels ($6.50) from Katz in Chelsea today. There was a line of people waiting to buy bagels. Katz also sells hot dog bagels made with Vienna Beef hot dogs. They have a big neon Vienna Beef sign in their window. Their hot dog bagels are delicious. Sun Apr 13 08:44:38 -0700 2008 3572360 50594 buffet king 2 3589437 Katz also had hot out of the oven pizza bagels today. Sun Apr 13 08:45:56 -0700 2008 3589431 50594 buffet king 2 3590054 That sign is new. They also painted last summer. Sun Apr 13 12:51:13 -0700 2008 3589431 71350 lergnom 1 3701838 i second (or third) iggys. really really good bagels. not NY-style, but chewey with a nice crust (or whatever the outside of a bagel is called) and yummy. Mon May 19 12:04:04 -0700 2008 3572360 80945 baconodka