Bagel Parlor - 4.33/5

Award: Bagel of Note
Award: Spread of Note

Store
An unassuming store with an open customer area. Pleasant regulars hang out on the bench outside. Hall and Oates "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" plays on the radio. Small drink selection, limited pastry options but interesting savory bread treats like focaccia bread and pizza bagels. I would later learn on returning to the store that the owner came from the pizza business and took over the storefront two years prior. Blazing fast service, from order to bagged and paid in less than fifteen seconds. Ask for Jerry to learn more about the store's history.
4/5

Bagel
A large, puffy bagel with a dent for a middle hole. Served warm post noon, an excellent sign. One-sided topping coverage thoroughly applied. Exceptionally light, it compresses to half its size on bite. Bringing a croissant up here confuses the issue taste and texture-wise, but that experience of compacting airy dough to a focused flavor experience applies here. The reason I returned to the store were the toppings. Despite all indications that the composition was standard plus salt, something in the mixture included an extra savory layer I hadn't encountered before and couldn't parse. The owner relayed that there's nothing beyond typical ingredients, just as high quality as he can find, pretzel salt included. Whatever the ratio of skill and ingredients is at play, it makes for a bagel of note.
4.5/5

Cream Cheese
Served warm from bagel heat. A freshly whipped spread with a liquidy smooth consistency. Pairs beautifully with the airy bite profile, offering no resistance to the compression yet structured enough to not escape from all edges. Big, frequent scallion chunks play favorably in taste and ground the texture. No undue tanginess or sensation of 'overcheese'.
4.5/5