Best of Boston

Generous but not too doughy, these fat, warm bagels draw long lines of in-the-know commuters every morning. And the counter staff brooks no delays, welcoming regulars without missing an order. The bagel selection rivals that of any New York bagelry, with flavors such as blueberry, spinach, and rye, and there’s an equally wide assortment of gourmet coffee flavors to wash them down. The location on Needham Heights’ veritable Gourmet Row may get stiff competition from nearby Zathmary’s, Trader Joe’s, and even another bagel shop, but the crowds always line up at Café Fresh.