Where to Fill Up on Awesome Bagels around Boston Right Now
Spread the love at these three still-new spots in Boston, Cambridge, and Medford.
It wasn’t long ago that Boston was basically bereft of good bagels, but thankfully, those days are well behind us. Thanks to local pioneers like Cambridge’s Bagelsaurus, Exodus of Jamaica Plain, Better Bagels in the Seaport, and Mamaleh’s in Kendall Square, we’re now rolling in dough—and there’s plenty of room for more lox, cream cheese, and “everything” seasoning. Here are three of the freshest new bagel bakeries to check out around Boston.
Photo courtesy of Black Sheep Bagel Cafe
Black Sheep Bagel Cafe
Cambridge couple Shoshanah Garber and Manny Ramirez (no, not that one) quietly debuted this cute café in June 2018, citing a need for a locally owned bagel shop amidst an increasingly chain-laden landscape of Harvard Square. The “maaa and paaa” shop serves up more than a dozen classic and creative bagel varieties made by Ramirez, in flavors like everything, pumpernickel, blueberry, three-cheese Italian, and more, and also makes a gluten-free version. Top ’em with lox, or choose from spreads that include maple-bacon cream cheese, pesto, labne, and cinnamon-honey; other snacks include ricotta toast with strawberries and honey, as well as deviled-egg salad. Black Sheep serves Hadley-roasted Rao’s Coffee and espresso—including a signature, sweetened, Caribbean-style café con leche—and it also has a modest list of wines and local beers for all your boozy brunch needs. It’s open weekdays from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
56 JFK St., Cambridge, 617-945-2189, blacksheepbagelcafe.com.
Photo via Goldilox Bagels/Facebook
Goldilox Bagels
The bakery space that spawned Stone & Skillet English muffins—a beloved local brand—is now the permanent home for this one-time pop-up bagel outfit. Partners Lindsey Gaudet and Ed Thill, a married Medford couple, fill it with rustic rounds in flavors like sesame, rosemary and salt, and occasionally, cinnamon-raisin. There are spreads (including Fluff), and sandwich styles that hit all the right notes, such as an over-medium egg with American cheese; and an Elvis-inspired upgrade with banana, peanut butter, Nutella and bacon. Besides serving up Plymouth-roasted Speedwell Coffee and Boston Chai Party tea, Goldilox still does the occasional pop-up elsewhere around town, too. The shop is open Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (or the inevitable sellout), and on weekends from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
186 Winthrop St., Medford, goldiloxbagels.com.
Photo courtesy of Sidell’s Bagel Bar
Sidell’s Bagel Bar
It’s all about the schmear at this brand-new weekend brunch project from the Sidell Hospitality Group—a sister-sister duo behind the Met Restaurants, Stephanie’s on Newbury, and seafood favorite Saltie Girl. At their new bagel bar, housed within the first floor of Met Back Bay, bagel lovers can create their own cream cheese flavors from a wide splay of ingredients, including scallions, togarashi, maple, salmon roe, curry, jalapeño, white truffle, harissa, and more. Bring a big group to fully experience Sidell’s signature “bagel tower,” loaded with smoked fish like pink peppercorn and dill-rubbed house-smoked salmon, and whitefish salad; fresh and crunchy vegetables; and add-ons that include hard-boiled eggs. The weekend-only bagel shop accepts reservations—and it serves cocktails. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
279 Dartmouth St. (first floor) ,Boston, 617-267-0451, metbackbay.com.
