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Bagels by Us
Rating Details »
Categories: Bagels, Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Arlington Center791 Massachusetts Ave
Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 646-2662
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- None
13 reviews for Bagels by Us
As some other reviewers have noted, the bagels here don't taste like most other Boston-area bagels. Perhaps that is why several reviewers have thought they tasted odd. I've only ever picked up food to go here, but everything I've had has been good.
This year they've further expanded their menu with more lunch-type sandwich options and some other newer additions. Still, personally I always get a bagel here. How many bagel flavors are left by the time I arrive around lunchtime depends on how busy a morning they've had (as they only stock enough bagels for that day), and I'm sure their bagels would be even better if I showed up when they were fresh off the ... truck or whatever, but they are delicious regardless. My personal favorite is the garlic one. They're good at doing take-out, wrapping my sandwich very well/sturdily and including a napkin or two in the bag so that I don't have to remember to grab them myself. One of my wrapped sandwich halves even survived an unfortunate drop to the ground fully intact one time when I was literally trying to eat on the go.
I've also had their packaged (though homemade) pumpkin bread which is really good for store-bought pumpkin bread, and they typically also have banana bread and bags of bagel chips made from their bagels, as well as sometimes having cookies, rugelah, and other homemade stuff (usually all from the same baker except for their bagel chips). They also have their cream cheese blends (and lox and sometimes some of their other stuff) for sale in a fridge by the take-out counter.
I agree that service can be slow, even at the take-out counter where I go, but they're always quite apologetic towards me when it is. I've never had the plain coffee that so many have derided, but I enjoy their flavored iced coffee in summertime. That's not to say that it's the best coffee ever - but c'mon, people, if I want really good coffee, I go to a cafe that specializes in it.
The worst part about Bagels by Us is the horrible name. I drove by this place a hundred times before I realized it's a diner. Good spot if you live in Arlington and are looking for a greasy spoon. They also have really good specials during the week. For $3.99 you can get two eggs, toast, 3 bacon or sausages, and home fries.
A pretty good breakfast place. No surprises really. Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, you know; the works. Breakfast is filling and gets the job done. Nothing over the top. However, I felt like it was a little more pricey than it probably should be. I don't know of any other places in the area so I continue to come here until I am brave enough to tow my weekend hangover further down mass ave. But I am still a fan.
My sourdough bagel was strangely doughy, like it was baked at too high a temperature or something. My boyfriend's blueberry bagel had the same texture, but had amazing blueberry flavor. The veggie cream cheese blew me away with its freshness and its sweet carrot and pepper flavor. Nice selection of bottled beverages, and the pumpkin bread they had out by the register smelled amazing. Counter service was a little slow, and the bagels were a bit pricey (in the $2.50 to $3.50 range for each bagel with cream cheese). We got there pretty late (12:30 or so when they close at 2) and they were almost out of bagels. I'll probably try back earlier in the morning and see if the bagels have a better texture then.
An opening caveat: I've never understood the high prices at bagel shops, which is why I rarely frequent them. If I'm going to pay $5, I want something more than a bagel with jam or cream cheese, and there are plenty of breakfast places around Arlington/Somerville/Cambridge that'll serve you a giant breakfast for around the same price as you can get a bagel at Bagels By Us.
So, we've established I'm not a bagel store person, but I have to say that the bagels at Bagels By Us are quite good. There isn't a "real" bread bakery within walking distance of where I live (every bakery around my house is a pastry bakery) so I enjoy going into this bagel store to grab a fresh bagel when the mood strikes me. Their hours are morning only, as a lot of breakfast places are, so be sure to go before noon or else you're mostly out of luck. (they close around early afternoon, but anything then isn't fresh). If it's variety you want, never fear, there's more bagel variety here than you can count. I'm a traditionalist and usually stick with egg or poppy seed, but you can get some wacky flavors. I have never gotten the toppings with my bagel, since as I said above, I don't feel like spending $2 on a dollop of cream cheese.
The seating area is very narrow, as the whole shop front is quite shallow. I am the "grab bagel and run" kinda person, but if you do want to sit and can manage to grab a chair, their tables are located next to big windows looking out on Mass Ave so you can people watch as you eat breakfast.
Excellent H&H bagels.
OK spreads, and dreadful if authentic & inexpensive, Arabica coffee,
Friendly service, good service.
Recently expanded so one can sit down.
I've lived here for 4 years, and I just went to Bagels by US this morning with my friends. Totally 'lish. They don't have a huge variety of types of bagels, but there are a ton of options for what you can get on them. It's a tiny little shop, but they are finally expanding next door. yay! I got a sourdough bagel with chive and bacon cream cheese. 5 star worthy. my friends also got a lox, caper and cream cheese bagel; bacon, egg and cheese bagel; blueberry bagel; and chive on plain. plus we got these little goodies that are filled with cinnamon, sugar and chopped nuts. melt in the mouth worthy.
you can bet your bagels i'll be back next weekend.
I wasn't sure if I was walking into the Zathmary's version of a convenience store or a bagel shop when I arrived here. You're immediately faced with a high stack of gourmet cookies and nuts, like rum butter almonds and cranberry pecans. Tempting I must say, but I was there for a bagel, and the "stack" simply blocked my view of what bagels they had to offer.
Once I got myself a bit more acquainted with the layout, I realized I'd better figure out this line -- and fast. There's not a lot of space in this shop. It's like someone converted a large living room, with tables off to one end and the counter (with one too many racks blocking it) on the other. There was no organization to the ordering. One person would walk up, order a bagel and coffee, turn around to finish making their coffee near the entrance, wait back in the line, finally get their bagel and then pay. There's no Dunkin-Donuts-esque system going on whatsoever.
This place apparently won a Best of Boston award some time ago. I can see it's charm. The folks working behind the counter look like they've been at it for years, and they were both very kind and seem to be well known by some of their patrons. However, they also have no sense of urgency, which unfortunately doesn't work for me when I'm already running late for work at 8:30 in the morning.
One thing I did like: The pumpernickel bagel. Very yummy and perfectly toasted. What I didn't like: The massive amounts of cream cheese spread on it. Again, I clearly wasn't used to the routine at this shop and didn't immediately realize that so much spread would be put on the bagel for me. Next time I'll buy my own cream cheese or ask for a lesser amount on there. I just hate having to wipe it all off and waste it.
Finally, I was a little taken aback by the price. For a small coffee (made in your regular-old coffee pot) and a bagel with cream cheese, it came to $4.50. If I'm not getting at least a medium latte with my bagel, I'm not going to be paying $4.50, sorry.
So I guess I didn't have the best experience overall, but I figure the people are nice and there's got to be a good reason why it would win Best of Boston. I'll give it another shot on the weekend, when I'm not already feeling rushed and put out.
This place has held the "best bagel and cream cheese i've ever had" title since I first came here over 10 years ago. It's a great place for lunch, and now that it's expanded, you can actually sit down and enjoy your meal. The menu has expanded to a full breakfast and lunch, and the quality of their food appears in nearly all their dishes. Personal faves = everything bagel and bacon/chive cream cheese, or poppyseed bagel with veggie cream cheese. yumm-o!
I really don't know how this review process works at Yelp, but I did a review of this place awhile ago and its now gone. I'm wondering if Bagels by Us had it removed because they didn't like what I had to say. This place is fine if you 1) don't by their BAD and severely over priced coffee) and if you buy a bacon, egg and cheese (or variation) bagel sandwich. The sandwiches are good, but if you let them get you for a 2 dollar small terrible coffee then the high price you pay to be in an ugly bagel place in arlington just isn't worth it. Its not that I tihnk they're all bad, because I don't! I just think they're bagels aren't that good, and the way they've arranged their new seating is tacky and the prices they dare to charge are ridiculous!!
I've only picked up bagels to go, but I found them really good. I'm not a bagel connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I can say most of the bagels I have around Boston seem more like bread than bagels. Here, they're nice and dense and have a lot of flavour (reminds me of Montreal style).
The shop name and the red, white and blue exterior deterred me from going in for a while. When I did finally go in, I was glad I did. They had good bagels, yummy home made pastry, and friendly service. I remember it being a little bit pricey for what we got but not too bad. I'll stop in again if I am ever in the area and looking for a quick breakfast.
I am convinced that nobody in Massachusetts can make a decent bagel. Luckily, this place imports their bagels from NY (but bakes them daily on site). The service leaves a little to be desired, but it's worth it for a great bagel.
