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Berkeley Bagels
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 5 pm
Sat 7 am - 5 pm
Sun 7 am - 4 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
$49 for $70 Certificate
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86 reviews for Berkeley Bagels
Review Highlights
"And awesome cream cheese spreads."
(in 33 reviews)
"I love Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy."
(in 9 reviews)
"The lox spread and the olive were particularly lovely."
(in 17 reviews)
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Todd U.
Oakland, CA
1/14/2012
Lovely little place for bagels.
thank god for my girlfriend, she just helped me spell bagels right... You guys would not have known what I meant if I said "begals".
So, my girlfriend is a 5, but the begals were a 4. -
Review from allen p.
Los Angeles, CA
10/16/2011
Was out in the bay area and was introduced to this place by a friend claiming that they had the best bagels. We went their pretty deep and ordered a boat load of things.
How in the world do you ruin EVERYONE'S order and when you are making the damn bagel, wouldn't you think that, "Hey, Peanut butter and Jelly does not go with an onion bagel?" My friend's 8 year old daughter ordered an egg salad on a plain bagel, but what she got was egg salad on a cinnamon bagel. Who does that? When we would go back and get our bagels changed the right way, they copped an attitude like it was our fault.
All in all, the bagels there are better than food chain bagels but, if they can't get your order right, then who cares!
It is safe to say that I will be visiting a different bagel spot when I am in the bay area! -
Review from Patrick S.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2012
Cure little place with sturdy bagels. Easy parking, the usual topping and sandwich options.
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Review from Jay E.
Alameda, CA
1/21/2012
Get an itemized receipt!
I so badly want to love this place -good bagels, near my house, outdoor seating, but they habitually and, I believe intentionally, overcharge. I have visited six times in the last four months and on three (half!) of those occasions I have placed an order and realized afterward that I'd been charged $3-5 extra. The first two times I was puzzled and didn't make a big deal about it. When it happened earlier this week it was the final straw and I confronted the staff. They quickly and sheepishly recalculated my order, but never apologized for a $4 (25%) overcharge and instead commented vaguely that they thought I'd bought something else. Seriously, the only way this stops is if all customers call them on it, so please do! -
Review from Janelle B.
Berkeley, CA
7/12/2011
Am I the only one that remembers when this place was called "Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy"? No one? Okay.
This is my most favorite bagel place of all time, mostly because I have an obsession with their cranberry bagels. Most places seem to have cranberry orange bagels and it is NOT the same thing! Seriously. But their cranberry bagels with cream cheese and lox...incredible.
They've been through a few managerial changes, I think, but the chalk board drawings of aliens and other various bagel characters have stayed. They have a pretty nice selection of bagels ranging from "Everything" to "Whole Wheat" and always have quite a few fresh cream cheese containers you can take home with you.
Now, I've had my share of bagels in life. I've had them all the way from New York to Amsterdam (finding a bagel there was damn near impossible, I had to go down an alley way to some hole in the wall cafe...but it's Amsterdam so....), but they have bagels the way they should taste. The boiled AND baked kind where they're thick and sturdy, and not just baked and soft. But that's my preference, there's a bagel for every man, woman, child, and everyone in between.
Only quarrel, their day olds seemed a little stale the last time I went, but it's never happened before...eh, we all have our stale days.
After delicious bagels, go next door and pick up a few cookies at Toot Sweets while you're at it. -
Review from David O.
Berkeley, CA
6/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
The bagels are far superior to the chains or other bagel places in this area. I usually come in around 1pm to order a Turkey 'Sandwich' on a Salt or Jalapeno Cheddar bagel, and they seem very well stocked with many choices. Be sure to look at the salt bagels before choosing them - you'll want to make sure they're not over-salted, as they sometimes have a thick white glaze of it.
I find it annoying that they don't take credit cards - or at least quite reluctantly and not without a 75¢ surcharge. They do have an ATM machine onsite, that charges a (fairly) reasonable $1 fee, should you be ill-prepared without cash...
Oh, and go next door to Toot's to get a Chocolate Crinkle while they make your bagel sandwich - bring cash there too. -
Review from Jana S.
3/10/2011 2 photos
Wow---some serious contenders in the ring with Noahs, and I never knew it. Pleasant selection of very good quality bagels...quite satisfying when nothing else will do but that toasted cream cheese bagel to bolster your courage to face the day, head on.
To the side, they even sell half dozen day-olds...I do like! -
Review from Mushy r.
Oakland, CA
5/3/2011
I came in here for a late lunch of smear on a bagel. There were two plain and four onion left in the bins. This must be a morning experience kind of place because it's certainly not a late lunch one.
The bagel was as hard as a brick. I can only imagine what the two bags of "day olds" sitting on the shelf, were like. -
Review from Petra S.
11/27/2010
This is probably the next best place for getting your authentic Jewish bagels if you can't make it to House of Bagels, which is my childhood bagel place.
The bagels are fresh, chewy and delicious. I also tried the bagel dog and was surprised that it was actually a grilled hot dog and not boiled and it had a nice peppery seasoning. It was big and filling and way better than Noah's for sure.
Will be coming back here more often now! -
Review from Lauren R.
Berkeley, CA
3/23/2011
Good enough bagels, or at least better than Noah's, which is not terribly hard to do. First visit was amazing and we highly recommended this place to other ny transplants looking for a decent bagel. Tasty, chewy, fresh bagels, we said! Worth trying! Not so bad! We're so excited that we don't have to make bagels every time we want them to taste good!
Not impressed by the second visit, when I brought them home. They must have been sitting around for a while that morning, as opposed to the fresh bagels we were treated to on the first visit. Anyway, if it needs to be toasted to be good, it's either not fresh made that morning or it's just not a great bagel to begin with. And I don't like my bagels toasted unless absolutely necessary, because then all the butter or cream cheese just melts out onto my pants, and that's no fun. I would generally reserve "the works" for toppings or fillings for pizzas or subs or burgers, but then, I guess it's just close to being a great bagel place.
Anyway enough complaining! It's still, better than others, so it's got that going for it. Plus, lots of cream cheeses that taste like cream cheese, not fluffy cream cheese-ish goo. So three stars for being pretty close to a real bagel place and having seating outdoors. -
Review from Eric C.
2/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The best part about working through the night is that I'm up in time for a breakfast. For me, that's a rarity~!
I was recommended this place by a former graduate student friend who now lives in NYC. Came here the other day right after they opened and there were no other customers in the store. Ordered a lox bagel with cream cheese. Yummy!
Only complaint I had was that they put wayyyyy too much cream cheese on the bagel!
Mmmm...bagels....mmmm....salivating. -
Review from blair c.
Berkeley, CA
2/28/2011
As close to a real bagel as I've gotten so far (most NorCal bagels are just round bread).
Egg bagel was somewhat disappointing, but I don't think I'm going to find "real" egg bagels out here.
Plain bagel was tasty, and the texture pretty good.
You get a lot of cream cheese with your bagel! -
Review from Jamie K.
Albany, CA
5/11/2010
Perhaps I'm a fool to continue going somewhere I give 2 stars to, but this place is near my home.
On the positive--I believe these are authentic, Jewish-style (and what other kind is there?) boiled bagels. The fact that they're made by Asians doesn't (and shouldn't) matter. These people do know their bagels.
On the negative--and this is a huge negative for me--I have found mold in their boxes of schmears. They do not date their boxes, so you have no idea how old they are. And perhaps they have no idea either. The mold was white, so it wouldn't even be visible on white cream cheese. I figure the stuff they put on the bagels they make for takeaway is fresh, so I always get that now. But I'm scared of those freshness-date-free boxes and I think you should be too. -
Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
1/9/2010
CONFUSION!
The chalkboard menu had way too much information for me to comprehend. I suppose it's a good thing they had so many choices, but it's not a good idea to overload your customers either. Don't forget to look for other specials posted on the walls. The English on the menu is not so great either, so you'll find some funny 100 cents sides and extras.
OK, I got a hummus bagel and everything fell out as soon as I opened it. This was one overstuffed and overschmeared bagel. The hummus was smothered both inside and outside the bagel. I admit I'm an inherently messy eater, but the cucumbers, tomatoes, and sprouts just slid out of its confines as soon as I bit into the bagel. At least it was cut in half so I was able to take it home to eat the other half in messy peace.
hummus bagel: big, messy, cheap
latte: not bad, bit weak, good price
noteworthy bagels:
egg bagel
seed city bagel
the works bagel
bagel dogs
bagel chips
+indoor and outdoor seating, albeit few
+well staffed, though not the speediest service
+humble little bagel factory, practically
Also note that they prefer cash or check because they do not want to pass on the high cost of credit charges onto customers by raising the price of their items. -
Review from Lauren S.
2/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Plenty of warm, gooey, delicious bagels, sandwiches, and Odwalla drinks!
I love the bag of day-old bagels they sell at a discount, the outside seating, the community vibe, and the adorable, helpful, patient ladies who work there. My boyfriend says it's the best bagels he's had in California.
Always a bit of a line... but check 'em out for their Bay-Area-Famous Hummus & Egg Salad sandwiches. YUM! -
Review from Cassie C.
Berkeley, CA
5/12/2010
This is the only spot in Berkeley I get bagels from, and I frequent on average twice a week. The bagels are always fresh and delicious, and when I get them toasted they come with more then decent amount of cream cheese. Dense and moist. I'm generally in for a fruit bagel or Lox with cream cheese, but the bagel dogs are absolutely wonderful.
I think the ladies behind the counter are quick and generally always make me smile. In the afternoons when I babysit I'll bring my charge along they always get his favorite bagel and ask "How is my boyfriend?" which makes him blush.
Cash or Personal Check Only, Please.
Overall a good neighborhood spot. I'll be frequenting as long as I live in the area. -
Review from Roger G.
Berkeley, CA
11/18/2008
I drive by this place every time I venture forth on my weekly ritual of visiting my ex- to exchange custody of our cat. I finally decided to stop in.
Ok, so WTF are you people raving about? Maybe I got a bad one, but my bagel had the texture and density of neoprene. Dense is fine. Chewy is fine. Rubbery is right out. I gnawed about half before my jaw tired and I decided to call it quits.
Adding insult to injury, the butter tasted slightly rancid, and the coffee totally sucked ass. So in addition to listening to my perpetually vocal Tonkinese cat noisily bitching about being stuck in a carrier, I had to sit there and smell my lousy inedible breakfast the whole drive home.
They're lucky that they're just down the street from my ex- because this way they get a second chance to redeem themselves. -
Review from reina g.
New York, NY
12/24/2008
For years I've moaned about how it's impossible to find decent bagels in the Bay Area. I usually pass right by this place on my way to Toot Sweets, but today I decided to give it a whirl.
So glad I did. I got the everything bagel toasted with garlic herb cream cheese. It was perfect in every way. Moist and dense with just the right amount of cream cheese. Usually I have huge globs of cheese left over, but I ate every bit of it.
Minus one point for the Berkeley douche bags in hemp pants that I had to wait behind. They took FOREVER since they were taking orders for a bunch of other douche bags on their cell phones. Then they bought ALL of the mini bagels. Then they backed up into ME and rolled their eyes like I was in the wrong. Ugh. -
Review from Im hungry L.
Sacramento, CA
10/15/2011
Been looking for those perfect bagels in the bay area and have still not found them. Berkeley Bagel did put on a good performance with the "Works bagel toasted and smothered in cream cheese and layered with slices of salmon and purple onion strips". but, the Asiago bagel was weak and more doughy than crispy and chewing on the inside.
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Review from Andy M.
CA
10/29/2008
Berkeley Bagels, despite its many name changes over the years, produces the best bagels I've found anywhere in the Bay Area. I also love their (at times) counterpart, Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy in Alameda, and I mourn the loss of the old Boogie Woogie on Piedmont Ave., but Berkeley Bagels is simply tops. Their consistency is just what I look for: crispy glossy crust with a dense moist crumb, none of that bready fluffy consistency you get most other places.
In my opinion, the onion bagel is the king of the bagel world when done right. I can't stand the places that cover onion bagels with flakes of dried onions (that's right, I'm talking to you Noah's) - not a bad idea but all they do is burn in the toaster and taste like carbon. Mmm, carbon. No, the true onion bagel should have the onions inside the dough, and Berkeley Bagels gets this just right. The only minus to the place is that the lox spread is a bit overly salty, so I stick to the plain cream cheese.Listed in: The Great East Bay Breakfast…
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Review from Amy J.
Alameda, CA
11/2/2005
I'm amazed that this is a first review- where are all you people getting your bagels from? Are you still consuming conspiracy wares from Noah's?... buying fresh frozen from Safeway? Are you not eating bagels?
Some of the staff seem less than remotely interested in your dining experience and will slice them all crooked, or dress them in a sloppy fashion, but for the most part, these are the best in the west...
Hearty and chewy like they are supposed to be, with a variety of flavors that would make my grandmother, may she rest in peace, roll over in her grave. Jalapeno, asiago cheese, blueberry, cranberry- what is the new world coming to? In addition to a further array of cream cheeses, coffee and juices to accompany your breakfast bagel masterpiece decision-making, you'll find the indoor and outdoor seating options to be cozy and comfortable- a great breakfast date location...
The bagel with sliced lox is first rate and reasonably priced. I want one now!!Listed in: Breakfast Snobbery
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Review from Julie A.
Berkeley, CA
7/31/2007
Super tasty bagels. We were going to Manhattan Bagels (and fighting the Fourth Street Weekend Morning Yups -- yikes!) but our lovely neighbor recommended this place. Only she called it Boogy-Woogy Bagel Boy so maybe it used to be called that? Maybe she's wrong? Could be either. But she was right on about the bagels -- the best I've had in these parts. AND the Everything ones do NOT have nasty caraway seeds and salt! Woo-hoo!
The line moves quickly as long as you don't get in there right after little league softball lets out. *hell* -
Review from Jessica M.
Albany, CA
11/13/2007
After years of taking for granted its close proximity to my house, I've come to realize how lucky I am to be able to wake up, brush my teeth, run my fingers through my hair, convince myself that bed head looks cute on me, grab the dog and walk to Berkeley Bagel.
Truly, the best bagel on this coast and never fails to produce. Onion bagels are my all time fave but sometimes I'm feeling whimsical and I'll get the cinnamon raisin. The bagels are soft and chewy on the inside and the copious amounts of cream cheese are always welcome. Plenty of seating in the patio area, located under the BART tracks, for you and your pooch to chill and eat.
My mouth waters as I near the door. This place gives me such a wide on! I'd make love to these bagels if I could... -
Review from Mollie M.
Berkeley, CA
9/9/2007
This place was a life saver. I dont know if I couldve settled in the East Bay if there hadnt been the Piedmont location Boogie Woogie when i first started dating my husband (I at least had a few descent choices in the City). I was bummed to make the trek to Berkeley after the Oakland closing back when i was living in Oakland, but now even better as im in Berkeley. The bagels are REAL bagels, not the soft chewy crap that Noah's thinks they can call a bagel merely because it has a whole in the center. The smears are good (my fav is the Olive Smear), and they put just the right gluttonous amount on. I love that they carry the Chocolate Silk single servings, with in general a good selection of beverages.
I love Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy! or Berkeley Bagel.. or whatever theyre calling themselves these days.
update: i just want to comment on the teenagers that work there on the weekends. Always check your order before you leave the shop. The last few times Ive been on the weekends, to go, they've drastically messed up the order. Last time both bagels were completely wrong! And Ive seen them make mistakes on other people's orders as well. I dont want to sound like an old humbug but it is a bit frustrating. Hopefully they'll get better!Listed in: Wandering Jew, Breakfast: The most important…
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Review from Thanya S.
Albany, CA
1/8/2006
Why don't you people know about this place? They make my favorite bagels on the west coast.
We buy a dozen, pre-cut, freeze them, and double toast them when serving. In addition to the usual flavors, we really like the jalapeno and the olive bagels. The chili cilantro and the olive spread are also excellent.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Marie C.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really like the bagels and cream cheeses. I normally get the chicken salad on a jalapeño cheddar bagel or on the onion bagel. The scallion cream cheese is bomb and so are most of the other ones. They give you a good amount of fixins for the price and they also have bags of day olds regulars and bagel chips for sale for about $3. If you want a light lunch and not deal with unnecessary lines, go here. The staff is always friendly and patient. Sorry for the boring review... im high on bagels.
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Review from B H.
CA
6/22/2010
2 Dozen super delicious bagels + lots of freshly made cream cheeses. Nice dense, chewy boiled bagels were a delight! The nice lady said she mixed the cream cheeses fresh that morning, so I'll take her word for it. The lox spread and the olive were particularly lovely.
Some of the best bagels in town! -
Review from Tracy Y.
Oakland, CA
10/16/2008
Totally awesome bagels! I didn't go inside (we had dogs in the car) so I can't discuss the menu in length.
but - craptastic coffee. warm, coffee flavored water - yuck. Let's hope Berkele Bagel calls my friends at Coffee Review and learn how to brew coffee. -
Review from Eileen R.
Oakland, CA
4/8/2007
I don't know why I haven't tried this place before. I've been whining about not having good bagels around since I moved out here.
This place has good bagels, soft inside and crunchy outside. Yum. Now I can get a bagel fix without a plane ticket. -
Review from Brody S.
Berkeley, CA
8/22/2007
Tthe menu board has some horrifically ugly drawings on it that haunt my nightmares with visions of bagels with legs and beady little eyes. However- HOLY HELL (no pun intended) these bagels are good. The asiago one is my favourite, but plenty of others to choose from.
They have lots of flavoured cream cheeses, and I'll often walk out of there with an asiago bagel with garlic-herb cream cheese and avocado on it. YUM. They put plenty of cream cheese on their bagels, and the prices aren't bad.
They also have thai iced tea (or, uh, vietnamese iced coffee? Or both?).
As well as a drink cooler with your standard Naked Juice/Odwalla/Snapple/designer bottled beverage of the week.
It used to be called Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy. I'm glad they changed the name, I used to just call it "that bagel place with the stupid-ass name". -
Review from Alyssa S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/20/2010
Sigh. I think the quality has gone down. Bagels don't taste as fresh. Even first thing in the morning they're not warm. Too many flies in the bagel case. Not sure if I'll go back.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2007
I came here on a tip from a fellow NY'er. This place is a Berkeley oasis (even if apparently it's in… Read more »
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Review from Sam P.
Chico, CA
12/11/2008
I used to go to the old spot on Piedmont, but I guess its gone.
I agree with Barb S. The bagles out here are crap compred to out East....
Except here.
They did it up right-too bad they don't have one in Chico... -
Review from Stephanie M.
Oakland, CA
1/11/2009
Oh, my god. I. love. bagels.
AND, you can get a GREAT one here! As good as I've had in the bay area. I got a bagel sandwich with cream cheese, red onion, tomato, and lox last time I was here. And the time before that. Get the pricier lox, it's worth it. The selection of bagels/bagel accoutrements is a little overwhelming when you walk in, and the place is actually kind of pricey, but definitely worth it for me.
I've actually only gotten the works bagel, but it was perfect in texture and toasted-ness in every way. -
Review from Frances H.
Oakland, CA
12/11/2009
This place was alright. The two women who served me were both kinda rude and I felt like I was being barked at rather than asked what I'd like to order. Not to mention the place was totally empty.
And the selection of bagels wasn't all that great, they really should have simmered down considering they were out of everything I would have ordered.
I paid $2.25 for a bagel with cream cheese and they totally skimped on the cream cheese. Lame. -
Review from Jordan S.
Austin, TX
10/24/2009
These bagels are one of the only things that can make me get out of bed earlier than necessary. so tasty. and they are fairly priced and usually pretty generous...my brother actually had to remove some of the lox from his bagel they put so much. Veggie bagel with cilantro and walnut cream cheese is amazing. The strawberry cream cheese is bright pink and looks like icing....and is delicious. They advertise their food is all natural. I don't know how they got that cream cheese so pink.
Okay, but if you so happen to get a lady who appears to have some underlying hatred towards you do not take it personally. She also does a crummy job of putting together the bagel (like uneven cream cheese etc and not as much...) but the other people are nice. -
Review from Stu S.
Oakland, CA
9/12/2009
These are the best bagels I've had in the Bay Area. I'm from Chicago, and they make similar bagels there as in NYC. The Berkeley Bagel is dense enough to be a bagel (unlike Noah's ) but easy to bite a piece off without twisting the bagel (unlike many others Bay Area bagels) and it has a satisfying taste. We like the whole wheat (really 75% whole wheat according to them) with seeds. Yes, it is different than bagels back east, but better than those sold here with the New York-sounding names.
These have large holes, probably to get the density needed. If you get there just past 4PM on weekdays you may be able to get tomorrow's "day old" bagels at a good discount.
Did I mention the free street parking in front? -
Review from Toni M.
5/1/2010
This used to be Brothers Bagels and we still call it that. It's Alan's go-to bagel place. I prefer Levy's onion bagels. There's something about the way these reheat that I don't like. Today, he bought a couple of bagel dogs for lunch. Used to be that Costco carried great bagel dogs, and those were a staple in the freezer for occasional lunches. They discontinued those, much to our dismay, and have started carrying another brand whose taste and texture we really dislike. We tried two and returned the rest of the package. We've tried other bagel dogs in the area but our default has been Levy's, which are excellent. This one was about the size of Levy's and the dog was very good, much better than the one from New York Bagels in Marin. It's about 75¢ more expensive than Levy's at $3.25, but it's closer and not that big a deal. It's a nice discovery. 3.5 stars.
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Review from Charlene L.
Berkeley, CA
3/3/2011
I went into this place for the first time today and experienced the worst customer service in years.
I asked the lady behind the counter whether or not the bagels were made on the premises. After glaring at me and shaking her head with disgust, she went into a 2-3 minute diatribe about how everything there is made fresh every day and how she is sick of people asking her and doesn't understand why people don't see the little sign on the window that says, "Made fresh daily."
I told her I didn't mean to offend her but was just asking because many bakeries simply bake the dough they received elsewhere. Once again, she went off on me. Other patrons started giving me the She-Pulled-The-Same-Crap-On-Me look.
I asked her if she owned the place, and with a bit of hesitation, she said, "Yes." I HIGHLY doubt someone with such horrible customer service skills would actually have money invested in a customer service oriented business. Even someone else in line commented that she was probably lying about being the owner.
Needless to say, I'm never going back. -
Review from Lisa T.
Updated - 4/22/2010
Oh god, the last time I went in, one of the cashiers was wearing a sleeveless top and exposing the bagels to armpit cooties. I thought it was against health code to be sleeveless when serving food.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/8/2009
Their coffee drinks are an insult to your palate. The girls behind the counter do nothing but chat… Read more »
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Review from Rachel C.
Berkeley, CA
10/17/2008
Oh, I'm so happy we have Berkeley Bagel. I just couldn't takes the Noah's anymore. I've been a fan of this little spot since it was Brother's and I was in a stroller. Their bagels are all wonderfully chewy and toast up just right. Never buy another pack-o-bagels from the grocery store!
Their lowfat shmear is still delicious and not sweet like store brands.
And the brand of whitefish they carry is the best I've EVER had. My daughter eats it by the spoonful.
True-the staff can be a little underenthused with your presence, but I don't fault them for this. I always get what I come in for, and they are still boilin up the best bagels in The Bay. I know where I'm getting lunch!
