Bagel Craze: A review of the different bagels available at B’s Bagels and Bialys, a new small business

As a self-proclaimed bagel enthusiast, my love for the doughy delights has no bounds. Einstein’s Bagels has always been my go-to spot for a quick warm, toasted bagel smeared with cream cheese. So, when a friend recommended B’s Bagels and Bialys — a new, small bagel shop located on South Scott Avenue and Main Street, I knew I had to try some of their bagels

So, I decided to make the lengthy 30-minute drive and check out the small business — hoping I could find a new go-to bagel spot.

When I arrived, I was disappointed to see that the shop didn’t have a seating area — customers have to order outside at the front window. But I got over my initial disappointment when I saw their diverse menu.

The shop had 10 different types of bagels available from plain to cheddar jalapeno, the spread for all my bagels came on the side and although it was a bit tedious to do it myself, it did allow me to make sure I got the perfect bagel-to-spread ratio, something Einstein’s struggles with. 

 I was surprised to see that they offered more than just bagels, with an assortment of coffee drinks, pastries and bialys — baked bread made with the same dough as bagels but is not boiled beforehand and instead of a hole in the middle, it’s topped with a savory or sweet filling. 

Apple Crumble Bagel: 2 Stars

In all my life as a bagel-lover, I’d never even heard of an apple bagel, so I ordered one right away.  

When I took the bagel out of its wrapping, I was immediately hit with the mouth-watering smell of apple pie. However, the outside of the bagel was very tough, and it felt like I was gnawing on a rubber tire, but after an intense jaw workout I found that just like the aroma, the flavor of apples was very strong. The small chunks of apple inside the bagel elevated the flavor even further and made it taste more natural rather than the artificial taste I expected.

The bagel has the potential to be a favorite of mine, but the hard exterior makes it a lackluster treat.

Blueberry: 5 Stars

The worst day of my life was when I got a blueberry bagel with barely any actual blueberries. Luckily, this was not the case with B’s Bagels and Bialys. The classic blueberry bagel was filled with blueberries in every single bite. Unlike the apple crumble, the bagel had a soft exterior giving way to a fluffy, yet dense interior studded with blueberries. 

What truly set this bagel apart was its perfect balance of sweetness. It wasn’t overly sugary like blueberry bagels often are, instead the natural sweetness of the blueberries shined through. The generous amount of blueberries in each bite added a refreshing burst of fruity goodness that left me craving another bite.

French Toast: 4.5 Stars

The French toast bagel was a delightful combination of two breakfast classics. At first, the bagel looked plain and unappetizing with its dull brown coloring and lack of any toppings — but all of that was disproven after I tasted the sweet cinnamon and maple syrup goodness inside. The maple flavor gave it more depth than simple sugar would, and I loved the familiar flavor of cinnamon, reminiscent of traditional French toast.

The bagel is slightly dense but still light enough to not feel too heavy. The slight crispiness of the outer layer pairs perfectly with the fluffy interior.

The tangy spread paired extremely well with the sweet maple flavor.

Apple Cinnamon Bialy: 3 Stars

Before visiting B’s Bagels and Bialys I had no idea what a bialy even was, but even though I came for the sole intention of fulfilling my bagel craving, I was curious about their signature treat after the worker explained to me that they were very similar to bagels.

The bialy was as big as my face, and it smelled like a cinnamon roll right out of the oven. The bread was covered in sweet syrup with apple slices. 

Although the bialy was supposed to be similar to a bagel, the bread itself was dry and bland, and although the sweet apples helped with the flavorlessness of the treat, it was still extremely underwhelming.

The flavor of the topping itself was overly sugary and the sheer size of the bread and the sticky topping made the bread incredibly difficult to eat. When I come back to B’s Bagels and Bialys, I’ll just stick to bagels.

Everything: 1 Star

I couldn’t do a proper bagel review without getting the classic, everything bagel. While it looked the most appetizing out of all the bagels with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion and garlic garnishing the top, all of that went to waste with the excessively salty dough.

I was gulping down water after every bite and couldn’t focus on the actual savory flavors of the bagel.