Inside the small, brick building, nestled away in the Brookside area, is the new Luca Bagel shop. It’s the second location to open after it started as an Overland Park farmer’s market stand.
The inside was packed with people, and by the time I arrived at noon, almost every bagel flavor was marked “Sold Out” in white chalk on the blackboard. Being shoulder-to-shoulder with people in line definitely raised my expectations. Though the inside was a little claustrophobic, it was nonetheless a homey building and a great addition to Brookside.
Pretzel Bagel: 5/5 stars
After looking through their lengthy menu, I landed on the Pretzel bagel — something I had never heard of. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but it’s safe to say I ripped apart this bagel in seconds. The bagel looked as expected, a soft pretzel condensed into a bagel shape. It was shiny, perfectly salted. And the first bite was heavenly.
The bagel was lathered with butter rather than cream cheese, which had me skeptical at first.
But by the time I finished it, I had butter fingers from inhaling the bagel so quickly.
The only downside of the bagel was that it was difficult to chew because of the texture, but the satisfying flavors made up for it and my rating remained solid.
This was the strongest of the three bagels I tried. The butter-to-bagel ratio was spot-on, the idea was creative and this bagel would be an immaculate pick-me-up to snag on a Saturday breakfast run.
Salt Bagel with cream cheese and tomato: 4/5
The Salt bagel with cream cheese and tomato is an ideal breakfast for anyone who prefers a refreshing option. The salt bagel was similar to a plain bagel but topped with decadent flaky salt. It had a subtle savory flavor, topped with cream cheese, tomato and drizzled with olive oil and salt. The flavors all paired together divinely, and eating it made me feel sophisticated because of the combination of flavors.
This bagel would be my go-to choice when I want something on the lighter side. It left me fulfilled and the right amount of full.
This bagel wasn’t nearly as memorable as the pretzel bagel, but I had no notes and it would be the right treat for a casual day.
#2 Bagel Sandwich: 3/5
The “#2” bagel sandwich on the menu had your choice of bage flavorl, bacon, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and scallion cream cheese. The last savory bagel left was sesame. The bagel was towering high, and it was difficult to take bites without it being awkward to fit in my mouth. It wasn’t my top bagel. that I ordered, but if I were craving a hearty sandwich, I’d buy this bagel again.
Don’t get me wrong, the combination of ingredients on this bagel was delicious, but it was a bit much for my personal taste. I love a classic bacon, egg and cheese combo, and this bagel would be a good choice for a day when I have a bigger appetite.
This bagel didn’t wow me, but it emulated a classic bagel sandwich that reminded me of a New-York-style delicacy. Although the bagel was very filling, it was nonetheless delicious and should remain a staple on the Luca Bagel menu.
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