Store: A window-to-street service situation by design, well suited to COVID and unique to the city. Business hours are 5 AM-Noon, a highly admirable stance for a bagel store to take. Low on amenities - no bottled drinks to choose from and limited pastry options - but high on novelty points. A deli is immediately next store for any other needs, and coffee/tea is always available. 4.25

Bagel: Large bagel. Standard toppings plus salt, one sided. Moderate topping density and good salt ratio. Taste-wise, salt is apparent on most bites. A soft bagel in a way that connotes freshness, with some slight crusty notes. The ultimate score is perhaps a quarter point too generous for the actual bagel consumed but this is one of those uncommon instances where you can taste the potential of a batch caught earlier. 4.25

Cream Cheese: Served at neutral temperature. Good application amount and even coverage. A fresh taste without clumping or lumping. Strong scallion amount chopped large enough for meaningful texture contribution. 4.25