Rolen Bagels
Kingsbridge, Bronx
Total Score
Ranks & Awards
Store: Mid-sized customer area, good signage. Expansive coffee menu with espresso milkshakes and affogato. Sparsely laid out pastry section but many of the items present were quality. Large drink selection. Unfortunately the bagel selection was gutted, likely due to the lateness of the day. Still this is not a problem for all stores, and the sense that 'the cupboard is bare' touched most aspects of the experience. 3.25
Bagel: (Note: the bagel reviewed was an Everything Mini due to the lack of regular Everything's.) Extra small bagel. Toppings on both sides, moderate density on top, light on bottom. All standard toppings. Not fresh but not old either. A chewy bagel. Salt present in crystal form and on taste at a decent ratio to topping. Bagel not cut all the way through. There's nothing specific about the experience that would suggest to me it's fundamentally different than a normal-sized bagel. Decent but not earth shattering. 3.5
Cream Cheese: Served deli case cold. Good application amount and even coverage. A classic tangy spread, drawing from an area of dairy different then the realm of overcheese. Big scallion cuts, making itself known visually and in texture. A solid example of an effectively done, tangy spread. 3.75