The Bagel Store: Original Rainbow

Park Slope, Brooklyn

The Bagel Store: Original Rainbow
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Total Score

Ranks & Awards

3.67 / 5
#41 in Brooklyn #121 in NYC

Store: A small store, uneasily so in pandemic times. A humorous vibe pervades the scene, most notably set by a giant - possibly fiberglass? - rainbow bagel arch looping the entrance to the kitchen. Club music is playing, lighting is white and clean. It's clear they've gone all-in on the rainbow bagel identity. Limited drink selection, virtually no pastry selection. A good offering of spreads, with friendly staff. There's nothing inherently bad about the direction taken, I've just never been to a bagel candy store. 3.5

Bagel: Medium-small bagel. Toppings on both sides, standard plus salt. Very strong topping density, decent salt ratio. Served warm, which is commendable given the afternoon hour. Nice crackling throughout the experience. A very solid bagel. 4

Cream Cheese: Served cool to warm, with not as much benefit from the bagel heat as I'd like. Messy preparation leaves me reaching for napkins, but the amount and evenness of application is on point. Beyond that, it doesn't do much to distinguish itself. Decent sized scallion chunks and no sense of overcheese, but no special additions to the flavor profile either. 3.5

The Bagel Store: Original Rainbow

Park Slope, Brooklyn

The Bagel Store: Original Rainbow

Total Score

Ranks & Awards

3.67 / 5
#41 in Brooklyn #121 in NYC

Store: A small store, uneasily so in pandemic times. A humorous vibe pervades the scene, most notably set by a giant - possibly fiberglass? - rainbow bagel arch looping the entrance to the kitchen. Club music is playing, lighting is white and clean. It's clear they've gone all-in on the rainbow bagel identity. Limited drink selection, virtually no pastry selection. A good offering of spreads, with friendly staff. There's nothing inherently bad about the direction taken, I've just never been to a bagel candy store. 3.5

Bagel: Medium-small bagel. Toppings on both sides, standard plus salt. Very strong topping density, decent salt ratio. Served warm, which is commendable given the afternoon hour. Nice crackling throughout the experience. A very solid bagel. 4

Cream Cheese: Served cool to warm, with not as much benefit from the bagel heat as I'd like. Messy preparation leaves me reaching for napkins, but the amount and evenness of application is on point. Beyond that, it doesn't do much to distinguish itself. Decent sized scallion chunks and no sense of overcheese, but no special additions to the flavor profile either. 3.5

Bagel Size and Texture

CracklyChewySmallX-Large

Seed and Salt Density

High Salt RatioLow Salt RatioTopping LightTopping Dense

Spread Ripeness and Texture

Fine ScallionCoarse ScallionDairy LatentDairy Forward

Store Style and Services

Variety of ServicesFocused ServicesClassicContemporary