Bergen wins the Brooklyn Bagel Battle

As a Brooklyn resident, I initially swore my bagel loyalty to Bagelsmith. Their bagels are consistently perfect, a bit crispy on the outside with dense, fluffy insides. While the Bagel Store coats their everything bagels with an impenetrable layer of toppings, Bagelsmith dips them in just enough seeds, salt and garlic to get the flavors in every bite. And I can’t tell you how many times their no credit card minimum and being open 24 hours has helped me.

Last week, after much debate and numerous bagels, I decided to rank Bagelsmith as my second favorite bagel. I still love them, but not as much as I love Bergen Bagels. Bergen makes bagels with the classic texture coated with the right amount of flavoring. Bergen’s are also big enough to get two breakfasts out of one bagel. Seriously, sometimes they’re as big as your face…or at least big enough for a yelpy purse dog to curl up on one.

What made me finally switch my allegiance to Bergen was how well-executed their sandwiches are. A lot of places give you a thick dollop of cream cheese in the middle of the bagel, leaving the edges untouched by the schmear. Bergen Bagels evenly spreads the cream cheese on both sides of the bagel, so you get the same amount in every bite. When you ask for tomato, you get two or three huge slices. Bergen also has the best freaking cream cheese ever. The olives, veggies, blueberries, walnuts, scallions, etc. are all diced to the tiniest size possible so they’re dispersed throughout your sandwich. Even the plain cream cheese is cheesier and smoother than normal. I know taste is subjective and bagels are personal, but a trip to Bergen Bagels will make you a believer.

photo from brokelyn.com

Bergen Bagels
473 Bergen Street between 6th and Flatbush Avenues [Prospect Heights, Brooklyn]
486 Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Ryerson Streets [Clinton Hill, Brooklyn]