Open for Business: Beygl, 291 Fifth Avenue

A new family-run bagel shop called Beygl opened this morning on Fifth Avenue between First and Second Streets, where owners Robert and Joey Massa are serving up handmade, artisan bagels and everything that goes with them, made the old fashioned way.

Bagels are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled and baked in-house, and are made fresh in small batches throughout the day. The usual varieties are available for $1 (everything, cinnamon raisin, etc), and some gourmet ones like sea salt and cracked pepper, rosemary olive oil, and asiago go for $1.50. They're light without being too fluffy, dense without being too doughy, chewy with a nice crunchy crust, and can certainly be called authentic New York bagels.

As for toppings, they have a nice selection of flavored cream cheeses, smoked fish from Acme, and chicken, tuna, and whitefish salad. Full breakfasts are also served, including omelets, pancakes, french toast, and oatmeal from Bob's Red Mill. Jam and jelly come from Anarchy in a Jar, and eggs are cage free.

For lunch, offerings include salads, homemade soup, and grass fed burgers. Sandwiches are served on a bagel or bread from Brooklyn Bread, and come topped with roast beef, corned beef, Virginia ham, roast pork, or roast turkey, all made in-house. Baked goods including croissants, muffins, turnovers, and cinnamon buns are all also baked in-house.

Beygl is open weekdays from 6 AM - 6 PM, Saturdays from 7-6, and Sundays from 7-3. They deliver orders over $10.

Beygl, 291 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11215. 718-788-1741.

Making Way for La Bagel

On Seventh Avenue between 6th and 7th the final remnants of a once-massive D'Agostino's are being jackhammered away. The long-vacant space, once the store's entryway, will be the new home of La Bagel Delight, which should be moving in early March from their current, smaller location just up the street. The supermarket once ruled the block, with those instantly recognizable D'Ag black tiles extending over the storefronts now occupied by Five Guys Burgers and Bank of America. 

A fair trade for bagels, burgers, and banking, but I'll miss those giant fruit.