A crunchy bagel with a creamy or buttery topping alongside morning coffee makes for a great way to start the day. On July 26th, celebrate National Bagelfest Day by chowing down on delicious bagels.
Polish-Jewish immigrants introduced the bagel to the United States in the 19th century. National Bagelfest Day started when Murray Lender, the owner of Lender’s Bagels, started the Bagelfest festival in Mattoon, Illinois, which is home of the world’s largest bagel factory.
Check out these great bagel shops around Gainesville—they’re bagels are everything you’ll ever need.
Bagels & Noodles
Bagels & Noodles is a classic breakfast and lunch spot for UF students and Gainesville locals. Serving classic breakfast sandwiches alongside traditional Asian dishes such as pho and pad Thai, Bagels and Noodles will have you covered for all your cravings. Homemade fresh bagels are baked daily, and there is a variety of spreads such apple cinnamon spread and smoked hot pepper spread. Pair your meal with the Vietnamese coffee to get your caffeine kick for the day.
Rating: 10/10
Luke’s New York Bagels
The king of all bagels is the authentic New York bagel. While the wait is typically long, the bagels are worth the wait. However, make sure to get here early as the bagels tend to sell out fast. Try the jalapeno bagel for a spicy, flavorful bagel or a classic everything bagel. Top it with the homemade, whipped cream cheese spread, and enjoy.
Rating: 10/10
Bagels Unlimited
Only a few minutes walk from the UF campus, Bagels Unlimited, as the name implies, has as many bagels as your heart desires. Order the Eggel Bagel and customize your breakfast bagel by choosing the way you like your eggs, your favorite type of cheese and a choice of ham, bacon, sausage, turkey sausage, spicy sausage or corned beef hash. Enjoy its cozy diner feel, and its affordable prices as you munch on your bagel.
Rating: 8/10
Bageland Thornebrook
Bageland’s family-owned and operated bakery has been serving Gainesville for over 40 years, according to their website. With a variety of baked goods such as muffins and croissants, the highlight of the menu is of course the bagel. Choose from a variety of bagels, and then pick a delicious topping. Bagel toppers include not only butter and cream cheese, but also egg salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, pizza bagel and jalapeno spread.
Rating: 8/10
The Bagel Bakery
If you’re looking for your next brunch spot, look no further. The Bagel Bakery’s cute, affordable and filling breakfast is a great place to enjoy a bagel on National Bagelfest Day. Established in 2000 by owner Ken Rembert, a Gainesville resident since 1972 and UF alumni, The Bagel Bakery has a multitude of menu items. Fresh baked bagel flavors include cinnamon raisin, blueberry, poppy, sun-dried tomato, pumpernickel and onion. A fan favorite bagel dish is the egg sandwich with cheese. Pair your bagel with The Bagel Bakery’s Guatemalan coffee.
Rating: 7/10
National Bagelfest Day, started by Murray Lender, celebrates the breakfast food on July 26.
Michelle Holder is a second-year journalism student at UF minoring in entrepreneurship and a Metro reporter at The Alligator. She is from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. In her free time she enjoys going to coffee shops and reading.
