On a chilly Saturday, a great start to the morning is always warm toasted bagels and a cup of coffee. It is a hearty breakfast that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, especially when you take that sip of coffee (or tea, whichever you prefer).

Last weekend, my family and I drove to a bagel store in Rye called Hand Rolled Bagels. We had heard from many others that their bagels were supposed to be amazing. I also did some research, and many people claim that their bagels were soft and tasted good, so I wanted to check it out myself to see if there was truth to these claims.

The atmosphere of Hand Rolled Bagels was warm and cozy when I first went in. At first glance, it seems like a small bagel shop, but there are stairs to an eating area. Many people were on the line, but it went by very quickly, and soon enough it was our turn to order. We ordered our food, and went to the second floor where it was even warmer.

Our toasted bagels arrived with cream cheese oozing out. I used a couple of categories to assess the quality of the bagels: texture, taste, softness, and presentation. I would give the bagels a 5 being the best on texture, 4 on taste, 5 on softness, and 5 on presentation. Overall, the bagels had a nice consistency, and in other places such as Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, I at times receive a slightly burnt bagel, and sometimes the bagels there have a slimy texture, while other times the bagels are very hard to bite into. But, the bagels at Hand Rolled Bagels were easy to bite and chew, not burnt, and were not too hot or cold. They also had a decent taste—better than the average bagel. So, I now understand the hype about Hand Rolled Bagels. I would rate this bagel store a 4.75 overall, because they served good bagels, had good service, and we were treated nicely. For those who are gluten or dairy free, Hand Rolled Bagels offered some options, such as Rye bread with rye seeds. 

Check out Hand Rolled Bagels on 17 Purdy Ave, Rye, NY 10580.