Dining Out Boston

My rainy walk from Coolidge Corner to Kupel's Bake and Bagels (that's actually the name on the sign) was well-rewarded. From across the street I could smell the doughy confections that give any bagelry in Boston (or New York, for that matter), a run for its money.

The brightly-lit corner shop is just three large display cases, a refridgerator section, and two small tables for quick noshing. However, if you peer beyond you'll see the spacious kitchen where the magic happens, as well as carts of goodies waiting to be unloaded.

Kupel's sells all the standard bagels (plain, egg, onion, poppyseed, multigrain, sesame, blueberry) plus whole-wheat poppyseed and sesame varieties. Everything that could possible top a bagel and more is also available, namely about twenty varieties of homemade regular and low-fat cream cheeses (vegetable, chive, plain, horse-radish, jalapeno, strawberry, etc.), butter, margarine, peanut butter, lox, smoked salmon, hummus, whitefish….
In addition to bagels and their accompianments, Kugel's has tray after tray of traditional cookies, cakes, and breads. I was tempted to buy a dozen knishes bialys but refrained as I knew I would certainly consume the whole bunch by the end of the morning.

I did buy a whole-wheat sesame-seed bagel (not toasted) with strawberry cream cheese. The still-warm bagel was chewy on the side and slightly crusty on the sliced edges with about a cup of sesame seeds coating the exterior. Surprisingly, the wheat texture wasn't obstrusive and if anything made for a more flavorful dough. The cream cheese was smooth, and well, creamy, with a more mellow strawberry flavor than the rather acidic store brands.

Goyim, keep in mind that Kupel's is, like, actually Jewish and therefore closed Friday at sundown to Saturday in observance of the Sabbath. If you postpone your bagel run until Sunday, be prepared for long, but fast-moving lines.

Mediocre Bruegger's and Finagle-A-Bagel still manage to stay in business even with Kupel's a few blocks away, probably because they're slightly closer to the T. I wouldn't be shocked if that changed once residents ditched their irrational corporate loyalties for the real deal. My sensation bagel breakfast certainly warranted the extra thirty feet.

The Info
Kupel's Bake and Bagels
421 Harvard St., Brookline
617-566-9528