Sitting in Eileen’s car. Bagels International has the blue awning. By the time I had devoured the first half of my onion bagel, I realized that I should snap a picture for BF. You can click to enlarge all photos. Paul Goldfinger photography ©
Inside Bagels International. Bradley Beach. Blogfinger photo. Oct. 2015. It can get very crowded and chaotic on a Sunday or holiday morning in season.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
We’re always on the lookout for a special bagel place (currently known by the smart crowd as a “bagelry”) Actually, calling a bagel joint a “bagelry” is really designed to justify high prices, and I doubt that an authentic bagel bakery would ever use that moniker.
The most authentic bagel bakery around here is on Monmouth Road in Oakhurst. It is really the genuine article, right down to the kosher stamp and its authentic name : “Hot Bagel Bakery” It has been in business since 1979. The bakery was picked by the Asbury Park Press as producing the best bagels in the region, and they have a banner to prove it. Their muffins are superb, and their coffee is quite good.
In summer the line winds out the door, and a team of college bagel majors behind the counter keeps the customers moving.
I asked the baker if I could take his picture in the back where the rolling and baking are done live. We chatted a bit. He said that people walk in with cameras and start shooting. I was the first to ever ask permission. He liked that.
Hot Bagel Bakery. Oakhurst, NJ. Bakers hand roll and bake their bagels in full view of the customers.
They line up for the bagels in Oakhurst. Their toasted onion bagels are also delicious. Blogfinger photos ©
But today I was near Bradley Beach and I craved a toasted onion bagel with the onions a little well done and crispy, with a schmeer of cream cheese (fielders’ choice as to what kind of cc) and a cup of fresh hot coffee. So, of all the bagel joints in all the towns in all the world, I happened to walk into Bagels International at 48 Main Street in BB.
The bagels there are huge, and that would usually be a turnoff for me, but toasting—that’s a bagel of a different color. The place is welcoming, with tables, chairs, and a coffee station right in the middle. The crew there is busy scurrying around conducting all sorts of bagel and deli business. They wear company T shirts that contain the entire menu—more words per square inch of shirt than any other bagel T shirt anywhere.
Finally my bagel came out from the kitchen, carried like precious cargo by a guy who evidently had prepared it out of sight, unlike Hot Bagels where everything is visible including the steamy production line in the back.
I took it “to go,” because I wanted to hear the radio while I consumed my culinary treasure. My onion bagel was toasted twice, as I requested, producing crunchy onion heaven, and it was perfectly delicious. The pieces of onion clung to the surface, although some, as they’re wont to do, went flickering off into space—unfortunately in Eileen’s car.
When I picked her up from a Happy Fingers crocheting session, I saved her a piece, and although she will only allow herself one bite, she agreed that it was quite special….so she never noticed the little black flecks on the floor of her vehicle.. And, you should know, the coffee was good, but not great. However, as part of the ensemble, it fit right in.
Editor’s note: When the All Star Bagel place opened at 60 Main Avenue in the Grove, I was not impressed. But today I tried again, ordering a double toasted and scooped everything bagel with vegetable cream cheese. This is not meant to be a comprehensive review, but I am reporting that my bagel was very good.
They make them in house: the texture is a bit chewy, but that’s OK. They also have specialty breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, egg dishes, as well as a nice lunch menu. The coffee is mild and undistinguished. You can call ahead and order. 848 217 2133 Lines form early in season. Locals should walk or bike there. Forget parking.
Bagel Talk in West Grove mall outside the OG gates has good bagels, especially toasted, and the coffee is good. In addition it is convenient and has parking.
PAUL SIMON: It really doesn’t matter what you call this restaurant—call it Al, as long as it is delicious. Paul should know bagels because he is a Jewish boy born in Newark, New Jersey.
