There are a few things that I never envision myself doing: skydiving, wearing a Yankees cap, building a chicken coop. These are experiences I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. Until a few weeks ago, I would’ve included eating a bagel in Massachusetts on this list.
As a New Jersey native, I’ve long maintained that you cannot find good bagels outside of New York or New Jersey. Hence, I’ve tried to avoid featuring bagels in this column for fear of gastronomic disappointment. After all — what’s worse than a bad munch?
However, during a recent Daily Features section meeting, I was made aware of Goldilox Bagels — a local bagel joint that’s been garnering buzz around campus. With that, my bat (or Jumbo?) signal was ignited. Would Goldilox attain Munching with Max’s stamp of approval?
My first impressions were dismal. Why should I have to preorder a bagel online? Part of a bagel shop’s allure is smelling the freshly baked dough, scanning the display and deciding what calls to me. In any case, I ordered the night before, opting for a simple everything bagel with cream cheese. Goldilox loses points for its lack of options. The 10-ish bagel flavors they have are not enough. I also ordered a chocolate chip cookie, which they’re apparently famous for.
Upon reaching the shop, expectations were sky-high, as customers crammed in to pick up their orders. I unfolded the wrapper to find a bagel smothered in cream cheese — always a good sign. Despite walking all the way to the Mayer Campus Center to eat, the bagel was still fairly warm.
My first bite was solid. The cream cheese was fresh and plentiful. The bagel was toasted to be crispy but not overly firm. The best part, though, was the topping — the “everything.” Mildly spicy with an appealing tang, the flavoring was superb. I don’t usually order everything bagels, but Goldilox’s rendition certainly opened my eyes to them. Overall, to my surprise, it was an enjoyable bagel.
Unlike the bagel, the cookie was downright awful. It was too salty and was as solid as a brick. I’m unsure why it’s even on the menu.
Encouraged by the success of my trip to Goldilox, I ventured to Magnificent Muffins & Bagel Shoppe in Teele Square to continue my glutenous journey. It was a tiny shop; my expectations soared when I saw a bagel display case, freshly baked muffins, a sizzling grill and customers being greeted on a first-name basis.
Reverting to my usual order, I chose an egg bagel with cream cheese, eager to see if Magnificent Muffins would be a worthy follow-up to Golidlox.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t. After taking one bite, my heart sank. The bagel was soft, insufficiently toasted and lacking in cream cheese. Each bite felt like a chore, with no end to the bagel in sight. While I loved the shop’s atmosphere, I didn’t even finish the bagel.
As always, my gut reactions:
Goldilox: Surprisingly, a tasty bagel. I would go back, but the extreme hype isn’t warranted. The cookie’s a waste of money.
Magnificent Muffins & Bagels: No. I feel bad, but still, no.
So, what’s the verdict on bagels in New England? Like everything in life, they’re a mixed bag. Maybe I just ‘knead’ to find the right place. But, in the end, I tried them (still a hard pass on sky diving!).
But, that’s the thing about munching — you never know what it’ll bring. So, this holiday season, get out there! Try that new coffee shop! Grab the sandwich from the Instagram reel! Only three delicious weeks remain in 2024. Let’s make sure we enter 2025 with full hearts and full bellies!
