Rosenfeld Bagel Company
1280 Centre St, Newton Center, MA, 02459
Rosenfeld Bagel Company Menu
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Address :
1280 Centre St
Newton Center, MA, 02459 - Phone (617) 527-8080
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : No
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
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Daniel K.
Great bagels. Not absolutely transcendent, per se, but really solid and consistent. Not the most friendly service, but who really cares when the bagels are this good?
(4)Michael C.
Well just got into town and or second stop was for bagles! Well come to find out they are closed for vacation. If would have been nice to post it on Yelp, would have saved a trip.
(2)John D.
Sullen, obnoxious staff serving stale bagels. Oh - "cash only" (tax fraud!). What's not to hate? The bagels, or at least the ones available, were garbage. No indication that this shabby hole won't take credit cards until we got to the register. Thanks for wasting our time. Avoid.
(1)Deanna S.
Bagels were hard and lacked flavor. The staff was less than friendly and I had no idea it was cash only till I went to pay. A sign on the door indicating cash only would be nice.
(2)Ross M.
I arrived this Sunday morning at 7:30 AM (one half-hour after opening) to find that they were already out of nearly half of the kinds of bagels I wanted to buy. The ones I ended up with were okay, but nothing special.
(2)April K.
I got a cinnamon bagel with the honey walnut cream cheese. The bagel itself was mediocre and really hard. They also put about a fistful of cream cheese in it. I had to scoop the majority of it out. My boyfriend and I ate our bagels outside and his cream cheese kept plopping out and dropping to the floor. I don't think this place was mind blowing.
(3)Jennifer L.
Best bagels and challah in Newton. The hours are strange and the service is brisk- but the product is great. It's generally known as the best spot for challah around these parts. Lines on Friday morning- lucky to get a loaf by noon!! Parking is horrible.
(4)Todd F.
I'm not going to lie, I grew up on Rosenfeld's bagel so perhaps I'm a bit biased, but just to make sure, I have tried several other shops to compare. First and foremost their cream cheese is the best around; light, fluffy, easily spread. The other shops just don't have the same consistency. As for the bagels themselves, these are as close to NYC bagels as you can get. Good strong exterior with a super fresh and soft inside. I typically go for the everything bagels on a Sunday morning. Plus, their selection smoked fish is on point!!
(5)Phil M.
Growing up in Newton Centre, I really did myself a disservice not going to this place more often. Well, now that I work in Newton Centre...its time to make up for it. This place is tucked away, with limited parking in Newton Centre. But I assure you its worth going in. Bagel and Challah selection is great. Fresh and the staff are so friendly. I think the prices were fair, around $6 for 1/2 a dozen bagels. I would say, if you are going to pick up bagels or breakfast to bring somewhere, Don't go to Dunkins (Bad service) go here (amazing service)
(4)Lyndsey C.
Really really fresh and great bagels. The smell is amazing!!!! There were lots of variety and the service was fantastic.... My only complaint is there is no where to eat in... This doesn't matter in the warmer seasons because you can eat out in the park but in the winter there is no where to eat.
(5)brenda L.
Best challah ever!!!
(5)julesmary p.
So the bagels are pretty good. Nope, they're not NYC bagels. funny how NYC peeps come here for school and complain about everything. Really, just go back. But anyway, Rosenfelds. I like the bagels and cream cheese. They have salt bagels which are awesome. But the hours lose them at least one star. Closed Monday and Tuesday?? Why? How does this benefit your business? You're selling flour, yeast and salt at (at least) a 300% profit. Just be open all the time. You're closed for 40% of the business week and folks who work in the area are forced to go elsewhere. Again, the bagels are good. But one should not have to time a visit to a bagel store.
(3)Jonathan W.
The best bagels in the world? No. Those would be from the Strathmore bagel mill in Central Long Island. But as good a bagel as you can get before you hit the New York border? Absolutely. A tiny store in a congested locale. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. Closed by 1:30 even when they're open. Counter staff runs the gamut from surly to moribund (except the extremely cute one!), but it's not the Soup Nazi's. Lines out the door into the snow and everything sells out every day. Just like it always has. Your bad review don't really matter, do it? From the snivelng I read in some reviews, it's apparently not clear that this business has a telephone with a listed number. They answer it when they're open and they don't when they're closed. On it, you can ask about the wait . Or you can order your bagels the day before. They will make at least a desultory effort to satisfy your personal yeasty needs and fetishes. I, for example, MUST have half-baked flat bagels (not bialys) to patch the gaping rent in my soul. Rosenfeld's worked with me to fine-tune the parameters, and now you can't tell me from a regular person.
(4)R H.
This place is okay. Being from NY, I'm sort of a bagel snob. I heard so many good things about Rosenfeld's so I finally tried it out. The bagels aren't bad. They're not mind blowing either. The hours for the store are just strange. And they've messed up my order twice. Eh.
(3)Anthony K.
The absolute best bagels!! Its been quite a few years since my days at Northeastern University. I still am searching for a bagel that tops Rosenfelds bagels out here in California with no luck... If your in the Boston area its well worth the trip!
(5)Sherri M.
This bagel store is litterally a hole in the wall, with very little outside presence, but if you happen to be walking by when they are making the bagels the fantastic smell coming out of the place will get you in the door. You probably would have had to have ben told about this place to go there. It is not a cafe where you would take your computer in, have a coffee and bagel and hang out for an hour or so. It is a walk in take a dozen of bagels and homemade cream cheese ( phenomenal by the way) and go home kind of place. The bagels are delicious and so fresh and doughy. I love them and think they are the best in Boston and around the area. All of them are great and I could not just pickone type to recommend. The everything, plain, blueberry, onion, sesame and the list goes on....... TRY IT!!
(5)Mr. X.
Their challah is legitimately addictive, but their bagels are hugely overrated, the store layout/lack of customer flow is a disaster, and their service is ass. Yes, ass. Don't even think of coming here on the weekend unless your doctor feels your blood pressure is too low. Don't even think of ordering a bagel sandwich from the counter, or you'll learn the answer to the question: "How long could it possibly take to put cream cheese on a bagel?" At Rosenfeld, the answer is "F*CKING FOREVER!" You'll also learn the answer to the question: "How long could it possibly take to pay for said bagel sandwich?" At Rosenfeld, the answer is "F*CKING FOREVER!" Do yourself a favor. Come here at an off-peak time. Buy a loaf or 10 of challah and some cream cheese from the coolers on the left. Have your cash out and ready to go when you pay. You'll save yourself about 30 minutes and the crushing disappointment of over-rated bagels.
(2)Emily F.
I have read countless rave reviews on this site and others about the bagels here, and after 2 failed attempts (this place seems to always be closed when I am in the area and looking for a bagel) finally got to try it. Only to be very disappointed. I was there at 1pm on a weekday and they had stopped their baking and simply selling out their inventory. Ok, no problem. The problem was that the bagels were so tough and had virtually no flavor. Nothing more to say. I hate that people keep saying this is like a NY bagel, that is insulting to NY bagels. So far my favorite in the Boston area is Kugel's in Brookline. I also bought a chocolate babka that was ok, very sweet, and not as flaky/delicate as others.
(2)jamie l.
No, seriously, this is Boston bagels? Someone actually reviewed this place "Best of Boston"? No. This is not only mediocre bagels (and I'm being generous) it's probably the worst-managed, worst-service, worst-options bagel place I've ever been to. It's been here a 100 years - okay so they get points for surviving that long (considering how bad it is), but that's the only credit I'll give them. This place makes me embarrassed to be a Bostonian who claims to love bagels. If a New Yorker came to visit me in Newton and I took them here I'd be absolutely ridiculed for being pathetic when it comes to bagels. So to summarize - bad service, bad management, and bad options (they don't even have tomato to put on a bagel & cream cheese). Altogether bad. Sorry Rosenfeld.
(1)Marley W.
Is there a zero star option? Made a yelp bc I was disgusted by establishment and staff. The bagels sucked. Voted one idk how I suggest the local newton yuppies venture before claiming they're best. Zero stars.
(1)Eric L.
Phenomenal, authentic freshly-baked bagels and great homemade cream cheese offerings. I have been frequenting this quaint establishment situated in the basement of Piccadilly square on Saturday mornings my whole life. Despite very sparse hours (open until 1 in the summer and closed Monday and Tuesday), the bagels at place are unbelievable. Like something at a century-old Jewish bagel bakery in the village, NYC--amazing. Get the same quality without driving 200+ miles. Try the Onion or Garlic bagels with fresh Chive cream cheese, or go all out with a dozen of these bad boys. Several types of Lox are available too if you want to get really serious. Also a couple of whole wheat offerings including a 9 grain, for those healthier foodies (like myself) out there.
(5)Joel R.
Rosenfeld's is an institution. They've been making the most of their ludicrously small storefront for what, 40 years? I remember these bagels being better than they are nowadays, so perhaps they've changed a little over the years. I've definitely had better elsewhere, although that may be a matter of personal taste. The bagels here are still very good, miles better than any of the chain offerings you'll find. I am particularly fond of their egg and egg poppy bagels, which are especially good toasted. The cream cheese is not quite as good, which is something to keep in mind. I'm definitely a fan, though.
(4)Carol M.
Excellent bagels, cream cheese isn't always consistent and their hours are terrible because they are closed on Monday and Tuesday. If it's Wed-Sun and not any Jewish holiday, then no other place around can beat them.
(4)Ron J.
True water bagels that taste great. Although Rosenfeld's bagels aren't as large as their New York cousins', they stack up against them just fine -- from the plain to the richly flavored pumpernickels. Rosenfeld's is a bagel shop, not a restaurant or sandwich shop. 5 stars is a no-brainer.
(5)Neil H.
I spend a lot of time in New York City so, needless to say, I have strong feelings about my bagels. Rosenfeld is the closest thing to a real New York City bagel you can get in the area, as far as I found. I'm always happy to go over there and grab a dozen. The last long time, and freeze well. The everything bagel could use a lot more seasoning though. The best advice I can give is this: there are some coupons you can find in the different weeklies that go out in your mail. so check out those, and be certain to get half a dozen free or something like that.
(4)Eric K.
Best of Boston!
(5)Jeannie H.
When I moved to Boston, I was directed to Kupel's bagels and thought it was so unimpressive that I never went back. It wasn't awful but definitely not worth going out of your way for a bagel. Years later, I get sent to Rosenfelds... This place is just about impossible to find. It's in the lower level of a giant brick building called Picadilly Square and is essentially not visible from a car when you're driving down Centre Street. The bagels are boiled and baked, the way they should be unlike those jokers called Dunkin Donuts and ABP, who make something they call a bagel. The bagel had the right skin on the outside and chewy texture on the inside. They're not exactly like a NY bagel but they're pretty darned good and without a doubt, the best bagel in the area. They make a pretty mean cream cheese as well with my favourites being veggie and chives. They have a decent selection of lox but it's nothing to get excited over - just provides an essential breakfast material. Several tips: 1) It's not a deli so you can't get a sandwich bagel and there's nowhere to sit. 2) Go early or else the great flavours will be gone (and their challah), and 3) Take a look at google satellite before going so you know what you're looking for. 4) If you grew up living in NYC, you'll probably be disappointed. If you're just a bagel enthusiast, then you'll appreciate Rosenfeld's. You can't get a NYC bagel outside of NY the same way you can't get a Philly cheesesteak outside Philly.
(5)E L.
The staff at this place truly make me want to open another bagel shop in Newton Center. The bagels are fine (fine, not good), but I could live with that if I could actually get what I ordered. The staff is incompetent, and although I've given this place a few chances (due to the lack of other options) I'm done. They have never gotten my order right, and considering the limited options it's not as if my orders are complicated.
(1)Justin K.
The seldom mentioned but always sought after salt bagels can be found here, need I say more. This gem of a shop can be easily walked past with out knowing about, but once found, you will never forget about.
(5)Ted R.
I want to like Rosenfeld's, I really do, they are my neighborhood bagel place. Their bagels, when you can get them, are pretty good. The problem is the clause in the last sentence. I have never been to a bagel place before that is not closing and been told that they are all out of bagels. With Rosenfeld's I have been there THREE TIMES now and told with a straight face that they have no bagels. It is just plain weird and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. It makes me sad that a decent product with a great location is so mismanaged.
(2)Natalie O.
I was really excited about this place. It looked very busy. The bagels are ok, but very heavy. They put a lot of cream cheese on them though. The system for ordering was confusing as we'll because there is not a lot of room to order, get your food, and pay. I don't think i would recommend it. Oh and CASH ONLY.
(3)Rebecca S.
I'm not sure why this place has so many stars...I guess it does beat dunkin donuts bagels and the travel time to Alston or Needham to get better bagels. These bagels are always stale. Like I come at 9:00 AM and I feel like I have to work hard to bite into it. The cream cheese collection is a major plus.
(2)Jamie H.
exactly what i'm looking for in a bagel. not too big, chewy on the inside with a bit of crunch on the outside. the bagels are a little flatter than kupels, which i really liked since it makes them easier to bite into. for my first visit, i ordered a sesame toasted, with light veggie cream cheese. she advised me against toasting, since the bagels were just out of the oven. i was very grateful for her recommendation, since the untoasted bagel was perfect. it had plenty of sesames too. the light veggie cream cheese was great, lots of flavor and not too heavy. i did wipe some off, but i'd much rather get too much than too little - some places are way too skimpy with cream cheese. my boyfriend got an onion bagel toasted (he loves his bagels really crunchy) with lox spread on one side and light chive cream cheese on the other. and yes, he ate it open-faced. the lox spread was great, and he seemed to really enjoy the other cream cheese and in fact put my extra cream cheese on his second half since he liked it so much. we went around 9:30 this morning, and there was no line and it seemed like they had all the bagel varieties available. i can't wait to try the challah bread and make my way through all the types of bagels and cream cheese flavors.
(4)Jackie V.
Four and a half stars for sure: These are absolutely the BEST bagels in Boston. (okay, I can't actually say I've *had* every bagel in Boston, so that may be an overstatement) I grew up in a town where there were 3 bagel places that were a 5 min walk from the middle school and the high school. All three were like Rosenfeld's: tiny, staffed with high schoolers (reminded me of my sister's bagel days), and full of plexiglass bins full of bagel-y goodness (steamy bins = best bagels!). If you added it up, think I ate a bagel a day for at least 13 years of my life. That being said, the bagels here are pretty damn good, but fall just short of Bagel Land back home. Bottom line: if you've been "real bagel" deprived living here, treat yourself to a taste of home and give Rosenfeld's a try. Extra props for the Tofutti cream cheese, too!
(4)Sarah P.
Yum! Excellent bagels, even more excellent chocolate chip challah. There's a reason why the line was nearly out the door even in the middle of a heavy summer storm.
(5)Herbert K.
I'll admit to having a huge soft spot for another bagel place on the other side of the tobin bridge... but since I'm now on the western side of that span, there is only one place for bagels. I go almost exclusively on weekdays. No real crowd, tons of fresh bagels. No, these aren't the bagels you tie behind the boat and go tubing on... Standard, 4oz NYC size, just right for a schmear... Oh, and buy a challah... then use any leftover for french toast... or stuffed french toast... wait, better buy two.
(5)Jim D.
The.Best.Bagels.Evar!! Srsly.
(5)Michael A.
This review focuses on two things: Disappointing inventory and unacceptable customer service. I am a long time fan of Rosenfelds. There are no good bagel shops out where I live (North and West of 495) so when I am in Newton I try to stop and stock up. Today I was there at 8:30 in the morning and many of the varieties were unavailable...no whole wheat sesame and only four whole wheat. When I asked how come I got a very terse "it has been busy and furthermore we had a day off". Trying to make the best of it I figured I would at least come away with half a dozen given that I usually buy a dozen or more. So I glanced up at the overhead menu board thinking I would check the price of a half dozen and the server snapped at me "Look at the bins, don't look at the list". Insulted at her thinking I would waste her time trying to order what was obviously unavailable I let her know I was using the board to learn the prices. I expected either an apology or at the very least some understanding. All I got was a nasty look. Disappointment sums up my visit - I hope this note encourages them to do a better job of stocking their bins (so they have not run out so early in the day) and they definitely need to work on their approach to customer service if they are to win me back for the long term.
(2)Richard M.
As an ex-New Yorker...... Bagels @ Rosenfeld's are the best. I like them well done and @ Rosenfeld's they will dig them out to find you a toasty one. The best way to handle a Saturday or Sunday morning run to Rosenfeld's is to call ahead the day before. Get there real early before the crowds and pick 'em up pipping hot. Got to try every one of their homemade cream cheeses. The chives and salmon and veggie and strawberry are my absolute favorites. Oh yeah, almost forgot....... They make FRESH HOMEMADE Challah. It is so good they run out quickly. If you call a day or two ahead they will reserve one for you. Truly their Challah is worthy of a special trip and get two because the first one has a way of disappearing on the way home.
(5)Helen C.
Went to visit Rosenfeld's this morning to try their bialeys. Folks were efficient at taking my order and getting me on my way. The bialeys, bagels and whole wheat challah were all wonderful. Also tried veggie spread and lox spread, both were quite admirable. There was a constant flow of people at 7 am on a Saturday morning. They do run out of things so get there early if there is something that you want in particular, call ahead and they will reserve your favorite nosh for you so that you won't be disappointed.
(5)Karen S.
My husband and I loved our bagels from Rosenfeld Bagel Company. The best we have had in Boston. We were unprepared for the "cash only" part, but there is a Bank of America right by it.
(5)Daniel M.
Did I somehow miss reviewing Rosenfeld's? Oh my, how could I? No, if I had to pick a place to have my last bagel on earth if would be Rosenfeld's, hands down. They're a world away from what one finds at Finagle or Bruegger's and a total universe from the hockey-puck like concoctions found in your grocer's freezer. No, Roselfeld's are made with fresh ingredients mixed in the back that come out mildly chewy...best time to eat them is just after they've cooled, so you still get all of the flavors. I'm particularly partial to the potato bagels. Although this variety might sound kind of bland there is a substantial taste to them. My suggestion is to pick up a couple of different flavors, try one now and another a short time later. Slathering them with cream cheese shouldn't harm the flavor...Rosenfeld's bagels are of such good quality that a reasonable amount shouldn't harm them. The homemade chive is my particular favorite...reasonably strong but not overpowering and a great complement to most varieties. BTW...gotta mention the challah too. Very good, tasty and with a light texture that I find quite appetizing.
(4)Julie S.
After searching high and low for the best bagel in Boston, my search has ended with Rosenfeld's. Are they as good as the bagels I stockpile in my freezer from New York? No, but they are a worthy second and far more accessible. Rosenfeld's actually makes their bagels like bagels are meant to be made- they're boiled and baked. None of that Dunkin' Donuts or Finagle a Bagel nonsense here. Lox is still packaged, not hand cut, so I'd stay away from that if you're expecting the real deal. The challah, like the bagels, is the best in Boston. It's absolute perfection. I'm not sure how they do it, but it stays fresh for a few days so there's no need to throw it out or make bread crumbs like there is with most fresh challahs. My husband also uses it to make a mean french toast. Rosenfeld's=Carb Heaven
(5)Elizabeth S.
Lovely, but don't forget your cash!
(4)H P.
I had Rosenfeld's bagels twice a few years apart, wasn't impressed . Unfortunately while good bagels exist ,great bagels don't at least not in Boston .I once visited Long Island,NY and had lunch with a friend .She sent out for bagels and cream cheese ,I never forgot how good it was.Since I live in Boston getting more isn't an option.So if you are ever in Montreal make sure you go to Fairmount Bagel .You will be astonished as you watch kids sitting on the steps eating bagels and cream cheese .I don't but I usually buy 3 dozen bagels here and bring them home,they are outstanding .They are a little thin but oh so good ,there is nothing like them ,and no one I know in Boston duplicates the Fairmount bagel.Years ago there was a bagel place called Eagerman's , since he closed down nothing is as good .You can go to Bagels Best in Needham and get a decent bagel there ,but they are rather big .I am unlike most bagel lovers ,I like my bagels hot or warm just out of the oven ,I think toasting a bagel makes all the bagels out there taste the same ,I only do that if the bagel is getting hard from sitting.Also some bagel places don't have great cream cheese ,I buy my cream cheese from Barry's in Waban I think is the best .I'm still looking for that elusive great bagel, I don't think it exists at least not in MA.
(3)Cranky F.
Some of the best bagels in the Boston area -- which is to say that they're decent. The problem with Rosenfeld's is the service. If you want a bagel with cream cheese, you need to speak to three people at least once. 1. The kid who chooses your bagel and puts it in the toaster; 2. the kid who applies cream cheese; 3. the adult who operates the cash register. Half the time the kids running the bagel operation forget what you want and need to confirm, which is a hassle in the small and frequently crowded confines of Rosenfeld's. Everyone working there is nice but there is no system in place. I dream of a day when I can walk into Rosenfeld's, tell my order to one person, and feel confident that I'll get what I asked for.
(3)Dianne E.
We went here for lunch today; or rather we thought we were going for lunch. Figured a bagel place would have sandwiches but as it turned out it really is a little hole-in-the-wall bagel place with bagels, a few breads and butter/ cream cheeses/ lox. Also we arrived about 12:30-ish and almost all varieties of bagel were sold out already. So we just got a half dozen plain bagels to go. Having said all that - the bagels were very, very good. Next time we'll definitely try to get here early to get some variety. It has been mentioned in other reviews that the challah gets sold out quickly but today (a Thursday) the challah was one of the few things there were plenty of so maybe that has changed or Thursdays are particularly good??
(4)Tom M.
There is no such thing as a decent bagel made in the Boston area. This place was one of the less-bad ones I've had, so a grudging 3 stars.
(3)Kendra L.
I normally dont like to complain on here unless my experiences are really bad, but my first( and probably my last) visit there a few days ago was awful. I understand now that they just serve bagels. So in my head I'd imagine they would be AMAZING bagels. Not! I grew up in NY and may have a different opinion of good bagel but I was not happy with mine. THAT ISNT EVEN THE BAD PART! The counter girl is HORRIBLE. She should be fired. I dont care if she is family....she sucks! It took her 15 minutes to make me a bagel sandwich with two things in it. She didnt smile or speak to me and was an all out rude BITCH. While making my sandwich she literally stopped for 5 minutes to chat with someone that worked there. She apparently could nto concentrate on two things at once. I've never seen anyone move that slow. Slowest/laziest service I have ever had and I was waiting on a bus to come. When I got in there I had 20 minuites to spare when she was done my bus was pulling up!!! I asked her about the coffee and she was rude about it like I should know. There are no Prices listed anywhere. And the coffee station had no sugar or cream. When I was watching her finish my sandwhich I noticed she dropped the serated knife on the floor. Instead of cleaning it or getting a new one she just put it back on the counter. When I got to work later I realized that my bagel was not Cut!! She was too lazy to get a new knife. Do you have any idea how frickin hard it is to eat a whole bagel sandwich. PROFESSIONAL BAGEL PLACE MY ASS! A good bagel place cuts it in half. And to boot the corners of the smoked salmon in the sandwich were spoiled. You let me down Rosenfeld Bagel Company!
(1)Rick B.
Perhaps not the best in Boston, but certainly best in Newton Centre. Been around forever and once you get into the basement you just want to eat some bagels.
(5)Vivz C.
I grew up with JCC daycare & summer camps. I have tried Challah from all types of places. But nothing compares to the Challah that I get at Rosenfeld's Bagels. The inside is so chewy and so deliciously satisfying. A little toasted with maybe some butter or hummus...perfect. Bagels are just as tasty at this busy Newton Centre bagel store. With so many flavors to choose from and their homemade cream cheese (I recommend the veggie or the chive!), how do you go wrong?! Gotta get there early since they're so popular. It seems like they're pretty sold out by around 10am or so - although times I've been there, the back always seems so busy and there are constantly more bagels & loafs of Challah being made. Nothing better than a bagel hot from the oven or being told you can't close your Challah bag for at least half an hour to let all the steam/heat out. The only downside is that they are closed Monday's, which, in my opinion, I think a Rosenfeld Bagel is the perfect way to start the week. Thank goodness for Tuesday thru Sunday!
(5)Annie D.
It was ok. I read all the reviews and was excited to go to a place that made fresh real bagels. However, after obtaining some bagels I wasn't too impressed (even eating one fresh out of the bag). It was a bit chewy and just didn't taste right. It smelled wonderful and the cream cheese was delicious, but the bagel itself was alright. Not the best I have to sadly say.
(3)Masha G.
I don't care for their bagels that much, but the challah is spectacular. I could eat an entire loaf in one sitting. It's just the right texture, just the right size, and just the right sweetness. The ideal thing for snacking, sandwiches, french toast, anything. Also, if you're getting their bagels, get the light veggie cream cheese, it's very good.
(5)Amanda M.
Tiny bakery that can be hard to find at first since it is located in the lower level of the Picadilly Sq. building. Parking can be tough, but we were lucky to get a spot around the corner at a meter. They do tend to sell out fast and we nabbed the last two salt bagels to complete our dozen. Since we got a full dozen they asked us if we wanted freezer bags, basically long plastic sleeves and twist-ties. I thought that was a nice touch. We also tried the veggie cream cheese and sundried tomato/dill. Lots-o-DILL! The bagels themselves are small, so you are not going to get a huge doughy bagel here if that's what you are expecting. I think I still like Katz's bagels in Chelsea better, but Rosenfeld's is soooo much closer to me.
(4)Joe K.
Excellent Neighborhood Bagel Emporium Always offers a wide selection of NY-style bagels, consistently tasty and with the right texture. Watch them shape, boil, and bake 'em in the back. Pastries and freezers of lox, smoked salmon, cream cheeses. Come early on the weekends.
(5)Neeraj D.
This is the go-to place for bagels and Jewish breads. I usually eat a bagel every morning for breakfast and these are the best bagels I think I have ever had. These helped me get my morning started and kept me going for nearly 3 years. The bagels have great bite, texture, and flavor. Their bagels are so good that I did want to want to make my own and now that I no longer near Rosenfeld's I just want to learn how to make an imitation of them. Their bagels are the definition of what I look for in my bagels. Their challah and choco-chip challah breads make great french toast. I've used the their challah rolls for sandwiches, mini pizzas, hamburgers, and snacks. Their sweet-desert like breads were popular when I brought them into work. Their bagel spreads are flavorful, although sometimes chunky, although a bit pricey. They have a multitude of lox and one day when overwhelmed, I asked what is the difference between them all, besides the quantity/prices/packaging. They came out and walked me through the flavor, color, aroma, and source of each package and then worked to pair the best one with the spreads and bagels I was buying. I was impressed. The staff is very friendly and awesome - I will miss the cool chic that usually at the register. They can be very busy around the Jewish holiday times and sometimes sell out of their bagels really fast. Call ahead and they will pull your order together and hold it for you! Do yourself a favor, Boston bagel fans and go here. There's a reason it has been voted one of the best bagel and challah bread places.
(5)Dorothy K.
Just eat it. Really. The bagels are the perfect size-- a little small compared to other bagels these days, but really just the size that god intended them to be. The bagels are boiled, then baked, creating a nice crispy crunchy outside crust surrounding a soft doughy center. Their cream cheese is also very good. They slather it in the center of the hot bagel so that, once you get it, the cream cheese has slighty melted into molten cheesey gooey goodness. Only one warning: DO NOT EAT THE SALT BAGELS. Try something traditional first, like a cinnamon raisin or a poppyseed.
(5)Jilly B.
It was a long line when I walked in but it went so fast. The bagel was really good. Cream cheese decent too. Selection dwindles as the day progresses because the sell out. There is no seating it is a purely take out place. Nothing that really distinguishes it form the bagel places at home thou. There are 4 like it with in 10 miles of here and they all have in house seating. So main positive pint is they are impressively speedy!
(3)seth w.
Decent bagels. Not at all what I was expecting. Definitely not as good as a NY bagel. Bagels are small and not crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside, just somewhere in between throughout. However, I haven't found anything better in the area yet
(3)Sherry S.
This is just a review of their products, which are FANTASTIC. Their challah is the BEST in Boston, and their bagels definitely the best in the area. They have a limited selection of pastries and cakes that are extraordinary. Note, they don't accept credit cards, just cash and checks.
(5)Sara E.
Best Bagels in Boston. After decades in NYC, I love Rosenfelds. Yummy yummy yummy!
(5)Holly S.
There was a time . . . a long, long time ago . . .that I thought Finagle a Bagel was all that. After all, bigger means better--right? Untrue, untrue, untrue. Then I discovered the bliss that is Rosenfeld's. These firm, dense, chewy little bagels (and by little, I mean "normal-sized) are heavenly. As others have said, the shop is nothing fancy (note the name: it's a *company* not a *cafe*), and it's all about the takeout. A sack of bagels, sliced and schmeared or DIY) is what it's all about. And--call me crazy--but I like that the pace is a bit slowed down when you step in the door. The schmear guy (or gal) may be a little slow, but he or she is actually putting care into your order. I can't count how many times I've ordered from other bagel joints and the cream cheese is sloppily applied or--worse--given to me in a little plastic cup with a disposable knife. Long story short! Rosenfelds rocks. ROCKS, I say. Favorite order: Sunflower seed bagel with tofutti cream cheese (a combo that you'll find nowhere else in the area!). Worth all 263 pennies I spent this morning.
(5)Arnold J. M.
Worth the trip! We live just outside of Philadelphia, bet every time we are in Newton we get great bagels and the world's best challah to take home with us.
(5)Natasha R.
The bagels are awesome and so is the cream cheese! The Mocha Chocolate Chip cream cheese is to die for!
(5)Kristine M.
Now THESE are the bagels I grew up with in New York and New Jersey!! They even have the ambience of a real bagel shop nailed down! I'm so tired of places like Bruegger's or Finagle a Bagel which are more like a cafe and they don't have decent bagels. Real bagel shops don't have little coffee/creamer stations a la Starbucks! I'm so happy I found Rosenfeld's. Good prices too. They put most other area bagel shops to shame. To shame, I say!!! No frills bagels here. Forget your asagio sandwichy bagel and get a good old' fashioned poppy seed bagel with lox. Get your fancy pants bagels at Panera, but get your real bagels here.
(5)Hayley M.
How anyone could give Rosenfeld's anything but 5 stars is beyond me. My favorite breakfast is a bagel, egg, and cheese sandwich on a Rosenfeld's onion bagel. My favorite lunch is a grilled turkey sandwich made with Rosenfeld's challah on my sandwich press. Cold sunday mornings and holidays just beg for the fresh bagels, filled with the smell of onions and garlic. Be careful though, they can run out EARLY!
(5)Galina R.
Best Bagels!!! They have a great variety of bagels and a selection of Jewish baked goods which are made on premises. These bagels are scrumptious - perfectly crisp on the outside yet soft and fresh on the inside. Once you order the bagels, look in the glass fridge for your salmon spread or various fresh cream cheeses. Also, try the raspberry babka ring or the Challah which is just perfect. NB - they don't accept credit cards. Order a half dozen bagels for a perfect take-out breakfast with family on a Sunday morning!
(5)Naomi U.
I think they have The Best Appetizing in the region and a full deli case, and a bank of fridges with take out everything...kugel, farfel, spreads,etc. (Boston/Cambridge/Newton). Come on a weekend afternoon and break fast will be over and all of the bagels (and I mean all--like one blueberry left) will be gone. The young waitresses are decent, but otherwise the service is a huge disappointment.
(3)pete k.
Bagels, the way they should be. This is the only bagel shop in the Boston area that I have found with real "NY style" bagels. "NY style" is not about shape or size - its how the bagel is cooked. And the proper way of course, is to boil them - not to create some fluffy goofy roll like so many shops sell, but a nice crisp shell and chewy insides. There is nothing quite like a warm, fresh, truly boiled bagel. I still remember the first time I walked in and saw the kitchen staff dropping ringlets of dough into a vat of water - my eyes lit up and my stomach jumped. This of course, was after already starting to salivate over the challah that surrounded me - rolls, buns, loafs, and other tasty forms of the bread are stacked up on racks all around the small store. For any of their goods, you need to get to the shop EARLY. Come noon-time, especially on a weekend, you'll be hard pressed to find any bagels left in stock. This is typical of a real bagel place though, so don't fret. Their home-mixed cream cheeses, by the way, are outstanding. Newtonites are incredibly fortunate to have Rosenfeld's in town. There is no better bagel within 200 miles.
(5)A B L.
Hole-in-the-wall bagel shop. Everyone around me was ordering up a dozen or so. I had the dog waiting the car (pre-park visit), so I went with a toasted Everything with Light Veggie. I can see why people like this spot. I'm hardly a bagel connoisseur, but this was good - crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and smaller than those typically sold in this area. I was happy that they had salt on their Everything bagel (can't stand it when they don't have salt on the Everything). That being said, I'm also happy with the two bagel shops that are located closer to where I live. Would I return to Rosenfeld? Yes. But, I'd also go to the shops closer to home.
(4)Chelsea B.
ROSENFELD'S BAGELS ARE THE BEST IN BOSTON. Time and time again I go to Rosenfeld's whether to get a dozen bagels for the family for the week, or just to have a bagel with a schmear on a weekday lunch. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. that I eat Rosenfeld's I am re-surprised with just how DARN INCREDIBLE THEIR BAGELS ARE. Perfect texture, perfect size, perfect taste. The homemade cream cheese is amazingly tasty as well and there is a really great selection of them to take home or get on your bagel right then and there! Great prices too. Tip: Get there early in the day because the bagels are made fresh every morning, so they will be the freshest then, and you will have the best selection. As someone who has eaten at both places numerous times and really wanted to like Kupel's, I gotta say that Rosenfeld's beats Kupel's BY A LANDSLIDE every time. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. worth the trip every time out to Newton Centre.
(5)Kristin S.
I'm always a skeptic when it comes to bagels in Boston but since Dorian G. likes them, and she's a NY girl after my own heart, I decided to give them a try. Not bad, not bad at all. The store is a quick drive out in Newton, and from where I live in Brookline Village it takes you down some very picturesque back streets. Getting to the part of Newton where its located isn't hard, but actually finding the bagel shop is. Its located in the building that says Piccadilly Square, below street level, and nearly impossible to see from the car. I turned around three times trying to find it before I just parked and started to walk around. Upon entering the first thing I was hit with was the smell of freshly baked bagels. Fantastic. Then I walked passed the fridge cases- Snapple! Double fantastic! The store was pretty empty so I could get my bagels and get out but its very small and I imagine gets packed at peak times. The bagels they gave me were warm through the bag, just the way I like it. When I got home I was saddened to see how small they were. My favorite bagel shop of all time makes small bagels but these were even smaller. They did toast well but they were a little too crispy on the outside, they were over baked. The insides were very soft but I wished there was more of the doughy goodness. I also found myself still a little bit hungry after, which I attribute to the small size of the bagel. So Rosenfeld's you get 4 stars. If this was NY you'd probably get 3 but this is the best I've found in Boston thus far. Update: Oy. So my husband and I decided to stop by here to get bagels before heading out for an all day shopping trip. Bad idea. Rosenfelds is not a bagel cafe, its more like a bagel factory. When ordering from their extremely limited sandwich menu (They only offer a few schmears for their bagels) the process is borderline painful. There was only one person making sandwiches one by one. This creates a lot of people standing around waiting in a tiny space. It didn't occur to me last time because I was just picking up bagels but this really isn't a cafe. You can't get eggs on a bagel or tuna fish (although they do throw you a bone with the whitefish salad...) or anything like that. The bagels are still halfway decent.
(4)Erik S.
This is the best bagel I've found in New England. It's not quite as good as a New York bagel, but it's seriously good. It was prepared the proper way and tastes delicious. If you want a great bagel, this is the place to come.
(5)matt s.
Fantastic! Best bagel in New England.
(5)Jed S.
They have the best blueberry bagels anywhere, and by anywhere, I mean Boston, New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland, D.C., and London. I haven't had bagels anywhere else. :P And their other bagels are quite good too. The parking situation isn't always great. There is a small lot, which doesn't always have spaces, street parking which often doesn't have spaces, and a big lot across the street, which usually has parking but not always.
(5)Sam F.
These bagels are small and doughy. If these are the best bagels in Boston, then I've chosen the wrong city to live in. Honestly, I'm from Maine, so it isn't like I'm a New York-o-phile. In fact, I dislike New York, except to visit. But anyone who thinks these bagels are good just needs to cross the New York (or NJ!) border ONCE, and try ANY bagel shop. The bagels in that state are good for all the reasons that these are mediocre: they are large, and they are light and airy. Delicious. This bagel (which I am currently eating, mind you!) is quite small, and the texture can only be described as doughy or chewy. This is not how a bagel should be. So that I'm not defiled as a New York-o-file, I'll throw out another suggestion for airy and delicious bagels: Scratch Baking in South Portland, ME. The bagels from Scratch blow this place out of the water, six times over. I'm sorry for people who grew up going here; I hate to trash your childhood place. But maybe I shouldn't be sorry, since the chances are that you are quite well-to-do, having grown up in Newton. Either way, you've been deprived (perhaps for the first time?). The criteria for 2 stars is "Meh. I've experienced better." That describes this bagel perfectly.
(2)Liza H.
I could eat these bagels until I succumb to a gluten fueled coma. Waking up with a cream cheese smeared butter knife stuck to my cheek. True NY style bagels: boiled until the outside is crunchy chewy, fluffy inside.Real bagel flavors like salt, pumpernickel, marble rye, and bialys. Dig it
(5)Colleen T.
Amazing bagel spot! Fast and friendly. Definitely a new fave.
(5)David R.
Hands down my favorite bagel.
(5)Jenny N.
Maybe it's blasphemy, but ever since my office switched from Panera to Rosenfeld's for our Friday morning breakfast, I've been disappointed. I feel like Rosenfeld's bagels just don't toast as well...they are small, hard and dense---compared to Panera's (or even Einstein Bagel's) large, soft, fluffiness. There is just no "give" to the Rosenfeld bagel. To an extent, it's actually reminiscent of the plastic toy food your kid sister had in her PlaySkool kitchen. Even the cream cheese is weak and comes in tiny containers---like the kind you get for takeout sauces. I guess I'm just not a true fan of "New York style" bagels *sigh* I have nothing against independent bagel shops, but I really just want my chewy Asiago cheese bagel with sundried tomato spread back--even if it does come from a chain....is that so wrong?
(2)Muttley D.
These bagels are worth the drive! But get there early in the day, they close pretty early...I went several times, because I just happened to be in Newton Center and they had just closed and it was only at around 2:30 or 3:00pm...I think they close at 2pm. If you want the best bagel, this is it! Also the earlier you get there, the more flavors you get to choose from, by 1:00 it gets sold out of a great many of the flavors...
(5)luke b.
Being Liam's brother, I too am a Jew of sorts. I was brought up with breakfasts of bagels, whitefish and lox and the GUILT! OY VEY! Anyway, Rosenfeld's knows how to make the Jew in me reeeeeeeeeeeal happy. These are some of the best bagels in the Boston Metro area. Yup... they are far away from me, but oh so worth the drive. These bagles are perfection: nice and crisp on the outside, very soft and chewy inside and oh so fresh. Even the cream cheese is fantastic Super fresh, not mass produced. You're wanting a bit of lox? Do it... it makes the most amazing bagel sandwich. Although it's best to get here pretty early in the morning, they still have some treates to choose from if you wake up late on a Satruday morning.
(5)Doug F.
I'm not from NY City and Rosenfeld is, without question, the best bagel place I know of. They're much better than Kupel's and the various of chains in the area.
(5)Amber A.
The best bagels in Boston by far. Love the sunflower, potato and chocolate chip. As other people have said, you have to get there early to get the best selection!
(5)S A.
To echo many others, as an ex-New Yorker and justified bagel snob, I give Rosenfeld Bagel Company a super thumbs up. I rescind ongoing whining about there not being a bagel in Boston worth eating. Well worth the trip to Newton. Small, yes, but that's not a bad thing; chewy inside, crispy on the outside, this is indeed a real bagel! Not a roll shaped like a bagel. While nothing matches David's on 1st Ave. in NY Rosenfeld's has my vote for Boston's best...
(5)Julian H.
Excellent bagels. Better, in fact, than the H&H bagels that Zathmary's used to import from NYC, and about half the price. I periodically make the trek all the way from the South End. This is an old school bagel shop, so if you're looking for one of those double chocolate, asiago cheese, muffiniod super twist bagel monstrosities, it might not be the spot for you.
(5)Denis G.
awesome. as a native new yawker, i have a specific expectation for bagels. not many places in the Boston area did it for me. i used to drive to arlington on the weekend (bagels, etc.?) when i lived in Charletown, to give you some idea. i found Rosenfeld's while house hunting and actually began getting bagels there before we moved to Newton. Great selection of bagels/cream cheese/lox. love it.
(5)Sean G.
I'm from North Jersey, and am somewhat of a bagel snob.. I've never had a bagel I've truly enjoyed since I moved to Boston in 2001, but I kept hearing things about Rosenfeld's, especially since I moved to Watertown.. We finally got over there this morning, and I have to say that there was something behind all the hype. Unfortunately, they were sold out of many varieties by the time we got there (just before closing), but I was able to snag an Everything bagel which was delicious.. The texture that is lacking in almost all of the bagels I've had here in Boston was nearly perfect. I plan on waking up a bit earlier and getting there in the morning tomorrow to give it another spin and try out some of their other flavors!
(4)Kim V.
Although tucked away and sort of hidden in Newton Centre (it took my boyfriend, who has lived in the Newton area for years, forever to actually find the place), the bagels are surely the best around. Very friendly staff and usually a great selection of bagels (just make sure you get there well before noon since they seem to run out of bagels around that time). The poppy bagel toasted with cream cheese is heavenly! I definitely recommend Rosenfelds if you haven't tried it out - just make sure you have an idea where you are going because you could end up driving around in circles and opting to go to one of the MANY Newton Centre Starbucks' instead for a bagel (which I do NOT recommend).
(5)Erik K.
Excellent bagels. And it's the only place I've seen bialy outside New York.
(4)Neeia G.
Both bagels and the cream cheese are okay. Not that great. Bagel rising is better.
(3)Miss H.
I will NEVER go back to this place. The bagels and challah are as good as everyone says, but they were so RUDE. I went for the first time last weekend after reading about them in the Best of issue of in the Improper Bostonian. No matter how good a product is, I refuse to go back to places where the customer service is just awful. It was pretty apparent how miserable the employees were to be there on a Sunday morning and as a result we were treated like crap. Nobody asked "Can I help you?" when I stepped up to the counter. When my husband asked if there was any more coffee left, the employee very grudgingly said "Oh, I guess I can make you some more if you want." So he just said "Forget it." The people working there looked angry and miserable and it made me so uncomfortable to order - as if I was troubling them even more. Then I proceeded to order a dozen bagels and lost count while I was ordering and I asked them if I had a dozen and she said yes without actually checking. When I got home I only had 11 bagels - what jerks! It's unfortunate that their bagels are so good, but I will never go back there again and neither will my husband (he left pretty ticked about the experience). Do not be surprised if you go there and they treat you like crap.
(1)Mike R.
As someone who grew up eating New York bagels, Rosenfeld's is among the closest that Boston has - truly one of the very few places in the area that can compare. I have only had their bagels and bialys, although I've heard good things about their challah and other baked stuff. It's a small place and as others have mentioned, it's hard to find and not too easy to park - but it's 2 blocks from the Green Line and definitely worth the trip to Newton Center. Nothing fancy, but good high-quality bagels and other stuff.
(5)Sam S.
I really wanted to like Rosenfeld's, especially having heard so much about it. Having grown up in a mecca for bagels I knew what to expect -- however Rosenfelds, while being decent, doesn't come close to meeting their hype or expectations. The bagels are not the crispy outside, chewy inside that I was really hoping for. If that is the bagel experience you are looking for, check out Bagel World, in Reading and a couple of other locations on the north shore.
(2)Holly M.
I'm gonna have to be completely honest here, my Mom (that lives in CT) loves this place. She harasses me every time she thinks I am coming home to bring her a delectable treat from Rosenfelds. On holidays, I have had to battle hordes of little old ladies to get to the challah, pastries, and bagels. It can be painful! Their egg bagels are so so so good and it is NY style all the way, which is probably why Mama is so in love. Its a bit hard to find, but get there early on weekends to avoid the masses.
(4)J B.
Great bagels, many varieties of cream cheese (lox, plain, chive, light plain, light chive, walnut, blueberry, boursin, and others i can not remember) in many sized container options. Cheap. Friendly. Small shop. Always very fresh and often still warm from being cooked. I love this place!
(5)Kate S.
On the subject of bagels, this place is the absolute best. It is the panacea for those of us seeking a cure to the bagel blues. Granted, the place is tiny and somewhat dingy, but the bagels are always crisp on the outside with hot, yummy, squishy bagel-ness on the inside. The cream cheese is EXCELLENT. My favorites are the smoked salmon spread and the chive spread. The registers are old, and I don't think they accept credit cards, which is a major bummer. Also, you have to get there early in the morning before they run out. But, I'm telling you, it's WORTH IT. I am so hungry now.
(5)S H.
As Kristin S. said, this place is a family run bagel factory. There are three reasons to go there: - fresh hot bagels - lots of cream cheese flavors - challah bread If you're looking for bagel sandwiches, lunchtime specials, etc, you won't find them here. Rosenfeld Bagels has the best bagels in Boston, and I've looked hard. You'll see no one compares them to other Boston places, only NYC (except for Jenny N who loves Panera & Einstein) -- they really are the best! UPDATE: Watch out for days where they don't make bagels. You'll get a nasty crunchy surprise and they won't tell you. Even calling ahead won't help -- look for steamy windows on cold days.
(4)Lala L.
Fresh bagels with the best selection of cream cheese, ranging from sun-dried tomato with dill, to olive. Of course there's the classic veggie, chive, and some sweet varieties too. You can pick the cream cheese from the frig yourself or order it on your bagel.
(4)Barbara M.
best bagels in MA!
(5)Dorian G.
As a native of New York City, let's just say that I know a thing or two about bagels. These bagels are daaaaaamn good for being made 300 miles north of NYC. I used to wait for the bus in front of it and at least once a week I'd have to treat myselff to an onion bagel with a lox shmear (lox cream cheese). The worse my breath (onion bagel and cream cheese mixed with fish and onions!) the better the morning.
(5)