Bagel more than breakfast

I remember waiting for it to open. I’d slow down while driving past to check on the progress. “Today they painted!” “Look, they have chairs and tables!” “A sign is up!” It felt like eons    before the front door of New York Bagel Cafe and Deli opened, but I’m here to tell you that it was worth the wait.

Since its opening last summer, I can’t even count the number of times I have visited this downtown eatery, but it’s always been in the morning for one of their awesome bagels (the Everything Bagel is my personal favorite) with fl avored cream cheese spread or a frozen coffee treat. I’ve also enjoyed their breakfast bagel sandwiches on a multitude of occasions.

I even considered converting “Lunch Bites” into “Breakfast Bites” this month, but since they actually do serve lunch, I realized that was silly and unnecessary. What WAS necessary (and way overdue) was a trip to New York for lunch.

My guest and I arrived just after 1 p.m. and I immediately spotted the special on the sign and knew what I wanted – the Chicken Bacon Sensation ($9.50). Served with bagel chips or potato chips and a tea, this wrap comes stuffed with grilled chicken, bacon, onions (which I 86’d), lettuce, sliced carrots and a sensation sauce.

My guest ordered the Xtremo Chicken ($8.75), which sounded equally appealing. A bread, bagel or wrap of your choice is decorated with grilled chicken, prosciutto, mozzarella, roasted red peppers and a balsamic vinaigrette. They were out of prosciutto, but the smiling woman behind the counter kindly suggested bacon as a substitute, adding that if it wasn’t satisfactory they would be happy to make something else.

Oh, but it was satisfactory. My friend was impressed with the impromptu suggestion, noting the bacon seemed a natural fit with the filling Xtremo. The chicken was tender and warm throughout, and the bagel was better than many lunch sandwiches one could stumble upon in the area, he said.

I too enjoyed my wrap. The chicken was good and the crispness of the fresh lettuce and carrots made me happy. The real star was the sensation sauce, which was light, sweet, tangy and delicious. A friendly employee said it was mustard based – I’m thinking honey mustard because of the sweetness.

We were both too full to eat all of our crunchy bagel chips, but I tried a few. They were OK, but nothing spectacular. I think they would taste better dipped in a flavored cream cheese, although I think a lot of stuff would taste better dipped in a flavored cream cheese. A note for close talkers, the garlicky seasoning from the chips stayed with me for the day. Good for me … bad for others.

While I’m still a huge fan of this café’s breakfast, I will defi nitely be back again for lunch.

The Xtremo Chicken on an Everything Bagel is pictured alognside the Chicken Bacon Sensation from New York Bagel Cafe and Deli. Both meals were impressive.