Katz Bagel Bakery — Restaurant in Chelsea

For a long time, Katz has been heralded as one of the best bagels in the GBA, so I was excited to finally give it a try this past weekend. I rolled in around 7 a.m. (their new opening time) and found a limited selection of bagels and a 20-minute wait for the hot dogs. While waiting, I got to talk to some loyal locals who’ve been coming to this spot for decades. The general consensus was that the quality has been slipping the past few years.

After a 30-minute wait, I walked out with a mix of bagels, their famous pizza bagels, hot dogs, and a blueberry cheesecake. The hot dog was seemingly unassuming, but the pillowy bun, juicy dog, and just the right zing of mustard made it a simple yet satisfying treat. Sure, it might be a bit hefty for breakfast, but it felt just right since I was starving.

Now, the pizza bagel. Sadly, this reimagined classic fell a bit flat, literally. Pressing the bagel into “pizza form” squashed all its fluffy air pockets, leaving a chewy base that lacked the crispy charm of pizza or the bounce of a bagel. To make matters worse, the tomato sauce and mozzarella toppings were spread so thin they barely made an impression. As for the regular bagels, they were solid but not exactly worth a special trip. Good for a local stop, but not quite...

Hands down the best bagels around. The pizza bagels should be referred to as one of the wonders of the world. These aren't the crappy things from the TV commercials with a catchy [but true] jingle, these will have you reconsidering the meaning of life. These pizza bagels are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late night snack. I've supplied many a drunk friend with these and nothing helps prevent (or cure) a hangover quite like a Katz pizza bagel.

Let's not forget about the bagel dog. Delicious hot dog wrapped in a bagel, what's not to love?

The guys at the bakery are nice but they're busy changing the world one bagel at a time so they may be a little short and to the point sometimes. Don't take offense to this, just tell them what you want, pay, then go home (or to your car) and enjoy the best bagel you've ever had.

It's also recommended if you have a large enough order - especially of pizza bagels - to call ahead. It's a popular item and if they don't have the quantity you want on hand, they'll get a new batch going for you and have them ready by the...

I would give it 5 stars if you are looking to play a practical joke on someone. The joke goes like this, bring a friend from out of state and claim you are bringing them to the best bagel shop in Boston. Then when you get there they will see that the bagels are mediocre at best and it’s the only bagel shop in Boston (maybe the country) that puts the cream cheese on the side. Want a drink? You get to choose from a vending machine(not joking). When you open your bag outside (no place to eat inside) you will notice the counter server with the abrasive attitude didn’t include a plastic knife to spread the cream cheese. You can get all this for $3. Truly one of the best laughable disappointing experiences here in Boston. So for practical jokes 5 stars. For actual bagel cuisine -1 star. For an actual good bagel head to better...