Bagelry — Restaurant in Santa Cruz

The Bagelry is a Santa Cruz staple and are known for having some of the best bagel sandwiches in town. Although only open for a few hours during the day, they are a great grab-and-go spot on your way to work or when you're craving a carby snack.

Most people like myself order a bagel sandwich (~$5) where you select from a wide variety of bagels and either a pre-made sandwich spread or a build-your-own. A great thing about their sandwiches is that they load each side of the bagel with spread instead of simply 'sandwiching' it between the two circular grains. What I also love about this spot is that they have a dedicated vegan menu for those that are avoiding animal products.

I recently enjoyed their New Delhi bagel sandwich - a tofu spread with tomato and red pepper, cashews, and raisins in between a tomato basil bagel. My bagel was loaded with so much flavor and the firm tofu they used made for a very good, creamy spread; no added cholesterol from dairy needed!

Prior to the pandemic, we would often order coffee and bagels here for pickup for events. You are able to pre-order a few days prior (and they prefer you order the week of the event) but need to return the coffee... container? (I don't drink coffee so forgive me for not knowing the term lol)

Street parking is usually...

Staff was good: long line moved quick. Friendly staff.

Bagel had some pleasing springiness but the overall experience was dense and dry. I ordered two different bagels, toasted: Oatmeal Date w/ Honey Butter and Blueberry w/ Mixed Berry Cream Cheese. These are very simple bagels.

The toasting was inadequate. Barely a kiss of heat. No warmth or toastines. They are very stingy w/ toppings. Barely a schmear of butter. I almost laughed when I looked at the lack of butter. How can they charge and then give basically 1/3 of a teaspoon of butter? You want to see the toppings on your bagel not imagine them.

The amount of cream cheese was also inadequate. And the lack of proper toasting was just an unpleasant experience.

I give the actual bagel flavor/texture a 2.5/5 and I give the "toppings" 1/5. The toasting was a 0/5. They didn't forget to toast it. They just don't know how to toast it at all.

Make the customer feel butter rich when they order a honey butter bagel. They might actually want to see and taste the honey butter.

My wife tried the GF bagel and said "if this was the first bagel I ever had, then I would just think bagels weren't very good." It was...

The delivery driver swore at me (won’t repeat the words here) and threatened me saying, “ I know where you live,” and the manager said there’s nothing they can do!!! That’s so scary...he said this driver guy is famous for his bad temper and he is the best delivery driver we’ve got.

Wow!!! I never heard of an employer who allows their employees to swear and threaten customers. Like that’s okay?

I feel sorry for the staff who have to work with that scary mean man every day. It must be awful knowing that behavior is acceptable at the workplace and still having to go there to work to earn money.

Beware, you may be sworn at and threatened especially if you are a female if you visit the Bagelry!!! Recommend avoiding it at all costs if you value feeling safe and don’t want to risk a man ruining your day when he verbally attacks you.

What an absolutely frightening experience!!! Please be careful and safe out there everyone. I’m trying to contact the owner, John Hamstra (Linked-In is private, Instagram is private) to let him know directly, but can’t find his contact information, hence...