Bagel Smith   

189 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-218-7414

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Remember when everything bagels hit the market? They took over. Not to say that Americans don't appreciate the sublime, but we really are into sensory overload, even when it comes to breakfast (just look at a cereal aisle). Bagelsmith gives us all we could want in terms of variety, and they're big, to boot. Pumpernickel, onion, garlic, sesame, and the rest of the standards are always on hand, and there are three different kinds of everything bagel -- wheat, regular, and egg -- as well as spreads like bacon cheddar cream cheese, with hunks of cheddar and big pieces of bacon. Lest the vegans freak out, there are also numerous kinds of tofu cream cheese. Owner Paul Furtaw, born and raised in Brooklyn, has been making bagels most of his adult life and prepares them, despite the newfangled spreads, the old school way. All are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled and have crispy bottoms with a chewy inside. And his location is a score, both for him and his customers: right around the corner from the Bedford Avenue L station.