The Blue House Bagel Co. was another business I had unreasonably gargantuan expectations for. I…read morehave wanted to visit for a very long time, and heard extremely positive things about it. Never mind its awards. So when I finally went this morning, I was afraid the bar was set at a level it couldn't possibly live up to. Somehow, it still blew me away. It's an adorable building (yes, it is a blue house). The side door main entrance was open and clearly marked, and then the layout inside was so well thought out and it couldn't have been easier to navigate as a first time customer. I had a pretty good idea of wanted I wanted ahead of time, and was just hoping that even though it was a weekday, they weren't already sold out of anything (I know they get extremely busy and have a very devoted following). They had been posting a lot about their Egyptian dukkah bagels. I love dukkah (they use cardamom, sesame seed, clove, paprika, fennel & E.V.O.O.), so I ordered that as my bagel choice for their Blue House sandwich. They have many brilliant sandwich options as well as the option to build your own. They also have many house made schmears, pastries and other goodies. They even do stuffed bagels. I believe they are a completely, if not predominantly, sourdough based bakery. So my sandwich, the Blue House, had egg, white cheddar, heirloom tomato, greens, and herb aioli. Watching them make the sandwich was incredible and a treat in itself. The level of care and craftsmanship they put into each sandwich is rare. I could tell which one was mine and just had a blast watching! Very happy foodie. The bagel was toasted just enough, but the chewy sourdough texture wasn't lost. It was a remarkable bagel. One of the best I have ever had. I hesitate to call it the best after just one visit, but it was good enough to entertain that thought. The sourdough recipe also made it extremely light and it agreed with my finicky health/dietary needs better than any other bagel I've had in years. The topping ratios were just perfect. Rarely do bagel sandwiches with an aioli have enough, and they put plenty without making it overly saucy. Just brilliant sandwich construction, which really is not taken seriously enough. I brought a French toast bagel to my mom with a tub of their apple & honey cream cheese, which I tasted of course. Whipped and super light. Flavor unlike any other schmear I've had before. It was an incredible flavor. My mind really was blown. Everyone working was cheerful, warm, and friendly. It was a wonderful environment, and from what I had seen on social media it seems like it's always that way and I great place to be with passionate people behind it. I honestly see it being very hard to go to another bagel shop any time soon. This was just an overall fabulous experience. Every aspect. I cannot wait to go back. I will say it had very steady business around 8:45 on a Wednesday, so be prepared for them to be busy.
