Rosen's Bagels

Guest reviewer, Erin, here. I thought it would be most appropriate for me to do this review because:

A. It's the food of the Jews

B. I grew up with the guys who started this place*

C. Aemon doesn't actually know how to post yet, so I've been doing it on his behalf. He can't stop me!

Rosen's Bagels is currently located inside of a bar/coffeeshop in East Austin by the name of Brew and Brew. It took us awhile to find it, as the signage wasn't great and there was a lot of construction around the streets. Also, be prepared for (free before 6pm) street parking. 

On to the food! I ordered a rosemary and sea salt bagel with lox and plain cream cheese. 

The company says it mimics New York style bagels, and I have to agree that they nail the chewiness/firmness ratio, even though the two founders are from Kansas. 

The bagel itself was tasty. The flavors weren't overpowering, and both sides of the bagels were generously topped. They put the toppings on the side, and while there was a substantial amount of cream cheese, the amount of lox provided didn't even thinly cover both halves of the bagel, and while good, it wasn't inexpensive. I also would have preferred it to be warmed, which it wasn't. 

Rosemary and sea salt bagel with toppings.

I went with Mom and Cousin Katie. Mom ordered a taco rather than a bagel because they didn't have any sweet varieties of bagel and the sweet schmears weren't that enticing. Katie got the same bagel and cream cheese as me, so nothing new to report there. We took a couple to go, and I asked that they give them to me intact, but they were cut (pre-cut maybe?), so didn't remain as fresh as I'd have liked.

In conclusion, this was MUCH better than the other bagel options here, and the price of the bagels was reasonable. I agree with Mom that something sweet on the menu would be nice (chocolate chip, anyone?), and I wouldn't get lox again unless they upped the portion or lowered the price. I'm excited to see what they do when they get their own space (hopefully a little closer to central Austin because I'm pretty lazy). I give it a 4.3 out of 5 Aemon stars. But by far the only Austin bagel worth getting.

*Actually, I grew up with their older siblings, but whatever. It's totally cool that these two youngsters are more successful than me.