The Bagel Cafe

Well, needless to say, it's been a crazy fall, and i haven't had much time for eating eggs benny, let alone blogging! But, its a new year, and I'm going to try to promise more frequent blogging! 

Whats the first review of 2015? Why, it's everyone's favorite breakfast joint, The Bagel Cafe. Located on Duckworth Street in St. John's, the Bagel Cafe is (now, with the closing of Cora's and Smitty's) the only place to get eggs benny all day long in the downtown core! That's right, two of the chains that I reviewed in 2014 are now closed, lets hope that has everything to do with the development of local businesses and nothing to do with my blog! 

So, The Bagel Cafe. This is a great spot. It's a pretty unique place, and I ask everyone who visits to take a few moments to check out their funky wall decals, because they're pretty awesome. They're a fun blend of Newfoundland, hippie, jungle and general foolishness. I mean, really, where else can you get a jam jam in the fruit bowl? I arrived with a few friends, and they were super busy, but that's okay, we didn't have to wait long in the freezing cold. One thing I hate about the Bagel Cafe is their size. The porch is super small, and there are literally tables everywhere, so there isn't much room for waiting, or paying your bill. But space is limited in a downtown business. 

When we were seated, we received our coffee fairly quickly, and our waitress took our orders. Of course, I went for the traditional eggs benny, but they have so many options, including smoked salmon, spinach, and more! The cost of eggs benny is a bit steep at The Bagel Cafe, ranging from $15.99 to $16.99 (I don't think there's one more expensive than that). But, you literally get a mound of food. I've eaten at Bagel Cafe numerous times before, as it has been a frequented location by a few girlfriends and I after a night on the town. 

The plate is heaping. One thing I enjoy is that all their eggs benny come on your choice of bagel, I ordered multigrain. The ham is thickly cut, topped with perfectly poached eggs and covered in a layer of hollandaise, then to top it off, bacon slices! Really! Bacon! With eggs benny! You can't top that! Sometimes the bagel can become a bit soggy, but that's a trade off for the bacon! For the price, you also get a mountain of hashbrowns. Now, they are deep fried, and a bit greasy, but everything can;t be perfect. Overall, it's pretty good. The hollandaise, I suspect, is homemade. It's very rich with a good consistency, so I can't complain about that. They often tend to pile the hollandaise on, so you don't often need to request an extra side.  

Overall, the Bagel Cafe has a great eggs benny. It is on the expensive side for deep fried hashbrowns, but the portion is massive. While the atmosphere is fun, I always hate that I'm basically sitting with a stranger while eating, as the tables are so close together. I often hit at least three people with my bags or coat while I'm trying to pay at the counter too, but again, when you're that busy, who needs a hallway when you can fit more tables? As for the food, I must say, the eggs benny is very good! I can't complain, as I keep going back! Bagel Cafe, here's a 4.5/5!