There’s nothing higher than discovering a restaurant that may persistently ship your favourite consolation meals. Fortunately in Flagstaff, it’s simpler to return by than you’d suppose.
In my case, my consolation meals is a bagel. What some could seek advice from as easy is the right clean slate for artistic culinary combos. At house, a toasted bagel with a shmear of cream cheese is a fast snack. At a restaurant, a bagel sandwich could be a delicacy.
Biff’s Bagels and Fats Bagels are my two go-to outlets on the town. I began to ask round to see which one the individuals of Flagstaff appreciated extra. There have been combined responses and a shocking quantity of people that hadn’t been to both, so I took issues into my very own arms.
Biff’s Bagels is a regionally praised, mom-and-pop bagel joint that opened 24 years in the past. The store was named after the proprietor’s beloved household canine, who’s the face of the corporate and their message of supporting family-run companies.
John Conley, the proprietor of Fats Olives and Salsa Brava, opened Fats Bagels on the east aspect of city in December 2023. Conley studied the artwork of the New York bagel to uphold his repute as a high-quality restaurant proprietor, though his six Better of Flag awards between his two eating places already do this.
I went to each bagel locations to select up my ordinary order, which is a traditional breakfast bagel sandwich: eggs, cheese and I get ham, on a toasted all the pieces bagel.
Whereas on this journey to search out the right bagel, I in contrast the 2 primarily based on three standards; location, menu and high quality of meals. Disclaimer: Each of those institutions have scrumptious meals; nonetheless, one does stand out greater than the opposite.
Biff’s Bagels is situated on Beaver Road, subsequent to the practice tracks. The realm promotes walkability, which is suited to weekend crowds if you end up pressured to park three blocks away.
The prime location has contributed to Biff’s making a reputation for itself throughout the group. Macy’s European Espresso Home, situated throughout the road, virtually at all times has day-old bagels from Biff’s on the market. In addition they promote bagels to Bookmans Leisure Trade, proving the dough reaches far and extensive in our city.
Biff’s eating room is spacious and open. There are about six bar stools for the 2 high-top tables and two lengthy bar-style counters. Undoubtedly the spot for you in the event you’ve ever wished to eat a bagel standing up.
Fats Bagels is situated on the east aspect of city, down Route 66. The additional drive might be justified by the mini drive-through that’s by no means too full.
Fats Bagels’ eating room is a bit more inviting, with a becoming quantity of tables and loads of chairs.
The following space I checked out for comparability was the menu. Biff’s Bagels has an ordinary menu consisting of bagels with shmear and breakfast, cold and warm bagel sandwiches. The store additionally supplies all kinds of flavors for bagels and cream cheese like rosemary garlic bagels, spicy all the pieces bagels or sriracha cream cheese, the combos are countless.
The spicy all the pieces bagel, recognized at Biff’s because the spicy mish mash, is a scrumptious tackle a traditional bagel. The one totally different ingredient is crimson pepper flakes within the seasoning, which provides the right kick. This bagel is well-loved, which is obvious as a result of they’re out of it virtually each time I am going.
Biff’s is properly conscious of the group’s love for the spicy mish mash, in order that they got here up with a compromise. The shop presents bottles of normal and spicy mish mash seasoning for purchasers to placed on their bagels at house.
Fats Bagels won’t have their very own spicy take, however what they lack with bagel and cream cheese flavors, they make up for with an intensive menu of distinctive choices for the standard bagel store. They provide bagels with cream cheese in addition to scorching breakfast bagels, breakfast burritos, bagel sammies, croissants, salads, parfaits and even steel-cut oats.
Fats Olive’s Italian menu impressed the Fats Bagels menu with the breakfast-ified model of the signature Miss Piggy pizza.
Now for the bagel I ordered from every: Biff’s didn’t have spicy or plain mish mash, which was disappointing however led me to strive rosemary garlic, which was a nice shock. The meat, cheese and egg had been nothing out of the peculiar, not dangerous however nothing to jot down house about. The bagel itself, which I requested for toasted, got here out burnt and chewy, a standard theme I’ve seen at Biff’s.
I’d fee the bagel from Biff’s a 7/10, with bonus factors for the flavour of the rosemary garlic bagel. Sadly, it wasn’t the perfect bagel I’ve had from Biff’s, and for $11, it was somewhat disappointing.
At Fats Bagels, I obtained the traditional breakfast sandwich on a toasted all the pieces bagel. The bagel was cooked completely, sustaining the crunchy crust and the mushy inside the bagel. The “all the pieces” seasoning was extra flavorful than any I’ve had earlier than, from Biff’s or wherever else.
Having the right bagel is a good basis, however having good components is simply as necessary. Fortunately, that was not an issue for Fats Bagels. The eggs, cheese and meat had been clearly restaurant high quality, not like Biff’s which tastes like one thing I might make at house with somewhat observe. Fats Bagels’ high quality components permit for every component to play the right half within the general bagel-sandwich expertise.
I’d fee this bagel a ten/10. It’s the cheaper choice out of the 2 and was a way more satisfying meal than Biff’s.
I believe it’s apparent that Fats Bagels is my winner by now. I need to emphasize that each locations are nice native eating choices. Nevertheless, it’s simply as necessary to department out and help totally different native companies in Flagstaff. Fats Bagels is a brand new restaurant and desires simply as a lot love as Biff’s to turn out to be the city staple it deserves to be.