La Bagel

For residents of Edison, New Jersey, a good bagel is more than just breakfast; it's a way of life. La Bagel, located on Lincoln Highway, has been serving our community with its distinct approach to this beloved staple. While initial appearances might not always tell the full story, a deeper dive into what makes La Bagel special reveals a commitment to flavor and a unique texture that has won over many local palates. In a state renowned for its bagel prowess, La Bagel offers its own take on what a truly satisfying bagel experience can be.

Our New Jersey towns thrive on local businesses that become part of our daily routines, offering not just products but also a sense of community. La Bagel, with its wide array of offerings beyond just bagels, aims to be that versatile spot for breakfast, lunch, and catering needs. While, like any busy establishment, it may have moments of challenge, its core product – the bagel itself – holds a strong appeal for many. This article will provide you with an overview of La Bagel in Edison, detailing its location, its extensive menu, key features, and what makes it a suitable, albeit sometimes debated, option for locals seeking their daily bagel fix.

La Bagel is conveniently situated at 1791 Lincoln Hwy, Edison, NJ 08817, USA. Lincoln Highway, also known as Route 27, is a significant and easily navigable thoroughfare in Edison, ensuring that the bagel shop is readily accessible for residents throughout the township and from neighboring areas in New Jersey. Its location on a main road provides good visibility and straightforward directions for those driving.

Being on a major highway, La Bagel generally benefits from available parking, often within a plaza or strip mall setting. This accessibility for vehicles is a practical advantage for customers looking to quickly pick up their orders or dine in. While specific parking lot sizes can vary, the overall convenience of its location on a well-trafficked road makes it a practical stop for daily commuters, families, and anyone running errands in Edison, contributing to its suitability as a local go-to spot for bagels and more in New Jersey.

La Bagel offers a comprehensive menu that extends well beyond just bagels, providing a full range of breakfast and lunch options, aiming to cater to diverse tastes in the Edison community.

• Extensive Bagel and Spread Selection: Their core offering includes a wide variety of "hand rolled & baked Fresh throughout the day" bagels, with choices such as plain, cinnamon raisin, rye, whole wheat, multigrain, low curb, blueberry, egg, onion, garlic, everything, whole wheat everything, sesame, poppy, and even unique flavors like chocolate chip, Oreo, Captain Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Coco Puff, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Tie Dye. They also offer a generous selection of cream cheese flavors, including plain, vegetable, scallion, walnut raisin, jalapeño, strawberry, olive, and lox spread.
• Breakfast Sandwiches and Platters: La Bagel provides a wide array of breakfast sandwiches, including classic egg and cheese combinations with various meats (bacon, pork roll, sausage, ham, turkey bacon, roast beef, pastrami). Specialty egg sandwiches like the "Garden State Specialty Sandwich" (egg whites with green peppers, tomatoes, red onions, and avocado) and breakfast platters (with home fries or hash browns and toast) are also available.
• Pancakes and French Toast: For those preferring a hot breakfast, they offer buttermilk pancakes (plain, chocolate chip, blueberry) and French toast, served with butter and syrup.
• Full Deli and Lunch Menu: Beyond breakfast, La Bagel features an extensive deli menu. This includes cold sandwiches (e.g., American Hero, Bagel and Lox, various turkey and ham options, chicken, egg, tuna, salmon, whitefish salads), hot sandwiches (e.g., Prime Hot Corned Beef, Philly Cheesesteak, Hot Roast Beef, Grilled Chicken options, Gyro), wraps (e.g., Ham and Cheese, Healthy, Mediterranean, BBQ Chicken, Buffalo, Caesar), quesadillas, triple-decker clubs, and hot platters (e.g., Open Roast Beef, Chicken Fingers).
• Salads and Side Orders: They offer a variety of salad platters (Greek, Caesar, Garden) and deli salads by the pound (potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw). Side orders include home fries, hash browns, French fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks.
• Fresh Baked Goods: In addition to bagels, they offer other freshly baked items such as muffins (various flavors), croissants, and crumb cake.
• Beverages: A selection of hot drinks (coffee, espresso, tea) and cold drinks (iced coffee, iced frappe, smoothies, bottled beverages) are available to complement any meal.
• Catering Services: La Bagel provides catering for all occasions, including business lunches, office parties, birthday parties, and holiday parties, offering platters of bagels, sandwiches, salads, and more.

La Bagel in Edison presents several features and highlights that define its unique appeal and customer experience within the New Jersey bagel scene.

• Exceptional Bagel Texture and Flavor: Many customers rave about the bagels themselves, noting they have "so much flavor" even without cream cheese, and possess a desirable texture that is "kinda crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside." This distinct chewiness is often highlighted as a key differentiator.
• Wide Variety of Bagels and Spreads: The extensive range of bagel flavors, from classic to more inventive options, paired with a broad selection of cream cheeses (including excellent choices like the scallion cream cheese), allows for significant customization and caters to diverse tastes.
• Speedy Service (Often): Despite often having "all the other customers," service can be "very quick," indicating an efficient operation during busy periods, which is crucial for a popular breakfast spot.
• Comprehensive Menu: Beyond bagels, the full deli menu with breakfast sandwiches, hot and cold lunch sandwiches, platters, salads, and other baked goods makes it a versatile establishment for all-day dining.
• High-Quality Base Product: The sentiment that "the more I chewed the better the bagel tasted" suggests a fundamental quality in the bagel dough itself, a hallmark of a good bagel.
• Potential for Improvement in Customer Service and Cleanliness: While some customers highlight positive experiences with speed, other recent reviews indicate significant concerns regarding employee behavior ("rude behavior," "appalling" response to inquiries) and cleanliness ("witnessing bagels getting kicked around"). These are areas noted by customers that detract from the overall experience.
• Order Accuracy Issues: Some reviews suggest issues with order accuracy, including missing items or incorrect sandwiches, and unhelpful responses when trying to resolve these problems.

For those in Edison, New Jersey, looking to visit or contact La Bagel, here is the essential information:

Address: 1791 Lincoln Hwy, Edison, NJ 08817, USA

Phone: (732) 339-1333

Mobile Phone: +1 732-339-1333

La Bagel is typically open from early morning (around 5:00 AM) until early afternoon (around 1:40 PM), seven days a week. It is always advisable to call ahead for specific inquiries, large catering orders, or to confirm current operating hours, especially around holidays, to ensure the best possible experience during your visit.

La Bagel in Edison, New Jersey, represents a quintessential local bagel shop experience, offering a mix of compelling strengths and areas that customers hope to see improved. Its strategic location on Lincoln Highway makes it highly accessible for the bustling daily lives of Edison residents, ensuring a convenient stop for breakfast or lunch. The primary allure for locals undoubtedly lies in the bagels themselves, which many describe as having a superior "crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside" texture and abundant flavor, even without additional spreads. The "scallion cream" also receives specific praise, highlighting the quality of their complementary offerings.

For those seeking a comprehensive meal, La Bagel's extensive menu, spanning a vast array of bagel types, breakfast sandwiches, lunch options, and even catering, provides a versatile solution for various cravings and occasions. The general speed of service, even during busy periods, is another attractive feature for New Jersey locals who appreciate efficiency. However, it's important for potential visitors to be aware of the recent customer feedback regarding consistency in service and cleanliness. While many rave about the taste and texture of the bagels, some experiences highlight a need for more attentive customer interaction and adherence to hygiene standards.

Despite these noted challenges, the core product — the bagel itself — holds significant appeal, often considered among the best by those who prioritize its unique flavor and texture. For Edison residents willing to focus on the product and potentially navigate occasional service inconsistencies, La Bagel remains a strong contender for their local bagel fix. It's a place that continues to draw customers based on the strength of its freshly baked goods, proving that for many, a great bagel can outweigh other considerations, making it a suitable, albeit complex, part of our vibrant New Jersey food scene.

La Bagel

1791 Lincoln Hwy, Edison, NJ 08817, USA