High Point Bagels

 

Located at 1228 Eastchester Drive in High Point, High Point Bagels offers bagels, sandwiches, and baked goods. It is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily (though temporarily closed on Tuesdays). Catering is available.

 

Contrary to popular belief, good bagels are not hard to find in the Triad. You just need to know where to look. New Garden Bagels in Greensboro, with its Northern roots and traditional preparation (boil then bake), is one such spot, and High Point Bagels, which shares those attributes, is another. Though a bit rough around the edges, HPB offers unquestionably the best bagel in High Point and among the best in the region.

 

Owned by a Long Islander (with the accent and attitude to match), High Point Bagels lives up to its pedigree. Those of us from the New York/New Jersey area will find little to sneer at here as they nail the requisite (crisp outside/chewy inside) texture. And while the inventory varies, when HPB is fully stocked, the selection is hard to beat. On a good day, every flavor you’d expect (everything, pumpernickel, onion) will likely be accounted for, plus HPB offers the ever-elusive egg bagel as well as several types of spreads and cream cheeses (and muffins and black and white cookies and….you get the idea). You can’t go wrong with a breakfast sandwich here (they offer Taylor ham, which nets them another authenticity point) though if you arrive later in the day, the Reuben sandwiches, messy as they can be, are delicious. Try one on pumpernickel.

Though food quality is a constant, your experience may otherwise vary. High Point Bagels occupies a small, utilitarian (wall of license plates notwithstanding) space with only a few tables, and lines out the door aren’t uncommon. Staff are mostly friendly and frequently husting, but woe unto thee who ends up in line behind a large, complex order. In short, don’t go here if you’re in a hurry or want a quiet eat-in experience (unless it's an off-hour), but if you’re getting your bagels to go and have time to spare, you should be fine.