My new favorite bagel shop in the area. Very similar to Zuckers bagels in NYC. Crispy outside with a nice soft and chewy inside. Not as heavy as Brooklyn Bagels. It was worth the hour round trip this morning :-)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jesse proctor
Crispy exterior, fluffy middle and for me, just the right amount of chew, Issacs makes a very good bagel (and pastry!) that rivals Benchwarmers and the formerly open Buttons and Co bagel shop in Asheville NC. While I prefer the texture of an Issac’s bagel to these other Carolina bagel legends Issac’s falls slightly short for me on flavor and ingredient quality. Don’t get me wrong, these are clearly good ingredients but they are not the best. I would happily pay more for a bagel proofed with such care to be made with heirloom stone ground flour and scratch made cream cheese as well. Cream cheeses and bagel toppings are all very nice but don’t have the balance or pack the punch I want from a texturally perfect bagel. You can taste that long overnight proof in this really tasty dough. I wish I could taste that hearty heirloom grain as well. Issac’s nails the bagel making process and is a little less than perfect. Order ahead or visit on a week day to avoid waiting in their well deserved lines.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Daniel Mullaney
Very good, hardworking staff, very good bagels and delicious pastries. I love the sesame bagel and burnt jalapeno cream cheese or onion bagel with scallion dill cream cheese. The open face lox sandwich is delicious and you should really try a pastry or dessert, like their fudgy brownies. Order online for a quick pickup. Strictly take-out with a few outdoor two tops on the sidewalk next to the vintage shop. Easily the best bagels I've had in North Carolina.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brownie, Bagel and Lox
Nancy Harmon
Best bagels in Durham NC. Great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kennedy Kirtland
Been craving a real bagel, and this hit the spot! Got a BEC and plain on plain. Great price point for the quality. 10/10 recommend. :)
Food: 5
Service: 5
Deanna Hardesty
Finally a good bagel spot in Durham! The bagels were so good and the ingredients were very fresh. Loved the lox. All around a great place to grab breakfast or lunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bagel and Lox
Victoria Beasley
The MOST perfect breakfast sandwich there ever was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Iris Hime
The best Lox Bagels in town. Their coffee is delicious, too. They have Durham brewed kombucha. It's refreshing and delicious, and I love drinking it after my meal.Parking: Few parking spaces.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lox, Bagel and Lox, Everything Bagel with Dill Cream Cheese, Avocado, Everything and Sesame Bagels
Erica Bentley
The dill scallion (and really all of the cream cheese flavors) are out of this world.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Everything Bagel with Dill Cream Cheese
D K
Nice place but expensiveA bagel is $2.95, a bagel with butter is $4.83So a $1.88 for a smear of butterBagel was good though
Bagels were delicious and the burnt jalapeno cream cheese is great on the everything bagel.
Jonathan Blitz
Holy Bagels Batman!!! Let’s face it, most of the bagels you get in the south are actually round bread. These are every bit as good as New York or Montreal. The owner is an amazing expert who knows deep secrets of fermentation science and lives to create a world-class product. Just go there and you’ll understand.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Deana Harley
Came here for the first time by random, and was so impressed. Bacon egg and cheese was DELICIOUS, and the latte was incredible as well. Will most definitely be coming back very soon!!
David Chang
Their everything bagels are loaded with flavor, and the exterior has that awesome crunchy texture that youre looking for. They have a lot of unique and delicious cream cheeses like Sichuan chili and burnt jalapeno. Flavors and textures are all amazing. I highly recommend the whitefish open-faced. There's not a lot of space inside to eat so grab it to go. You won't be disappointed!!!
My new favorite bagel shop in the area. Very similar to Zuckers bagels in NYC. Crispy outside with a nice soft and chewy inside. Not as heavy as Brooklyn Bagels. It was worth the hour round trip this morning :-)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Crispy exterior, fluffy middle and for me, just the right amount of chew, Issacs makes a very good bagel (and pastry!) that rivals Benchwarmers and the formerly open Buttons and Co bagel shop in Asheville NC. While I prefer the texture of an Issac’s bagel to these other Carolina bagel legends Issac’s falls slightly short for me on flavor and ingredient quality. Don’t get me wrong, these are clearly good ingredients but they are not the best. I would happily pay more for a bagel proofed with such care to be made with heirloom stone ground flour and scratch made cream cheese as well. Cream cheeses and bagel toppings are all very nice but don’t have the balance or pack the punch I want from a texturally perfect bagel. You can taste that long overnight proof in this really tasty dough. I wish I could taste that hearty heirloom grain as well. Issac’s nails the bagel making process and is a little less than perfect. Order ahead or visit on a week day to avoid waiting in their well deserved lines.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Very good, hardworking staff, very good bagels and delicious pastries. I love the sesame bagel and burnt jalapeno cream cheese or onion bagel with scallion dill cream cheese. The open face lox sandwich is delicious and you should really try a pastry or dessert, like their fudgy brownies. Order online for a quick pickup. Strictly take-out with a few outdoor two tops on the sidewalk next to the vintage shop. Easily the best bagels I've had in North Carolina.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brownie, Bagel and Lox
Best bagels in Durham NC. Great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been craving a real bagel, and this hit the spot! Got a BEC and plain on plain. Great price point for the quality. 10/10 recommend. :)
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally a good bagel spot in Durham! The bagels were so good and the ingredients were very fresh. Loved the lox. All around a great place to grab breakfast or lunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bagel and Lox
The MOST perfect breakfast sandwich there ever was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best Lox Bagels in town. Their coffee is delicious, too. They have Durham brewed kombucha. It's refreshing and delicious, and I love drinking it after my meal.Parking: Few parking spaces.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lox, Bagel and Lox, Everything Bagel with Dill Cream Cheese, Avocado, Everything and Sesame Bagels
The dill scallion (and really all of the cream cheese flavors) are out of this world.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Everything Bagel with Dill Cream Cheese
Nice place but expensiveA bagel is $2.95, a bagel with butter is $4.83So a $1.88 for a smear of butterBagel was good though
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing lox bagel!
Bagels were delicious and the burnt jalapeno cream cheese is great on the everything bagel.
Holy Bagels Batman!!! Let’s face it, most of the bagels you get in the south are actually round bread. These are every bit as good as New York or Montreal. The owner is an amazing expert who knows deep secrets of fermentation science and lives to create a world-class product. Just go there and you’ll understand.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for the first time by random, and was so impressed. Bacon egg and cheese was DELICIOUS, and the latte was incredible as well. Will most definitely be coming back very soon!!
Their everything bagels are loaded with flavor, and the exterior has that awesome crunchy texture that youre looking for. They have a lot of unique and delicious cream cheeses like Sichuan chili and burnt jalapeno. Flavors and textures are all amazing. I highly recommend the whitefish open-faced. There's not a lot of space inside to eat so grab it to go. You won't be disappointed!!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5