Bagel Beanery

I have a problem. I'm completely, hopelessly addicted to garlic. I'm ready to come clean now. I started this review ready to accuse the Bagel Beanery of putting drugs in their Meatless Magic sandwich. Now I realize that it's not their problem. It's mine. I'm Brian Miller, and I'm addicted to garlic hummous.

I rode my bike to work today, all smug in the knowledge that I wasn't wasting any gas or polluting the atmosphere. Fittingly, I also forgot to pack a lunch which shut me up quickly when the noon-hour rolled around. I had to eat, and I wasn't sure which walking-distance establishment made the most sense. Sure, there's the Beijing Kitchen 7 blocks away. Sure, 10 blocks away the downtown dining scene beckons with the promise of the Dog Pit. Heck, the incomprable Cottage Bar is only a few blocks down Fulton St.

None of those places were on the docket for today though, as Von suggested I give the Meatless Magic sandwich from Bagel Beanery a try. Like the call of the crack dealer ("First hit's free!") he convinced me to walk the scant 6 blocks and order one up.

I wasn't prepared. I didn't know what to expect. It's just not fair. Now, I'm sitting here a scant 12 minutes after finishing my sandwich and bag of incredibly-perfect bagel chips wondering how to get more. Should I rob my parents? Talk a walk on the dark side of town hoping to score a cheap hit? Do drug dealers even sell hummous? The answer to all these questions, sadly, is "No." I'll have to wait.

In the meantime, if you visit Bagel Beanery, order up a #14, buckle up, and prepare to live the dark life of an addict. Yes, it's that good. The seemingly simple concoction of a honey wheat bagel, garlic hummous, melted provolone chese and oregano (served open face, toasted of course) will take you by surprise. It'll leave you gasping for air in the gutter like a frat-boy after a hard night of partying. You'll forget where you live and exist in an all-consuming hummous-craving fog...

...or, you'll just love the sandwich and revel in the fact that $5.63 bought you an incredibly tasty sandwich, a bag of equally-addictive homemade bagel chips and a medium pop.

Either way, it's worth the trip.