Gotham Bagels
Restaurateur Jordan Himmel missed the hand-rolled New York–style bagels he ate at Gotham Bagels when he was a student in Madison, Wisconsin, so this spring he decided to bring them south and opened two shops (2801 N. Lincoln Ave., Lake View; 1212 N. Dearborn St., Gold Coast). Pillowy with a slight bite, the bagels are available in sandwich form or slathered with cream cheeses like vegan scallion or honey and tart cherry.
Must try The Brighton Beach ($14.25) is a tasty update to the classic smoked salmon bagel — crisp arugula adds peppery notes that perfectly complement the fish, tomato, red onion, cream cheese, and capers.
The Daly Bagel
Amanda Daly had no professional culinary training when she began doing pop-ups in 2018 and taking occasional orders for the bagels she made in her Oak Park kitchen. In April, she opened her own shop (130 Chicago Ave., Oak Park). Daly’s New York–style versions come in flavors like Asiago and cinnamon sugar.
Must try The Ultimate ($9.25) packs a wallop of flavor from tangy whitefish pâté, pickled onions, and cucumbers. It’s served on a bagel of your choice; try the salt-studded one for added texture.
