The Bagel Nook is anything but your average bagel store. With unique creations like Fruity Pebble bagels, Jalapeno Cheddar cream cheese, and monstrous truck sandwiches, The Bagel Nook will have you wishing for more than one stomach.
This young, fresh and new establishment opened its doors this past September.
Located in the Raintree Shopping Center in Freehold, NJ, store hours are Monday-Saturday 6:00a.m.-3:00pm, and Sunday 6:00a.m.-2:00pm. With fast service, this is the perfect place for any commuter that wants a little something before their first class.
When customers have a little time to spare, they can sit at one of the many tables throughout the café. Box signs, chalkboards, and a large flat screen TV fill the surrounding walls.
The Bagel Nook takes bagels and spreads to the next level. “There aren’t many better things in life than a good book and a good bagel,” noted Stuart Rosenberg, associate professor of management.
Well, bring the book and The Bagel Nook will provide the bagel. The selection includes Oreo, Cap N’ Crunch, Tie-Dye and French Toast bagels. For spreads, options include Birthday Cake, Strawberry Banana, and Bacon Scallion cream cheeses.
Jaclyn O’Leary, a junior health studies student is a Bagel Nook regular. “The Strawberry Banana cream cheese is my favorite,” she explains. “It goes well on any bagel.”
Classic bagels and spreads are also offered everyday. With so many options, going back for seconds is a must (and thirds, fourths, and fifths).
An exclusive coffee bar is one of the first things customers see when entering the café. Whether a customer wants hot or iced, The Bagel Nook caters to everyone.
“I go there specifically for their iced coffee,” says Erika Pisano, a sophomore communication student. “It just tastes perfect every time.” Flavors include snicker doodle, pumpkin, French vanilla, and many others.
If breakfast isn’t your thing, The Bagel Nook also serves lunch sandwiches, wraps, and paninis. Their mouth-watering truck sandwiches are packed with flavor. “The Wrecker,” which includes chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, cheesesteak, and bacon, is a match for the hungry. Another option is “The Promise Land.” Cheeseburger, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and ketchup stand tall on the bagel of your choice.
Homemade macaroni salad and coleslaw accompany each sandwich, as if a customer could still be hungry.
Another homemade item offered is soup. Chicken noodle, butternut squash, and chicken tortilla are daily specials that sell out fast.
Dessert is a specialty at The Bagel Nook. Sweets like cupcakes, brownies, muffins and black and white cookies have each customer mesmerized. The homemade coffee cake is a customer favorite! With most of the baking done on premises daily, customers never have to worry about stale products.
Owner Alex Berkowitz has been dreaming of opening up his own bagel store for a while now. He found his passion in the bagel business when he was just 16 years-old.
After being a counterperson schmearing bagels all morning, he realized he wanted more than just a bagel joint. “I wanted a breakfast and lunch landmark,” he explains. “A community meet-up where everyone in the area comes and has a good time while enjoying a delicious meal.” And a community meet-up is exactly what he got. Customers from Freehold, Manalapan, and other surrounding towns visit The Bagel Nook daily.
“The amount of support we have received since opening is incredible,” Alex gushed. “We have been welcomed into the community with open arms, and we just want to thank everyone for that.”
You can follow The Bagel Nook on Facebook, as well as on Instagram and Twitter @The_Bagel_Nook.
PHOTO COURTESY of Alex Berkowitz
