Bagels Step into the Doughy Spotlight

Doughnuts have had their time in the sun, but nowadays it’s time for another tire-shaped carb bomb to shine. Bagels have steadily risen up the ranks in doughy popularity, emerging at new spots such as Craft Pizza, BroBagel, and Mindy Segal’s bakery service at HotChocolate.

Considering their proclivity for dough, pizza-makers dabbling in bagels seems a natural progression. Hence two new bagel outposts in Wicker Park. Craft Pizza is the handiwork of the proprietor behind Lakeview’s Pizzeria Serio, so you know your pie is in good hands. While pizzas get much of the glory, and aptly so, don’t skip the bagels in the a.m. Made with aged pizza dough from a 12-hour fermented starter and a 12-hour warm rise, the bagels are first boiled and then baked, available in flavors like Parmesan and sesame.

Another nearby pizza-inspired bagel concept is BroBagel, a casual offshoot of Piece Pizzeria & Brewery from the same owners. Considering said owners used to be in the bagel business pre-Piece, the new shop is a logical step. This tiny, standing-room-only bagel shop features a miscellany of housemade bagels, including classics like everything, salt, and sesame, along with more unusual flavors such as beer (made with Piece beer brewed next door). Available toasted and/or spread with the likes of sriracha cream cheese, lox, and scallion cream cheese, BroBagel does a masterful job with the classic bustling template.

Just up the street from BroBagel, nationally acclaimed pastry chef Mindy Segal is doing her own version of bagels as well. As part of her newly implemented weekday bakery/cafe service, house-baked bagels. Unlike other bagels, which can be dense and heavy, Segal’s versions are tender and bready, baked until golden.

Craft Pizza
1252 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago
(773) 442-7238
Website

BroBagel
1931 W. North Avenue, Chicago
(773) 772-4422
Website

HotChocolate
1747 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago
(773) 489-1747
Website