Finagle-A-Bagel

Finagle-​a-​bagel is an excellent, EXCELLENT bagel shop normally. They are by far my favorite place to get a bagel. Some things that make them stand out include their friendly servers, delicious (DELICIOUS) bagels, and fair prices.
This Finagle-​a-​bagel (or FAB) is going through a bit of a rough patch with a building transition, and I (like many others, I imagine) have had a lack-​luster FAB experience due to this transition.
Their temporary location is in a hallway (yes, a hallway) in the next building over from their normal location. Their menu appeared to be trimmed significantly and there didn’t look like any comfortable seating was available.
When I arrived I already knew what I’d like to order, however the employee working there was busy talking with a friend visiting her. After an uncomfortably long wait (there was no pause in the conversation to get her attention), I ordered. She said they didn’t have what I wanted. I ordered something else (a toasted blueberry bagel with cream cheese). I’m not sure if this is usual, but my cream cheese all melted and was absorbed by the bagel, which felt kind of like a let down, you know? Like come on, hot bagel! We’re on the same team!
So, while it is completely not the employee’s fault that they were out of my first-​choice bagel or that my cream cheese was absorbed, it was unpleasant waiting while she conversed with a friend, and it was challenging that the menu was reduced and there was no comfortable seating available.
Finagle, I can’t wait until Spring 2016 when you’ll be able to serve up those incredible bagels from inside your normal location!

Great puffy bagels that aren’t rock hard. They offer bagels that are dairy free and whole grain. The sesame bagels are my favorite! The recent ones I got didn’t have as much sesame seeds, but they are still tasty. A complaint I have is that they don’t give out freezer bags anymore.

Used to come here all the time as a kid with my family and I loved it. Sad to say when my brother and I went on Wednesday… I am beyond disappointed. There was no egg on one half of my sausage egg and cheese AND the sausage was TINY! Visiting New York and New Jersey have killed me because I just cannot seem to find a good bagel in MA. The staff made it noticeable that they did not want to be there nor cared about their customers. If I need a quick bite I’ll come here, but it most definitely will not be my top choice.

This place is pretty good. Their bagels and cream cheese are good for a chain sort of a place. I usually get onion with chive or I have gotten chocolate chip with butter, mm!
They have a decent menu of salads and sandwiches, but I have never gone for anything but a bagel and cream cheese so I can’t really speak to those. I find it looks maybe a little bit pricey for some of the items, but not too bad.
They have a decent assortment of coffees and juices, and plenty of seating. They are quick with their bagel and cream cheese orders so you can get in and out easily.

Can no longer recommend this place. Used to go out of my way to get their whole-​grain bagels of various kinds, but twice in the past couple of months, they have sent us home with dozens of white bagels, even though we watched them take them out of bins marked «whole wheat sesame,» etc.
Finally last time I went back and complained. The manager on duty was totally unsympathetic, despite the fact that I had a receipt and a crying baby. He finally refunded my order, without apology, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Can’t say I’ll never be back, their bagels are good (when you get what you ordered), and as a public transit rider I tend to get stuck in that neighborhood from time to time. And it’s kid-​friendly. But seriously, were it not for various senior housing complexes nearby, with such customer service I’d think this location would be out of business like others in the chain…
Also the management has decided to get their underwear in a snit over Brookline’s plastic bag ban, and quit offering plastic freezer bags to customers buying large quantities of bagels. Such plastic bags are not really what the regulation is about, that’s not what enforcement is looking at, but apparently management has decided to protest the ban by taking it out on their customers and denying them freezer bags. Great way to run a business! Sorry, I won’t be buying your bagels to take home to freeze if I first have to let them freeze-​DRY at 10 °F in a paper bag while I wait for a bus.

Carb station with tasty breakfast the wife and I stop at regularly on the way to OB appointments!

I know it was almost lunch time, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. After rushing out and skipping breakfast, it was time to satisfy my hunger. This was no easy task as I was in the middle of unfamiliar territory (Chestnut Hill). Nevertheless, I was determined to find some grub.
As I walked in the middle of Boylston since the sidewalk was occupied by a construction crew and trucks, my eyes caught a sign, «Finagle — a — Bagel.» I knew this would be the place that would quell my hunger pains and hopefully satisfy my taste buds as well.
There were plenty of seats all around, even restrooms. The menu was vast and included sandwiches and soups. I almost didn’t even see the bagels. It was a little overwhelming with the variety of choices, but I decided to go with an everything bagel with vegetable cream cheese. Good choice.
The server took my order promptly and it came out within minutes, if not less. The bagel was toasted perfectly, not soft in the middle and not burnt. The cream cheese had actual chunks of veggies inside and went well with the bagel. The bagel and cream cheese were not too salty, which I appreciated.
The wi-​fi didn’t work, which was a bit of a bummer since they have a wi-​fi hotspot sign on their door.
Overall, a good place to stop by and have a bagel if you are in the area. I haven’t tried their soups or sandwiches, but I definitely will next time.

bagels here just arent as good as they used to be. Smaller bagels, skinny, almost as if they didnt get enough time to rise. Egg bagel was ridiculously sweet.
Staff is half attentive. they do just the bare minimum. I walked up to the counter and instead of acknowledging me, she continued her conversation before assisting me. Worst part, I think she was the manager. not acceptable in my book.

All employees speaking Spanish among themselves, but the person calling out the numbers has a hard time being understood.

Okay to be fair I have been here about 5 times and only 2 out of 5 has my order been correct while the group I was with loved it. Just went this morning and ordered a Super Whole Wheat bagel (not on the online menu for some reason) not toasted with jalapeño cream cheese. When I got my order I checked it (as I learned to do the previous 4 times) and saw raisins. Thinking it was their cinnamon raisin bagel I sent it back. The servers proceeded to tell me it was not the cinnamon raisin bagel. I then tasted it and said there were indeed raisins in it. They were nice enough to not charge me for another bagel, deciding to go the safer route with the honey grain. They asked me if it was still not toasted with jalapeño cream cheese and I said that was correct. While ordering one of the other servers then said that the super whole wheat and all of their bagels have raisins… what!!! First off, all of their bagels do not have raisins. Second, call me crazy but whenever I order a wheat bagel ANYWHERE else it does not have raisins. Their hanging menu did not state that nor does their online menu. Finally got my honey grain bagel after they toasted it!!! UGH! Frustrated I just took it and left. Not sure I’ll order from there again. Like I said, WHEN they get an order right it is very good.

My favorite Finagle had a sign that it was closed and to try this location just a few miles up the road so since my friend and I were craving bagels we decided to explore the area and find it. It’s in a very nice area with lots of other shops and a swanky looking mall. This location has a huge parking area. The store is large, but not overly large, and the people behind the counter were friendly and efficient. I think this was the fastest we have received our bagel sandwiches in any Finagle location. You can get in and out in not much time. Sandwiches, as always, were delicious and inexpensive. I think I’ve found my new go to Finagle location!

Went here for a quick light lunch on Saturday, it was delicious! I got the «international» and it was great. My boyfriend got the roast beef on a bagel, and he enjoyed it also…
I have been many times for breakfasts, (never disappointed) its always delicious!
We also got the «new» Beer flavored bagel… did not taste like beer, but it was pretty good!

Very good Bagels. Surprisingly «Plain» was my favorite by itself, but for the «Sante Fe Melt» try the Jalapeño Bagel. The OJ & Coffee were good too.

My favorite bagel in Boston! But they need to bring back the Berry Bagel!!!
Excellent Tuna Bagel and Egg Bagel– all made fresh.

Hello… good mornin. Just had a ham egg and cheese on an everything bagel and it was delicious. The bagels are fresh and loaded with ingredients and are cut by a spinning buz saw that shoots them down 10 feet. Couldn’t be better, coffee is good too.

All right, you’ve redeemed yourself, Finagle a Bagel.
I was drawn to you because your store reminds me of the former Harvard Square location that had that smoking bagel sign thing out front that looked so darned cool.
Sadly, my first two bagel experiences weren’t great; first, I sent a coworker on a mission to get me a chicken sandwich, and I ended up with an $ 8 slab of boringness on a tastless artisan roll. Then, I tried a honey grain bagel toasted with cream cheese, which was equally boring and overpriced.
Today’s southwest turkey club, however, complete with chipotle mayo and served on a toasted poppy seed bagel, was quite great. Not a steal at $ 7.99, but definitely a solid lunch option on a day when I’m craving a bagel sandwich.

I’ll tell you why you should go… Fresh, hot, crisp/​chewy, ususally every bagel is available, friendly, fast, and they got a industrial buzz-​saw to split your bagel is half. I could watch bagels get cut all day long.