Collegetown Bagels

This is one of my favorite places to go whenever I’m in Ithaca to grab either breakfast or lunch with my family. That being said, since I liked the place so much I decided to take a group of my friends to Ithaca and we stopped here for a quick lunch. There are so many options on the menu, there’s definitely something for everyone– (bagels, sandwiches, milkshakes, smoothies, coffee-​type drinks, desserts, and snacks). The food was great as always, the only complaint that I had was with the people’s service. I understand that we were a big party (a party of 10) but the staff seemed very irritated at us being in their restaurant and ordering their food… I’m not sure why. They wanted us to eat and get out and made us feel unwelcome. It’s a shame that we felt like that at a place that serves such good food!

Ithaca recently served as my family’s base of operations as we explored the area’s lakes and gorges. We stayed downtown near the Commons and CTB was right at our doorstep. Every morning started with a delicious bagel breakfast sandwich and they did not disappoint. Bonus points for the online ordering system that assured that our food was ready as soon as we walked in the door.
Recommendations: Get the Roundhouse or anything on a rosemary salt bagel! Yum!

Besides that there’s a bunch of food options, there’s also a lot of drink options that vary from coffee to juice and smoothies to lemonades! Everything seemed really creative. I got a Drake iced coffee and it was delicious.
It was a beautiful day so we sat outside and they brought our food out to us! Despite it being super busy on a Saturday, everything came out really quick.
Thought it was weird that I asked for a Long Island wheat bagel and the person taking my order said they don’t have anymore but I pointed to the bagels (there were well over a dozen) and he said that there aren’t any left… I really didn’t appreciate that at all and thought it was rude since I showed him there’s plenty left and he forced my to pick something else…

I love this chain. We usually visit the Collegetown location. That location is a well managed, wonderful place. However, the N. Aurora location is frequented by panhandlers and the management simply allows it. Last time I was in, two men came in from the street who bought nothing, but harassed customers until the whole place was uncomfortable and cleared out. One guy sat at a table taking continual calls on his cell, telling each caller at top volume how he’d been in prison and was just released. Management looked on from behind the counter and did nothing. Said nothing. Another guy manned the front door harassing every customer who came in for money or food. Both men looked like meth heads.

So the upsides here are really good bagels. Rosemary salt and the California are both fantastic. The coffee is decent. Lots of vegetarian options. Some vegan options. They give you the ability to recycle AND compost at the trash collection area (are you reading this PANERA BREAD?). Tables for eating outside on nice weather days. Toys and books inside for the littlest customers. It’s a yummy place to eat, toasty warm in the winter.
The downsides are:
— Staff attitude. Apathetic hipster is the emotion du jour at CB. It’s annoying, especially when you go fairly often. look, I don’t expect you to memorize my order or even recognize me, but when it feels like you’d rather be anywhere other than taking my order or money, it makes me wish I’d taken myself elsewhere.
— No vegan chicken salad here!?! They have it at the Collegetown location but not here. WHY NOT?
— A little on the expensive side, but hey, it’s Ithaca.

All different kinds of bagel. Good place for breakfast or a quick bite. They have ice cream and hot drinks, basically whatever you want.

Best place to grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee. Desserts are made by ithaca bakery another awesome place to try.

This was just my first visit, and I just ordered one bagel (Oh, and I got an inexpensive baguette too.), but I see myself being a weekly regular. My toasted rosemary and salt was ready for pick-​up way quicker than the long line suggested. When I got home, it was still warm, it was crunchy but soft in all the right places, and it was flavorful without anything on it.
Thumbs up!

Best bagels in town. Not super cheap, but worth every penny. It can get very busy when school is in session, so be wary!

A yummy selection of baked goods plus ice cram and smoothies and of course bagels for sale. My family had a round of kiddie size ice crams for only 2 $. 1 and a half scoops for kid size. Thats a bargain. They compost napkins and they recycle what they can and the third resort is just plain trash. Very cool atmosphere and chalkboardy. We were attended by a staff member who actually tried to talk to my child which doesn’t always happen. (you know how adults ignore kids sometimes?). This young staff /​ice cream scooper man didn’t ignore the child and I commend him and CBT. Also cool how they have a little play area /​waiting area with books and toys, what a beautiful idea!

Okay food; service becomes disorganized and slow when busy.

Talk about a cool little bagel and sandwich shop!
As soon as you walk in you notice how many different varieties of sandwiches they truly have to offer here! What’s neat is the entire menu is basically covers the entire wall! How cool is that!!!
I did have to try the bagels here and I personally liked the long Island bagel (which otherwise is known as a everything bagel) and thought it tasted well and I did try a turkey club, but I wasn’t blown away! I thought the turkey was rather on the dry side.
I’d stop back in and grab a bagel or 2 and go or hangout and enjoy one with a cup of coffee.

Bagels here are alright, more «bready» and less chewy than Bruegger’s, but that doesn’t temper this shop’s incredible popularity. There’s no substitute for local flavor, I suppose. The wait is atrocious, however.

Creative and diverse selection of bagels, sandwiches and coffee. Had the Don Draper iced espresso drink (with cinnamon and chocolate) and the long Island bagel with parsley garlic cream cheese. Loved the cream cheese so much I bought some to take home!

Favorite breakfast stop in Ithaca NY. Bagels are always really fresh, lots of selections and the coffee is good. Lunch sandwich selection is huge and also very good. Service is extremely fast, even when they are busy. I have never had a bad meal here. I would recommend this place to anyone coming to Ithaca.

Place was Packed. Super crowded. The chalkboard menu gave us so many many options about things to eat. I had a Dewitt Melt, with tomato, coleslaw and cheese on a Bialy. I’ve never had a Bialy before, and it was pretty tasty toasted. However the sandwich itself could have used a little more crunch in the coleslaw department. The bf had a Jackhammer and he definitely used his fingers to pick up chicken salad that had fallen out of the sandwich.

We saw Collegetown Bagels while out to dinner and vowed to return for lunch the following day.
The giant chalkboard menu is very impressive, although slightly intimidating. After taking quite a few minutes to choose just one item, I opted for the Michigan Hollow («A warm balsamic-​marinated portobello mushroom with roasted red peppers, parsley-​garlic dressing & melted Provolone cheese, on our Multi-​grain roll.»). My sisters ordered the Javi (toasted; «Roast turkey breast, goat cheese, spinach, sprouts, sun-​dried tomatoes & balsamic vinaigrette, on our toasted Sourdough bread.»), the Milanese (chicken breast, roasted red peppers, pesto), and a Frost. Unfortunately, the Frost only comes in large so even though it was tasty, it was quite a lot of sugar to stomach.
The Michigan Hollow was quite good compared to other portabello burgers I’ve had, although I wish it had another vegetable like spinach or something more than just red peppers. The Javi tastes very fresh and feels lighter (no oozing cheese), although it’s very filling. The Milanese had a classic combination of ingredients that’s prepared in the right proportions (chicken’s thinly sliced, not too much of any one part). Overall, Collegetown Bagels is a little pricey (maybe just the Frosty), but it’s a relaxed, fun environment. I’d almost certainly return if I’m ever in Ithaca again.
FOOD: ⁴⁄₅
ENVIRONMENT: ⁴⁄₅
SERVICE: ⁴⁄₅
VALUE: 3.5÷5
OVERALL: ⁴⁄₅

BEST LATTE I’VE EVER HAD!
Large space with plenty of seating. Seemed like many of the patrons knew each other, which added to the friendly atmosphere.
I was greeted with a huge chalkboard of numerous options for breakfast/​lunch bagels and sandwiches. The bagels/​sandwiches are made to order, warm and delicious. The bagels are a little smaller than what I’m used to, but they are too doughy. When toasted, the outside is crispy and delicious.
Great place for breakfast and lunch.

Get the rosemary salt bagel! Toasted with butter may be the perfect treatment but you can’t go wrong with any topping really. Deeply flavored with the piney rosemary flavor that I love and not too much salt, it’s a real treat.
Bagel lovers talk about the mythical line drawn around NYC that separates good bagel territory from, well, everything else :) I always believed that was about 30 miles from the city but Collegetown Bagels has warped space-​time to get inside that line! The bagels here are smallish chewy things, not oversized puffy monsters. One is 90 cents, that seemed totally fair to me; about $ 2.50 with cream cheese.
My only complaint is that the everything bagel (called a Long Island here) was a bit light on the toppings. Great consistency just would benefit from a few more sesame, poppy and other seeds.
Staff was not effusively friendly but plenty helpful. You don’t have to stand around awkwardly waiting for your order to be done, you get a numbered sign at checkout and they run the food out to your table.

Being NY born and raised, I have high standards for bagels. When I walked into Collegetown Bagels and saw the ginormous chalkboard of breakfast bagel sandwiches, wraps, and coffee options, I knew I’d found the real deal.
Collegetown offers a selection of requisite standards like sesame, and everything, but also has a revolving selection of intriguing flavors like rosemary salt and Long Island wheat. The bagels are a bit on the smaller side than some other stores, but they are the perfect amount of crisp outside and soft chewy inside. I opted for a regular coffee which, typical of Ithaca, was fair trade and organic, but must importantly delicious. My friend ordered a chai tea latte which was generously laiden with foam.
Seating is a bit tight, but exactly what I’d expect out of a bagel shop or luncheonette. I will certainly be back the next time in the area, and plan on working my way through the extensive and delicious sounding menu.