Every day on my way to school, I bike by Nervous Charlie’s, a bagel spot that has gained fame for importing their dough and lox from New York City. I’ve also heard that one of their bagels, the Treehugger, was especially delicious, so I decided to try it out. I decided to order the Treehugger online from my house and pick it up on my way to school, which proved to be a good choice, because when I arrived at Nervous Charlie’s, there was a long line and the kitchen was super busy. Because of this high volume, I highly recommend placing your order ahead of time, especially during the breakfast and lunch rushes.
After picking up my bagel, I looked around at the restaurant. Nervous Charlie’s indoor space was lovely, with lots of natural light from two walls of full-length windows and a giant decal in the shape of their mascot, their dog Charlie. Outside, the restaurant had set up an outdoor space as pleasant as its indoor counterpart. The restaurant had strategically placed planting boxes and planted vines on lattices to shield picnic tables from the bustle of Lamar Boulevard, creating a calm atmosphere.
Once I sat down, I decided to try the Treehugger, which cost $11 plus tax. While $11 may seem like a lot for a bagel, it was ginormous, filled to the brim with sprouts, spinach, cucumber, tomato and veggie cream cheese, sandwiched between a toasted poppy seed bagel. Although I was initially skeptical about how cucumber would taste on a bagel, any doubts I had went away after tasting it. The cucumber added a satisfying crunch, and all of the vegetables provided a lovely lightness which complemented the thickness of the cream cheese. The cream cheese itself was dotted with pieces of bell pepper and chives, which added an extra layer of flavor to the dish. Finally, the poppy seeds on top of the bagel gave the bagel a slight nuttiness, as well as providing a cool color and texture. My only complaint was that the bagel was slightly messy to eat since some of the toppings were falling out, but that just goes to show that Nervous Charlie’s didn’t skimp on their fillings.
Rating: 9/10
All in all, the Treehugger bagel was scrumptious, and the perfect way to start my day. Whether you don’t like meat like me or simply love veggies, I highly recommend going to Nervous Charlie’s and trying their bagels-there is nothing to be nervous about.
