Kettleman Bagels & Bakery *NEW*

[March 19th, 2008] Kettleman makes real boiled NYC-style bagels with a crunch-to-chew ratio that’ll make you swear off supermarket brands forever. The bright, boxy space is packed with happy grazers sucking back Stumptown and gnawing on bagels ’n’ schmears ($1.95 and up)—Kettleman bakes everything from sea salt to oat bran and blueberry varieties and features a ton of cream-cheese flavors. A goofy library of hardback romantic fiction, Time Life histories and photo books lessen the Starbucks vibe. The quick, cheerful staff serves deli sandwiches ($4.95-$6.95) plus whitefish and hot “eggel” breakfast bagels ($2.50-$3.95), but all you really need is a nice pumpernickel with lox and cream cheese ($2.75 and up), topped with capers and red onion slivers. Or take enough home for an army: Kettleman sells bags of a dozen day-old bagels for $2.99. If you buy two bags you get a third bag for free. Be careful, though: These babies get moldy right quick. (KC)