From the addition of destination dining to food trucks, updates from Fordham’s campus dining may go unnoticed. In case you missed it, a New York-style bagel shop is new to the scene, and it is worth the meal swipe.
On the bottom floor of the McShane Campus Center and past the club suite is Dagger John’s — a dining hub that opened its third dining counter, Bronx Bagel Company (BBC). The newly launched bagel shop is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and occupies the bar at the entrance.
As a dining location dedicated to bagels, the menu offers nine different types of fresh, locally sourced bagels ranging from rainbow to jalapeno. The assortment of spreads is diverse and is reminiscent of Zucker’s or Tompkins Square Bagels, with offerings like olive and bacon tomato cream cheese. If you are brave enough, you can concoct a bagel with the most unique flavor profiles or stay as plain as you would like.
Compared to BBC’s competitor, Salt and Sesame, Dagger John’s bagel shop expands its focus from breakfast sandwiches to a heartier meal swipe with thousands of possible combinations. Unlike the traditional breakfast-style bagels found at Salt and Sesame, the ability to add meats like pastrami and turkey is an exciting way to get creative with a mid-day lunch sandwich. If the menu is too overwhelming to look at, BBC sells their “Chef’s Specials,” which could be anything from a Chicken BLT to a Reuben.
For guests with dietary restrictions, gluten-free bagels are available, and the option to build your own sandwiches allows for an easy way to accommodate specific diets. Vegetarians can take advantage of the build-your-own menu to get innovative with their orders, as there’s a large selection of spreads, meatless salads, cheeses and toppings to choose from. Those following a vegan diet might have more difficulty building a sandwich as the plant-based spreads and salads are limited. Luckily, Tofutti — a dairy-free cream cheese — is available and can be paired with vegetable toppings.
From Sunday breakfasts to trying the best bagel spots in Manhattan, I have had my fair share of smoked salmon bagels throughout the years. So, when studying the menu of bagel options, it did not take long for me to decide on ordering “The Deli,” a specialty sandwich blanketed in cream cheese topped with Atlantic smoked salmon, red onion and capers on a sesame bagel.
After waiting 25 minutes, my order was finally ready and presented in a checkered tray with my bagel wrapped and cut in aluminum foil. The first bite was complete with a burst of flavors and fresh ingredients. All the fixings were evenly distributed and generous — especially the lox spilling out of my sandwich, which tasted high quality and was a delicious way to get an intake of protein. As for the usual suspects, the tomato was juicy, the cream cheese was whipped, the onion was crunchy and the caper was present.
The bagel was thick and tasted homemade — bonus points for the bagels being toasted nicely instead of warmed like at other on-campus dining locations. Cosi and Salt and Sesame bagels are chewier with an overpowering floury aftertaste, but this bagel tasted far from store-bought and emulated a New York authenticity.
From the quality, I was shocked that a meal swipe had paid for this, as I would easily pay $11 for this sandwich in Manhattan. Also included in a meal swipe is juice or coffee and a side of fruit. So, if you have a lot of meal swipes to spare and a passion for finding a sandwich that satisfies all your cravings, play around with the menu and discover that there is a dining location you will never get bored of.
My only complaint is that the ordering process could have been more straightforward, as there is no clear direction or designated area to order. The ordering line is at the closest corner to the entrance, which became a hazard when the line of people pours into the hallway. With only two workers behind the counter, the process takes a while and would be inconvenient for anyone looking to grab a bite in a rush. However, I would also love to see this spot open on the weekends for an affordable way to get a delicious bagel.
Fordham Campus Dining is shining through its new poster child and deserves all the love and attention. Next to all the other spots on campus, Bronx Bagel Company ranks second to its neighbor, BONMi.
