Pavement Coffeehouse
Finally a good bagel in Boston.
After spending a year in NYC, the Boston bagel scene was a heartbreaking discovery. The first bagel I had in Boston was small, brittle, and not very flavorful. Unfortunately, most other bagels I have tried in Boston have very similar characteristics. After much disappointment, I decided to get some recommendations, and finally, my bagel craving was satisfied by Pavement.
Before actually trying one I was a little wary of a coffee shop having the best bagels in Boston because in my mind shouldn’t a bagel shop have the best? Going back to my time in NYC, the outstanding bagels were from places dedicated to bagels themselves, like Tompkins Square Bagels or Black Seed Bagels. But also these two places were just the ones closest to me, with Tompkins one block away and Black Seed two blocks. I think the reason I enjoyed these places so much was not only because of their great bagels but also their proximity to my dorm. A bagel on a tired Sunday morning that is one block away is always going to taste better than one 8 subway stops away. Luckily, there is a Pavement located on my college campus and with how this summer has turned out, I spend more time on campus than at home.
A bagel gets my stamp of approval for achieving three key factors, freshness, chewiness, and toppings. First off, freshness, if a bagel was not made (cooked) that day it’s not fresh, no arguments there. Pavement is proud to say that their bagels are “served fresh daily,” and that statement is obvious after trying one. Next up, is chewiness, and this is what separates a grocery store bagel from a bakery-style one. Grocery stores and, apparently a few too many places in Boston, tend to have a bread-like texture in their bagels, whereas a good bagel is chewy and distinct from its carb-relative bread. Pavement has this profile nailed down, with the chewy interior and dark crust it bakes up daily. Finally, toppings, while this isn’t the actual bagel, for me, what makes the perfect bagel is the entire meal itself. Pavement not only has pre-set bagel sandwiches but also the ability to fully customize them. There is a good selection of spreads, like my favorite the garlic and chive cream cheese, to the typical BEC, to vegan options, like just egg and tofu cream cheese. Having the ability to choose a different bagel combo every day is what makes Pavement’s toppings worthy of my endorsement.
As much as my Pavement skepticism began with it being a coffee shop first, after countless visits, I now appreciated its coffee roots. Most bagel shops are strictly for the product itself, providing minimal seating and automatically giving bagels in to-go bags. On the other hand, a coffee shop provides the amenities to keep you there for hours, like wifi, comfortable seating, and real dishes. What makes Pavement so lovable is that not only can I get my favorite Boston bagel but also spend hours catching up with friends, coding a battleship game, or even writing this very review.