Let’s Find Out:

What happens when French Toast and a bagel get married?

They move to Mar Vista, have a beautiful carb-filled ceremony, and produce an offspring known as the French Toast Bagel at New York Bagel Deli.

I recently stopped by New York Bagel Deli (NYBD) to meet this culinary love child for myself. The French Toast Bagel manages to be both chewy and crunchy, no small feat in the competitive world of breakfast carbohydrates. Dense and satisfying, it delivers genuine French toast flavor with plenty of cinnamon in every bite.

I’ll admit that sweet bagels are not usually my jam. I generally lean toward savory bagels topped with cream cheese, lox, eggs, or whatever else can be piled on top without requiring a fork. But the French Toast Bagel challenged my long-held beliefs. Served with salted butter and just a tiny dip of maple syrup, it struck a balance that made me reconsider my position in the Great Sweet vs. Savory Bagel Debate. The salty butter tempered the sweetness perfectly, and the maple syrup added just enough breakfast nostalgia without pushing it into dessert territory.

In other words, I liked it. A lot. I would definitely recommend it.

Since one pastry experiment is never enough, I also tried the chocolate chip rugelach and the raisin rugelach. If you’ve never had rugelach, it’s a traditional Jewish pastry made from a rich, buttery dough rolled around sweet fillings and baked into tender crescents. Think of it as the pastry equivalent of comfort food with a PhD in baking.

Before heading out, I ordered three bagels to go from NYBD’s extensive bagel menu: onion, cheese, and everything. Unfortunately, the everything bagel apparently had other plans. Somewhere between the counter and my bag, it was replaced by a sesame bagel. Fortunately, I like sesame, so no emergency meeting was required. I’ll just have to return another day and finally meet the elusive everything bagel.

The cream cheese selection alone is enough to keep indecisive customers occupied for several minutes. Choices include Plain, Lox, Tofu, Tijuana Hot, Garlic, Scallion, and Veggie.

Breakfast sandwiches include eggs served on a bagel with your choice of ham, bacon, sausage, pastrami, roast beef, or turkey. Lunch offerings cover deli classics such as smoked salmon, deli meats, tuna salad, chicken salad, and whitefish. There are also hearty specialty sandwiches including a Reuben, The Beast Roast Beef, and several other overstuffed creations. Sandwiches come with chips or a side salad and, naturally, a pickle slice.

Peerless coffee is brewed throughout the day, and the beverage menu also includes lattes, iced blended drinks, tea, and hot chocolate.

There are a few tables on the outdoor patio, but during my visit I noticed that most customers were grabbing orders to go. Apparently when great bagels call, people answer quickly.

So what happens when French Toast and a bagel get married?

NYBD happens.

And if this French Toast Bagel is any indication, the marriage is thriving. The couple is still deeply in love, the cinnamon is pulling its weight in the relationship, and unlike most Hollywood unions, this one looks built to last.