Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mr. J's Bagels


  • Locations: 
    • Market Square East (on 33, East of Rt. 81, kind of by the PetSmart)
    • Rockingham Square (on 42 south of town, in the plaza with the Food Lion)
    • Harmony Square (on 42 north of town, in the plaza with the OTHER Food Lion).
  • Website: http://www.mrjsbagels.com
  • Food profile: Fresh, awesome bagels (also deli sandwiches)
  • Local sourcing: I don't know where they get their flour, but the bagels themselves are assembled right here in the Shenandoah Valley. I heard a rumor (unsubstantiated) that Mr. J himself, aided only by one friend, makes all the bagels for the entire city. That's thousands of bagels every day! If it's true, Mr. J. is our own local superhero.
  • Price: a couple bucks. Not bad.
  • Take-out: Yes! They also offer catering.
  • Warnings: If you don't know what you want, or need a minute to think, the staff can get testy. So hurry up already! (Hint: it's all good!)
  • Specialties: Bagels (duh). The everything bagel is pretty awesome, as is the egg bagel. 
About Mr. J's:
Mr. J's has been operating in Harrisonburg since 1990, when owners Dave and Jerry Jerlinski moved to the 'burg and decided that the town was incomplete without New York-style bagels. The concept had legs--Mr. J's is a popular spot for breakfast. A number of local businesses order Mr. J's one day each week as a treat for their employees. This is how I got to know the finest bagels in town--Bagel Fridays at work. It's the highlight of our week.


Food:
 I've had actual New Yorkers attest that Mr. J's offers the closest thing to the New York experience that they've encountered south of the Mason-Dixon line. They have 15 different kinds of bagels, not counting seasonal varieties. You can get a deli sandwich or breakfast sandwich served on any kind of bagel (and a couple of breads, too). For drinks, there are bottled juices and drip coffee. The bagels are the centerpiece of the establishment--they don't distract you with other random stuff.


Atmosphere:
Very casual. You'll see JMU students in their jammies grabbing a bite on their way to class (seriously, you guys go to class in your jammies?!?) as well as business guys rubbing cream cheese off of their ties--and everyone in between. Although it's mostly a carry-out sort of place, all of the locations offer seated dining.


But what if I hate bagels?
You can get a non-bagel sandwich, but why? If you're on the Atkins diet, this is not the place for you.