I have been eating at Finagle a Bagel for a few years now. I first started eating there because they offered free afternoon entertainment for the toddler set. A local children's performer came in and sang songs while the toddlers danced and the parents munched bagels and drank coffee. It was such a great hook, I still go back.

This review is of the Needham, MA location although I have eaten in many of the other locations as well and they are all generally similar.

THE FOOD

As you can guess from the name, the main attraction here is bagels. At the Needham location, the bagels are displayed behind a long counter. When you make your selection, the server will drop the bagel on a conveyor belt just behind a long window running the length of the counter. About two thirds of the way down the conveyor belt is a large, rotating blade. The blade grabs the bagels, slices them in half and whips them down the rest of the length of the counter into a waiting basket. Needless to say, kids are generally crammed up against the glass to watch the blade in action. Each time a bagel is sliced, there are lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd.

The bagels themselves are very huge and very soft. They are not the compact, crusty bagels you can get at Bruegger’s Bagels, another local chain. I tend to prefer the smaller, crusty bagels but, of course, this comes down to a matter of preference, although I am pretty sure that Finagle wins hands down in a calorie counting contest.

Finagle has all the traditional flavors of bagels plus chocolate chip, berry and a few other specialties. They also carry a selection of cream cheese that is quite good with lots of flavor choices. The coffee is a disappointment because the flavor is not consistent and the service isn't there. You have to add your own sugar and milk at a crowded station near the end of the counter. A couple of times I have encountered curdled milk. The staff quickly corrected the matter with fresh milk and coffee but I was surprised that it happened at all. I will drink the Finagle coffee if I am already in the restaurant but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. I am a big fan of Dunkin Donuts coffee and think that Finagle has a long way to go to meet that standard.

In addition to bagels and cream cheese, Finagle also has some lunch items including sandwiches. I have only had one sandwich and thought it was fine but not memorable.

SERVICE

This place is counter service only. The people working there are generally friendly but always seemed rushed. They tend to make mistakes in the orders and you have to make sure you have everything before you leave. I have arrived home a few times to find too few bagels or cream cheese missing from my order.

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS

This place is so family friendly, they even have entertainers come in for the children in the afternoons. Check the web site or a local branch for times. The Needham, MA location has a children's nook with kid size chairs, a kid-size table and some toys and books. There are high chairs. There are ample bathrooms with a changing table. In my opinion, which is heavily colored by the fact that I have three kids, I think the family friendliness is what elevates this place from just another average chain restaurant to being a place worth checking out a couple of times a month.

CLEANLINESS

The Needham, MA location is generally clean. The bathrooms are also clean.

AMBIANCE AND DECOR

The restaurants have a fast food kind of appearance. The lighting is bright. The tables are formica. There are no booths in the Needham, MA location. The table seating is comfortable but it isn't a place you would necessarily choose to linger.

A lot of the business at Finagle is takeout so the counter space tends to take up as much or more room than the seating. Still, I have spent enough time in the restaurants and they are comfortable enough, although they are not particularly stylish.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION

I like Finagle a Bagel and I go with the kids every once in a while to get their enormous bagels. The slicer is a big hit and when my baby is a bit older, I am sure I will be back for the toddler entertainment.



** Thanks to Megugrrl for adding this restaurant to the database.***

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Recommended: Yes