"A 50-year-old Manhattan bagel institution has opened a Mount Vernon Triangle location at 601 K Street NW, bringing its original 1972 recipe and an identical bagel-and-schmear menu to Washington, D.C. To preserve the signature texture and chew, dough kettle-boiled with New York City water is sent from the original operation while the bagels are baked fresh on-site; the shop opened for ordering immediately and celebrated its D.C. debut with a promotion of mystery-value gift cards for early customers. While staying true to classic favorites — the bacon, egg, and cheese is cited as the most popular sandwich by a wide margin and the everything bagel is the top seller — the menu also introduces new offerings like a spicy scallion cream cheese blended with dried chilis and fresh scallions, and teases seasonal collaborations. The expansion is part of a nationwide franchise rollout that already includes Florida and California outposts and plans for several other cities, and the brand leverages decades of cultural recognition dating to its founders and media appearances; a cream-cheese bagel with mix-ins is listed at $5.75." - Lulu Chang