The Hit List: New East Bay Restaurants To Try Right Now

"No offense to the Noah’s on Solano, but Albany’s bagel scene just got a lot more exciting. Former pop-up Hella Bagels has landed in a breezy space complete with bagel-shaped lamps, ample seating, and even a fireplace—just where you want to spend quality time with one of their fantastic bagels. They’re so plump and fluffy they’re practically spherical, and have extra crunchy bottoms. The lox sandwich with juicy tomatoes and a tangle of dill is a winner, but you also can’t go wrong with any of their housemade cream cheeses on a well-seasoned everything bagel." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez