Belle's Delicatessen & Bar

"We’ve watched Belle’s grow from a small takeout window into a full-service Jewish deli, and it’s been very rewarding. That’s mostly because the bagel menu at this Highland Park spot kept getting bigger, and we’re unabashed fans. These double-fermented bagels have a distinct complex aroma that sets them apart from the competition. They’re also a big part of why Belle’s bagel sandwiches are our favorite way to start the morning in NELA, especially the Shelskey with pastrami-smoked lox, sweet “fancy” relish, and a splat of punchy deli mustard." - sylvio martins, arden shore, garrett snyder, cathy park

"Highland Park’s Belle’s Bagels has morphed into an all-day delicatessen and bar. During the daytime, the deli serves breakfast sandwiches on fresh, chewy bagels, matzo ball soup, sweet noodle kugel, and a hot pastrami Reuben, while evening brings a tighter “nighttime noshes” menu of pickles, latkes, schnitzel, and fries. Make sure to try the deli-themed cocktails like the Tekiah Negroni and the Mezcal Tov." - Rebecca Roland

"Our list of reasons for loving HP's favorite bagel shop just grew longer. Now called Belle’s Delicatessen, this former takeout window went through a retro glow-up and emerged as a full-service Jewish deli with hot pastrami on double-baked rye, sour pickle plates, and scallion latkes. The paint has barely had a chance to dry, but the dining room exudes old-timey charm with leather booths and tchotchkes aplenty. And like all proper delis, Belle’s is an all-day affair. Make a morning stop for a bagel sandwich with pastrami-spiced lox, or grab a stool at the bar for an after-hours pickle martini or “Gin & Tonukkah.”" - brant cox, sylvio martins, andrew ryce, cathy park

"A newly expanded bagel bar and deli in Highland Park, known for its ultra crispy, peppery scallion latkes served with lemon, sour cream, and applesauce, and interwoven with scallion slices." - Eater Staff

"Fewer than a dozen bagels were available when I arrived at Belle’s Delicatessen & Bar at half past noon last Friday. I had initially set my sights on an open-faced bagel sandwich for lunch and a dozen bagels to-go for the weekend but I adjusted my expectations given the circumstances. Let this be a lesson to all: arrive early for the most robust selection. While I had to settle for only a half-dozen bagels for home consumption, no compromises were made on the bagel sandwich front. The cleverly named Loxsmith delivered with its layers of nova lox, watermelon radish, pickled fennel, dill-beet cream cheese shmear, and most memorable, crispy salmon skin. The thoughtful ingredients added up to a lovely lunch with just enough flourishes to keep every bite exciting." - Eater Staff