David P.
Yelp
When I first arrived in Burlington, in the 1970's, there were no locally made NY style bagels. I returned from every trip home to NJ with a few dozen frozen bagels, the best I could do, but definitely a compromise.
When Roy Feldman opened the original Burlington Bagel Bakery in 1979, my prayers were answered This New England college town spawned other bagel shops, not surprising, given the large population of students and settlers hailing from the NYC area. The BBB was sold after about 9 years.
Roy, with his daughter Maddy, opened Feldman's Bagels in 2013, in a former tire store. I'm as fond as ever of their authentic, crispy crusted traditional fare, along with other delights from my childhood; bialys, chicken soup with matzoh balls, kosher salami sandwiches, and more. A variety of spreads, including a yogurt softened light cream cheese and a very tasty pesto cream cheese, cater to more contemporary palettes.
Bright and airy, with a library cart full of books to peruse, Feldman's rejects the production line feel of many such establishments. Around back, the former garage bays of this converted tire store are being rented as studio spaces for local artists, furthering the exploding dynamism of Burlington's south end arts district. Well done, Feldmans!