Mr. Bagel Saves the Day... Well Sort Of

(2019 Update: Mr. Bagel is permanently closed)

I was disappointed when Starbucks stopped selling plain bagels in Argentina, but I was even more frustrated with Walmart. They only sell a few plain bagels once a month, and if you're lucky, you might find them two or three times a year. But now, Mr. Bagel has come to the rescue... or has it?

Mr. Bagel is located at Independencia 468 in Córdoba Capital and offers a fresh take on bagels. In the States, bagels come in all kinds of flavors—plain, poppy seed, onion, apple-cinnamon, cinnamon-raisin, salty, blueberry, sesame seed, and the list goes on. But no matter the flavor, most of us just slice a bagel in half, toast it, and spread on some cream cheese. That’s my go-to way of enjoying bagels. The only time I strayed from this routine was when I lived with my in-laws in New York. Bagels with mayo, ham, and cheese were a quick meal in our household. But when I stood at the counter at Mr. Bagel, I was impressed by how differently they prepared their bagels—and I’m not saying that in a bad way at all.

You have three menus above the counter, each with three steps:

The first step is to choose the type of bagel. You can go with classic (plain), wheat (integral), garlic (ajo), onion (cebolla), or skip the bagel altogether and opt for a salad.

The second step is to pick a main ingredient for your bagel. Options include salmon with cream cheese for $160 Argentine pesos ($5.83 USD), smoked salmon for $150 Argentine pesos ($5.46 USD), tuna for $140 ($5.10 USD), cheese for $120 ($4.37 USD), or vegetables for $90 ($3.28 USD).

The third and final step is to choose three toppings at no extra cost. You can select from lettuce, onions, bell peppers, lentils, olives, avocado, sauerkraut, mushrooms, corn, carrots, eggs, tomatoes, and Yamani rice. If you’ve already picked your three toppings but want an extra one, it will cost you an additional $10 Argentine pesos (about 36 US cents) per topping.

Placing your order at Mr. Bagel is a bit like ordering at Subway. You choose your type of bagel, main ingredient, toppings, and dressing. They offer a few dressing options, including tartar sauce, Italian dressing, mustard, mayo, and ketchup. Oh, and I almost forgot—you'll also be asked if you want your bagel toasted.

The customer service is amazing, which is pretty rare here. I ordered the bagel with sesame seeds and cream cheese with chives. I think the server was a little surprised that I would spend $120 pesos ($4.37 USD) on a simple bagel with cream cheese when there were so many other ingredients and toppings available, but that’s just how I am. I like to keep it simple. Fortunately, my partner was a bit more adventurous with his choice.

Zach had a plain bagel with carrots, cream cheese, and chives, while an acquaintance of ours ordered two bagel sandwiches. One had salmon, sauerkraut, and avocado slices, and the other featured tuna with sautéed peppers. I have to admit, it looked delicious!

Plain bagel with carrots, cream cheese and chives

Bagel with salmon, sauerkraut, and avocado slices

Bagel with tuna with sauteed peppers

Compared to a plain bagel from Walmart or Starbucks, Mr. Bagel's bagels are thicker, crunchier, and tastier. For those lucky enough to live near Mr. Bagel, you can place an order through an online food delivery service called PedidosYa, which will bring the bagel right to your doorstep. Mr. Bagel also follows Jewish dietary regulations, so if you're looking for kosher options, you're in luck.

As for seating, Mr. Bagel doesn't have individual tables inside, but they do offer two bar-style tables with stool chairs along the wall and glass window. This setup works well, especially during Argentina's winter when most people prefer not to sit outside in the cold. However, they do provide outdoor seating as well, which is where we chose to sit.

Mr. Bagel also sells donuts (called donas here in Argentina). Unfortunately, they had sold out by the time we arrived in the afternoon. The server recommended coming in the morning to get our donut fix. So, I'll definitely be back soon to try their donuts, especially since their schedule is pretty accommodating. Thankfully, they don't follow the typical Argentine siesta hours.

Hours of Operation:

• Monday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Thursday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• Saturday: 9:00 PM - 12:30 AM

• Sunday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Mr. Bagel has created a welcoming atmosphere where people can gather, chat for hours, and enjoy bagels (or donuts), coffee (or a soft drink). Honestly, I'm glad I found it because, while I love Starbucks, I was craving something a bit different—and I definitely found it here. So, would I come back? Absolutely!