Lefty's Righteous Bagels

Alexandra Vikartofsky 3 months ago

I tracked down this company after demolishing a bagel a friend had brought downtown last weekend. All week long, I could not stop thinking about the Caio de Pepe cream cheese (schmear) I had on a cheesy bagel (Kerrygold Cheddar) in the hot sun. When I was leaving the gym this morning, I could not resist driving 45 minutes to go get an assortment and share them with friends. Lefty’s did not disappoint. Not only did I get to meet Lefty himself (you’re the man!), I got to learn a little bit about the company and how they make their bagels. While only being open about two years, these bagels taste like they have decades of refinement. There is a clear passion and pride in the products they put out here. This joint is warm, inviting, and ridiculously friendly. Although it was my first visit, I felt like I had known the staff for years. Authentic, real people, doing what they love. Highly recommend making the trip to anyone in the Chicagoland area. It’s worth the trip!

Ed Brill 7 months ago

I only bought bagels and cream cheese so can’t comment on the sandwiches or coffee. Had heard these were Montreal style - true in variety perhaps but did not have the chew nor the slight sweetness of Montreal bagels. They’re also a bit pricey. I tried rosemary and poppy. The flavored cream cheese was decent.

Jonathan Lee Edited 7 months ago

Fantastic bagels! Make sure to come early if you want to get your hands on these incredible Montreal-style bagels. The first time I came at 12, only to find out that they were completely sold out. I tried coming back at 11 on another day, and even then, a large portion of the bagels were gone, so I’d recommend coming even earlier. This spot brings Montreal to you with rugged stone walls, fun portraits, and friendly patrons. You can also watch the bagels be made right in front of you with their wood fired oven. I had the Ned Flanders on a Kerrygold cheddar bagel, which had a healthy amount of salmon and cream cheese. The bagel was so dense, had the perfect amount of chew, and tasted freshly baked. It was toasted well with the crispy, cheesy exterior and crunchy bite that was filled with so much substance. I got the cacio e pepe cream cheese, which paired well with the salmon. This bagel sandwich will leave you fully satisfied with your only disappointment being that you didn’t order more. With the diversity of bagels and schmears, I will absolutely be returning!

Christina a year ago

Lefty’s bagels land squarely between NY and Montreal styles in both appearance and texture. The bagels are prepared in the traditional process for a Montreal bagel with an extra overnight proof, which results in thicker/bigger bagels with a less dense interior more akin to the NY style. We got a Billy Corgan (nova lox) sandwich on a toasted everything and their May special, toasted Zeverything (everything + zaatar) bagel & hot honey cream cheese. The bagels itself were delicious: nicely toasted with a crisp exterior packed with toppings and a dense yet fluffy interior that wasn't at all gummy. What also set Lefty’s apart for me was the generous portion of thick nova lox slices in the sandwich with no tomatoes to fill space, unlike most places that give you two thin layers of lox and pad the rest with slices of tomato. While I do prefer NY style bagels, this is genuinely a great option to have around.

YANLIN LI a year ago

The bagels had really good texture and they had something extra in their everything. Was it cumin? I was not sure but it tasted really flavorful. The lemon&dill cream cheese was a bit too salty, and I do hope to get more cream cheese given its price😢. Would come back and try their sweet cream cheese next time. Overall I’m happy to found this place as a bagel addict