The Bagel Deli may be long gone but you are living in the gold age of Capitol Hill bagels.

The October opening of Rubinstein Bagels brought a nice little burst of new energy to 15th Ave E’s commercial offerings while also elevating the neighborhood’s chewy bagel offerings to a new epic level. Here are a few scenes CHS captured on a recent visit to check out the new shop.

Capitol Hill currently is home to five outstanding bagel bakers each offering its own special take on the Jewish baked goods:

• Rubinstein Bagels: The newly opened 15th Ave E shop is an expansion of the South Lake Union original praised for its chewy, NY-worthy creations.
• Loxsmith: The semi-permanent pop-up takes over the days at Broadway’s Nacho Borracho with its low scale, high craft bagels and sandwiches. Now open daily on Broadway, a Beacon Hill home is coming soon.
• Westman’s: Just down the Hill from Temple De Hirsch Sinai and 2,800 miles from Brooklyn, Westman’s Bagels and Coffee opened its E Madison walk-up counter in 2018.
• Eltana: The Hill’s new grandpappy of bagels, Eltana opened its first ever location on 12th Ave in more than a decade ago. The maker of Montreal-style bagels weathered the pandemic by ramping up “door to door” delivery in 2020.
• Dingfelder’s: Capitol Hill’s finest Jewish delicatessen offers much more than bagels, of course, but the 14th and Pine favorite added the baked goodness to its menu in 2020 with bagel dough from Blazing Bagels.

Meanwhile, Macrina at 19th and Aloha also features its own praise-worthy bagels and the recently reopened Volunteer Park Cafe on E Galer has promised its own house-made take.

We’ve also lost a bagel or two along the way. Einstein Bros. bailed on Broadway in 2016 ending a long run of “Big Bagel” on the street. And, of course, The Bagel Deli has been closed for year, shuttering in 2013 after 33 years serving Capitol Hill. Who knows if any of the current bagelries will come close to that kind of longevity but, for now, you can enjoy the riches of this golden age.

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