Honestly, I have some mixed feelings about Fairmount. I'm from NYC- the land of bagels and in NYC when you order a bagel, whether it's in a bakery or from a vendor on the street- it is at the very least sliced, perhaps warmed, and served with some kind of cream cheese or butter. When you walk into the tiny shop of Fairmount- you're rushed to order from the plethora of warm bagels all around you. What you get is a fresh bagel (exciting stuff) but it is not sliced, nor is it re-toasted, and you pay for individual packets of butter or Philadelphia cream cheese (no fancy cream cheese here). They throw it in a bag with a plastic knife and send you on your way- oh yeah, the place is also cash only.
Now the good part, these bagels are delicious! I got a chocolate chip bagel and was surprised by small pieces of orange rind strewn throughout my bagel. An unexpected but delicious surprise. My boyfriend ordered a salt bagel and they honestly gave him a pretzel! The pretzel was delicious but I'm not sure I would consider it a bagel? Overall, the experience was good- we had to eat in our car on a cold, rainy day but I think I'll stick to my NYC bagels.