I just can't get into the Montreal bagel. I've lived in NYC for almost 7 years now and I'm convinced the NYC bagel is superior.
I've been to St Viateur and Fairmount now... the Montreal bagel is smaller and doughier than the NYC bagel. Also neither of these shops had fresh cream cheese. Your only option is the same Philadelphia cream cheese in a plastic tub that you can find anywhere.
The bagels are cheap. It's kinda cool seeing the oven in the back.