Okay, let me start by saying that YES I have had Montreal bagels and NYC bagels and they are of course, in a category all of their own. But let's focus on Toronto bagels.
Several months ago I had a hankering for bagels. I decided to give What a Bagel a try and was pleased with their prices (exactly $6 for a dozen bagels) and the taste. They were really, very good! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a variety of flavours to choose from.
But I had this nagging feeling, because it wasn't a "traditional Jewish bagel shop". I swore I wouldn't give a full judgement until I had sampled bagels from Bagel World. Bagel World, which has a few locations in the city, boosts the best bagels IN the city. They also have weird hours though, making it hard to get to on a weeknight.
I finally made it there and grabbed four bagels. My husband and I eagerly sampled the first two...and were VERY disappointed. (See full review under Bagel World).
SOOO What a Bagel wins! Never thought I would be saying that about a major bakery chain!