I, like many others, am from New York. So I have high expectations when it comes to bagels. I moved 6 years ago to CA and could not find a single bagel place that even touched what I was used to. So I'd have my mom just send me bagels! Although not as a fresh, it was a better alternative. So, when I moved to Tempe, I was VERY skeptical to find a place that I'd like.
I looked up bagel shops on Yelp and found The Bagel Man. Many other east coasters approved so I figured I'd give it a try. I went in on a Sunday morning around 7:30am and there were only a few people there. I think I was in and out in about 5 minutes! Their customer service was fantastic!
The bagels themselves were exactly what I was hoping for. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Tasted like NY heaven to me!
The only downfall I had was that my bagel was a bit too over cooked and a little burnt-ish on the outside. But I bought a half dozen and no others were like that. I'd give them a 4.5 stars if I could. I certainly will be going back!!