This is On Bagel Cafe, a casual bakery and cafe specialising in freshly made, chewy bagels.
The menu focuses on bagels, with sweet varieties alongside savoury classics.
Everything Bagel ($7.00)
The original bagel was topped with everything bagel seasoning, giving it a rich, savoury profile with garlicky and nutty notes. The exterior was crisp, while the interior was chewy and tender, yet lighter than that of an average bagel. Great texture and good flavour.
Basil & Tomato Bagel ($9.00)
Basil was incorporated into the dough, giving it a light yellow-green tinge, alongside five pieces of sundried tomato. The sweet basil provided a fragrant aroma that carried through on tasting, while the sundried tomato added a pop of sweetness and a soft crunch for textural contrast. The bagel maintained the same crisp exterior and chewy, tender interior. Great texture and great flavour.
Blueberry Bagel ($7.00)
Blueberries and blueberry jam gave the bagel a speckled purple appearance. Blueberry was apparent in both the aroma and flavour, while the dough retained a predominantly savoury profile, keeping the bagel from veering into dessert territory. The texture followed the same pattern, with a crisp exterior and chewy, tender interior. Good texture and good flavour, although actual chunks of dried blueberries would have added more textural variation and pushed it towards a dessert-like profile.
Strawberry Bagel ($7.00)
Strawberry and strawberry jam gave the bagel a vibrant red appearance. Strawberry was apparent in both the aroma and flavour, with a more pronounced fruity sweetness than the comparatively subdued blueberry variety. The strawberry flavour also came across as fresher than jam alone, while the dough itself remained savoury. The bagel retained the same crisp exterior and chewy, tender interior. Good texture and good flavour, although actual chunks of strawberry would have added textural variation and given it a more dessert-like profile.
Cinnamon Bagel ($9.00)
This featured twisted bagel dough with an almond meal-based cinnamon filling and a cinnamon sugar coating. Air-frying significantly improved the exterior, restoring a crunchy sugar crust that had otherwise softened. The interior remained tender and chewy, punctuated by the cinnamon almond filling, which held its structure without becoming oozy. A bagel twist on a cinnamon bun.
Almond Crunch Bagel ($9.00)
Crushed almonds and sugar topped the bagel, creating a caramelised crunch that was delightful without being overtly sweet. The warm, nutty notes of the almonds balanced the sweetness of the caramelised sugar well. Beneath the topping, the bagel retained its characteristic crisp exterior and chewy, tender interior, with unsweetened dough providing a counterpoint to the topping. Great texture and great flavour, offering a more enjoyable take on an almond croissant, without the overwhelming sweetness and heaviness of almond frangipane.
Overall, a specialty bagel range defined by a consistently crisp exterior and chewy, tender interior, with flavour variations that remained balanced rather than overly sweet. The cinnamon and almond varieties benefited particularly from their contrasting crunchy toppings and fillings. The specialty bagels lean towards the pricier side for a daily habit, but their well-executed texture makes them worth trying.
On Bagel Cafe is located at Shop 3, 18 Footbridge Bvd, Wentworth Point NSW 2127.