Caveat: proud, Jewish Long Islander reviewing bagels of Philly. The atmosphere when you walk in says you are about to have an awesome bagel experience but it really falls short. The portions are pathetic for the price. Bagels at a place like this should be stacked. The selection is great as far as the specialty sandwiches but they sound a lot more interesting than they fare. The bagel/creamcheese/lox was really sad. I can never go back here willingly. read more

I've got to say it, this is not a bagel. Perhaps this is a bagel in Canada in the same way that a boot is a trunk in England. But here in America a boot is a shoe and the baked good sold at Spread is bread with a hole in the middle. With that rant out of the way, I will say that it is a pretty good piece of bread. My everything Canadian bagel was warm and had a nice crunch to it. I had the vegetable cream cheese, which had nice big chunks of carrot and celery in it. It was a nice afternoon snack, but set me back $5. This is about a $2 too much to pay for what I got. As for the bagels being "handcrafted"--whatever that means--the things is still just some flour and yeast. But I must add, the place has a very cute storefront and a great seating area. read more

Really cool place with fresh bagels made in a clay oven. Service is very slow- took them 20 minutes to make 2 bagels. Food was good but very expensive! Nothing to write home about. read more

Bagels are good but don't order online. I ordered twice online for delivery and both orders were wrong with missing items. Called for correction but they didn't answer their phone. So disappointed and felt ripped off. read more

Overpriced and overrated. Nothing special to warrant a $2 price tag for one bagel. You gotta be kidding me.

Though I'm a little bit confused as to why we got a legit Montreal style bagel place in Center City before a "traditional" or New York style bagel place, I can't entirely complain. I do love the bagels here! This was actually a first for me: never had a Montreal style bagel before. Being from North Jersey with a plethora of amazing New York style bagel place to choose from, I was certainly enthralled by the idea of a different style of bagel, and was really happy with the product. A little sweet, a little more bready, less "crisp" on the outside, this version of the Montreal bagel is really delicious. I prefer to get it with one of their spreads, just warm out of the oven, no toasting necessary. Their sandwiches are good, but they consistently just fall apart when I am trying to eat them, so I tend to opt for the simpler option. As noted, they are a little pricey for a bagel shop, but if you stick to the plain bagel and cream cheese option, you won't go too far into your pockets. +1 for friendly service, bottomless la colombe, and a cute atmosphere. Can be quite a bit of a wait on a busy weekend morning, but generally not too bad. read more

Would have had 5 stars if they hadn't accidentally toasted my bagel on my second visit. Their bagels are good enough that they don't need to be toasted. Probably the best shell, size, and chewiness of the bagelries like Philly Bagel, Knead, etc. even though it gets pricey with cream cheese. It seems paradoxical but it's better to go when they're busy because the bagels are fresher. Just maybe don't go 11am on a weekend because the line will be too long. read more

I found Spread by taking a bagel making class with owners Joel and Larry. My mother is originally from Montreal, and I live in NYC- I have an affinity for bagels but really wanted to try the sweet, eggy Montreal style bagels I had had only a few times before. These are the best bagels I have ever had, and the loveliest shop! If you come here expecting a NEW YORK style bagel, you will be confused- it's like expecting Chicago pizza to taste like New York pizza. But these bagels are their own category! I like them with just cream cheese- they are so sweet that I think lox is a little strange with them. There is a reason the line is so long- it's like a Philly cultural event to wait in this line, complete with music and laughs. Get a coffee and wait in this fun line for 30 minutes with friends and then go into the best smelling bagel shop you will ever have the pleasure of entering. read more

$10 for a bagel and orange juice?! Pros: -the inside is super cool in that there are staff members hustling to get the bagels freshly made in this huge clay oven (?) -everything there seems to be made fresh and exclusively to this place like the spreads as well. -they are generous about how much spread they put (I end up scraping a lot off so I could have some bagel with my spread) Cons: -this place is always PACKED so to expect to wait in line -there is seating in the back but the flies were a pest -the prices for a bagel just seemed a little too much even if they were made in front of me. read more

I used to live three blocks away and thought it was normal plain bakery. Little did I know, Spread makes awesome bagel sandwiches. Many of my friends have been actually enjoying this place for quite a while and I found out about this after I moved away from the neighborhood. From the outside Spread doesn't look fancy or anything. But one you step inside, it's cute and gives a nice wooden cozy cafe vibe. The prices aren't expensive but I do think they could be even $1 cheaper depending on what you get. The bagels are fresh, not too soft, not too chewy but not too doughy. Perfectly salted with generours topping ingredients. It's great to get breakfast and lunch sandwiches from Spread and I strongly encourage you to check it out. Don't get there too late or else you'll have to wait in line. Not a huge line,, but you know.. when you're hungry you want your toasty fresh bagel fast :) read more

Loved this place. Atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The wood burning brick oven smells amazing. The bagels are boiled and baked in the brick oven right in the front of the house. The spreads look incredible. I ordered an everything bagel with egg whites, spinach, muchrooms, and turkey bacon, and it was extremely delicious and satisfying. I would eat here all the time if I lived closer. read more

Spread Bagelry - Everything bagel with turkey bacon, egg whites, spinach, and wild mushrooms, warmed in the wood burning oven. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Meh. It's NO NY Bagel, that's for sure. Not at all impressed. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because I feel like 1 star should be for supermarket bagels. I order the everything bagel, toasted, with nova salmon cc spread, tomatoes, cucumbers & onions. The bagel was barely toasted. The onions were tiny & white, not the classic red onion. The tomatoes, or should I say one tomato slice (cut into 2 halves, one on each side) Both of the tomato halves were the "butt" of the tomato. The salmon cream cheese had barely any salmon, and tasted like regular plain cc. The cucumbers were so big that they wouldn't stay on the sandwich so I just ended up eating them separately. AND I found a tiny sliver of FOIL in my sandwich, so GROSS! I paid $7 and left hungry, and I don't even have that much of an appetite. (Went around the corner to Metropolitan Bakery & bought a fennel pretzel which was Amazing!) read more

Only come here if you have nowhere to be. The wait is at least 30 minutes for a bagel sandwich. The bagels are good, but not worth the wait. The sandwiches are overpriced and not particularly anything you couldn't do at home. My recommendation is to buy a bag of bagels to go, go to a deli and buy eggs and bacon, and make the sandwiches at home. You'll be done faster. read more

Spread Bagelry - Pastrami, egg, and provolone on a rye bagel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Never a big wait. Easy in, easy out. Bagels are great- love an everything with veggie cream cheese or a BLT. Wanna try that pastrami special Coffee is great. Prices are very rittenhouse...but quality is there. good soundtrack playing all the time. Friendly staff. Wanna try the BYO vodka for brunch sometime.... read more

I stopped in today as I love myself a good bagel, and the bagels here certainly are delicious and unique. The bagel (Montreal style) itself is not as dense as a New York bagel, and the bread itself is a bit springy and chewy. The wood fired flavor also comes through in the bagel with a bit of a smoky flavor, which is very good. I had the onion bagel sandwich with egg white, spinach, turkey bacon, and truffled mushrooms. This was very good. I also had some of an everything bagel sandwich with egg frittata, bacon, and jam. I was a bit apprehensive about the jam, but the sweet/savory combination works quite well. Both of these came with a slice of fresh cucumber on the side. The service was nice, and though it was very crowded in the store, we were able to find a small table next to the door. The interior was clean, with subway tiled walls, a retro Coke refrigerator, and bottomless La Colombe coffee (awesome!). I also appreciate the huge rack of magazines on the wall, but given the popularity of the place I don't see myself hanging out and reading a magazine for a long time. All in all, I had a delightfully pleasant lunch, and I will be back. read more

Being from NJ, it's been so hard to find an acceptable bagel place in Philadelphia. I don't know what it is but the bagels in this city stink! Spread, however, is the exception to this rule! The bagels here are just so yummy. I'm a huge fan of the toasted everything bagel with cream cheese and a fresh squeezed juice. To avoid the outrageous line wrapped outside on the weekends, try calling ahead to pick up an order to go! Or... Go in around 2 PM :) My only gripe is that a bagel is like $5. Really? Meh. read more

Marvin Gaye is belting out one of my all time faves at Spread - Any place that plays motown has already won my heart. I heard through the grapevine this place had memorable bagels. So here I am, just in town visiting. Savoring the smooth, fresh salmon (and generous servings at that- justifies the price), cream cheese bagel with tomato and onions. No capers. Just how I like it. Side cucumber salad cleansing my palate. Iced coffee is so good it definitely rivals if not surpasses my favorite haunts in Seattle. Outlets near every table (key for the computer addicts of the world). And I'm just about to lose my mind. What an adorable little bagelry. read more

Spread is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Philadelphia. That's saying a lot as Philly has many great breakfast spots. I usually go for the egg white sandwich or a toasted everything bagel with smoked salmon spread. Recently I mixed it up and went with the frittata scramble sandwich, and it was amazing - scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and... wait for it... amish jam! Quite possibly the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The bagels are hearty and flavorful. They're always fresh (which is why they run out sometimes). In the summer you can sit outside and there's a band on the weekends. read more

I've been missing out. Spread has the best bagels in Philly (that I've tried so far). I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon, and the place was packed! The line was out the door. Despite this, it moved relatively quickly. My bf and I tried the Nova Scramble and the Chicken Cheesesteak on everything bagels, and both were pretty awesome. (They also gave us a free sample of a bagel and spread when we were waiting, so that made everything better). I would've preferred the chicken cheesesteak to be a little bit more flavorful and salty, but that's my own fault because I don't really like cheesesteaks in general unless they're covered in cheese whiz. Although the sandwiches were great, the bagels were the star of the show. At most places, toasted bagels are little dry and overly crispy -- but not at Spread! Their bagels somehow maintain a soft, chewy texture even when toasted. Overall, I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit. I can't wait to sample more of their menu! read more

I love a bagels. I long for the days of picking up a dozens bagels on the weekend and indulging. Sadly, America realized that they aren't great for you and ever since, the bagel shop business has slowly gone down hill and then I read about Spread. Spread is a bagel place through and through and it's more than that. Their bagels are "Montreal" style. What the heck is that? Well, there's made in a brick over...aka super crusty on the outside and chewy/deliciousness on the inside. Awesome. I absolutely recommend checking this place out. Expect to wait a little since it's a tiny place and one of the only delicious bagel places left in town! read more

I went here twice and loved the bagels as well as the breakfast sandwich. If you get cream cheese it comes in a decent sized tub which I used over several days. The service was fast and everyone I encountered was nice. Would I go there again? Yes! If you like bagels definitely try this place! read more

What I Love about Spread: 1. Banjo music on summer weekends 2. Tasty bagels, just with cream cheese or as sammys 3. Can order takeout and picnic in Rittenhouse Park 4. Unique woodfire bagels 5. Adorable atmosphere with friendly staff What I Don't Love about Spread: 1. The line can get insane! 2. A little pricey for a sandwich/drink 3. Really small space for eat-in groups Bonus: My friend from Cincinnati has to visit this spot every time she comes through Philly. It's on her must-eat list. read more

This is one of my favorite bagel places in Philly. The wood-oven, Montreal style bagels are flavored so well with the smokey flavor of the wood used to cook them. The entire restaurant has a great smokey smell from the wood-fired oven that's located at the front. They even have bundles of wood stacked up by the oven. The bagels are delicious and are the typical types you'd expect like poppyseed, everything, sesame, cinnamon raisin, garlic, etc. They have a big variety of sandwiches both for breakfast and lunch, I always get The Standard which is your choice of meat with egg/egg whites and cheese on your choice of bagel for around $7.50. It's a big sandwich and all delicious. They have a great selection of coffees too. There is quaint window seating at the front of the store and additional seating in the back. read more

See all

This was my first time here, and I will be back. I had the Nova Scramble and it was delicious. Everything was fresh and well prepared. I can't wait to try their other menu items. read more

Spread Bagelry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

These are *not* Montréal style bagels. I just moved to Philadelphia from Montréal, and ate St. Viateur bagels almost every day. I excited that Spread would be just a block from my new place in Philadelphia. I could tell before going to Spread for a bagel looking at photos online that their product is not similar to a Montréal style bagel. Even if you have not eaten a Montréal style bagel, you can tell from a quick Google image search that Spread's product is basically just a wood fired New York Style bagel. Still, I thought I'd check out Spread just because I do love a google bagel and I thought hey, they're definitely not St. Viateur bagels, but maybe they'll be a different kind of addictive goodness? And, they're just a block away, so why not? Unfortunately, the bagels are good but not nearly worth the price they charge: $2 a pop. (They're almost a 1/3 of that price in Montréal). I understand that it's expensive to operate a wood fire oven/they're paying for prime retail space/working on a small scale, etc. But, charging $2 for a bagel is a little ridiculous considering that what Spread makes is nothing to write home about. read more

"Warfare...and bagels." To debate bagels in Philadelphia is like knocking the Phillies, i.e., you're risking warfare.  The city's residents take a great deal of pride in the breakfast bread and will debate the superiority of theirs over NYC-style with vigor.  Philadelphia's version in fact more closely resembles those made in Montreal insofar as they're smaller, slightly sweeter and baked in wood ovens.  The place to go is Spread Bagelry on 20th Street.  I have to admit, I was skeptical at first but ultimately impressed.  Get there early as the lines on the weekends are long.  On a recent visit to the store, we bumped into a young couple who moved out of the city and into the suburbs.  Yet, on Christmas morning, they drove into Philadelphia just to visit Spread--that's how good the bagels are. read more

Spread Bagelry - © David-Kevin Bryant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has needed a non-chain bagel place for years. I've said it myself and thought of how I could open one. I'm so glad you are here! Welcome! Excellent bagel, great menu selection, a little pricey. Tip: Get your bagels in the morning - the times I've been there later in the day (3pm) the bagel freshness doesn't seem to last as well as it should. read more

I enjoyed Spread Bagelry, but it didn't wow me. I had a bagel sandwich with egg and brisket. It didn't wow me. Also, the brisket was all on one side and not spread evenly throughout. It was like $9 which is a lil on the pricier side so I expected more brisket and more in general. The bagel alone was very good. read more

Bagels have the consistency and quality of store bought Lenders bagel at outrageous prices. Bagel with lox was $13.50. The iced coffee was undrinkable. read more

Disclaimer- this is my first time eating a "Montreal" style wood fired bagel so I really have nothing to compare with. With that said, i really enjoyed my bagel sandwich. The bagel is slightly bigger than most- be prepared for that. I ordered the Roasted Chicken BLT sandwich on a wheat everything bagel. Bagel was very yummy- very chewy. I also appreciated the fact that the wheat everything bagel did not have salt on it. The roasted chicken was a very good solid choice. My boyfriend ordered the egg white sandwich- I took a bite out of it and I have to say it was pretty yummy. It had egg whites, turkey bacon, spinach, and truffled mushrooms. Pretty amazing stuff. The price is a bit steep (as mentioned in the other reviews) but I figure they are using pretty quality ingredients so I can't complain too much. Would definitely come back when I visit Philly! Wish they had a wood fired bagel place in Baltimore! read more

These are Canadian style bagels. Meaning they are cooked in a brick oven. They have a chargrilled taste to them that some people love but truly I'm more traditional. People that do love this style love the sandwiches. Especially the spinach and egg white. read more

Montreal bagels, eh? Wasn't initially sure what the difference was, but now I understand. The bagels made at Spread are a thinner and a little sweeter than your average bagel, but cooked in a wood fired oven, and made fresh daily! The staff is friendly and helpful, working behind the counter in a very small space, but seem to have locked down a casual production routine. Every time I'm in there, no matter how many people are waiting, the staff doesn't seem overwhelmed or phased by the rush. This isn't a bad thing, I'm simply stating that I admire how they seem to visually enjoy their jobs, working together as a team and providing customers excellent bagels. Each time I've visited Spread, there has been a line out the door. Typically I am an impatient gal, but I've always found the time to wait because it's just too good to pass up. I love bagels, but often feel that many places make them too thick and doughy for my liking. Spread has got the bagel game perfected though! The smell of the bagels rising in the oven fills my nose and excites me when I wait in line each visit. So far, I have only tried three different kinds of bagel sandwiches. I've had veggie cream cheese on a whole wheat everything, toasted, with cucumbers and tomato (a classic Wawa offering I fell in love with years ago, but Spread does it WAY better). I've also tried the Nova Scramble, which has eggs, scottish salmon cream cheese, onion and tomato -- very yummy. And the last one I tried is a simple turkey bacon, egg white and cheese on whole wheat. I look forward to eating my way through their menu! See you again soon, Spread! read more

I love pretty much any carb I meet, but I am very particular about my bagels. First time I've tried Montreal style, and I am definitely a fan! This is a cozy little spot in the Rittenhouse Square area. We were in town for a weekend, and went here for breakfast both days. We were fortunate enough to visit when it wasn't super crowded but I could see how it could fill up quickly! I had the sesame seed bagel with cream cheese both days because that's my staple. My husband got the standard on the second day, and he was definitely happy with it. Bacon and eggs made fresh right behind the counter while bagels are being baked in the brick oven. They nada small selection of juices/beverages and $2 for endless coffee which was decent (not great but good enough). Like I said, we didn't even look around for another spot to try breakfast, so I would definitely recommend this spot and we will certainly go back! read more

Spread Bagelry - So good! Simple sesame bagel with cream cheese. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'll begin by saying i've been going to this place since it opened and I absolutely LOVE their bagels- that said they have a few problems. A lot of the other reviews that mentioned critiques are spot on and I agree with most of them. 1. Overpriced- i'm a Philly native and at any other bagel shop in Philly you can get a lox or white fish bagel for 8-10 dollars or less. There is no reason their white fish classic should 12+ dollars, especially when half of it is cream cheese. The bagel itself is worth the $2, but they really need to knock down their sandwich prices. 2. As I mentioned above and a few other reviews mentioned, they really over do it with the cream cheese. I'd rather pay less and receive less cream cheese! 3. I wouldn't say the staff is rude so much as they're visibly grumpy. I'm not sure if this is a problem with management or what, but the owner should either do something to make their employees happier or get new employees. The staff aren't mean, but they almost seem like by ringing up your order they're doing you a favor instead of doing their job. 4. Lastly, the place itself is adorable, but hot as heck in the summer SUMMARY: Worth it for the bagel itself, but overpriced if you're getting anything else read more

These bagels are very good -- softer than New York bagels, and a bit sweeter. The staff is also friendly. On the down side, though, the bagels are quite expensive ($2 each, extra for toppings), the space is cramped, and the selection is meager -- just a few flavors available. Also, the last time I bought several bagels I got a couple plain and an onion, and they were all bagged together. Really? If I wanted them all to taste like onion, I'd have ordered all onion! read more

Ok, the bagels were good but it was a mad house. Don't bother ordering a breakfast sandwich or you will wait for an hour. The grill help is unfriendly and were taking their sweet time with everything despite the fact that the line was out the door. When we opened our sandwiches they were a mess! Just thrown together which made me not want to eat it. The egg whites were runny too. I had to take it off my sandwich. Big disappointment. read more

Love the staff. Bagels are delicious. The atmosphere was great. I'll be back when I'm in the area!

Good bagels but be ready to wait 20-40 minutes. Just walked out with two bagels after 45 minute wait between the queue and waiting for the food the be made. I've been coming here for a good part of two years and management doesn't seem to care about making the necessary changes to increase throughput and rectify this. I always walk out telling myself "never again". In short, the wait is not worth the bagels. read more

So after months of anticipation, reading the sadly poor reviews, and the terrible fire, I finally found myself in the neighborhood of Spread, with a chance to actually go in. I was excited when I realized this, and made a beeline for their storefront. First of all, I think it's a pretty adorable establishment. They have outdoor tables (just a few) a few small tables in front, and a few smaller tables in the back. It's also just adorably decorated, and set up. The counter where you order has a great view of the oven where they are firing up bagels, or toasting other orders. Near the cash register they have specially available bagels. When I went today - there was a tomato and Gruyere (which was VERY tempting) and a bacon and cheese (I forget which cheese) and a pizza bagel (which was VERY VERY VERY TEMPTING - those looked great and were only $3). These were all halves and priced at $3. I decided to go for a simple regular poppy seed bagel with veggie cream cheese, just to get a taste of what this was all about. They also have a number of breakfast sandwiches and specials that seemed really exciting. I was so hungry that while sitting at the subway stop, I was tempted to have a bite. And it was DELICIOUS. I came home and devoured it. Best $4 I ever spent. It was expensive, but it was def worth it. I can't wait to go back and try the pizza bagel and other options So exciting. One disclaimer: I've never been to Montreal and had a Montreal bagel. I don't know if these are special Montreal bagels. But they are certainly good bagels. read more

I had to add a star for their wheat and wheat everything bagels as well as their Saturday entertainment (usually an accordian player). It makes waiting in the line a lot more bearable. Also the owner is really cool and he will sometimes hand out hot, steamy, airy bagels free straight from the oven. That helps a lot too! read more