A bagel is a doughnut with the sin removed. ~ George Rosenbaum

Towards the end of the summer it's pretty hard to pry the little zombies, I mean children, from their nocturnal state in the morning.  Bribery helps.  Yesterday morning it was just the thing to get the whippersnappers out of bed quicker than you can say "One toasted Pumpernickel bagel with scallion cream cheese please!"

Being diagnosed as "pre-diabetic" from my doctor a few months back, bagels are one guilty pleasure in life that is far and few between in my world.  So, if I am going to indulge, it better be worth it.  Bagelman is consistently worth it.

Located in the TJ Maxx shopping plaza, Bagelman has been cranking out fresh, New York style bagels from scratch for years.  The bagels are boiled and baked fresh daily and the flavor and freshness shows in the finished product.  Not too doughy on the inside, not too hard on the outside, with just the right amount of flavor, these bagels are sure to delight even the pickiest of bagel connoisseurs.

My kids and I went for a late breakfast yesterday, more like brunch. My daughter chose a Poppy Seed Bagel ($1.46) with butter and said it was "Scrumpy," which in her language means "Scrumptious."  My son wolfed down his Sesame Bagel ($1.46) before we were both finished with our first half and said it was "really good."  I went for a healthier option, Whole Grain with Light Cream Cheese ($2.25) and it was delicious.  We all shared a Fruit Cup ($3.75).

Other cream cheese options include scallion (my favorite), vegetable, olive, garlic, strawberry and walnut and raisin. They also have lox spread and peanut butter and jelly spread.  All cream cheese spreads are made with 100 percent Philadelphia Cream Cheese.

Bagelman is self-service and has about eight to 10 tables in their small dining area.  Order at the counter and the servers will bring your order over when it's ready. Another perk  about this eatery is the excellent coffee selection (pun intended).  They offer New England Coffee Company, which always tastes great.  Flavored coffee comes in a unique variety such as Blueberry Cobbler, which I tried and it was awesome.  Other flavor choices offered include Hawaiian Macadamia Nut, Cinnamon Hazelnut, French Vanilla and Hazelnut Crème.

Not just for breakfast, Bagelman's chicken and tuna salads are also delicious.  I have tried these on other occasions, as well as their egg sandwiches and salad selections.  Bagelman also does catering for your party or corporate functions and has a full menu with pricing online.

Their lunch menu includes hearty cold-cut sandwiches, such as the Honey Dripper: ham, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, honey mustard on rye; or the Firehouse: roast beef, pepper jack cheese, horseradish sauce, lettuce and tomato on your choice of bread.

Something new we noticed since the last time we visited this location was the frozen smoothies, lattes and other summer drink specials, which looked like a great cool-down for a hot summer day.

Breakfast for three with drinks and a fruit cup was $15, but we couldn't escape without grabbing three fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies to go, making our total $18.

The owner is very friendly and walks around greeting people, making sure things are running smoothly.  The staff is fast, friendly and efficient. They seem to have gotten more help than the last time we were here, which will expedite the long lines in the morning and on weekends.

For more menu information and to see other menu offerings check out their website.