Jimmy’s Bagels recently opened up in La Grange Park, creating competition with opposing bagel shops like Great American Bagel. It offers a breakfast and lunch menu featuring authentic New York-style bagels, as well as a wide selection of different coffees. It is a perfect place to either quickly grab a bagel and coffee in the morning or have a nice sit-down brunch with a friend. Jimmy’s bagels has done pop-ups at farmers markets around the area and now have their first and only shop. 

I went to the bagel shop on a Saturday, arriving at around 1 p.m. When I first arrived, I realized that the menu was posted on the window outside of the restaurant, accompanied by a sign displaying the restaurant’s hours. When I walked in, I noticed that there were multiple tables available to sit down and eat. However, it was fairly busy given the time of day. The interior was not overly decorated, and the entire restaurant was noticeably very clean; as soon as someone finished their meal and left their table, a worker was immediately cleaning the table for the next party.

Near the entrance, there was a rack offering different flavors of the Miss Vickie’s potato chip brand and a diverse drink fridge. The service was exceptional. I was lucky enough to order my food from Jimmy himself. He was very friendly and even offered his personal suggestions on the menu and also on my specific food choices. I received my food only a few minutes after ordering. 

My first food selection was Jimmy’s Choice ($10), which is a highly regarded breakfast sandwich. It came with a freshly cooked egg, a perfectly seasoned and tender pork sausage, and a melted slice of American cheese, topped off with a perfectly toasted and salty everything bagel that reminded me of New York City. The bagel had a crispy exterior crunch, while still keeping a hot and soft inside. I accompanied this meal with a can of Pepsi ($3) and a bag of Miss Vickie’s Sea Salt chips. Then I decided to try out one of the lunch options and went with the B.L.T. When I was ordering, Jimmy gave me a personal suggestion to add turkey to the sandwich. I took the recommendation and was rewarded with an amazing sandwich. It came with a nice big, thick, juicy tomato, fresh, crunchy lettuce, fresh mayonnaise, crispy bacon that wasn’t too soggy or chewy, and high-quality turkey. Although the sandwich normally comes on an everything bagel, I decided to switch it up and opted for a plain bagel. The bagel was basic but had a crunchy and shiny crust paired with a chewy and dense interior. Each part of the sandwich was a good quantity; there wasn’t too little or too much of any part of the B.L.T. I had a bottle of water ($2) from the drink fridge to wash down this part of the meal.

Jimmy’s Bagels is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. It is located at 716 E. 31st St., La Grange Park, 60526. Indoor seating is provided along with a small outside dining area that is shared with the other eateries along the mall strip. Carry out is also available. Jimmy’s Bagels is a tasty food spot, perfect for a breakfast or brunch meal. 

5/5 Paws