Bagel Rising
1243 Commonwealth Ave
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 789-4000
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 789-4000
Green Tags: Almost everything is recyclable, bagels, corn, cups, eco cups, eco cups tofu spreads green certified vegan muffins recycle program, fair trade, green certified, organic, plastic, recycle
Good Tags: bagels, boars head, breakfast, coffee, delicious, delicious variety cleanliness, fresh, Great bagels, lunch, sandwiches, sandwiches and drinks !,tea, variety
This allston joint packs the kids in with their non-traditional take on breakfast. Anywhere that serves hummus on a bagel is a-o-k with me. This place reminds me of a place in Greenwich Village that just serves p&j sandwich’s a hundred different ways. Ever have tuna on a bagel? Well, now you can. If that didn’t turn you on…try the sesame with avocado and fresh tofu spread.
BR proudly serves organic fair trade coffee and vegan treats to boot. BR also touts using ECO cups (no plastic lining)…I believe the establishment is co2 certified in some way shape or form…cool!
If you find yourself stumbling around Allston, find your way to Bagel Rising and fill up.
Bagel Rising is an exemplary business in many aspects. First off, it's really really good. The bagels are great, the sandwiches are delicious (personal favorites are avocado dream on honey grain and tuna melt) and the drinks (organic coffee, homemade lemonade, espresso beverages, and a variety of bottled juices) are tasty. The staff is friendly, there's free wi-fi, and even a selection of vegan baked goods to appeal to everyone. Also, a frequent buyers card where every 11th sandwich and drink are free. The location is good, right off the T at Harvard Ave, and it's a great place to just chill out (albeit a bit small). There's usually a long line on weekend brunch-time, but it moves fast. So all in all, it's a great place to eat.
It's also a great green restaurant. Certified green in fact. The beverages are all served in greenware cups or recyclable bottles, the silverware is all recyclable. Almost all things are organic. The AC is used sparingly. There are small notes all over reminding customers to only take the amount of napkins they need and to recycle accordingly. In fact, the recycling bin is more prominent than the trash bin.
In conclusion, bagel rising is pretty much just a really good place to eat and to be green while eating. If you haven't checked it out yet, even after reading all these good reviews, you really should get on that.
Bagel rising is the closest you can get to a good NYC bagel in Allston. Nothing beats a good bagel with lox and cream cheese and theirs is definitely the best in the area. Everything is fresh and delicious, while the menu also includes tons of nontraditional bagelfare like their super cinnamon and mixed berry bagels. There are lots of spreads and toppings to choose from with plenty of vegan and vegetarian friendly choices.
They also happen to be one of the greenest restaurants in the area, serving organic coffee, Odwalla bars and drinks, by promoting recycling, and by using environmentally friendly utensils and cups.
Great place!
Everything I have ever had from Bagel Rising has been fresh and delicious! From the bagels to the coffee everything is served to order and quickly. They also recycle all bottles, and have cups made out of corn rather than regular paper. Try the Chia Bagel (cream cheese, sprouts, cheese, lettuce, honey mustard, avocado spread) for a tasty treat-- I get it with no cheese and Jalapeño Tofu Spread on an everything bagel and its the perfect late morning meal. All sandwiches also come with a side, a choice of chips, potato salad or cole slaw.
Local artists often have pieces hanging on the wall inside the shop as well. Bagel rising is committed to community growth and support. There is also always music playing and friendly staff members afoot--the vibes are great.
Bagel Rising is perfect! Right across the street from the Harvard Ave T-Stop in Allston, they have an awesome selection of great tasting bagels. Their bagel sandwiches are great - I also recommend the Ike (I prefer mine with no bacon), and the Tuna Meltdown. They also offer great coffee to go along with your bagel.
In addition to their great offerings, they are all about being green. They discourage waste, promote recycling, have eco cups, and have donated to sustainable energy programs.
The employees are all very nice and the atmosphere is totally enjoyable.
Bagel Rising rocks. Their fresh baked bagels taste soo good! and there is definitely an obvious concern for the environment.
Besides offering many dairy-free cream cheeses, soy coffee beverages (soy chai latte!), and some amazing sandwiches (the Soy of Joy is a fav), Bagel Rising steps it up a bit by being a "Green Certified" restaurant and having a Renewable Energy Certificate which shows that they help to avoid 254,529 pounds of CO2 in one year. They promise to take 4 steps each year to improve their green practices. That's what I'm talking about!! What a great role model.
Bagel Rising also uses Jim's organic coffee and Nature works corn cups (biodegradable!), and sells their day old bagels in bags of 10 so that none get wasted.
*I forgot to mention that they offer vegan cookies, muffins and cakes made around the corner by Herrell's Renaissance Cafe. Thanks Herrell's!!
Bagel Rising is my favorite bagel spot in Allston, MA hands down.
+ Friendly service and familiar faces - If you're a young Allstonite and have lived here for a few years, then chances are you know someone who works at Bagel Rising. If not, there is a good chance that you'll run into a familiar face while grabbing a bite.
+Diverse options - There is a multitude of bagel, sandwich, wrap, spread, topping, beverage and specialty items. In addition, they have vegan and vegetable friendly options for those who stay away from the meat.
+Delectable Sandwiches - They are REALLY good. I suggest the Ike.
+Environmentally Conscious - They advise people to only take the amount of napkins necessary, discouraging excessive waste. In addition, they actively encourage people to recycle and use EcoFriendly cups.
- Could take more steps toward being sustainable (i.e. composting, participating in environmentally minded events).
- A bit more expensive then the average bagel joint.
I spent a lot of time with an ex that lived down the street from Bagel Rising and boy do I miss it. The bagels, I mean.
The breakfast sandwiches are to die for, but they have so many varieties (bagels, spreads alike) that I will absolutely never get sick of the place. It is very vegan/vegetarian friendly, and they offer recyclable trays and eco-friendly cups (similar to Espresso Royale.. I think they're part of the same company). They offer a nice selection of organic beverages, too!
Definitely stop by and try one (or several) of the million awesome and organic foods it offers. I believe they even offer wi-fi! Everyone wins.
I don't mind spending a little more money on something that I know is fresh and tasty. Bagel Rising has perfected the bagel and has a variety that never gets old. The meat on the sandwiches is high quality Boars Head brand and can't be beat. The small location can get a little hectic on the weekends but its the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat during the weak.
I don't feel guilty ordering to go when I eat here. They have green cups made out of corn and they also recycle. My only complaint with the cups is that they tend to leak after a while when the glue gives way. Other notable things about Bagel Rising is their killer organic coffee and cool loose tea selection.
I couldnt agre more with every review on this page. Bagel Rising is the best place to eat, mingle, and surf the net in a clean, green environment. The employees are awesome and Larry the owner is radical. I eat there a few times a week. Try the vegan muffins!!
Bagel Rising is the only thing worth getting out of bed for on the weekend, and I don't even live in Allston. Their jalapeno bagels actually taste like jalapeno. They have 5 variates of tofu spread and baked tofu for sandwiches. Even though it is always packed, the line moves quickly and everyone in there gets a sense of their environmental impact reducing business ethic.
You can also get their bagels at Esprsso Royale on Comm Ave and Newbury St. Its cool to see a local bakery distributing to other businesses in their own city.
Bagelrising.com says this:
" The owner and managers of Bagel Rising are very aware of social responsibilities as a small business in the community. We operate to add to a positive and dynamic neighborhood. We are affiliated with local civic and business organizations working to improve the community."
My wallet dreads my mornings off of work. I feel it start to quiver in my back pocket as I round the corner from Harvard Ave to Commonwealth, up to Bagel Rising. I can't stay away, the food is magical and the coffee is splendid. The only problem is, a sandwich and drink ring up to around $9 per vist. In one way, that is a bit Green, because I can't afford this place too often, thus I'm creating less waste...
The bagels are made on site, the baked goods come from up the street, the cups are eco-friendly, they recycle their paper, they give discounts to bike riders, reusable plastic trays for dining in and more!
They offer a selection of Naked juices and keep the paper to a small amount on to go orders. The portions are just right and the atmosphere if not busy, is always relaxed. The employees are cheery, sometimes spacey, and always friendly.
Signs above the napkin dispensers read: Please take only what you need. Overall Bagel Rising is working to reduce their carbon foot print while offering great food and beverage.
Every weekend, without fail, there is a line out the door at this place. They make fresh, amazing bagels everyday and their sandwich combinations are not to be missed, plus there is plenty of vegetarian options. As part of Boston's Espresso Royale chain, they are also really green-friendly and green certified. Check out what their website says about the cups they use:
Eco Cups are here!
What's an Eco Cup? Well the dirty secret of food service has for a long time been that the paper cups commonly used are lined with plastic, and plastic clear cups are plastic. Almost no-one recycles these because they are nearly impossible to recycle. So they end up in land fill where they will stay. We have been looking for this alternative for years and it took this long for the technology to arrive.
The Eco Cup is made from a bio-polymer derived completely from corn. It will breakdown and return to whence it came. The manufacturing process for the Eco Cups is much less energy intensive than the plastic counterparts too. Look for the green band at top and bottom of the cups and you'll feel good about using them.
Please do us a favor! Please tell your friends to try Espresso Royale. We think our coffee, tea, and Cacao is better by far and we try harder too. If we gained some new customers it would help us afford some of the initiatives we undertake.
Eco Cups, Solidario kids, Fair Trade, Organic, whole leaf tea all contribute to a better earth and happier life.
Food
Big Picture
When you think of food, you may not always think of the environmental impact your choices have. By making conscious decisions when shopping, dining out, or growing your own, you can impact the environment directly, not to mention your own health. The old saying "it isn’t easy being green" really does not apply here – you just have to know what to ask and make sure to put your money where your mouth is!
Factoids n' Stuff
- Approximately 23% of the energy used in food production is allocated to processing and packaging food. (Murray, Danielle. Oil and Food: A Rising Security Challenge, May 9, 2005, accessed September 1, 2006.)
- 10% of the energy used annually was consumed by the food industry. (Heller, Martin C., and Gregory A. Keoleian. Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System. Ann Arbor, MI: Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan, 2000: 42.)
- An estimated 20-40lbs of nitrogen per acre of conventionally grown corn is released into the groundwater and streams leading to the Chesapeake Bay. Nitrogen starves water of oxygen, killing fish and other marine life. (“Biofuels and the Bay—Getting it Right to Benefit Farms, Forests and the Bay,” Chesapeake Bay Commission)
- An Ohio study revealed that 67% of water taken near poultry farms contained antibiotics, contributing to the growth and development of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. (www.sustainabletable.org, Jjemba, Patrick K. “The Potential Impact of Veterinary and Human Therapeutic Agents in Manure and Biosolids on Plants Grown on Arable Land: A Review,” in Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment, 93 (2002), pp. 267-78: 268.)
- On a factory farm containing 35,000 hogs, over 4 million pounds of waste are produced each week. (Loehr, Raymond. “Pollution Implications of Animal Wastes—A Forward-Oriented Review,” Water Pollution Control Research Series. Washington, D.C. Office of Research and Monitoring, Environmental Protection Agency, 1968, p. 26.)
- The agricultural industry was directly responsible for 6% of the U.S. impact on global warming in 2004. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Agriculture,” in Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004 (Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006): 1.)
- Herbicide tolerant GE (genetically engineered) crops have created weed resistance, causing pesticide use to increase by 70 million lbs between 1997 and 2003. (www.sustainabletable.org)
What Goes In?
Make sure you are getting real food rather than a bunch of chemicals you can't pronounce. Starting at the bottom of the food chain, is your food au naturale or are you getting a bunch of things you didn't ask for, like pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or steroids? The next step in bringing food to you, wherever you are, is transportation. How far did your food have to travel to get to your mouth?
What Comes Out?
Does the food taste good? Are the portions too big? How much food is wasted? What do they do with that wasted food? Throw it away? Of course, there's the packaging too. Is the establishment you are at using paper, plastic, real dishware? Do they recycle? Are they encouraging you to recycle?
How's it Run?
Do the employees seem happy and healthy? Do they take the time to explain what you are getting – i.e., do they know where the food comes from and are they happy to tell you about it? Do they have a genuine care for quality rather than quantity?
What They Care About
Do they understand the interest in organic and local foods and do they know why that’s important? Have they researched local suppliers and do they think about meeting the farmers or fishermen who provide them with food? Are they thinking of ways to offer more natural choices, or do they just care about making a buck?
What to Ask
- What's been added to my food?
- Where does my food come from?
- Is this food local, organic, or both?
- Does this meat come from a factory farm, or was it naturally raised?
- How far did my food have to travel to get to my mouth?
- What do you do with the leftover food that you have?
- What are you doing to help the negative impact that the mainstream food supply currently has on the environment?
- Do you know what your carbon footprint is (given all the different foods you are providing) and what are you doing to offset your carbon footprint?
What to Do
- Buy local – go to farmers markets, visit local farms, and ask whoever is helping you for the most local choices.
- Buy organic – ok, ok, this can get expensive so if you're tight on cash, at least buy organic for the dirty dozen.
- Grow your own – This is the single best thing we can do for the environment – this summer, pick one thing and grow it yourself.
- Eat a little less animal protein, and get high quality naturally raised meat from a small, sustainable farm in your local area.
- Avoid the center aisles at the grocery stores – they are full of chemically processed foods and drugs that are contaminating our water supply.
- Ask a lot of questions – you'll know what's up by how your questions are answered.
- Take your own reusable bag or container – pretty self explanatory but this makes a huge difference.
- Start composting – compost your unused fruits and veggies and take them to your local community garden – the gardeners will love the help!
Find Out More
- Eat Well Guide
- The Meatrix
- Environmental Working Group
- Sustainable Table
- "Unhappy Meals", by Michael Pollan, New York Times Magazine
