I consider Einstein bagels more like rolls than bagels. Crust too soft, middle to doughy. However, I do like their coffee. When I think of bagels, I think of true water bagles -- dense, perfect golden crust, moist, chewy inside. My favorite bagel is salt. Eistein puts large, really large, salt crystals on their salt bagels. I like the smaller Kosher salt on mine (with poppy seeds of course). If you are in the Detroit area, try Detroit Bagel or up-and-comer Elaine's bagels. Both are good. Detroit Bagle is a traditional bagel - think New York ethnic, Elaine's are not as dense, but very, very good. Try the spinach with veggie cream cheese. At Detroit Bagel, try the Salt with cream cheese and lox (and brush up on your Yiddish depending on the location). By the way, my favorite all-time favorite sandwich is from chain Brueggers Bagels, the Leonardo da Veggie on a salt bagel (of course!). Brueggers is like Einstein, not what I call a 'true' bagel but they make one fantastic sandwich!
