As a reformed Yankee living in North Carolina, it’s expected that you occasionally complain about the food in your adopted state. And for a Northerner, that often means bagels, that round of dough that’s boiled and baked, then slathered with butter or cream cheese. But you know what, we’ve got a great option for bagels: Benchwarmer Bagels! If you’re looking for a high-quality bagel with a lot of chew, Benchwarmers is a fantastic choice. And with three locations in the City of Oaks, you’ve likely got one near you.
For a little history around this long-time bagel favorite, Benchwarmers was launched as a partnership between people from Boulted Bread and Jubala Coffee in February of 2019. Known for its artisanal, wood-fired bagels, Benchwarmers was a big hit early on, and usually my visits were scheduled to hit them at open, 8 am on the weekends! Usually there would still be a line at Transfer Co. Food Hall, but it was a lot shorter now at these hours.
Thankfully, Benchwarmers realized that there was a huge demand for their tasty baked goods. New locations at the Rockway and the North Hill Innovation District (NHID), two up-and-coming neighborhoods, mean that I don’t have to travel very far for my bagel fix. The Rockway location is wonderful, offering a much larger space built out with a lot of natural wood and sunlight. There’s plenty of space to spread out here. The newer NHID location is similar but a bit smaller and tidier. Thankfully, there’s a large patio out back to accommodate any customer overflow at this location.
One consistency between all three Benchwarmers locations is the menu: 6 or 7 bagel flavors, a handful of spreads, and then 8 to 10 sandwiches if you want a meal. A selection of hot coffee and coffee drinks rounded out the menu. And while I’m usually not a breakfast person, the sandwiches at Benchwarmers are a real treat for me. Love their everything bagel loaded with egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese with a coffee! Benchwarmers does a great job with their fillings, which are usually very generous and well-assembled.
I’m also a sucker for their #8 bagel sandwich, which is a peanut butter, banana, and roasted marshmallow! In my parlance, it’s otherwise known as an Elvis sandwich, minus the bacon- delicious! The salty, crunchy peanut butter pairs fantastically with the soft and sweet banana and marshmallow. Just be ready for a messy bite; you’ll end up with peanutty, marshmallow hands by the time you’re done.
And while the menu is pretty much the same for all three locations, the original Transfer Co. Food Hall Benchwarmers has added on a fun nighttime option: pizza! Usually from Thursday to Saturday, you can grab a thick-crust slice of cheesy, greasy pan-pizza that’ll push all your umami buttons. Pizza nights are super popular, so you’ll likely need to pre-order online and reserve your pie, just in case. Or you can just grab a slice; love their cupped pepperoni, the slices here are thick and filling!
So fellow Northern transplants, you can’t complain about bagels in Raleigh now that you’ve got multiple Benchwarmer locations! These savory, chewy rounds work so well for breakfast or lunch. The simplicity and deliciousness of a Benchwarmers bagel should not be underestimated. And you don’t even have to get up at 7am to enjoy them now, bon appetit!
The Best French Fries, Tater Tots, and Onion Rings in the NC Triangle