Bagels and Schmear Campaign

What is up with The Bagel Club on Park Avenue in Long Beach? True, their sumptuous chewy rings bathed in everything seeds or raisins are perhaps some of the best bagels this bubbala has ever bitten into. But this isn't a Jamaican joint, so what's up with all the jerk?

On a recent afternoon trip, we ordered half a dozen, an everything with lox cream cheese, and an elaborate sandwich of chicken, BBQ sauce, and various cheese. We wanted it on a hero, long, lean, easy to share and clutch in one hand. The hero option was prominent on the menu. The dough boy behind the counter gave us a withering look and informed us there were no heros. We asked what our choices were. Call us naive for thinking there may be other breads, if after all, there were supposed to be heros. It was just a question. But dripping like curdled butter in the nooks and crannies of our souls he condescended: "Bagels."

Fine. We got a sandwich on a bagel. Not ideal, too big of a mouthful, but fine. Do we hate this place? Almost, but then maybe the dough boy is having a bad day. Then we overhear a conversation between a man buying a chocolate muffin and the register boy. "Um, excuse me, but you rang me up for $1.95 but the price board says $1.75." The register boy rudely replies, "We changed the prices. It costs more now." Twenty freaking cents?????

C'mon Bagel Club employees. Get with the program. We like our lox salty, not our waitstaff.