For traditional deli-style bagels, Call Your Mother delivers on portions and taste.
The walls of the self-proclaimed “Jew-ish” deli at 3301 Georgia Ave. NW are painted in hues of neon pink and teal on both its interior and exterior. You can choose from five different bagel flavors to hold a sandwich packed with everything from cream cheese to vegetarian meat.
The bagel shop is also making its way closer to campus soon with Georgetown location.
Bagel sandwiches include the “Rihanna-Flex” ($10) made of cream cheese, smoked salmon and capers, and the “Landsman” bagel ($14) filled with “Impossible Burger” meat, cheese and sofrito on a Challah roll. For a non-bagel plate, Call Your Mother serves “Pastrami Fried Rice” ($7), which contains eggs, sofrito, jalepeños and soy sauce, and latkes with jam and sour cream ($7.50).
I decided on the “Julian” Bagel for lunch to satisfy my sweet tooth. The chewy chocolate bagel, held together by a generous coat of strawberry cream cheese, is stacked high with layers of sliced strawberries and rich babka crumbs. The bagel itself was nearly the size of my head, overflowing with pink cream cheese and fresh strawberries.
I ended up scooping out some of the cream cheese to appreciate the other ingredients, like the dry chocolatey texture of the babka crumbs and chocolate bits baked into the bagel. I was also glad the bagel included strawberries – I could feel slightly healthy between my bites of chocolate bread and cream cheese.
If sweet bagels aren’t your thing, try one of Call Your Mother’s savory options like the “Shyne” bagel ($9.5) stacked with bacon, bodega-style egg, American and cheddar cheese and spicy honey on an everything bagel. For a healthier choice, opt for the “Mila” bagel ($9) which is filled with hummus, veggie salad and spicy sunflower seeds on a Zaatar bagel. You can also choose from four cream cheese flavors, jams, fishes, meats and greens to build your own bagel.
To complement your bagel sandwich, choose from several drinks including coffee ($2.75-$3.25), orange juice ($2.50), chocolate milk ($3.5) Kombucha ($4.75) and chai lattes ($4). Alcoholic beverages like beer ($6-$7.25) and a Rosé Spritz ($10.5) are also served.
For a classic deli portions with an unorthodox twist, Call Your Mother’s Julian Bagel will fill your sweet tooth craving.