Restaurant Spotlight of the Week

When Menna Berhane tells you she genuinely cares about her bagels, she does so with such conviction you just have to believe her. “Aren’t our bagels the best?” she says, not smiling at all; as serious as can be. “Aren’t they?” You have to agree. You just have to. Even though you are likely skeptical because you’ve had lots of bagels in your time, but then you taste them and they really aren’t half bad and by the second bite they’re pretty darn good.

For 10 years, Berhane has operated her business, now called “Bagels, Deli & Donuts,” in the West Falls Shopping Center (it switched locations about four years ago when the area got a facelift.) But for much longer than 10 years, the Springfield resident has loved the City of Falls Church.

“It has a countryside feel to it,” she said. “I can see the same people come into my shop and watch them grow.”

Berhane’s tiny bakery, formerly called, simply, “Donut Shop,” earned popularity among George Mason High School’s student population when homeroom classes would encourage students to bring donuts to class on Friday mornings. She can remember people who she’s watched go through high school, go off to college, and come back to see her with a family of their own. “It really is nice to be in this community,” she added.

When she moved into the new location (across the parking lot), she was able to expand the business’ capabilities. As Berhane admits, “Frankly, I was tired of donuts.”

The donuts are still there, but admittedly have taken a back seat to the homemade, daily-fresh bagels as well as her home-baked pies, muffins, cookies, croissants and cream cheeses. At first glance, “Bagels, Deli & Donuts” looks like a standard-fare bagel shop, but just about everything is homemade.

Eager eaters can get the standard breakfast-on-a-bagel fare of eggs, bacon, ham, etc. A lunch stop will let your imagination wander with bagel sandwiches like the Hot Jeffersonian (Virginia baked ham, American cheese, honey Dijon, lettuce, tomato), the Hot Washingtonian (turkey breast, bacon, Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato), Juno’s Chicken Breast (marinated chicken, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and special Greek dressing) or more standard selections like a steak & cheese, Italian hoagie, New York lox or liverwurst.

All can be ordered on standard sandwich bread (white, wheat or rye), but Berhane practically begs you to put it on one of her signature bagels. And you really should. It’s worth it. They are pretty darn good.