Get tasty bagels for a bargain at Kokobelli
By ADRIENNE FRANK
Get Out

Think all bagels are created equal? Think again.

Kokobelli Bagel Cafe — which opened earlier this year on the northeast corner of Power Road and Southern Avenue in Mesa — is heads, tails and a tub of cream cheese above the rest.

Bagels, including traditional flavors, such as blueberry or onion, and more exotic offerings such as French toast, are made daily. The result is a bagel that, unlike those of many of Kokobelli’s competitors, tastes nothing like a doughnut and everything like a traditional Big Apple bagel.

I ventured into Kokobelli — a colorful, airy eatery open for breakfast and lunch daily — on a Monday afternoon and was greeted by a friendly sandwich-maker who guaranteed that everything on the extensive menu was “delicious.”

Both my companion and I opted for the raspberry turkey sandwich, piled high with sliced turkey breast, provolone cheese, sprouts, cucumbers and tomatoes with raspberry preserves and honey mustard. He opted for his sandwich on a plain toasted bagel, while I went with the homemade sourdough bread, as recommended on the menu.

Turns out you shouldn’t always follow recommendations, though, as the bagel was stellar. The bread was good, too — it just wasn’t as stand-out- spectacular as the bagel, which was crisp on the top and bottom and soft and airy in the middle. We also enjoyed the sweet ’n’ tangy one-two punch of the honey mustard and raspberry preserves — a combo I’ve never tasted before, but will definitely try again.

The sandwich was served with a generous handful of perfectly-seasoned bagel chips and a pickle. We washed it all down with a carton of homemade lemonade, which was the perfect balance of sweet and sour. By far, Kokobelli’s lemonade was the best I’ve found in the East Valley.

The verdict: East Mesa is lucky to have this sandwich shop, as Kokobelli puts everyone else in the bagel biz to shame.

Value meal deal
Where: Kokobelli Bagel Cafe, 1155 S. Power Road, Mesa,
What: Raspberry turkey sandwich with bagel chips ($5.50)