Bagels by Captain Cream Cheese

Closed in June sadly :(

I had to take a star away because I went there a few weeks ago and got the apricot bagel, but it was soooo yeasty I could not even eat it. Now I see where some other Unilocalers are coming from. I was pretty bummed since I was looking forward to another super captain cream cheese experience. I’m not sure, but maybe it was not good because I refridgerated it and ate it toasted the next day? If so, I recommend eating their delicious bagels (esp. the big italian) right away, preferable as an egg, bacon, cheese, cream cheese sandwich. Yum!

I have been hearing all about these delicious bagels and wanted to try them, but it opens too late for me to get one before work. So today I’m working from home, and I finally got to try one!
I had a bagel sandwich with the Big Italian, egg, cheese, and bacon. Holy cow was it amazing! This was hands-​down the best bagel I have ever eaten. I’ll definitely be going back for more!
Sure, the hours are weird and it’s a tiny place, but that’s kinda what I love about it!

Moseying over to Surly Girl for a bowl of warm chili during this frigid Ohio cold-​snap, I decided to stop by Captain Cream Cheese and pick up a few bagels for breakfast.
To start, great service. Even though the place is essentially just a carryout window my partner and I, indecisive as we were, were invited inside, away from the cold. After long deliberation, we decided on some poppy seed and Italian bagels with sides of garlic-​chive spread.
The verdict? Again, the service was really great and polite… but I couldn’t get over the sticker shock of paying $ 8 for four bagels. The bagels themselves were nice and slightly chewy, but I’m definitely partial to traditional boiled (rather than just baked) bagels. The spread? Exceptional. I love onion and garlic and this cream cheese (or neufchatel?) had a really strong, sweet roasted garlicky flavor with nice sharpness from the chive. The kicker, however, was how yeasty the bagels tasted– just way, way too strong.
While I love supporting small, entrepreneurial ventures, I’m probably going to stick with Blocks, if only for consistency and reliable hours, at this time.

KEITH! I shake my fist at you! Darn you for being the first to review Captain Cream Cheese!
But everything Keith stated in his review is correct. And I had the same bagel combo, The Big Italian with Roasted Garlic and Chive Cream Cheese. Holy cow was this a good bagel! The cheese, red pepper flakes and herbs on top of the bagel gave it a great flavor. I could have done with less roasted red peppers inside the bagel. The cream cheese could have had more garlic, but I like to scare away potential mates with my garlic breath.
Captain Cream Cheese likes to set his own hours, and if you want a bagel before 10am, well you’re shit out of luck. For now.
Four stars for now, with the possible expansion of another star once I try more bagels. I’m also hoping the Captain will make some bagel sandwiches with sliced meats, cheeses and other goods. That might justify his lunchtime hours.

Same spot as Late Night Slice, but now transforms during the day into Captain Cream Cheese where it’s all about bagels. I tried the most expensive item on the menu, The Big Italian, for $ 3.75 with a roasted garlic and chive cream cheese spread. My oh my. I wasn’t much of a bagel person before, but after having a freshly made one I quickly became a fan; the dough had a good satisfying crunch on the outside and an airy doughy inside along with some spices and spicy sweet peppers which were baked into the dough. For dessert I tried a plain bagel with peanut butter and honey and was also favorably impressed. The atmosphere is fun and casual, which is similar to what you’d expect being in the same shack as Late Night Slice. With the dearth of inexpensive dining options in the Short North, Captain Cream Cheese is a welcome addition and it tastes damn good.