Bagel Jay's, Buffalo

Like Prometheus stealing fire from the gods to give it to humankind, the founders of Bagel Jay's Bakery and Cafe brought bagels to Western New York in 1976. Since then, owner Bagel Jay has been crafting circular standbys with a menu of freshly baked bagels paired with savory deli meats. Diners dress their hearth-baked bagel with cream-cheese shmears of scallions, vegetable, and cinnamon honey, or construct sandwiches of sliced roasted turkey, hot corned beef, or ham. A steaming cup of Jakee's Java and a breakfast bagel with bacon and cheese help jump-start the morning, and classic tuna salad fortifies muscles after a long day of playing Jenga with railroad ties.