Butte Beat: Are "Butte's Best Bagels" Really the Best?

BUTTE, MT - I think the simplest offerings in life are the best way to measure something's quality.

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I've explained my philosophy in nearly every Butte Beat (which I do weekly) I've written so far. When I wrote a piece on everyone's favorite bank-turned-restaurant, I said that the Jack and Coke will tell you whether the owners care about the devil in the details. I've even claimed that the best way to tell if a restaurant is good or not is to get something as simple as a cheeseburger. It'll tell you everything you need to know.

Why do I swear by this technique? Well, for starters I am someone who enjoys the simple fairs in this turbulent and crazy life. That's why I say Taylor Swift is the best artist ever and I watch Lifetime movies religiously. Secondly, I think the logic adds up: if they make their cheeseburger and fries with tons of savory love, then they'll make their Tonkotsu Ramen with the same passion.

This logic carried with me when I walked through the doors of Uptown Butte's 3B Bagel Company, located directly beneath Metals Sports Bar and Grill, and tried their self-proclaimed "best bagels." Now, for context, I am what some would call a "pretentious prick," though I think that's a little rude and prefer to call myself a "simple foods connoisseur." What does that mean? I eat like a child—pizza, burgers, and other simple meals a child would crave—like, a lot, and thus I give myself authority to say what makes a good slice good and a bad slice bad. "You just sound like you're a picky eater." Shut up, Mom!

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My point: I know what a good bagel tastes like. However, I would never call anything "the best" because that would hurt my endorsement deals. Just kidding. It would hurt feelings, and no one wants to do that. Plus, "the best" changes for me day-to-day, whatever mood I tend to be in. And when I got a 3B bagel, it fit perfectly in the frequency of my mood. I wanted a buttery, doughy, East-Coast style bagel—and I got one.

But I also got a lot more. Though I always rock a blueberry bagel (a side effect of my childhood addiction for blueberry Eggo waffles), I also got a simple bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich, which "blue" (hah!) my mind. Then I proceeded to get a nice, lowkey experience eating both in their massive indoor seating area, reminiscent of a New York or Boston bagel shop. I loved every second of it.

So, is 3B's the "best bagel" in Butte? I don't know, but since it's the only one I've tried so far, I have to say it is definitely the best. For now.

Tune in next week for another edition of the Butte Beat. Check out previous editions below.

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