Bagels 4 U & Deli 2

An industrial-strength fan above the front door groaned in its effort to keep Bagels 4 U & Deli 2 cool on a hot, humid day last week. Apparently not satisfied with the machine's efforts, a woman at a table sat with books in front of her, fanning herself.

I've come to know and love the bagel shops on Mountain Avenue over the last few years, but Bagels 4 U never looked inviting (not just because the name of the establishment looks like a teenager's text message). I asked a couple friends about it and received responses ranging from "I wasn't sure if it was open or not for months" to "if they're not making money hand over fist..." The latter comment was more in reference to the Short Hills location farther up Morris Avenue, which seems to do a much more lively business.

Back in Springfield, large windows facing Morris Avenue usually display a store with just a handful of customers. A sign on the door warms patrons, "watch you're step." And despite the warm temperature inside, the empty blue and white tables make this place cold, sterile and bright.

Move beyond the unappealing vibe, and this place gets better.

The menu was extensive – a little dizzying, so I asked the woman behind the counter what was popular. Chicken salad or tuna salad, she shyly told me. So I ordered tuna salad on a sesame bagel, which was made promptly – one of the benefits of eating in an almost-empty shop.

The tuna salad was tasty without being fishy. Fresh celery was evident, as was fresh parsely. The bagel was a little heavy, but with a good, doughy flavor. My expectations were exceeded.

The establishment also appears to be spotlessly clean. As I ate my sandwich – and jalapeno chips and Vitamin Water, an employee cleaned each table with a spray disinfectant, and then swept the already clean floor meticulously, even asking if he could sweep under my table.

The meal was satisfying, the menu extensive, the staff polite and the store clean. But Bagels 4 U is cold, void of character and lacking the comforting, family-run vibe of the bagel shops on Mountain Avenue. A good place for takeout, perhaps.