Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette Review From A Local Foodie

You know an establishment is a bomb when you have heard and seen the name so much you are shocked to learn it has only been in existence for a year!

Between Instagram, Yelp, and a bit of old-school word-of-mouth advertising, I have had Allie Boys Bagelry and Luncheonette on my radar for a while.

I knew they sold bagels; duh, how can you not? It’s literally in their name, but I wasn’t aware of all the other goodies they had to offer.

The Menu

As you can see, they have a plethora of bagels, bulk bagels, and schmears.

If you want a bit more, they also offer bagel sandwiches. The first thing you might notice about the sandwich is the price. While the prices may seem a bit high to you, I’m here to tell you it is 100% worth it.

When you compare the prices to other meals around the area, they are pretty comparable, if not a bit cheaper.

The bagel and the ingredients put between making it a super filling meal. These sandwiches are so big I couldn’t even take a full bite with my tiny little mouth.

If you are looking for something to go with your sandwich, you are in luck. This place has an extensive list of sides and small items you can pair with your breakfast or lunch. Don’t let the word side fool you; they are big enough to share for two people.

I like that the side prices are cheap enough that you can get multiple ones to try out!

Coming here, you can expect a Middle East mash-up of hot hand-rolled Bagels, smoked fish, and thoughtfully curated appetizing plates and smorgasbord.

Are their bagels vegan?

Yes!! They don’t use an egg wash, and they even offer vegan cream cheese!

Do they offer specials?

Yup! They do food specials and even cream cheese specials.

My Order

This being my first time here made it pretty much impossible to narrow down on just one thing to try.

I came with my fiance, and while we typically order two different things to split and share, we both went with the same thing: Birds The Word. We also got a side of their house potato chips (made with salt and vinegar) with a 2oz french onion cream cheese and their very own house-made pickle.

The genius of the small cream cheese is to use it as a dip to go with the chips. It adds a little something-something, and I really just needed a vessel for the cream cheese to get into my mouth.

For the price to product ratio, I suggest getting the large 8oz size and saving the leftover for bagels, bread, or pasta throughout the week.

I’m going to go ahead and make a bold statement; these are the best handmade chips in the city! They are thick and have a bomb flavor coating that gives you a right in your face pow and is not subtle at all. I am a colossal salt person, so I am all about this!

Even with two people sharing the chips, we had tons leftover for a few days!

A surprise shiner of the group was the house-made pickle and green tomatoes. One order is under a dollar, and it comes with two of each item.

I loved the green tomato so much I didn’t even have time to snap a picture before I ate it all; hence why only one is shown in the picture.

I love all pickles, and this was the perfect combo of a dill pickle meets kosher. It had the pickled flavor without being super salty like a store-bought one. The green tomatoes on the side definitely give it a unique flair, and it has me craving more already.

Now onto what you are most curious about, the bagel sandwich. I have not found a comparable bagel sandwich in the area, and I would crown Milwaukee’s best bagel sandwich.

The bagel itself is comparable to the ones I have had in New York and around the east coast. When I’m not traveling, I find myself often craving New York bagels, and now I can get my fix in my home city.

I typically eat a vegan lifestyle, and I will do cheats once or twice a month to try new foods around the city. This sandwich was 100% worth the vegan cheat meal, and I would come again for the next one.

The jam on this sandwich was unlike any I have experienced before: sweet, savory, and full of texture. The jam was complimented nicely with the 3-garlic mayo on the bottom.

We ordered there and ate at home, which is probably for the best considering I legit was licking the wrapper to get every last drop of the jam.

A bonus for me (and any other fellow vegan) is I can still come here whenever I want since they offer so many vegan options and fresh crunchy veggies.

The Atmosphere

I don’t know who designed this place, but that would be awesome if they could come over and help me with my house.

This space is filled with modern contemporary designs with retro accents and warm colors.

Honestly, this whole place screams Instagram, and if you can, I would suggest snapping a few picks here. Cutest decor ever.

I love windows and natural light, and this place has plenty of that! I came when they only offered to-go due to covid protocols, but I could imagine what it would look like with dine-in tables.

They also offer outdoor seating, which is excellent for the warmer months.

The restaurant itself is located in an area with plenty of street parking, so you don’t need to worry about finding a spot.

Restaurant Info

Location:

135 E National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Phone:

(414) 988-0388

Hours:

Check them out online!

Final Thoughts

I’m happy I finally took the time to check this place out. It is truly a unique restaurant with food that isn’t offered anywhere else in the city.

With so many different flavors and ingredients available, it is sure to fit any diet or lifestyle.

If you really want to impress at your next get-together, I suggest stopping here and let them do the cooking for you!