‘Round these parts, when you ask people where bagels come from, they will most often say Brooklyn or Montreal.
In recent weeks, however, a third faction has been entering the picture and, much like the Senator from their home state, they have been making quite a name for themselves.

Simply named The Bagel Place (www.thebagelplacemass.com), this friendly stop along hectic Needham Street is bringing Vermont’s famed family friendliness and emphasis on simple quality to the Greater Boston area. Created in 2012 by a father, son and son-in-law who were desperate to find a good bagel in the hinterlands, the Bagel Place also brings many of Vermont’s famous flavors (including Cabot cheeses), as well as Hopkinton’s Red Barn Coffee and Brooklyn’s Boar’s head meats to the counter, at which all guests are quickly greeted and served by friendly neighbors who are eager to make sure that you get the hole of what you want.

With its clean, open design, reclaimed wood tables and tractor-seat steel chairs, the Bagel Place combines the authentic charm of Vermont with the trendy touches of Newton. Especially as Needham Street has become such a throughway for commerce, you never know who else you will meet at The Bagel Place, and it is a great place to host intimate business or social meetings as well or just to grab a bench and a bite on your own.

Speaking of bites, the Bagel Place stocks 20 from-scratch in-house-made full-day-proofed varieties each day, which include favorites like pumpernickel, egg, sesame, poppy, and cinnamon raisin, and a round helping of Montreal-style seasoning, as well as sought-out specials like chocolate marble and Sriracha cheddar. There are also muffins, cinnamon rolls and other baked treats, all of which are also offered by the bag and at a great discount for day-old (but still delicious) options. To top any or all of these are over 10 types of cream cheese, including horseradish, honey walnut, pesto, strawberry, roasted artichoke, and a shmear-worthy lox spread, as well as PB and/or J or just B.

If you hanker for more than a pat or a shmear, The Bagel Place has an abundance of suggested sandwich sets, as well as myriad salad and sandwich combinations to make from the freshest cheeses, veggies and creative condiments, all of which are generously plopped amongst leaves of fresh Romaine or on the hole-y bread of your choice. In addition to the egg-based breakfast bites that offer everything from cheese, spinach, and/or bacon to turkey sausage, ham, and more, there are also cold and hot combos, including the Chicken Guac with Pepper Jack, garlic mayo, and a built-in BLT, the Caprese with Prosciutto and house-made Balsamic, the Classic Italian with Genoa salami, capicola, prosciutto, and provolone, the Vermonter, with smoked turkey, maple-glazed ham and cranberry mayo, and the fastest Rueben around.

Just thinking of the possibilities makes the mouth water! Fortunately, in addition to Red Barn, The Bagel Place also offers Coke, Nantucket Nectars, and Odwalla products, as well Poland Spring and Zico waters, Harney & Sons teas and Hood milk. As for dessert, the aforementioned baked goods, as well as the sweeter bagels are a great take-away to keep the flavor lingering throughout the day.

So even if a Vermonter cannot make it to the White House, make sure some of these populist (and popular) beauties make it into yours!