In the saturated world of quick service breakfast, one characteristic stands out — none of it is very good. McDonald’s and Burger King promise a heavy and greasy start to your day. Starbucks’ so-called baked goods are at best dry, bland and unoriginal. When those in a rush want a satisfying breakfast that won’t leave them feeling sick until lunch, Bagel Beanery is a true winner. The bagels are the restaurant’s signature menu item, but at the Michigan Ave. location (there are four total scattered throughout Grand Rapids), the fast and very friendly service punctuates an already delicious experience.

This morning, I’ve just finished my first attempt of the Sunrise BLT which includes the crucial BLT ingredients on a Cheddar Herb bagel with sundried tomato cream cheese rather than mayo (with a medium coffee, about $6.50). Overall, the sandwich is good, but it did nothing to ease my skepticism towards fast food bacon — the texture is just a bit too creepy for me. However, the rest of the sandwich is quality between the chewy, savory bagel and their sun-dried cream cheese, which has become a bit of a fanatical obsession amongst my roommates. Without the bacon, I would’ve really enjoyed this sandwich.

Last week, my breakfast sandwich experience was stellar when I indulged in the Breakfast Duo, a plain bagel with bacon (none for me), sausage, scrambled egg, Chedder and Monterey Jack cheeses. Talk about a departure from McDonald’s. In contrast to the corporate giant, this sandwich had a surprising lack of grease. While the sandwich was extremely large, as all of their sandwiches are, I was not left with that vague “I should not have eaten that” feeling.

Generally, a bagel and a coffee are more than enough to kickstart my morning. The bagel menu boasts 15 distinct bagel flavors as well as six cream cheese varieties. All of the cream cheeses are available in a lite version as well. A Bagel Beanery Bagel Bundle ($13.99 for one dozen with two tubs of cream cheese) is the favorite at my house on a Saturday morning after a long and boisterous Friday night.

Two bagels must make it home — the Asiago Cheese and the Apple Crunch. Savory and sweet lovers are passionate about these two, respectively, and I have to agree they’re two of the top bagels on the menu. On a given trip to Bagel Beanery, I am likely to get the Asiago Cheese bagel with sundried tomato cream cheese — a little salty, with a subtle bite of sharpness from the Asiago cheese. The Apple Crunch, on the other hand, maintains the necessary bagel chewiness but is sprinkled with crunchy cinnamon bits.

I’m a medium roast kind of girl, but Bagel Beanery also offers a variety of specialty coffee and smoothy drinks. To add to its nearly overwhelming variety, it also has a comprehensive lunch menu.

I have only dined in at Bagel Beanery once. It’s a bit frenzied for me. Then again, so is Panera Bread and Starbucks. Therefore, I feel compelled to mention how good the service is at the drive-thru window. Not only is the service quick, it has always been outrageously friendly and enthusiastic. Talk about starting your day on the right foot — between a smiling face and quick, satisfying foods, Bagel Beanery is a dark horse breakfast gem.

Bagel Beanery (Rating: ★★★★)
Where: Four locations; see map at http://maps.google.com
Hours: Sun. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ambiance: Typical bakery or coffee shop
How much will it cost you: Breakfast averages around $5, while lunch sandwiches average between $6 and $8.
Credit cards: All major
Alcohol: No
Smoke-free: Yes
Reservations: No
Contact: (616) 249-9500
Online: http://www.bagelbeanerycafe.com