"Kettlemans Bagel opened in Ottawa in August of 1993. When the business started, our mission was to make the best bagels you could find. By rolling, kettling, and baking traditional Montreal Bagels in a wood-burning oven using hand-picked hardwood, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the traditional quality of the food, we have become a food institution — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year — for over 25 years. However, tradition does not mean much if the authenticity is gone."
Overall, reviews of Kettlemans Bagel describe a place with fresh Montreal-style bagels and a wide range of toppings, from cream cheese to smoked meat, with many customers praising the quality and variety. Service is frequently noted as fast and friendly, the surroundings are clean and welcoming, and staff are described as helpful with good recommendations. Many visitors say they would return and some call it among the best bagels in Montreal, though a few reports mention slower service, occasional order mix-ups, or inconsistency in bagel texture from visit to visit. Pricing is described as reasonable or competitive for the quality, with some comments about value and portions. Overall sentiment emphasizes taste and service, with praise for ambiance and care shown by the staff, while noting that experiences can vary.
Took a little long to get my bagel but it was definitely worth it. The texture of the bagels were just exactly on point, it was almost like the flavours were having a party in my mouth. When they added stuff to the bagels to make it a sandwich, it was one of the greatest ideas since the invention of the lightbulb. The fact that you're able to watch your bagel get made just makes the experience 10 times better. Thank you Kettlemans Bagel for the amazing food & experience.
Mar 25, 2026
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Kettleman's Bagels was awesome! Super friendly & quick service. Got a really tasty sandwich & the cashier Sophie was so nice & helpful-made great suggestions & just had a great vibe. Fresh bagel, good portions. Definitely going back soon 😊
So nice & the staff is so good i meet the manager its so cool & we talk for some time about the sandwich they explain me for every sandwichs i try some sandwich i like it thank you Mr.Mahmoud nice to meet you hope i see you again when i come
Sep 22, 2025
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First thing I ate in Montréal was the Kettleman Konscious, which is a 100% plant-based gravlax bagel sandwich. It was pretty good & I'm glad they have that option!
Great bagels, I had the BLT sandwich on a plain bagel it was great. Bagels are thin & great for sandwiches. Food was delivered in a fast & timely manner. I will be back again.
I have very mixed feelings about my experience ; we first went & asked for 2 Konscious sandwiches, which is labeled as vegan, & a vegan blueberry cream cheese bagel. I asked the employee which bagel they were using for those. He told me all bagels have eggs… I was confused because the Konscious sandwich is labeled as vegan !!!!! He wasn't knowledgeable & ended up asking his manager who was talking about the gf bagel. I looked online & it did say that the gf option was vegan… So we asked the Konscious sandwich & made sure to specify that we wanted the gf vegan bagel & vegan cream cheese. They weren't understanding, they were asking us if we wanted the nondairy one. Anyways, we ordered & then left without checking our order (big mistake). We received 2 Konscious sandwiches without cream cheese & with REAL salmon !! & a 3rd Konscious sandwich with blueberry cream cheese ?!? We kept everything & went back later. The employees weren't the same. We explained the issue & asked to speak to a manager. This time, the employee & the manager were very helpful, knowledgeable & kind. We ended up getting a refund & our order remade for free. They confirmed that the only vegan option is the gf bagel, the other ones either contain eggs or are cooked in honey water. So ! We were able to taste the sandwich, but I was disappointed in it. It is pretty tasteless in my opinion. & the bagels are very dry & sandy. I did like the cream cheese tho. But I won't go back.
They aren't quite NJ/NY-level of bagels, but they're still good. Have gotten a dozen bagels to take home & freeze, tried some of the cream cheeses, & bagel sandwiches to eat there. Pleasant dining area, big windows so you're right there on Avenue des Canadiennes, by the Bell Center. Very commercial, very consistent. Have always had very pleasant service & good experiences here. Watched them make the bagels through the glass. Bagels are always fresh. Never had a long line to order, always found a table to sit at.
Growing up in Ottawa (& living now in Toronto) Kettlemans has been my goto for bagels. Honestly, I had a bagel here & it was kind of dry & tasteless. Also, I was charged for a full breakfast sandwich when ordering just an egg & cheese.
Nov 5, 2024
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This place is so slow. Every time I give them a second chance, it blows my mind how disorganized it is. First time I went, it took 20 minutes for a toasted bagel with cream cheese. They need to review how they process orders in the kitchen because if you get stuck behind a large sandwich order you wait forever. This time, I simply placed an online order for pickup of a dozen bagels. When I show up, it's like they had no idea it existed & filled the order as I waited. Defeating the whole purpose of an online order. Not the employees fault, needs better management
Nous nous y rendions assez régulièrement. Malgré le fait que l'on avait de la misère a se faire servir en français & qu'il n'y ait pas d'erreur dans nos sandwichs, c'était quand même bon. Mais à notre dernière visite, le 30 août dernier, nous avons acheté une douzaine de bagels en vrac avec deux fromages à la crème en plus de nos trios déjeuner. Quelle fût notre surprise quand nous avons constaté une fois à la maison qu'on nous avait seulement mis 9 bagels au lieu de douze... j'ai appeler pour parler au gérant 3 fois. J'ai laisser un message avec mon nom & numéro de téléphone pour qu'il me rappel. Aucun signe de vie! C'est à se demander si il y a un gérant qui y travaille. Le service client est inexistant & vraiment de piètre qualité. Nous n'y retourneront sûrement pas!
Kettlemans Bagel is a delightful spot for bagel enthusiasts looking for fresh & delicious offerings. The store is clean & has a good atmosphere. The bagels are fresh, with several varieties to choose from. They also offer a selection of gourmet items, either to buy separately, or add to your bagel, such as artisanal cream cheeses & smoked salmon. They also have a few freshly made pastries. Their prices are good & acceptable However, my visit had a few downsides. When I inquired about a couple of sandwiches from the menu, I was disappointed to learn that some ingredients were unavailable. Additionally, I noticed a concerning issue: there were a few flies around the pastry section, occasionally landing on the pastries. This detracted from an otherwise good experience. Overall, while the food quality is commendable, attention to cleanliness in certain areas could be improved.
