Breakfast is served: Targum reviews DC Bagels on Douglass campus

DC Bagels, Rutgers' newest breakfast cafe, recently opened in the Douglass Student Center. For one meal swipe, students can get an entrée, a side and a drink, similar to other pit-stop restaurants on campus, like Cafe West or Woody's. 

The eatery's opening came at the expense of the student center's Dunkin' Donuts, a longtime favorite of the Rutgers community. It marks the second recent replacement of a Dunkin' on Rutgers' campus, with the first being at the Livingston Student Center, where the space is now Akihi.

Despite the big shoes it has to fill, DC Bagels brings a fresh feel to campus dining and may even rival the legacy of its much-loved predecessor. 

Right off the bat, DC Bagels proves to be a convenient choice for the average Rutgers student. It offers a generous selection of items in exchange for a single meal swipe, a feature that Dunkin' did not provide. 

Dunkin' is known for its iconic menu items, including its signature munchkins, breakfast sandwiches, cheese croissants and a variety of other fan favorites. But, Dunkin's most prized offering is something many college students survive on … coffee. Dunkin's coffee comes in multiple flavors, each for around $3-5. In this way, Dunkin' has clear advantages over DC Bagels. It's an identifiable franchise known all across the country and quite simply, they sell coffee.

Even with the tough competition, DC Bagels offers a level of service that Dunkin' never did. Despite their widespread appeal, Dunkin's frequent overcrowding at the Douglass Student Center often made for a less enjoyable dining experience. Lines at the former location were noted to extend deeper into the building.

Moreover, Dunkin' didn't accept online mobile orders, which only added to the traffic issues, forcing students to wait in line rather than letting them order from their phones and pick up their food when it was ready. DC Bagels uses a kiosk system, minimizing students' interaction with staff. If you're looking for a quick breakfast on the go, this format provides the perfect solution. 

Additionally, DC Bagels offers a menu that can hold its own against Dunkin's, with their main attraction being the sausage, egg and cheese on an everything bagel. DC Bagels perfectly toasts each bagel, for a combination of soft and crunchy, hitting all the right notes. They also offer a variety of customizable sandwich and panini options to fit any craving.

Maybe Dunkin' is nostalgic, but DC Bagels offers something fresh and new. Whatever your opinion of their food is, at least you don't have to wait in long lines to pay $4 for a breakfast sandwich.

While it might have come at the expense of a fan favorite spot, DC Bagels has proved itself a worthy replacement through its localized solutions. DC Bagels may be Rutgers' newest gem, one that every student should try.