Nashville is not known for bagels, but Benji’s can compete with some of the best anywhere. Maybe it’s because the owners came from New York (by way of Albania). Mostly, it’s because the bagels here are fluffy and firm in all the right places, and have a nice chew that doesn’t threaten to yank out your front teeth. Each one is hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked on stone, a process you can take a peek at from the window in the alleyway. The bagels—especially the tangy za’atar—stand on their own with a generous dollop of the chili crunch or bacon-and-carmelized-onion schmear, but they shine brightest when utilized in one of Benji’s breakfast sandwiches. Your best bet to try them is to swing by on a late weekday morning, when there’s virtually no chance of a line, and tables are ripe for the picking. On a crisp fall day, it’s hard to beat a seat on the patio, where you can enjoy a beefy Rise & Shine bagel sandwich and a zippy spiced apple chai latte as the sun warms your face.