Bagel Basement has been my favorite place for a quicker weekend breakfast for a long time. I too am a huge fan of Fresco bagels, which are nowhere to be found elsewhere in the UV. They also have great homemade veggie cream cheese. For a while after BB came under new ownership, I was so disappointed with the quality of the service there that I swore them off for months. I recently have started going back and it seems that the new management/staff have started to get the hang of things. The service has been a bit quicker (still not super speedy though) and the prep of the food has been better. I have also recently enjoyed trying their sandwiches - the maple turkey is delicious! The prices have gone up a bit which is too bad (especially the bottled beverages!) and they changed their chips from Mad House Munchies to a new brand which disappoints me. Additionally, if you aren't making a purchase of more than $5, take heed that you can't use a debit/credit card. Overall though, the food is really tasty and the service and overall operation of this place has improved recently.

I love the Bagel Basement for two things: fresco bagels ( sugar glaze and light cinnamon dusting on top ) and the lunch time #2 sammich with brie cheese. These two things keep me coming back despite all the pretty valid concerns the other reviews brought up. Yes it can be slow, and yes the "earthy" staff can be kinda apathetic to their customres, but I think it is really part of the charm and appeal of the place. The prices may be higher than the chain places, but he bottom line is their bagels and fresh cream cheeses taste better Paneras and Dunkin Donuts. Take the quirkiness instride and know you are supporting local business, and getting a tasty end product too.
If you don't want to fuss with the waiting go get the same exact bagels at the Hanover or Lebanon Co-op.

The few times I've been to Bagel Basement, the service was horribly SLOW. They also advertise soup and salad on their menu, but don't try to order them b/c they don't really have them! This is a bit of a problem for someone like me who has a gluten allergy and can't eat bagels...

The Bagels were alright, but still worse than Panera.

The bagels at bagel basement are pretty decent, especially for an area that doesn't really have a lot of bagel places.

However, that's about the only good thing I can say about Bagel Basement, since the rest of the experience falls way short:

1. The service here is slow. Glacially slow. I've had it take 15 minutes between getting in an out, mostly since the places is chronically understaffed (two people trying to make bagels, run the grill, make coffee, and run the register). That, and they seem to hire the least motivated workers in the upper valley. I've also been treated in a very hostile manner by several workers, and been horribly overcharged on a number of occasions.

2. Cleanliness. Neither this place nor the Hanover location ever seem to clean the joint.

3. Availabilty. I can't count the number of times this place has run out of bagels.

4. Why do they have a toaster if it doesn't actually toast things?

5. Why can't th

Fresh bagels are dangerous. I could eat dozens of them, but then I would gain back the 40 pounds I just lost. Sigh.