The list of things to love about Hank’s Bagelry is about as long as the flight path from Melbourne to NYC. Pending enough leave and savings to actually get on that plane, lunch at this new Beatty Street joint may just be the next best thing.
Walk through Hank’s welcoming open door to find a small, fuss-free deli with a decidedly modern air. A shiny coffee machine is the centrepiece, pumping out enough Inglewood Coffee Roasters brew to meet the Armadale lunch crowd’s demand. Blue accents and subway tiles turn up the Big Apple vibes, while a slick fitout and sunny terrace seating encourage dining in – though takeaway is an option, too.
Owned by Nick Beerens of Mammoth and Copycat renown, Hank’s is named after a Breaking Bad character. That’s number one on the list of things to love. Number two is, of course, the fresh bagels. The taste of these chewy, malty handcrafted rings is irresistibly New York, a city that’s inspired Beerens since he was a teen.
“A piece of my heart lies in New York, and every time I’m there I find myself heading for one of the city’s iconic bagel shops, which serve them up fresh from the oven with a range of delicious fillings," says Beerens. "I wanted to have that same experience right here in Melbourne and have had my eye on the 13 Beatty Avenue, Armadale, space for quite some time now. When it came up, I jumped at the chance to make this dream a reality.”
Opt for onion, seeded, plain, challah or gluten-free, and go wild as you wish with the fillings. There’s housemade jam, cream cheese, bacon and eggs, pork and fennel sausage, harissa-roasted pumpkin, salmon cured with beetroot and gin, and more. If you feel like something hearty, try the lamb and rosemary meatloaf, pistachio pesto, provolone and cream cheese bagel, paired with a side of pickles, hot chips or crisps. Oh, and a cup of filter coffee with your order will only cost you two bucks.
If you're not too full after your bagel, it's hard not to be tempted by the sweets menu. Think big, crumbly cookies like peanut butter ‘whoopie pie’ and triple choc, and milkshakes inspired by US burger chain Shake Shack flavours: Biscoff, Malteser and peanut butter and jelly. There’s even a maple iced latte to flood your brain with the kind of dopamine buzz only sugar and caffeine can achieve.
