Dilly & Sons Bagelry :: The Northshore’s Freshest Lunch Spot
I drive down Mandeville’s Highway 59 nearly every single morning on my way to work. A few months ago, I was passing the strip where Bosco’s is located and noticed a new sign in the mall’s lineup: Dilly & Sons Bagelry.
I made a point to leave a little early the next morning so I could stop in and check it out. Unfortunately, the bagelry was still under construction and wouldn’t be open for several more weeks. My bagel craving would just have to wait.
Even though their grand opening was in July, I’m in my busy season at work and didn’t get a chance to stop by until this week and… whoa.
These bagels are LEGIT.
I knew from the moment I walked in that if the bagels tasted half as good as they looked, this place was going to do very well. A bakery case chockfull of the bagel varieties they make in-house daily welcomes you as you walk in. From old faithfuls like Raisin and Everything to (what is now my personal favorite) Rosemary & Sea Salt, they’ve got a bagel flavor for every palate. And bagel chips, too!
Someone from “Team Bagel” greets you with a smile as soon as you step into the shop. Their décor is so fun and fresh; “sunshine-y” is the word that comes to mind, probably because of the vibrant yellow walls and orange-toned mural. I was mostly expecting bagels and cream cheese schmears – and they definitely deliver there – but I was absolutely blown away by their lunch menu.
Let’s Do Lunch
There are lots of sandwich spots around, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen pressed bagel sandwiches. The best part? They invert the sliced bagel so that the chewy inside gets all buttery and toasted on the griddle. On my first lunch trip, I got the Beast, which is roast beef, provolone and cheddar with a side of Dill Horseradish sauce for dipping. Since the sandwiches come on your bagel of choice, I obviously chose Rosemary & Sea Salt.
Have. Mercy.
I’m torn between what I’m going to try next: the smash burger Patty Melt or the Trailhead Club, a turkey, bacon and ranch masterpiece. EVERYTHING I saw coming out of their kitchen looked incredible!
The owners Dana & Billy Tune (the “Dilly” in Dilly & Sons) have been on site every time I’ve stopped in – in fact, Billy gets there at 4:00 each morning to get the day’s bagels going.
This business is truly a dream come true for them.
Ever since they first met 14 years ago, Dana & Billy knew they wanted to open some kind of family eatery. Because life tends to get in the way, their career paths and growing family moved the eatery to a back burner. Fast forward 12 years and they found themselves at a crossroads: Dana’s mom decided to sell their small family business in New Orleans, meaning Dana was out of a job. To them, it was clear that THIS was the time to start talking about that eatery again.
They started brainstorming and Dana, a self-proclaimed bagel lover, realized there were absolutely no bagel shops in Mandeville. So, over the course of about 6, months they immersed themselves in all things bagel. They tried dozens of recipes (many making only 6 bagels at a time!) before perfecting their own signature recipe. They taught themselves how to hand roll bagels and experimented with different cream cheese flavors. (And since the “sons” of “Dilly” are both under age 10, much of this experimentation took place during lots of late nights and very early mornings!)
Once they had their bagel and cream cheese flavors down, they were able to secure a spot at the Mandeville Trailhead Market one day a week. It didn’t take long for them to see that they weren’t the only ones that were longing for bagels on the Northshore! After about 8 months, the Market gave them a permanent spot. Within a year, their Facebook page had amassed 1,000 followers, and a year later they were able to open their very first brick and mortar bagel shop!
Dana and Billy both agree that this might still be just a pipe dream had it not been for the incredible community here on the Northshore, and they’re so grateful for all the support they’ve been given. While they no longer hand roll their bagels because the demand has gotten too great, they’re all still made from their own signature recipes. They make their own Everything seasoning blend, bake bagels daily, and make all of their own cream cheese flavors in house. (And they sell it by the tub if you’d like to take some home!)
The menu is fantastic, the atmosphere is inviting, but the what I love most about stopping in is Dana herself. What a strong, accomplished working mother! Her excitement for bagels and flavor combinations is contagious – she makes me want to try everything! She is so passionate about delivering a superior product and a great experience, and she succeeds every time.
Make a point to stop in for lunch or pick up some bagels for your office!
