It’s Sunday and I’m Scared and I Also Need a Bagel

by molly dehaven and anna chalupa

It’s somewhere between midterms and finals season, we’re tired, and we needed a bagel…bad. This week, we went on a search for the perfect coffee shop–a delicate balance between comfy seats, good playlists, and delectable food.

In a historical case of Sunday Scaries, we found ourselves tackling our massive workload at Render Coffee, a cozy yet buzzing coffee shop in the South End. The shop’s crowd was similarly motivated, hovering over computers and textbooks and closely accompanied by coffees and bagels. The Coffee Shop Ambiance™ was further confirmed by Clairo’s alluring Charm floating from the speakers. The shop is split into two main indoor sections, the coffee bar and a circular, greenhouse-like section surrounding customers with paneled windows and natural light. A small, outdoor balcony was also accessible from the rear of the shop, hosting several rowdier groups throughout our stay. Moderately sized, we had no issue finding a table, though they quickly filled up after our arrival. We ended up in the window-filled room, which was definitely a highlight, providing natural light without exposure to Boston’s trademark bitter-cold weather. One note: many of these tables are tiny, like barely enough space to fit two people and laptops-tiny. We had to utilize the windowsill next to us to fit all of our belongings. Overall, Render’s warmth and welcoming energy was a great match for our weekly “Lock-In” session. But of course, what we were really looking for was the perfect brunch to go along with it.

Render’s drink menu has all the coffee shop staples: lattes, cold brews, cappuccinos, and more, as well as seasonal signatures like their Salted Maple Latte. Real coffee lovers also have the choice of pour-overs and drip coffee, highlighting the homemade quality of their espresso options. Tea drinkers, you’re not left out, either! From loose-leaf teas to matcha and chai lattes, Render’s menu has you covered. Customizations can be made to any drink product with a to-be-expected selection of milk and syrup alternatives. Whether you are a die-hard oat milk fan or need an extra pump of vanilla to sweeten things up, the Render menu allows you to make your perfect drink.

The real showstopper of Render’s menu, though, was their lineup of house-made breakfast and lunch items, both of which are available all day. Forget the all-too-familiar and all-too-sad visual of gnat-ridden stale pastries. Render offers a well-rounded selection of sandwiches, bagels, wraps, and salads. We're talking everything from BLTs, Lox Bagels, and Caesar Salads to build-your-own breakfast sandwiches, where you can pick your bread, spreads, and toppings to create a perfect combo. This menu told us Render knows their audience: hungry college students camping out for a study sesh. The menu really makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem in the Boston coffee shop scene where you don’t have to sacrifice quality to get a drink or meal.

MOLLY:

After over-analyzing the menu for far too long, I eventually gave in to the item I had considered from the beginning: the personalized breakfast sandwich. While I should have been stressed about my looming design deadlines and a statistics exam worth 25% of my final grade, I instead put this energy into formulating a sandwich to eat. I went for an everything bagel base, topping it off with cheddar cheese, a plain frittata, ham, and tomato. The unwrapping was picturesque, so obviously I had to capitalize on this. It was the perfect sandwich for both my appetite and my next Instagram photo dump. My initial thought: they did not skimp at ALL on the toppings. This might have been the heftiest bagel sandwich I’ve ever had the pleasure of holding. Nothing ruins my sandwich-eating experience like toppings falling off with the first bite, but Render gets an A+ in creating a sturdy bagel sandwich foundation.

I’ll admit, I was scared to bite into this. It wasn’t that it didn’t look good, it just looked like a lot of ingredients that might not necessarily flow together. Like, in my theoretical, (but obviously extremely scientific and data-driven) analysis of the menu, it looked great, but seeing it in front of me seemed to take away some of the magic. Let me walk you through this, layer by layer. The bagel had a slightly distracting oil coating, likely from the toaster, but it wasn’t anything that seriously took away from the experience. I would also note that at Render, frittatas are the only egg option for the sandwich– though there is a choice of plain or rosemary potato. It was my first time trying a frittata, as I typically opt for an over-easy egg on my breakfast sandwiches. While it did not disappoint, I still missed the presence of a nice runny yolk. My biggest worry was about losing the flavor of the cheese and tomato, but the soft, buttery flavor was a great addition. The tomato added the balance of freshness that made this the perfect brain fuel. The crispness was a pleasant surprise considering it was being squished between layers of hot egg, cheese, and bread. I’ve also never had ham on a breakfast sandwich– this sandwich checked a lot of first-time boxes for me. This particular ham had a definite breakfast quality to it, as it was thicker cut than normal deli ham, and the flavor was wonderful. I thought the ham and cheese went together particularly well. All in all, this bagel sandwich was up to my standards. It’s not your run-of-the-mill, but that’s what makes it notable. It’s rare to find a coffee shop breakfast that feels both convenient and thoughtfully put together, but Render had it.

Score: 6.2/8

ANNA:

A quick preface: We arrived at peak coffee shop hours in a prime location. A wait was expected and a wait was experienced. Put in charge of claiming our table, I waited for Molly to return before putting in my order. By the time I approached the register, I was warned that any food item would take at least 15 minutes. After all, one poor barista, wielding a singular oversized spatula, was in charge of the seemingly endless orders cascading in. This isn’t your average sonic-speed Starbucks, and might not be the place if you’re dangerously hangry. As we were planning to be there for hours, this was really not of concern to me, it was simply notable.

Riding a vegetarian high and trying to dispel the effects of the prior weekend on my health, I ordered an everything bagel with avocado, tomato, and Render’s own “House-made Lemon Garlic Hummus.” After beginning the uphill battle that is my to-do list, my name was called and I grabbed my bagel from the counter. Ravenous after watching Molly indulge in her own bagel sandwich, I ripped open that foil with less dignity than I’d like to disclose. Immediately: a mess. Hummus everywhere. Avocado flying. My hands, the foil, the table, my laptop–nothing was safe. I split the bagel in half anyway and was disappointed to be met with a terrible lack of tomato. And by that, I mean none. No wonder there was brown-green sludge everywhere at this point, there was no structure! By the time I took a bite, most of the spread had already fallen out (see pictured). And hey, I’m a barista, I sympathize with this overwhelmed service worker, and I know for a fact I have accidentally messed up an order. I’m just telling my cautionary tale: do not order a bagel with two condiments and no solid ingredients. Your possessions will thank you.

Ingredient-wise, I found the food distinctly un-offensive. The house-made hummus was pleasant, though if you had told me it was store-brand, I wouldn’t have questioned it. The avocado was good, except for a terribly overripe bit that I had to fish out (I was already covered in avocado so this was no problem). The bagel was to be expected from a Boston-based coffee shop, heavily seasoned with a lackluster fluffiness. Piece of advice, though: eat it fast. After it cooled down, the bagel texture was noticeably chewy. Would I eat it again? Sure. Would I seek it out? Probably not. I’d definitely try one of their suggested food items next time. No (Clairo) shade to Render, my order simply didn’t work out the way I had imagined.

Score: 4.2/8

ANNA:

Ignoring my previously declared no-spend week, I spent $6.45 on this bagel, not including tax or tip (remember to tip your baristas). I’d say this is a solid medium. Was I jumping for joy at the money I was saving? No. But it was basically Starbucks-priced for better quality ingredients. A win is a win. I’m, again, unoffended.

MOLLY: My total came out to $10.16. Definitely a bang for my buck considering how much food I was given. Worth the price and I felt like this was on the cheaper end of bagel sandwiches. The base breakfast sandwich is $9, with each additional topping besides the frittata, cheese, and meat costing 50 cents.

Overall, with the right order, this coffee shop is worth it. Only a 20-minute walk from campus, it’s the perfect external location to chat with a friend, grab a quick bite, or get a headstart on those many, many assignments. The ambiance was honestly the shining star, with the greenhouse-like room beckoning us to go back again and again. After daylight savings time, we’ll take sunlight wherever we can get it. Claim your spot early though! Lines grew and tables filled up quickly. You also might have to battle a few Northeastern students to get a good one–but a few Huskies shouldn’t get in the way of an egg frittata breakfast sandwich.