Belle’s Bagels founders Nick Schreiber and J.D. Rocchio have dipped in and out of existence in NELA. In 2015, the duo surfaced at La Perla Bakery in Highland Park. The business partners recently returned to the neighborhood. This time, they’re selling bagels and bagel sandwiches from Thursday through Sunday mornings through the ticket window in a new music venue called The Hi-Hat.

Belle’s minimalist operation consists of cushioned black stools that rest at a thin counter along York Boulevard. Bagels are made with Central Milling flour and are available with either butter or schmears made with Sierra Nevada Cream Cheese or cultured cashew. Three sandwiches host uncooked ingredients. Belle’s Bagels has no means to cook on-site, though hopefully that’s possible in the future.

Belle’s bagels are chewy, moderately sized, and come in five flavors: plain, poppy, sesame, everything, or salt. I ordered a cleverly titled Loxsmith ($9) sandwich with silky Michel Cordon Bleu lox, crispy salmon skin, dill, and beet cream cheese. I of course started with my first choice when it comes to bagels: everything.

If you like your bagel, and you probably will, drop some loose change or crisp bills in a tip jar that reads “Byers Family Fund.”