Written by Karen Pacifico
Photography by Donna Huffman

njoying an afternoon with Donna Huffman always brings a smile to my face and eating a really good bagel brings a smile to my Yankee heart. So know that I’m smiling inside and out as I prepare this review. I’m happy that I ”discovered” Palm & Moon Bagel Company and it’s important to speak about how I came to do so. I think you’ll agree that word of mouth referrals are the best ones and also the best-known marketing secret for all businesses.

Many times friends will tell me about a recent dining experience and strongly suggest that Donna and I try the restaurant for our review. Recently, while shopping, I met friends John and Kate Smith. Knowing that the Yankee in us is always searching for a good bagel, they asked if I had tried Palm & Moon Bagels. It seems that Kate’s cousins, Richard and Barbara Flynn were delighted to find the Beaufort location (opened two years ago) and brought bagels for the Smith’s to try. Well they won over two more steady customers and now wanted me to know that a new location had opened closer to home. Within the next few days I was off to try my favorite, the salt bagel with either butter or veggie cream cheese. And because I liked what I tasted, I brought some to my dear friends Richard and Elaine Donohue and sent packages to our family, who miss the tasty treats from the northeast.

Bagels should be found in the dictionary under fun, but according to Webster (who probably liked his with a shmear) a bagel is “a hard bread roll made of yeast dough twisted into a small doughnutlike shape, cooked in simmering water, then baked.” The bagel is the only bread product that is boiled before it is baked. That’s what gives the bagel its unique texture and the crust its’ characteristic shine. The American bagel industry established formal roots in New York between 1910 and 1915 and an exclusive group of 300 craftsmen came together with “bagels in their blood” and limited its members to sons of its members. At the time, it was probably easier to get into medical school than to get an apprenticeship in one of the 36 union bagel shops in New York City and New Jersey.

We are fortunate that Palm & Moon’s owners Kenn and Jodie Woods offer authentic bagels, locally roasted coffee, specialty sandwiches, paninis, fresh soup, made daily, a variety of salads, milkshakes and homemade desserts. They have a full selection of fresh smoothies, espressos, lattes (hot and cold) and much more.

On-site manager Josh Larrimore, and staff members Erica Piendel, Megan Onofry and baker Valerie Turner all work as a team in this new location. You can find a menu on a stand as you enter, then place your order at the counter and take a seat.

Donna Huffman enjoyed a delicious Cobb Salad, which consists of grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, bleu cheese, egg and a ranch style dressing. I had heard through the ‘friendship grapevine’ that the Beringer Blue specialty sandwich was great, so I had to try it. This sandwich, which is served on your choice of bagel or wrap, has roast beef, pecans, baby spinach and chunky bleu cheese dressing. The taste and textures made for a very interesting and enjoyable sandwich.

Other customer favorites include Mighty Palm, a specialty sandwich of grilled chicken, baked ham, swiss cheese, lettuce and chipotle aioli; Santa Fe, which is cracked peppermill turkey, jalapeno cream cheese, sliced tomato and lettuce; and, The Roma which is pastrami, turkey, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion and their vinaigrette dressing. If you prefer, choose what you want and build your own House Sandwich.

You can order breakfast offerings all day and in addition to their yummy homemade desserts, you can also enjoy thirteen flavors of delicious Hilton Head Ice Cream. With our temperatures soaring this will be a real treat. Hilton Head Ice Cream, Inc. has received accolades from CNN, Warner Books, and Southern Living and has been voted the Best of Hilton Head every time a poll is tallied.

Think about joining them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and coffee or ice cream especially before or after a movie or get an outgoing order. Also, they welcome the opportunity to cater breakfast or lunch for a minimum of six persons. So call them and discuss the possibility of catering your next event.

Come on in, you needn’t be a Yankee to appreciate their delicious bagels...and if you enjoy the experience, your best compliment is to refer your friends and family

Palm & Moon Bagel Company
(843) 757-5090

“Little bita Yankee... little bita ya’ll”

Sea Turtle Cinemas, Suite 3L
Buckwalter Parkway

New Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 7am – 8:30pm
Sunday: 8am – 2pm
221 Scott Street, Beaufort (843) 379-9300