Bagels and burgers are both staples of New Jersey. Two couples in Robbinsville — Krishna Mahida and Kaushal Chauhan; Yogesh Reddy and Swapna Goli – decided to combine two of the most popular food items in the state into one restaurant – Deerpath Bagels and Burgers.
The restaurant held a grand opening celebration on Oct. 4, about seven months after its soft opening in March.
Deerpath has a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, such as breakfast sandwiches/wraps, french toast, waffles, pancakes, breakfast platters, omelet platters, breakfast sides, cold sandwiches and wraps, appetizers, chicken wings, kids meals, cheesesteak wraps, triple-decker club sandwiches, grilled sandwiches, paninis and salads ($1.50-$15), aside from their wide selection of bagels and burgers ($2.75-$10).
Their burgers range from a classic cheeseburger ($9) to black bean burgers ($9) and buffalo chicken crispy cheeseburgers ($9). Deerpath has 21 bagel selections, with their more uncommon options being blueberry crunch, chocolate frosted and their very own Jersey Bagel (pizza sauce and a tomato slice with a cheese slice on top).
Deerpath Bagels and Burgers also have an abundance of bagel spreads, even offering a cream cheese and bacon spread ($5). Mahida’s personal favorite bagel is jalapeño cheddar with sesame seeds.
They also have a great deal of drink choices, like lemonade frosties, milkshakes, protein shakes, plant-based protein shakes, fruit smoothies, red bull refreshers, iced tea and hot tea, iced coffee and hot coffee ($3-$8).
Deerpath Bagels and Burgers also has vegan options, including veggie wraps and sandwiches, garden salads, cesar salads, vegan burgers, vegan cream cheese and butter, their protein shakes, smoothies and their plant-based smoothies: Vegan Vanilla Dream and Peanut Butter Paradise ($5-$8). They are also working on a quinoa dish as well as gluten free and low carb bagel options, which they hope to add to the menu next year.
Mahida and Chauhan used to own a convenience store in Flemington, Singin at Lakewood, and loved the sense of community and how it felt like they knew everyone. With Deerpath, they are trying to build that same community with Hamilton and Robbinsville.
The owners have personally gone into surrounding businesses and given out complimentary bagels. Being located in the Deerpath complex, right in between Hamilton and Robbinsville, they are near many other businesses.
“That gave us a chance to get us connected and know more about the neighborhood we are living in,” Mahida said. “The connections blossomed — they’re stopping by here, they’re liking the bagels because we make fresh bagels every day here.”
Deerpath Bagels and Burgers have been able to cater for some of the local businesses. Some of the businesses that they connected with share Deerpath’s menu with family and friends. “We are so fortunate to have such a great community,” Mahida said.
Giving back to the community is part of what inspired Mahida to become a restaurant owner.
“Food is the basic thing that [connects everybody],” Mahida said. “To me, being the mother of two boys — an 11 year old and an 8 year old — the main thing is ‘What are we going to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?’”
Mahida explained that while her family strives to cook every meal from home, there are some days that are just so busy that it is not possible to cook all three meals. This makes her understand the importance of having reliable and healthy takeout food options that feel just like a meal from home.
“I wanted to do something where the community can rely on us for food, especially breakfast and lunch,” she said. “A personal touch we can bring is our connection with the customers and the effort we put into making our food.”
Mahida’s goal when it comes to cooking is to make the food taste like a home-cooked meal, but of higher quality. Her top priority, aside from taste, is health. Mahida is proud to use fresh ingredients for her food.
There are three-full time workers at Deerpath Bagels and Burgers and one part time. Mahida and Chauhan, though they are owners, prefer to not have a hierarchical structure in the workplace. They both know how to cook each food item and make each drink and they help clean and prep as well. Mahida often works at the front register.
At the back of the restaurant is a huge back room kitchen where the cooking and cleaning takes place. There is a large bagel making machine where each type of bagel is made fresh each morning. At the front of the restaurant, there is a coffee making station, fridges filled with drink choices and a big space for tables. Large photos hang on the walls and at the back of the register the abundance of bagels are showcased.
The two couples, who were friends prior to being business owners together, agreed that the Deerpath plaza would be a great place to run their business. The plaza inspired the restaurant’s name, making it easier for people to know where the business is located.
Mahida had an interesting start in the food industry. In 2011, she was a microbiologist/lab technologist for Johanna Foods in Flemington, where she would test yogurts and fruit juices. She also worked at Quickstop Deli and Sunset Deli, where she made sandwiches.
At Deerpath Bagels and Burgers, Mahida is able to combine her pharmaceutical knowledge and business owner experience from Singin at Lakewood to run the restaurant.
To bring even more community to her business, Mahida is planning to bring the holidays to Deerpath Bagels and Burgers by getting a Santa impersonator and a photobooth in the restaurant.
To Mahida, having a successful business means being able to form genuine connections with the customers, going beyond the one time experience. She makes sure to remember people’s names, their orders, what kind of food they prefer. She strives to “make them feel like home, like family.”
Deerpath Bagels and Burgers is located at 691 US 130, Suite A1B, with hours of operation being 6:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Sunday. For more information, call (609) 438-9255 or visit their website deerpathbagelsandburgers.com.
