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A morning oasis in West Medford

The Magnificent Muffin & Bagel Shoppe’s hearty breakfast sandwich.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Owner Joan Gatto prepares an order at The Magnificent Muffin & Bagel Shoppe in West Medford, where hearty breakfast sandwiches and a variety of fresh muffins help customers start their days.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff/Globe Staff

By 7 a.m., The Magnificent Muffin & Bagel Shoppe, across from the West Medford commuter rail, hits you with the triple appetite trigger: coffee, bacon, and baked goods. Owner Joan Gatto, 64, has been rising before dawn for 20 years to make breakfast, and provides a cozy oasis for Mass-goers, firefighters and police officers, and commuters, all of whom seem to know one another. Gatto greets just about everyone by name and makes hearty breakfast sandwiches to order. "HEC on Eng with S+P" is shorthand for ham, egg, and cheese on English muffin with salt and pepper ($3.50). The yolk is oozy, meat crispy, and muffin craggy. Sausage, bacon, and turkey sausage are available on a bagel, bread, or for an extra $1, croissant. The bakery case is full of monster-size muffins; Gatto goes to town with fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and toppings. Bonhomie for breakfast. The Magnificent Muffin & Bagel Shoppe, 491 High St., West Medford, 781- 483-3511.

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DEBRA SAMUELS