Brooklyn Water Bagel

Excellent service and good food. Coffee was great!

Got the pastrami egg and cheese, it was great. Cool place and friendly staff.

When they opened for business several years ago, Brooklyn Water Bagels in North Point center (US1 @ 53rd Street) quickly became a favorite because of their consistently good food and their very hospitable staff. (We even rated them 5-stars.) But, things changed and we dropped their rating to 1 star.

The 2nd generation staff didn't smile or offer to help. Sometimes I even had awkward face-offs with cashiers who were determined to avoid saying "hello" or "may I help you?" unless I spoke first. And while the food was good, the dining experience was unremarkable at its best.

We scratched BWB from our list, occasionally checking back to see if anything had changed. Today, we were pleasantly surprised.

A new employee was manning the cash register. Jessica greeted us with a big "welcome." The three people in line ahead of us were served politely, efficiently, and quickly. When we graduated to the front of the line, she smiled as though we were her long-lost friends and took our orders, which were hustled through the kitchen and served while they were still warm. What a difference!

While we were there, Jessica went out of her way to assist an elderly couple with apparent disabilities into accessible seating. She set up their table with the necessary utensils and prepared their drinks from the self-serve drink counter. Meanwhile, she continued to serve the steady stream of customers coming through the door.

Beyond her constant smile, Jessica hustled. When we left, she thanked us for our business and earnestly invited us to "come again."

We will.

(UPDATED JAN. 2023: So, we have changed BWB's rating from 1-star to 4-stars. It may take a few more visits before I am comfortable restoring their 5-star rating.)

(UPDATED: 3/6/23: Once again, we've become regulars at BWB. Their service has improved dramatically. If we could get them to always serve their signature breakfast bagel hot... They're doing so much better. Let's restore their 5 stars.)

Since I lived down south now and not in Jersey best bagels I've ever had since I moved and the coffee is damn good

I ordered a ham,egg and cheese bagel. The eggs are bland and very little ham. The cheese tasted processed. The coffee was good. Next time I'll get butter only.

Yummm. I love me some bagels. This place has awesome iced coffee and is a great stop for breakfast or lunch real quick.

Having grown up in NJ - I am acutely aware of the importance of the water when making a bagel. And, sure enough, the bagel(s) I had for lunch today were the closest thing I've had since leaving the state. Shout out to Josh and the cook who both were extremely accommodating to us - and who helped solidify a new loyal customer.

What a great find. Sorely missed in Jacksonville. The smell of fresh bagels as you walk in. NYC flashback. The bagels did not disappoint. Tasty.

Oven is out of service. NO BAGELS. Do they care…not even enough to put a sign on the door.

I was born in Brooklyn and the water here may be the only thing that this place has in common with a NY bagel shop. A turkey sandwich is $11 and I watched them take the "roasted turkey" slices out of a plastic sleeve. Gelatinous Oscar Meyer kind of cold cuts. The service was pretty appalling and I watched one lady ask for her money back after she said she had waited for 20 minutes for a sandwich. Paid $33 for two sandwiches and 6 bagels. The bagels themselves weren't that bad. I would say they were a step above store bought. The pickles were spears that came out of a jar with no snap. Bottom line, this place would not last very long in Brooklyn.