The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co

The bagels are probably the best available in Fort Lauderdale, which is not an exciting market for bagels and breakfast food in general. My preference is the Protein on an everything bagel that is scooped. A known favorite is their specialty coffee, which is actually made with coffee iced cubes and they provide free refills, which is nice.
However, this location isn’t well equipped to handle a lot of traffic. Parking can be difficult during the week. The line moves slow for a bagel place and there is no comfortable area to wait for your food.
It is also a shame that you have to buy larger quantities of salads and meats if you want to get something off the menu. That can be pricey as well.
They have gotten orders wrong in the past, but will fix it without a problem. It is still new and seems to be working out the kinks.
Again, best bagel place in Fort Lauderdale, but could fix some issues as it grows.

Hands-​down the best bagels in Fort Lauderdale.
I’m from New York, have lived in Manhattan and Queens, and am often out in Brooklyn, but I come down to Florida over the holidays. And well, the entire family has been desperately searching for a place to get bagels — FINALLY, THIS IS IT!
If you’re a New Yorker who likes David’s Bagels (East Village), Murray’s (West Village) Absolute Bagels (Upper West), or even Bagel Boss from Roslyn (Long Island), then you’ll love these. They’re doughy on the inside, but crisp on the outside. The flavors are generous, just as you’d expect them. They even have Black Russian bagels. Excellent fresh and THEY TOAST WELL!
Their homemade cream cheese is something left to be desired, but who cares? I’m convinced that those defaming this fine establishment are somehow connected to the mediocre bagel shops in the area. One of them listed here even complained about the service. I never had that issue here, but if I did, who cares? It’s about the bagels!
Wish that I could give this place a 6^th star.

Placing an order for pick up was easy and service was fast. The bagels are not too doughy. Definitely my favorite.

Coffee is great. And the bagels are so yummy. But when you order your bagel they literally go to the Brooklyn river and make their bagels. Other than the horrible wait, and service the bagel was on point.

The 2 stars are for the bagels ONLY. because the place absolutely sucks so I can’t give it more stars.
I like the bagels. Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I always get the salt, which has a heavy coating of salt and they do give a healthy amount of cream cheese on the bagel. I have gone there about 20 times but truly DO NOT enjoy the experience of actually being at the joint, which forced me to dock stars I would have given for the bagel alone.
I have several problems with the place.
1. THEY NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE SO YOU CAN ORDER WITHOUT BEING LATE TO WORK! NEVER!!! It would be nice to order for my office in advance since we go every week.
2. Parking, there is nothing to be done about this so it is NOT a complaint of mine.
3. Service is hit or miss although ALL cashier seem to be completely vacant when they assist you. Literally vacant.
4. They NEVER have smaller portions of whitefish or tuna salad weighed out in the containers that you can grab to go with your order. I don’t need $ 9 worth of whitefish salad if I am the only one eating it. I dont want a $ 13 breakfast. They need to have like $ 4-​$ 5 portions weighed out to go for customers. Every time I order a smaller amount I have to wait an extra 10 minutes for them to put it together. Seriously, like 10 minutes AFTER my bagels are ready and in my hand I am still waiting for that small side of whitefish… WTF?
5. After you order you are forced to stand: 1) in front of where people get their coffee so you are in their way; 2) In front of where people grab napkins, silverware, etc., so you are in their way. THERE IS LITERALLY NOWHERE TO STAND AND WAIT FOR YOUR ORDER. You are constantly moving for the entire time to get out of peoples way until they call your name to get your order. Whoever designed this system should be forced to get breakfast here every morning so they are forced to endure their shitty design while being pressed for time every morning on the way to work.
6. This is a BIGGIE for me, I would NEVER order a toasted bagel. NEVER. I’m from New Jersey and toasting is for stale bagels. That being said, I have twice received my salt bagel, fresh from the oven (this is a nice thing) but they went ahead and put the cream cheese on the burning hot bagel. WHAT THE FUCK. The cream cheese melts into a super gross milky slime. So the cream cheese is now hot and literally dripping off the bagel. What fucktard thinks this runny mess is ok? How can no one have the metal capacity to say «hey, the bagel is just out of the oven and really hot. Would you like the cream cheese on the side?» Would that be so fucking hard to grasp or would that being going the extra inch for the customer?
IN CONCLUSION: So I get to work this morning, hand out bagels to my co-​workers, get to my bagel, which is piping hot and slimy. I can’t even lift it out of the box, the cream cheese is dripping all over the paper wrapper. Its disgusting. On top of being hungry as shit I am now pissed that I can either throw it out and waste my $ OR put it in the fridge to cool off for a fkg hour. Thus I am prompted to write this review as I it’s now 10am and I still have not eaten breakfast.
:/​

The BEST bagels (in Florida anyway)
Bagels are large, and the best is that the EVERYTHING bagels… my favorite. have everything on the top and bottom, and not all of it falls off when you cut them.
I can’t speak for the sandwiches as I only do take out of bagels…
As noted the parking is a disaster, it’ll take a time or 2 around the block to find it, you go through another parking lot to get to their small lot

I was a big fan of the Original Brooklyn Water Bagel on South Beach, and was disheartened when they closed, so I’d been keeping a keen eye on the (not so) newly opened location in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
The location is convenient, if you happen to work at or near the courthouse. For those of us, like me, who work on the other side of the river, it’s not quite as convenient. But as of my visit this afternoon, I noticed that they have about a half-​dozen parking spots specifically designated for their take-​out customers — SCORE!
Whether you’re in the mood for breakfast, lunch, or something in between, Brooklyn Water Bagel has something for you. I’ve had everything from a turkey sandwich on a yummy bagel, to a plain ol’ scooped and toasted bagel with some schmear and tomato. Everything is tasty, filling, and affordable.
The one thing that I haven’t sampled from this location that used to be my staple at the South Beach location is BWB’s iced coffee, which comes served over ice cubes made out of frozen coffee — so your coffee doesn’t get watered down — GENIUS! This is definitely a «must» for future visits (provided these visits are before my self-​imposed caffeine cut-​off time).
The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel also offers free deliver within a 1-​mile radius of their location (with a $ 20 minimum order). While 1-​mile doesn’t sound like much, for those of us that work just over the bridge near Las Olas, this is music to my ears! They also offer catering, for those lunch events where only the tastiest will do.
I can wait to explore more of BWB’s menu, and am looking forward to trying out their «takeout only» parking spots on my way into the office one of these mornings!

Just like what everyone else said — ridiculously long wait for something so basic like sides of cream cheese. The place also smelled like bleach and the waiting area was crowded. BUT the everything bagel was really good! Perfectly chewy and flavorful. I have yet to try the spinach and asiago one. They’re bagel and cream cheese selection included the average ones you would find anywhere but also non-​traditional ones.

Staff here is very friendly and make me feel welcome «they always remember me by name and my order» I love the ice coffee I get it every day since they opened. So why 3 stars you may be asking and there are 3 things that other patrons have pointed out.
1. Parking is horrendous
2. The waiting area is WAY too small and very awkward setup
3. Although I love the ice coffee it is sometimes inconsistent in its flavor. Some times it tastes burt and other times they have put the wrong blend on the tap
I don’t think that the parking is gonna change nor is the design /​layout of the waiting area so I will deal with that, I just don’t want to get the burnt or wrong coffee anymore.

More like 2.5 stars, but do the lack of options for bagels in downtown Fort Lauderdale, this is getting bumped up. I have gotten bagels from here three times and each time has left me something more to be desired.
As other people have mentioned, parking is atrocious here. They do have about 8 spots that are designated for «take away», however, I think everybody who dines there is takeaway. I say this because the last time I ordered a bagel «to go» I was told that all orders are considered to go. So, today I parked in that spot even though I ate there because hey, all orders are to go! :)
I find the bagels VERY HARD to chew and the staff not friendly. Not sure if the bagels are stale, but they are definitely not even close to a New York bagel.
The operations of this restaurant make no sense either. After an order is placed, everybody is waiting for the food/​coffee to be delivered in a small area. Plus, service is slow. Today I ordered a tuna bagel and my boyfriend had lox on a bagel and we waited 15 minutes. I understand they were busy, but in this type of establishment all orders should be completed and serviced in 5 minutes.
My biggest complaint with the restaurant, and I apologize in advance, but it is extremely dog-​friendly. As in, people walk their dogs INSIDE the restaurant when they place their order. I have no problem with people bringing their dogs and dining with them outsides, but inside a restaurant is no place for a pet. I even saw an employee bring out somebody’s order, pet a dog and then go back into the kitchen. Today, there were 6 dogs INSIDE while I was eating my bagel.
Why 3 stars since my whole review is a complaint? Well, if my option for a bagel in downtown Fort Lauderdale is this or Einstein’s, I pick Brooklyn bagel any day.

You know how Einstein’s makes you feel at home while still being «fast food?» Well, this place is far from it.
Parking is a nightmare. I think you have to turn right at the light (going south on SE 3^rd) before TOBWB to find the free parking. I ended up going past the light and then making the right into a side street. This small street seems to be Courthouse parking only and metered parking. I chanced it and ditched my car in the metered parking, ran to the building in heels, and prayed for no ticket. (Success, but not recommended.)
Upon entering, there are chairs and tables situated on the outside of the building and, through the door, you are greeted by a skinny hallway, stainless steel, and a «bar» seating area facing the window. «This is cool, this is hip», I thought. That was until I was helped by a teenager in McDonald’s get-‘em-out-quick fashion (There were 3 people in line). The young girl ended up charging me for something I didn’t order and then wanted me to sign the new order receipt without showing me the refund receipt first. Um, no. Also, why do you have to sign for a debit card for under $ 10? Not a big deal, but it’s a little weird.
I ordered the bagel egg sandwich with lox and one of their signature coffees with the kahlua flavoring and coffee ice cubes. I tried the coffee without sugar or cream to taste the kahlua-​vanilla-​caramel combo they’re pushing on their menu. It tasted like a Hazelnut Keurig pack over ice, burnt with a hint of synthetic flavor. I swiveled to their syrup and creamer station (which is pretty cool) and loaded up. The bagel sandwich was like eating a hot, salty piece of bread. The bagel itself wasn’t great and tasted like it was premade and shipped in plastic, the egg disk was either premade and reheated or was made with egg beaters and shaped into a circle, the lox smelled fishier than they should (I know it’s fish, but there’s good fish smell and bad fish smell) and were extremely salty with no other prevailing flavor. The only thing I liked were the sauteed onions that the sandwich comes with.
It’s a shame that this place can’t become my main stop in the morning, because I was really looking to fill the void of the Einstein’s near my old home. I’ve read that the other locations are better, but I’m in no rush to travel far for a mediocre bagel.

Was really looking forward to this place opening and trying it out as bagels and I are good friends! (LOL) Unfortunately, it was a big disappointment. Walked in and there were small papers covering the floor. No cashiers smiling. Overpriced (and uncreative) menu. Gave a simple order of just three bagels to go. Asked for one each of three different flavors but they were out of one so I settled on two of one kind and one of another. Got home and all three were the same flavor… and they were all burnt. All this and they weren’t even busy so what’s the excuse?
Definite fail. Giving two stars because, minus the burnt exterior, the bagel was good.

I have been hearing talk about this place for a while now. I know there are locations up near Boca and West Palm, so I was excited that one was opening right near me. I went here on a Saturday morning in the mood for some iced coffee and bagels! The location was very clean and new. You order inside and they bring your orders out to you. I wish there was some chairs or seating inside, but there is none. There is an outside patio to eat but on hot summer days like this, sometimes you want to sit in the cool air conditioning!
I got their famous iced coffee made with coffee ice cubes. I ordered it «infused» which said it had Kaluha, vanilla and other flavors, but it tasted plain to me. They also don’t have decaf in this option. What i did like was that they had a section to add your own flavors and creams, which included almond milk, vanilla, caramel, etc. This was great because you can add just as much flavoring as you like!
There were a lot of bagel options, some I have never seen before. I got the whole wheat sunflower seed bagel with honey almond spread and it was delicious! We also had the salami and egg on an everything bagel. All great!
It wasn’t too crowded, and I was able to find a parking spot, so it was an easy time to get there, eat and leave. I would love to see some indoor seating, but overall, a great breakfast spot in the downtown area!

I got a bagel with egg and cheese and one of their famous ice coffees.
The egg did seem microwaved not freshly cooked but bagel itself was good texture
The ice coffee was pretty good and for price and size can’t be beat.
I’d go back to try bagel with cream cheese.

I got the Asiago bagel and a regular iced coffee… It was so amazing I brought it into work and all of my coworkers wanted a bite. The bagel was thick and doughy and delicious. The coffee station is so interesting– you pick your own creamer and amount of sugar. Definitely coming back soon

Today (June 24^th) was «First Day» for The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. in downtown Fort Lauderdale. I arrived at 6:33 a.m. for the grand opening — apparently the doors opened a full ten minutes earlier. The place already had several customers waiting in line and was busy.
*** NOTE: For some reason, my original review did not post properly. Although I added this business to Unilocal on the morning the Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. opened and uploaded a number of pictures, I had to «update» my original review so it would post properly. ***
My cashier was Savannah. I ordered the Western Bagelwich at $ 4.99 and a large cup of Brooklyn Dark coffee. My name was taken and I would be called as soon as breakfast was ready. Chatter with my cashier was polite.
The place had all the jitters of a «grand opening.» From what I could tell, the store was overstaffed, but seemed to be running pretty well. Keeping in mind that this was the first day and that staff had never worked together before, I didn’t complain that it took six minutes to have my meal served.
Coffee came out first and I was shown to the condiment station where I could put cream and sugar in. The Western Bagelwich came out moments later. Pictures posted for your review and contemplation.
This downtown Fort Lauderdale location is convenient to the Broward County Courthouse, the Sheriff’s Office, Main Jail, and thousands of governmental workers, attorneys, and the general public. It has outdoor seating, but parking is a problem. If you’re not on foot, you probably won’t take the time to locate the limited free parking provided. When I pass in the morning, it’s around 6:30 a.m. so parking is usually not an issue.
I rounded up to 4 stars from a 3 or 3.5 stars that I would have given the Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., because this was a brand new business barely open 10 minutes when I walked in the door the first time. I thought the fact that the place ran pretty well on day one merited the extra half star. Had this been an established business, I would have gigged them for the numerous customers waiting around for food and the slower than expected service. But — of course — a brand new business cannot know about their «growing pains» until they experience them.
I will certainly visit again in the near future.
/​s/​William E. Lewis Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Growing pains, or just poor design. No parking, and the outdoor seating area has non stop deliveries and trash pickup. Loud and uncomfortable. The staff is great and the bagels are good but coffee behind the counter so refills are out.
Second time here and no improvement. Looks like back to Einsteins for me.

Try their healthy choice «stud muffin» for whole grains, nuts, flax and other wholesome additions that give the muffin body and flavor! Grab your coffee or juice and dine on their covered outdoor patio cooled by a great ocean breeze and overhead fans!

The bagels are warm and tasty! I tried the whole wheat bagel sandwich with egg and sausage and was not disappointed. They have massive cookies, muffins, fruit salad, coffee, etc.
I am so happy they opened near my office! We walked there so I am not sure what the parking situation is like. Also. The layout is a bit strange. Long queue ropes for lines, but a tiny space for waiting. Though, they do have a couple of tables and stools outside. But it’s south Florida and I never want to be outside in the summer.

Stopped by at 8am today, the second day they were opened and, contrary to the first review, the place was busy and running smoothly. I ordered three bagels and an iced coffee, and everything was delivered to me within just a few minutes. I split my time between South Florida and NYC and have been searching for a good bagel place for a long time.
This seems to be kinda close to what I can get back home — I wouldn’t rate it a «New York 10», but it is definitely one of the better bagels around. My cinnamon raisin bagel with almond honey cream cheese with excellent, as was my friend’s whole wheat with scallion bacon. I also ordered a plain poppy seed just to test the quality and thought it was excellent.
Two of the bagels were still warm when they arrived and you can see that they are hard at work in the back making a fresh product. Their iced coffee was also excellent, served on top of coffee ice cubes. FYI, they also have decaf iced coffee. As a little treat, they also have two flavors of creamers, milk and almond milk cold and «on tap» for you to use.
Very happy that they’ve opened in downtown FLL!