The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.

So I’m updated the below review (which was 2 stars). I was contacted the same day by one of the owners over Unilocal asking me to give them another chance at delivery. This morning they gave me a free delivery of the same order and everything was great! It really was nice to see the owner so concerned with his business and the manager Carlos was also very helpful when I called. He even made the delivery himself to see that it was ok! Really great costumer service!
So I ordered a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, large soda and 2 bagels for delivery. The sandwich was good, but my soda was filled to the top with ice… definitely not worth the almost 3 dollars I paid for it when it was mostly ice. Then, later in the day I unpacked the two bagels I ordered to make sandwiches, etc and found they had sent me the wrong type of bagel. I had asked for two whole wheat everything bagels and they sent me two whole wheat bagels instead. Of course I realized i the evening so they were already closed. Will eat there again because the bagels are good, but don’t really trust them for delivery… might try again but will be sure to make lots of «special instructions» in the notes section…

This came very highly recommended to me from people who would venture all the way from Brickell to the beach for these bagels. The premise is that they use water from Brooklyn which has a chemical make-​up that makes the bagels taste like real New York bagels. I was thoroughly impressed. The bagels were warm and doughy and my order was toasted to perfection. The service was speedy and they have some outdoor tables where you can sit with dogs. They had an enormous variety of bagels and I’m kind of dying to make it a life mission to have one of each flavor. My only issue is the geographic issue — getting to South Beach can be daunting, especially in the «season» months. Move to Brickell, Brooklyn Bagel!

First, I’ve never been to Brooklyn, so I have no idea what a true fresh NY bagel is suppose to taste like, so I have to take everyone else’s word on this one. I like the bagels just fine, but it’s the coffee that keeps me coming back every morning.
Other than maybe Starbucks, no one else filters the Miami Beach water for their coffee and tea. I don’t particularly care if it tastes like N.Y. water or not, don’t care about the process. I just know that it’s good tasting water. Good water and good coffee roasting makes a great cup of coffee.
The master roaster at BBWC is formery from Boca Java, and knows his beans! I drive up to Boca to get my own personal blends (they’ll blend any flavors you want with about a 30 min wait if their busy). Great guys at the roasting shop!
Back to the Beach…
Friendly staff, always working hard to make sure everyone is happy, place is pretty clean. (Free wi-​fi courtesy of their neighbors… lol)
Coffee bar is awesome, lots of flavors to choose from for both coffees and creamers. I wish they stocked Truvia or Purvia, or any stevia product for us sugar free-​ers out there, but I bring my own, no biggie.
If you haven’t tried the iced coffee, aka The Cubsta, you’re in for a treat. Decaf iced cubes makes sure you’re never watered down. I’m admittedly addicted to it and have one almost every day. They have my ice cup ready for me by the time I make it to the counter!
And the muffins… yum! Tastes for all ages. My kids love the chocolate chip, I’m partial to the blueberry and stud muffins (lots or grains and nuts, yum!). Get it warmed up if they’re not still warm in the case. it’s not necessary, but makes me even better.
So to make a long review not any longer, just go! I drank the Kool aid on this place, err, I mean the water…

The bagels here taste really good.
Like every bagel does and should.
It’s nothing special not worth the price.
But like most bagels it does taste nice.

I was spoiled in college — I went to school in NY where bagels are an institution. I ate bagels constantly. Constant bagels! Bagels, bagels, bagels. There were great bagels everywhere, and I took them for granted.
I graduated and moved back home to Miami, and there was nary a good bagel to be had. Until I had a bagel from The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.
These are the real deal. Fresh and not too dense. The perfect consistency. I always get a toasted garlic or everything bagel with either butter or scallion cream cheese. So good. My only real complaint is that they should expand their cream cheese options. Every good bagel place has a few interesting cream cheeses — sundried tomato or jalapeño. Something more interesting.
If you’re looking for a good bagel in South Florida, here’s your place.

I went back in today FINALLY to get a bagel after the owners numerous times contacting me to let me know they have taken a drastic measure to make sure the people working there are wearing gloves, and following the proper procedures. The same guy that made my sandwich the time before I made a point to make sure he was wearing gloves YES he was. The place also looked a but cleaner the coffee station seemed cleaned up more. I love their bagels so I am really happy they took my advice. Hey whatever helps business thanks for not being stubborn and actually responding ASAP to my negative review.
BTW great bagels still !!

After quite a few visits, and a few more bad experiences, I finally had some good ones! Unlike other places that promise change and don’t deliver, this place has managed to mostly turn itself around. Obviously there are still busy times when things are crazy, but they seem to have hired actually friendly staff (like Claudia :)) and more of them so that it’s not quite a crazy runaround when the orders go in and come out. Not to mention they also haven’t gotten my order wrong once in a few visits.
Good job and keep up the change :)

I know a thing of two about bagels. I used to live on Long Island and so I’ve had actual Brooklyn bagels (not Brooklyn™ bagels) and these are right close. Firm on the outside, soft on the inside and yet the whole thing is just a bit chewy. A pumpernickel bagel topped with their three egg omelet and cheddar cheese. This ain’t the bagel you get at Einstein or Panera. This is a New York bagel and don’t be confusing dem, mkay?
Good coffee selection. Fresh tasting and not burned at all. Go ahead, get yourself a refill too.
A little small on the inside, there are a few tables outside where the locals like to bring their dogs. Dogs eat bagels?
Bonus: The parking lot is free if you’re out within two hours.

If you get hot flashes, stay away. Air temp was set on 84! No wonder it was so warm inside, and I am one that is always cold, carrying sweaters into grocery stores. This is Miami folks, come on.
Lots of coffee options but not regular food. Some salads dishes for $ 9.95, limited menu. Nice staff but they ignored our request of no onions and no toasting the bagels. They just do not read, it was empty and our 3 orders took forever.
Eat in or out. Music was nice oldies from 70 and 80s era.

Okay, so after my not so subtle review… I was contacted by the new owner and I took that to be a good sign… any business owner that takes the time to reach out to his community and address their concerns is a good owner in my book.
I have since gone back to OBWGC and I will admit that things are better.
The service was much more accurate, efficient and enjoyable.
I’ve been three times and each time, I have seen the same improvements… so I am seeing a good trend… let’s hope they can keep it up

The concept sounds good, execution is alright, price is a little high however, even by New York standards where I can get a much larger sandwich for less! Too bad it’s over a thousand miles away.
The bagels themselves are okay, I’ve had better right here in Miami.
Maybe it’s because they aren’t really using New York tap, they are just trying to «simulate» it.
I enjoyed my corned beef Ruben, there was a decent amount of meat, but for almost $ 9 it’s a little steep. Add the $ 2 for side and a drink to make it a meal and it becomes a pricey lunch.
So drink options? Lots of hot and iced coffee choices, a soda fountain, and the ability to make your own Egg Creams which is a real new yorker thing. My parents used to make them when I was young. To make one; fill your cup half with milk the other half seltzer water add the Fox’s U-​Bet Chocolate syrup and stir. Contrary to it’s name, there is no egg in an Egg Cream.
I wonder if the not so great service people have mentioned is all part of their «Brooklynized» theme. My experience wasn’t bad, just slow.
I’d give this place a half a star extra only because of their cool drink options, otherwise it’s just A-​OK. Another good perk I do have to mention is FREE PARKING so extra bonus point there as well.

It doesn’t really taste like a NY bagel… tastes kind of like every other bagel, except more expensive…
NY bagels are special, they have a soft, chewy inside… and a hard crispy outside… these were, well, just kind of neither…
Service was ok, although I am not sure why it took 10 minutes to bring out an untoasted bagel with crème cheese, but hey… also wish they would put the crème cheese on the side, but thats just a personal preference I guess…
If you want a bagel on SoBe I guess this is your best bet, but if you’re thinking of making a trip for a bagel, there are other places with much better NY style bagels in Miami

Have been here several times. Ironically we go back for the coffee, not the bagels. The coffee is great — lots to choose from. Next time I go I really want to try their iced coffee… looks delicious with the ice cubes made form coffee.
As for the bagels, we have had two different bagel sandwiches… neither have been outstanding, just ok. I wish the lox and bagels was served open face — not made into a sandwich. The veggie egg sandwich was ok — nothing special.
Again — COFFEE — that is all the reason to go here!

OBWBC, where doth thou been all my years in sobe? Eve C is right. We have been missing a REAL bagel place for so long!
I’m a sucker for a Scooper Melt. Take that big, bountiful, calorie-​ful bagel, scoop out some of the insides, and toast it for extra crunchy goodness. Stuff it with the vegetable/​meat/​cheese/​egg combo of your choice and voila! Sandwich heaven. I’m partial to the whole wheat everything bagel myself — indeed a fantastic creation.
The coffee ice cubes are fantastic, but I really enjoy the wide variety of different flavors in both hot and cold they offer at OBWBC. There’s also no shortage of creamer choices (which are thankfully refrigerated; how gross is it to let the same pots of dairy sit out all day?!)
This is a fast-​paced service environment, and the employees at OBWBC are as friendly and attentive as you get. Fair prices and the fact that they deliver solidifies this as a five star establishment. I’ve been twice and so far, consistency is not a concern.
Bottom Line: OBWBC brings quality food and friendly service to the table with its delicious bagel and coffee centered menu.

Though I usually reserve 5 star reviews for places that not only have fantastic food, but also wait on me hand and foot, I felt that was not an appropriate criteria on which to judge a place that doesn’t offer table service nor a full menu. As bagel joints go this is truly a 5-​star bagel joint and the best in Miami (as New Times can attest).
This review is for the bagels, eggs, coffee and water since those are all I have tried as yet. Service-​wise, as I have said, they don’t have waiters, but I found the ordering and table-​side delivery process to be just fine. Every one there was friendly and more than accommodating.
For the past 4 years of my life in Florida I had all but given up on bagels, having had only semi decent ones farther North in Miami then I care to travel and having had countless flavorless ones. I CAN NOT eat Einstein’s bagel under ANY circumstances. So I was thrilled when I heard about this place and it turns out that I have never had such delicious bagels, such amazing bottled water, or better iced coffee (Americana) in Miami period.
The egg and cheese sandwiches are tasty and filling, but to truly enjoy a fresh and delicious bagel only butter or cream cheese will do and in my mind their selection of spreads and bagels is just right. Also, I should add that I like to take home a dozen to keep in the freezer for impromptu morning visits from family members– they are still delicious after a quick unthawing in the microwave (30 seconds) and are always well received. Finally, the vast assortment of iced coffee to go with their genius coffee ice cubes is fantastic– best ice coffee I ever had!
I grew up to next door to H&H bagels in NYC aka Bagel Mecca, and what is more– as my reviews will attest — I know good carbs! While there is only one H&H for me, these bagels do remind me of home and therefor warm my heart, but also REALLY hit the spot!

I hear they put real New Yorkers in the boiler with the bagels to impart a touch of bitterness and a dash of je né sais quoi (urine.)
Oy vey.
Best thing I’ve ever seen in a bagel shop: U-​Bet Chocolate Syrup to make your own egg creams. That’s the most original New York thing about the whole place, save for the imported staff, who came complete with accents and attitude. It’s quite soothing for the former upper-​east-​coast me that hasn’t heard that lilt in a long time. Turns out, it’s still kind of grating.
But sadly, the bagels were not that great. Not the freshest, and when asked for ‘toasted’ the place fell prey to one of the oldest bagel shop let-​downs: the under toast. Basically, they warmed it up. It wasn’t toasty. There were no toast marks. Just the faint heat of disappointment.
I’m not sure I buy into the whole «water makes the bagel» concept, and i definitely would never buy the bottled water they sell that tells you on the package that it’s New York’s Finest (unless I was slowly trying to poison someone) but I get it, it’s a gimmick.
I didn’t really need a gimmick though. I needed a good Sunday morning bagel place that’s a notch above Einsteins. I dont think I’ve found it here, though.

I’d been eagerly awaiting Brooklyn Water Bagel’s arrival since i first saw the paper go up in the storefront on 5^th St. It’s quite hard to believe that South Beach has been without a «real» bagel place for so long!
They say the difference is in the water, and maybe it is, but these are some damn good bagels! The perfect mix of crunchy outside and chewy inside, BWB’s bagels are everything you could want in a bagel. They remind me of the bagels we’d get as kids from a local bakery in STL that we affectionately referred to as «pinchy» bagels (cause we could just pinch off a piece and enjoy)!
BWB offers about a dozen different types of bagels, but my fave so far is the whole wheat everything. You can get cream cheese, egg & cheese, or even a pizza bagel — whatever your little heart desires! The veggie and nova cream cheeses are stellar. The toasting can use a little work (not dark enough for my tastes), but they do offer scooping, which is pretty sweet.
Aside from the bagels, the iced coffee deserves mention. Why? Because BWB offers coffee ice cubes, that’s why! Not to mention 5+ different types of iced coffee, for those discriminating coffee connoisseurs.
Parking is free in the 5^th & Alton garage for 2 hours, but it can be kind of a pain. Unfortunately, the nearby street parking is residential zoned. Prices are pretty decent, considering the market they seem to have cornered. Service is okay, but steadily improving.
BWB is new, so they’re still working out some kinks. But it’s a most welcome addition to the South Beach breakfast scene, and has already worked it’s way into my weekend rotation!

I went in to pick up bagels for a brunch on Sunday and their bagels are good, but not great. They have a decent selection (although missing a few key players, IMO) and perfectly acceptable customer service, but I think their offerings are a little limited, their prices are a bit high, and they are still working out the kinks a bit.
I’ll head back in a little while and give them another try.

Yesssssssss!!!
I can get a bagel, muffin or sandwich AND a cup of coffee in South Beach at the same place without getting touristy raped on the price! This is news of gargantuan proportions, really, you have no idea!
For months, even years it’s always been a stop here for food and a stop there for coffee, no more! At Brooklyn Water Bagel I can have both — yipee!
The staff is still getting their bearings but I am sure in a few months this place will run like a well oiled machine.
All I can say is I am really happy they have both hot and iced coffee and pretty decent breakfast options! Woo hoo!

Coffee ice cubes = coolest thing ever!
Okay, now that is out of the way. LOVE the chewy goodness of the whole wheat everything bagel. Not many places offer this delectable combination, so at least I can pretend my bagel is halfway healthy. I have the feeling I will be obsessed with this place. Real eggs on my sandwich, deli cheese, not soggy bagel (half the places around here nuke your bagel sandwich resulting in a soggy mess that burns the roof of your mouth, or they use fake eggs). The cream cheese has good bits of real stuff in it. Everything I’ve had so far is delish. Coffee is pretty much self-​serve & they have a bunch of different flavors for hot and iced coffee drinks.
Plus, these crazy people are open ²⁴⁄₇ on the weekends and get this… they offer PIZZA BAGELS! Best thing ever :) I’m going to be turning into a bagel any day now. I *heart* this place. May upgrade to 5 after I have a few more things. The service was nice and quick both times I have gone so far.