Bagel Love & Deli — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I appreciate the efforts that the new owners have put into the new store. The order speed, overall service, ambiance, and lunch additions are improved upon over the previous ownership -- the lunch sandwiches are really good by the way. Having lived in the NE and in South FL where traditional NY-style bagels reign supreme, I can appreciate the smaller, chewier bagels currently being offered.

However, I agree with the other reviewers regarding a dramatic difference in bagel quality between the new style and the original recipe. Even as a NY bagel purist, it's hard to argue with the quality of the previous bagel recipe -- they were larger, softer, and tastier. I know multiple people who would literally travel all the way from beach-side to get a dozen bagels on a weekend from Bagel Love -- they will not do that now. I know many locals that feel the same way.

From a previous review, it sounds like the original recipe bagels had picked up from down South, and this was too difficult for the current ownership bc of family obligations. Having kids myself, I totally respect that. So, is there not a local bakery, or your current one, that can make that recipe as well as the new one and ship them in?

If you could pull that off, you can call one OG-style and the other NY-style, or something along those lines. Even if the original recipe is more expensive and labor-intensive to make, I would gladly pay a fair markup for the original style all day long. This way you can A/B test sales, and if more customers like one over the other, you can go with the bestseller or simply continue to offer both. This also gives you an opportunity for a new local marketing campaign that should drive more sales -- "We're Bringing Them Back!" (or something along those lines).

I recognize don't have all the details nor all the answers, so thanks for considering. It's an awesome location and you have a really loyal customer base you can tap into. If you decide to do this, please let me know and I will gladly switch to a...

I wouldn't even give them 1 star if I had the option. Went in today for the first time. Immediately told they were short staffed and couldn't make anything on the grill. I said bummer I was looking forward to trying the Cali Bagel. Was told it could still be made just without the egg. I said ok, I can fry one up at home so go ahead. Got home and all that was on it was one tomato sliced , cream cheese, light, and a couple slices of avocado. Was told it was toasted and it wasn't. I also took home 1/2 a dozen bagels, which only had from 5 or 6 different one's to choose from. Not even that many actually. They couldn't toast those without an upcharge of $3+ extra. Called them when I got home, man answer's, says "you got what you paid for" and hung up on me. Called back and I asked why did he hang up on me, he said "the spinach is "86" and we don't put sprouts on anymore either and hung up again. I posted on our local group, he gets on that and blast's me saying I was told what I was getting. Told me to have fun trying to dispute the charge for the food and to never come back after I already commented that I would never go back. The prices aren't on their menus in the store. The prices on Google they said are wrong. Just how much is it for what? Pretty sketchy if you ask me. This is not a honest place of business. I will be reporting to health board, BBB and Labor board as the girl that did assist me state she doesn't really work there anymore but came to help. I'm certain she probably wasn't compensated correctly. This man who jumped in appears to be the owner, I'll verify through SunBiz and he'll be reported for this. He should have just been closed if it can't be ran properly. Brian Patrick Morrissey is his name....

2 stars only for 2 (mediocre) bagels. Also, a bagel alone is 1.09. Cool. A bagel with butter is 1.59, whatever. A bagel with cream cheese (or honey, Nutella, etc) is 2.79!!! 1.70 for a very thin spread of cream cheese is a rip off, unless it's freshly made by angels every morning... I came here last Sunday morning with high hopes. What's better than independently owned, quality eateries? Not this place. A 4.8/5 is a lie. All I wanted was a tasty bagel, cream cheese and a coffee. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to food and I hate to complain, but I was already having a bad morning, and to come here to see that if I want a simple spread of cream cheese on my bagel, I have to pay MORE than the price of the damn bagel itself! The bagel was supposedly toasted, and tasted about as well as a store bought bagel. My $4 "blended ice" java chip coffee was just as disappointing. If you're going to advertise a coffee in such a way (with chips or sprinkles or ribbons of caramel, whatever..) MAKE IT LIKE THAT. My chocolate chips were ground into my coffee, and they're my favorite part. I don't know if the poor assortment of bagels ate advertised as freshly made, and at this point I don't care, I paid an exorbitant amount of money for a mediocre breakfast (and service as well).

I could honestly look past everything else but 1.70 to add cream cheese to a dollar...