Ruby's Bagels on North Avenue — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Don’t get me wrong, the bagels are decent. It’s far from the best bagel I have ever had in my life but it is probably the best in Milwaukee. However, someone at Ruby’s needs to spend a month in NY working in a bagel shop or they need to import a grumpy 65 year old New Yorker to show them how to run a bagel shop. For starters you need a second person up front. This morning there were ten people waiting in line to order while the person up front was casually making a matcha. There were 13 people in line when they strolled to the back to get more everything bagels. You NEED a sense of urgency. It was 15 minutes from the time I got in line until they took my order. Then tack on an “average” of 15-20 minutes because they “aren’t a fast food place”. While you may not be, you aren’t a sit down place. There are 6 bagel options, 5 hot sandwich options, and some cream cheese/butter options. It’s not a complicated operation. For goodness sakes the bagels are already made. You should have eggs cooking at all times, you know the sandwiches are coming when the line is 10-15 people deep. You are not fast food, we all know that. But what amounted to a 45 minute wait time today isn’t sustainable for what should be a 10 minute total wait. You need someone with hustle. If you could just get orders taken and food out the door your customer satisfaction and profits will go...

Ruby’s Bagels is hands-down one of my favorite spots in Milwaukee. Every time I go, it’s clear they care about getting it right. The bagels are fresh, and it shows—chewy, golden, perfectly baked, and miles ahead of anything you’ll find at a grocery store or chain.

My usual order is the BEC on a rosemary bagel with grape jelly—trust me on this one. The savory rosemary paired with the sweet jelly and salty bacon? Unreal. It’s one of those flavor combos you didn’t know you needed until you try it. And if I’m keeping it simple, their plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese is also flawless. The basics are done so well that even the simplest option feels elevated.

Also worth shouting out: the matcha lattes. They’re made with homemade syrups (the lavender is a personal favorite), and you can taste the difference. It’s not just an afterthought it’s actually good coffee-shop-level quality, which is rare for a bagel place.

The staff is always friendly, fast, and super organized. If it gets busy it moves quickly, and everyone seems genuinely happy to be there. The space itself just feels good to be in. Ruby’s isn’t just a great bagel shop it’s the kind of place you start planning your...

Ruby’s Bagels is truly a Milwaukee treasure, I’ve been to both locations, and each visit has been consistently excellent. The bagels are made fresh daily, and you can taste that care and craftsmanship in every single bite. The plain bagel with butter is my forever go-to simple, classic, and done perfectly. But I also can’t resist the EC on an everything bagel. The flavor combo is incredible, and that everything seasoning hits just right every time.

What really sets Ruby’s apart beyond the bagels themselves is how thoughtful and well-run the whole operation is. The staff is always kind, helpful, and totally on top of things. Even when the line is out the door, it moves quickly and efficiently. You can tell the team works hard and cares about both the food and the experience.

The decor is super cute and inviting too bright, clean, and full of personalit. It feels like a space you want to hang out in, not just grab and go.

Whether you’re a lifelong bagel fan or just looking for your new weekend ritual, Ruby’s delivers on every level. Easily one of my favorite spots...