Buddy's Bagels Tamiami — Restaurant in Sarasota

The overall set up of the place is nice and while their fountain drink was down, they had cans and other drink options available. The restroom was out of toilet paper.

My grandmother and I ordered the same thing, a cinnamon sugar bagel toasted with butter. My mother ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese on a cheese bagel. After we placed our order, we sat down to wait. My grandma and my bagel came out but my mother's was not with it. She asked about it and they said they were running behind but it would be out in a minute.

My grandma and my bagels were okay. The cinnamon wasn't overpowering but they weren't the best cinnamon bagels I've ever had. There was a little too much butter on mine for me, and my grandma's bagel was cut funny with one side being cut at an angle. I do have to day I like the way they cut the bagels into four eat to eat pieces.

Now my mother has still been waiting for her bagel while my grandma and me have been eating ours. My mother watched the counter and listened for her name. After a moment or two she noticed a bagel was just sitting there for a moment. She went up and asked if it was hers. She was ignored and so she again asked again, given a big sign from the male behind the counter before she commented that she didn't have her name called and just wanted to see if it was hers and she wouldn't be taking someone else's food.

Now my mom has her bagel and it's disappointing. The egg was overcooked and the bacon was fatty. She tried to give some if it a try but overall she decided it was just a loss.

Overall, it wasn't the best experience but it wasn't the worse either. I will probably...

[UPDATED: THEY LISTENED! I went in this morning, a glutton for punishment, and when I asked for double cups she said oh we got the new cups. And sure enough they did get nice sturdy strong cups and I did not burn myself!] I cannot believe that I'm saying that I miss the grumpy couple who formally owned The bagel shop now known as Buddy's Bagel on 41 South of Bee Ridge... And keep in mind, I have always been supportive of this company that took over when people were complaining of the decline of quality of food... The bagels are "fine" but they have a real problem with their coffee cups and coffee lids. It's the third visit where my coffee top did not fit and the cups they have are cheap and thin. This morning after putting one of the lids on (And it's hard because they don't fit but I confirmed all around the cup that it was securely on) and picking it up to leave, my cup immediately bent, softened from the heat and moisture, falling out of the lid, burning my hands and ending up all over the floor. I told one person behind the counter and they came over to clean and then I went over to the woman at the cash register who I told and she just simply gave me another cup and I said I'd need two cups..."your cups are flimsy It just fell out of the cover and burned me " and she begrudgingly gave me another cup... The person who was still cleaning up whispered to me. "We keep on telling them we get lots of complaints but they don't do anything about it..." HEY BUDDY'S Bagels.... Do something about it. Spend another couple bucks to get better cups and lids that fit!!! Heading home to...

I've been a customer of Lox and Egg for about 18 years, although at that time maybe it was Manhattan Bagel. Their bagels were always the best in Sarasota because they were boiled and baked (as they are in New York).

When new owners bought it about a year ago, I went to Buddy's (which they also own) & I went to Lox and Egg, and they were still delicious.

I visited yesterday and the bagels were not good! THEY DON'T TASTE LIKE BAGELS! I saw the flat bottom instead of a rounded bottom and I knew right away they weren't being boiled and baked anymore. (I also noticed there were no other customers there and loads of bagels were on the shelf unsold.)

An employee told me that that it was so ... that the old machinery broke down and new machinery was bought that steams them.

The other places in Sarasota & Bradenton that steam Bagels do a much better job. In fact Uncle Nick's in Bradenton steams the bagels, but they taste like they are boiled and baked. I believe Jersey Girl Bagels boils and bakes them. When they first opened, I didn't like their whole wheat bagels (too much whole wheat in them & they only sold those on weekends) so I never returned.

Well I won't return to Lox an Egg and Buddy's. It's a shame that they didn't keep up the tradition of boiling and baking them. Looks like I'll be an Uncle Nick's customer from now on. I feel bad about that and I'm sure...