Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. Adds Even More Lunch Options!

By GARY NAGER

Photos by Charmaine George

Although Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. is a small chain of 24 locations in six states (the majority of which are located in Florida, including the original location in Delray Beach), local franchise owner Daniel Kurland takes great pride in his restaurant, the service he provides and the company’s growing menu.

Brooklyn Water Bagel has been open on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, just west of I-75 (at the front of The Grove at Wesley Chapel’s property) since 2021 and since then, Daniel says, his breakfast business has been booming. After all, Daniel’s kettle-boiled-then-baked bagels (and other baked goods) are made with water that is “Brooklynized” on the premises to give them that authentic New York-bagel taste.

But, since all Brooklyn Water Bagel locations are open for both breakfast and lunch, the company has been working on expanding its lunch menu and Daniel recently invited the Neighborhood News to come sample the new options.

He says the best seller of the new menu selections has been the Little Italy bagel sandwich — made with salami, capicola and ham with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, banana peppers and vinaigrette dressing. It’s like an Italian sub but on your choice of Brooklyn Water Bagel’s dozen+ bagel varieties.

My favorite new item, however, is the new bagel dog, a premium beef hot dog (or chicken sausage) that is wrapped in bagel dough, topped with everything seeds and served with spicy mustard and sauerkraut (which honestly, is the only way to eat a hot dog, in one reporter’s opinion). The menu doesn’t call the hot dog “Kosher” or even “Kosher style,” but at Jewish delis in my native New York, we would have called it a “special,” or oversized hot dog and the flavor is definitely Kosher style.

Photographer Charmaine George also enjoyed the new spicy grilled chicken sandwich, which is topped with bacon, pepper jack cheese, pickle slices, lettuce, tomato and spicy mayo. It is served on a club roll or the bagel of your choice.

Charmaine and I also enjoyed the new club melt sandwich, which is served openfaced and combines warm ham, turkey and bacon with melted Swiss cheese, tomato, onion and butter on the bagel or bread of your choice.

All of these lunch sandwiches are served with an authentic deli-style sour pickle.

And, for you salad lovers, Brooklyn Water Bagel has now added a new chef’s salad, with ham, turkey, bacon, egg and shredded cheese with grape tomatoes served atop a bed of tasty greens.

Of course, there’s also still delicious corned beef, pastrami (either of which are available as Reuben sandwiches), roasted turkey and chicken, tuna, egg or whitefish salad sandwiches on your choice of bread or as wraps. And yes, there is even a pretty authentic-tasting matzo ball soup, offered as a cup with one matzo ball, as well as in combination with a variety of different sandwiches.

New Breakfast Items, Too...

The new menu options available at Brooklyn Water

Bagel Co. aren’t only for lunch. First of all, the entire menu is available for breakfast or lunch.

However, for those looking for something more than the usual smoked salmon and cream cheese (it’s called The Williamsburg) and egg, bacon (or Taylor ham) and cheese sandwiches, there are now new corned beef “hash” sandwich with a hash brown, plus corned beef, egg and American cheese, and pastrami, egg and cheese sandwiches. There’s even The Greenpoint sandwich with egg whites, spinach, mushroom and Swiss on a scooped bagel.

Save room for dessert, because not only does Brooklyn Water Bagel still have the most authentic (and decadent) black & white and chocolate chip cookies in our area, a variety of fresh-baked muffins (including a new orange cranberry option), and flaky rugelach pastries, it also now offers a scrumptious, open-faced S’mores bagel with Nutella spread and toasted marshmallows.

And yes, I still love Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.’s delicious coffee blends, especially the Brooklyn Infusion blend (with vanilla, caramel and Kahlua flavors) and the new Hanna Banana blend, which is available for the spring only. if you don’t see a flavor you want, you can add shots of U-Bet chocolate syrup, vanilla and a variety of other flavors. For you iced coffee lovers, check out the “Cubsta” iced coffee, available with coffeeflavored ice cubes.

You can even take out bulk bagels, large-size cream cheese spreads and tuna, egg, chicken and whitefish salad.

Brooklyn Water Bagel (27835 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Suite 101 (next to King of the Coop). It is open every day, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info or to place an order, call (813) 775-2275, visit BrooklynWaterBagel.com or see the ad on pg. 36.

Update On Mac’s Custom Meats + Deli!

Although I told you about Mac’s Custom Meats + Deli — located in the Grand Oaks Plaza at 26316 Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz — last issue, I didn’t tell you the full story.

First of all, while Mac’s is named for owner Dax McLochlin (photo, below), his actual first name is Daxton, not Daxter. I also didn’t show you anything inside the store, so below is a picture of Dax in front of the meat display, where he sells Angus steaks (like tender filet mignon), plus top-quality baby back ribs and other pork and chicken options. Mac’s also sells excellent pressed Cubans, grilled burgers and other flavorful deli meat, plus tuna and egg salad sandwiches.

“We’ll make your lunch and provide everything you need to grill your dinner,” Dax says. He even sells his own line of Mac’s sauces to enhance your grilling experience. For more info, call (317) 509-8798 GN

Pomodoro Pizza To Become

Mama B’s!

Those of you who are fans of Pomodoro Pizza at 27607 S.R. 56 (in front of Sam’s Club) will be happy to hear that not too much will change when Brenda Bening-Thompson (photo above) and her husband David, who have already owned it for several months, officially change the name of the popular local pizzeria to Mama B’s Pizza.

“We’ll be officially changing the name when our sign outside and new menus come in,” Brenda (Mama B herself) says. “Basically, we’re changing the look of the menu and reducing the number of pasta dishes on it, since some of them haven’t been selling so great.”

She adds, however, that most of Pomodoro’s pasta favorites — including fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna and chicken parmigiana — “won’t be going anywhere.”

For more information, call Pomodoro Pizza at (813) 328-8063 or visit PomodoroPizzaFL.com.

Provisions Coffee & Kitchen To Open New Location

Meanwhile, Provisions Coffee & Kitchen, which was the first tenant to open in the KRATE Container Park at The Grove at Wesley Chapel, has announced that it will open a second location in a new plaza that currently only is home to Abdoney Orthodontics (see photo, right).

The announcement on Provisions’

Facebook page said that additional announcements were coming soon. Unfortunately, we were unable to speak with owner Dana Morris — who also has a Provisions location on E. Bearss Ave., just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — about the rumor we heard that the new Wesley Chapel Provisions will serve beer and wine (as the original location on BBD, where Bru Florida Growler Bar is now located, used to serve), as well as its usual coffee drinks.

We also weren’t able to find out if the new location will replace the location at the KRATEs or if it will be a third location for Morris and her coffee-and-more business. But of course, we’ll keep you posted.

For more information, call or visit either Provisions location — at 5862 Goldview Pkwy. in the KRATES (call 813-803-7787) or at 2816 E. Bearss Ave. (call 813-252-6512) or visit ProvisionsCoffeeFL.com.

Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar Opens At The KRATEs

Literally the day we went to press with this issue, the Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar (photo below) held a brief “soft opening” in anticipation of its full-time opening sometime before this issue reaches your mailbox.

The Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar, the second establishment at the KRATE Container Park (the other is the nearly adjacent Blush Wine Room) owned by Felicia andNimesh Desai (not pictured), is an intimate, upscale champagne bar serving sparkling wine from both near and far, champagne cocktails and martinis, and a dozen frozen cocktails, with plans to serve food starting this summer.

“Until then, you can grab food from the Blush Wine Room and drinks from either of our locations,” Felicia says. “And, just like at our original location, the Champagne & Cocktail Bar will have wines and cocktails you won’t find anywhere else. We’re really excited about the new concept.”

The Blush Wine Room is located at 5863 Goldview Pkwy., Unit 107, and the Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar is at 5903 Goldview Pkwy., Unit 101. For more info about either location, call (813) 428-6247 or visit BlushWineRoom. com.

Azteca d’Oro Opening June 24!

As you can see in the ad on the previous page, Azteca d’Oro is set to host its Grand

Opening in the space (at 2000 Piazza Ave.) at the Shops at Wiregrass previously occupied by Cantina Laredo on Saturday, June 24, with a mariachi band, indoor and outdoor bar with cocktails and more.

Azteca d’Oro promises a truly authentic Mexican cuisine experience in an upscale, but still casual atmosphere. For more info, see the ad or visit AztecaDOro.com. — GN

Johnny C’s Has Opened On CC Blvd. @ Morris Bridge Rd.!

Although its “Friends & Family” events and Grand Opening both took place after we went to press with this issue, the new Johnny C’s Italian Eatery is open at 10970 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite (on Morris Bridge Rd.), in the former location of Precinct Pizza

Johnny C’s, named for the grandfather of former Saddlebrook Resort GM Pat Ciaccio, is a partnership between Ciaccio and former Saddlebrook owner Tom Dempsey and Seth Ravenna, who also worked at Saddlebrook. it features true New York-style pizza, plus a variety of Northern Italian comfort foods, from lasagna to eggplant parmigiana & more. For info, call (813) 278-8020 or visit JohnnyCsItalianEatery.com. — GN