I tried 3 Florida bagel shops where customers expect a New York-style experience. As a native New Yorker, I was impressed.

Rachel AskinasiApr 10, 2022, 16:13 IST

I tried three different bagel shops in Florida.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

On a recent trip to Florida, I ate at three different shops each touting New York-style bagels.
I thought each had something different to offer customers in terms of the New York experience.

While visiting my grandma in Palm Beach County, Florida, I wanted to check out the bagel scene.

I love a fresh bagel with cream cheese.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

With many New Yorkers moving to Florida, I wanted to find spots where one might expect a New York-style bagel experience.

The three bagel places I tried: Bagel Twins (left); Brooklyn Water (center); and Bagels With Deli (right).Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The first stop on my tour was Bagel Twins.

Bagel Twins in Delray Beach, Florida.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The inside looked more like a deli than a bagel place, but a case of fish and spreads signaled that these restaurateurs did their research.

The case at Bagel Twins was filled with fish, toppings, and salads.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

While the bagels were missing a crunchy outer layer, in my opinion, they were tasty and soft.

The tops (left) and bottoms (right) of a cinnamon raisin (top) and an everything (bottom) bagel from Bagel Twins.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The cream cheese was top-notch, and I consider that an extremely important component.

The cream cheese from Bagel Twins was perfect.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Next, I stopped at Brooklyn Water Bagel.

Brooklyn Water Bagel in Delray Beach, Florida.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Inside, it looked like more of a fast-food chain restaurant than a bagel place.

I was disappointed by the lack of a deli case.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

These bagels tasted and looked the most like the ones I'm used to in New York.

The tops (left) and bottoms (right) of a plain (top) and an everything (bottom) bagel from Brooklyn Water Bagels.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

A pitfall, in my opinion, was the cream cheese that came with my bagel order.

I was given a packet of Philadelphia cream cheese at Brooklyn Water Bagel.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Finally, we stopped by Bagels With Deli.

Bagels With Deli in Delray Beach, Florida.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Inside, this place was everything I had been looking for.

This restaurant looked most like the bagel places I grew up going to in New York.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I thought the cinnamon-raisin tasted more New York-like than the everything bagel.

The tops (left) and bottoms (right) of a cinnamon-raisin (top) and an everything (bottom) bagel from Bagels With Deli.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The cream cheese helped make up for what the bagels lacked in freshness, in my opinion.

The cream cheese from this place was hand-packed and delicious.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Overall, I was impressed with how close each place came to really bringing customers the experience of New York bagels.

If I was craving a New York bagel experience in Florida, I'd personally head to Bagels With Deli.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

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