It’s All About The Water At New Bagel Company

Another small (20-store), but growing chain is the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., which opened a couple of weeks ago in the plaza just west of the intersection of S.R. 54 (aka Wesley Chapel Blvd.) & I-75 — and, for me,  it is the New York-style breakfast (and lunch) place people in our area have been hoping would open here for a long time.

Local franchise owner Daniel Kurland says the key to everything made fresh at the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. is the “Brooklynized in Wesley Chapel” water, which is a filtration and mineral-adding system that makes our local water taste much better.

“We even use this great-tasting Brooklynized water in our soda machine and coffee,” Kurland says. “Come on in and taste it for yourself!”

All I can say, after two weeks in business, is that the bagels are “legit” and kettle-boiled before they area baked, and the bacon, egg & cheese (top right, with a seeded “Black Russian” bagel) and Nova Scotia salmon (top left) bagel sandwiches definitely taste authentic.

The omelets are huge and fluffy (and served with crisp hash brown “cakes”) and the selection of hot and cold coffee (served at a coffee station, top center) is amazing!

Try the “Brooklyn Infusion,” which combines vanilla, caramel and Kahlua flavors. There’s even a coffee-flavored ice cube dispenser for you iced coffee fans! 

The Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (27835 WC Blvd., # 101) is open every day, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info, visit BrooklynWaterBagel.com or call (813) 775-2275 — GN

Chuck Lager A Delicious Improvement

The third-ever Chuck Lager America’s Tavern to open in the U.S. is now open and serving up deliciousness in the former Primebar location in the Shops at Wiregrass.

Although there has definitely been a lot of remodeling done inside, the more important thing is that the food at Chuck Lager’s (2001 Piazza Ave.), which features a menu created by celebrity TV chef Fabio Viviani, is significantly better than anything we ever had at Primebar, no matter how many times that menu was changed.

  • fig & prosciutto flatbread
  • meatballs in deliciously creamy polenta
  • French onion burger
  • bourbon & rye flights.
  • chicken parmesan
  • sautĂ©ed broccolini
  • grilled flat iron steak & fries

Our favorite dishes after just a couple of visits include the Fabio’s meatballs, which sit in deliciously creamy polenta, the unique fig & prosciutto flatbread, the crispy but tender chicken parmesan, the grilled flat iron steak frites and the perfectly sautĂ©ed broccolini.

Chuck Lager opens at 3 p.m. every day and has cool drink specials like cotton candy cosmos & bourbon & rye “flights.”

Call (813) 820-4500 or visit ChuckLager.com. — GN