Good variety and bagels and cream cheese flavors. I had the fire salt, which as someone who doesn't…read morehave a good spice tolerance, didn't find intolerable in terms of spice. I really enjoyed that the veggie cream cheese had fresh veggies in it too. Bagels came out quick, within about 5 minutes though there was only one person in front of us when we came in. While it's not a NYC bagel, it's still up to par and satisfies the craving for one

These used to be the best bagels in Rochester. Now the bagels are small, tasteless, stale, and…read moreexpensive. So disappointing

Just had a fire on 9/9 and are unsure of damage. They aren't sure when/if they will be open again…read more Their website is up to date. So sad--they have the best bagels in town and are incredibly nice.

GREAT bagels- ok the best in town. HOWEVER... the business has changed... I remember learning that…read morethey were closing last year, went and stocked up on a couple of dozen, knowing I would miss them. JUST learned that they are still "open." Be aware that they are "strictly curbside service and are open Friday and Sunday 8am-11am" this is their current business model. Look at the website, to learn more about Bagel and Challah ordering. https://www.brownsteinsbagel.com

Food was good Service was kind…read more They keep the line moving and were able to help my Gluten Free Vegan sister try some bagels after a very long time.

I visited Balsam Bagels on July 14 while visiting a friend who recently moved to the area. There…read morewas plenty of parking, the shop was clean, and the staff were very friendly. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel with jalapeño cream cheese. Honestly, it was one of the best bagels I've ever had. The bagel was incredibly soft with a perfectly crisp toasted exterior. It was so good that I bought a dozen bagels and a container of the jalapeño cream cheese to bring home. Unfortunately, the next morning I woke up with what appeared to be food poisoning and was sick for my entire flight home. I had frozen the cream cheese overnight so it would stay cold during my trip and refrigerated it again as soon as I got home. On July 17, my partner had an everything bagel with the same cream cheese, and they became sick the following day as well. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law ate one of the plain bagels and did not experience any illness. Because of that, I suspect the cream cheese may have been the source, although I can't say for certain. I'm giving 3 stars because of the apparent foodborne illness. The customer service, cleanliness, and the taste of the food were all excellent, and I genuinely loved the bagels. I hope this was just an isolated incident, but I wanted to share my experience so the business can investigate if needed.

I don't really understand the hype. I went Wednesday of last week, I was there probably around…read more8:30ish. There was only one cinnamon roll and that one was a day old. They had a lot of the carrot ones. The donut case was full. I got my dad two apple fritters -he said he's had better. He also had a raspberry filled. He said it was okay. My mom had a lemon filled donut, she said it was missing the tartness that lemon has. I also got her a cinnamon apple one filled one she said it was pretty good. I had a croissant. It was very dry. I had to microwave it. It was not anything special. There was some fudge and honey. There was a big dining area. This not a place I just have to go to. I can take it or leave it. I thought there would be more breads and bakery pastries.

Fresh Food literally fresh and will clean the entire grill for severe allergies. Since it is so…read morefresh it is very slow service so not good for bigger groups. Very family friendly environment and the entire family is there to make the food.

sorry to say, but this place seems to be struggling despite its corner location and pleasant…read moreinterior. I ordered a breakfast sandwich on a croissant and what came out was a sad little squished glorified hamburger bun interupted with a tiny egg, a bit of cheese, and a thin circle of sausage. Employee had zero clue what the different drip coffee offerings were, making my choice a chance of luck. I also ordered a coffee tote for the office. It was filled about 1/2 full, at best. With so many better options, no chance of going back.

I love it here. It's been a while since I've been in, but I've never had a bad meal or experience…read more They are friendly, there are so many options, the food is good, and there's even a drive thru! This time I had the Tuscan - egg and cheese with roasted red peppers and your choice of meat on focaccia or a bagel - on the Italian bagel, which was an asiago bagel with Italian seasoning on top. It was so flavorful! The Italian seasoning gave it a little bit of a kick. I only wish I had added cream cheese as well, but that's personal preference. My fiancee had an egg bagel toasted with Sriracha honey cream cheese and she said unfortunately the bagel tasted like it had been hanging out with other bagel flavors, but she would still come back. I also had a cappuccino that was delicious and super reasonably priced - everything was $14! It's difficult to only buy what you're coming in for since everything is homemade and well-made at that.

The health inspection report says it all. Unfortunately I assumed from mostly positive reviews…read morethis bakery would be a decent neighborhood shop to grab a made on the premises sweet treat. A Morning muffin experience proved otherwise. Yuck. Literally tasted like one of the ingredients was bug spray! And for a few hours I literally felt sick after only consuming a small bite of it. This is what the inspection report from June of this year states: Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof contruction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish) Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate ... Read more Insects, rodents present Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils. Are they kidding? With all the really outstanding pastry shops in Rochester, how can this place even afford to exist? I would like to support a local bakery, but this one is a no-go for me.

While we have a number of good bakeries in the ROC area, Malek's does indeed stand out. Always…read morelots of great and tasty items here. Most recently tried their Sourdough bread- OMG amazing. (And I'm a sourdough snob!). The service is always helpful and the place is wonderful. I could spend hours just sitting and staring at all the treats and goodies.

I ordered the iced tea - it was as expected. I've been before and I knew I didn't like the tiramisu…read morelatte (it's too heavy for me with the Marscapone topping), but my friend really enjoyed hers! I love the little shopping area they have in the front of the store. They have such cute duck umbrellas! I have a gluten intolerance, and there weren't that many things on the menu I could have so I decided to ask if the burrito could be made as a bowl. The woman taking my order was awesome. She went to the kitchen to ask for me, and they said yes. I'm so glad I asked, it was soooo good. The lime crema sauce was refreshing. The beans were tasty. I just really appreciated that they could accommodate my dietary concerns.

Very nice looking cafe and decent seating. Parking is limited and seems to be street parking around…read morethe corner is the best bet. We ordered iced coffees but got hot. We're not that picky so we chose to drink them as is Instead of bother staff but I'm sure they would have helped fix it if asked. The lattes were very pretty and tasty. The mocha has a soft chocolate flavor which I prefer. Cookie my son got was great as well. They have a little shop area which I also enjoyed browsing. Bathroom is really nice BUT no changing station unless they want to count the wooden decorative table. Don't tempt me I'll use it Justice for parents just trying to exist in public spaces with their children! Overall I did really enjoy our stop in today!

I grew up in Rochester but have since moved away, and I was sad I didn't find this place sooner -…read moreor you know, when I actually lived and worked in Rochester. On a recent visit to Rochester, one of my friends and I met up at this cool location for a coffee and to catch up. There are options galore for drinks and they're so good. I loved my marshmallow latte. They have options for board games, events they host, and a small corner for small/local artists to share and sell their products. It was so interesting to explore and look around while I caught up with an old friend. Next time I'm in Rochester, I'm definitely coming back.

We are on a continuous search for great local cafés. This is the gem that sets the bar for…read moreRochester. Very relaxed ambience. Local students working on their laptops. Small families enjoying food. Couples and friends chatting over coffee. They support local businesses. We came on a Saturday afternoon, when students from RIT were given tables to show and sell their art in a non intrusive way. Coffee is really fantastic. I had an Americano, with their Espresso Blend. Roast master told me he does the sourcing, blending and roasting. This one had Ethiopian and Colombian beans. Fabulous blend of earthy and chocolate tones. I bought a pound to prepare with my French Press at hotel and the roaster grinded it to a perfect coarse. Side note: please never drink coffee from those hotel room machines. You can always do better! Come, have a coffee, have lunch, buy beans or ground coffee for your enjoyment at home. This is the type of place that makes café lovers feel right at home, even when traveling.