Do you get a little misty eyed driving past Sunny Isles and seeing the space that once housed Rascal House sits vacant? Do you want to mainline pickle juice when you realize Wolfie’s is now a Señor Frog’s? Well then, have I got the restaurant for you. Bagel Cove located on 19003 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL 33180 is a throwback to yesteryear when Jewish delicatessens ruled the South Florida dining scene.
Just south of Aventura Mall, Bagel Cove which first opened in 1988 hearkens back to those glory days when the quantity of the food served was just as important as the quality. The dine-in restaurant where you can sit at a counter or a booth has the greasy spoon feel of a New York diner (which is meant as a compliment). It is only open until 4 in the afternoon every day, but late night owls can take advantage of a take out counter that is actually open 24 hours a day with outdoor seating.
Bagel Cove has an encyclopedic menu of New York Jewish cuisine
from corned beef to tongue sandwiches, but as you can guess from their having bagel in their name, the meal of choice is breakfast. They serve Jewish specialties like potato pancakes, challah french toast, matzah brei, and blintzes. The no-nonsense breakfast types can’t go wrong with their two egg special. For $6.99 you get two eggs, any style, coffee, bagel, and a choice of oatmeal, grits, or home fries. If you get there before ten you even get a complimentary basket of sweet rolls like prune or cheese danishes. As an added bonus kids under seven eat free until 11 a.m. on weekends.
For vegans I recommend the vegetarian chopped liver spread which is made out of eggplant or the garbanzo bean salad (without the egg) which comes in a ridiculously large portion and is drizzled with tahini sauce. Both of those items are served with Bagel Cove’s bagels which for my money are the best in South Florida. I’ve had a long running argument with my brother who swears by Sage’s bagels in Hallandale Beach. But that’s a you say potato, I say patato dialogue.
Bagel Cove’s bagels from the pumpernickel to the everything bagel to sesame seed are a hearty piece of bread that taste amazing toasted or not, by themselves or with any spread you can pull out of the back of your fridge.
Bagel Cove is a time machine into old school Miami dining that I think the ghost of Wolfie Cohen would approve of.
