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Balsam Bagels

4.3 (291 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Balsam Bagels Photos

Business Info

BALSAM BAGELS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for working
Outdoor seating

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Desserts and soups
Amy K.

Really great bagels and cream cheese. They offer so many different flavors and even have vegan options so everyone will be able to find something they like! I would recommend the egg sandwiches for breakfast. They are able to customize with different meats and cheeses, so the possibilities are endless. I did get veggie cream cheese on the side but it didn't have much flavor. I preferred the bacon cream cheese which was really flavorful! Overall, make sure you bring an appetite! There's a lot to try in this place. There is a bit of a wait because they are really popular but the service was great!

Cheddar scallion breakfast sandwich- egg bacon 1/2 scoop cc
Brittany D.

Best bagel spot since Manhattan Bagel closed! The bagels come out fresh and warm- no need to even be toasted. The staff is always friendly and recognizes their regular customers. The service is quick, even though the line can be daunting. They have some nice bakery items too!!

Sausage egg and cheese on an egg bagel
Jill K.

I loved that you can watch them make the bagels while you wait and you definitely wait because there was a long line on a Sunday morning! It seemed to take a while to get a breakfast sandwich so I think they may be limited with cooking the eggs or heating up the meat... the choices of bagels and cream cheese is crazy! I got a side of the chipotle cream cheese and thought it had great flavor but I also tried the spicy veggie and it was really lacking any flavor. I went with the egg bagel and it had a flavor that was throwing me off and I couldn't place it but would not get it again but there's so many others that I would try. If I'm in the area, I would return but I would try to place an order online so I don't have to wait so long. Oh and bonus that all the staff if very friendly!

Caitlyn R.

Best Bagels in Rochester by far!!! And on top of that soooo many options of flavors of both bagels and cream cheese! Staff is beyond nice and accommodating and is a cool atmosphere- you can even watch them make bagels! If you're a bagel fan or not you must come here ! And if you're a bagel fan and haven't been here there's something wrong with you ;)

Bagel dog with cheese, toasted
Taylor B.

Best bagels in Rochester, hands down. Whenever I'm in town for a visit, this is one of the first stops I make. They offer one of the widest varieties of bagels and cream cheese and I've yet to have something I didn't enjoy. We got a breakfast sandwich on a Montreal Everything and a toasted Bagel Dog with cheese, but the real treat is buying a dozen to fly back home with. Amazing, fresh bagels for a great price and great service!

Bagel with plain cream cheese
Emily P.

Love coming here for bagel dates during the week with my wife! The staff is so sweet and they move the lines quickly! A sugar cookie can be breakfast too right? Lovelovelove

I already ate half the bagel before I got to writing this review! Delicious
Amelia S.

I love Balsam bagels! Their bagels are always delicious and fresh and I love that they have vegan options. Their food and drink selection is outstanding. The staff is always friendly and polite. They have a cute outdoor seating area too.

Kayla B.

Delicious post-market brunch! We enjoyed an rosemary olive oil bagel with garlic & herb cream cheese, I added spinach, red onion, cucumber and it was delicious!! Perfect amount of everything, no toppings were spilling out while eating it. The lox and cream cheese was also pretty great! Intrigued by all of their different flavors and vegan options. We waited in line for a little bit and it was a longer wait than what we've experienced in NYC bagel shops and a bruggers bagels, but nothing too crazy. They had some patio tables and chairs outside under an awning which was so nice on the 80 something degree day, enjoyed in the fresh air! Only thing we would've enjoyed would be some overhead music, it was pretty silent!

Egg Sandwich on Everything

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3 years ago

Went in for a bagel. Dirty inside. Pretty sure I saw the three blind mice having a picnic at the counter.

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Are there gluten-free bagels here?

Yes - you can check their menu online, but they have a few options.

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Montgomery Court - That biscuit

Montgomery Court

4.6(24 reviews)
0.6 miCulver University East

When I walked into the coffee house I didn't really know what to expect. But after looking at the…read moremenu and getting a "Dirty Chai" and the "Driftwood" amazing! I had to hold off eating the whole thing before remembering to get a photo for the review. Atmosphere: Relaxed and a little dark but comfy Beverage: very good for something I haven't had before. ( I try to get something different in new places) Food: amazing! I'll have to come back and try something new unless I crave this again Staff: sweet and helpful, well deserved the tip for the service

Beware for celiacs: the drinks are gluten free, however, they use paper straws which are NOT gluten…read morefree! This morning I went and checked out Montgomery Court. I love the atmosphere and the low lighting of this cafe, but was disappointed with their latte selection after being recommended this cafe so many times. I had a toasted coconut latte which was pretty good - but also pretty basic in terms of lattes that I have tried in the Rochester area. For me, this cafe was a one and done - not only because of the coffee, but also because of the service. I felt like the barista was a little rude, which I can consider could just be something personal that the barista was dealing with that day. However, as someone who appreciates good service (or at least someone who is kind), service means a lot to me. Overall, the coffee was pretty mid. I think Montgomery Court was a one and done for me.

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Montgomery Court - Counter space.

Counter space.

Montgomery Court - Rivers & Roads

Rivers & Roads

Montgomery Court - 16oz Latte

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16oz Latte

Pandamonium Coffee - Logo for Pandamonium

Pandamonium Coffee

5.0(5 reviews)
0.6 miBrowncroft

Pandamonium is a creative coffee spot where unexpected combinations yield some extremely delicious…read moredrinks! On my first visit, I had the unfortunate timing to arrive late in the morning after a huge rush of locals had pretty much wiped out all their specials. Except one: a coffee drink with fish sauce. You read that correctly. FISH SAUCE. Like the kind you put on a savory Asian dish. It wasn't what I wanted, but the person making the coffees talked me into it because, as noted, they were literally out of almost everything else. I thought, well, I do like fish sauce, and maybe it just adds an umami kick, the way salt on caramel amps up the richness of a dessert. And I was not disappointed! In fact, it was delightful and very easy to drink! From that point, I felt pretty much hooked. These folks know their flavor combos and despite how 'weird' some might sound, they just work. My current obsession is their miso gourd-core on their fall menu - sort of like a savory pumpkin spice latte - delicious. I also love the golden nugget with turmeric maple syrup and clove. Really good. I have not tried anything else here food-wise (i.e. no cookies, smoothies or other nibbles), but usually pair my coffee with something delectable from next door at Jens Artisan - such as a quiche, mini cheesecake or cinnamon roll.... I'm a fan. And I highly recommend trying something outside of your comfort zone!

Stopped by here on a whim and was pleasantly surprised! The inside is a bit small but there's…read moreseating if you want to stop and sit. I ordered the chaga latte which I've never had before but really enjoyed the rich flavor. As a non coffee drinker, I liked all the tea latte options and would love to try the others in the future!

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Pandamonium Coffee - Iced latte

Iced latte

Pandamonium Coffee - Aporia beans!

Aporia beans!

Pandamonium Coffee - ABeetC juice

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ABeetC juice

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters

4.0(193 reviews)
0.3 miNorth Winton Village
$$

The ambiance was industrial and somewhat hidden along the side of a large commercial looking…read morebuilding with a warehouse feel from the outside. There is parking out front if you drive along the side of the building past other businesses. The quality of the beans seems incredible, which is why I stopped in. Being a strong enthusiast of coffee, collecting beans in my travels around the country and the world to enjoy at my home, I have been in many coffee shops and to many roasters over the years. One of my favorite parts is connecting with others who also have a passion and appreciate the product. However, that is where my dissatisfaction lies for this business. My greeting was terse and my enthusiastic inquiries about the various beans was met with disengaged and pretentious replies that all of the beans were great. I realize this and that is why I was visiting. Despite multiple attempts to engage in conversation to learn more about the taste characteristics and growing regions, I continued to be met with dismissive comments or silence. Maybe I did not appear to be knowledgeable but I left feeling that I was not worthwhile to the staff member who was working when I visited. I would not return to give business when such poor service was provided during my visit. There are many specialty roasters in the country and world from whom I can enjoy both excellent beans and excellent service.

This is a review for the NEW Joe Bean on Blossom Road (which is fully open for business), not the…read moreformer location on University (which is no longer open). I liked Joe Bean on the one occasion I got to visit their former location on University Avenue, and in some respects, I think this move is a nice change for them. They have way more space, and it feels like a great place that could host events relating to the production and tasting of coffee - not to mention, much more parking! The new facility features nice large windows, a sunny morning vibe, beautiful decor, a great selection of really appealing coffees, snacks, bags of coffee for home use, and lots of cheery plants. I had a latte with oat milk and Ethiopia Misty Valley coffee, for $5. The latte and my friend's Americano took a good while to be prepared (the two staff working told us apologetically and nicely that they only had one machine to do all the work of supporting the many people present that day), but when it was done, it was absolutely worth it. A latte of this quality is the true reason you go to a place like Joe Bean as opposed to Starbucks. This is what the movement of really high-level coffee experience should really be all about. I cannot compare it to any other latte I've had in Rochester. This alone puts Joe Bean as the best coffee in town in my opinion - Ugly Duck, Glen Edith, Fuego, Coffee Connection, etc., I'm looking at you! Thank you to Joe Bean for staying open and providing a great experience. If you are reading this as a prospective customer, I highly recommend you go check it out!

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Joe Bean Coffee Roasters
Joe Bean Coffee Roasters
Joe Bean Coffee Roasters

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Clownboy Coffee

Clownboy Coffee

4.9(10 reviews)
0.7 miNorth Winton Village

I'm so happy this coffee shop is near my apartment, they have an all-vegan menu and lots to choose…read morefrom. I had an iced caramel latte with oatmilk and it was well balanced, not too sweet. The interior is spacious and the vibe is very relaxed. They also have a little section where you can leave trinkets and/or take some, which is a fun detail. I'm definitely going to come back to try more of the menu!

Very happy I finally got to visit Clownboy Coffee. The shop decor is playful and bright, creating a…read morecozy ambiance. The shop currently has a fall menu offering and I had to get the Scully, named after my favorite 90s special agent. Delicious drink with smoky fall flavors. I was able to have it made iced with almond milk. The shop also had a nice offering of pre-made baked goods from local partners such as The Red Fern and The Little Brownie. A rotation of pastries were also available such as pretzel croissants and cinnamon buns. Seating is limited (two tables) and a bathroom is available on site. You will also find art on display for sale, as well as books, pins, and stickers from local artists. The shop is very much connected to the community with these offerings and there is even a board for local events, mutual aid, and business card offerings. It was busy when we arrived with only one barista working. The barista would take orders and then made the drinks for the order. They were very kind and hardworking. We had no problem being patient waiting for our turn. There was so much to look at in the shop while waiting. Street parking is available and was easy to find. The street the shop is located on is tree lined and quiet. Very happy to support a queer & trans owned coffee shop with ties to the local community. The vibes at Clownboy Coffee are superb!

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Clownboy Coffee
Clownboy Coffee
Clownboy Coffee - Cran-cha (cranberries and matcha) drink from Clownboy Coffee in Rochester, NY

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Cran-cha (cranberries and matcha) drink from Clownboy Coffee in Rochester, NY

Balsam Bagels - bagels - Updated May 2026

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