Bagels Up

I was visiting the area and was looking for a place that had gluten free bagels. I'm so glad I found Bagels Up! Not only were their GF bagels DELICIOUS, they make all of their cream cheese in-house. I've been to some breakfast/coffee shops where their GF bagels are horrible and probably store bought. You would not be able to tell the difference with these. I couldn't decide on the cream cheese so I got the espresso on one half and the bacon and chive on the other. They are also nice enough to offer (I didn't ask) samplings of their flavors to help you choose. While out hiking on my last day before heading home, I realized I just wanted to wake up, not have to go anywhere, and then head to the airport. So I went back later that day and asked if I could get a breakfast sandwich to go. When I told them my plan, they suggested to give me the ingredients in a separate container (egg, bacon, and UNMELTED cheese). That way, all I had to do was heat it up in the morning and it wouldn't be soggy. Super friendly people there. If I'm ever back in the area, this is where I'm coming for breakfast!

The food is very good; the bagels and the overall selection, including alternative bagels and cream cheeses (gluten free, vegan, etc.) are excellent. The issue is the service, particularly when it gets busy. They are slow and the food deliver is confusing, especially if you are seated outside. Even though we clearly stated that we were seated outside (because it was busy inside) and the person taking our order said it wouldn't be an issue, our coffees sat on the counter getting cold because they called out our name, which we did not hear (because we were outside). They seem to be good with delivering food outside - for the most part though there was some confusion - but I noticed that the guy who delivered our food and who I know puts the orders together in the back kitchen, stopped to pet a couple of dogs; did he wash his hands afterwards? I'm not positive, but pretty sure he did not (I love dogs, but don't want my food handled by someone petting them). Also, the outside seating is uncomfortable, small, metal chairs and table, cramped; but I am glad we had the option. I also noticed that people who phoned their order in first were able to simply walk in and grab it very efficiently and that phone calls took precedence over in-person ordering. I suppose if you don't want to pick it up and eat at home, you can just phone it in, pick it up, then take a seat. One note about the food is that I would like them to serve their espresso in a porcelain cup rather than a paper cup. I would suggest a floor manager to get things running more smoothly, particularly when they are busy. Most of the people behind the counter and in the kitchen seemed young and green. I want to reiterate, I will continue to eat there because the bagel (which is all I've had) are delicious, but I will likely choose a slower day or call my order in first.

First pic: gluten-free Everything bagel sandwich. Second pic: gluten-free plain bagel turkey, egg & cheese. (Also tried the gluten-free blueberry with plain cream cheese—not pictured) The plain gluten-free bagel is hands-down the best I’ve had in Jacksonville. It's soft, light, and flavorful—not that dense, chewy texture a lot of GF bagels seem to have. The Everything bagel was just a bonus with great flavor. The blueberry was good too, though the berries sat in the dough instead of being evenly spread—but still tasty. The quality and quantity of ingredients on the bagels was also impressive. They use Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, the cream cheeses are fresh and made in-house. Service has also been top notch and they've provided great recommendations.