Benny’s Bagels

I come here to study quiet frequently. (And so do a lot of other people, it can be hard to find a seat with a power outlet sometimes.) The food is good, but doesn’t wow me; what makes Benny’s so great is the excellent atmosphere.

I came here after a not so good experience at Thomas Haas, a few blocks away. And I’m so glad I did!
You don’t come here for the quality of food, which has nothing to compare with Thomas Haas of course. No, you come here for the space itself: a big, laid-​back, beautiful space with LOTS of lights that strangely and yet amazingly feels peaceful.
You don’t have to pretend here. You can just be yourself. How cool is that seriously?
Going back? If in the neighborhood, most likely.

This is my local breakfast haven. I LOVE the pizza Bagel OMG the single greatest bagel on the face of the planet! If you haven’t tried one, it’s never too late But they always sell out by around 2pm.(Those greedy little high school kids! Grrrrrrrrrrrr)
We frequent this place on the weekends, the coffee is STRONG! but who’s complaining, that’s what I want after a late night and early morning so it WORKS!
The only negative thing is the service can be sub-​par on certain occasions but it is mostly good.
Great variety of bagels! What’s your flavor? and did I mention CHEAP BEER?!
4 stars!

Been going alot lately and have to say their benny is awesome. I used to make them myself now i just breakfast there because their environment is also comfy. Love the second floor seating area people feel right at home.

Doesn’t meet the standards of Montréal bagels, but Benny’s is a safe bet. I got the Sandwich Bagel, which is as predictable as its name. You get to choose the type of bagel and meat. I chose the cheesy onion bagel with turkey, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato. I wish the bagel was toasted, so the cheese could melt. I also ordered a London Fog, and it met my expectations as well. On a previous visit, I’ve ordered a Chai Tea Latte which wasn’t Chai enough (more milky than anything). A cool aspect of Benny’s is their nooks and crannies. Their seating arrangement is odd, and you can find some private spots if you go up the stairs. Try not to be sketched out by the wobbling fans on the ceiling… And is that a stained-​glass piece of Jesus smoking a joint above the entrance? Haha!

First place I ever drifted into when I landed in Kits. I still miss it. So laid back and chill, nothing cookie-​cutter about the place or its people. The fact that it’s still around despite some of the other five star restaurants or well intended franchises being built around there ought to tell you just how great this place is! It’s withstood the test of time! It’s an icon. No joke.

Very grumpy staff and by the sounds of it a very grumpy manager too. I guess you reap what you sow. I was asking one of the staff there for 2 pitchers of beer and he was standing right in front of me and just ignoring me. I even waved in his face and said hello and still no response, there was no-​one else waiting to be served. Eventually the girl working at the same time came round the corner and served me instead.

We have been going to Benny’s Bagels after football on Friday nights for several years. Last month we had a terrible experience. The fellow in the kitchen obviously had a party to go to so he told us they were closing even thou there were five of us plus other customers were inside as well. This was only at 11:00. This employee was very rude. We had just ordered another pitcher of beer and 5 minutes later he told us they were about to close. Shocking. There were still customers coming in and he refused them.
We went back the next Friday and there was a new fellow in the kitchen who was absolutely fabulous. We thought great, we can keep coming here. The next time we came, the terrible employee was back. We went again last night and the same thing. This fellow should not have a job where he is in contact with customers. He is a right asshole. He did the same again last night, even cranked some awful rap music really loud to get customer to leave. The two girls sitting near us left as soon as this happened. I hope the owner actually realizes this prick is bad for business. We really want to keep going to Benny’s, but we cannot do so if he is still employed there. So rude, never ever friendly. He looks mad at the world when he brings our food order out. Slams it on the table. Unreal. Fire this prick so you don’t lose more customers! So sad, as it was a great place.

The food is good but customer service is terrible. I went there with a stroller and told the girl at the register that I’ll be outside cause my baby is sleeping. Her answer to that was… when your drink will be ready it’ll be here on this counter. She also didn’t tell the kitchen that I was outside so after waiting for 15 – 20 min outside I rolled in to check on my order. Yes, my drink was on the counter and after I asked about my order she said — well they should have called your name… as I mentioned I was outside and no one checked on me. She just didn’t look happy doing her job. Did not apologize for this as well.

The Bagels aren’t bad but the service has always sucked and the place has needed a Deep Clean for 10+ years-​since the fire in fact.
I’m sure Staff mean well but the house system seems crippled by management’s refusal to address it’s own mediocrity-​thus the suck factor.
Twice in the past 6 months I’ve stood in line waiting to buy Bagels, waited… waited…waited and waited until finally I had to leave-​the line hadn’t moved and Staff ran back & forth like Chickens with their heads cut off doing as little as possible and producing nothing of note.
In theory I can understand that patronising a grotty second-​rater appeals to some people but in reality I shudder @ the implications for society.

Very laid back coffee shop that has very good bagels and pretzels. A great place to work remotely or study. They also serve soups, salads and bagel sandwiches which are pretty tasty. Service is very friendly– but it’s not a formal place so don’t expect linen napkins or Starbucks — but that’s a good thing.

Nice place with great soup and bagels. Staff are polite and helpful.

Food is good, but they have the worst servers there, I have eaten there 3 times so far and still they do not have good service, they need to figure this out,

Benny’s is an institution that holds many great memories for me, most going back to the early 90s including being where the background for a photo on the back of my 90s band CD cover!
There used to be this thing called the Karma Dog,. it was brilliant, I loved it, bring it back. Now, unchanged since the 90s (and why? it has its own look, and still is very cool), the food mostly focuses around bagels, soups, coffee, and dessert items. If that is what you are after, perfect, they are all good.
On a recent visit to relive my past, I was shocked about something else. The prices have remained somewhat low. In a day and age where lunch at Quiznos or a foodcart literally racks up a $ 10 bill,. $ 7 gets you chicken filled bagel and aanother $ 2 gets you a side soup — all fresh, all good.
May this place stand forever — even if just to hang out in.

Benny’s has an inventive array of Bagels, sandwiches, and (naturally) Benny’s, the décor inside is fantastic, and the atmosphere chill. If there’s anything to complain about it’s that (some of) the staff can sometimes have a little attitude.
My personal favourite is the Spicy Sausage Bagel, which is all things delicious in a cheesy jalapeño bagel — Chorizo sausage, pickles, tomatoes, onions, and Sauerkraut. So good. They’ve also got some pretty inventive house specials which you won’t find in your average coffee shop or café.
The interior is excellent, the décor mostly wood with the feel or antiques shop meets wild west saloon — and that should be enough of a recommendation for anyone!

Barely any vegan options especially for the bagel toppings — it’s not even possible to eat a plan buttered bagel. How hard is it to keep stock of some earth balance vegan butter and have atleast one vegan muffin?

To my great displeasure I just witnessed the owner Param, yelling and swearing in an aggressive manner at a group of his staff. They were standing right at the front, and he was yelling so loudly I could hear him from across the café with my headset on! I walked straight over to him in the middle of it and told him he was offending me. I said that I never talk to my staff that way, and he said, «well I do.» I said, «okay then I’m leaving now and am never coming back.» He said, «that’s fine,» and shooed me away.
I feel very sorry for the staff there to be treated like that by their boss. That kind of behaviour is toxic and I want no part in supporting it. Disrespect in the workplace especially from a boss is unacceptable and I will never step foot back in Benny’s again.
If you think that staff should be treated with respect and kindness please comment below.

Open Mic night on a Monday. Good times, double espresso was tasty. Friendly staff. Pretty good place

Very disappointed, it had been over 7 years since the last time I ate there and had very good memories on their amazing bagels… Sadly they were average at most!!! Not nearly the excellent place for breakfast as I remembered
For sure next time in town I will try some other place

The look of this place is wonderful. I love the rustic wood and the lovely upstairs section that looks over the rest of the place. I feel like I could do a lot of homework up in there. Oh and there is a cute little patio outside too!
Service is friendly and as quick as a coffee shop can be. All of the bagels look amazing but I have yet to try one, but they do have a lot of veggie options on their menu.
Solid spot to grab a coffee/​tea whether you’re in a hurry or have the day to sip away.