Benjamin’s Bakery & Cafe, located at 810 3rd Ave S in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, is a cornerstone of the local breakfast scene. Known primarily for bringing authentic New York-style bagels to the South Carolina coast, this establishment functions as both a cozy retail cafe and a high-volume wholesale bakery. They are open daily from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, providing a wide array of baked goods, specialty sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee.

The Foundation of the Menu: Authentic New York-Style Bagels

The core of the Benjamin’s experience is the bagel. These are not the soft, bread-like rounds often found in grocery stores. Instead, they follow the traditional method of being boiled before they are baked. This process creates a distinct, shiny, and slightly chewy crust that protects a dense, flavorful interior.

Savory Bagel Varieties

For those who prefer a savory start to their morning, the selection is extensive. Each variety offers a different textural and flavor profile:

  • Everything Bagel: The gold standard for many, topped with a heavy coating of garlic, onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and salt. It provides a complex crunch that pairs exceptionally well with plain or vegetable cream cheese.
  • Asiago Bagel: A fan favorite featuring a layer of melted Asiago cheese baked directly onto the crust. The cheese becomes slightly toasted and nutty in the oven.
  • Jalapeno Cheddar Bagel: This option offers a mild kick of heat balanced by the sharpness of cheddar cheese. It is a popular base for egg and sausage sandwiches.
  • Garlic and Onion Bagels: These are intensely aromatic, featuring dried bits of garlic or onion that caramelize during the baking process.
  • Sesame and Poppy Seed Bagels: Classic choices that add a delicate nuttiness and a subtle "pop" in texture with every bite.
  • Salt Bagel: A simple but bold choice, perfect for those who want the salt to contrast with a rich, fatty spread like lox or thick cream cheese.

Sweet and Grain-Based Options

If you have a sweeter palate or are looking for something heartier, the menu includes:

  • Cinnamon Raisin: A timeless classic with a sweet aroma and juicy raisins scattered throughout the dough.
  • Cinnamon Sugar: This bagel features a crunchy, sweet coating that caramelizes beautifully when toasted.
  • Blueberry: Bursting with fruit flavor, this bagel is best served with a simple smear of butter or honey-walnut cream cheese.
  • French Toast: Infused with the warm flavors of maple and cinnamon, mimicking the experience of the classic breakfast dish in bagel form.
  • Sunflower Nine-Grain and Whole Wheat: These provide a more substantial, earthy flavor with added texture from the seeds and grains, appealing to those seeking a more fiber-rich option.

The Bialy: A Unique Alternative

One of the standout features of Benjamin’s menu is the inclusion of the Bialy. Often described as a cross between a bagel and an English muffin, the bialy is traditional to Polish-Jewish cuisine. Unlike a bagel, it is not boiled before baking, and it lacks a hole in the middle. Instead, it has a central depression that is usually filled with diced onions or poppy seeds. At Benjamin’s, the bialy offers a lighter, fluffier alternative to the dense bagel, with a slightly matte, floury crust.

House-Made Schmears and Toppings

A bagel is only as good as what goes on it. Benjamin’s provides an array of house-made cream cheese spreads (schmears) available in 8-ounce containers for takeout or applied directly to your toasted bagel.

  • Plain Cream Cheese: The essential creamy base.
  • Vegetable Cream Cheese: Loaded with crunchy bits of fresh carrots, bell peppers, and scallions.
  • Honey Raisin Walnut: A sweet, textured spread that complements the Cinnamon Raisin or French Toast bagels perfectly.
  • Garlic and Pesto: A savory, herb-forward spread that adds a gourmet touch to an Everything or Plain bagel.
  • Jalapeno Cheddar Spread: For those who want the heat of the pepper integrated directly into the creaminess of the cheese.
  • Onion and Chive: A classic savory pairing that enhances the aromatics of onion or garlic bagels.

Signature Breakfast Sandwiches

The breakfast sandwich menu at Benjamin’s is designed for customization, though their "Signature" builds are what keep locals returning. Most sandwiches are served on your choice of a bagel, bialy, baguette, wrap, or croissant.

The Heavy Hitters

  • Austin’s Choice: This is perhaps the most famous sandwich on the menu. it consists of a fried egg, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, and savory sausage. The defining characteristic is the house-made jalapeño roasted red pepper mayo, served on a toasted Everything bagel. The combination of the sweet peppers, the heat from the mayo, and the salty crust of the bagel creates a balanced flavor profile.
  • Lotsa Lox: A traditional New York offering, this sandwich features high-quality smoked salmon (lox), a generous layer of cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, red onions, and briny capers. It is typically served open-faced on a toasted bagel of your choice.
  • Bialy Belly Buster: Designed for the hungry traveler, this sandwich uses the bialy as a base. It includes eggs, your choice of meat (bacon, sausage, ham, or turkey), cheese, and an additional layer of cream cheese. For those needing more protein, the "double meat, egg, and cheese" upgrade is a common request.
  • The Pork Roll: A nod to New Jersey breakfast traditions, this features the classic salty, tangy pork roll (Taylor ham), a fried egg, and melted American cheese on a soft, toasted hard roll.
  • Ben’s Burrito: For those who prefer a wrap, this includes eggs, choice of meat, cheese, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms. It is served with a side of salsa and the signature roasted red pepper mayo.

Lighter Breakfast Options

  • Ultimate Avocado: This is served on Benjamin’s unique house-baked avocado bread (bread infused with avocado). Two slices are toasted and topped with a fresh avocado spread, sliced tomatoes, a balsamic glaze drizzle, and a sprinkle of "everything" bagel seasoning.
  • Surfside Beach Sandwich: A cleaner protein option featuring egg, sliced turkey, provolone cheese, fresh avocado, tomato, and spinach. It is served on a crusty baguette with basil pesto mayo, offering a brighter, more herbal flavor.
  • Omelets and Bowls: For those avoiding bread, the cafe offers "Build Your Own" omelets and breakfast bowls that incorporate many of the same high-quality meats and vegetables found in the sandwiches.

Lunch Specials and Gourmet Sandwiches

Starting in the late morning, the menu shifts to include a variety of cold and hot lunch options. Each lunch sandwich is typically served with bagel chips and a choice of a side, such as potato salad, pasta salad, fresh fruit, or spicy hummus.

Specialty Poultry and Meat Sandwiches

  • Cran-er-rific: A festive-inspired sandwich featuring sliced turkey, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh spinach, and tomato. What makes it unique is the sweet and tangy cranberry spread, served on cranberry multigrain bread.
  • Poplar Drive: Similar to the Surfside Beach breakfast sandwich, this lunch version features turkey, provolone, spinach, tomato, bacon, and onion on a grilled baguette with basil pesto mayo.
  • The Turkey Club: A classic triple-decker build on toasted sourdough bread with turkey, lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, and mayo.
  • French Dip: Thinly shaved sirloin beef and melted provolone cheese on a crusty baguette, served with a side of savory au jus for dipping.
  • Ricky Bobby: A steak-and-egg style sandwich with shaved sirloin, egg, provolone, and caramelized onions on a plain bagel with steak aioli.
  • The Italian: A hearty hoagie roll filled with ham, salami, pepperoni, and provolone. It’s finished with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a choice of oil and vinegar or Italian dressing.

Unique Vegetarian and Deli Choices

  • Veggie Hummus: This focuses on Benjamin’s homemade spicy hummus. It is served on pesto focaccia bread with spinach, tomato, grilled onions, and mushrooms. It is a robust vegetarian option that doesn't compromise on flavor.
  • Fantastic Focaccia: While it contains meat, the bread is the star here. It features ham, bacon, and pepper jack cheese with roasted red peppers, sautéed onions, and spinach on a house-made pesto focaccia.
  • Chicken or Tuna Salad: Prepared in-house daily, these salads can be served as a plate or a sandwich. The recommended bread for these is the olive rosemary bread, which adds a Mediterranean flare to the meal.

The Bakery: Beyond the Bagel

Because Benjamin’s is a full-scale bakery, the dessert and pastry case is a significant draw. They are famous for their "Dossants," a croissant-donut hybrid that features the flaky layers of a croissant with the deep-fried indulgence of a glazed donut.

Pastry Highlights

  • Apple Fritters and Bear Claws: Large, shareable pastries filled with fruit or almond paste and topped with icing.
  • Cinnamon Rolls and Sticky Buns: These are heavy, gooey, and perfect for pairing with a dark roast coffee.
  • Black & White Cookies: A New York staple with half-chocolate and half-vanilla icing on a soft, cake-like cookie.
  • Muffins and Danishes: Available in various fruit and cheese flavors, baked fresh every morning.
  • Whoopie Pies and Paczki: Regional favorites that offer a nostalgic, sweet treat.

Artisan Breads

For those who want to take a piece of the bakery home, Benjamin’s sells full loaves of their artisan breads, including:

  • French Baguettes
  • Italian Loaves
  • Olive Rosemary Bread
  • Cranberry Multigrain
  • Pesto Focaccia
  • Brioche Lobster Rolls (often used by local restaurants)

House-Roasted Coffee and Specialty Beverages

Benjamin’s takes their coffee as seriously as their baking. They roast their beans in-house in small batches to ensure maximum freshness.

The Coffee Menu

  • Hot Drip Coffee: Available in Light, Medium, and Dark roasts, as well as Decaf.
  • Cold Brew: Patiently steeped for smoothness and a higher caffeine content, served over ice.
  • Espresso Drinks: A full range of lattes, cappuccinos, americanos, and macchiatos are available. The "Carmella" is a popular house specialty featuring caramel and vanilla notes.
  • Frappes and Smoothies: For a colder, dessert-like drink, the frappes come in flavors like Mocha, Oreo, and Chai. Smoothies are made with real fruit purees like Strawberry Banana and Blueberry Pomegranate.

Daily Deals

  • Benjamin’s Best: A budget-friendly local favorite that includes a bagel with cream cheese and a cup of fresh brewed coffee.
  • The Rise & Shine: A step up from the Best, including an egg, meat, and cheese sandwich with a cup of coffee.

The Local Experience: Atmosphere and Service

Visiting Benjamin’s Bakery & Cafe is a quintessential Surfside Beach experience. The interior is often bustling, with the aroma of toasted garlic and roasting coffee beans filling the air.

  • Seating: There is a mix of indoor dining tables and an outdoor street-side patio. The patio is a popular spot for locals to gather with their dogs (the bakery even sells homemade dog biscuits).
  • Ordering: During peak hours (8:00 AM to 11:00 AM), the line can move quickly, but it is helpful to have your order ready. Online ordering is available via their website for those who want to skip the wait and pick up their bagels to go.
  • Wholesale Impact: It is worth noting that Benjamin’s supplies bread and bagels to over 100 restaurants in the Grand Strand area. If you’ve had a great sandwich at a local bistro in Myrtle Beach, there is a high chance the bread came from this 3rd Avenue South kitchen.

Summary of Menu Pricing (Estimated)

While prices are subject to change based on ingredient costs, the general pricing structure at Benjamin’s remains accessible:

  • Single Bagel: ~$1.45
  • Baker’s Dozen (13): ~$13.95
  • Breakfast Sandwiches: Range from $6.95 to $12.95 (Lotsa Lox being the premium option).
  • Lunch Sandwiches: Most fall between $9.95 and $12.95, including sides.
  • Coffee: A large drip coffee is approximately $3.25.

Conclusion

Benjamin’s Bakery & Cafe manages to strike a rare balance between a high-volume production bakery and a charming, community-focused cafe. Whether you are looking for a simple salt bagel with plain schmear, a complex sandwich like Austin’s Choice, or a specialized pastry like the Dossant, the menu offers a level of variety and quality that is difficult to match in the region. Their commitment to traditional baking methods and in-house roasting makes them a must-visit destination for anyone in the Surfside Beach or Myrtle Beach area.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the best-selling items at Benjamin’s Bagels?

The most popular items are the Everything Bagel, the Austin’s Choice breakfast sandwich, and the Dossants (croissant-donut hybrids). The "Lotsa Lox" is also a top choice for those seeking a traditional New York experience.

Does Benjamin’s Bakery offer gluten-free options?

While Benjamin’s is a traditional flour-based bakery, they occasionally offer specific items, but the risk of cross-contamination is high due to the volume of flour used in the facility. It is best to check the "Daily Specials" for any gluten-conscious alternatives.

Can I buy bagels in bulk for a group?

Yes. You can purchase bagels by the half-dozen or the Baker’s Dozen (13). If you need more than two dozen, it is recommended to provide 24 hours' notice as this is considered a catering order.

Is there outdoor seating available?

Yes, Benjamin’s has street-side patio tables that are dog-friendly and offer a great atmosphere for dining in Surfside Beach.

What makes a "Bialy" different from a bagel?

A bialy is not boiled before baking, has no hole, and features a depression in the center usually filled with onions. It is lighter and airier than a traditional bagel.

Where is Benjamin’s Bagels located?

They are located at 810 3rd Ave S, Surfside Beach, SC 29575. This is just a short distance from the beach, making it a perfect stop for a pre-beach breakfast.