Brooklyn Boy Bagels unveils its new cafe and bagel bar in Surry Hills on Friday, May 19.

There’s more than bricks and mortar to get excited about, as BBB has also collaborated with chefs to pimp up its bagels.

Each month, BBB owner Michael Shafran will bring in a different chef to create a signature special.

“We’ll start with a French dip bagel from Leonard Grunbaum at Lenny Briskets,” he says.

“Rare roast beef dipped in broth with horseradish cream and fried eschalots.”

Second on the menu will be a lamb birria bagel from Chico’s Mexican Bar and Grill in Kirribilli, available from mid-June, which Shafran describes as “beyond good”.

A Jalapeno bagel is fried, loaded with cheese and luscious lamb, and served with a savoury dipping sauce.

Over coming months Bar Copains’ Morgan McGlone, Soul Dining’s Daero Lee, Adam Wolfers (ex-Gerard’s Bistro, Brisbane) and Michael Rantissi (Kepos Street Kitchen) will also turn their hands to innovative bagel schmears.

The snug new site at 74 Reservoir Street has just eight indoor seats (plus another 12 outside) and is designed by Varvara Sellies from Sisu Interiors. Shafran has installed a red neon sign and some of fanciest tiling you’ll see in a cafe and bagel bar. It’s in a food-lovers’ part of Surry Hills, with Single Origin on the strip and Firedoor around the corner.

Brooklyn Boy Bagels, which are available at Harris Farm, has chalked up 10 years making what are widely considered among the best bagels in Sydney.

The New York-raised Shafran says that mainly comes down to the corners many bakers cut.

“The fermentation, not boiling, using cheaper products,” Shafran says while pointing out a new flour he’s switched to despite it being more expensive.

Aside from bagels, he’s also putting a rotating soup line-up on the menu. “Matzo ball soup will definitely be one of them,” he says.

The coffee comes from Barrel One Coffee Roasters, and he’s tossing around a few novel beverage ideas.

“My team mentioned a Boston cream coffee to channel a Boston cream pie [but I’m] still working on that one,” he says.

“I’m all for it, but coming from New York, I’d have to put an asterisk with ‘F--- Boston’ on the menu, in honour of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.”

Open Mon-Fri 7am-3pm; Sat 8am-3pm.

Shop 1, 74 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills, brooklynboy.com.au