As temperatures start to drop and the leaves start the change pumpkin products start to jump up in all sorts of places. I went by Einstein to try their pumpkin bagel and pumpkin cream cheese wanting to full pumpkin experience. Sadly, I got half of it as when I got home to my dismay I discovered they put regular cream cheese on my bagel ruining the whole reason for my trip! The bagel itself was airy as opposed to dense and chewy and had a good pumpkin flavor, if only it was topped with pumpkin cream cheese. Add in the fact that it took forever to toast a bagel and put the wrong cream cheese on it (even though it wasn't crowded at all), I think part of the problem is the amount of passing of responsibility that was going on behind the counter. I suppose next time I should get smear it myself.
(2)
Jordan P.
I mean, look, it's an Einstein. I come here any time I get a bagel craving and it does the trick. The bagels are consistently good, but nothing to write home about. One unique thing about Einstein is that it does have some cool flavored cream cheeses. Check out the pumpkin cream cheese. It's a personal favorite! One downside of this location is that service is pretty slow if there are more than two people in line, so if you see a line, prepare to have your patience tested.
(3)
M B.
That is a lot of debate about who has the best bagels. I grew up eating einstein bagels and I really like them. When you buy them you don't even need to toast it, because it is so soft! I do agree with some people that they are very fluffy so it is not as sustaining as other bagels. But I still love them. And get the honey almond cream cheese so yummy!
(4)
Mickey A.
I want to love this location because: - it's close to work, - it's spacious, probably one of the bigger Einstein locations I've been to, and has lots of seating (even a TV area), - it doesn't get crowded, at least not after 1 PM. The shortest line I've been in so far has had at least 3-4 people. - it has some of the nicest employees. - a medium mocha and a cookie (ahem) is cheaper than a grande mocha at Starbucks. - Soup options are ok. The turkey chili is decent enough for a quick bite to eat. But, I can only take going here maybe once or twice a week. Why? Service is slow, slow, slow as molasses. Ordering and waiting to get food and/or drink is fine. Paying is the slowest part, that I think I memorized their menus above just from waiting around. The first time I've gotten my mocha before I could even blink, the woman forgot to ring me up. She looked at me like I was crazy when I said she didn't ring me up yet. At least I'm honest about these things...I could've easily walked out with a free medium size mocha!
(3)
Ankur N.
The onion bagel was good but the everything was below average. The service was not that speedy considering it was sunday morning and breakfast time.
(3)
Brian M.
Terrible service. There's always of employees working but they are slow, incompetent and rude. I love Einstein Bagels but this location is giving it a bad name.
(1)
April K.
Heinous customer service. There are multiple people working there, but you'll be waiting in line waiting for no one to help you whether you're the only customer there and there are a few people working there or there are a dozen customers and a half a dozen people working there that you can see in the front. It's actually pretty amazing. You'd think that they'd want to serve their customers who are actually there instead of not helping anyone, but I guess not.
(1)
Kris U.
Coming from Canada, the land of the famous Montreal Bagels, I gotta say I'm a little spoiled when it comes to my round rolls of boiled dough. Was this place mind blowing and the best bagels I've ever had? No. But I had a hankering that morning for a quick, cheap, breakfast bagel and Einstein Bros delivered hot and ready. Thank you! They've got an eclectic bagel selections, many, many varieties! Ask for the everything bagel - you won't be disappointed!
(3)
Jenna S.
The food was decent and the service was good. There isn't enough room to sit though. Worth a second visit.
(3)
Jim W.
Even if I didn't like the bagels (which I do) ... The staff were amazing. Especially the cashier... She is awesome. Going to return ... I'll get her name and update... You won me over! Class act!
(5)
April A.
What in the h*ll is wrong with that staff at this location.... Omg and filthy ... And they lock door early... And are rude to customers like they're doing us a favor by taking our order !?
(1)
Blake A.
I get a free breakfast with my hotel stay, but as usual with any free breakfast, it was hella busy. So I decided to just go downstairs to Einstein bros. I've been to alot of them, but this one was quick and not that busy. Everyone was super nice...we'll kinda. I gave the first girl my order and she was young on the pos , but then asked in a whisper what I ordered. I then didn't hear her and asked her what she said, but she just stood there staring at me. So I simply just repeated my order. She did the same thing with my name. Other than that, the food was up to Einstein bros. standard and didn't disappoint like other franchised stores.
(3)
Joani O.
I hardly ever go to Einstein's even though it's super close to my office. So I was surprised when I received a coupon in my email for a free sandwich if you buy one. I went with a co-worker and got the "Slimtastic Pesto Chicken" sandwich which I have had before and liked. It was really good! It came with my choice of side, for which I chose the fruit cup. Fresh, delicious fruit! I wished that the cup was bigger. My co-worker got the albacore tuna sandwich which she likes as well. I also got a cup of the brocolli cheddar soup, which was tasty, but very, very thick. I felt like I was eating a huge glob of cheese. Finally, I got an iced coffee. Their coffee is not the best, but with a little cream and sugar it came alive. I was also asked to pick up some bagels for friends in my office and I remembered that everyone likes their bagels. Service was prompt and very friendly, and the cashier ended up informing me that she accidentally charged me for a bowl of turkey chili for some reason, so she needed to refund that back to me. She was honest and proactive about it before I noticed it on my receipt, so I didn't mind the error. Due to the coupon which enticed me to come in, the generally good food and the service, I will come again.
(4)
Vaishali B.
I love their bagels and the different flavors that they are offered in. You can customize them and create something of your own. The hosts are very friendly and accommodating. This is one of my run-to place whenever I'm craving for a quick morning bite.
(5)
Cindy G.
Meh. I love me a good bagel but this bacon egg and cheese was pathetic. The bagel itself was super starchy and stale. It was unauthentic and had no flavor. I ended up taking the egg off because it tasted like it had been microwaved to it's death. Pretty much nothing about this was good. Two stars because it's a good location and we had a working lunch for over two hours and no one bothered us.
(2)
Alina S.
Yes I love the bagels & schmear from this place, but the poor customer service at this location makes me not want to come back. EVER! I came back to get a cup of chili for lunch a second time hoping last week was just fluke. So the Turkey Chili as much as it was tasty looks like for the to-go orders they don't put in the effort. My chili had no cheese in it at all not once but twice now. And I saw with my own eyes a tray with chili for someone to eat there and there was cheese on it. Staff seems more interested to gossip and chat amongst themselves then to help customers. No Bueno.
(2)
Ann H.
I love Einsteins bagels wherever I go. A sesame bagel toasted with plain smear totally hits the spot. This is my local EB so I frequent it a lot. The reason this store doesn't completely fail is because the food is standardized. The service does leave a lot to be desired. Sometimes you wait for such a long time before someone acknowledges you want to order. I know the staff tries their best to get orders out quickly but there have been 2-3 occasions where the order is incorrect or for "here" instead of "to go." Once I used a GC to pay for my meal and the cashier said OH WOW YOU PAID FOR IT ALL WITH YOUR GCs! It actually doesn't matter what form of payment I use but they didn't need to call it out or make a big deal about it. Some customers would take offense to that. The staff could use some customer service training to improve customer satisfaction.
(3)
R.J. G.
Searching for a quick breakfast we asked our hotel concierge if there was a bagel place near by. This place was located just a couple of blocks from our hotel. Situated on a corner the glass walls look out onto busy streets. There are lots of tables inside and a small patio outside to enjoy if the weather cooperates. We had a couple of bagels, one with lox, one with and egg. The counter service offers a collection of assorted bagels and breakfast type sandwiches. The service is quick and attentive to any difficult orders. It was the perfect breakfast on a summer Saturday morning.
(4)
Kim C.
Waited over 25 minutes for a breakfast sandwich. This place is completely mismanaged. I felt bad for the people who were waiting close to 30 minutes for a simple bagel w cream cheese on the side. We were close to giving up and just leaving without our food.
(1)
Emily Z.
Most of the staff is nice and they work their butts off because they're is never enough staff there. I really think they need to rethink the management team of this location. The whole operation is super slow in the morning and about 25% of the time my order is messed up. They are in dire need of more training and better scheduling. Problem solved. But I'll still go because its convenient and delicious, even if its not what I ordered always :-)
(2)
Lori E.
Don't go here if you are in a hurry. At 11am on a Saturday, waited 30 minutes for a toasted plain bagel only to be told after 30 minutes that they ran out of plain bagels.
(1)
Cameron B.
I got the plain bagel. It was very good in my opinion. The lady put plenty of cream cheese (that's how I like it!) because a lot of places are very stingy with their cream cheese but not here! Will definitely come again... And if I happen to go to UChicago for college there's one there thankfully!
(5)
Brian S.
Just sent one of my employees there to get some bagels and they were told they were too busy to assist us, and take our money. Since they were busy my employee didn't speak to a manager, not sure what is going on but they need to be talked about about customer service or satisfaction!
(1)
Alla M.
Service is soooooo slow. It's not super busy, but the employees move so slow that it takes forever to get a simple order.
(3)
Kristina M.
Upon walking into this place I noticed it was very spacious - a good amount of sofas in the back. I came in at around 12:30, the place wasn't packed. They were out of the six cheese gourmet bagel that I had been wanting to try. Instead I ordered a spinach florentine with regular schmear - the usual. I frequent a different Einstein regularly and this is usually what I order. Compared to the other ones I've had, this spinach florentine was a bit on the dry side and warm, not hot. I'm used to the juicy oiliness (just the right amount!) of the bagel. I also ordered a cinnamon caramel latte, one of the holiday coffees. The lady I ordered from knew what it was, but the cashier seemed to not have had any clue on what it was. It's been at Einstein for a good month now. But other than that the customer service was great, they were very kind and informed me to pick up a free cookie after filling out a survey. :) Good atmosphere and nice employees. Wish they were more stocked on bagels!
(4)
Vanity F.
I come to this location every week, and I love its staff!!! Guys, you are the most friendly people ever!!! Friendly, smiley, tasty, convenient, and fast location! They even remember my name which is not an easy task!
(5)
Joel H.
How many employees does it take to get your order right?! Well, the joke is, apparently they still have not figured that out yet. I asked the person behind the register, who happened to be the assistant manager, what a good veggie bagel sandwich would be that had no cheese and NO dairy. After trying to convince me why I should keep the cheese, he recommended the "veg out," and I repeated, no cheese/dairy add brown mustard instead. Not only did I get both sides loaded with cream cheese, had no mustard, and it was the LAST of the kind of bagel I wanted left. They then had to remake it, gave me the wrong bagel I asked for, and no mustard. Horrible service, and I did not enjoy my meal. I am a big fan of Einstein, but would avoid this one for sure.
(1)
huong t.
This is my first experience at Einstein Bros so i have nothing to compare it to but my first impression is very positive so far. I wish we could get a shop in and around New Orleans. The Club Bagel was to die for and very reasonable at 6.99 you got a huge 3 piece bagel :) i think i was lucky and got in there before the lunch crowd descended. I like this place so much that i wish i could have their amazing sandwich bagels for dinner.
(4)
Jeremy M.
For the second time this week, I was one of two people in line, with six employees behind the counter. Three of which were standing in a group and chatting. The lady in front of me and I were greeted by an employee "Good Morning" and then she walked away. We stood waiting for over two minutes before the manager started over. I threw my hands up again and walked out, again. I went to Starbucks for the second time this week to get a significantly lower quality of food. Two customers and six employees at Einstein - two minute wait before you can even order, twelve customers and three employees, ordered within a minute checked out in three...hmmm that doesn't sound right? But, on my way to work, it's more about the quickness of service. It's a shame as the food at Einstein is delicious, that cannot outweigh the total lack of care the employees there display.
(1)
Paul I.
Dirty, dirty, dirty. Employees on their cell phones. The bathroom was filthy. Been to many of these places. Good bagels, hence the two stars, but these one is by far the worse I've seen. The carpet had not seen a vacuum in months. The floors needed to be swept and mopped. I went there with a friend on a Sunday at around 10 am. It was obvious no one had cleaned the dining room or the bathrooms previous to opening. You can see there is little supervision going on in this place.
(2)
Jenna K.
UPDATE: I filed a complaint on their website and I was called by the general manage of this location. She called and got all the information from the situation and was very, very sweet. She said if I mentioned her name she would take care of my order next time I arrived. Came again to get my free meal and had to explain to the employees for 10 minutes until they decided to give me my meal for free. Nightmare. Thank you Theresa for comping my meal but you really, really need better staff.
(1)
Dane f.
They have a mad max style ordering system where only the strongest and rudest can order because the employees arbitrarily man different registers discouraging lines from forming. Lucky for me I'm a complete animal in the morning and social norms can't prevent me from getting my breakfast.
(2)
Pearl J.
Positive: This branch is conveniently located. The place is spacious and clean. There are a variety of bagels and they taste pretty good. Their pumpkin latte is great. Negative: The service is very slow and unfriendly. The bagels with shmear are overpriced.
(3)
Rosa J.
Came here because I needed a quick "pick-me-up" in the afternoon. I guess I will start with the positive. The location is spacious and the seats located behind the beverage station are private enough that I felt comfortable sitting down and enjoying my coffee. However, the service could have been more friendlier. The barista could've used a little more smile. The drink, a medium chai tea latte, was average. There's wifi available from the nearby hotels. The reception is pretty strong so that's another positive. I came during the happy hours (3pm to close). With that being said, all drinks were half-off, which truly helped.
(3)
Brian M.
The bagels are good. Look on the bottom of the bagel and you will find cornmeal. This is an extra step in the baking process that many bakers will do without. With the cornmeal, the bagels don't stick to the baking pans and the bottom of the bagel is not hard / crunchy. So, the bagels are good. The restaurant is clean. However, this place is slow. Don't go in on a morning M-F if you are in a hurry. I went in at 8:15am on Monday. I ordered two bagels, one toasted, one not. Plain cream cheese on the side. Very simple, nothing fancy. 25 minutes later, I walked out with my good bagels. It seems to me that the leadership is laking a bit here. The manager seemed very frazzled and the workers seemed like they could hardly care less. They need a manager who will bust some heads and not try to do all the work... or they need a new staff.
(3)
Chris H.
Not impressed.....only three kinds of bagels...no real rush to serve people. Coffee condiments out of stock.....I would try somewhere else first. Sandwich was ok. I had the bacon egg and cheese.
(2)
Becky D.
This is a good spot to hit up if you are looking for a seat during the River North lunch rush. Never crowded. Try the egg, asparagus, mushroom bagel, or the grilled cheese with tomato, both are great on a cold day. This is one of the least expensive places to eat in the area, another bonus.
(3)
Sarah B.
I've been a loyal bagel customer of Einstein's for as long as I can remember. I used to frequent this location often as it is close to my work. It's usually not very busy around lunch and I absolutely love their bagels! I used to have great service while I have been there, but it seemed to have gone downthill and I stopped going. I have worked in cutsomer service for many years and I always make a note to be an excellent customer. I don't understand why a customer should be yelled at when they walk in, stand by the sign that says, "ORDER HERE," and be yelled at that they have to move down to the register from an employee facing the other direction and acting as if the customer was doing something outrageous. I was completely appauled and watched as this empolyee did this to every person walking in (as clearly every customer was following the signs). This isn't the only time I have felt that I have annoyed an employee by ordering. In addition, I have noticed some of the bagels I will get are burnt. Now, it's usually not the worst, but shouldn't a place that is known for bagels know how to toast a bagel without burning it? I would love if this place had better service, PLEASE! I hate to go somewhere that makes me feel like an idiot and confused when all I'm doing is ordering a bagel.
(2)
Amy H.
When I first moved to Chicago I was poor. I mean, the eating-Ramen-noodles-all-the-time type of poor. To balance out my po'-girl Ramen diet I would occasionally spring for some turkey and bagels to make myself a little sammie*. It wasn't too long before I started getting paid and was sick of the Ramen/turkey bagel diet and haven't eaten either since. Today I decided to venture out in my new office's 'hood and found Einstein Bros. Bagels. What the hell? It's been a while since I had a bagel sammich* so I went in. What I love about Einstein Bros. is that you don't have to eat your sam-sam* on a bagel. I chose the wrap with the potato salad on as my side. OMFGGGMWTF!!!!!1 That potato salad was so good! I will be back Einstein Bros. Yes indeedy! *Yes, I know it's annoying, but how many different ways of saying "sandwich" can you think of?
(4)
Sarah L.
I'm always looking for new places for lunch in the loop. I haven't had Einstein's in a long time and I was happy to find out there is one close to the office. They display all nutritional values online and I always try to make the smartest choices possible when dining out. I love that they have fruit salad as a side but it's a $1 more. It's worth the extra dollar because they give you a good mix of fruit and the serving is pretty hefty! Service is fast and friendly. There is ample seating inside and outdoors. They are doing some major construction nearby so it is LOUD and dusty. I will add Einstein's into my regular rotation!
(4)
Keith C.
Woke up still drunk on a Sunday morning. And by morning, I mean like 10 am morning after leaving the club at 5 and finally getting to bed at 6. So whenever I wake up and feel like this, the usual remedy is Jimmy Johns. However, since Jimmy Johns is not open that early, the walk around the neighborhood led me to Einsten Bros for some carbs to help absorb all the alcohol that was consumed the night before. Ended up getting a toasted jalapeno bagel. Nothing on it. As I said, I needed something to just absorb the booze. Well. The bagel was ok. Wasn't mind blowing awesome like most food is while still drunk and hungry in the morning. So I'm sure if I came back and had the same bagel when I wasn't drunk, it wouldn't be as good but I haven't had that experience yet so I can't really grade Einsten's on that yet ... yet. But the bagel hit the spot well enough that I ended up getting an everything bagel to help further absorb the alcohol. Bagel #2 wasn't mind blowing phenomenal but it did the trick. Got a side of fresh squeezed OJ as well which certainly helped re-hydrate my body. A second one prob would have helped out even more but at the time, that wasn't my main concern. I think I will need to come back here sober one time just to actually see how the bagels really are.
(3)
Nari H.
Bagel sandwiches are delicious, they have a wide variety of selections including pastries, coffee, bagelwiches, fruit, healthy options and more. There's not a lot you can't get here, and prices are pretty decent. It's in a pretty good area too. My only complaint the last time I was here was that it kind of took awhile to get the food-felt slow... waited almost 10 minutes for 3 bagel sandwiches. But other than that, I'd be back.
(4)
Dan S.
Stayed nearby for business and came here nearly every morning for a bagel fix. Really surprised by how good this was. Staff was exceedingly friendly ("can I offer you a bag for everything?" and "be sure to shake the drink") and food came promptly. Bagels were fresh and place was clean. What more could you ask for out of a chain bagel place.
(4)
Niki C.
What's the food definition of insanity? Coming to the same restaurant and expecting things to improve. I will give it to them: at least they're consistent...ly poor service. I stood at the cash register for 2 minutes as the Assistant Manager and an employee counted cash. I get that; I've been in retail and food service. You gotta fiddle with the registers from time to time. One would hope not during the lunch rush, but sometimes it happens. What you don't let happen is a customer stand there for two full minutes (two minutes is an eternity in the QSR world) without any acknowledgment. No "Hello! We're going to ring you up just as soon as we can! Sorry for the wait!" Nothing. Then, although there were 6-8 employees behind the counter, orders were coming out once at a time, in slow, slow succession. One pregnant woman said she'd been standing there for 15 minutes when they looked and realized they overlooked her order. Zoiks. I appreciate what they're trying to do, with the "low calorie" options and all, but... meh. And the ordering system ... What's with that? Here's how the line flow architecture runs: door - order taker - menu up high and ingredients in tiny print - bakery area - grab n go - register - coffee - drinks. So you have to go to the middle to read the menu (if you *can* read the menu), double back to order, pay somewhere else, get your drink, then double back again to pick up your order. Meanwhile, this area to do this is super crowded because a) everyone else is doing the same and b) there isn't any room to move. I was thinking, as I walked here today, that at least I could sit and dine al fresca, but they either no longer offer that option or haven't put out the tables and chairs yet. Insanity. Won't be here again. This time, for good.
(2)
Rachel G.
I work in the area and was tried of the same old, same old for lunch. My co-worker mentioned Einstein's and I thought, why not give it a try. Wow, I was surprised how clean it was and how friendly the staff was. As soon as I walked in I got a friendly Hello and the lady who took my order was very nice. I went at prime lunch time and it was not that busy and got my order right away. They are a little on the more expensive side ($9 for a panini and small cup of soup) so I won't be coming here every week. But it is a nice change to have something different. The sandwich was good...not great...but next time I will probably stick with a safe bagel sandwich. The soup (or rather the Turkey Chili) was tasty. They also have a breakfast menu that looks yummy. I will have to remember to stop here for a quick breakfast one morning. I will def be back here. It's on a corner but the signs are not flashy so you might pass it up! I know I did...I have passed that building many times but never paid attention. Thanks to my co-worker for pointing them out! Give them a try for lunch :-)
(4)
Baroness D.
I came here yesterday to use a coupon I had for 25% off my purchase, and I wanted something cold, so I ordered a smoothie-like beverage with strawberries and cream. Soooo delicious, it was! The order taker was nice and friendly and prepared my drink in the way that it should be prepared and in the way I ordered it. What I like! I wish I could've stayed here not only because it was a monsoon outside (btw, I love walking in the rain, mist preferably), but also because of the ambience of this place. Felt so inviting and peaceful. Something else that I really like. Will I come back here anytime soon? Oh you bet! I have to.
(4)
R K.
This place is horrendous. The customer service is awful -- they are rude and on top of that, they get your order wrong half the time. I work in the area and plan on switching my daily routine to Starbucks to avoid the horrible customer service. They know nothing about running a business and it shows.
(1)
Molly L.
This location serves all the standard Einstein fare, but at a snail's pace. It's close to my office, so I come here fairly regularly, but it always takes forever.
(2)
Jonathan C.
This place is clean. Prices are avg for downtown. But the following really encapsulates the experience here. Overheard on a Sunday morning: Customer - "What's this, an order number? You guys don't use our names anymore?" Worker - "No we don't get that personal anymore. People would come in here everyday and act like they knew us or something." Wow, thats awesome customer service. Plus a friend of mine ordered a plain bagel, untoasted, no spread, just plain... and it took 15 minutes for him to get it. This was due to the confusion between order taker, order fulfiller, and pay clerk. He had to order on one side of the store, wait for his number to be called so he could pay, and then wait again before he got his plain bagel. He could have just been handed the bagle then walked over and paid.
(2)
Maryll W.
Caution! Do not order salads "to-go" here if the manager is assisting with food prep. He will cheat you every time! Today's delicacy was Chipotle Salad--missing the cheese, missing the corn salsa, missing the tortilla chips, but including lots of dead blackened lettuce. He can't serve that kind of stuff if you're eating in, you'd take it back to the counter and toss it in his face. However, working a block away, every so often I take a chance, and although many of the other workers will forget an item once in a while, when the manager is working, it's a sure thing. This would be a much better location if they upgraded the help.
(1)
Kate B.
Ahh... I new place for lunch or breakfast with in a close radius to work. I enjoy Einsteins generally - its clear they are still trying to work out their freshly opened kinks, but they are doing a good job so far, and everyone was friendly. They have these new electronic devices to take your order from anywhere in the store, when you get to the register all you have to do is give your name. Easy. There are not many options for a good bagel in the area, Einsteins is a clear winner. In fact the asiago bagel with jalepeno cream cheese and a diet coke is a guaranteed hangover killer. As for their coffee, Im usually a starbucks gal, I like it bitter and hot, like my relationships... but Einsteins brings a tasty combo to the table that I can not refuse.
(4)
Anna P.
I often stop in here on my way to work for a bagel and coffee - their bagels are excellent, I love that they have pre-made iced coffee, and the service is really friendly. However, for some reason this location is pretty slow in the mornings and I sometimes end up frustrated with waiting. I think this might be partially the big tourist contingent.
(4)
Jami K.
On my first trip to Chicago I was rather taken by the idea of Einstein Bros Bagels. I like bagels and at the time I was dating a guy who's middle name was Einstein. I think I even took a picture of the location in Lakeview. When this Einstein opened up right by my office I was pretty happy and even a little nostalgic. I feel like my happy Einstein bubble has been burst. Sure, they haven't been open long, but they really need a lot of work. The layout of the store really just seems wrong. You have to wait in line where you can't see the menu very well, then order your bagel from one person, then go down the line and pay somewhere else. Then you need to go and wait for your food as far away from the food prep as possible. Then the employee calls out your name and you have to walk back another way to get it cause they won't walk to the end. So, anyway, I've got my food and I'm ready to eat, but they don't have any forks? I have a salad here, how am I supposed to eat it without a fork? i managed to do a kind of chop-stick spoon and knife combo, but it sure wasn't easy! Seriously, how do you not have forks? How do you not apologize profusely or go buy more forks or something? That was kind of lame. As for price? not all that great. I didn't feel gouged, but I could have gone to a much better place and paid the same amount. I hope you improve Einstein cause I know that when it gets cold I'll appreciate your proximity a lot more.
(3)
Anastasia K.
I'm going to agree with the other reviewers here - the food is DELISH but the service is just not that great. (The fact that I keep coming back should tell you how GOOD the food is.) I come here in the mornings to buy 3 bagels for my work clique. Always the same 3 bagels, and the same woman (the assistant manager no less!) who sees me 3 days a week can hardly ever remember me or my order. Sometimes they take my name, sometimes they don't. 2 of the bagels I buy have butter and jelly on them. Recently the bagel preppers have taken to just buttering the bagels and putting jelly pots in the bag. NO!!!! I want you to butter and jelly the bagels! That's what you're charging me 60 extra cents for, isn't it???? Other days I have to worry about getting a cinnamon sugar bagel ---- I always say Cinnamon SUGAR bagel and that's what's printed on the receipt, but half the time they give me a cinnamon raisin. BLECH! One ray of sunshine is the cashier - she's super friendly and knows what she's doing. I really can't say the same for the Asst Mgr who after at least 3 months of working the order station in the mornings still doesn't know the full menu or how to use the order machine quickly. On the few mornings the manager managers are there, they stand on the line and help out - nice to see and they are always accurate - guess they just need to do better training. I really want to give 2.5 stars. I can't justify 3 because the service is just toooo inconsistent. P.S. Lots of the construction guys from the area come in here as well as the firemen and captains, so ladies who like rough and tumble men --- here's an odd hangout, but you never know who you may lock eyes with.
(2)
Daniel P.
This place is ok for a bagel chain. The weird thing is they sell a sandwich that they dig out the middle of the roll for. Who wants to eat just the crust?
(2)
Eric C.
Ugh. Patronizing this place never fails to get my blood boiling. The food is good but the service is terrible. First, as I'm generally a nice guy, I'll start with the GOOD: I'll be upfront -- I like the food here. Einstein's provides a decent breakfast or lunch option. They have a wide variety of bagels and cream cheeses. I've had a number of different combinations and they all have been good. The various breakfast bagel-based breakfast sandwiches are also quite good. Additionally, much to my surprise, the bagel dogs were pretty darn good. Now, I realize this isn't the greatest food on Earth. However, in River North, the options are quite limited when it comes to bagels. Thus, the food here is a welcome addition to the previously lacking neighborhood. Now, I will move on to the BAD: What I like about this place stops at the food and goes absolutely no further. I'm not one to get all worked up with regard to lackluster service at a restaurant. I typically won't let slightly incompetent service put me in a bad mood. However, in my experience, the service here has been terrible/incompetent/slow/confused on such an egregious level that I can't help but get ticked off. The layout of the store is goofy. You put your order in at one end, walk to the other end to pay, and then walk back to near where your ordered to pick up your food. When its busy, this results in mass confusion and people aimlessly milling about. The food regularly takes way too long. I don't see any legitimate reason why a toasted bagel with cream cheese should routinely take 10-15 minutes. The employees appear to be in a constant state of confusion and come off as if they just do not care. My simple orders have been botched more times than they have been correct. One morning I tried to use a coupon and the employee was trying to tell me that I couldn't use it because she couldn't figure out how to get the register to accept it and apply it to my order. I urged her to get someone else over to the register that knew how to input coupons and instead of doing so she gave me a heavy dose of attitude and told me not to be so "impatient." It pains me to even give this place 2 stars in light of the very bad service I have received here. But, in my strained attempt to be as fair as possible, I will openly acknowledge that I do enjoy the food and still give this place business despite my crappy experiences. That said, the second another viable bagel option (Panera ... are you looking for a new location?!) pops up in River North I vow to swear off this Einstein's location for good.
(2)
Brad C.
I dislike Einstein Bros Bagels every time I go to any location. The service is bad and the food is never that good, why should this one be any different. I walked in around 8:45 and stood in line for about 5 minutes behind two people before anyone started taking orders. While the three of us were waiting, the line was getting longer and in those 5 minutes before anyone started taking orders the line was almost out the door. Once I was finally able to order I got a toasted powerhouse bagel with veggie cream cheese. The powerhouse bagel is a fruit and nut bagel. They then give you a number and you go to the area to pay. It didn't take too long for the bagel to come out. I decided to just eat the bagel while walking to work, didn't want it to get cold. So when I opened the bag I did not find a bagel... it was the powerhouse, it had fruit and nuts in it. But it looked more like the two ends of a loaf of bread. It wasn't round and it didn't have a whole in the middle. The "bagel" was fine - nothing great, I was more pissed that it wasn't a bagel. I went to Einstein Bros expecting bad things and that's what I got, thanks Einstein Bros.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Stephen S.
As temperatures start to drop and the leaves start the change pumpkin products start to jump up in all sorts of places. I went by Einstein to try their pumpkin bagel and pumpkin cream cheese wanting to full pumpkin experience. Sadly, I got half of it as when I got home to my dismay I discovered they put regular cream cheese on my bagel ruining the whole reason for my trip! The bagel itself was airy as opposed to dense and chewy and had a good pumpkin flavor, if only it was topped with pumpkin cream cheese. Add in the fact that it took forever to toast a bagel and put the wrong cream cheese on it (even though it wasn't crowded at all), I think part of the problem is the amount of passing of responsibility that was going on behind the counter. I suppose next time I should get smear it myself.
(2)Jordan P.
I mean, look, it's an Einstein. I come here any time I get a bagel craving and it does the trick. The bagels are consistently good, but nothing to write home about. One unique thing about Einstein is that it does have some cool flavored cream cheeses. Check out the pumpkin cream cheese. It's a personal favorite! One downside of this location is that service is pretty slow if there are more than two people in line, so if you see a line, prepare to have your patience tested.
(3)M B.
That is a lot of debate about who has the best bagels. I grew up eating einstein bagels and I really like them. When you buy them you don't even need to toast it, because it is so soft! I do agree with some people that they are very fluffy so it is not as sustaining as other bagels. But I still love them. And get the honey almond cream cheese so yummy!
(4)Mickey A.
I want to love this location because: - it's close to work, - it's spacious, probably one of the bigger Einstein locations I've been to, and has lots of seating (even a TV area), - it doesn't get crowded, at least not after 1 PM. The shortest line I've been in so far has had at least 3-4 people. - it has some of the nicest employees. - a medium mocha and a cookie (ahem) is cheaper than a grande mocha at Starbucks. - Soup options are ok. The turkey chili is decent enough for a quick bite to eat. But, I can only take going here maybe once or twice a week. Why? Service is slow, slow, slow as molasses. Ordering and waiting to get food and/or drink is fine. Paying is the slowest part, that I think I memorized their menus above just from waiting around. The first time I've gotten my mocha before I could even blink, the woman forgot to ring me up. She looked at me like I was crazy when I said she didn't ring me up yet. At least I'm honest about these things...I could've easily walked out with a free medium size mocha!
(3)Ankur N.
The onion bagel was good but the everything was below average. The service was not that speedy considering it was sunday morning and breakfast time.
(3)Brian M.
Terrible service. There's always of employees working but they are slow, incompetent and rude. I love Einstein Bagels but this location is giving it a bad name.
(1)April K.
Heinous customer service. There are multiple people working there, but you'll be waiting in line waiting for no one to help you whether you're the only customer there and there are a few people working there or there are a dozen customers and a half a dozen people working there that you can see in the front. It's actually pretty amazing. You'd think that they'd want to serve their customers who are actually there instead of not helping anyone, but I guess not.
(1)Kris U.
Coming from Canada, the land of the famous Montreal Bagels, I gotta say I'm a little spoiled when it comes to my round rolls of boiled dough. Was this place mind blowing and the best bagels I've ever had? No. But I had a hankering that morning for a quick, cheap, breakfast bagel and Einstein Bros delivered hot and ready. Thank you! They've got an eclectic bagel selections, many, many varieties! Ask for the everything bagel - you won't be disappointed!
(3)Jenna S.
The food was decent and the service was good. There isn't enough room to sit though. Worth a second visit.
(3)Jim W.
Even if I didn't like the bagels (which I do) ... The staff were amazing. Especially the cashier... She is awesome. Going to return ... I'll get her name and update... You won me over! Class act!
(5)April A.
What in the h*ll is wrong with that staff at this location.... Omg and filthy ... And they lock door early... And are rude to customers like they're doing us a favor by taking our order !?
(1)Blake A.
I get a free breakfast with my hotel stay, but as usual with any free breakfast, it was hella busy. So I decided to just go downstairs to Einstein bros. I've been to alot of them, but this one was quick and not that busy. Everyone was super nice...we'll kinda. I gave the first girl my order and she was young on the pos , but then asked in a whisper what I ordered. I then didn't hear her and asked her what she said, but she just stood there staring at me. So I simply just repeated my order. She did the same thing with my name. Other than that, the food was up to Einstein bros. standard and didn't disappoint like other franchised stores.
(3)Joani O.
I hardly ever go to Einstein's even though it's super close to my office. So I was surprised when I received a coupon in my email for a free sandwich if you buy one. I went with a co-worker and got the "Slimtastic Pesto Chicken" sandwich which I have had before and liked. It was really good! It came with my choice of side, for which I chose the fruit cup. Fresh, delicious fruit! I wished that the cup was bigger. My co-worker got the albacore tuna sandwich which she likes as well. I also got a cup of the brocolli cheddar soup, which was tasty, but very, very thick. I felt like I was eating a huge glob of cheese. Finally, I got an iced coffee. Their coffee is not the best, but with a little cream and sugar it came alive. I was also asked to pick up some bagels for friends in my office and I remembered that everyone likes their bagels. Service was prompt and very friendly, and the cashier ended up informing me that she accidentally charged me for a bowl of turkey chili for some reason, so she needed to refund that back to me. She was honest and proactive about it before I noticed it on my receipt, so I didn't mind the error. Due to the coupon which enticed me to come in, the generally good food and the service, I will come again.
(4)Vaishali B.
I love their bagels and the different flavors that they are offered in. You can customize them and create something of your own. The hosts are very friendly and accommodating. This is one of my run-to place whenever I'm craving for a quick morning bite.
(5)Cindy G.
Meh. I love me a good bagel but this bacon egg and cheese was pathetic. The bagel itself was super starchy and stale. It was unauthentic and had no flavor. I ended up taking the egg off because it tasted like it had been microwaved to it's death. Pretty much nothing about this was good. Two stars because it's a good location and we had a working lunch for over two hours and no one bothered us.
(2)Alina S.
Yes I love the bagels & schmear from this place, but the poor customer service at this location makes me not want to come back. EVER! I came back to get a cup of chili for lunch a second time hoping last week was just fluke. So the Turkey Chili as much as it was tasty looks like for the to-go orders they don't put in the effort. My chili had no cheese in it at all not once but twice now. And I saw with my own eyes a tray with chili for someone to eat there and there was cheese on it. Staff seems more interested to gossip and chat amongst themselves then to help customers. No Bueno.
(2)Ann H.
I love Einsteins bagels wherever I go. A sesame bagel toasted with plain smear totally hits the spot. This is my local EB so I frequent it a lot. The reason this store doesn't completely fail is because the food is standardized. The service does leave a lot to be desired. Sometimes you wait for such a long time before someone acknowledges you want to order. I know the staff tries their best to get orders out quickly but there have been 2-3 occasions where the order is incorrect or for "here" instead of "to go." Once I used a GC to pay for my meal and the cashier said OH WOW YOU PAID FOR IT ALL WITH YOUR GCs! It actually doesn't matter what form of payment I use but they didn't need to call it out or make a big deal about it. Some customers would take offense to that. The staff could use some customer service training to improve customer satisfaction.
(3)R.J. G.
Searching for a quick breakfast we asked our hotel concierge if there was a bagel place near by. This place was located just a couple of blocks from our hotel. Situated on a corner the glass walls look out onto busy streets. There are lots of tables inside and a small patio outside to enjoy if the weather cooperates. We had a couple of bagels, one with lox, one with and egg. The counter service offers a collection of assorted bagels and breakfast type sandwiches. The service is quick and attentive to any difficult orders. It was the perfect breakfast on a summer Saturday morning.
(4)Kim C.
Waited over 25 minutes for a breakfast sandwich. This place is completely mismanaged. I felt bad for the people who were waiting close to 30 minutes for a simple bagel w cream cheese on the side. We were close to giving up and just leaving without our food.
(1)Emily Z.
Most of the staff is nice and they work their butts off because they're is never enough staff there. I really think they need to rethink the management team of this location. The whole operation is super slow in the morning and about 25% of the time my order is messed up. They are in dire need of more training and better scheduling. Problem solved. But I'll still go because its convenient and delicious, even if its not what I ordered always :-)
(2)Lori E.
Don't go here if you are in a hurry. At 11am on a Saturday, waited 30 minutes for a toasted plain bagel only to be told after 30 minutes that they ran out of plain bagels.
(1)Cameron B.
I got the plain bagel. It was very good in my opinion. The lady put plenty of cream cheese (that's how I like it!) because a lot of places are very stingy with their cream cheese but not here! Will definitely come again... And if I happen to go to UChicago for college there's one there thankfully!
(5)Brian S.
Just sent one of my employees there to get some bagels and they were told they were too busy to assist us, and take our money. Since they were busy my employee didn't speak to a manager, not sure what is going on but they need to be talked about about customer service or satisfaction!
(1)Alla M.
Service is soooooo slow. It's not super busy, but the employees move so slow that it takes forever to get a simple order.
(3)Kristina M.
Upon walking into this place I noticed it was very spacious - a good amount of sofas in the back. I came in at around 12:30, the place wasn't packed. They were out of the six cheese gourmet bagel that I had been wanting to try. Instead I ordered a spinach florentine with regular schmear - the usual. I frequent a different Einstein regularly and this is usually what I order. Compared to the other ones I've had, this spinach florentine was a bit on the dry side and warm, not hot. I'm used to the juicy oiliness (just the right amount!) of the bagel. I also ordered a cinnamon caramel latte, one of the holiday coffees. The lady I ordered from knew what it was, but the cashier seemed to not have had any clue on what it was. It's been at Einstein for a good month now. But other than that the customer service was great, they were very kind and informed me to pick up a free cookie after filling out a survey. :) Good atmosphere and nice employees. Wish they were more stocked on bagels!
(4)Vanity F.
I come to this location every week, and I love its staff!!! Guys, you are the most friendly people ever!!! Friendly, smiley, tasty, convenient, and fast location! They even remember my name which is not an easy task!
(5)Joel H.
How many employees does it take to get your order right?! Well, the joke is, apparently they still have not figured that out yet. I asked the person behind the register, who happened to be the assistant manager, what a good veggie bagel sandwich would be that had no cheese and NO dairy. After trying to convince me why I should keep the cheese, he recommended the "veg out," and I repeated, no cheese/dairy add brown mustard instead. Not only did I get both sides loaded with cream cheese, had no mustard, and it was the LAST of the kind of bagel I wanted left. They then had to remake it, gave me the wrong bagel I asked for, and no mustard. Horrible service, and I did not enjoy my meal. I am a big fan of Einstein, but would avoid this one for sure.
(1)huong t.
This is my first experience at Einstein Bros so i have nothing to compare it to but my first impression is very positive so far. I wish we could get a shop in and around New Orleans. The Club Bagel was to die for and very reasonable at 6.99 you got a huge 3 piece bagel :) i think i was lucky and got in there before the lunch crowd descended. I like this place so much that i wish i could have their amazing sandwich bagels for dinner.
(4)Jeremy M.
For the second time this week, I was one of two people in line, with six employees behind the counter. Three of which were standing in a group and chatting. The lady in front of me and I were greeted by an employee "Good Morning" and then she walked away. We stood waiting for over two minutes before the manager started over. I threw my hands up again and walked out, again. I went to Starbucks for the second time this week to get a significantly lower quality of food. Two customers and six employees at Einstein - two minute wait before you can even order, twelve customers and three employees, ordered within a minute checked out in three...hmmm that doesn't sound right? But, on my way to work, it's more about the quickness of service. It's a shame as the food at Einstein is delicious, that cannot outweigh the total lack of care the employees there display.
(1)Paul I.
Dirty, dirty, dirty. Employees on their cell phones. The bathroom was filthy. Been to many of these places. Good bagels, hence the two stars, but these one is by far the worse I've seen. The carpet had not seen a vacuum in months. The floors needed to be swept and mopped. I went there with a friend on a Sunday at around 10 am. It was obvious no one had cleaned the dining room or the bathrooms previous to opening. You can see there is little supervision going on in this place.
(2)Jenna K.
UPDATE: I filed a complaint on their website and I was called by the general manage of this location. She called and got all the information from the situation and was very, very sweet. She said if I mentioned her name she would take care of my order next time I arrived. Came again to get my free meal and had to explain to the employees for 10 minutes until they decided to give me my meal for free. Nightmare. Thank you Theresa for comping my meal but you really, really need better staff.
(1)Dane f.
They have a mad max style ordering system where only the strongest and rudest can order because the employees arbitrarily man different registers discouraging lines from forming. Lucky for me I'm a complete animal in the morning and social norms can't prevent me from getting my breakfast.
(2)Pearl J.
Positive: This branch is conveniently located. The place is spacious and clean. There are a variety of bagels and they taste pretty good. Their pumpkin latte is great. Negative: The service is very slow and unfriendly. The bagels with shmear are overpriced.
(3)Rosa J.
Came here because I needed a quick "pick-me-up" in the afternoon. I guess I will start with the positive. The location is spacious and the seats located behind the beverage station are private enough that I felt comfortable sitting down and enjoying my coffee. However, the service could have been more friendlier. The barista could've used a little more smile. The drink, a medium chai tea latte, was average. There's wifi available from the nearby hotels. The reception is pretty strong so that's another positive. I came during the happy hours (3pm to close). With that being said, all drinks were half-off, which truly helped.
(3)Brian M.
The bagels are good. Look on the bottom of the bagel and you will find cornmeal. This is an extra step in the baking process that many bakers will do without. With the cornmeal, the bagels don't stick to the baking pans and the bottom of the bagel is not hard / crunchy. So, the bagels are good. The restaurant is clean. However, this place is slow. Don't go in on a morning M-F if you are in a hurry. I went in at 8:15am on Monday. I ordered two bagels, one toasted, one not. Plain cream cheese on the side. Very simple, nothing fancy. 25 minutes later, I walked out with my good bagels. It seems to me that the leadership is laking a bit here. The manager seemed very frazzled and the workers seemed like they could hardly care less. They need a manager who will bust some heads and not try to do all the work... or they need a new staff.
(3)Chris H.
Not impressed.....only three kinds of bagels...no real rush to serve people. Coffee condiments out of stock.....I would try somewhere else first. Sandwich was ok. I had the bacon egg and cheese.
(2)Becky D.
This is a good spot to hit up if you are looking for a seat during the River North lunch rush. Never crowded. Try the egg, asparagus, mushroom bagel, or the grilled cheese with tomato, both are great on a cold day. This is one of the least expensive places to eat in the area, another bonus.
(3)Sarah B.
I've been a loyal bagel customer of Einstein's for as long as I can remember. I used to frequent this location often as it is close to my work. It's usually not very busy around lunch and I absolutely love their bagels! I used to have great service while I have been there, but it seemed to have gone downthill and I stopped going. I have worked in cutsomer service for many years and I always make a note to be an excellent customer. I don't understand why a customer should be yelled at when they walk in, stand by the sign that says, "ORDER HERE," and be yelled at that they have to move down to the register from an employee facing the other direction and acting as if the customer was doing something outrageous. I was completely appauled and watched as this empolyee did this to every person walking in (as clearly every customer was following the signs). This isn't the only time I have felt that I have annoyed an employee by ordering. In addition, I have noticed some of the bagels I will get are burnt. Now, it's usually not the worst, but shouldn't a place that is known for bagels know how to toast a bagel without burning it? I would love if this place had better service, PLEASE! I hate to go somewhere that makes me feel like an idiot and confused when all I'm doing is ordering a bagel.
(2)Amy H.
When I first moved to Chicago I was poor. I mean, the eating-Ramen-noodles-all-the-time type of poor. To balance out my po'-girl Ramen diet I would occasionally spring for some turkey and bagels to make myself a little sammie*. It wasn't too long before I started getting paid and was sick of the Ramen/turkey bagel diet and haven't eaten either since. Today I decided to venture out in my new office's 'hood and found Einstein Bros. Bagels. What the hell? It's been a while since I had a bagel sammich* so I went in. What I love about Einstein Bros. is that you don't have to eat your sam-sam* on a bagel. I chose the wrap with the potato salad on as my side. OMFGGGMWTF!!!!!1 That potato salad was so good! I will be back Einstein Bros. Yes indeedy! *Yes, I know it's annoying, but how many different ways of saying "sandwich" can you think of?
(4)Sarah L.
I'm always looking for new places for lunch in the loop. I haven't had Einstein's in a long time and I was happy to find out there is one close to the office. They display all nutritional values online and I always try to make the smartest choices possible when dining out. I love that they have fruit salad as a side but it's a $1 more. It's worth the extra dollar because they give you a good mix of fruit and the serving is pretty hefty! Service is fast and friendly. There is ample seating inside and outdoors. They are doing some major construction nearby so it is LOUD and dusty. I will add Einstein's into my regular rotation!
(4)Keith C.
Woke up still drunk on a Sunday morning. And by morning, I mean like 10 am morning after leaving the club at 5 and finally getting to bed at 6. So whenever I wake up and feel like this, the usual remedy is Jimmy Johns. However, since Jimmy Johns is not open that early, the walk around the neighborhood led me to Einsten Bros for some carbs to help absorb all the alcohol that was consumed the night before. Ended up getting a toasted jalapeno bagel. Nothing on it. As I said, I needed something to just absorb the booze. Well. The bagel was ok. Wasn't mind blowing awesome like most food is while still drunk and hungry in the morning. So I'm sure if I came back and had the same bagel when I wasn't drunk, it wouldn't be as good but I haven't had that experience yet so I can't really grade Einsten's on that yet ... yet. But the bagel hit the spot well enough that I ended up getting an everything bagel to help further absorb the alcohol. Bagel #2 wasn't mind blowing phenomenal but it did the trick. Got a side of fresh squeezed OJ as well which certainly helped re-hydrate my body. A second one prob would have helped out even more but at the time, that wasn't my main concern. I think I will need to come back here sober one time just to actually see how the bagels really are.
(3)Nari H.
Bagel sandwiches are delicious, they have a wide variety of selections including pastries, coffee, bagelwiches, fruit, healthy options and more. There's not a lot you can't get here, and prices are pretty decent. It's in a pretty good area too. My only complaint the last time I was here was that it kind of took awhile to get the food-felt slow... waited almost 10 minutes for 3 bagel sandwiches. But other than that, I'd be back.
(4)Dan S.
Stayed nearby for business and came here nearly every morning for a bagel fix. Really surprised by how good this was. Staff was exceedingly friendly ("can I offer you a bag for everything?" and "be sure to shake the drink") and food came promptly. Bagels were fresh and place was clean. What more could you ask for out of a chain bagel place.
(4)Niki C.
What's the food definition of insanity? Coming to the same restaurant and expecting things to improve. I will give it to them: at least they're consistent...ly poor service. I stood at the cash register for 2 minutes as the Assistant Manager and an employee counted cash. I get that; I've been in retail and food service. You gotta fiddle with the registers from time to time. One would hope not during the lunch rush, but sometimes it happens. What you don't let happen is a customer stand there for two full minutes (two minutes is an eternity in the QSR world) without any acknowledgment. No "Hello! We're going to ring you up just as soon as we can! Sorry for the wait!" Nothing. Then, although there were 6-8 employees behind the counter, orders were coming out once at a time, in slow, slow succession. One pregnant woman said she'd been standing there for 15 minutes when they looked and realized they overlooked her order. Zoiks. I appreciate what they're trying to do, with the "low calorie" options and all, but... meh. And the ordering system ... What's with that? Here's how the line flow architecture runs: door - order taker - menu up high and ingredients in tiny print - bakery area - grab n go - register - coffee - drinks. So you have to go to the middle to read the menu (if you *can* read the menu), double back to order, pay somewhere else, get your drink, then double back again to pick up your order. Meanwhile, this area to do this is super crowded because a) everyone else is doing the same and b) there isn't any room to move. I was thinking, as I walked here today, that at least I could sit and dine al fresca, but they either no longer offer that option or haven't put out the tables and chairs yet. Insanity. Won't be here again. This time, for good.
(2)Rachel G.
I work in the area and was tried of the same old, same old for lunch. My co-worker mentioned Einstein's and I thought, why not give it a try. Wow, I was surprised how clean it was and how friendly the staff was. As soon as I walked in I got a friendly Hello and the lady who took my order was very nice. I went at prime lunch time and it was not that busy and got my order right away. They are a little on the more expensive side ($9 for a panini and small cup of soup) so I won't be coming here every week. But it is a nice change to have something different. The sandwich was good...not great...but next time I will probably stick with a safe bagel sandwich. The soup (or rather the Turkey Chili) was tasty. They also have a breakfast menu that looks yummy. I will have to remember to stop here for a quick breakfast one morning. I will def be back here. It's on a corner but the signs are not flashy so you might pass it up! I know I did...I have passed that building many times but never paid attention. Thanks to my co-worker for pointing them out! Give them a try for lunch :-)
(4)Baroness D.
I came here yesterday to use a coupon I had for 25% off my purchase, and I wanted something cold, so I ordered a smoothie-like beverage with strawberries and cream. Soooo delicious, it was! The order taker was nice and friendly and prepared my drink in the way that it should be prepared and in the way I ordered it. What I like! I wish I could've stayed here not only because it was a monsoon outside (btw, I love walking in the rain, mist preferably), but also because of the ambience of this place. Felt so inviting and peaceful. Something else that I really like. Will I come back here anytime soon? Oh you bet! I have to.
(4)R K.
This place is horrendous. The customer service is awful -- they are rude and on top of that, they get your order wrong half the time. I work in the area and plan on switching my daily routine to Starbucks to avoid the horrible customer service. They know nothing about running a business and it shows.
(1)Molly L.
This location serves all the standard Einstein fare, but at a snail's pace. It's close to my office, so I come here fairly regularly, but it always takes forever.
(2)Jonathan C.
This place is clean. Prices are avg for downtown. But the following really encapsulates the experience here. Overheard on a Sunday morning: Customer - "What's this, an order number? You guys don't use our names anymore?" Worker - "No we don't get that personal anymore. People would come in here everyday and act like they knew us or something." Wow, thats awesome customer service. Plus a friend of mine ordered a plain bagel, untoasted, no spread, just plain... and it took 15 minutes for him to get it. This was due to the confusion between order taker, order fulfiller, and pay clerk. He had to order on one side of the store, wait for his number to be called so he could pay, and then wait again before he got his plain bagel. He could have just been handed the bagle then walked over and paid.
(2)Maryll W.
Caution! Do not order salads "to-go" here if the manager is assisting with food prep. He will cheat you every time! Today's delicacy was Chipotle Salad--missing the cheese, missing the corn salsa, missing the tortilla chips, but including lots of dead blackened lettuce. He can't serve that kind of stuff if you're eating in, you'd take it back to the counter and toss it in his face. However, working a block away, every so often I take a chance, and although many of the other workers will forget an item once in a while, when the manager is working, it's a sure thing. This would be a much better location if they upgraded the help.
(1)Kate B.
Ahh... I new place for lunch or breakfast with in a close radius to work. I enjoy Einsteins generally - its clear they are still trying to work out their freshly opened kinks, but they are doing a good job so far, and everyone was friendly. They have these new electronic devices to take your order from anywhere in the store, when you get to the register all you have to do is give your name. Easy. There are not many options for a good bagel in the area, Einsteins is a clear winner. In fact the asiago bagel with jalepeno cream cheese and a diet coke is a guaranteed hangover killer. As for their coffee, Im usually a starbucks gal, I like it bitter and hot, like my relationships... but Einsteins brings a tasty combo to the table that I can not refuse.
(4)Anna P.
I often stop in here on my way to work for a bagel and coffee - their bagels are excellent, I love that they have pre-made iced coffee, and the service is really friendly. However, for some reason this location is pretty slow in the mornings and I sometimes end up frustrated with waiting. I think this might be partially the big tourist contingent.
(4)Jami K.
On my first trip to Chicago I was rather taken by the idea of Einstein Bros Bagels. I like bagels and at the time I was dating a guy who's middle name was Einstein. I think I even took a picture of the location in Lakeview. When this Einstein opened up right by my office I was pretty happy and even a little nostalgic. I feel like my happy Einstein bubble has been burst. Sure, they haven't been open long, but they really need a lot of work. The layout of the store really just seems wrong. You have to wait in line where you can't see the menu very well, then order your bagel from one person, then go down the line and pay somewhere else. Then you need to go and wait for your food as far away from the food prep as possible. Then the employee calls out your name and you have to walk back another way to get it cause they won't walk to the end. So, anyway, I've got my food and I'm ready to eat, but they don't have any forks? I have a salad here, how am I supposed to eat it without a fork? i managed to do a kind of chop-stick spoon and knife combo, but it sure wasn't easy! Seriously, how do you not have forks? How do you not apologize profusely or go buy more forks or something? That was kind of lame. As for price? not all that great. I didn't feel gouged, but I could have gone to a much better place and paid the same amount. I hope you improve Einstein cause I know that when it gets cold I'll appreciate your proximity a lot more.
(3)Anastasia K.
I'm going to agree with the other reviewers here - the food is DELISH but the service is just not that great. (The fact that I keep coming back should tell you how GOOD the food is.) I come here in the mornings to buy 3 bagels for my work clique. Always the same 3 bagels, and the same woman (the assistant manager no less!) who sees me 3 days a week can hardly ever remember me or my order. Sometimes they take my name, sometimes they don't. 2 of the bagels I buy have butter and jelly on them. Recently the bagel preppers have taken to just buttering the bagels and putting jelly pots in the bag. NO!!!! I want you to butter and jelly the bagels! That's what you're charging me 60 extra cents for, isn't it???? Other days I have to worry about getting a cinnamon sugar bagel ---- I always say Cinnamon SUGAR bagel and that's what's printed on the receipt, but half the time they give me a cinnamon raisin. BLECH! One ray of sunshine is the cashier - she's super friendly and knows what she's doing. I really can't say the same for the Asst Mgr who after at least 3 months of working the order station in the mornings still doesn't know the full menu or how to use the order machine quickly. On the few mornings the manager managers are there, they stand on the line and help out - nice to see and they are always accurate - guess they just need to do better training. I really want to give 2.5 stars. I can't justify 3 because the service is just toooo inconsistent. P.S. Lots of the construction guys from the area come in here as well as the firemen and captains, so ladies who like rough and tumble men --- here's an odd hangout, but you never know who you may lock eyes with.
(2)Daniel P.
This place is ok for a bagel chain. The weird thing is they sell a sandwich that they dig out the middle of the roll for. Who wants to eat just the crust?
(2)Eric C.
Ugh. Patronizing this place never fails to get my blood boiling. The food is good but the service is terrible. First, as I'm generally a nice guy, I'll start with the GOOD: I'll be upfront -- I like the food here. Einstein's provides a decent breakfast or lunch option. They have a wide variety of bagels and cream cheeses. I've had a number of different combinations and they all have been good. The various breakfast bagel-based breakfast sandwiches are also quite good. Additionally, much to my surprise, the bagel dogs were pretty darn good. Now, I realize this isn't the greatest food on Earth. However, in River North, the options are quite limited when it comes to bagels. Thus, the food here is a welcome addition to the previously lacking neighborhood. Now, I will move on to the BAD: What I like about this place stops at the food and goes absolutely no further. I'm not one to get all worked up with regard to lackluster service at a restaurant. I typically won't let slightly incompetent service put me in a bad mood. However, in my experience, the service here has been terrible/incompetent/slow/confused on such an egregious level that I can't help but get ticked off. The layout of the store is goofy. You put your order in at one end, walk to the other end to pay, and then walk back to near where your ordered to pick up your food. When its busy, this results in mass confusion and people aimlessly milling about. The food regularly takes way too long. I don't see any legitimate reason why a toasted bagel with cream cheese should routinely take 10-15 minutes. The employees appear to be in a constant state of confusion and come off as if they just do not care. My simple orders have been botched more times than they have been correct. One morning I tried to use a coupon and the employee was trying to tell me that I couldn't use it because she couldn't figure out how to get the register to accept it and apply it to my order. I urged her to get someone else over to the register that knew how to input coupons and instead of doing so she gave me a heavy dose of attitude and told me not to be so "impatient." It pains me to even give this place 2 stars in light of the very bad service I have received here. But, in my strained attempt to be as fair as possible, I will openly acknowledge that I do enjoy the food and still give this place business despite my crappy experiences. That said, the second another viable bagel option (Panera ... are you looking for a new location?!) pops up in River North I vow to swear off this Einstein's location for good.
(2)Brad C.
I dislike Einstein Bros Bagels every time I go to any location. The service is bad and the food is never that good, why should this one be any different. I walked in around 8:45 and stood in line for about 5 minutes behind two people before anyone started taking orders. While the three of us were waiting, the line was getting longer and in those 5 minutes before anyone started taking orders the line was almost out the door. Once I was finally able to order I got a toasted powerhouse bagel with veggie cream cheese. The powerhouse bagel is a fruit and nut bagel. They then give you a number and you go to the area to pay. It didn't take too long for the bagel to come out. I decided to just eat the bagel while walking to work, didn't want it to get cold. So when I opened the bag I did not find a bagel... it was the powerhouse, it had fruit and nuts in it. But it looked more like the two ends of a loaf of bread. It wasn't round and it didn't have a whole in the middle. The "bagel" was fine - nothing great, I was more pissed that it wasn't a bagel. I went to Einstein Bros expecting bad things and that's what I got, thanks Einstein Bros.
(2)