Best Kosher deli belongs to Once Upon A Bagel! I've been coming here for years and everything is great here! I decided to take my husband here today because he had never been to this deli. We came in during lunch hour, and ordering was fast and efficient. Both my husband and I ordered a hot corned beef sandwich on a garlic bagel with mustard. We shared a side order of their Cajun curly fries. The corned beef was served warm as we asked with not a lot of fat on it. I'm not fan of fatty corned beef. The bagel was soft and fresh with the perfect amount of garlic along with the perfect amount of mustard. The pickle of course tasted crisp and awesome. I was impressed with their Cajun fries they weren't spicy and tasted hot and fresh. Being a first timer, my husband was thoroughly impressed. We are looking forward to dining here again and also want to try their Northbrook location.
(5)
Spencer H.
The North Shore is filled with restaurants but not too many home town deli's. Sure you have your Einstein Bros. Bagels & a few other large chain options like Starbucks but this is the place to go if you want a fresh deli where the food doesn't feel like it came out of a box that was shipped USPS. I have been a big fan of the Lox N Bagels sandwich for a while but lately my regular places have been letting me down, then I found this gem. I ordered a Lox N Bagel & the awesomeness ensued. The bagel was nice & fresh & most importantly the salmon was fresh. The workers & staff here were very friendly & quick to complete my order. The place was also very clean & had a decent amount of seating. Another positive about this place is that they can deliver bagel platters to businesses in the area. This is very useful if your office is looking for a quick breakfast snack. This restaurant has a plethora of different bagel & cream cheese flavors & none of them have let me down yet. Overall the workers & the service is very good. The restaurant is clean & most importantly the food is delicious. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
E K.
First of all the the menu has more items than I've ever seen in a restaurant. Decor is a little worn on the edges, but hey, who's complaining - it's a deli. Good bagels (all the varieties that you could ever want - thick, thin, long) with more shmears than you could ever imagine. Can't think of anything that they don't serve - even huevos rancheros. Oy!!
(4)
Tricia D.
This once upon a bagel story ends unhappily ever after. The bustling, chaotic environment of this diner-y deli transported us to a New York-style feel, though the food didn't live up to anything like a Katz's or Russ and Daughter's. When you first enter, it's extremely confusing and unorganized because you're not sure where the line starts and whether to grab a number (the black numbers at the door are for customers who want take out/pick up). If you intend to dine in, like us, then there's a line that starts further down, where you'll place your order, pay, and receive a number for the table. Plenty of seating in the back (some tables and chairs stickier than others), which you would never guess from initial look. I opted for the Nova lox plate, and the lox was better than it looked ("that's a weird compliment", my husband said), but I was expecting more from the Asiago bagel. It was supposed to be toasted, but kind of just tasted like soggy bread. Side of corned beef hash had less corned beef and more green peppers than expected, and husband, who usually doesn't discriminate very strongly with any food that is cooked and on a plate in front of him, said the steak wasn't the best cut of meat. Skip the decaf coffee (can't vouch for the regular coffee): it tastes like plain ol' hot water. This goes down as one rare occasion when I strongly disagree with the Yelp average.
(2)
Amanda D.
I just tried this place for the first time yesterday and lets just say i was back today to get more bagels! I ahve never had such soft delicious bagels in my life! i can not wait until i try all there other items as well. if you have not been here and or ordered anything from them you have to go here and make sure you pick up a ton of bagels so worth it !!! soooo good!
(5)
Matt A.
I eat here about once a week. Food is consistently good and service is even better. My only gripe is that it is about 25% more than other breakfast places but I guess it is highland park.
(4)
Ferron S.
I try to reserve 5-stars for something truly great in it's space and Once upon a Bagel fits this description. Their bagels are amazing and so is their cream cheese. I was in Chicago for a few days and went there 4 times I think. But the true test for me was the realization that when I returned to Houston and tried to find a good bagel shop, Einstein Bagels is what kept coming up. Why are their bagels so good? Super fresh on day 1 and they are good for a while after. I ended up liking the skinny bagels the most. you can drop them in the toaster whole and when they come out they are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The other item I really liked was the pretzel bagel ball. with some mustard heated up they are o good. If you are ever in search of a bagel, go here. I wonder if they ship.....
(5)
Gina B.
Worst soup I have ever had. I am sure it was from a can. Carrots and chicken were small cubes. Very disappointed.
(1)
Angela S.
Just when I was convinced this place could do no wrong...especially when it comes to the chicken soup. As usual, the soup I got to go was amazing and always the same delicious recipe. But when did it cost $1.50 to take the matzo balls out of the container to put into another container so you could have a little more broth? Just a little more. I've never experienced that from other delis, and I also don't recall it happening at the Winnetka location, but maybe I didn't pay attention. Does an extra scoop of broth really cost $1.50? No, I'm not talking all the chicken and vegetable goodness, but broth. Is it the styrofoam container that costs $1.50? If that's the case, it's time for a new supplier. Is it the labor to stick the spoon in the broth and lift and ladle cost $1.50? Not sure. Perhaps I'm making a rant out of nothing, but these guys see me in here all the time. Our family eats here a lot. I meet up for meetings over chicken soup on a regular basis here and in Winnetka. I remember a time when the service was so beyond amazing. Times are a changin' at the Bagel. For someone who spends $100's a month at this place, and it's the same server that serves you on a regular basis, and you ask to put the matzo balls on the side, you should just do it. I don't care what your policy is. It stinks and it's just ridiculous. One quart = $8. But if you can't finish it you're left with piles of goodness with no broth. Then what do you do?
(3)
Lisa H.
I can't say enough good things about this place, but admittedly I may be a little biased. I worked right next to Once Upon a Bagel for about a year and a half, and I would come to Once frequently for breakfast and lunch. Their bagels and cream cheese are fantastic, and they have particularly good chicken and wild rice soup. This place is totally affordable for a budget and you get great quality food for the price. Another thing I loved was the salami sandwich - they would PACK it with meat so it was nice and fat. I really miss Once Upon a Bagel and am now debating taking a road trip up to Highland Park to get it.
(5)
Patrick A.
Had an hour to kill in Highland Park, so I stopped into this place near the Metra Station. It very much has a New York Deli kind of atmosphere (if with New York prices to match), and while the Toasted Asiago Bagel with Chive Cream Cheese I got is any indication, if it doesn't quite reach the heights of NYC bagel, it's a pretty good west-of-the-Mississippi substitute. Selections looks wide and interesting. If I'm in the area, will probably stop by again.
(4)
L H.
I'm obsessed with everything on this menu, and I feel like home. Gotta love the "Skinny" Bagels!! yum! :-)
(5)
Greg M.
After a poor experience (see previous review), I was put off visiting Once Upon A Bagel for some time. As time went on, I decided to chalk it up to a one time issue and give them another chance. I've had dozens of enjoyable visits since then with no more quality issues. Great bagels. A huge menu - soups, sandwiches, salads, all of it quite good. It's always crowded in the mornings, but for takeout orders, the place runs like a well oiled machine. Take a number and do everyone else a favor by being ready with your order when your number is called.
(4)
Christina M.
This place reminds me of my most favorite bagel deli on this planet, Ess-A-Bagel in NYC. OUAB is a cute little neighborhood bagel shop filled with great neighborhood inhabitants during the weekend. My bf and I loved eating here on a Sunday along with the "regulars", it was such a nice relaxing experience. The bagels and hash browns were super good, though I will say the bagels weren't 100% like my NYC faves, though still good nonetheless.
(4)
John D.
Great service and food always fresh. The bagels are grwta. Staff is friendly. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Tayler O.
I really enjoying coming here for breakfast. They have the freshest bagels and offer delicious hot breakfast options as well. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because if your in a hurry and looking to carry out it takes a bit, but it is a popular place that has high demand. However, it's worth the wait! Highly recommend this to anyone in the area or just passing through.
(4)
Mickey F.
Best Jewish deli in the area. Actually best bagels anywhere in the country. I know people from New York might disagree but this authentic deli has great breakfast, delicious cream cheese, lox, kugel, chicken and tune salads and great smoked fish. I have always come here and if you want a quick bit just grab a number and order up. There are always nice servers waiting to take your order. Try my bagel sandwich creation, any bagel u want, toasted with chive cream cheese, nova lox, bacon (not kosher but niether am I), tomato, cucumber. Always side of chocolate donut made fresh there.
(5)
Alyssa K.
After a pretty taxing megareformer class (seriously my muscles were shaking), we visited Once Upon a Bagel to refuel. I feel like you could just walk by this place without even noticing it, but you would so be missing out. They have a good sized breakfast menu. I ordered an omelette and it also comes with a bagel so I chose the pretzel bagel. Both were delicious and the bacon in my omelette was really good. The pretzel bagel was amazing and I wish I had gotten another one to go. The place was pretty busy on a Saturday morning but they have plenty of seating in the back. And check out the mural on the back wall.
(4)
Albert L.
Great bagels as noted in other posts! There is also a wide selection of delicious cream cheese. Love stopping in on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Highly recommended.
(5)
Sofia L.
Best bagels!! Best egg white salad!!! Amazing pretzels!!!!! Superb corn beef and pastrami!!! Haven't had a bad meal.....EVER!!!!!!!!!!! Truly a gem of the north shore -- I come here all the way from the city -- because no one can beat them -- I highly recommend and can't wait til next time!!
(5)
Connor B.
I frequently get bagels from Once Upon a Bagel (At least once every couple weeks), and I have yet to find a better bagel place near my house. Location & Ambiance: Good location, and the ambiance is ok. Very quick get in, and get out feel. Not a place I would want to hang out and do homework at, but definitely a good place to grab a dozen bagels to go from. Coffee: I thought I would toss this in, because bagels and coffee pair together nicely. With this in mind, they have drip coffee that tastes good. Nothing crazy impressive, but good overall. Food: They mean business! When you walk in you need to know what you want. They move quick, and have a big menu so read quick and make your choices. As I said, I go frequently for bagels. They have very good bagels, and quality spreads as well (white fish, tuna, salmon... ect.) Staff: The staff... they are like a well oiled machine. Its not a friendly feel, but it does get the job done. I cant complain, I always get what I want and it tastes good but this does separate a 4 star review from a 5 star review. Overall, if your looking to great a tasty bagel its a good choice and worth trying out.
(4)
Katie K.
What an excellent bagel shop. They are hard to come by in IL. This one is great, the bagels taste fresh and delicious. They also offer a wide variety of menu options and you can dine in. The service is fast and it is very cheap!
(5)
Terry B.
Great Bagels, Matzo Balls, and Bagel Dogs. Sandwiches, not too great, but that's not why folks go there. Somewhat pricey for salads and other entrees. Soups are good. Highly patronized place.
(3)
Frank N.
If you go anywhere for bagels, then this should always be your first choice! Everything from the fresh bagels, to the bialys, to the vast assortment of cream cheeses will leave you at a loss as to whats best to order. While I only came here to pick up bagels and cream cheese, there is an awesome sit down area for breakfast and lunch with an unbelievable menu! Take your pick of a dozen salads, wraps, smoked salmons and...well i could go on and on. The freshness is second to none, the service is impeccable, the choices are endless. If you visit Highland Park and don't attempt to find this place, you will regret it!
(5)
Kelly M.
What a hidden gem! I stopped by here for brunch and was overwhelmed by the choices and the amount of people there. This shop offers bagels, bialys, skinny bagels, balls (like bagel munchkins), pretzels, buns, breadsticks ... plus breakfast and lunch. The breakfast menu is expansive and reasonable, offering omelets, eggs, pancakes, French toast and breakfast sandwiches. I opted for a garden egg white omelet with an onion bagel and coffee. The beverages dine-in are self service, and luckily, there's a separate line for dine in versus carry out because the place was hustling on a Saturday morning. The omelet was fantastic, the bagel was just OK and the coffee was lovely. The dine-in atmosphere, however, is chaotic. There were people pushing past our table the entire time, and kids literally running circles around the dining room. I wanted to order a few nibbles for later, but the carry out line was so massive I decided to pass. The place is delicious, but not somewhere you'd want to hold a conversation with your dining companion.
(3)
Jody B.
When I am ordering for a crowd to take home, this is the only place I will go for lox, bagels, deli, etc. In fact, when our son and DlL were having a brunch two states away, they asked us to bring the lox and bagels from OUAB! They have great quality food. REAL bagels, good lean corned beef, and lox which can't be beat (nova, please!). I also love their egg salad, salmon salad, and whitefish salad. My dad always got their tuna salad. :-) Basically, they are all fresh and well made. My tips to other yelpers would be as follows: 1. Go at an off time, if possible. We picked up Friday morning after Thanksgiving. It was a breeze. 2. Order ahead for your pick up. You can always add to your order... but if you order ahead, you go to the "pick up" line. 3. If you haven't ordered ahead, take a number as soon as you walk in. 4. If you are going to "eat in", the line is past the deli... and don't be shy, ask people if they are waiting to eat in. If they are waiting for deli, keep walking past them.
(4)
Jan B.
The food as good and the service efficient but is it really necessary to charge $2 more for eggs after 10 a.m.? I ordered the scrambled eggs with bacon and it was $12.50 ( including a gluten free bagel which was an extra $1)
(3)
Hilly B.
the guys up front are the best! Scottish lox is worth it and veg cream cheese !
(4)
Tabitha H.
Very wide range of mouth-watering bagels. I tried the pretzel bagel with chive onion cream cheese. Absolutely delicious. Only 4 stars because they rushed us and were bagging up bagels to prepare for closing, even a bagel we were about to order. A couple of the employees were eating bagels as they bagged them with their bare hands. Not an appealing sight.
(4)
Katie R.
This place is nuts. I've never been and not felt rushed - so, mentally prepare before you get there - and keep in mind they have bagels, bialys, different cream cheeses, and all the goodies from the deli as well... Oh, and don't forget to take a number. Your to-go is up front, and eat-in is in the back. I suggest to-go, as my one time eating in was mediocre. The bagels & cream cheeses themselves are fabulous, and I was accidentally given tuna salad once instead of cream cheese, which was a very welcome accident.
(4)
Penelope S.
A GEM!!!!!!! Don't let the name fool you....it's more than just bagels. I had 5 giftie dollars so i decided to go for a bagel and coffee. This place is amazing. They have a whole breakfast menu and sandwiches galore. I decided to get an omelette with cheese, sausage and mushrooms. OMG!!! Heaven on a plate and you get a bagel also with a meal. I'm a sucker for just plain with veggie cream cheese. It's a cozy place...not too big not too small. I went after the morning rush so I enjoyed reading my paper and having coffee afterwards. I would imagine this place crazy in the mornings and on the weekends so I avoid the big crowds. 5 stars from me!!!
(5)
Bridget E.
When you don't have time to fly from O'Hare to LaGuardia, take the lesser of two time-sucking evils and wait "on line" for the next-best-thing-to-NYC at Once Upon A Bagel. There's a line for a reason--the fresh bagels and bialies are made on premises and are so tasty. Sure, there's a crowd, it's a madhouse, but at least there's no TSA involved. If you want your bagels to go, go to the front counter. If you are dining there, you go to the counter near the grill. Don't worry if you are a newbie. No one knows what's going on but somehow it all works out. You will have to wait with the horde from Highland Park central casting--senior citizens with caretakers, the stay-at-home-moms with kids and nannies in tow, the beauties in short-shorts coming from the gym, workers from local offices, teens dripping with tons of brand names--everyone loves this food! Budget tip: If you are dining there, take my advice and order chicken soup with the kreplach. A kreplach is a delicious meat dumpling. Theirs is one massive, bowl-sized kreplach stuffed with some sort of meat, perhaps chicken liver? Don't think about it, just order it and enjoy. If you are really hungry, go for chicken soup with kreplach and noodles. Your bowl will be filled to the rim with tasty morsels. The soup comes with your choice of bread--this means bagel or bialy time and it's included for under $5. I get a toasted garlic bagel and I'm transported to New York with the first bite. For another couple bucks, order a self-serve soft drink with refills--there are several Crystal Light options for the no-pop-people. Once Upon A Bagel (or OUAB as they call it--took me a minute to get that) makes me miss New York. And for a deli in this case, that's a good thing.
(4)
Erika A.
First time here. Very friendly service. Skinny onion bagel w chive cream cheese, tomatoe cucumber and red onions... bon apetite!
(5)
Charles B.
It never fails., OUAB is spot on with their sandwiches and bagels. Even when packed, as it was today, the service is swift and courteous. This is a well run operation with great food and an unpretentious ambience if you happen to dine in the restaurant. The food keeps me and hundreds, maybe thousands, faithfully returning for more.
(5)
Allison M.
I love Once Upon a Bagel, and come here every time I'm home. They have a huge range of items, from bagels to bialys to omelettes to soups to burgers to salads. It's a classic Jewish deli, which I craved every day I was going to college in Virginia. I love their low-fat tuna salad, but more than anything I could eat any one of their kugels every single day. They'll heat it up if you ask, which you should! Their omelettes are great, too, and come with a free bagel which you can have wrapped up if you don't want to it eat it right then. It does serve kind of an older crowd, but it's the very definition of a Highland Park institution and I love coming here!
(5)
Chelsea W.
Excellent Jewish deli! I would eat just about anything from here! Everything is fresh, the meet is amazing, and the service is always so fast! I get overwhelmed every time I'm in because I want everything and its fast moving in the small order space, but it adds to the experience. Hint: I always add one of their chocolate doughnut to my order... the best!
(5)
Elaine M.
This is my regular lunch place. Although the clientele demographic is heavy on the geriatric side the place feels cozy and comfortable - like home. DINE-IN I am here more than once a week and have tried many different menu options. The best bet with the greatest value is to get the soup of the day. A bowl of soup comes with your choice of bagel or bailey. My favorite is the vegetable soup, usually offered on Fridays. Another favorite, if you are in the mood for a breakfast type item, is the Greek omelet. All the sandwiches are good but a bit pricey. TAKE-OUT There is no better place in the area for your take-out deli needs. Best lox, whitefish salad and bagels in the north shore by a mile. My son loves the chicken salad and I would say it is okay but I am still seeking the perfect one. Finally this is a great place to pick up some chicken soup for a sick friend. I have done this often and it is always appreciated.
(4)
Michael Z.
Once Upon A Bagel is one of the few food highlights in the North Shore. I have been a customer for years. I eat there, order take away, and on numerous occasions have ordered and had delivered party trays. The food is always good and the soups are outstanding. When I have early meetings in the morning I enjoy meeting with my clients here for a great morning meal. I really like the vibe and get to run in to many people I know and have not seen for a long time. Don't tell everyone. but at 4pm the Bagels Are On Sale!
(5)
Melissa F.
I'm a Jew who isn't the biggest fan of traditional Jewish deli food, but if you get it, you should get it here! There are so many options, too, so I don't have to eat rye if I don't want to! The omeletes are delicious and have tons of ingredients you can choose (chorizo or turkey sausage? onions? CILANTRO???). People also have raved about their deli meat sandwiches - I can attest to the quality of their pastrami and roast beef, thinly sliced but super flavorful. I don't love fish, but I'm trying to get more into it, health, blah blah. Anyway, the chipotle tuna salad is outstanding, and tuna fish is never my first choice. I love it here. The sheer variety of bagels and bialys - as well as the yummy strawberry cream cheese - fully underscores how there really is something for everyone. Plus, I love the hot drink dispensers with different types of flavored coffee, as well as the Crystal Light machine.
(4)
Diana P.
Love the tuna here! This is a breakfast staple for anyone who loves bagels and great 'Jewish' food. Tons of seating, friendly staff and great options to choose from. Always packed-great sign right?
(5)
Joshua W.
my favorite bagels. period
(5)
Joyce C.
We came here to meet out some friends last weekend. Pros: -It's casual, reminds me of a real deli. -The corned beef rueben was awesome! -The kreplach soup was great! -The potato pancake was yum. -There was a large selection of food. -There is a free public parking lot right across the street from the restaurant. -Baked goodies including bagels and coffee cakes are also available for sale. -There was sufficient seating (please also see below, in the "Cons" section.) Cons: -OMG walking inside this place is a cluster. Please, someone fix this! Getting through with a stroller is a feat on the weekends! To get to the seating which is in the back of the restaurant, you must get through all the very narrow lines in the front, where everyone is ordering or picking up. Seating is ample, but be prepared to fight your way inside! -The coffee needs fixing. It's watered down beyond belief. -Service is average to slow. -The omelette was dry and hard cooked and needed seasoning, badly. -This is a NY style deli, and I expected better bagels. The bagels had no chew to them, after them being toasted, it was surprisingly crumbly and dry. Please fix that too! I will give Once Upon a Bagel another shot, but maybe not on a weekend. I did enjoy the rueben a lot- (this is the first time I'd ever ordered one) and am looking forward to trying the other sandwiches and soups!
(4)
Mariem A.
Perfect lox bagel..want try their bialys.
(4)
M S.
A Highland Park gem. Great food, the BEST chicken soup, huge variety, great quality and portions. AND, their people are all terrific, too. So much more than just bagels, but those are the best as well. Don't miss this wonderful place, great for simple dine in and terrific for carry out, but, beware, they can get quite busy(line moves relatively quickly) because they are so good, so plan accordingly.
(5)
Valerie W.
Did dine-in at OUaB this past weekend, and was not disappointed! Omelette: Fluffy, lots of fresh veggies and cheese. Cooked perfectly. Eggs/Hashbrowns: also perfect (from what I heard, I did not taste.) Lox Plate: Just the right amount of everything. Not too much lox (sometimes, its a mountain, and I feel wasteful not eating it all!) enough cream cheese (no skimping!) tomato, red onion, capers, sesame bagel... I'm in heaven. Best part: They're selling hamentashen for Purim. HUGE hamentashen. The very next time I am anywhere near HP, I'm stopping in to pick some up.
(4)
Elyse P.
I do not know what I would do without Once Upon A Bagel!! I work in Highland Park and find myself eating here several times a week. They have a such an extensive menu that you could never order the same thing!! Some of my favorite include the Split Pea soup (available on Wednesdays), the Matzo Ball and Kreplach soups and their egg salad. During lunch time this place can be a little intimidating to someone who has never been before but if you are planning on grabbing something to go- grab a number at their front door and they are very good at calling you in order and making things as quickly as possible. If you are planning on eating in then the second counter is for you. Another fun fact is that Sunset in Highland Park has Once Upon A Bagel Bagels in their deli section. I LOVE ONCE UPON A BAGEL!!!
(5)
Mark R.
Vegetarian soups are just great bagels are well made and a really nice selection friendly and just chaotic enough
(4)
Derek D.
BEST TUNA EVER. I have been eating here for 20 years. Great bagels, tuna - anything Deli - they have it. Thank you! d
(5)
Julie E.
Bagel heaven! And just as important, tuna salad heaven! Bagels are clearly the headline of Once Upon, and upon walking into the consistently busy deli, you're overwhelmed by the quantity and quality and aroma of the bagels. The counter is essentially a long row of labeled bins with fresh, hot bagels thrown in as they're being made. My personal faves: pumpernickel, cinnamon raisin, whole wheat with oat bran. For the more adventurous, there's honey blueberry. And don't forget the bialys -- the less considered but equally delicious offshoot of bagels -- that come in the same flavors as the bagels and offer less carbs (I think). The tuna salad is divine. I'm wary of trying tuna salad at places for fear of over mayo or too salty. Once Upon has hit the nail on the head with its perfect ratio of ingredients in this delectable MUST GET treat. A fine establishment in the fine neighborhood of Highland Park.
(4)
Patty H.
These are NOT New York bagels. If you have never had a real, New York bagel, these are probably fine for you. They taste good and they come in lots of varieties. But the texture is all wrong. It must be more expensive and time consuming to do it right, because no one seems to anymore. I don't need a fancy deli ... I just want a little place that just makes bagels where i can pick up a dozen and take them home.
(2)
Ba R.
Let me get this out of the way first: The best lox in Chicagoland is at Kaufmann's in Skokie (now that Ashkinaz is no more) and the best bagels are at New York Bagels & Bialies in Lincolnwood. That said, if you want to get all your brunch supplies in one stop, and you're on the North Shore, Once Upon a Bagel is top-notch. And it's a fine place to eat in as well. Do go. I insist.
(4)
Adam K.
I am a half Indian Jew, so I love a good bagel with chutney. They do not have that here. Classic Deli set up as you walk in the joint buuuuut..... About as mediocre, food wise as you can get. But as Jerry Seinfeld said, "The busboys are the best in the city." Cept this ain't the city. This place is really not that good, I am sorry, its so hyped by everyone because there are SO FEW BAGEL PLACES IN CHICAGO. I don't mean a place you can get a bagel, but a place you can get a good one. Work out the line / ordering situation you guys, I always walk in there and have NO idea what is going on, if I am going to cut off some family who are standing somewhat near the register. SO I always just muscle up to the front cuz these are pretty much the "let me do your taxes" Jews. Not the "hold my machine gun while I take a leak" Jews in Israel. I am from Chicago, lived here all my life, we do a ton of great food items, but Bagels? VERY rarely do you get a good one in Chicago. The best I have had is Kaufman's and they toasted their bagels too long and burned down, and now they don't have a new location yet and I have to get this? I should drop dead to have a bagel not from Kaufman's already. Shame, but its passable for meow. But really and wholeheartedly, I would have given this place 1-2 stars, but in reality this is great and attentive service, quick, these Latino dudes have it down to a science, so good and flowing is the traffic, they saved this review. I get the sense these vato's have dealt with so much whining and crap from rich north shore jews, they already know what you are going to complain about before you even bring it up and preemptively stop. This area is sad too, the really ritzy suburb of Highland Park. SO many 6-10 year old girls on cell phones, all sitting at the table not talking to each other. And nasally droning JAPs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Je… And a generally nice group of well behaved people. Good for kids. No Gluten free menu. Its a Gluten madhouse in here.
(3)
Anonymous N.
Always a stop when we visit Chicago Best Tuna Salad, great bagels, breakfasts, etc. Great bakery from cookies, cakes and also offer catering.
(5)
Andrea R.
Once Upon a Time there were no good delis in the city of Chicago. Fortunately for us deli loving Jews, Once Upon a Bagel exists just 30 minutes (or an hr with traffic) away in Highland Park. On my most recent visit I picked up 2 egg white salad sandwiches...one for me and another one for my also pregno friend. I made the mistake of stopping in the day before Yom Kippur so it was super crowded as people rushed to pick up their deli platters before their fast began, but surprisingly the line moved relatively fast. My sandwich totally hit the spot, as did the smiley cookie I had a hard time resisting. As I mentioned back in the good old days of '06 this still doesn't compare to the delis I've experienced in South Florida and New York, but I'll take it over anything else we have in the city. And ya know what would be even more awesome? A Once Upon a Bagel location in the city! A girl can dream...
(4)
kim c.
be prepared to wait on Saturday's and Sunday's with an especially pushy and rude crowd - but besides that - Once is AWESOME. The staff is super nice and QUICK - get's your order done and gets you out the door - which is nice if you've been waiting for 15 mintues... good variety of cream cheese, lox, and other specialties AND super good egg white egg salad and tuna salad!!
(3)
Heather H.
Eating here makes me happy to be a Jew. The Everything Bagel at OUAB, dare I say, is one of the best bagels I've ever had. They give the perfect amount of cream cheese along with it too, which equates to A LOT. I've also had their sandwiches (on a bagel of course), soup, breakfast omelets, and potato latkes, and everything is on par with what a great Jewish deli should be. With plenty of seating available, there's not too long of a wait for eating in, or on a nice day you can take your happiness to go and enjoy it in the park. Located right in downtown Highland Park, it's a good stop-over while shopping in the area.
(4)
Juliann P.
This review is for take out only... As in OMG I need a bagel sandwich with some Lox STAT!!! This is my go to joint for a ginormous sesame bagel, with chive cream cheese, about a pound of regular lox, tomato, onion in brown bag with a handful of napkins. It's always sticker shock tho, pretty sure said sandwich is now over 10$, but it's worth it. BRB, I'm off to the beach to watch the waves crash on the breakwater and eat my glorious sandwich.
(5)
Rebecca H.
So, so good! A nice, casual, family friendly environment with amazing sandwiches.
(5)
Studio L.
Order the mish-mosh ! ! ! nice
(4)
Olga D.
Very yummy! Go there after 4pm to get your bakers dozen of bagels at half price! Everything is always fresh and tasty. The cream cheeses are delicious. I especially like the salmon, it has actual pieces of smoked salmon. Yum! The service has been quick and courteous.
(4)
d a.
This is for the store in Hubbard Woods which does not have a profile yet. I've gone the other OUAB for several years and they're wonderful people, but the Hubbard Woods store needs some work. The food is fine, the restaurant has a nice view of the train station even if it's a big cramped. The issue however is that a can of soda was $2. I understand the economics of owning and running a store in prime Hubbard Woods real estate, but that price is absurdly ridiculous and offensive to customers especially those who have bought lots of stuff from there for everything from receptions and funerals to dinner for decades. That needs to be worked on.
(1)
Ryan S.
2 things...Egg-white Salad and when are you opening a location in the city? I absolutely love this place. I have coworkers who live in Highland Park pick me up their egg-white salad and tuna and bring it to me at work on a weekly basis. Its an absolute travesty that there isn't one in the city. Someone needs to give NYC Bagel a little competition....
(5)
Ralph E.
OK, here's the primer I wish I had before going there for a few years. New York bagels? No. But it's the closest outside of NY I have found. Great Jewish deli--even though I'm a Gentile, they let me in without checking my passport. Great bagels--13 flavors! You have to know what you're doing when you get there. Look at their web site under menu AND Bulk menu, otherwise you WILL miss a lot If doing carry-out--TAKE A NUMBER which is kinda tucked away to the left when you go in the door. Now, look around very quickly, or else you'll miss something good. They have a great assortment of fresh bagels, bialys, big pretzels, and some coffee cakes (made off site) and donuts--which are baked onsite--not fried--with chocolate frosting--yummy. You need to look around, as the menu is up on the wall. Sandwiches are big--deli style. Breakfast all day. Huge pickles and mmmmm, pickled tomatoes--yum. Creamed herring? Herring in wine sauce? You betcha. Bread--the rye is made off site, but is great---a half loaf should do. If you are going there during their busy times (Holidays, etc) pre-order (If you're going around Passover, you're nuts :-). I have seen more than a few disappointed folks walk out without some of their favorites--rye bread, green bagels on St Pats Day, etc. Chale bread and rolls. Whitefish chunks, smoked sable and BBQ salmon (which I still don't think of as a Jewish specialty. Bagel chips. Sliced cold-cuts and cheeses, salads by the pound (poultry, egg, 2 types os tuna, whitefish) all which may be made into sandwiches. They have very friendly, efficient staff at the carry out counter. The person who takes your order bags the bagels, scoops the cream cheese (8 flavors), wraps the lox (Nova or regular?) and makes the carry out sandwiches. If you want a big order, check their web site and call ahead--it will be ready and you won't hold up the others in line. BTW, those who call ahead can stand close to where they get the numbers for their order--thus getting to the front of the line. I recently ordered a tray or a group--3 dozen bagels, 3 types of cream cheese, onions, tomatoes, lox, etc. Asked for it to be ready at 6:30. am. Ready, and fresh! Now, if you are going to eat in, you may be surprised. First of all, you walk past the carry out counter, which seems like it goes the length of the building, and got to the line that is on the left. The eat in line may look long, but moves fast. Breakfast all day. Great sandwiches. Made to order. The eat in area is much larger than you would think walking in. The place is clean. Very clean. And don't forget the chicken soup!
(4)
Jennifer P.
egg white salad is very yummy and healthier!! Tuna salad is awesome... but my favorite thing to get there is an egg bagel with either chive cream cheese or lox spread. All of the staff are very friendly and polite!! Couldn't be treated better :) The kreplach are home made and wonderful!!! And try the matzo balls!!!! They also have an everything wheat bagel that has just the right amount of garlic.... yummy!!
(5)
Brad E.
Great deli, bagels and other baked goods. They have kosher style food and Italian cookies, and the list goes on. Check their website for the many food items. It is a top notch hodge podge of delicious foods. I have never noticed any quality issues. You must be comfortable in crowds because the line is out the door and every square inch of the restaurant is occupied with satisfied customers!
(4)
Taylor M.
I love the bagels here! The delivery service is fantastic and I have never encountered a problem with them. When I worked in Highland Park, we would often have bagel platters delivered. I have not ventured out to try anything other than various bagels and cream cheese spreads. All were fantastic. My favorite is the salt bagel.. I had never had this prior to Once Upon a Bagel, but it is awesome... especially for me because I am a salt lover! I am a big fan of the Cream Cheese with Chives and the Veggie Cream Cheese. If you are in the Highland Park area, you definitely need to check this place out.
(5)
Dave C.
Rockstar bagels and amazing sandwiches. I try to come here every time I visit home for lunch. This is a great spot to grab soup and a sammie. It can get CRAZY busy here so this is not the best place if you don't want to deal with the HP crowd.
(5)
Nicolas H.
This place is decent, but definitely has its flaws. The prices are reasonable overall, however I tried to order a bagel sandwich with lox and cream cheese. Instead I was given a lox plate, with a bagel on the side and a plastic cup of cream cheese ($9). Lesson learned, but it seems odd they wouldn't offer a bagel sandwich with lox. On the positive side, the bagel tasted fresh (but a little small) and the lox was good. We also had a side of whitefish salad which was very good, nice and creamy. I'd come back for some soup and a sandwich on a cold winter day, and maybe some challah to go...
(3)
Alex R.
Best bagels in or outside of chicago! Really what I love most are their bialys! Generally I try to avoid heavier breads, but this place makes that very difficult. My husband almost always whips up some interesting omelet concoction. This place is definitely worth visiting. And frequently!
(4)
Bridget M.
I get so happy when work sends me out to the HP - that means I will be that much closer to this drool inducing deli. Would it be overboard to say that they put the "deli" in delicious? The prices are fair, especially considering how pricey the neighborhood can get. The service is efficient. And the food? YUM! The bread is fresh - regardless of what kind of bread you order. The deli meat is flavorful, therefore the sandwiches? STELLAR. Lunches in HP can get challenging - parking can be brutal (yes, brutal even if we're not in the city!) and the number of 4 way stops to get to the downtown area are quite the deterrent. Warning: HP drivers subscribe to the belief that at a 4 way stop, the car that costs the most gets to go first.
(4)
Gopal R.
My girlfriend's family ordered a big lunch spread from this place on Rosh Hashanah. It had egg bagels, egg salad, tuna salad, deli-sliced corned beef and roast beef, and some cream cheese spreads. We noshed on that spread every day for the entire weekend. The corned beef was especially tasty. Great stuff. Probably the best food I ate on my first trip to Chicago.
(5)
Andrew H.
Most everything is good here. Been a customer for years. It's clean, the staff is attentive and owner is wonderful. They know how to make a sandwich here. The right amount of shmear and the right amount of lox. I give 3 stars for the bagels. An egg tastes like a plain, a poppy has a faint poppy taste, onions are only on the outside and so on. They do have very good bialys and the rye bagels with kimmel (seeds). Soups tasty and salads fresh and tasty.
(3)
Elina S.
This has got to be the best deli I've ever tried & I"m not talking in the north shore, I'm talking everywhere! The place has a very homey, Jewish feel, which I like. The bagels are my favorite out of any other bagel place, the veggie cream cheese is a must for any catering event or party. Now onto my most favorite tuna salad in the whole world, it is AMAZING! I get it for my entire family and we all love it and can't get enough of it. Other than the fact that tuna has mercury, I would eat it every single day, but every time i'm in highland Park this place is on my must-stop-by- list. I mean everything that they have is delicious, whether the salmon salad, the spreads including the lox spread, everything is superb. Next on my list of things to try is their egg salad! I wish they made another location in Buffalo Grove closer to home then I would be in everyday for lunch. :))
(5)
Sandra M.
Thank you OUAB for your presence in HP! Love it that I can get a yummy bagel when I am in the mood for a weekend splurge...like a touch of NYC right in my backyard.
(4)
Max E.
I make a stop here every time I come home from school. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't delicious. I always go with the pastrami on rye or California tuna. If you're going for more standard deli fare, the matzo ball soup is always good. The staff are very friendly, but it gets crowded.
(5)
Karen K.
Didnt know this place was a full restaurant! Awesome and yummy!
(4)
Laurie W.
I love this place and it's one of the first eateries visited when our grown 'kids' come home with our grandchildren! But something has gone awry lately - the egg salad has been inconsistent for the last couple of months. Sometimes great, sometimes seeming not fresh. Everything else is as it should be! Great soups, amazing tuna, deli items, skinny bagels, fabulous pretzels and smiley face cookies, and a wide choice of eating in menu items!! The owner also manages to have a wonderful staff that is truly accommodating. Run, don't walk - you'll love it......
(4)
Shira G.
This place ALWAYS gets our order wrong. No idea why? But my in-laws are creatures of habit and like it.... so we go. We made it sort of a game as to what we order and what we will actually get. They are a little nuts with the whole charging a buck or 2 for 2 slices of tomato on the side.
(3)
Julia R.
delicious fresh bagels here. yummy cream cheese. i have fallen in love with matzo ball soup because of this place. hard to come up to Highland Park without stopping here. mmmm...
(4)
Kristen W.
Once Upon A Bagel is so good it almost makes up for how awful Highland Park is in general. The bagels & bialys are yummy and cheap. The tuna salad and egg salad are the best I've had in Chicagoland. But gesh, navigating through the 4-way stops (why can't Highland Parkers figure out how these work) and all the rude people sure makes it a pain in my ass to get to.
(4)
Christina B.
A North Shore landmark! The food is amazing, the bagels are superb and there's even a half off Baker's Dozen special after 4. I stock up on the bagels (just cut them in half and freeze them) and their frozen soups. The staff are really really friendly and helpful and I love that they do a lot of work in the community as seen by the hundreds of 'thank you' notes displayed on their walls. THE BEST!
(5)
Jacob F.
OUAB is a nice little jewish deli. I went there a couple of weeks ago with my cousin and I got a nice little pastrami sandwich and a diet cherry vanilla dr. pepper. It was a little dry, but the tasty rye more than made up for it. The prices were good and it was a nice sandwich. Next time, I'm going to try a bagel. I also agree with the previous reviewer who believes Highland Park drivers are miserable. A four-way stop isn't that hard, guys. FFS you live here and they're everywhere so you should know how to do them.
(4)
Elizabeth A.
Best tuna salad around, hands down. Also AWESOME breakfast sandwiches, served all day of course. Everything else is great too. The menu is your typical Jewish deli, but high quality. It's always packed so don't expect to get in and out quickly - call ahead if you're in a rush. Guys who work here are SO friendly and wonderful. It's a tad pricey, but worth it for the quality!!
(5)
Paige W.
Oh. Ohhhhhh, bagels. I have long lamented the difficulties of finding even a passable bagel outside the Tri-State Area, but I stopped whining briefly a couple of months ago to stuff my face with a Once Upon a Bagel...bagel. And now my whining has been replaced with begging my boss to bring them again. I have no car, so I can't get to Highland Park myself, but every once in a while, the publisher from our group brings them in -- like this morning, when she figured the impending blizzard would whip us all into a hunger frenzy. So delicious and SO MUCH BETTER than Einstein Brothers' ridiculous holey-bread excuses for bagels. I am happy. And full. And missing New York just a little less every time I have one of these.
(4)
Timothy W.
I've been here twice now when I'm away from the city at work. The first time I got a garlic bagel with lox spread. It was delicious and I did not even know what lox was at that point! The second time was lunch and I had a pastrami sandwich on rye, which was very fresh, lots of pastrami and fresh vegetables. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Brad F.
Every time i come here I walked out stufffffed!!! This is one of my favorite delis in the north shore area. They have the best sandwiches and soups. But if you come here you must try the cajun fries, they are to die for!!!!
(5)
Sara P.
After a coworker discussed the OUAB incessantly for weeks on end, we decided to hop in the car and make a work trip out of it. I was worried I had built this deli up to a point of no return. Boy, was I wrong. It's a good thing I don't have a car, because I would go to Once Upon a Bagel everyday if I could. I had the tuna "boat", and it was some of the best tuna I'd ever had. Even their cajun curly fries were a huge hit. And the matzah ball soup? Tasted homemade, which is hard to come by! I got an order to go of the essentials- corned beef, bagels, bagel chips, and chive cream cheese (I would be remiss to not tell you how unbelievably good the chive cream cheese is). And if you're heading out there from the city, don't forget the chocolate donut. Believe me, you won't regret it.
(5)
Phillip B.
I eat here probably 3x a week. It's the best bagel place around. And the bacon is unbelievable. OUAB is my fav breakfast spot. 5 stars all around...
(5)
Brad S.
very good and the guys working are great with the kids
(5)
N Z.
Personally I am shocked to see that this has 4 out of 5 stars as a rating. I have visited this place twice and have found little redeeming qualities. The bagels are about half the size of a normal bagels and the worst thing about it is you have to wait about 20 minutes to get it. The deli ordering style is slow and inefficient. Don't even try to get a cup of coffee past 11 because they have stopped serving it. The only reason I can think of why this place has customers is because it is the only bagel place in the town. P.S. If anyone is looking for a real bagel place check out Espresso Royal in Boston, MA.
(1)
Kathryn M.
Oh Once Upon A Bagel how I miss you and your chicken noodle soup and a bagel or bialy for less then $3. It was always the perfect quick and cheap lunch or dinner in the winter. The bagels are fresh and delicious. I can only say good things. I love everything about it, even when it's super crowded around brunch time on Saturdays and Sundays. The personalities of the patrons and the kids running around and the delicious and cheap food all combine into a one of a kind experience that makes me miss living in HP.
(5)
Margaret B.
Great NY style deli food in the north suburbs. The tuna salad is one of the best and their omlettes are quality as well. Always end with a smiley face cookie.
(4)
Steve O.
A gem of Highland Park. Really good food no matter what you order. My son loves their chicken noodle soup. Highland Park dining has gotten so "fancy" its nice to have a place like this in town.
(5)
Andrea L.
One of my faves for lunch when I am with the parents in HP. Their egg salad is great, as are the sesame bialy sticks and chicken soup. It's always crowded, and we always see at least one person we know when we go. I wish we had a place like this in my neighborhood. I'd eat there all the time!
(5)
gnat c.
best bagels on the north shore. sure, there is no comparison to new york, but hey, you aren't in new york, you're in highland park, il. service is always quick. bagels are quite tasty. an extensive selection = smiles all around.
(5)
Olivia R.
Whenever I'm craving a good Jewish style brunch I head to Highland Park for Once Upon a Bagel because sadly I can't find anything that compares in the city. I usually stick with the tuna because it's so good! They have a great bakery as well to pick up sweets.
(4)
J K.
the best abgels and soup
(5)
Chris T.
So I was on my way from Chicago's Gold Coast to east Libertyville earlier today and felt a SERIOUS craving for a delicious Lox sandwich. It was rush hour and I decided to take the scenic route up from Chicago (Lake Shore Drive to Sheridan Road through Winnetka, Glencoe, etc.) rather than fight traffic on the Kennedy & Edens. From Sheridan Rd. it was a breeze getting into downtown Highland Park. I realized upon arrival that I had been to this deli (Once Upon A Bagel) once last summer. I was VERY pleased with the delicious mouth watering Lox sandwich that I got. I had an interesting combo of Whole Wheat bagels combined with lox (salmon) and strawberry cream cheese lol. The whole vibe coupled with the extensive Kosher selection, the HP area Jewish population, and the authentic deli food gave it a pretty nice New York feel (or at least a suburban New York feel lol). In fact one of the workers told me that the owner travels to NY frequently to gather up new ideas for the restaurant. The crowd today at the deli ranged from families (mostly with younger children) to the elderly. I'm sure I'll be back there again.
(5)
adam d.
a decent if crowded deli. its a bagel centric manny's that went on a diet... my kid brother has a fetish for their donuts... good place to pick up a dozen.... decent deli counter and salad/spreads.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch 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 : Yes Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Melissa H.
Best Kosher deli belongs to Once Upon A Bagel! I've been coming here for years and everything is great here! I decided to take my husband here today because he had never been to this deli. We came in during lunch hour, and ordering was fast and efficient. Both my husband and I ordered a hot corned beef sandwich on a garlic bagel with mustard. We shared a side order of their Cajun curly fries. The corned beef was served warm as we asked with not a lot of fat on it. I'm not fan of fatty corned beef. The bagel was soft and fresh with the perfect amount of garlic along with the perfect amount of mustard. The pickle of course tasted crisp and awesome. I was impressed with their Cajun fries they weren't spicy and tasted hot and fresh. Being a first timer, my husband was thoroughly impressed. We are looking forward to dining here again and also want to try their Northbrook location.
(5)Spencer H.
The North Shore is filled with restaurants but not too many home town deli's. Sure you have your Einstein Bros. Bagels & a few other large chain options like Starbucks but this is the place to go if you want a fresh deli where the food doesn't feel like it came out of a box that was shipped USPS. I have been a big fan of the Lox N Bagels sandwich for a while but lately my regular places have been letting me down, then I found this gem. I ordered a Lox N Bagel & the awesomeness ensued. The bagel was nice & fresh & most importantly the salmon was fresh. The workers & staff here were very friendly & quick to complete my order. The place was also very clean & had a decent amount of seating. Another positive about this place is that they can deliver bagel platters to businesses in the area. This is very useful if your office is looking for a quick breakfast snack. This restaurant has a plethora of different bagel & cream cheese flavors & none of them have let me down yet. Overall the workers & the service is very good. The restaurant is clean & most importantly the food is delicious. I would definitely come here again.
(4)E K.
First of all the the menu has more items than I've ever seen in a restaurant. Decor is a little worn on the edges, but hey, who's complaining - it's a deli. Good bagels (all the varieties that you could ever want - thick, thin, long) with more shmears than you could ever imagine. Can't think of anything that they don't serve - even huevos rancheros. Oy!!
(4)Tricia D.
This once upon a bagel story ends unhappily ever after. The bustling, chaotic environment of this diner-y deli transported us to a New York-style feel, though the food didn't live up to anything like a Katz's or Russ and Daughter's. When you first enter, it's extremely confusing and unorganized because you're not sure where the line starts and whether to grab a number (the black numbers at the door are for customers who want take out/pick up). If you intend to dine in, like us, then there's a line that starts further down, where you'll place your order, pay, and receive a number for the table. Plenty of seating in the back (some tables and chairs stickier than others), which you would never guess from initial look. I opted for the Nova lox plate, and the lox was better than it looked ("that's a weird compliment", my husband said), but I was expecting more from the Asiago bagel. It was supposed to be toasted, but kind of just tasted like soggy bread. Side of corned beef hash had less corned beef and more green peppers than expected, and husband, who usually doesn't discriminate very strongly with any food that is cooked and on a plate in front of him, said the steak wasn't the best cut of meat. Skip the decaf coffee (can't vouch for the regular coffee): it tastes like plain ol' hot water. This goes down as one rare occasion when I strongly disagree with the Yelp average.
(2)Amanda D.
I just tried this place for the first time yesterday and lets just say i was back today to get more bagels! I ahve never had such soft delicious bagels in my life! i can not wait until i try all there other items as well. if you have not been here and or ordered anything from them you have to go here and make sure you pick up a ton of bagels so worth it !!! soooo good!
(5)Matt A.
I eat here about once a week. Food is consistently good and service is even better. My only gripe is that it is about 25% more than other breakfast places but I guess it is highland park.
(4)Ferron S.
I try to reserve 5-stars for something truly great in it's space and Once upon a Bagel fits this description. Their bagels are amazing and so is their cream cheese. I was in Chicago for a few days and went there 4 times I think. But the true test for me was the realization that when I returned to Houston and tried to find a good bagel shop, Einstein Bagels is what kept coming up. Why are their bagels so good? Super fresh on day 1 and they are good for a while after. I ended up liking the skinny bagels the most. you can drop them in the toaster whole and when they come out they are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The other item I really liked was the pretzel bagel ball. with some mustard heated up they are o good. If you are ever in search of a bagel, go here. I wonder if they ship.....
(5)Gina B.
Worst soup I have ever had. I am sure it was from a can. Carrots and chicken were small cubes. Very disappointed.
(1)Angela S.
Just when I was convinced this place could do no wrong...especially when it comes to the chicken soup. As usual, the soup I got to go was amazing and always the same delicious recipe. But when did it cost $1.50 to take the matzo balls out of the container to put into another container so you could have a little more broth? Just a little more. I've never experienced that from other delis, and I also don't recall it happening at the Winnetka location, but maybe I didn't pay attention. Does an extra scoop of broth really cost $1.50? No, I'm not talking all the chicken and vegetable goodness, but broth. Is it the styrofoam container that costs $1.50? If that's the case, it's time for a new supplier. Is it the labor to stick the spoon in the broth and lift and ladle cost $1.50? Not sure. Perhaps I'm making a rant out of nothing, but these guys see me in here all the time. Our family eats here a lot. I meet up for meetings over chicken soup on a regular basis here and in Winnetka. I remember a time when the service was so beyond amazing. Times are a changin' at the Bagel. For someone who spends $100's a month at this place, and it's the same server that serves you on a regular basis, and you ask to put the matzo balls on the side, you should just do it. I don't care what your policy is. It stinks and it's just ridiculous. One quart = $8. But if you can't finish it you're left with piles of goodness with no broth. Then what do you do?
(3)Lisa H.
I can't say enough good things about this place, but admittedly I may be a little biased. I worked right next to Once Upon a Bagel for about a year and a half, and I would come to Once frequently for breakfast and lunch. Their bagels and cream cheese are fantastic, and they have particularly good chicken and wild rice soup. This place is totally affordable for a budget and you get great quality food for the price. Another thing I loved was the salami sandwich - they would PACK it with meat so it was nice and fat. I really miss Once Upon a Bagel and am now debating taking a road trip up to Highland Park to get it.
(5)Patrick A.
Had an hour to kill in Highland Park, so I stopped into this place near the Metra Station. It very much has a New York Deli kind of atmosphere (if with New York prices to match), and while the Toasted Asiago Bagel with Chive Cream Cheese I got is any indication, if it doesn't quite reach the heights of NYC bagel, it's a pretty good west-of-the-Mississippi substitute. Selections looks wide and interesting. If I'm in the area, will probably stop by again.
(4)L H.
I'm obsessed with everything on this menu, and I feel like home. Gotta love the "Skinny" Bagels!! yum! :-)
(5)Greg M.
After a poor experience (see previous review), I was put off visiting Once Upon A Bagel for some time. As time went on, I decided to chalk it up to a one time issue and give them another chance. I've had dozens of enjoyable visits since then with no more quality issues. Great bagels. A huge menu - soups, sandwiches, salads, all of it quite good. It's always crowded in the mornings, but for takeout orders, the place runs like a well oiled machine. Take a number and do everyone else a favor by being ready with your order when your number is called.
(4)Christina M.
This place reminds me of my most favorite bagel deli on this planet, Ess-A-Bagel in NYC. OUAB is a cute little neighborhood bagel shop filled with great neighborhood inhabitants during the weekend. My bf and I loved eating here on a Sunday along with the "regulars", it was such a nice relaxing experience. The bagels and hash browns were super good, though I will say the bagels weren't 100% like my NYC faves, though still good nonetheless.
(4)John D.
Great service and food always fresh. The bagels are grwta. Staff is friendly. I will definitely be back.
(4)Tayler O.
I really enjoying coming here for breakfast. They have the freshest bagels and offer delicious hot breakfast options as well. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because if your in a hurry and looking to carry out it takes a bit, but it is a popular place that has high demand. However, it's worth the wait! Highly recommend this to anyone in the area or just passing through.
(4)Mickey F.
Best Jewish deli in the area. Actually best bagels anywhere in the country. I know people from New York might disagree but this authentic deli has great breakfast, delicious cream cheese, lox, kugel, chicken and tune salads and great smoked fish. I have always come here and if you want a quick bit just grab a number and order up. There are always nice servers waiting to take your order. Try my bagel sandwich creation, any bagel u want, toasted with chive cream cheese, nova lox, bacon (not kosher but niether am I), tomato, cucumber. Always side of chocolate donut made fresh there.
(5)Alyssa K.
After a pretty taxing megareformer class (seriously my muscles were shaking), we visited Once Upon a Bagel to refuel. I feel like you could just walk by this place without even noticing it, but you would so be missing out. They have a good sized breakfast menu. I ordered an omelette and it also comes with a bagel so I chose the pretzel bagel. Both were delicious and the bacon in my omelette was really good. The pretzel bagel was amazing and I wish I had gotten another one to go. The place was pretty busy on a Saturday morning but they have plenty of seating in the back. And check out the mural on the back wall.
(4)Albert L.
Great bagels as noted in other posts! There is also a wide selection of delicious cream cheese. Love stopping in on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Highly recommended.
(5)Sofia L.
Best bagels!! Best egg white salad!!! Amazing pretzels!!!!! Superb corn beef and pastrami!!! Haven't had a bad meal.....EVER!!!!!!!!!!! Truly a gem of the north shore -- I come here all the way from the city -- because no one can beat them -- I highly recommend and can't wait til next time!!
(5)Connor B.
I frequently get bagels from Once Upon a Bagel (At least once every couple weeks), and I have yet to find a better bagel place near my house. Location & Ambiance: Good location, and the ambiance is ok. Very quick get in, and get out feel. Not a place I would want to hang out and do homework at, but definitely a good place to grab a dozen bagels to go from. Coffee: I thought I would toss this in, because bagels and coffee pair together nicely. With this in mind, they have drip coffee that tastes good. Nothing crazy impressive, but good overall. Food: They mean business! When you walk in you need to know what you want. They move quick, and have a big menu so read quick and make your choices. As I said, I go frequently for bagels. They have very good bagels, and quality spreads as well (white fish, tuna, salmon... ect.) Staff: The staff... they are like a well oiled machine. Its not a friendly feel, but it does get the job done. I cant complain, I always get what I want and it tastes good but this does separate a 4 star review from a 5 star review. Overall, if your looking to great a tasty bagel its a good choice and worth trying out.
(4)Katie K.
What an excellent bagel shop. They are hard to come by in IL. This one is great, the bagels taste fresh and delicious. They also offer a wide variety of menu options and you can dine in. The service is fast and it is very cheap!
(5)Terry B.
Great Bagels, Matzo Balls, and Bagel Dogs. Sandwiches, not too great, but that's not why folks go there. Somewhat pricey for salads and other entrees. Soups are good. Highly patronized place.
(3)Frank N.
If you go anywhere for bagels, then this should always be your first choice! Everything from the fresh bagels, to the bialys, to the vast assortment of cream cheeses will leave you at a loss as to whats best to order. While I only came here to pick up bagels and cream cheese, there is an awesome sit down area for breakfast and lunch with an unbelievable menu! Take your pick of a dozen salads, wraps, smoked salmons and...well i could go on and on. The freshness is second to none, the service is impeccable, the choices are endless. If you visit Highland Park and don't attempt to find this place, you will regret it!
(5)Kelly M.
What a hidden gem! I stopped by here for brunch and was overwhelmed by the choices and the amount of people there. This shop offers bagels, bialys, skinny bagels, balls (like bagel munchkins), pretzels, buns, breadsticks ... plus breakfast and lunch. The breakfast menu is expansive and reasonable, offering omelets, eggs, pancakes, French toast and breakfast sandwiches. I opted for a garden egg white omelet with an onion bagel and coffee. The beverages dine-in are self service, and luckily, there's a separate line for dine in versus carry out because the place was hustling on a Saturday morning. The omelet was fantastic, the bagel was just OK and the coffee was lovely. The dine-in atmosphere, however, is chaotic. There were people pushing past our table the entire time, and kids literally running circles around the dining room. I wanted to order a few nibbles for later, but the carry out line was so massive I decided to pass. The place is delicious, but not somewhere you'd want to hold a conversation with your dining companion.
(3)Jody B.
When I am ordering for a crowd to take home, this is the only place I will go for lox, bagels, deli, etc. In fact, when our son and DlL were having a brunch two states away, they asked us to bring the lox and bagels from OUAB! They have great quality food. REAL bagels, good lean corned beef, and lox which can't be beat (nova, please!). I also love their egg salad, salmon salad, and whitefish salad. My dad always got their tuna salad. :-) Basically, they are all fresh and well made. My tips to other yelpers would be as follows: 1. Go at an off time, if possible. We picked up Friday morning after Thanksgiving. It was a breeze. 2. Order ahead for your pick up. You can always add to your order... but if you order ahead, you go to the "pick up" line. 3. If you haven't ordered ahead, take a number as soon as you walk in. 4. If you are going to "eat in", the line is past the deli... and don't be shy, ask people if they are waiting to eat in. If they are waiting for deli, keep walking past them.
(4)Jan B.
The food as good and the service efficient but is it really necessary to charge $2 more for eggs after 10 a.m.? I ordered the scrambled eggs with bacon and it was $12.50 ( including a gluten free bagel which was an extra $1)
(3)Hilly B.
the guys up front are the best! Scottish lox is worth it and veg cream cheese !
(4)Tabitha H.
Very wide range of mouth-watering bagels. I tried the pretzel bagel with chive onion cream cheese. Absolutely delicious. Only 4 stars because they rushed us and were bagging up bagels to prepare for closing, even a bagel we were about to order. A couple of the employees were eating bagels as they bagged them with their bare hands. Not an appealing sight.
(4)Katie R.
This place is nuts. I've never been and not felt rushed - so, mentally prepare before you get there - and keep in mind they have bagels, bialys, different cream cheeses, and all the goodies from the deli as well... Oh, and don't forget to take a number. Your to-go is up front, and eat-in is in the back. I suggest to-go, as my one time eating in was mediocre. The bagels & cream cheeses themselves are fabulous, and I was accidentally given tuna salad once instead of cream cheese, which was a very welcome accident.
(4)Penelope S.
A GEM!!!!!!! Don't let the name fool you....it's more than just bagels. I had 5 giftie dollars so i decided to go for a bagel and coffee. This place is amazing. They have a whole breakfast menu and sandwiches galore. I decided to get an omelette with cheese, sausage and mushrooms. OMG!!! Heaven on a plate and you get a bagel also with a meal. I'm a sucker for just plain with veggie cream cheese. It's a cozy place...not too big not too small. I went after the morning rush so I enjoyed reading my paper and having coffee afterwards. I would imagine this place crazy in the mornings and on the weekends so I avoid the big crowds. 5 stars from me!!!
(5)Bridget E.
When you don't have time to fly from O'Hare to LaGuardia, take the lesser of two time-sucking evils and wait "on line" for the next-best-thing-to-NYC at Once Upon A Bagel. There's a line for a reason--the fresh bagels and bialies are made on premises and are so tasty. Sure, there's a crowd, it's a madhouse, but at least there's no TSA involved. If you want your bagels to go, go to the front counter. If you are dining there, you go to the counter near the grill. Don't worry if you are a newbie. No one knows what's going on but somehow it all works out. You will have to wait with the horde from Highland Park central casting--senior citizens with caretakers, the stay-at-home-moms with kids and nannies in tow, the beauties in short-shorts coming from the gym, workers from local offices, teens dripping with tons of brand names--everyone loves this food! Budget tip: If you are dining there, take my advice and order chicken soup with the kreplach. A kreplach is a delicious meat dumpling. Theirs is one massive, bowl-sized kreplach stuffed with some sort of meat, perhaps chicken liver? Don't think about it, just order it and enjoy. If you are really hungry, go for chicken soup with kreplach and noodles. Your bowl will be filled to the rim with tasty morsels. The soup comes with your choice of bread--this means bagel or bialy time and it's included for under $5. I get a toasted garlic bagel and I'm transported to New York with the first bite. For another couple bucks, order a self-serve soft drink with refills--there are several Crystal Light options for the no-pop-people. Once Upon A Bagel (or OUAB as they call it--took me a minute to get that) makes me miss New York. And for a deli in this case, that's a good thing.
(4)Erika A.
First time here. Very friendly service. Skinny onion bagel w chive cream cheese, tomatoe cucumber and red onions... bon apetite!
(5)Charles B.
It never fails., OUAB is spot on with their sandwiches and bagels. Even when packed, as it was today, the service is swift and courteous. This is a well run operation with great food and an unpretentious ambience if you happen to dine in the restaurant. The food keeps me and hundreds, maybe thousands, faithfully returning for more.
(5)Allison M.
I love Once Upon a Bagel, and come here every time I'm home. They have a huge range of items, from bagels to bialys to omelettes to soups to burgers to salads. It's a classic Jewish deli, which I craved every day I was going to college in Virginia. I love their low-fat tuna salad, but more than anything I could eat any one of their kugels every single day. They'll heat it up if you ask, which you should! Their omelettes are great, too, and come with a free bagel which you can have wrapped up if you don't want to it eat it right then. It does serve kind of an older crowd, but it's the very definition of a Highland Park institution and I love coming here!
(5)Chelsea W.
Excellent Jewish deli! I would eat just about anything from here! Everything is fresh, the meet is amazing, and the service is always so fast! I get overwhelmed every time I'm in because I want everything and its fast moving in the small order space, but it adds to the experience. Hint: I always add one of their chocolate doughnut to my order... the best!
(5)Elaine M.
This is my regular lunch place. Although the clientele demographic is heavy on the geriatric side the place feels cozy and comfortable - like home. DINE-IN I am here more than once a week and have tried many different menu options. The best bet with the greatest value is to get the soup of the day. A bowl of soup comes with your choice of bagel or bailey. My favorite is the vegetable soup, usually offered on Fridays. Another favorite, if you are in the mood for a breakfast type item, is the Greek omelet. All the sandwiches are good but a bit pricey. TAKE-OUT There is no better place in the area for your take-out deli needs. Best lox, whitefish salad and bagels in the north shore by a mile. My son loves the chicken salad and I would say it is okay but I am still seeking the perfect one. Finally this is a great place to pick up some chicken soup for a sick friend. I have done this often and it is always appreciated.
(4)Michael Z.
Once Upon A Bagel is one of the few food highlights in the North Shore. I have been a customer for years. I eat there, order take away, and on numerous occasions have ordered and had delivered party trays. The food is always good and the soups are outstanding. When I have early meetings in the morning I enjoy meeting with my clients here for a great morning meal. I really like the vibe and get to run in to many people I know and have not seen for a long time. Don't tell everyone. but at 4pm the Bagels Are On Sale!
(5)Melissa F.
I'm a Jew who isn't the biggest fan of traditional Jewish deli food, but if you get it, you should get it here! There are so many options, too, so I don't have to eat rye if I don't want to! The omeletes are delicious and have tons of ingredients you can choose (chorizo or turkey sausage? onions? CILANTRO???). People also have raved about their deli meat sandwiches - I can attest to the quality of their pastrami and roast beef, thinly sliced but super flavorful. I don't love fish, but I'm trying to get more into it, health, blah blah. Anyway, the chipotle tuna salad is outstanding, and tuna fish is never my first choice. I love it here. The sheer variety of bagels and bialys - as well as the yummy strawberry cream cheese - fully underscores how there really is something for everyone. Plus, I love the hot drink dispensers with different types of flavored coffee, as well as the Crystal Light machine.
(4)Diana P.
Love the tuna here! This is a breakfast staple for anyone who loves bagels and great 'Jewish' food. Tons of seating, friendly staff and great options to choose from. Always packed-great sign right?
(5)Joshua W.
my favorite bagels. period
(5)Joyce C.
We came here to meet out some friends last weekend. Pros: -It's casual, reminds me of a real deli. -The corned beef rueben was awesome! -The kreplach soup was great! -The potato pancake was yum. -There was a large selection of food. -There is a free public parking lot right across the street from the restaurant. -Baked goodies including bagels and coffee cakes are also available for sale. -There was sufficient seating (please also see below, in the "Cons" section.) Cons: -OMG walking inside this place is a cluster. Please, someone fix this! Getting through with a stroller is a feat on the weekends! To get to the seating which is in the back of the restaurant, you must get through all the very narrow lines in the front, where everyone is ordering or picking up. Seating is ample, but be prepared to fight your way inside! -The coffee needs fixing. It's watered down beyond belief. -Service is average to slow. -The omelette was dry and hard cooked and needed seasoning, badly. -This is a NY style deli, and I expected better bagels. The bagels had no chew to them, after them being toasted, it was surprisingly crumbly and dry. Please fix that too! I will give Once Upon a Bagel another shot, but maybe not on a weekend. I did enjoy the rueben a lot- (this is the first time I'd ever ordered one) and am looking forward to trying the other sandwiches and soups!
(4)Mariem A.
Perfect lox bagel..want try their bialys.
(4)M S.
A Highland Park gem. Great food, the BEST chicken soup, huge variety, great quality and portions. AND, their people are all terrific, too. So much more than just bagels, but those are the best as well. Don't miss this wonderful place, great for simple dine in and terrific for carry out, but, beware, they can get quite busy(line moves relatively quickly) because they are so good, so plan accordingly.
(5)Valerie W.
Did dine-in at OUaB this past weekend, and was not disappointed! Omelette: Fluffy, lots of fresh veggies and cheese. Cooked perfectly. Eggs/Hashbrowns: also perfect (from what I heard, I did not taste.) Lox Plate: Just the right amount of everything. Not too much lox (sometimes, its a mountain, and I feel wasteful not eating it all!) enough cream cheese (no skimping!) tomato, red onion, capers, sesame bagel... I'm in heaven. Best part: They're selling hamentashen for Purim. HUGE hamentashen. The very next time I am anywhere near HP, I'm stopping in to pick some up.
(4)Elyse P.
I do not know what I would do without Once Upon A Bagel!! I work in Highland Park and find myself eating here several times a week. They have a such an extensive menu that you could never order the same thing!! Some of my favorite include the Split Pea soup (available on Wednesdays), the Matzo Ball and Kreplach soups and their egg salad. During lunch time this place can be a little intimidating to someone who has never been before but if you are planning on grabbing something to go- grab a number at their front door and they are very good at calling you in order and making things as quickly as possible. If you are planning on eating in then the second counter is for you. Another fun fact is that Sunset in Highland Park has Once Upon A Bagel Bagels in their deli section. I LOVE ONCE UPON A BAGEL!!!
(5)Mark R.
Vegetarian soups are just great bagels are well made and a really nice selection friendly and just chaotic enough
(4)Derek D.
BEST TUNA EVER. I have been eating here for 20 years. Great bagels, tuna - anything Deli - they have it. Thank you! d
(5)Julie E.
Bagel heaven! And just as important, tuna salad heaven! Bagels are clearly the headline of Once Upon, and upon walking into the consistently busy deli, you're overwhelmed by the quantity and quality and aroma of the bagels. The counter is essentially a long row of labeled bins with fresh, hot bagels thrown in as they're being made. My personal faves: pumpernickel, cinnamon raisin, whole wheat with oat bran. For the more adventurous, there's honey blueberry. And don't forget the bialys -- the less considered but equally delicious offshoot of bagels -- that come in the same flavors as the bagels and offer less carbs (I think). The tuna salad is divine. I'm wary of trying tuna salad at places for fear of over mayo or too salty. Once Upon has hit the nail on the head with its perfect ratio of ingredients in this delectable MUST GET treat. A fine establishment in the fine neighborhood of Highland Park.
(4)Patty H.
These are NOT New York bagels. If you have never had a real, New York bagel, these are probably fine for you. They taste good and they come in lots of varieties. But the texture is all wrong. It must be more expensive and time consuming to do it right, because no one seems to anymore. I don't need a fancy deli ... I just want a little place that just makes bagels where i can pick up a dozen and take them home.
(2)Ba R.
Let me get this out of the way first: The best lox in Chicagoland is at Kaufmann's in Skokie (now that Ashkinaz is no more) and the best bagels are at New York Bagels & Bialies in Lincolnwood. That said, if you want to get all your brunch supplies in one stop, and you're on the North Shore, Once Upon a Bagel is top-notch. And it's a fine place to eat in as well. Do go. I insist.
(4)Adam K.
I am a half Indian Jew, so I love a good bagel with chutney. They do not have that here. Classic Deli set up as you walk in the joint buuuuut..... About as mediocre, food wise as you can get. But as Jerry Seinfeld said, "The busboys are the best in the city." Cept this ain't the city. This place is really not that good, I am sorry, its so hyped by everyone because there are SO FEW BAGEL PLACES IN CHICAGO. I don't mean a place you can get a bagel, but a place you can get a good one. Work out the line / ordering situation you guys, I always walk in there and have NO idea what is going on, if I am going to cut off some family who are standing somewhat near the register. SO I always just muscle up to the front cuz these are pretty much the "let me do your taxes" Jews. Not the "hold my machine gun while I take a leak" Jews in Israel. I am from Chicago, lived here all my life, we do a ton of great food items, but Bagels? VERY rarely do you get a good one in Chicago. The best I have had is Kaufman's and they toasted their bagels too long and burned down, and now they don't have a new location yet and I have to get this? I should drop dead to have a bagel not from Kaufman's already. Shame, but its passable for meow. But really and wholeheartedly, I would have given this place 1-2 stars, but in reality this is great and attentive service, quick, these Latino dudes have it down to a science, so good and flowing is the traffic, they saved this review. I get the sense these vato's have dealt with so much whining and crap from rich north shore jews, they already know what you are going to complain about before you even bring it up and preemptively stop. This area is sad too, the really ritzy suburb of Highland Park. SO many 6-10 year old girls on cell phones, all sitting at the table not talking to each other. And nasally droning JAPs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Je… And a generally nice group of well behaved people. Good for kids. No Gluten free menu. Its a Gluten madhouse in here.
(3)Anonymous N.
Always a stop when we visit Chicago Best Tuna Salad, great bagels, breakfasts, etc. Great bakery from cookies, cakes and also offer catering.
(5)Andrea R.
Once Upon a Time there were no good delis in the city of Chicago. Fortunately for us deli loving Jews, Once Upon a Bagel exists just 30 minutes (or an hr with traffic) away in Highland Park. On my most recent visit I picked up 2 egg white salad sandwiches...one for me and another one for my also pregno friend. I made the mistake of stopping in the day before Yom Kippur so it was super crowded as people rushed to pick up their deli platters before their fast began, but surprisingly the line moved relatively fast. My sandwich totally hit the spot, as did the smiley cookie I had a hard time resisting. As I mentioned back in the good old days of '06 this still doesn't compare to the delis I've experienced in South Florida and New York, but I'll take it over anything else we have in the city. And ya know what would be even more awesome? A Once Upon a Bagel location in the city! A girl can dream...
(4)kim c.
be prepared to wait on Saturday's and Sunday's with an especially pushy and rude crowd - but besides that - Once is AWESOME. The staff is super nice and QUICK - get's your order done and gets you out the door - which is nice if you've been waiting for 15 mintues... good variety of cream cheese, lox, and other specialties AND super good egg white egg salad and tuna salad!!
(3)Heather H.
Eating here makes me happy to be a Jew. The Everything Bagel at OUAB, dare I say, is one of the best bagels I've ever had. They give the perfect amount of cream cheese along with it too, which equates to A LOT. I've also had their sandwiches (on a bagel of course), soup, breakfast omelets, and potato latkes, and everything is on par with what a great Jewish deli should be. With plenty of seating available, there's not too long of a wait for eating in, or on a nice day you can take your happiness to go and enjoy it in the park. Located right in downtown Highland Park, it's a good stop-over while shopping in the area.
(4)Juliann P.
This review is for take out only... As in OMG I need a bagel sandwich with some Lox STAT!!! This is my go to joint for a ginormous sesame bagel, with chive cream cheese, about a pound of regular lox, tomato, onion in brown bag with a handful of napkins. It's always sticker shock tho, pretty sure said sandwich is now over 10$, but it's worth it. BRB, I'm off to the beach to watch the waves crash on the breakwater and eat my glorious sandwich.
(5)Rebecca H.
So, so good! A nice, casual, family friendly environment with amazing sandwiches.
(5)Studio L.
Order the mish-mosh ! ! ! nice
(4)Olga D.
Very yummy! Go there after 4pm to get your bakers dozen of bagels at half price! Everything is always fresh and tasty. The cream cheeses are delicious. I especially like the salmon, it has actual pieces of smoked salmon. Yum! The service has been quick and courteous.
(4)d a.
This is for the store in Hubbard Woods which does not have a profile yet. I've gone the other OUAB for several years and they're wonderful people, but the Hubbard Woods store needs some work. The food is fine, the restaurant has a nice view of the train station even if it's a big cramped. The issue however is that a can of soda was $2. I understand the economics of owning and running a store in prime Hubbard Woods real estate, but that price is absurdly ridiculous and offensive to customers especially those who have bought lots of stuff from there for everything from receptions and funerals to dinner for decades. That needs to be worked on.
(1)Ryan S.
2 things...Egg-white Salad and when are you opening a location in the city? I absolutely love this place. I have coworkers who live in Highland Park pick me up their egg-white salad and tuna and bring it to me at work on a weekly basis. Its an absolute travesty that there isn't one in the city. Someone needs to give NYC Bagel a little competition....
(5)Ralph E.
OK, here's the primer I wish I had before going there for a few years. New York bagels? No. But it's the closest outside of NY I have found. Great Jewish deli--even though I'm a Gentile, they let me in without checking my passport. Great bagels--13 flavors! You have to know what you're doing when you get there. Look at their web site under menu AND Bulk menu, otherwise you WILL miss a lot If doing carry-out--TAKE A NUMBER which is kinda tucked away to the left when you go in the door. Now, look around very quickly, or else you'll miss something good. They have a great assortment of fresh bagels, bialys, big pretzels, and some coffee cakes (made off site) and donuts--which are baked onsite--not fried--with chocolate frosting--yummy. You need to look around, as the menu is up on the wall. Sandwiches are big--deli style. Breakfast all day. Huge pickles and mmmmm, pickled tomatoes--yum. Creamed herring? Herring in wine sauce? You betcha. Bread--the rye is made off site, but is great---a half loaf should do. If you are going there during their busy times (Holidays, etc) pre-order (If you're going around Passover, you're nuts :-). I have seen more than a few disappointed folks walk out without some of their favorites--rye bread, green bagels on St Pats Day, etc. Chale bread and rolls. Whitefish chunks, smoked sable and BBQ salmon (which I still don't think of as a Jewish specialty. Bagel chips. Sliced cold-cuts and cheeses, salads by the pound (poultry, egg, 2 types os tuna, whitefish) all which may be made into sandwiches. They have very friendly, efficient staff at the carry out counter. The person who takes your order bags the bagels, scoops the cream cheese (8 flavors), wraps the lox (Nova or regular?) and makes the carry out sandwiches. If you want a big order, check their web site and call ahead--it will be ready and you won't hold up the others in line. BTW, those who call ahead can stand close to where they get the numbers for their order--thus getting to the front of the line. I recently ordered a tray or a group--3 dozen bagels, 3 types of cream cheese, onions, tomatoes, lox, etc. Asked for it to be ready at 6:30. am. Ready, and fresh! Now, if you are going to eat in, you may be surprised. First of all, you walk past the carry out counter, which seems like it goes the length of the building, and got to the line that is on the left. The eat in line may look long, but moves fast. Breakfast all day. Great sandwiches. Made to order. The eat in area is much larger than you would think walking in. The place is clean. Very clean. And don't forget the chicken soup!
(4)Jennifer P.
egg white salad is very yummy and healthier!! Tuna salad is awesome... but my favorite thing to get there is an egg bagel with either chive cream cheese or lox spread. All of the staff are very friendly and polite!! Couldn't be treated better :) The kreplach are home made and wonderful!!! And try the matzo balls!!!! They also have an everything wheat bagel that has just the right amount of garlic.... yummy!!
(5)Brad E.
Great deli, bagels and other baked goods. They have kosher style food and Italian cookies, and the list goes on. Check their website for the many food items. It is a top notch hodge podge of delicious foods. I have never noticed any quality issues. You must be comfortable in crowds because the line is out the door and every square inch of the restaurant is occupied with satisfied customers!
(4)Taylor M.
I love the bagels here! The delivery service is fantastic and I have never encountered a problem with them. When I worked in Highland Park, we would often have bagel platters delivered. I have not ventured out to try anything other than various bagels and cream cheese spreads. All were fantastic. My favorite is the salt bagel.. I had never had this prior to Once Upon a Bagel, but it is awesome... especially for me because I am a salt lover! I am a big fan of the Cream Cheese with Chives and the Veggie Cream Cheese. If you are in the Highland Park area, you definitely need to check this place out.
(5)Dave C.
Rockstar bagels and amazing sandwiches. I try to come here every time I visit home for lunch. This is a great spot to grab soup and a sammie. It can get CRAZY busy here so this is not the best place if you don't want to deal with the HP crowd.
(5)Nicolas H.
This place is decent, but definitely has its flaws. The prices are reasonable overall, however I tried to order a bagel sandwich with lox and cream cheese. Instead I was given a lox plate, with a bagel on the side and a plastic cup of cream cheese ($9). Lesson learned, but it seems odd they wouldn't offer a bagel sandwich with lox. On the positive side, the bagel tasted fresh (but a little small) and the lox was good. We also had a side of whitefish salad which was very good, nice and creamy. I'd come back for some soup and a sandwich on a cold winter day, and maybe some challah to go...
(3)Alex R.
Best bagels in or outside of chicago! Really what I love most are their bialys! Generally I try to avoid heavier breads, but this place makes that very difficult. My husband almost always whips up some interesting omelet concoction. This place is definitely worth visiting. And frequently!
(4)Bridget M.
I get so happy when work sends me out to the HP - that means I will be that much closer to this drool inducing deli. Would it be overboard to say that they put the "deli" in delicious? The prices are fair, especially considering how pricey the neighborhood can get. The service is efficient. And the food? YUM! The bread is fresh - regardless of what kind of bread you order. The deli meat is flavorful, therefore the sandwiches? STELLAR. Lunches in HP can get challenging - parking can be brutal (yes, brutal even if we're not in the city!) and the number of 4 way stops to get to the downtown area are quite the deterrent. Warning: HP drivers subscribe to the belief that at a 4 way stop, the car that costs the most gets to go first.
(4)Gopal R.
My girlfriend's family ordered a big lunch spread from this place on Rosh Hashanah. It had egg bagels, egg salad, tuna salad, deli-sliced corned beef and roast beef, and some cream cheese spreads. We noshed on that spread every day for the entire weekend. The corned beef was especially tasty. Great stuff. Probably the best food I ate on my first trip to Chicago.
(5)Andrew H.
Most everything is good here. Been a customer for years. It's clean, the staff is attentive and owner is wonderful. They know how to make a sandwich here. The right amount of shmear and the right amount of lox. I give 3 stars for the bagels. An egg tastes like a plain, a poppy has a faint poppy taste, onions are only on the outside and so on. They do have very good bialys and the rye bagels with kimmel (seeds). Soups tasty and salads fresh and tasty.
(3)Elina S.
This has got to be the best deli I've ever tried & I"m not talking in the north shore, I'm talking everywhere! The place has a very homey, Jewish feel, which I like. The bagels are my favorite out of any other bagel place, the veggie cream cheese is a must for any catering event or party. Now onto my most favorite tuna salad in the whole world, it is AMAZING! I get it for my entire family and we all love it and can't get enough of it. Other than the fact that tuna has mercury, I would eat it every single day, but every time i'm in highland Park this place is on my must-stop-by- list. I mean everything that they have is delicious, whether the salmon salad, the spreads including the lox spread, everything is superb. Next on my list of things to try is their egg salad! I wish they made another location in Buffalo Grove closer to home then I would be in everyday for lunch. :))
(5)Sandra M.
Thank you OUAB for your presence in HP! Love it that I can get a yummy bagel when I am in the mood for a weekend splurge...like a touch of NYC right in my backyard.
(4)Max E.
I make a stop here every time I come home from school. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't delicious. I always go with the pastrami on rye or California tuna. If you're going for more standard deli fare, the matzo ball soup is always good. The staff are very friendly, but it gets crowded.
(5)Karen K.
Didnt know this place was a full restaurant! Awesome and yummy!
(4)Laurie W.
I love this place and it's one of the first eateries visited when our grown 'kids' come home with our grandchildren! But something has gone awry lately - the egg salad has been inconsistent for the last couple of months. Sometimes great, sometimes seeming not fresh. Everything else is as it should be! Great soups, amazing tuna, deli items, skinny bagels, fabulous pretzels and smiley face cookies, and a wide choice of eating in menu items!! The owner also manages to have a wonderful staff that is truly accommodating. Run, don't walk - you'll love it......
(4)Shira G.
This place ALWAYS gets our order wrong. No idea why? But my in-laws are creatures of habit and like it.... so we go. We made it sort of a game as to what we order and what we will actually get. They are a little nuts with the whole charging a buck or 2 for 2 slices of tomato on the side.
(3)Julia R.
delicious fresh bagels here. yummy cream cheese. i have fallen in love with matzo ball soup because of this place. hard to come up to Highland Park without stopping here. mmmm...
(4)Kristen W.
Once Upon A Bagel is so good it almost makes up for how awful Highland Park is in general. The bagels & bialys are yummy and cheap. The tuna salad and egg salad are the best I've had in Chicagoland. But gesh, navigating through the 4-way stops (why can't Highland Parkers figure out how these work) and all the rude people sure makes it a pain in my ass to get to.
(4)Christina B.
A North Shore landmark! The food is amazing, the bagels are superb and there's even a half off Baker's Dozen special after 4. I stock up on the bagels (just cut them in half and freeze them) and their frozen soups. The staff are really really friendly and helpful and I love that they do a lot of work in the community as seen by the hundreds of 'thank you' notes displayed on their walls. THE BEST!
(5)Jacob F.
OUAB is a nice little jewish deli. I went there a couple of weeks ago with my cousin and I got a nice little pastrami sandwich and a diet cherry vanilla dr. pepper. It was a little dry, but the tasty rye more than made up for it. The prices were good and it was a nice sandwich. Next time, I'm going to try a bagel. I also agree with the previous reviewer who believes Highland Park drivers are miserable. A four-way stop isn't that hard, guys. FFS you live here and they're everywhere so you should know how to do them.
(4)Elizabeth A.
Best tuna salad around, hands down. Also AWESOME breakfast sandwiches, served all day of course. Everything else is great too. The menu is your typical Jewish deli, but high quality. It's always packed so don't expect to get in and out quickly - call ahead if you're in a rush. Guys who work here are SO friendly and wonderful. It's a tad pricey, but worth it for the quality!!
(5)Paige W.
Oh. Ohhhhhh, bagels. I have long lamented the difficulties of finding even a passable bagel outside the Tri-State Area, but I stopped whining briefly a couple of months ago to stuff my face with a Once Upon a Bagel...bagel. And now my whining has been replaced with begging my boss to bring them again. I have no car, so I can't get to Highland Park myself, but every once in a while, the publisher from our group brings them in -- like this morning, when she figured the impending blizzard would whip us all into a hunger frenzy. So delicious and SO MUCH BETTER than Einstein Brothers' ridiculous holey-bread excuses for bagels. I am happy. And full. And missing New York just a little less every time I have one of these.
(4)Timothy W.
I've been here twice now when I'm away from the city at work. The first time I got a garlic bagel with lox spread. It was delicious and I did not even know what lox was at that point! The second time was lunch and I had a pastrami sandwich on rye, which was very fresh, lots of pastrami and fresh vegetables. I will definitely go back.
(4)Brad F.
Every time i come here I walked out stufffffed!!! This is one of my favorite delis in the north shore area. They have the best sandwiches and soups. But if you come here you must try the cajun fries, they are to die for!!!!
(5)Sara P.
After a coworker discussed the OUAB incessantly for weeks on end, we decided to hop in the car and make a work trip out of it. I was worried I had built this deli up to a point of no return. Boy, was I wrong. It's a good thing I don't have a car, because I would go to Once Upon a Bagel everyday if I could. I had the tuna "boat", and it was some of the best tuna I'd ever had. Even their cajun curly fries were a huge hit. And the matzah ball soup? Tasted homemade, which is hard to come by! I got an order to go of the essentials- corned beef, bagels, bagel chips, and chive cream cheese (I would be remiss to not tell you how unbelievably good the chive cream cheese is). And if you're heading out there from the city, don't forget the chocolate donut. Believe me, you won't regret it.
(5)Phillip B.
I eat here probably 3x a week. It's the best bagel place around. And the bacon is unbelievable. OUAB is my fav breakfast spot. 5 stars all around...
(5)Brad S.
very good and the guys working are great with the kids
(5)N Z.
Personally I am shocked to see that this has 4 out of 5 stars as a rating. I have visited this place twice and have found little redeeming qualities. The bagels are about half the size of a normal bagels and the worst thing about it is you have to wait about 20 minutes to get it. The deli ordering style is slow and inefficient. Don't even try to get a cup of coffee past 11 because they have stopped serving it. The only reason I can think of why this place has customers is because it is the only bagel place in the town. P.S. If anyone is looking for a real bagel place check out Espresso Royal in Boston, MA.
(1)Kathryn M.
Oh Once Upon A Bagel how I miss you and your chicken noodle soup and a bagel or bialy for less then $3. It was always the perfect quick and cheap lunch or dinner in the winter. The bagels are fresh and delicious. I can only say good things. I love everything about it, even when it's super crowded around brunch time on Saturdays and Sundays. The personalities of the patrons and the kids running around and the delicious and cheap food all combine into a one of a kind experience that makes me miss living in HP.
(5)Margaret B.
Great NY style deli food in the north suburbs. The tuna salad is one of the best and their omlettes are quality as well. Always end with a smiley face cookie.
(4)Steve O.
A gem of Highland Park. Really good food no matter what you order. My son loves their chicken noodle soup. Highland Park dining has gotten so "fancy" its nice to have a place like this in town.
(5)Andrea L.
One of my faves for lunch when I am with the parents in HP. Their egg salad is great, as are the sesame bialy sticks and chicken soup. It's always crowded, and we always see at least one person we know when we go. I wish we had a place like this in my neighborhood. I'd eat there all the time!
(5)gnat c.
best bagels on the north shore. sure, there is no comparison to new york, but hey, you aren't in new york, you're in highland park, il. service is always quick. bagels are quite tasty. an extensive selection = smiles all around.
(5)Olivia R.
Whenever I'm craving a good Jewish style brunch I head to Highland Park for Once Upon a Bagel because sadly I can't find anything that compares in the city. I usually stick with the tuna because it's so good! They have a great bakery as well to pick up sweets.
(4)J K.
the best abgels and soup
(5)Chris T.
So I was on my way from Chicago's Gold Coast to east Libertyville earlier today and felt a SERIOUS craving for a delicious Lox sandwich. It was rush hour and I decided to take the scenic route up from Chicago (Lake Shore Drive to Sheridan Road through Winnetka, Glencoe, etc.) rather than fight traffic on the Kennedy & Edens. From Sheridan Rd. it was a breeze getting into downtown Highland Park. I realized upon arrival that I had been to this deli (Once Upon A Bagel) once last summer. I was VERY pleased with the delicious mouth watering Lox sandwich that I got. I had an interesting combo of Whole Wheat bagels combined with lox (salmon) and strawberry cream cheese lol. The whole vibe coupled with the extensive Kosher selection, the HP area Jewish population, and the authentic deli food gave it a pretty nice New York feel (or at least a suburban New York feel lol). In fact one of the workers told me that the owner travels to NY frequently to gather up new ideas for the restaurant. The crowd today at the deli ranged from families (mostly with younger children) to the elderly. I'm sure I'll be back there again.
(5)adam d.
a decent if crowded deli. its a bagel centric manny's that went on a diet... my kid brother has a fetish for their donuts... good place to pick up a dozen.... decent deli counter and salad/spreads.
(3)