Hinnawi Bros. Bagel & Café | Ontario Est — Restaurant in Montreal

We had the opportunity to try their classic New York and Montreal bagels, and both were memorable for different reasons. The New York bagel was juicy, with a delightful texture that felt both fresh and satisfying. On the other hand, the Montreal bagel was a smoky dream, perfect for lovers of smoked meat. It’s a flavor that lingers and leaves you wanting more.

A highlight of our visit was the special Valentine's Day red bagel paired with cream cheese. It was a fun twist on the traditional, offering a subtle sweetness. While enjoyable, we felt the red velvet cake could use a bit more refinement in flavor—it didn’t quite hit that cake-like perfection we were hoping for. However, it’s still worth trying if you're in the mood for something seasonal.

The space itself was charming and well-decorated for Valentine's Day, with a mural depicting Montreal, which beautifully ties into the bagel culture. The overall vibe of the café was sleek and modern, though nothing out of the ordinary for a coffee shop. The walls were lined with witty taglines, which added a touch of personality to the place.

Service was excellent—friendly staff who were happy to guide us through the menu and explain the ingredients in the sandwiches. This level of care made the experience feel special.

Price-wise, they offers great value. The portions are generous, especially considering the deluxe bagel sandwiches, and with specials like the Valentine’s Day two-for-one deal, it’s hard not to leave satisfied.

Overall, Hinnawi is a wonderful spot for bagel enthusiasts, whether you're stopping by for a classic or checking out their seasonal offerings. Just a note on the red velvet cake—while it’s a fun idea, it might need a little tweaking to reach its full potential. But that’s a small flaw in an otherwise stellar experience.

Food ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (red velvet needs work) Service ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Price ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ $$ Atmosphere/vibe ⭐⭐⭐ Location ⭐⭐⭐ (the signage needs some work to be able to...

I'm giving up on this chain. I've gone to them for years because they do have a decent bagel sandwich, but they're organization, staff, ownership decisions and overall attitude is just terrible. Today was the last draw when I called ahead of time. Place an order for two sandwiches. I do this because I know they are usually very slow and I like to give them a heads up today. In particular, I was heading to the airport so I really didn't have time to wait.

On the phone the person asked me if I wanted anything else I said no that would be great and I would see them soon. They then hung up the phone on me. 25 minutes later when I get to the cafe and ask about the sandwiches they tell me that they had not started making them because they didn't ask how long it would be until I arrived.

I'm taking longer than I should to complain about what is a small thing but I figure maybe I will save somebody else the trouble of wasting your time here.

Though the staff are largely incompetent, I really do blame the ownership and management for not proper training.

They gave me a free sandwich so I...

Not even worth a star!! we went to this place on April 15 (Sunday morning). When we got our orders I asked for peanut butter and the girl said there is one in the basket but I asked for one extra because we were two. The girl said you can take it from other tables because I have other things to do!!!!! then my husband asked for a knife he went to the another girl but she had the same attitude; she replied: I don't have a clean one but I can give you a dirty knife if you want because I have other things to do!!! (seriously!!! what you have to do is serving people that's your job!) I complained to the manager and she said I will bring you one clean knife (that never happened). Funny thing is they put a sign at the cash and asked for tip! no wonder why people don't want to tip you because of the poor service and attitude! and poor management as well. That was the worse experience we had and will never go back to that place. The bagel wasn't even great (average I would say). When I complained to the manager I was expecting a different attitude, if thats the manager then what do you expect...