Einstein Bros. Bagels — Restaurant in Albuquerque

I will never come here again. I went in there yesterday after having a long morning, basically salivating for a bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll with ketchup. Simple, right? Wrong. The first thing the girl said is, "We don't have any rolls, only bagels." I said in disbelief, "You don't have ANY rolls??"

I mean I know the name says Einstein Bros. BAGELS, but Dunkin' DONUTS also has bagels, croissants, English muffins, etc. You don't say I'd like a "Bacon, egg, and cheese on a donut"... unless you really, really want to... DAIRY Queen has dairy items but also burgers and chicken. Last time I checked, there's NO DAIRY in beef or chicken.

Finally I caved in and said, "Ok, please can I have a bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel with ketchup?" Then the other girl there whispers something to the girl I'm talking to who then says, "Umm, we don't have any ketchup." I repeated her in disbelief to make sure I heard this right, "You don't have ANY ketchup??" I know that ketchup on eggs is a controversial issue, but I come down on the side that I need ketchup with my eggs. She starts saying, "We have pizza sauce, ranch dressing..." as if THOSE things belong on bagels... so I just cut her off and said, "No, forget about it."

So, reluctantly, because I was there already and didn't know anyplace else close to go, I ordered "Bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel." The price came out to OVER eight dollars!! I said, "Over 8 dollars?! For something that I don't even want?!!" That's more than I would pay for it back in New York!! (which actually included the ketchup)

After that I thought of a Burger King nearby to go to to get ketchup because I don't have any ketchup at home. But I'm not one of those people who goes into a restaurant and takes things for free, so I ordered a small fries to justify why I'm taking ketchup packets.

After $12 worth of food to put together a $5 sandwich, I was finally able to have a (cold by then) bacon, egg, and cheese with ketchup on a plain bagel... Oh! I can't leave this out - the bacon was NOT long strips of crispy bacon like you would think (and want!). It was mushy like slices of ham gathered together. The slice of cheddar cheese was burnt, and the eggs seemed like something that you would find on a space mission. Perfectly circular scrambled eggs." ......

This Einsteins had been very frustrating since about March. The food is still tasty, but the new staff they have either have no personality or no customer service experience. Starting back in March, there productivity has gone down and food on weekends takes way too long for it being a bagel joint. I've been trying to be patient, but I feel like every other time or more often I eat here (which is weekly) I have another issue with one thing or another. Today's example, I had a 3 free bagels for filling out a survey that stated gourmet bagels might have an additional charge (thank you Einsteins corporate!!!) I went in and showed them the coupon I had before ordering and then ordered my 3 bagels unsliced and untoasted for later in the week one being a gourmet bagel (because as a New Mexican, who doesn't love a green chile bagel) along with one bagel with peanut butter so I could enjoy breakfast for the day. I get to the register and the girl checking me out informs me I don't have enough correct bagels to use the coupon... she says the green chile bagel doesn't count because it's gourmet. When I pointed out the fact that the coupon said it would just be an additional charge, she said it didn't work that way on her side and they couldn't do it. I would have to select a different bagel. THEN I asked why I couldn't count the pretzel bagel I had ordered since it wasn't a gourmet bagel to which she responded its because I ordered PB with it... are you kidding me? First off, why wasn't any of this mentioned when I was ordering and had already shown the coupon explaining that's what it was being used for and then how in the world can you possibly be so unwilling to try and figure out how to "help" when the coupon CLEARLY states that gourmet bagels are an additional charge and I was willing to pay the additional charge???

This is just one of the many frustrations I have had at this specific Einsteins since March. Someone really needs to teach their staff...

I've always been a fan of the menu at Einstein Bros Bagels. Their selection is diverse and each item is a testament to their culinary expertise. The bagels, in particular, are a delight - perfectly baked, delicious, and arguably some of the best I've had.

However, my experiences have been marred by a few consistent issues. One of the most noticeable is their opening time. Despite the posted hours, the store often opens late, which can be quite inconvenient for early morning visits.

Additionally, the customer service leaves much to be desired. The staff behind the register often seem unhappy and unenthusiastic, which unfortunately dampens the overall atmosphere of the place. A friendly interaction can go a long way in enhancing the dining experience, and this is an area where improvement is needed.

Lastly, accuracy in order fulfillment has been a recurring problem. On multiple occasions, I've received incorrect orders, which is disappointing and frustrating.

In conclusion, while Einstein Bros Bagels shines in its culinary offerings, there are significant areas of improvement in terms of service and operations. I hope to see positive changes...