The Bean on Hertel — Restaurant in Buffalo

I've been visiting this spot for years as the building has changed hands. I can confidently say that The Bean needs more time to roast before I can give it a solid recommendation.

Don't get me wrong, the staff is great. The atmosphere is fine, I appreciate the plants. My order was a pretty simple one, a large hot coffee and bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel.

Getting it right was easy, doing it well takes time. The coffee was great, maybe a bit darker roast than what I'm used to, but still delicious. The bagel sandwich is the departure. The bagel itself was huge, great if you like the bagel, not so great if you're in for a doughy surprise.

This bagel was capital D dense. And the egg was seasoned with thoughts and prayers. The bacon was my only saving grace among a desert of flavor. I can TOTALLY see this being a great sandwich, but there is quite a bit of work to be done.

I will be back, as the coffee is great, and your latte flavors intrigue me. But next time...I think a pastry may...

Uhmmmm - have you all HAD NYC bagels before? This ain’t them. I thought maybe there’s some difference if it’s a “Long Island Bagel” somehow, but google says no. Without saying anything, I asked the bf (who lived in NYC for years) his opinion and he said, “They make a very nice roll.” I brought a couple home to my kid who has always prioritized bagels every time he’s gone downstate. Again, I didn’t say squat ahead to get his honest opinion. He compared it to Tops Market’s so-called “Italian Bread” in their bakery. On point. Without the topping of salt or seeds, they don’t taste like much of anything at all & they’re nowhere near the snap and chew of a NYC bagel. The service was very friendly and quick (although they got the order wrong.) Also I hate that almost all coffee shops now just automatically make everything to-go. Does anyone have ceramic cups anymore? The atmosphere is very nice/cute, but, to quote Kevin Kline in “A Fish Called Wanda,”...

I've gone here a few times ever since discovering it and this place is great. The workers are friendly and the atmosphere is amazing.

The drinks could do with some tweaking. Maybe slightly less sweet on their seasonal drinks but they are still solid in my opinion. The bagels are definitely the highlight of this spot. They are freshly made and incredibly soft. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a rosemary salt bagel and it was one of the best ones I've had. Highly recommend you try this.

The service was nice and quick. The lady behind the counter taking orders was welcoming and helpful. The order comes out quick even on busy hours.

The atmosphere is great. Big open space. Fun decor. Outlets around for people who like to go out and work on...