Chesapeake Bagel Bakery — Restaurant in Burke

This place is a contradiction. The food is still good, but the restaurant is a dumpster fire. It is dirty and it is broken down.

1.- all the tables are broken and wobbly. I found one (1) on which I could set my coffee cup and not risk it being spilled by wobbly tops and uneven legs. 2.- the walls are desgustingly dirty. They have not seen a drop of paint in 20 years, maybe more. Every mark that was put on the walls during this time, is still there. 3.- the paintings were attached to the walls with glue (ok, i don't care how they attach them) and the glue was allowed to run down the wall and leave 3 foot long stains that have been there at least 10 years. Nobody cleaned them off and nobody painted over the stains. 4.- the trash container cover has been broken for the past decade. The trash bin fills and overflows because nobody empties it, so everytime you want to get a napkin from the napkin dispenser, you have to step over garbage that is lying on the floor. 5.- the ceramic tiles are broken in several places. the owners removed the tile chips and left the gaping holes behind. 6.- the urinal in the men's room has been covered with a garbage bag for the last 5 years. 7.- the toilet in the men's room is made up of non-matching parts and flushes unreliably. 8.- the men's room is smelly and the floors are dirty. They never clean it, except maybe at night, so all day you have to dodge urine stains on the floor and a filthy sink. 9.- there are fruit flies in the store, especially near the coffee machines; and this is winter (November 25, 2024), when there are no insects flying around anywhere. 10.- equipment is broken everywhere. It has been 2 years now since I could not get an espresso because the machine has been busted and they did not bother to repair it. 11.- the conveyor toasters are broken. you can never get anything toasted. the bagels that are run through the toasters get slighly warm, but there is no toasting action at all.

Now, most of the staff is young and hard working. They are very pleasant to deal with and they genuinely work hard. You should tip them when you have the chance. They surely earn it.

However, the owners are just some sad sourpusses. The Mrs. is perpetually unhappy and I have never seen her smile at a customer, or say a good word to anyone.

Her husband though is completely lacking customer service skills. At one of my previous visits, he gave me the wrong order. I brought it back to him and he glowered murderously at me, as if it was my fault that he screwed up the order, then the angrily threw the sandwich in the trash can and set off to make the correct order. He was so angry doing it, that the sandwich was a sorry looking result.

The hired restaurant staff can run circles around him with regard to careful crafting and presentation of the food.

Conclusion: 1.- the food is still OK to have 2.- the place is broken down and filthy 3.- the owners are dreadful with customers and probably with their staff, too. 4.- the George Mason students (I assume they are students) working there are the brightest spot on this canvas. 5.- if I see the owners in the store, I will go eat elsewhere, and you...

Have been enjoying this bagel place for many years. Had a very unhealthy experience today. We bought a banana nut bagel with honey walnut cream cheese and a plain with strawberry cream cheese at around noon on Sunday the 19 th of December. Got it home 15 min drive and the cheese on both was very sour. Four adults and my teen son felt the same. My son actually threw up. Drove back and complained to the manager on duty. He took it back tasted it and said it was all fine. They make it weekly and it tasted fine. I was very surprised and told him that he should rethink about offering it to clients. He made me another set of bagels with the same tubs. I did not want to risk it again and got a refund. I took the bagels i bought back hime to get it tested with Food Safety.

Just beware and taste the cheese before you leave especially if you are buying later in day. Of course this was the last trip for our family...

This place is so, so bad. The bagels are stale and the other food isn't very good and the service is usually well below average, but we would still occasionally go because there aren't a lot of options I'm this neighborhood and we like to support local business. The last visit was the last straw. Ordered a bagel, watched two large groups come in after me, be served and leave, and finally after 25 minutes of standing around, I went up to the counter to see what was going on. They hadn't even started my food and the bagel flavor I chose 25 minutes ago was now gone. Not one employee thought to ask me what I was waiting on after 25 minutes! Never mind that they shouldn't have forgotten to make my order in the first place. The young Indian girl with the braid made my food and practically threw it across the counter at me and said "here". No apology, nothing. I will celebrate when this place finally goes out...