Bruegger's Bagels — Restaurant in Cornelius

I’ve been coming to the Cornelius Bruegger’s for 15 years, always hoping it will feel like it used to. Unfortunately, every visit leaves me disappointed. The quality of the bagels has declined—they’re often subpar and even burnt. During my last visit, we waited 35 minutes for just three bagels, with only 1 order of 2 bagels ahead of us because of a horribly understaffed shift. When we finally got our bagels they were not of quality at all. My husband was unable to eat his because he has an allergy to guacamole and they cut his bagel with the same knife as another bagel. My bagel was barely toasted and had so much sun-dried tomato you couldn’t taste anything else (Image included). My bagel looked or tasted nothing like the description said.

There was only one incredibly sweet employee working the front, who seemed to have a disability, managing the entire store while a line of customers waited. It was clear they were overwhelmed, yet there was no additional staff to help. We nearly walked out without the bagels we paid for. We watched four customers walk out due to the wait. One lady asked if there were others working with him, and he said yes but they were in the back “cleaning”. I am appalled this location allows one person to be controlling the front by themselves especially during rush hour. This has been the case every time we have visited this location in the past few months. I’m wondering if the others tell this particular worker that he must control the front while on the same shift with him? Historically at this location, there has ALWAYS been two workers up front.

The location is messy, and bagels are almost always sold out, no matter what time we arrive. This place needs at least two workers to keep up with demand and provide a better customer experience. Sadly, it’s not the Bruegger’s I remember, and I’ve decided I won’t be returning to...

I guess I should have looked at the reviews before I went in and based on the response to the reviews nothing is being done to fix the problems. The gentleman behind the counter seemed to be really annoyed at the fact I even bothered to come in, stepped to the restroom while my food was being prepared, the back door is hanging open, the walls are disgusting and God only knows the last time they were cleaned. Went back to the counter to pay and was greeted with the same annoyed attitude. I guess I was oblivious and in a hurry when I went in, but when I turn around to leave I realize the dining area is closed, chairs are up. So if you aren't allowing people to dine in, what's the excuse for the lack of cleanliness? Let me guess Covid? Well of Covid is such a big deal then the dining area should be clean enough to eat off the floor! The glass doors shouldn't be covered in hand prints, dust should not be collected on the walls!!! Needless to say I left so aggrevated, I just wanted breakfast, so 9 bucks worth of bagel in the garbage! Oh and let's not forget to mention the toilet paper dispenser being completely empty and the commercial roll set on the back of the toilet. Last time I checked, ladies sit down to use the bathroom, how are we suppose to know that's where you so lazily decided to call yourself refilling the toilet paper?! Note to management-unless you decide to refund my money don't waste your breath responding to this review. Patrons don't...

The bagels are delicious, but we walked in here for the first time ever & mistakenly went to the cash register to order. We had been standing for a few minutes while the guy was ringing someone up. Nobody said a thing to us. The guy at the register said, lowly, “you order there.” Pointed to the guy bagging up bagels. So, we walked two feet to the left to order & this guy says to his co-workers, “Uh, I guess I’m taking their order then?” Huffs about it.

Look dude, I’m sorry that we came in and we’re the only people ordering& that was super inconvenient. I’m sorry I asked for an egg bagel & you didn’t have any today. That’s not a big deal. Sorry if that was annoying, since I asked twice. I couldn’t hear you mumble that you didn’t have any, since you were so angry to have to, I guess do your job? Speak up & don’t act like taking someone’s order is a burden, especially since you took 4 other orders while we sat and ate our bagels & someone else came to the register to check people out. I don’t know this guy’s name, but he’s got a beard, and looks like Samwell Tarly from Game of Thrones. Bagels are good, but I’d rather stand in line for 10 minutes out the door at Bagel Bin near Target and not have people seem irritated that I’m coming inside.

Perhaps consider some signage that says “Order Here” “Pay Here” “Don’t ask this sad guy to do anything because he’s mad at his co-workers or having a bad day wondering if his character dies...