Einstein Bros. Bagels — Restaurant in Farragut

This is one of the strangest managed businesses. It has really gone downhill in the last couple of years. Some eateries have responded well to the pandemic, and then there is this Einstein's.

My husband and I said that we were going to stop eating there as much when they started asking us if we wanted to tip when we went through the drive-through. I've never been asked verbally if I wanted to tip while going through a drive-through. It incredibly awkward. I have either had the option of tipping on a computer screen, or writing it in, but I don't think that you should have to tip for drive-through service/fast food and I don't want to have to stare the person in the face as I tell them that.

But alas, today I got a coupon in my email for a free bagel sandwich for my birthday. I went onto the app and saw that they now did curbside and I was super excited as I have been sick and didn't want to go anywhere. I placed is for ASAP and then was surprised when they said it would be 15-20 minutes but it wasn't a huge deal as I could check my email while I waited. The app made me put in the color and type of my car and directed me to park and put on my hazard lights.

After waiting for around 30 minutes, I called the store. The girl who answered was very sweet and she told me she would check. She then came back to the phone and told me that my order has been sitting by the front door in the pick up section. Why would they even offer curbside and then make you come in? If I hadn't called, would I have been sitting there forever?

Glad my cold sandwich was free but yikes. Is Place needs a training session and for corporate to take curbside off the app...

I tried a Jalapeño & Bacon Bagel, with Onion & Chive shmear, bacon, eggs, cheese and hash brown. The sandwich was pretty good. However, the customer service was lacking.

I was very eager to try a sandwich from Einstein after looking at their website! A great experience couples both, great food and great customer service.

With all of the options available for a sandwich I prepared by looking at the website before arriving in the drive thru.

However, I had questions to pair my toppings, shmear and bagel appropriately. The associate seemed disappointed with being asked any questions at all.

It should be understood that with so many options ppl might have questions when visiting for the first time. It shouldn’t be assumed that I know what comes on the sand which, what doesn’t and what will taste good together. Lol.

And at a minimum, kindness should be reciprocated. I was extremely friendly and that demeanor was not reciprocated. Instead I felt like I was being a burden by simply asking if most ppl seem to like the Jalapeño bacon vs Jalapeño cheddar or would it be a better pair to try Onion & Chive shmear or plain.

The questions were concise and specific. And most importantly asked very friendly. But the associate responded with agitation, “you can get what ever you want” to each question. Not very helpful! Lol.

I was the only person in the drive thru line as well.

Simple and concise answers would’ve been awesome. A simple, “many ppl seem to like onion and chive on the Jalapeño & Bacon bagel”. Boom! With that simple improvement, this could’ve been a 5...

Stopped in for a two egg Farmhouse bagel and a large coffee this am. Young lady at the drive-in window was very unfriendly and seemed to be inconvenienced by me being there. She offered a "want do you want" as a greeting. I placed my order for a two egg farmhouse bagel, pulled up to window, employee had to finish on her phone before assisting me. Then no total, just took payment, handed it back and closed the window. Order was handed out the window, no thanks, come again, anything. I have never endured service like this before. Then to add to my frustration, when I got to work, opened my sandwich to discover it was a plain blueberry bagel instead of the Farmhouse. Disappointing!! Now looking at reviews it appears this location of Einstein Bagels has a culture of bad service and continues to refer people to a web site for further help. I didn't receive bad service from a web site, I received bad service from a person at a particular store which doesn't seem to being addressed or resolved for future. I will not patronize Einstein...