The Great American Bagel Bakery — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

With nearly 3 hours left until my flight takes off, I asked myself, "Brian, what is the best way to spend your next 3 hours?" Unbeknownst to me, the question was already answered for me. Right there, in the midst of my near-sighted vision, was the one and only Great American Bagel Company. Holding back the tears, I was able to mutter just a singular word to myself, "Bagel." The smell emitting from the Great American Bagel Company was only to be described as freedom, and gratitude. As I walk up the line to order, I closed my eyes and thought to myself "Be still my heart, for this moment is a monumental moment in which I am not worthy." "What would you like?" said the kind woman taking customers food orders (by memory, I might add). Through my heart ache I was able to put together the words "A bagel." She could see the disparity in my eyes and fearfully responded, "Sure thing." My face at this moment was a perfect mixture of the Grinch and an owl waiting for it's prey. "The 3 hours that remain will be full of life and delicious food," I thought to myself as I impatiently waited for what was going to be the best meal of my life.

After a few minutes, another very kind lady handed me my bagel. As thoughts raced through my head and my heart created dubstep at 140 BPM, I grabbed the bag and stomped to the nearest seat. I could tell from the warmth of the bag that this bagel was made with love and kindness. It was almost as if the bagel had feelings of its own... Feelings of joy and sorrow. Clearly this bagel knew it was beautiful, but it did not want to be eaten by a crazy, over dramatic man (me). But I had 3 hours to kill, and this bagel was going down with me. I ignored the bagels feelings and slowly opened up the paper bag and retrieved the "Everything" bagel with Strawberry cream cheese from the Great American Bagel Company. When I peeled open the high quality wax paper, the bagel that lay before my eyes was... Dare I say it? Perfect.

Luscious amounts of Strawberry cream cheese sat between the expertly toasted bagel. "HNNNNG!" I moaned throughout the not-so-empty O'Hare Airport. Eyes gleaming at me did not stop my dedicated soul from devouring this beautifully crafted work of art. Every bite was full of thoroughly baked dough with just the right amount of crispness to it. Copious amounts of Strawberry cream cheese fell onto the wax paper (which they gave me free of charge) as I gnawed the holy $3.33 meal. So much Strawberry cream cheese was getting dropped from this bagel creation that people around me were starting to notice. As my oral destruction of the bagel could not be stopped, the Strawberry cream cheese started literally exploding from my general direction. Screams echoed throughout the spacious airport, "So much cream cheese!" The Strawberry cream cheese increased exponentially in size (and deadliness) in a matter of seconds. People were diving for cover. Security guards worryingly trying to detain the bagel could not get near the lethal amounts of Strawberry cream cheese. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I shouted between bites. The bagel was stronger than anyone ever anticipated. Planes descending for landing flew back into the air to avoid the inevitable combined power of the Strawberry cream cheese and the "Everything" bagel. The Strawberry cream cheese nuclear bombs grew in size all the way until the last bite.

The aftermath... Ohhhhh the aftermath. It looked like a Jackson Pollock masterpiece. The sounds of groans and despair filled the air as everyone recovered from the most powerful bagel eating experience anyone had ever witnessed. Dumbfounded that I was still alive, I stood up and walked to my gate. "2 hours and 55 minutes left" I said to myself.

Best bagel of my bagel-eating...

So there I was... Hungry. Starving. Famished! Then. Out of the corner of my eye, a small bagel sign made me immediately crave a bagel with lox and cream cheese. I had high hopes when the artist (I don't use that term lightly or to be PC) behind the counter started talking up his creations. He pointed me at the pizza bagel, steered me towards the onion bagel, guided towards the everything bagel.... My eyes, and stomach, finally came to rest on the asiago bagel with this crispy toasted cheese on top. A few minutes later, after watching anxiously as my soon to be dinner slid through the oven, I was presented with a brown sack with what I was desiring inside. I was surprised at how quickly I got to meet the solution to my hunger pains! These guys are quick!

This is HANDS DOWN the best LOXS BAGEL I've ever had. I try to get one at every bagel place I go to and I wasn't ready to be floored by this little place. Easily the best that I've ever had. Keep it up guys! And to the artist, you were definitely correct assuming that I would be happy with my choice in meal!...

Can't agree more with most of the reviews. This is definitely a location that doesn't worry about reviews. Airline passengers are a captive group, have to eat somewhere, and if not satisfied most likely don't have time get issues resolved. Three people behind counter, one making orders, one cashier, these two are good customer service people. The 3rd over by the coffee, quite possibly supervisor since cashier asked her about price discrepancy. This person just restated the wrong price. I pointed it out on the sign, she again just blurted out higher price. I again pointed it out, response now is that's for the coffee too. After I got it and tasted it, I should have let it go, worst coffee I've ever had. So not only paid the higher price, ended up...