Spread Bagelry — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

I don’t know what happened to this place… but is has been on a steady decline for the past two-three years. Yes, I do understand that this correlates to the Pandemic, and that very well may be the reason, but I’m going to modify my patronage to only include the good, and avoid everything else.

First and foremost, the bagels are solid performers. They look and taste great. The bagel bakers here should get a raise. I’ve never had a bad bagel here. Always a great crust and chewy insides.

Get your bulk bagels to go, and you can’t lose.

Everything else needs work.

Their bagel sandwiches look like they were made by angry people that hate their job. Stuff piled on lopsidedly, cheese everywhere, and then cut as if someone did it with a two handed axe. Sloppy.

Prices are way-way off the charts. No reason to pay $33 for two sandwiches and two canned coffees.

And, the most frustrating part of my recent experiences - they turn off online ordering randomly. You don't know until you check out. Which is a waste of everyone's time. Tell me you are closed up front.

The entire point of an online ordering system is to reduce the load on the staff and to make sure there is no mistake in communicating what I want in my order. I typed it in… so it is exactly what I want. If there is a problem in what I’m handed, it is clear where the breakdown was - it would be my fault because I typed it in incorrectly.

You need to work on yourself a little. Fix these things and you can go back to your 5 star position in my mind. Stay this way, and you are relegated to just being a bulk bagel shop. Which, honestly isn’t terrible - just not what you wanted to be.

And, you need to pay your people more.

You have a lot of stones to ask for an 18%, 20%, or 25% tip as the default options in your point-of-sale system. I paid $33 for two breakfast sandwiches already - you don’t get $9 more because you put it in a bag and left it on the counter for me to look through.

Pivot....

Not sure what to say about this place other than it’s a 1 star when I stop by at 720AM on a Friday to a sign telling me SORRY NO BAGELS!

To be clear this is not the 1st time but the third or fourth time this has occurred but in the other cases while I was a bit miffed the times were weekend or holiday adjacent and later in the AM so I had to cut them a bit of slack.

Today I had to pick up bagels for the office and thought I would hit Spread on the way only to see the aforementioned sign.

I think as a bagel shop you really need to look inward when you have no bagels that early on a weekday. Like the plan is not working in some way. I angrily headed out to another place on the way.

I instead hit Manhattan Bagel and you know what is so great about them……when I go there they HAVE BAGELS!!!! Funny how that works.

The only thing that made me feel better was telling every co-worker I encountered about lame this was, and agreeing to avoid Spread in the future.

The bagels have been good when they have had them but I can’t keep going for a 50% chance they will have bagels at...

Spread Bagelry in Bryn Mawr has quickly become the shining beacon of my weekend mornings. Beyond just a bakery, it feels like a community hub, radiating warmth, both from the oven-baked bagels and the ever-cheerful staff.

Their bagels are second to none – crisp on the outside, chewy in the middle, and always tantalizingly fresh. Each bite captures the essence of what an ideal bagel should be, and the variety they offer ensures every visit can bring a new flavor adventure.

But what elevates Spread Bagelry even more is its staff. Always greeting with a smile, their infectious enthusiasm sets the tone for a delightful day ahead. It's evident they take pride in what they do, and their joy is palpable, making every visit feel special.

For anyone in or around Bryn Mawr, Spread Bagelry isn't just a recommendation – it's a must-visit. Prepare to be embraced by the aroma of freshly baked bagels and a team that seems genuinely happy to make your breakfast dreams come true. See you there...