Hive | Bagel and Deli — Restaurant in Memphis

Hive's Banal Bagel

We are judged constantly in life. We have performance reviews at work, we have received grades at school, and we women hear our mothers' criticisms (particularly, my asian mother---"your blond is too dark or too light or not enough to cover your black hair). Especially, when you charge $9.50 for a breakfast bagel, you expect to be judged.

When I told the woman at the counter to get my order (the 3rd time) right, she replied with sullenness and disgust after saying "we are working it out--growing pains". Well, my friend, you got 3 chances. Some of us don't even get that many chances, and some of us, minorities, don't even get A CHANCE. I would not have written this review if HIVE did not fail on the 3rd time. However, it did---miserably.

I had lived in New York for 14 years and in Borough Park for a year. I have enjoyed a lot of bagels. However, Hive gave me a BANAL BAGEL at best and HIVES OF DISTASTE at worst.

When I ordered a bagel toasted "DARK", I expect it to be toasted. 1st and 2nd tries were not even toasted. When toasted, bagels are supposed to be crunchy so it compliments either the eggs or the cream cheese. However, when it is NOT, MUSHY + MUSHY= MUSH. No one like to EAT MUSH, except a new born or geriatric. On my second order, I asked about the bagel being toasted and was greeted with a snappy response: "We toast our bagels." Girl, I ate MUSH. On my third try, I got a "toasted" bagel WITHOUT EVEN A CRUNCH. If you cannot toast a bagel "dark", you should not open a bagel shop. This just gave me HIVES OF DISTASTE.

The failure of the bagel being toasted intensified the "sweetness" of the bagel. If I wanted something sweet, I would have ordered a pastry. Sometimes, you want something salty and crusty, just like the attitude I was greeted at HIVE's encounter every time I arrived.

When I order an "EVERYTHING BAGEL", I expect an "EVERYTHING BAGEL", not a plain one, dear. Second, I expect that bagel to be covered completely with "EVERYTHING".

Last, Hive cannot even get the "basics" right. On the second encounter, I got a "PLAIN" bagel when I ordered an "EVERYTHING" Bagel. On the third encounter, I got NO EGGS when I ordered a "BREAKFAST BAGEL". HIVE SHOULD REALLY WORK...

I had heard of Hive from some friends that raved about it and also from an Instagram page that highlights local places. I visited three times within the past month due to personal business in the area. I like the look of the interior and also able to see the process of preparing the pastries. The first visit I purchased 4 crossiants and bagel and Lox for myself and three others. The plain crossiant was out of this world! They are huge! You can taste the butter when eating. My friend with the everything honey butter crossiant stated the same about hers. The chocolate crossiant friend stated while good, there was very little chocolate in it and just get a regular. The disappointment was in the bagel and lox. My friend cut a portion to try. The bagel was hard, while the salmon portion was generous, the cream cheese was very small portion. The onions and capers however were not fresh to either one of us. The next two visits just purchased crossiants only. Each time they were great. The pricing is what I expect for a shop in the downtown location, but with the crossiants they are large and worth it. I can purchase them from other places cheaper, but like the portion. I'm hesitant to try any of the bagel sandwiches because of the Lox. I didn't try any of the coffees so can't speak of them. They offer the standard coffeehouse selections. The pricing may be off putting to some. The first visits with the bagel sandwich and four crossiants was over $50. While there are a couple of tables outside to sit and enjoy, The only issue with this if the weather is unpleasant, can't enjoy sitting outside,inside just a narrow counter across one wall with a few stools. While it's nice for a quick eat and sit, not so if busy or wanting to linger. Parking is not the best and street which you have to pay. There are a number of condos and apartments around and noticed a few people from such coming in and out, so idea location for them. I live out east and rarely go downtown, but visit...

If you're looking to spend $10+ on a breakfast with no flavor, this is the place to go. I don't give out 1 star almost ever, but this was pitiful. My husband and I ordered the everything avocado and a portabello smasher on a rosemary and sea salt bagel. The everything avocado has zero flavor; like literally none. No salt or pepper on the eggs and you couldn't tell that the bagel itself was flavored either, even if you removed all the toppings. The portabello smasher featured a portabello cap the size of the bagel, which was a little much, but at least added some value. It tasted fine, nothing fancy. It also came with several large slices of marinated bell pepper. They were the tastiest part of the sandwich, but were seriously entire strips of bell pepper (like each 1/8 of a pepper). Combined with the cream cheese (which had a bit of flavor but not much), it was a super messy, whelming sandwich. The part I'm still stuck on, however, is the bagel itself. Do you know how little rosemary you have to put in something to taste it? We once again removed all the toppings to taste the bagel on its own and... surprise! No flavor!

At least we waited in a huge line and then had to eat at the park because there was no seating?

No idea why folks are hyping this place up, but if you like food with any seasoning, this...