Stein's Gourmet Cafe — Restaurant in Montvale

Another update 2 years later.

I only went in because my daughter begged for a bagel while I was dropping a package off at UPS. . So I reluctantly went in to this awful place, I decided to order an Italian hero to see if they could try to screw up yet another order. Yea. They did. Ordered Italian hero, no onions, no banana peppers, no Italian dressing. Guess what. I got em all. F ME FOR Going to this place. Still no one speaks English. Still my order is wrong every goddamn time. Please do not go here. I’m hoping that this place goes out of business and a real Italian deli takes its place. I beg google to offer a zero stars option because this place would own it every time.

Update to my review 5 years ago….

This place is still awful 5 years after my first review. Coffee still so bad and weak. Service still bad. Proteins made 3 days earlier. My little 6 year old daughter wanted the cupcake in the display. Was so old and rancid just like 5 years ago. Bad bad deli that serves old old old food. Don’t go here! It’s so stinking bad here. I can’t understand why people go here.

Nothing gourmet about this place. English is the third language here. Those who go here already know that their order will be wrong more than half the time. Coffee is like water. Bagels are like white bread. Egg sandwiches skimpy as they come. Worthwhile to drive to Marc's deli in park ridge or Luigi ogradys in...

My husband eats at Steins Deli almost every day and sometimes twice a day, depending how long he’s at work for. He gets the same sandwich and really gets along with the workers. They have really sweet ladies working there. Today he went in for his usual and the owner (who isn’t always so friendly) rang him up. She charged him $6 more than he’s usually charged. He figured maybe the ladies charge him less because they know him so he let it go. Then he asked for hot sauce and she gave him 1 packet. He said “can I have like 3 more” and she said no. He said “well you can charge me if that’s the problem” and she said ok $5!! That’s when he got upset. The manager that knows him said “it’s ok he’s here everyday” and she said “no everything is expensive and I can’t be giving stuff out for free”. My husband told her to keep the free one she had given and said “you just lost a customer” to which her response was “it’s ok, we’re busy now. You can go wherever you want”. I really liked this deli and I understand everything is more expensive right now but to lose a really loyal customer over hot sauce and the arrogance of her response really upset me!! Mind you I looked up the hot sauce and it’s $22.99 for 450 packets so like .05 a packet. So she was really just...

Often times the selection of bagels is poor (no whole wheat, no whole wheat everything, no pumpernickel). I am not sure that actually even make the bagels on the premises.

Today I went to visit the store and it was raining. The store opens at 5 am and it was 5:30 am. I noticed the rolls outside in three boxes sitting in the rain.

I went inside and asked if they were open and the worker said yes but they had no bagels. Only muffins.

This happen once before when I arrived soon after 5 am.

What I don't understand is if they open at 5 am then why aren't they ready for service when the doors open???

Note to owner: Get your workers to the store at 4 am so you will be ready for business at 5 am.

What other food business operates in this manner? Answer = None.

Also, the service is often terrible mid morning because half the workers are busy trying to prep for lunch/catering. So they have their backs turned to you as you stand in line waiting for a single worker to fill orders.

I give this place another year.

Go to AJ Bagels in down the road. That is...