Bart's Bagels - West Philadelphia — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Update March 1, 2022:

Decided to try Bart's Bagels again, this time pick up was on a Tuesday. I placed the order online through their website the night prior with scheduled pick up time at 0920AM. I received a text while en route to the location stating my order was ready for pick up. Went to the window and pick up was seemless. So far a much better experience than the last!

I got a classic smoked fish, subbed for scallion cream cheese, on everything bagel. Husband finally got to try his turkey bacon on pumpernickle everything. Both bagels were soft and chewy and perfectly paired with their fillings. I usually eat my bagels face up instead of sandwich style and there was a nice proportion of fillings equally set on each side. Husband thoroughly enjoyed his pumpernickle everything and said it was worth giving the place a second try. They are one of the few places that offer pumpernickle everything and like that we have more options.

After my first unnecessarily long visit, I was contacted by Brett the owner. He apologized for what happened, endeavored to improve and invited me back to give them a chance to make things right. I appreciated the accountability and unexpected and kind gesture. It was because of him that we decided to come back. We are glad we did. Though the true test will be ordering on a busy weekend, overall a great place to drop by for bagels and breakfast sandwiches. Wish they had more sweet bagel options/spreads as many bagel places in Philly don't offer much in that area. Would love to see a nice blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese.

February 6, 2022: I placed an order the night before with scheduled pickup next day at 1035AM. At arrival at 1034AM it was mostly delivery drivers picking up orders. I gave my name at the single pick up window as instructed on my receipt and was told they were still preparing my order. I waited ... and waited. After 15 minutes a few customers came, placed orders at the window and received their orders. The people in the store looked overwhelmed and were constantly being approached by drivers picking up orders who were understandably getting restless. At this point I've waited 30 mins post pick up time for BAGELS. I approached the window and offered them an out. Cut my losses and said if it wasn't ready I'd take a refund. They were able to prepare my Fishman (pastrami lox, everything bagel, scallion cream cheese) but the Turkey Bacon on Pumpernickel Everything was going to be awhile. I took my sandwich, still waiting for a refund since I ordered it online and they said it would go through the app and took my business to Schmear It, a 3 min drive from Bart's, and got a Veggie on Whole Wheat Everything in and out in less than 10 mins.

I empathize with being overwhelmed and was patient to a point. However, an additional 30 min wait to a scheduled pickup made the night before is poor planning and poor customer service for a purely takeout shop. The ladies were apologetic and really were trying to move through the orders but if delivery apps were making it hard to fulfill their already backed up orders perhaps not accepting all orders or putting realistic pick up times is something that can be implemented.

As for the bagel it was not worth the wait especially when there are other options like Schmear It and Spread less than 5 minutes away who are able to fulfill orders efficiently and timely. I wholly support small businesses that are able to provide a great experience along with their product. Maybe I'll give Bart's another chance at a less busy time or when they've worked out...

I did not order food from here but it did smell amazing I came here to pick up an Uber order as I was doing deliveries at the time. A man at the front told me it was fine for me to pick up the orders at the window but it would be a few minutes. As I waited several men came up also from delivery services. A woman came to the window to announce ready orders. She announced one of my orders but then almost immediately tended to another person. So I waited until she was done. I then ask her for the order she had just announced. She told me she did not announce that without even having the courtesy to check and went to helping other customers disregarding me completely. Again, I waited. After handing off an order to someone else I asked again as she had already announced it was ready. She handed me the order but then stated I was at the wrong location and would need to pick up the second order at the correct location despite the first man saying it was fine and continuing to hand out orders to other delivery drivers. I calmly asked for the other order and it was basically shoved into my hands. Do I want to make it about race? No. But I was the only black person at the window. Do I want to make it about gender? No. But I was the only female at the window. I was never loud or rude to her. I patiently waited despite being the person waiting the longest. I understand being overwhelmed but this did not seem like the case to me. Somehow, as a delivery driver I can’t but the other delivery drivers can. Thanks for the kindness and patience from...

We've been going to Bart's Bagels almost from the time they opened. It was a popular breakfast spot with a dine-in option back then. Located on a section of Lancaster Avenue in West Powelton, Bart's is one of the handful of businesses that are helping rejuvenate the stalled business in the area. During the pandemic they shifted to a pickup/takeout only operation, and have been very popular in this mode as well. We've found the food to be of consistently good taste and quality. Having placed at least one order every week for the last year, I've only been disappointed once when I was handed someone else's order that was labeled as mine. The order completion time is impressive. I've almost never had a late order, and most orders are ready in under 15 minutes.

When the weather is nice you can enjoy your bagel or coffee on the limited outdoor seating as well.

A couple tips: Always order from the Bart's Bagels website on Square Site, all the other delivery services will charge you and the business extra fees. Get in their mailing list. They often do drop-off orders for other neighborhoods, particularly around Jewish holidays.

Hope you enjoy your food and drink here as...