Empire Bagels — Restaurant in Punta Gorda

The bagels taste exactly the same as the ones you can purchase from the grocery store and weren’t fresh at all. The vegetable cream cheese doesn’t look or taste like vegetable cream cheese - I’m not even sure what it is but I had to discard the bagel because I couldn’t eat it, it was so disgusting looking and tasted terrible. There was a piece of egg in my bagel with cream cheese, clearly cross contamination and lack of sanitation practices. My husband took a bite of his bacon egg and cheese and had to throw it out because he said it tasted like straight salt. Not to mention, this place is very expensive compared to other bagel shops. The air conditioner must have also broke because it was also extremely hot inside (way hotter than the already hot outside) upon walking in. I’m not knowledgeable of any type of labor laws but it doesn’t seem like it should be allowed to let workers work in that condition. I could barely breathe in there it was so...

Until today this was my one and only go to for bagels. I am so disappointed in my experience today, I went in and ordered my bagels 2 plain with olive cream cheese, the women took my order told me my total I gave her the cash and she gave me my change, she then went over and grabbed 2 bagels without washing her hands and cut them and put them in the toaster, then realized they didn't have any olive cream cheese... so I said plain was okay instead, she touched some buttons on the register and said well I guess we owe you 53 cents back to which I said don't worry about it, she then walked back over and again without washing her hands or putting on gloves preceeded to make my bagels, I noticed how unclean her hands were when she gave me my change bc she had chipped nail polish and dirt under her nails. I was so disgusted I took my bagels and left and they will be going straight into...

Me and my family have been going here from day 1! We usually get a lot of bagels and just bring them home. Being from NY it was nice to have this so close to home now. The bagels, food and service are usually a 10/10! However today was not the best experience and that sucked. The woman behind the counter was so rude, not taking the time to listen to the costumers and almost rushing them out of the door. Well we still got our food and when we get home the order was lets say wrong. Now we understand everyone has a bad day, but raw eggs? Girl please if your that upset just step away I rather see a Back in 20! sign, then get home and the food I paid for be inedible. Now I understand why the Now hiring sign said indeed of positive...