Einstein Bros. Bagels — Restaurant in Roeland Park

We are from out of town but always make it a point to go to Einstein's when in town. I ALWAYS look forward to the everything bagel, toasted, with salmon schmear (which I have been for years affectionately referring to as 'a slice of heaven') and a scalding hot, dark cup of coffee (occasionally a breakfast sandwich when I'm particularly hungry), and enjoying it in the clean, air conditioned comforts of Einstein's. Admittedly, we usually go to the location on College Blvd. Today was a different experience. After her prodding, my daughter and I got up early and made the 16-mile trek from our hotel in Legends specifically to experience the love of ours we've shared for over 15 years. A little about our experience....

First the good. The employees were pleasant and engaging...and we did get our order fulfilled fast (of course, there was, I think, only one other customer in the store at the time). My daughter did enjoy her everything bagel toasted with plain schmear (she gave it a 4-star). And we did get to experience some father/daughter time over bagels and coffee.

Now for the not so good. We arrived at a store that felt cold and uninviting (a dining area with not a single seat or table certainly didn't help). My greatest disappointment was when the young lady taking my order informed me salmon schmear was no longer available. (She was sweet...she deserves a raise!) After asking her if the person that made that decision had bumped their head, I settled for the jalapeno salsa schmear. When we received our order, since no seating was available inside, we settled for taking a a seat at the steel chairs in the hot sun outside where we took our lives into our hands everytime someone pulled into the stall just short of our knees.

When I got up to throw something away, the trashcan outside by the door was so full, the lid was raised up and trash had overflowed onto the ground.

My recommendations: Give your front line workers (especially the young lady who took my order) a raise, but train them better on the small things (i.e. pick up trash and regularly empty trash cans) Tar and feather the yahoo who made the obscenely moronic decision to stop serving salmon schmear Bring back the salmon schmear and add a menu item: "Slice of Heaven - toasted everything bagel with salmon schmear" Put tables and chairs in your dining area and take a few more steps to make your store comfortable and inviting Notify me when you have completed steps 1-4 so I know when...

The bagels and sandwiches are fantastic - I would give five stars to the food itself.

The two stars overall are due to consistently lackluster service, and a particularly poor experience with a manager regarding the use of coupons: As part of their rewards program, they offer a deal on a half dozen bagels. The first time I used this deal, I also had a coupon for three free bagels. When I was checking out, the person working the register informed me I could only use one of the coupons. No big deal, I simply asked which would be the better deal. The guy confidently asserted that the half dozen deal was better, so I went with that. However, upon examining the receipt in the parking lot, it was very clear that the half dozen deal saved 2.79, while the three bagels were over $5. When I went back in to point this out, I was surprised to discover that the person who rang me up was in fact the manager.

He was willing to refund me the difference - after struggling for a few minutes to operate the register, he just handed me $3 cash...

However, looking back upon the initial interaction, I get the feeling that I was deliberately misled about the coupons in order to be charged more. Not only was this manager wrong about the coupon, but he was incredibly confident in his assertion, even going so far as to state that "the three free bagels will save you $5, but the half dozen deal will save you $6 or $7." I couldn't see any amounts at the time he said this, but after reviewing the receipt, it was very obvious the half dozen deal was only for 2.79. I imagine he would've been able to see the exact same things I saw on the receipt, which makes me suspicious that this wasn't simply an oversight, but potentially deliberate deception to...

I stopped by this place recently and was genuinely impressed. I ordered the breakfast bagel sandwich, and it absolutely hit the spot—fresh, flavorful, and just the right amount of savory to kickstart the morning. You can tell they care about quality because the ingredients tasted fresh, and the sandwich was made with attention to detail, not something just thrown together.

What really stood out to me, beyond the food, was the overall vibe. The service was warm and welcoming, which made the whole experience feel effortless. I was in and out quickly, but not in a rushed or impersonal way. The staff seemed genuinely happy to be there, which you don’t always see these days. It made the visit feel more personal.

Another thing I appreciated was the variety on the menu. It’s always nice when a place offers multiple solid options rather than just one or two standouts. Whether you’re craving something hearty or a bit lighter, they seem to have something for everyone.

That said, I do wish there was some indoor seating. There’s definitely enough space inside for a couple of small tables or a counter along the wall. Right now, the setup is very much geared toward grab-and-go—order at the counter, pay, and take your food with you. While I get the concept and it works for those in a hurry, having the option to sit down and enjoy your meal, especially on colder or rainy days, would really elevate the experience.

All in all, this is a great little gem, and I’m already planning to make it a regular stop. It’s convenient, the food is excellent, and the customer service is on point. With just a small tweak in seating, I think it could easily become a local favorite for both quick bites and...