Einstein Bros. Bagels — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

This is my favorite Einstein Bros Bagels location, not because of the great food, but the amazing customer service by TIM! I remember one time they messed up my order (it was a big order, and they were busy), where they forgot to give me my Blueberry Muffin, and the Smearfuls (filled bagel balls, think Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts) were rock hard (probably they didn't keep it in the oven long enough to bake). I called the store, and complained to Tim. He told me to come back next time and he'll make it right. Next day, with my order he gave me 2 blueberry muffin and an order of Smearful well done.

I come to Einstein Bros Bagels often, especially this location, because it's conveniently located near where I live in downtown. The place looks ghetto from the outside (front and back), as it shares a shady parking lot with Dominos Pizza. But inside it's clean and cozy; definitely one of the smaller Einstein Bros Bagels compared to the ones on 1300 South and 3300 South.

I dislike how all the Einstein shops run out of the gourmet bagels by noon, and only have ones that you can't really eat a sandwich with (imagine Pumpernickel, French Toast, or Cranberry bagel with Egg or Tuna Salad-no thank you!). But the times they do carry my favorite bagels (Green Chile, Jalapeño Cheddar, Six Cheese, Spinach Florentine), which I usually pair with Spinach, Mushroom & Swiss Egg Sandwich, Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich, Hummus Veg Out Sandwich, and the new Supernova Salmon Sandwich-they're amazing! It comes with a Pickle or a side of (Fruit Cup, Chips, or Potato Salad), I always get the fruit cup. Most importantly, ask them to toast or warm the bagels, there's a world of difference in taste when it's warm (Six Cheese!).

As for sides, try their new Cheesy Hash Brown side, they're good if you like baked cheesy potatoes; personally I prefer my potatoes non-cheesy. The Smearfuls are great too (comes in 1, 3, or 12), they have Cookies and Cream, French Toast, Plain, and Asiago-I only get Asiago now. As per drinks, I like their Cold Press with Vanilla Hazelnut creamer (thank you Tim for introducing it to me), it has the perfect balance between the bitter Cold Brew and the sweet Vanilla Hazelnut cream. I like their Lattes-Mocha or Caramel High Rise (a tad bit too sweet); I recommend a hybrid of both. If you want something cool, I like their Vanilla Cooler over their Chocolate or Caramel cooler (think Coffee Coolatta from Dunkin Donuts). I'm not a big fan of their Strawberry Banana Smoothie, I think they should leave that to Jamba Juice.

I'll still be coming here often, and recommend everyone to try out their Bagels-you won't be...

Updated for 2023: Two years on, service is slower, fewer schmeers and drinks are sold, although the order was right this last time. (YAY!) Tip: order online if you don't want to wait around for 10-20 min for your order. Also, just because only 1 person is waiting doesn't mean only 1 person ahead of you; 10 people can come in to pick up their online order before your name is called. That extra time spent waiting let me look around in boredom to be horrified by the clumps of dust clinging to the exposed ceiling and trendy light fixtures. CLEAN YOUR RESTAURANT!

Updated review: A year ago I rated this as 3 stars, but while the bagels remain good, everything else has gone downhill. Today we arrived at 1230, lunch hour, and it was a painful experience. You know how in football you have the A team who play most of the time because they're simply the best? Then to fill in you have the B team, then there's the C team because the owner has a nephew who always wanted to be a football player. I didn't know a D team existed before today when Hubby and I met them. I could have gone on living happily without making that discovery.

They had 4 types of bagels on offer. At lunch hour. The woman originally refused to put together a box for us because her screen was frozen and made us wait in line behind the people paying for their orders instead, at which point that woman directed us back to the other end of the counter where you place your order instead of pay for it.

Bagels, once selected, were thrown carelessly into the slicer and the geometric shapes that emerged were fascinating. The shmear selection is sad and, since I've long wondered how they stay in business at this location, I take it as a sign that management is cutting their losses at some level and they'll soon be gone. I think I'll miss the regular entertainment/frustration, but I'm not sure.

My original review: I get bagels, coffee, and a breakfast sandwich monthly for years and they've yet to get an entire order correct. Either the sandwich is wrong, the bagels aren't cut, or the coffee is wrong. There's always something. If you accept that, the food is pretty good. It's always the same 2 or 3 employees that mess it up, the others are okay. I just never get the others from...

I went here after the normal lunch rush (about 1:10 pm in the afternoon). I go to this location occasionally because I work downtown and happens to be near my doctors office. The last two times, I have been very unimpressed with the service, attitude, and atmosphere. Today, I came in and the place was a mess (which is not unusual for this location). There were maybe three tables with people seated and one person in line- not crowded. There were three employees- one larger gentlemen by the register looking bored, someone cooking, and someone taking orders. I immediately noticed this cleaning solution that had been left along with a dirty rag by the silverware and napkins- not to be moved by anyone the whole time I was there. Incredibly unsanitary. I ordered my bagel with cream cheese from the register gal, who was friendly and fast, and I was watching the gal making the food. She hustled out of the back and told the man at the register they were out of mushrooms (she must have been making a sandwich). He just shrugged and kept looking bored and unhelpful at the register alone. I went to pay and bored looking man just stared at me, didn't say my total, didn't say hi, just stared. I said uh...hi. And handed him my debit card. He ran it without a word, but when I handed him my card I noticed he had the longest, yellowest fingernails I'd ever seen. This is absolutely not acceptable for someone working in food service. If he were to put on gloves, they would rip. I saw him flipping eggs a bit, so I'm assuming he helps occasionally. Super disappointing... especially if this man is the manager. He needs attitude coaching and fingernail...