Creole Bagelry and Café — Restaurant in Slidell

My wife and I visited the Creole Bagelry for the first time on Wednesday, 3/31/21. Sadly, it will be the last time we step foot into this establishment. We used to reside in Houston, TX, where we enjoyed excellent, made from scratch bagels. So, after moving to Louisiana, we were eager to try the Creole Bagelry, and we intended to purchase a couple dozen of their bagels. Unfortunately, we didn't get that chance. The part-owner / manager refused to serve us unless we were wearing masks. I explained to him that I had a legitimate medical issue which precluded me from wearing one, but that didn't matter to him; he still refused me service. And this despite the fact that I was standing at least 6 feet from him and there were other customers sitting at tables eating without masks only 6 feet away from me. So his logic and reasoning was completely without merit. So, we walked out of Creole Bagelry never to return.

At a time when restaurants and other small businesses are hurting, the Creole Bagelry mask policy is astonishingly inane. But they have every right to establish whatever ridiculous policy they want; and we have every right to go elsewhere and to warn others of their onerous and exclusive policies.

Notwithstanding the fact that masks are completely ineffective at preventing the aerosolized transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and there are no RCT studies which indicate otherwise, a few business owners and others still engage in the mask shaming of those not wearing one. And that's unfortunate, because their mistaken beliefs are based upon propaganda, not science.

Businesses make all types of provisions for handicap individuals. But don't even think of going to Creole Bagelry if you have a medical issue which preempts you from wearing a mask. To their own embarrassment and shame, they will refuse you service, and pride themselves in their ignorance.

FYI: These are the official exemptions for those with medical issues preventing them from wearing a mask: Anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering. Anyone who is consuming a drink or food. Anyone who is trying to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired. Anyone who is giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience. Anyone temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes. Anyone who is a resident of a parish without a high COVID incidence that has opted out of the masking mandate (Grant, Red River and West Feliciana).

So, either the management and owners at Creole Bagelry are ignorant of official Louisiana policy, or they are intentionally lying. Either way, they are apparently very uncaring in the way they refuse to serve customers with special health...

I see some unfair reviews of this place, and a few less than 5 star I can understand. I've been here a lot, and will continue to go. And there's a reason for that. Abita coffee. Fresh bagels. In that order, but that's just me.

I can't find a decent cup of coffee anywhere else in Slidell. Other restaurants coffee is poor to ok. I hear that it's probably public demand that made it that way. This place has a good source, though I think the brewing could be better. But it's not a coffee house that sells bagels. It's a bagelry that has a small selection of coffee available with locally roasted beans. And you can have a refill, unlike a coffee house. I'll swallow the 4% difference in quality.

The bagels are good. Soft, crispy, fresh. I'm from Louisiana, so I don't know them as well. Others I've spoken with eat here because it's the best bagel they can find, including all of New Orleans, and the entire gulf coast. Don't ask for extra cream cheese if you haven't been before. I swear they put a tub of cream cheese on every bagel, and the options are great. If I'm not going to see anyone all day, the garlic bagel with green onion cream cheese is great, and strikes me right in my black and gold center.

They also make some traditional breakfast dishes with bagels. It can be a little odd, because it's bagels not bread, but they're good. Like the choice of the cinnamon raisin bagel for the croque madame. A little more dense than a normal croque madame, but also the right flavors and stacked high.

There are less expensive places on Gause. But only one of those is privately owned, and while I like that place too, it comes with its...

Twice I have purchased a bagel with cream cheese, once to take out, once to dine in. Both times the food was good; however, the sanitation practices of the employee and/or manager/owner - who knows? - was less than desirable, in fact, horrid! The first time, an employee emerged from the kitchen, touched a couple of items on the counter, retrieved a bagel from the showcase, popped it into the toaster, then picked up a cloth and wiped the counter where the toaster was... then placed the cloth nearby. Then, she took the bagel out, put the cream cheese on and wrapped it. She never washed her hands before doing any of this. The second time, the man who took my money washed his hands about 5 seconds, then closed the faucet with his hand to the dirty faucet handle (not with a paper towel). He then grabbed the bagel and popped it into the toaster. While waiting, he brushed crumbs off the counter there, then wiped his hands ON HIS PANTS! He then took the bagel and prepared it. THESE PEOPLE NEVER WEAR GLOVES REGARDLESS! Even if they wash their hands, the food SHOULD BE PREPARED WEARING GLOVES! I still can't fathom how this man could stand there (in my presence, thank God I could notice) and wipe his (supposed to be but not really) clean hands onto his pants - God knows what else he wiped on them up around his butt! There will NEVER be a third time I purchase anything...