Jersey Bagels & Subs — Restaurant in South Carolina

Jersey Bagels and Subs is... Ehhh... "OK," based on our experiences. Having recently (five weeks ago) moved here from Northern NJ, I came to terms that leaving behind delicious, crispy/chewy-crusted, tender-and-slightly-chewy-yet-light-on-the-inside bagels would be part of the trade-off. Then my boyfriend and I were thrilled to hear (via a long-time friend who relocated to the Forest area a few years ago) that - not only did this place exist, but it was run by PEOPLE FROM NJ!. BONUS? It was just a few miles from us! I rated them with four stars based on the combination of three visits we have made there. The first time, the bagels were fresh from the oven; warm and soft inside, with a mild trace of the chewy "NJ bagel" crust. BUT... My b/f ordered a breakfast sandwich, and to say it was BARELY SATISFYING is a generous stretch of the imagination. He ordered a ham (deli, not Taylor) and egg sandwich. The one egg and MAYBE two slices (of VERY THINLY SLICED) ham would have been completely unsatisfying; if not for his warming up some ham we had at home and adding it to the sandwich, he said he would have still been hungry. Not only was the sandwich lacking , it was not even very busy (we placed our order within a minute or so of entering), and it took over 20 minutes to get out of there with two "plain" (meaning nothing on them) bagels, the one sandwich, and a bottled chocolate milk. The second time, he picked up a few bagels to bring home, one was hot and fresh, one kind of what I would call warm, and one was definitely cold. Then, last week, I stopped - I don't remember what day, but it was about 1100 - and they were out of probably half of the varieties of bagels that they offer. When I asked about (whichever kind he had asked me to pick up for him, I think Cheddar), I was told that they were no longer making bagels for the day. Really? It was not even "lunchtime," and they were finished making bagels? Not good... To be fair, we have not tried any "regular" style subs or sandwiches, so I cannot vouch for that part of the business. I would have given any specific visit there THREE stars, but I like the "Retro Jersey Chic" atmosphere, the employees (and the owner, who has been up front on all three visits) have always been pleasant and friendly, and when the bagels are "on," THEY ARE DEFINITELY ON! AND, they do have a pretty diverse variety from which to choose, and they have had a nice amount of toppings on them (not to much, not too little). It has more been a matter of inconsistency of selection and quality that prevents me from rating them five stars. Are we in a rush to go back? No. Will we give them another chance when we are over on that side of the neighborhood, maybe try something different from the menu? Absolutely. Four stars does not mean they are terrible, it just means we weren't thrilled overall... But, we will give them...

A Mixed Bag(el)

I pass Jersey Bagels & Subs four times every day. Funny thing is, it took us months to even notice it. You know how it is… your brain’s already juggling a dozen things before 8am, and small storefronts just blur into the background of routine.

But when we noticed it the other day we began talking about it and a few days later, my wife said, “Hey, why don’t you grab us some breakfast bagels from Jersey Bagels? A treat?” So I pulled over on my drive home in the morning.

The place is like stepping into a time capsule. Think 1980s, maybe early ‘90s. Not in a bad way, just kind of like the decor got stuck in a time warp and decided it liked it there. There’s a big ol’ menu, plenty of choices, and the whole vibe feels more family basement than trendy brunch spot. Which I like, honestly. It felt like the kind of place where locals would go because it is local. So, maybe a local spot that me had missed out on so far?

Now, the pricing. $13 for two breakfast bagels raised at least on eyebrow. But if it’s good, it’s good. The person at the register was nice enough, but the guy manning the griddle… well, he wasn’t radiating joy, exactly. Either he hadn’t had his coffee yet or life had just handed him a Monday on a Thursday. Watching him, you could tell he wasn’t in the mood to be flipping eggs or making small talk. The only smile I saw from him was aimed at a young mom and her toddler, which made me think maybe there’s still a soft spot under that crust.

Anyway, after waiting around twenty minutes (not really a crowd, just slow motion cooking), I walked out with my bagels and a bit of a bad mood. He misread my name as “Wack,” which honestly matched the energy I was carrying back to the car. But then, plot twist, I got home, unwrapped the foil, took a bite, and it was really good. Like, surprisingly satisfying. Way better than anything I’ve had from Panera in ages (and don’t get me started on their prices and cardboard bagels).

So maybe this place is what it is on purpose: small-batch, no frills, full flavor. Maybe if things moved faster and were more “efficient,” the bagels wouldn’t hit the same. Still… would it kill the cook to throw a smile in the mix? Because here’s the thing, moods are contagious. His grumpiness followed me home. But so did the flavor. And as I bit into that warm, melty, eggy bagel and answered early work emails, I caught myself thinking: you know what? I don’t want to pass that mood on. A good bagel and a better attitude can both go a long way.

So, Jersey Bagels & Subs, I’ll be back. Hopefully the bagels stay solid, and maybe next time, the cook cracks a smile too. Small things matter. And I’ll change my rating...

I was at Jersey Bagels yesterday morning and was eating breakfast, when a customer, walked up to the counter and questioned where his order was. After a minute, the staff found his to go meal, apparently in a heating area, and gave it to him.

In the midst of a very busy and full restaurant, this customer, very angrily and very loudly, proclaimed that he was a ten year customer and because of this delay in getting his food, he would never be a customer again. This got everyone's attention and the comments that I heard from surrounding tables, after he walked out, were that he was out of line for the rude and angry comments he made.

I have been going to this restaurant for over nine years and have never had a problem with the food, the staff, or the service. Yesterday, I was at Jersey Bagels for about 20 minutes and was eating my sandwich, when he placed his order. So he couldn't have waited more than 12-15 minutes at most, before he lodged his very verbal complaint.

Jersey Bagels, keep doing what you do best, serving great food and great service, with courtesy and...