Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels — Restaurant in Town of Guilderland

My favorite local place for bagels. My husband and I live close by and have been going to the University Plaza location for years. I really love not having to drive all the way back that I came just to get Uncommon now! Best local coffee by far and the bagels are superb.

I have had nothing but great experiences here since they opened, and I go pretty regularly. Read a few negative reviews and have had a completely opposite experience from what some people are posting. My husband and I both worked in food service in high school and some college and we still find it amazing when you can definitely tell when customers have never worked in the industry.

Staff has been incredibly kind even when they seem to be extremely busy. Love that the flow is reasonable for what they’re working with. (Anyone who ever frequented this spot when it was Bruegger’s knows how small it is and to capture the vibe from both Saratoga and Albany’s location is awesome)

Staff seems very well versed in what they do and their assistance is always polite and friendly. For a newer location they really seem to have their act together and I get the same experience/food quality as I did at the other locations.

Haven’t had any issues with quality or quantity. Would recommend the garden salad if you want to maximize your costs here, my husband usually adds the grilled chicken and it is enough for two meals if he wants to save it. I usually do a plain buttered bagel toasted, they have a lighter amount option which is great if you don’t want too much on it.

Recently tried the strawberry banana smoothie with the warm weather. It was awesome. Just the right amount for a pick me up to get me through the afternoon.

Only downfall - the store is a bit small, but again, the staff seems to be on top of it, clean surfaces, bathrooms are clean, and there is a self service station for creams and sugars which makes it easier for those of us who like our coffee just right.

This location must be doing something right to have a line to the door almost every time...

I love that there is a legit coffee shop in the Colonie/Albany area. The bagels are big and chewy the way a bagel should be. They don’t skimp on cream cheese either. The coffee is excellent as well. I’ve purchased bags of their house blend, winter blend, and their espresso blend and they’re all very well roasted. Orders are made quickly so even if it looks busy the wait times are still relatively reasonable. The ambiance, however, is lacking. They yell out orders when they’re ready so every minute or so you hear a number being screamed across the room, which is sort of annoying when you’re trying to relax and enjoy a cappuccino. It’s hard to hold a conversation without being interrupted by “191 is ready for pickup!!” I’m also not a huge fan of the seating furniture. The booths are fine but the chairs are cheap, hard, and uncomfortable. The tables are made of what appears to be sheet metal, oddly enough. It’s a strange choice for a coffee shop dining table in my opinion. Depending on when you’re there, you may see a slew of students from SUNY Albany make the dining room their own personal study hall with their laptops out and headphones on, taking up a table for hours at a time. I was in at lunch time on Sunday and there were at least five tables taken up by one student with their homework sprawled out on the table. Like, go to a library instead of hogging four seats so you can finish your paper. I wish businesses didn’t allow this to happen. Overall the dining room doesn’t lend itself very well to relaxation, something the large majority of coffee shops in general lack these days. I’ve just come to accept you can’t sit down for a coffee AND expect a relaxing experience. Otherwise I really like this place. Death...

5 stars

Uncommon Grounds Coffee and Bagels is a fantastic cafe with a wide variety of delicious coffee and bagels to choose from. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they're always happy to help you find the perfect drink and food to suit your taste.

I've tried a variety of different coffees from Uncommon Grounds, and they've all been excellent. The coffee is always fresh and flavorful, and there's a wide variety of different roasts and blends to choose from. I also love the fact that they offer a variety of different brewing methods, including cold brew and pour-over coffee.

In addition to their coffee, Uncommon Grounds also has a great selection of bagels. The bagels are always fresh and chewy, and there's a wide variety of different flavors to choose from, including plain, everything, sesame, poppy seed, and cinnamon raisin. They also have a variety of different toppings available, such as cream cheese and butter.

I've also tried a few of the other food items on the menu, such as the breakfast sandwiches and the pastries. Everything has been delicious, and I'm always impressed by the quality of the food.

Overall, Uncommon Grounds Coffee and Bagels is a fantastic cafe with a wide variety of delicious coffee and bagels to choose from.

Here are a few specific things that I love about Uncommon Grounds:

The coffee is always fresh and flavorful. There's a wide variety of different coffees and bagels to choose from. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are very reasonable.

I highly recommend Uncommon Grounds Coffee and Bagels to anyone looking for a great cup of coffee and a...