Bobbys Bagel Cafe — Restaurant in Virginia

This is the first time we have frequented Bobby’s Bagel Café (formerly “ksb”), but some of our friends have raved about them so we thought we should give it a try. Since it was a Saturday, I checked out their website to see if I could order online ahead of time to avoid some of the Saturday morning rush.

Using a phone, it was not immediately apparent that you could order online. But then when you use the drop-down menu, they had an online ordering option. You select which of their locations you would like to order from, and go from there. They definitely frontload their catering and non-bagel related options, but you scroll down and look for the category of “all-day sandwiches” and find breakfast sandwiches there.

First impression: expensive. A sausage egg and cheese on a plain bagel was $7.50. An everything bagel with cream cheese was $4.50. It was fairly easy to use their online order system (once you found it, that is), and we had hoped it would speed up the process of pickup.

Second impression: slow service, no one monitoring online orders, chaotic store pickup experience, and a real lack of customer service. The store was insanely busy. My husband couldn’t see a designated pickup area, so he ended up standing on line. He got frustrated by the wait, so he left and picked up something at Giant next door. He returned 10 minutes later, and finally asked someone where he could find our online order. They asked for a name, and they said “oh we can make it now, it’ll be 8 minutes or so.” We had ordered 45 minutes prior! After they prepared it, they left a bag and an empty coffee cup on the counter. What was the point of selecting a coffee and what type of creamer we would like in it if you were just going to hand us an empty cup for self-serve? Then, adding insult to injury, the urn for regular brew coffee was empty. They didn’t have another urn ready swap out, and he didn’t want to wait 10 more minutes just for regular coffee after waiting as long as he did for a prepaid order, so he took the empty cup and went home.

Third impression: our order was incorrect. I ordered an everything bagel toasted with cream cheese. What I got was a sesame seed bagel untoasted with cream cheese (see photo). While I appreciate the size of the bagel and how it resembles a New York style bagel, a sesame bagel with plain cream cheese tastes like nothing. I wanted an Everything for the flavor. (I would’ve ordered a flavored cream cheese to jazz up a plain bagel if that’s all that was available.) The fact that he was there in the store waiting for them to prepare an order they received 45 minutes prior and they didn’t alert him to a bagel variety no longer available (if that was even the case and not a total mixup on their part) is inexcusable.

So, in summary: ordering ahead online is not as convenient or time-saving as one would think; you will probably not get exactly what you ordered without any heads up or explanation or ability to swap out for another flavor if they ran out; you’re better off brewing your own coffee at home; and you’ll overpay and get half of what you actually ordered. But you will get XL New York style bagels, just perhaps not the flavor you ordered so be prepared for a surprise. Giving a second star for the latter; otherwise a one star experience.

UPDATE: Owner responded. Makes no offer to invite us back to try again or refund us for items incorrect/not received. Makes excuses for an online order ignored by staff for 45 minutes. Focuses on price, which was the least...

I have been going to KSB for about four years now, and more recently (over the past 3 months) almost every morning before work. I love that it is more of a local bagel place as opposed to one of the 'chain' stores like Einsteins.

I have always had wonderful experiences at KSB and the employees have always been so helpful and friendly, which truly made it a great experience every time I went in.

I recently went into the store when the owner was there working, and he was extremely rude to me -- I have never experienced such rudeness at any establishment and even went as far to say that he was losing money from my business there (Are you kidding?? I come in almost every morning)

Needless to say, I will not be giving any of my further business to KSB, as much as I love the food and the staff there is absolutely no way that I will continue to give my money to such a rude owner (who obviously treats his staff horribly - evidence by him yelling at them almost the entire time I was there).

I would rather spend my money at a 'chain' store than continue to give my business to a man who could care less about his customers and even go as far to say that they are losing him money.

It is truly a great disappointment to me to say that I will no longer be...

This new named bagel cafe formerly another named place, has a lot to be desired. Came in today for a bagel and a chai latte. Took 10 minutes to prepare, which is fine and certainly would have been fine had they been busy, which they were not. I was, in fact, their only customer. Bagel was prepared and was ready for me and I was still waiting for my chai latte. The lady who took my order forgot to make it. Instead she and all of the other employees were chatting away in Spanish. How rude! Totally ignoring a customer and just talking away. Bagel was very good, full of toppings and very filling. The chai latte, not so much. It actually made me sick after drinking in. There was some chunk of something stuck to the bottom of the cup when I got down to the bottom. Either it wasn't mixed well or was hastily prepared since I was waiting and since the drink should have come up first. Will have to think twice the next time I want to come and support a local place versus going to a national chain. I prefer to support the local places, but this was a really terrible...