I cannot really say much about the food. I think I've ordered from here maybe twice, and I don't even know what anymore. So why does this place get four stars? The Smores. They have regular smores and oreo smores. Both are DELICIOUS and oh so much fun. Sure it's no campfire, but they bring you out the marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, sticks, and fire, then you make your own smores. Who'd have thought the campfire treat could be just as enjoyable sitting at a table in a cafe? Okay, so it's not just as enjoyable, but I still love it.
(4)
lisa n.
bamboo skewers, graham crackers, hershey's chocolate, marshmallows & a small firepit. s'mores are soo much fun here!! this is a self-serve type of deal for lunch, so don't expect service at all! grab your sandwich and delicious lemonade, choose a booth or table and chill out. people watching is a must, you're right on the corner of old woodward, its a sight to see.
(3)
Rachel S.
Great food but service could be better. I don't know why the people working there are so rude. Food is good though, but make sure you know what kind of food you like or the name of the item you want because the staff likely won't help.
(3)
Michelle I.
sad. and gross. I haven't been to a Cosi in like ten years. And I probably won't be back for another ten, and probably more, if I can help it. Popped in here with the husband because we wanted a quick lunch in B'ham. Their bread is like crack, he tells me. Alright, I'll give it a go. I wish I didn't. Food was lackluster. It was one of those meals where I got bored/sick/tired of the food while eating it. Like, I knew I was still hungry but finishing my sandwich really didn't seem like it was worth the effort. Husband was a little bit happier with his sandwich. He claimed that it hit the spot, even though he said that chicken was of crappy quality...he remembered it being much better in the past. I was just sad that I wasted $20 bucks on a blah meal, when I could have gotten my sandwich fix down the street for less. Another sad part? The employee checking us out at the register was hating life, and every customer that crossed path was paying for it. It was nothing but rudeness and "duh" looks from him as I ordered my coffee and paid. I'm not sure but I'm guessing that making the customers feel like they are an annoyance is not part of the Cosi customer service training. A few silver linings in this dark, dreary experience. Good coffee. The mojito lemonade was tasty. And the woman who took our order and prepped our sandwiches, she was nice. But otherwise, meh. Cosi, I'll see you in 2023...if you're lucky.
(2)
Sarah Z.
They can be a little slow but everyone on staff is friendly. I always go when the store is almost empty and therefore checkout is really fast for me, I think the key is not to come during a rush. My favorite is the the Chicken Tandoori Sandwich Lite. Add some cucumber, lettuce, onion and basil for around 400 calories. OMG it is so good. Best sandwich I've had in such a long time. Big portion too. If you're a health freak like me you should check out their lite menu, it's a really good deal. Will be going back to try everything on it.
(4)
Weegee P.
Cosi has all around decent food. Good for a quick lunch, albeit a bit pricey, and close to where I work. Lots of vegetarian options and the location is great, with tons of tables and window seats. However, the service and design of THIS Cosi is horrifying. First of all, the walk-up counter idea is not ideal, but at this location - there are often 2 lines - one for salads and one for everything else. Basically, there is a giant blob of people, bumping around with no idea what to do. Most of the employees are rude and act inconvenienced by your presence. One time stands out for particularly bad service - we were standing at the cash register, with both our trays and beverages balanced on the small space, trying to fumble out our wallets and cash at the same time. We were finally rung up, only to have the employee look down and scold us for not vocalizing that we had drinks, as well. This was 1. Rude and 2. Confusing. All of our food was just plopped onto the counter, isn't it HIS job to glance down and see what we have? So, he voided the transaction and started over, huffing and puffing the whole time. Overall, THIS Cosi sucks.
(2)
Dustin C.
Very good food and clean.
(5)
Jenn V.
Rude, rude, rude. The workers, the management, everyone. Their food SOUNDS good on the menu, but once you get it you realize that it is mediocre at best. But I'm not willing to tolerate rude customer service. You either want my money and business or you don't. Tick off enough people and you will be out of business... that simple. It's not hard to realize that you need to give people a reason to WANT to frequent your establishment. I tried the half sandwich, half soup combo... for $8.50 w/tax. I can get the same basic set-up at Panera for a buck less, and it is more food and better tasting. My 1/2 turkey and brie sandwich w/ honey mustard was smaller than the palm of my hand. Now, I know it's a HALF sandwich, but it only took me like 4 bites, and I'm sure it would have better a lot better warm or toasted. The flavors just didn't mesh together well cold. My tomato basil soup was VERY cream based, which I wasn't expecting.. to the point where it was orange. My co-worker thought it was some type of squash or pumpkin soup, and it was luke-warm at best. Disappointing... I would rather grab Panera at lunch, and considering there is one conveniently located across the street, I will do so. But they do get an extra star for their bread... it is fabulous!
(2)
Chayan K.
This place used to be a semi-regular stop, before they stopped serving the bread and dip appetizer. Forgive me for forgetting the name, but they had the bread, and a tray of 3 ~4 dips, like sundried tomato, pesto, etc. It was great. But I've tried the pizza, sandwiches, and Fruppacciano here, and not found it to my liking. Thank god a Pan era opened up across the street!
(1)
Libby F.
I like the sandwiches a lot here. The S'mores are always a fun thing with a group and the brownies with ice cream won't disappoint. The service? Well, that's another story... Don't expect a spoon if you order ice cream. If you want to be not bothered during your meal (Meaning: waitress nowhere in sight) then this is your place. Maybe lunch service would be better than after the late dinner thing. That aside, I'd still come back.
(3)
Cindy A.
Cosi vs. Panera bread. Frenemies across the street from each other in downtown Birmingham. Now, I've always gone to Panera bread. I loved the warm color palate and I've practically tried all their food so it's my safety net if I'm hungry and undecided. But Cosi, I like Cosi. It's refreshing. It's modern, fresh AND they offer baked flat breads. I may love Panera, I feel like Cosi is a summer fling with a lot of potential to win over my fat appetite. I will come again :)
(5)
Sarah B.
Good soups and salads. Nice lunch spot or somewhere to meet up with friends for a quick bite. Service is so-so. It took awhile for our order to be ready and they weren't that busy. Still, it's inexpensive and the food is good.
(3)
Shelley Z.
I've been there a total of four times, paid $10+ for each meal and haven't found anything I've liked. The only reason I gave a two instead of a one was because I'm hoping for a reprieve with the breakfast items or something....
(2)
Jillian P.
Huge Cosi fan! I always get the turkey and brie so i can't really comment on the rest of the menu but my friend and I go here weekly for lunch and she enjoys her food as well. The lady at the counter will start making my sandwich when I walk in which is fantastic. The bread is usually amazing but once in awhile it will be a little dry and crunchy, definitely better when it's right out of the oven and warm. I also have tried the hummus and cucumbers before and the hummus is delicious! The only compliant other than the bread would have to be the counter set-up. You order your sandwich and wait for it then pay. It should be set-up like the other locations where you order and are given a number. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Liz P.
I'm kind of shocked reading the other reviews on here. I frequent this Cosi since it's near the Palladium - I'm actually going there tonight before a movie as well - and although the service is occasionally slow (and I eat during the lunch period, so it's grab your own food once it's ready), the food is exceptionally good. Someone else mentioned the Lite sandwiches - I get the Chicken TBM lite for about 520 calories, and take the chips home to eat w/ lunch the next day (or get the carrots if I want something then and there). The tables/bathrooms are always clean as well, and I've never had problems with the staff.
(4)
Lily W.
In strange life traditions that I share with my close friends, going to Cosi and getting the "do it yourself" s'mores is one of them. This has become a tradition every time I go back to MI and we always like to relax in the high backed armchairs and gossip the afternoon away. Back in the day when we were all jailbait and just legal to drive, we would hit downtown Birmingham or B-ham and catch a movie at the Palladium and then go to Cosi.... and get home before that weird B-ham curfew of course. Yes, this city had a curfew. Regardless, now that we're all significantly older and more alcohol friendly, we still like to come back for the S'mores. There's something strangely fun and satisfying in toasting your marshmallows over a small iron wrought burner while chatting with old friends. There's a trick to toasting and not lighting your marshmallow on fire (btw, I'm so pro at this that it's not even funny). In addition the food here is tasty for a casual bite. I may even like this place more than Panera. Why yes, that is blasphemy in my book. I've had their Turkey and Brie, Smokey Chicken flatbread pizza, and their TBM melt. Essentially the TBM is like a Caprese salad... in sandwich form. In addition their housemade flatbread is amazing and my dad actually asks me to bring some home for him whenever he knows I'm dropping by with friends. I've liked everything that I have tried here and their ingredients taste fresh and the flavors are all complimentary. The funny backstory about Cosi is that I actually first had it in D.C. when I was 14 years old or so. My parents were there for a meeting and brought me along. Cosi was directly below our hotel so I would pop by there and buy myself lunch. When I discovered that there was a location in Birmingham, I was beyond thrilled. In my book, a place that had given me so many great memories will always have a special place in my heart. I've spent many a weekend afternoon there hanging out with friends, people watching, and of course, checking out all the cool cars that come into town for the Dream Cruise. For me, this place represents a time lost in Nostalgia and tasty eats. What's not to love?
(4)
Mo R.
Staff here do not know the concept of customer service. Very unpleasant experience. We wanted a quick bite to eat. As we were looking UP at the confusing menu, the guy behind the counter told us it was ten to nine and they closed at nine and they would want to lock the doors at nine fifteen. I thought this was very rude. So we walked out and went to Panera bread across the street who had no problem serving us soup and salad. Never had the chance to try the food.
(1)
George T.
Manager was extremely helpful today when I forgot my wallet. So embarrassing! Thank you for the help! TBM, tomato soup, and dark choc, cookie always good. Greek salad good too but watch they don't over-dress it unless you like lots of dressing.
(5)
Katie C.
I went here for the first time a few weeks ago, and I loved the different variations of food they had available. I was not able to decide what I wanted to eat and the staff was beyond nice and patient with me, and actually helped me pick something. And on top of that, I am an extremely picky eater, they basically created something that worked for me. I would recommend this place to anyone. Staff extremely friendly, and the place is very clean and well kept. :)
(4)
Maureen H.
I only came here because my lunch companion and I never conferred at exactly which What Crepe? we were going to for lunch, so I ended up in B'ham and he in RO, so I just went to Cosi instead (I had to get back to work and ain't nobody got time to regroup). Even with such low expectations (it looks like a chain, so I wasn't expecting much), Cosi didn't cut it. Not in service, not in food, not in price. WHY THE HECK ARE PEOPLE EATING HERE??? Let's start with no clear place to order. Just a rounded banquette with people working diligently and free-form behind, and a few signs placed here and there "Order Sandwiches here".... "Order Salad here"... "Order Soup here" What if I want one of these and one of those in my order? How are you going to keep it together? Does that mean I shuffle to someone else to do order each part, 'cause I'm gonna get the little sandwich and soup or salad deal...? And the menus are behind you by the time you order. I am not as familiar with what they have, so because the guy taking my order suddenly had to run and take care of something else (because he was doing dual-duty of taking orders and filling them), I had to go back and confer with said menu so I wouldn't forget the particulars. Just a really, really, really bad set-up for ordering, for everyone involved, me AND them. No wonder people pronounce them surly in the reviews on here. They're trying to keep up with the sh*tty, sh*tty system they have to work with! And yes, my order was wrong. Because one guy verbally got it, and another guy finished it up (I had it to go, not for there, and poor guy had to fix it.) AND THEN I HAD TO CARRY MY HOT FOOD IN MY BARE HANDS ACROSS THE FLOOR TO THE CASHIER. What in the what, now? Y'all crazy? Then the surly bastich at the register... Yeah, you'd hate your job and life, too, if you had to have the customer repeat what they had to order to you, too, after the fact. The people in front of me placed their order with him, and he had to tell them "Not me, you have to go over there and order". And the "mojito lemonade" I had wasn't made for me there, he pointed to the cooler where I fished it out. And no, it wasn't good. All told, I had a tiny, tiny sandwich on thin hardtack like a sailor would have eaten in 1702, very greasy, thin chips, gritty clam chowder and a lackadaisical lemonade made like my mama don't like me. This place makes no sense. The setup is atrocious, and no doubt makes all the workers angry at life. And the food profiles are bland and meh. Take a pass, everyone. Nothing to see here.
(1)
N P.
The plus is that I like the location and the atmosphere here. It's open and well lit. I normally only end up here with a group of friends who like the food. For me, the service is much worse than the Southfield location. It is much slower and there seems to be much less interest in how you are enjoying your meal. I know that some of the customers in this area can be a bit pushy but we've always been a friendly group to wait on. I also think that Cosi as a chain really should offer more variety on the menu for vegetarians and vegans. The signature salad with bread is a nice meal but way overpriced at $8 when you can literally walk down the street and get a full, much more varied meal (Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, coney island, deli style food and more are all just down the street) at a cheaper price. I think Cosi is popular because people find something they like and it's got a good location. For me there are about 5 choices with the salads and then a (bland) hummus sandwich. It's not my favorite but I'll be a good friend and go with my friends who like it.
(3)
Catherine C.
I love Cosi bread! But seriously, it's amazing. The sandwiches are great and it's nice that you can snack on the extra bread while you're waiting. I've never had soup there, but the salads are good too. I think overall, you get the most bang for your buck with the sandwiches. A lot of the time it seems like there just aren't enough people working here and it can take a while for you to pay before you sit down. Also, their new breakfast wraps are really good. I was pleasantly surprised--they were actually bigger than I would have expected for $3.29. I got the Santa Fe and it was delicious. The reason I'm giving this three stars is because of the service. I've never had a problem with any of the food, and the workers preparing the food are always nice, but the people that ring you up (and the amount of time that it takes to pay) bumps it down. Tip: You can get free refills on all the drinks, not just pop! I always get the raspberry lemonade and will walk back up to the cash register and they'll refill it. Once I could only get a regular lemonade refill, but I think the worker was just lazy.
(3)
Seoung L.
I remember Cosi awhile back in East Lansing and the only thing I had there back then were the famous "make your own smores". I never thought about dining there until I started working in Birmingham. I was actually impressed with some of their foods so far. I have tried few of the salads like the Bombay and Cobb. The Bombay is pretty delicious with a taste of curry chicken. Both salads are a big amount and comes with a flat bread. Had a taste of their sandwich and it was decent. The bread is freshly baked their but I'm not a huge fan of their flatbread. It's not soft and it's not that tasty. More tough to chew and lack of flavor. That's why I stick with their salads and not sandwiches. They also have pizzas and soups too. Pizzas and sandwiches are ordered on the right hand side of the line and the salads are ordered in the left hand side. They have prepared drinks like ice tea, lemonade, etc and I tried few of them and they are good but little too sweet for me. Few other things to note: - It's in a great location in middle of Old Woodward. - If you visit them a lot, get a Cosi Card to add points. - Free wifi - Cafeteria style. No waiter service. - the staff is very nice and friendly. - Everything is under $10 - Outdoor seating available I'm not a "fan" of them yet but so far they are decent for salads.
(3)
Quianna J.
So, my husband and hapen t wonder into this little restaurant whilewe were waiting for a movie to start. I loved the atmosphere, its was so comfortable! My husband and i order one of the artisan pizzas, and we LOVED it. We havent been bck yet, bu the next time we are in the neighborhoodwe will be stpping in again.
(4)
Hooper M.
The only positive about Cosi is its location in Downtown B-Ham. The food is agonizingly bland. Even dishes that specifically mention peppers and spices in their names taste like selections from a macrobiotic cookbook. I had their Tandoori Chicken sandwich, a dish that boasts of ingredients such as red roasted peppers and "eastern spices." To say that it was disappointingly unsavory is as generous of a description as I can force myself to write. I now understand that Cosi is a American chain restaurant masquerading as some sort of neo-Italian bistro. I further understand, now, that its dishes have, in all likelihood, been carefully crafted so as not to overpower the palate of people whose primary experience with Italian cuisine has been via Chef Boyardee and The Olive Garden. I only wish that I'd been made aware of that before blowing $45 on my and my companion's thoroughly unappetizing meals. To make matters worse, the service was atrocious. If you choose to go there, be ready to have to repeatedly get up from your seat in order to get the attention of the wait staff.
(1)
Shauna N.
Overpriced, but decent food. We were recently there for lunch (counter service) and I was unimpressed with the service. Attendants didn't so much as look up. The only real interaction was from a girl cleaning tables, who left her task to retrieve a carry out box for me. She seemed nice. I kind of felt bad for her having to work amongst the others. We ate outside, since we had the dog. They do, indeed, have a great location, so that part was lovely.
(2)
Nina C.
It's a chain- I always get the cosi signature salad- I love it! I love the bread! It's fast and always fresh and tastes great!!
(3)
Sara G.
This review is for the Cosi in ANN ARBOR, though I suspect the changes of which I'm about to write are chain-wide. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken. In the vast, sprawling network of chain restaurants that has become the central campus of the University of Michigan, one could always count on Cosi for a good--yet overpriced--salad. At the very least. So much for that previously ill conceived notion. Today I ventured in and discovered that they have a bright & shiny NEW way of serving customers (with the customers in mind, no doubt). You stand in line at the register where they take your order, then give you a number and tell you sit down (unless you'd rather stand). Ok, I'll give them points for efficiency. There wasn't much of a line so I waited about 4 minutes for my salad... ...only to discover upon opening it later at work that it was the Most. Pathetic. Salad. Ever. I've ordered Shanghai chicken salads before but this one was all iceberg stalks and scant tiny pieces of chicken. My theory is that they don't have you watch them make your food anymore so you can't see what they DON'T put in it. I am not coming back. Even for the bread (which btw they don't seem to wrap in foil anymore if you're carrying out).
(2)
Tiffany D.
There are other Cosi's around, but this one in Bham seems to be the mainstay. During the day it's your typical counter service order - pay - sit. After 5pm it becomes sitdown service. Depending on the night the service is spotty. We were told to sit anywhere we like, but everywhere we would like to sit had not been cleared off yet. It took about 10 minutes to get us situated with a clean table and menus. They have the same menu at dinner. Flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and salads and soups and a few pasta offerings. The bread to the sandwich is really the reason for going, and even though a sandwich hovers around $9 (!!!) it also includes your choice of side salad or soup. At night they do serve wine by the half bottle, and a few bottles of beer. The crowd turns very teenage-oriented around 11pm on Saturdays, so beware. Also, the music was sooo loud. Am I getting old or what?
(3)
Dane K.
Though the people here are nice... I've found the food to be below average as compared to other Cosi's I've been to. And this morning I ordered one of their breakfast omelet sandwiches...which really is just a fancy word for saying egg bacon cheese bagel. I paid to add tomatoes and they weren't on there, even after she asked if I wanted them on there hot and cold she forgot. My chai latte was one of the worst I've had, it was watery tasting and didn't even resemble chai... Was it gingerbread or something by accident? Hm.. Everything is counter service until dinner time, at which point you get somewhat mediocre waitress service. It's annoying they don't have any quick loading zone parking to run in / out... I've skipped them a few times because there wasn't anywhere but meters and I never have quarters on me when I'm in Birmingham on business... Today I drove around looking for a meter that had money in it already...
(2)
M D.
Horribly expensive for ok food. Horrible service! Panera is by far a better value and the food is pretty good.
(1)
kelly w.
I have worked in the service industry for roughly 10 years and I think that anyone else that has worked in it for that long can attest that there is a little motto we follow, it''s called, "The customer is always right." I had a pending charge on my credit card (let's remember this is reflected in your current balance) for roughly $45 buckaroos. I know I eat a lot but and cosi is overpriced, but what in god's good name could I have ordered that would sum up to this, I thought. As someone who lives paycheck to paycheck, I decided to call and just ask (politely mind you) if they could pull up the receipt. In no way was I accusatory or rude. Hello... I know being rude gets you NO WHERE when trying to resolve an issue. I was promptly greeted with irritation on the other end of the phone. I apologized for the inconvenience of looking up my receipt, but $45 is a lot of money for me.. and if it turned out it was a mistake on my coworkers fault-- then it is not their problem, I just wanted to double check that things were properly charged. The manager that I spoke with said that she would have to call me back-- I said, "No problem, take your time.. I understand you have other things of higher importance-- if she could just get back to me by the end of the day." I get a phone call an hour later telling me that this is my fault-- the transaction was mis-rung and then voided. But she wanted my account info so she could speak with my bank about it to make sure it was cleared. This was 5 business days after the transaction. She was short and less than friendly. I gave her my information as I did not want to want to deal with any attitude and was repeatedly apologizing and thanking her for looking into this. Phone call number three was absolutely the most INSANE! She called back and then proceeded to blame the bank for it not being credited into my account yet. She was still VERY rude to me. I finally had taken enough verbal abuse and said to her quite frankly, "You know, I am really sorry if you are having a bad day, but PLEASE, in no way is it appropriate that she speak to me like this." I was then told that she put HER business on hold during the busiest time of day so she could deal with MY problem. As I said, I was courteous up until this point. I said, "you know what, I thank you for all your help today, but your attitude is disrespectful. Can I have the number to corporate in case this problem is not resolved. I just don"t want to bother you with this anymore." She said she didn't have the number and that I would have to get it off the website.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I was astonished. My place of business is an EXTREMELY good customer of theirs, and she knew where I was calling from. I have been boycotting just because I don't think anyone should be spoken to that way. I went in recently and said manager was overly nice.. this is what garnered them a second star. Unfortunately I do like their food-- their Tomato Basil soup is fantastic, but I think it's quite rude to tell a customer (that just wanted a copy of their receipt) that they are a handful and that you had to "put your business on hold" for me. You know what? I AM your business. So keep that in mind.
(2)
Rodney H.
Cosi in Birmingham is located in the prime real estate spot on the corner of Maple & Old Woodward. In a perfect world such a location would be graced by a terrific family run Restaurant or Bar. Sadly that is not the case, instead we have Cosi. Correctly spelled in omitting the Y. Nothing is very good here from the food to the Service. One of the reasons to eat in a Chain is quick service & consistent product. After eating here 3 times i can say the service is extremely haphazard & The product unremarkable.
(2)
Stephen D.
I had a really poor service experience at Cosi on 135 N Old Woodward, today. I drop in once in a while to check out the menu as I get tired of trying Panera Bread across the road. I even bought a $25 Cosi card the last time I was here, but I am not going back to Cosi again in the near future even if it means that i will lose money thats left on the card. The lady preparing my salad was extremely rude. I asked for a tandoori chicken salad and soup and far from helping, she was very condescending. I had just walked in from the cold and was beginning to recover, so probably didnt hear her very well. But far from being customer centric and helping me with the order, she was at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum. I dont think I will ever visit Cosi again, especially if they hire such poor talent to handle their customers. The lady at the billing counter was OK, but she forgot my pack of chips - I can forgive that as oversight on her part though. Good luck with your bad customer service, Cosi.
(1)
Hanna S.
It was bad. This restaurant was not organized. I've never been this restaurant before, so I didn't know how works. I ordered the food at the counter and waited til the food came out. I thought I should pay after they brought me the food to the counter, but the guy served our food to our table. It sounds good, but when should I pay then?! They will give me a bill later?! It made me so confused. Finally, nobody brought us the bill, so I went to the billing counter, and I paid. The guy at the billinging counter was not friendly at all.
(1)
Kelly K.
Holy frig this place is amazing. Went here before my hair appointment last night and got a sandwich to go. The guys behind the counter were super friendly and greeted me right away. I went with the pesto chicken melt which came with chips or carrots. I also got a water and it was $10 out the door. The sandwich was made pretty quickly. It was soo good! The multigrain bread was crusty and flavorful. The chicken was perfectly tender with no weird bits inside. The pesto sauce and melty, gooey cheese were the perfect toppers for the sandwich! I ate it all in about 30 seconds lol. But it was seriously delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I am contemplating going back tonight!!
(5)
o o.
this is my new joint to have a quick salad with my friend before she rushes off to pick up the baby at daycare. i have only had salads which are fresh and tasty. they offer many different options and the salads are always served with fresh baked bread on the side. so far request for dressing on the side has been a ok. service is good and attentive. atmosphere is even better, with large windows good for people watching. no complaints here.
(4)
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Address :101 N Old Woodward Ave
Birmingham, MI, 48009
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Parisa K.
I cannot really say much about the food. I think I've ordered from here maybe twice, and I don't even know what anymore. So why does this place get four stars? The Smores. They have regular smores and oreo smores. Both are DELICIOUS and oh so much fun. Sure it's no campfire, but they bring you out the marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, sticks, and fire, then you make your own smores. Who'd have thought the campfire treat could be just as enjoyable sitting at a table in a cafe? Okay, so it's not just as enjoyable, but I still love it.
(4)lisa n.
bamboo skewers, graham crackers, hershey's chocolate, marshmallows & a small firepit. s'mores are soo much fun here!! this is a self-serve type of deal for lunch, so don't expect service at all! grab your sandwich and delicious lemonade, choose a booth or table and chill out. people watching is a must, you're right on the corner of old woodward, its a sight to see.
(3)Rachel S.
Great food but service could be better. I don't know why the people working there are so rude. Food is good though, but make sure you know what kind of food you like or the name of the item you want because the staff likely won't help.
(3)Michelle I.
sad. and gross. I haven't been to a Cosi in like ten years. And I probably won't be back for another ten, and probably more, if I can help it. Popped in here with the husband because we wanted a quick lunch in B'ham. Their bread is like crack, he tells me. Alright, I'll give it a go. I wish I didn't. Food was lackluster. It was one of those meals where I got bored/sick/tired of the food while eating it. Like, I knew I was still hungry but finishing my sandwich really didn't seem like it was worth the effort. Husband was a little bit happier with his sandwich. He claimed that it hit the spot, even though he said that chicken was of crappy quality...he remembered it being much better in the past. I was just sad that I wasted $20 bucks on a blah meal, when I could have gotten my sandwich fix down the street for less. Another sad part? The employee checking us out at the register was hating life, and every customer that crossed path was paying for it. It was nothing but rudeness and "duh" looks from him as I ordered my coffee and paid. I'm not sure but I'm guessing that making the customers feel like they are an annoyance is not part of the Cosi customer service training. A few silver linings in this dark, dreary experience. Good coffee. The mojito lemonade was tasty. And the woman who took our order and prepped our sandwiches, she was nice. But otherwise, meh. Cosi, I'll see you in 2023...if you're lucky.
(2)Sarah Z.
They can be a little slow but everyone on staff is friendly. I always go when the store is almost empty and therefore checkout is really fast for me, I think the key is not to come during a rush. My favorite is the the Chicken Tandoori Sandwich Lite. Add some cucumber, lettuce, onion and basil for around 400 calories. OMG it is so good. Best sandwich I've had in such a long time. Big portion too. If you're a health freak like me you should check out their lite menu, it's a really good deal. Will be going back to try everything on it.
(4)Weegee P.
Cosi has all around decent food. Good for a quick lunch, albeit a bit pricey, and close to where I work. Lots of vegetarian options and the location is great, with tons of tables and window seats. However, the service and design of THIS Cosi is horrifying. First of all, the walk-up counter idea is not ideal, but at this location - there are often 2 lines - one for salads and one for everything else. Basically, there is a giant blob of people, bumping around with no idea what to do. Most of the employees are rude and act inconvenienced by your presence. One time stands out for particularly bad service - we were standing at the cash register, with both our trays and beverages balanced on the small space, trying to fumble out our wallets and cash at the same time. We were finally rung up, only to have the employee look down and scold us for not vocalizing that we had drinks, as well. This was 1. Rude and 2. Confusing. All of our food was just plopped onto the counter, isn't it HIS job to glance down and see what we have? So, he voided the transaction and started over, huffing and puffing the whole time. Overall, THIS Cosi sucks.
(2)Dustin C.
Very good food and clean.
(5)Jenn V.
Rude, rude, rude. The workers, the management, everyone. Their food SOUNDS good on the menu, but once you get it you realize that it is mediocre at best. But I'm not willing to tolerate rude customer service. You either want my money and business or you don't. Tick off enough people and you will be out of business... that simple. It's not hard to realize that you need to give people a reason to WANT to frequent your establishment. I tried the half sandwich, half soup combo... for $8.50 w/tax. I can get the same basic set-up at Panera for a buck less, and it is more food and better tasting. My 1/2 turkey and brie sandwich w/ honey mustard was smaller than the palm of my hand. Now, I know it's a HALF sandwich, but it only took me like 4 bites, and I'm sure it would have better a lot better warm or toasted. The flavors just didn't mesh together well cold. My tomato basil soup was VERY cream based, which I wasn't expecting.. to the point where it was orange. My co-worker thought it was some type of squash or pumpkin soup, and it was luke-warm at best. Disappointing... I would rather grab Panera at lunch, and considering there is one conveniently located across the street, I will do so. But they do get an extra star for their bread... it is fabulous!
(2)Chayan K.
This place used to be a semi-regular stop, before they stopped serving the bread and dip appetizer. Forgive me for forgetting the name, but they had the bread, and a tray of 3 ~4 dips, like sundried tomato, pesto, etc. It was great. But I've tried the pizza, sandwiches, and Fruppacciano here, and not found it to my liking. Thank god a Pan era opened up across the street!
(1)Libby F.
I like the sandwiches a lot here. The S'mores are always a fun thing with a group and the brownies with ice cream won't disappoint. The service? Well, that's another story... Don't expect a spoon if you order ice cream. If you want to be not bothered during your meal (Meaning: waitress nowhere in sight) then this is your place. Maybe lunch service would be better than after the late dinner thing. That aside, I'd still come back.
(3)Cindy A.
Cosi vs. Panera bread. Frenemies across the street from each other in downtown Birmingham. Now, I've always gone to Panera bread. I loved the warm color palate and I've practically tried all their food so it's my safety net if I'm hungry and undecided. But Cosi, I like Cosi. It's refreshing. It's modern, fresh AND they offer baked flat breads. I may love Panera, I feel like Cosi is a summer fling with a lot of potential to win over my fat appetite. I will come again :)
(5)Sarah B.
Good soups and salads. Nice lunch spot or somewhere to meet up with friends for a quick bite. Service is so-so. It took awhile for our order to be ready and they weren't that busy. Still, it's inexpensive and the food is good.
(3)Shelley Z.
I've been there a total of four times, paid $10+ for each meal and haven't found anything I've liked. The only reason I gave a two instead of a one was because I'm hoping for a reprieve with the breakfast items or something....
(2)Jillian P.
Huge Cosi fan! I always get the turkey and brie so i can't really comment on the rest of the menu but my friend and I go here weekly for lunch and she enjoys her food as well. The lady at the counter will start making my sandwich when I walk in which is fantastic. The bread is usually amazing but once in awhile it will be a little dry and crunchy, definitely better when it's right out of the oven and warm. I also have tried the hummus and cucumbers before and the hummus is delicious! The only compliant other than the bread would have to be the counter set-up. You order your sandwich and wait for it then pay. It should be set-up like the other locations where you order and are given a number. Definitely recommend.
(4)Liz P.
I'm kind of shocked reading the other reviews on here. I frequent this Cosi since it's near the Palladium - I'm actually going there tonight before a movie as well - and although the service is occasionally slow (and I eat during the lunch period, so it's grab your own food once it's ready), the food is exceptionally good. Someone else mentioned the Lite sandwiches - I get the Chicken TBM lite for about 520 calories, and take the chips home to eat w/ lunch the next day (or get the carrots if I want something then and there). The tables/bathrooms are always clean as well, and I've never had problems with the staff.
(4)Lily W.
In strange life traditions that I share with my close friends, going to Cosi and getting the "do it yourself" s'mores is one of them. This has become a tradition every time I go back to MI and we always like to relax in the high backed armchairs and gossip the afternoon away. Back in the day when we were all jailbait and just legal to drive, we would hit downtown Birmingham or B-ham and catch a movie at the Palladium and then go to Cosi.... and get home before that weird B-ham curfew of course. Yes, this city had a curfew. Regardless, now that we're all significantly older and more alcohol friendly, we still like to come back for the S'mores. There's something strangely fun and satisfying in toasting your marshmallows over a small iron wrought burner while chatting with old friends. There's a trick to toasting and not lighting your marshmallow on fire (btw, I'm so pro at this that it's not even funny). In addition the food here is tasty for a casual bite. I may even like this place more than Panera. Why yes, that is blasphemy in my book. I've had their Turkey and Brie, Smokey Chicken flatbread pizza, and their TBM melt. Essentially the TBM is like a Caprese salad... in sandwich form. In addition their housemade flatbread is amazing and my dad actually asks me to bring some home for him whenever he knows I'm dropping by with friends. I've liked everything that I have tried here and their ingredients taste fresh and the flavors are all complimentary. The funny backstory about Cosi is that I actually first had it in D.C. when I was 14 years old or so. My parents were there for a meeting and brought me along. Cosi was directly below our hotel so I would pop by there and buy myself lunch. When I discovered that there was a location in Birmingham, I was beyond thrilled. In my book, a place that had given me so many great memories will always have a special place in my heart. I've spent many a weekend afternoon there hanging out with friends, people watching, and of course, checking out all the cool cars that come into town for the Dream Cruise. For me, this place represents a time lost in Nostalgia and tasty eats. What's not to love?
(4)Mo R.
Staff here do not know the concept of customer service. Very unpleasant experience. We wanted a quick bite to eat. As we were looking UP at the confusing menu, the guy behind the counter told us it was ten to nine and they closed at nine and they would want to lock the doors at nine fifteen. I thought this was very rude. So we walked out and went to Panera bread across the street who had no problem serving us soup and salad. Never had the chance to try the food.
(1)George T.
Manager was extremely helpful today when I forgot my wallet. So embarrassing! Thank you for the help! TBM, tomato soup, and dark choc, cookie always good. Greek salad good too but watch they don't over-dress it unless you like lots of dressing.
(5)Katie C.
I went here for the first time a few weeks ago, and I loved the different variations of food they had available. I was not able to decide what I wanted to eat and the staff was beyond nice and patient with me, and actually helped me pick something. And on top of that, I am an extremely picky eater, they basically created something that worked for me. I would recommend this place to anyone. Staff extremely friendly, and the place is very clean and well kept. :)
(4)Maureen H.
I only came here because my lunch companion and I never conferred at exactly which What Crepe? we were going to for lunch, so I ended up in B'ham and he in RO, so I just went to Cosi instead (I had to get back to work and ain't nobody got time to regroup). Even with such low expectations (it looks like a chain, so I wasn't expecting much), Cosi didn't cut it. Not in service, not in food, not in price. WHY THE HECK ARE PEOPLE EATING HERE??? Let's start with no clear place to order. Just a rounded banquette with people working diligently and free-form behind, and a few signs placed here and there "Order Sandwiches here".... "Order Salad here"... "Order Soup here" What if I want one of these and one of those in my order? How are you going to keep it together? Does that mean I shuffle to someone else to do order each part, 'cause I'm gonna get the little sandwich and soup or salad deal...? And the menus are behind you by the time you order. I am not as familiar with what they have, so because the guy taking my order suddenly had to run and take care of something else (because he was doing dual-duty of taking orders and filling them), I had to go back and confer with said menu so I wouldn't forget the particulars. Just a really, really, really bad set-up for ordering, for everyone involved, me AND them. No wonder people pronounce them surly in the reviews on here. They're trying to keep up with the sh*tty, sh*tty system they have to work with! And yes, my order was wrong. Because one guy verbally got it, and another guy finished it up (I had it to go, not for there, and poor guy had to fix it.) AND THEN I HAD TO CARRY MY HOT FOOD IN MY BARE HANDS ACROSS THE FLOOR TO THE CASHIER. What in the what, now? Y'all crazy? Then the surly bastich at the register... Yeah, you'd hate your job and life, too, if you had to have the customer repeat what they had to order to you, too, after the fact. The people in front of me placed their order with him, and he had to tell them "Not me, you have to go over there and order". And the "mojito lemonade" I had wasn't made for me there, he pointed to the cooler where I fished it out. And no, it wasn't good. All told, I had a tiny, tiny sandwich on thin hardtack like a sailor would have eaten in 1702, very greasy, thin chips, gritty clam chowder and a lackadaisical lemonade made like my mama don't like me. This place makes no sense. The setup is atrocious, and no doubt makes all the workers angry at life. And the food profiles are bland and meh. Take a pass, everyone. Nothing to see here.
(1)N P.
The plus is that I like the location and the atmosphere here. It's open and well lit. I normally only end up here with a group of friends who like the food. For me, the service is much worse than the Southfield location. It is much slower and there seems to be much less interest in how you are enjoying your meal. I know that some of the customers in this area can be a bit pushy but we've always been a friendly group to wait on. I also think that Cosi as a chain really should offer more variety on the menu for vegetarians and vegans. The signature salad with bread is a nice meal but way overpriced at $8 when you can literally walk down the street and get a full, much more varied meal (Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, coney island, deli style food and more are all just down the street) at a cheaper price. I think Cosi is popular because people find something they like and it's got a good location. For me there are about 5 choices with the salads and then a (bland) hummus sandwich. It's not my favorite but I'll be a good friend and go with my friends who like it.
(3)Catherine C.
I love Cosi bread! But seriously, it's amazing. The sandwiches are great and it's nice that you can snack on the extra bread while you're waiting. I've never had soup there, but the salads are good too. I think overall, you get the most bang for your buck with the sandwiches. A lot of the time it seems like there just aren't enough people working here and it can take a while for you to pay before you sit down. Also, their new breakfast wraps are really good. I was pleasantly surprised--they were actually bigger than I would have expected for $3.29. I got the Santa Fe and it was delicious. The reason I'm giving this three stars is because of the service. I've never had a problem with any of the food, and the workers preparing the food are always nice, but the people that ring you up (and the amount of time that it takes to pay) bumps it down. Tip: You can get free refills on all the drinks, not just pop! I always get the raspberry lemonade and will walk back up to the cash register and they'll refill it. Once I could only get a regular lemonade refill, but I think the worker was just lazy.
(3)Seoung L.
I remember Cosi awhile back in East Lansing and the only thing I had there back then were the famous "make your own smores". I never thought about dining there until I started working in Birmingham. I was actually impressed with some of their foods so far. I have tried few of the salads like the Bombay and Cobb. The Bombay is pretty delicious with a taste of curry chicken. Both salads are a big amount and comes with a flat bread. Had a taste of their sandwich and it was decent. The bread is freshly baked their but I'm not a huge fan of their flatbread. It's not soft and it's not that tasty. More tough to chew and lack of flavor. That's why I stick with their salads and not sandwiches. They also have pizzas and soups too. Pizzas and sandwiches are ordered on the right hand side of the line and the salads are ordered in the left hand side. They have prepared drinks like ice tea, lemonade, etc and I tried few of them and they are good but little too sweet for me. Few other things to note: - It's in a great location in middle of Old Woodward. - If you visit them a lot, get a Cosi Card to add points. - Free wifi - Cafeteria style. No waiter service. - the staff is very nice and friendly. - Everything is under $10 - Outdoor seating available I'm not a "fan" of them yet but so far they are decent for salads.
(3)Quianna J.
So, my husband and hapen t wonder into this little restaurant whilewe were waiting for a movie to start. I loved the atmosphere, its was so comfortable! My husband and i order one of the artisan pizzas, and we LOVED it. We havent been bck yet, bu the next time we are in the neighborhoodwe will be stpping in again.
(4)Hooper M.
The only positive about Cosi is its location in Downtown B-Ham. The food is agonizingly bland. Even dishes that specifically mention peppers and spices in their names taste like selections from a macrobiotic cookbook. I had their Tandoori Chicken sandwich, a dish that boasts of ingredients such as red roasted peppers and "eastern spices." To say that it was disappointingly unsavory is as generous of a description as I can force myself to write. I now understand that Cosi is a American chain restaurant masquerading as some sort of neo-Italian bistro. I further understand, now, that its dishes have, in all likelihood, been carefully crafted so as not to overpower the palate of people whose primary experience with Italian cuisine has been via Chef Boyardee and The Olive Garden. I only wish that I'd been made aware of that before blowing $45 on my and my companion's thoroughly unappetizing meals. To make matters worse, the service was atrocious. If you choose to go there, be ready to have to repeatedly get up from your seat in order to get the attention of the wait staff.
(1)Shauna N.
Overpriced, but decent food. We were recently there for lunch (counter service) and I was unimpressed with the service. Attendants didn't so much as look up. The only real interaction was from a girl cleaning tables, who left her task to retrieve a carry out box for me. She seemed nice. I kind of felt bad for her having to work amongst the others. We ate outside, since we had the dog. They do, indeed, have a great location, so that part was lovely.
(2)Nina C.
It's a chain- I always get the cosi signature salad- I love it! I love the bread! It's fast and always fresh and tastes great!!
(3)Sara G.
This review is for the Cosi in ANN ARBOR, though I suspect the changes of which I'm about to write are chain-wide. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken. In the vast, sprawling network of chain restaurants that has become the central campus of the University of Michigan, one could always count on Cosi for a good--yet overpriced--salad. At the very least. So much for that previously ill conceived notion. Today I ventured in and discovered that they have a bright & shiny NEW way of serving customers (with the customers in mind, no doubt). You stand in line at the register where they take your order, then give you a number and tell you sit down (unless you'd rather stand). Ok, I'll give them points for efficiency. There wasn't much of a line so I waited about 4 minutes for my salad... ...only to discover upon opening it later at work that it was the Most. Pathetic. Salad. Ever. I've ordered Shanghai chicken salads before but this one was all iceberg stalks and scant tiny pieces of chicken. My theory is that they don't have you watch them make your food anymore so you can't see what they DON'T put in it. I am not coming back. Even for the bread (which btw they don't seem to wrap in foil anymore if you're carrying out).
(2)Tiffany D.
There are other Cosi's around, but this one in Bham seems to be the mainstay. During the day it's your typical counter service order - pay - sit. After 5pm it becomes sitdown service. Depending on the night the service is spotty. We were told to sit anywhere we like, but everywhere we would like to sit had not been cleared off yet. It took about 10 minutes to get us situated with a clean table and menus. They have the same menu at dinner. Flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and salads and soups and a few pasta offerings. The bread to the sandwich is really the reason for going, and even though a sandwich hovers around $9 (!!!) it also includes your choice of side salad or soup. At night they do serve wine by the half bottle, and a few bottles of beer. The crowd turns very teenage-oriented around 11pm on Saturdays, so beware. Also, the music was sooo loud. Am I getting old or what?
(3)Dane K.
Though the people here are nice... I've found the food to be below average as compared to other Cosi's I've been to. And this morning I ordered one of their breakfast omelet sandwiches...which really is just a fancy word for saying egg bacon cheese bagel. I paid to add tomatoes and they weren't on there, even after she asked if I wanted them on there hot and cold she forgot. My chai latte was one of the worst I've had, it was watery tasting and didn't even resemble chai... Was it gingerbread or something by accident? Hm.. Everything is counter service until dinner time, at which point you get somewhat mediocre waitress service. It's annoying they don't have any quick loading zone parking to run in / out... I've skipped them a few times because there wasn't anywhere but meters and I never have quarters on me when I'm in Birmingham on business... Today I drove around looking for a meter that had money in it already...
(2)M D.
Horribly expensive for ok food. Horrible service! Panera is by far a better value and the food is pretty good.
(1)kelly w.
I have worked in the service industry for roughly 10 years and I think that anyone else that has worked in it for that long can attest that there is a little motto we follow, it''s called, "The customer is always right." I had a pending charge on my credit card (let's remember this is reflected in your current balance) for roughly $45 buckaroos. I know I eat a lot but and cosi is overpriced, but what in god's good name could I have ordered that would sum up to this, I thought. As someone who lives paycheck to paycheck, I decided to call and just ask (politely mind you) if they could pull up the receipt. In no way was I accusatory or rude. Hello... I know being rude gets you NO WHERE when trying to resolve an issue. I was promptly greeted with irritation on the other end of the phone. I apologized for the inconvenience of looking up my receipt, but $45 is a lot of money for me.. and if it turned out it was a mistake on my coworkers fault-- then it is not their problem, I just wanted to double check that things were properly charged. The manager that I spoke with said that she would have to call me back-- I said, "No problem, take your time.. I understand you have other things of higher importance-- if she could just get back to me by the end of the day." I get a phone call an hour later telling me that this is my fault-- the transaction was mis-rung and then voided. But she wanted my account info so she could speak with my bank about it to make sure it was cleared. This was 5 business days after the transaction. She was short and less than friendly. I gave her my information as I did not want to want to deal with any attitude and was repeatedly apologizing and thanking her for looking into this. Phone call number three was absolutely the most INSANE! She called back and then proceeded to blame the bank for it not being credited into my account yet. She was still VERY rude to me. I finally had taken enough verbal abuse and said to her quite frankly, "You know, I am really sorry if you are having a bad day, but PLEASE, in no way is it appropriate that she speak to me like this." I was then told that she put HER business on hold during the busiest time of day so she could deal with MY problem. As I said, I was courteous up until this point. I said, "you know what, I thank you for all your help today, but your attitude is disrespectful. Can I have the number to corporate in case this problem is not resolved. I just don"t want to bother you with this anymore." She said she didn't have the number and that I would have to get it off the website.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I was astonished. My place of business is an EXTREMELY good customer of theirs, and she knew where I was calling from. I have been boycotting just because I don't think anyone should be spoken to that way. I went in recently and said manager was overly nice.. this is what garnered them a second star. Unfortunately I do like their food-- their Tomato Basil soup is fantastic, but I think it's quite rude to tell a customer (that just wanted a copy of their receipt) that they are a handful and that you had to "put your business on hold" for me. You know what? I AM your business. So keep that in mind.
(2)Rodney H.
Cosi in Birmingham is located in the prime real estate spot on the corner of Maple & Old Woodward. In a perfect world such a location would be graced by a terrific family run Restaurant or Bar. Sadly that is not the case, instead we have Cosi. Correctly spelled in omitting the Y. Nothing is very good here from the food to the Service. One of the reasons to eat in a Chain is quick service & consistent product. After eating here 3 times i can say the service is extremely haphazard & The product unremarkable.
(2)Stephen D.
I had a really poor service experience at Cosi on 135 N Old Woodward, today. I drop in once in a while to check out the menu as I get tired of trying Panera Bread across the road. I even bought a $25 Cosi card the last time I was here, but I am not going back to Cosi again in the near future even if it means that i will lose money thats left on the card. The lady preparing my salad was extremely rude. I asked for a tandoori chicken salad and soup and far from helping, she was very condescending. I had just walked in from the cold and was beginning to recover, so probably didnt hear her very well. But far from being customer centric and helping me with the order, she was at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum. I dont think I will ever visit Cosi again, especially if they hire such poor talent to handle their customers. The lady at the billing counter was OK, but she forgot my pack of chips - I can forgive that as oversight on her part though. Good luck with your bad customer service, Cosi.
(1)Hanna S.
It was bad. This restaurant was not organized. I've never been this restaurant before, so I didn't know how works. I ordered the food at the counter and waited til the food came out. I thought I should pay after they brought me the food to the counter, but the guy served our food to our table. It sounds good, but when should I pay then?! They will give me a bill later?! It made me so confused. Finally, nobody brought us the bill, so I went to the billing counter, and I paid. The guy at the billinging counter was not friendly at all.
(1)Kelly K.
Holy frig this place is amazing. Went here before my hair appointment last night and got a sandwich to go. The guys behind the counter were super friendly and greeted me right away. I went with the pesto chicken melt which came with chips or carrots. I also got a water and it was $10 out the door. The sandwich was made pretty quickly. It was soo good! The multigrain bread was crusty and flavorful. The chicken was perfectly tender with no weird bits inside. The pesto sauce and melty, gooey cheese were the perfect toppers for the sandwich! I ate it all in about 30 seconds lol. But it was seriously delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I am contemplating going back tonight!!
(5)o o.
this is my new joint to have a quick salad with my friend before she rushes off to pick up the baby at daycare. i have only had salads which are fresh and tasty. they offer many different options and the salads are always served with fresh baked bread on the side. so far request for dressing on the side has been a ok. service is good and attentive. atmosphere is even better, with large windows good for people watching. no complaints here.
(4)