No question this is the spot to get bagels in the Bryn Mawr area. Staff is prompt and courteous. Parking isn't the best but not impossible. Just had them cater a breakfast at my office. Price was more than agreeable and I got a ton of compliments about the bagels! Being open in the late afternoons is great too!
(5)
Mallory S.
Chicken salad had old grapes and walnuts in it. Different than the original recipe (which we were not told about prior to ordering.) Salads only have a few topping options and nothing looked too fresh.
(1)
J F.
As mentioned in other reviews, from August to May of each year, the customer base here is in large part college students, so, that in mind, be prepared for groups of students coming in and long lines forming on the weekends, especially in the late morning hours. Nevertheless, you can drop by earlier to avoid these crowds and get in and out more efficiently. The coffee is excellent with four or five choices as well, and the bagel sandwiches are of a consistent quality. If you have never been here, you first place your order, receive a receipt, and await an employee to call out the last three or first three numbers on your receipt--I always forget which one it is. No one tells you this, so I guess the management figures you'll listen and learn. When the store is crowded and employees don't speak up, it can be especially confusing when picking up your food and knowing where to stand. My advice if you just want to get in and out of the store with your food, go early as in 6-8AM. Otherwise, know what to expect and go with the flow.
(3)
Jen C.
I think college kids come here Saturdays to cure hangovers by eating bagels to soak up any remaining booze in their systems. In other words, it's busy and packed with college kids. Which would be irrelevant except for the fact that the bagel is just OK. Doesn't have the right density and chew for me, but I guess I'm also used to bagels in NYC. The garlic and herb cream cheese was pretty good, although it seemed whipped and might not be the best option if you want to have an intimate conversation with someone afterwards. Not many drink options. Will search elsewhere for a better bagel or at least same quality but without the crowds.
(3)
Minnie V.
Food is subpar, order taking awfully slow (one register on a Sunday morning) but will never return b/c the place is visibly filthy. Check out what appears to be mold inside the food case just inches from the Lox. And scraps of food that appears to have been there for ages. And dirty buckets and tin trays sitting on same counter where food is prepared. Skip this place and go to Delancy Street in Wynnewood. .
(1)
Michelle K.
I stopped here during the Sunday late morning rush, which was a huge mistake. It was filled with too many college students that acted as if they were experiencing their first hangovers because they took so long to order, even though the line was out the door. Once I got to the front of the line the cashier was friendly and efficient. I was impressed with how fast they could cut up bagels. There wasn't anywhere to sit, plus the place was noisy, so we took our bagels to go. The bagels tasted great and I would come back for more! There is parking in the back, which makes it easier to get in and out faster.
(4)
Michael G.
There is something inherently wrong with this place. I can't put my finger on it. For a bagel joint, it lacks personality. It's not a bad place. It's clean. I'm a simple man and yet they get my order wrong almost every time. It is also relatively expensive. Still, in six months i'll be in a semi-hurry, and I'll go again, and I'll be disappointed again. So if you have low expectations, you're in not too much a hurry, or you need free Internet access, stop and grab something to eat. Make sure you check your order before you leave. If it's after 11 AM just go to Ho Choi next-door and grab an awesome lunch!
(2)
Alex A.
Bagels are good but if you want to starve waiting for your food this spot is great. I gladly drive down the road to brueggers for quicker service and much better food- I've spent 15 minutes in line with one customer ahead of me at the factory for a toasted bagel with cream cheese. Disorganized and poorly communicating staff.
(1)
Allison B.
I don't know if I was just really hungry or my sandwich was just that good, but I feel like I could eat that Veggie Max on a bagel every stinkin' day! It was basically just some sort of cream cheese and then veggies on a bagel, but great proportions of ingredients, a delicious bagel (I opted for sesame), and really fresh veggies. I'd give this place a four based on that sandwich, but it the store itself had some shortcomings. The service was fine, but it didn't knock my socks off. Didn't get a smile or any enthusiasm from anyone. The restaurant was relatively clean but a little dated/worn out looking inside. I got the last spot in their very small shared lot when I arrived, so I could see parking be a little bit of a nightmare there at busy times. But that Veggie Max! I'm still thinking about it a week later. I would definitely go back here if I was in the area and it would likely be my go-to bagel stop if I lived here. Worth a try if you've not been.
(3)
Nicholas D.
This is a good place to get a bagel. Pros: -Variety (not huge variety) of cream cheeses -Large variety of bagels -Staff is nice enough -Price is okay Cons: -The place sort of looks like a fast-food joint inside. -Speed isn't up to snuff, especially during busy hours -Bagels are a bit on the small side, and cream cheese is too -Sometimes they cut the bagels, sometimes they don't Bottom line is it's a good place to get a bagel if you're not looking for something amazing and gourmet.
(3)
Suzy G.
I've been coming here for years! Its cheap, its fast, and I always manage to get a table even when the place is inundated with Villanova students. My go to order is an egg white omelet (they don't charge extra for egg whites) with onions, cheese and turkey bacon and a bagel. Its good and very filling breakfast. Coffee is good, its not as good as Wawa or some other places, but its still pretty tasty. The staff is pretty great too, everyone is super friendly.
(4)
Keli A.
Awesome place, fresh bagels and most importantly the staff is awesome..they are super nice and friendly. I've witnessed them being poorly treated and spoken to while I was there, and they still maintained their smiles and treated the customers with 100% respect. They deserve more credit!
(5)
Jaime Lyn C.
I stopped at The Bagel Factory this AM after fasting for some blood work over at Bryn Mawr Hospital. I was starving! The lady at the cash register was SO nice and polite- very genuine. I assume that it is hard to find employees like her in this day and age! A lot of people in food service are so miserable. I ordered the Hame/Egg/Chz on everything bagel and it hit the spot. I feel that their bagels are on the small side, but that is good for people who try to watch their carb-intake a little. They also had a nice variety of cream cheeses and muffins, which I will probably hit up the next time I stop in for breakfast. Definitely recommend to fellow Yelpers in the Bryn Mawr area.
(4)
Jim H.
Its been said, that more than any of our senses ,smell, can evoke memories the most effectively. A certain perfume whisks me back to an old girlfriend, getting into my car. The smell of a rubber ball, makes my face sting, as games of dodge ball and bombardment swirl around my head. And the smell of a freshly baked bagel reminds me of a time when I was forced to grow the hell up. Forget about the fact that I had already been a police officer, I had already lived in Europe for a time, I had already fell in love and married, the short yet meaningful walk, from Bryn Mawr Hospital to The Bagel Factory was as sobering a hike as there was. Nothing prepares you for becoming a parent. Reading all the tomes necessary to be a better parent, doesn't prepare one for that strange moment where a life is created that you are responsible for, both in the creation and upkeep. It had happened quickly. From the time I was awoken at 6am, to the time my daughter was born at 8:30, things were a blur. Once the baby was wrapped up, and mom cleaned up, I was able to unclench, and realized I was starving. I was assured by both a nurse and the new mom that it would be OK to go get some breakfast and that my strength and well-being was just as important as mom and baby's. I snubbed the cafeteria, feeling I needed some fresh air, and maybe a walk. I noticed The Bagel Factory was nearby and headed there. The smells coming from the little shop broke me out of the sad task of trying to get my head around recent events. I had just began working at a bakery myself, but these were hand made bagels made fresh on premises. Call it being stunned, call it hunger, but I was drawn to the place like geese to breadcrumbs. This was almost 12 years ago, but I still remember getting a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and a large coffee, and it was as good a meal as Id had. I kept thinking silly things like, " This is my first meal as a father" and imagining that someone will call me dad. My time in The Bagel Factory was brief yet memorable. Somehow I had the presence of mind to buy my wife her favorite, Cinnamon Raisin bagel with butter, before I left. She earned it. I headed back to BMH, feeling better for having eaten, with a spring in my quickening step, excited to get back and see my daughter. I should end this story here, with its happy ending, but sadly, life doesn't always play like a Disney movie. Upon returning to the room, I was met with the sad and concerned faces of the doctor and my wife. The recently purchased bagel, and the one in my belly, suddenly became very heavy. I was told that there were complications with the baby and that she had been taken to the NICU. Its funny how quickly the best day of your life can quickly become the worst. Details of this event are better left for another time. Its only important to know that Baby Sarah, had given her parents a horrible scare. There was bleeding in her cranium and she needed to be observed for a few days. It was a hard time, to be sure, but compared to other situations in the NICU, we were thankful that it only lasted a few days and we were able to take her home, in due time. I was amazed when they just told us it was OK to go. " What! Really? We can just take her home?" This, followed by my wife and i laying her car seat down in the middle of the living room , looking at the baby and saying to each other, "Now What?" So it was an OK ending after all (That chapter, anyway). The wonderful smells emanating from The Bagel Factory , went back to being a good memory. Just dont be weirded out if you ever see me in a Bagel place quietly saying to myself, " Daddy like!"
(4)
Joe C.
I go to this place on weekends when we're around mostly because of lack of options. When you walk in it smells like old grease. The seating area is not kept particularly clean, and the food is inconsistent at best. Two stars (instead of one) due to lack of suitable alternatives. I bet this place would do terribly on a show like "Health Inspectors" or "Kitchen Nightmares". I'll go back but it's gross. If you're wondering what old grease smells like, go to the Bagel Factory. The smell leads me to believe that they don't clean up too well in the back. Not that the front is clean either. The tables (and sometimes the floor) are sticky, I'm sure you can find at least 7 or 8 straw wrappers and/or used napkins on the floor right now. Whoever does the cleaning is trying to do just enough to say "I did it, now I'm going home". No one cares. The food is inconsistent in every way. Sometimes the bagels are not thoroughly cooked or misshapen, or don't have everything on an everything bagel. You never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes the pork roll is warm, sometimes its cold. Sometimes the sandwiches are cut in half but usually not. My sandwich on Saturday was actually pretty good all around but this is an extremely rare occurrence. You get the point. Many of the patrons are Villanova students and apparently, college kids don't care about cleanliness, quality, cost, etc. I wonder if this is what it was like in communist countries where they had no options and service providers had no incentive to go the extra mile since they were the only game in town. Staff is full of hourly employees with no investment in the success or failure of the business. Sadly, the place is probably a gold mine despite its half-assed approach.
(2)
Danan R.
I come here every Sunday to grab a dozen of the multigrain. They are the best in the area. Just make sure that you wrap them in the plastic bag and store them in the fridge. They will be good for a week. Plus they sell "last night's bagels" for $2.49/6, which is a good option for those lazy weekend days. Dunkin donuts doesn't even come close. The bagels' consistency is a bit softer than Manhattan's.
(4)
Marty K.
I would like to start by saying that this bagel place has the best bagels in the (area), yet their service leaves a lot to be desired . My intent in writing this review is due in part to their coffee cups. There is no way to provide actually feedback to the company. Their cups are a complete hazard! The lids fit poorly, so when you pick them up, the lid pops off and streams burning hot coffee down your hand... After replacing my cup several times before I left, I got into the car to find that the third cup was dripping scolding hot coffee on my leg because the bottom of the cup was falling out.. ( I have photo proof, if the bagel factory would like to see this) It's really exceptionally hazardous, and the company should provide an easier way to give this information, so I don't need to write a Yelp review. Overal, good bagels, bad service and apparently dangerous coffee cups.. ( I wouldn't recommend hot beverages from here)
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Brian M.
No question this is the spot to get bagels in the Bryn Mawr area. Staff is prompt and courteous. Parking isn't the best but not impossible. Just had them cater a breakfast at my office. Price was more than agreeable and I got a ton of compliments about the bagels! Being open in the late afternoons is great too!
(5)Mallory S.
Chicken salad had old grapes and walnuts in it. Different than the original recipe (which we were not told about prior to ordering.) Salads only have a few topping options and nothing looked too fresh.
(1)J F.
As mentioned in other reviews, from August to May of each year, the customer base here is in large part college students, so, that in mind, be prepared for groups of students coming in and long lines forming on the weekends, especially in the late morning hours. Nevertheless, you can drop by earlier to avoid these crowds and get in and out more efficiently. The coffee is excellent with four or five choices as well, and the bagel sandwiches are of a consistent quality. If you have never been here, you first place your order, receive a receipt, and await an employee to call out the last three or first three numbers on your receipt--I always forget which one it is. No one tells you this, so I guess the management figures you'll listen and learn. When the store is crowded and employees don't speak up, it can be especially confusing when picking up your food and knowing where to stand. My advice if you just want to get in and out of the store with your food, go early as in 6-8AM. Otherwise, know what to expect and go with the flow.
(3)Jen C.
I think college kids come here Saturdays to cure hangovers by eating bagels to soak up any remaining booze in their systems. In other words, it's busy and packed with college kids. Which would be irrelevant except for the fact that the bagel is just OK. Doesn't have the right density and chew for me, but I guess I'm also used to bagels in NYC. The garlic and herb cream cheese was pretty good, although it seemed whipped and might not be the best option if you want to have an intimate conversation with someone afterwards. Not many drink options. Will search elsewhere for a better bagel or at least same quality but without the crowds.
(3)Minnie V.
Food is subpar, order taking awfully slow (one register on a Sunday morning) but will never return b/c the place is visibly filthy. Check out what appears to be mold inside the food case just inches from the Lox. And scraps of food that appears to have been there for ages. And dirty buckets and tin trays sitting on same counter where food is prepared. Skip this place and go to Delancy Street in Wynnewood. .
(1)Michelle K.
I stopped here during the Sunday late morning rush, which was a huge mistake. It was filled with too many college students that acted as if they were experiencing their first hangovers because they took so long to order, even though the line was out the door. Once I got to the front of the line the cashier was friendly and efficient. I was impressed with how fast they could cut up bagels. There wasn't anywhere to sit, plus the place was noisy, so we took our bagels to go. The bagels tasted great and I would come back for more! There is parking in the back, which makes it easier to get in and out faster.
(4)Michael G.
There is something inherently wrong with this place. I can't put my finger on it. For a bagel joint, it lacks personality. It's not a bad place. It's clean. I'm a simple man and yet they get my order wrong almost every time. It is also relatively expensive. Still, in six months i'll be in a semi-hurry, and I'll go again, and I'll be disappointed again. So if you have low expectations, you're in not too much a hurry, or you need free Internet access, stop and grab something to eat. Make sure you check your order before you leave. If it's after 11 AM just go to Ho Choi next-door and grab an awesome lunch!
(2)Alex A.
Bagels are good but if you want to starve waiting for your food this spot is great. I gladly drive down the road to brueggers for quicker service and much better food- I've spent 15 minutes in line with one customer ahead of me at the factory for a toasted bagel with cream cheese. Disorganized and poorly communicating staff.
(1)Allison B.
I don't know if I was just really hungry or my sandwich was just that good, but I feel like I could eat that Veggie Max on a bagel every stinkin' day! It was basically just some sort of cream cheese and then veggies on a bagel, but great proportions of ingredients, a delicious bagel (I opted for sesame), and really fresh veggies. I'd give this place a four based on that sandwich, but it the store itself had some shortcomings. The service was fine, but it didn't knock my socks off. Didn't get a smile or any enthusiasm from anyone. The restaurant was relatively clean but a little dated/worn out looking inside. I got the last spot in their very small shared lot when I arrived, so I could see parking be a little bit of a nightmare there at busy times. But that Veggie Max! I'm still thinking about it a week later. I would definitely go back here if I was in the area and it would likely be my go-to bagel stop if I lived here. Worth a try if you've not been.
(3)Nicholas D.
This is a good place to get a bagel. Pros: -Variety (not huge variety) of cream cheeses -Large variety of bagels -Staff is nice enough -Price is okay Cons: -The place sort of looks like a fast-food joint inside. -Speed isn't up to snuff, especially during busy hours -Bagels are a bit on the small side, and cream cheese is too -Sometimes they cut the bagels, sometimes they don't Bottom line is it's a good place to get a bagel if you're not looking for something amazing and gourmet.
(3)Suzy G.
I've been coming here for years! Its cheap, its fast, and I always manage to get a table even when the place is inundated with Villanova students. My go to order is an egg white omelet (they don't charge extra for egg whites) with onions, cheese and turkey bacon and a bagel. Its good and very filling breakfast. Coffee is good, its not as good as Wawa or some other places, but its still pretty tasty. The staff is pretty great too, everyone is super friendly.
(4)Keli A.
Awesome place, fresh bagels and most importantly the staff is awesome..they are super nice and friendly. I've witnessed them being poorly treated and spoken to while I was there, and they still maintained their smiles and treated the customers with 100% respect. They deserve more credit!
(5)Jaime Lyn C.
I stopped at The Bagel Factory this AM after fasting for some blood work over at Bryn Mawr Hospital. I was starving! The lady at the cash register was SO nice and polite- very genuine. I assume that it is hard to find employees like her in this day and age! A lot of people in food service are so miserable. I ordered the Hame/Egg/Chz on everything bagel and it hit the spot. I feel that their bagels are on the small side, but that is good for people who try to watch their carb-intake a little. They also had a nice variety of cream cheeses and muffins, which I will probably hit up the next time I stop in for breakfast. Definitely recommend to fellow Yelpers in the Bryn Mawr area.
(4)Jim H.
Its been said, that more than any of our senses ,smell, can evoke memories the most effectively. A certain perfume whisks me back to an old girlfriend, getting into my car. The smell of a rubber ball, makes my face sting, as games of dodge ball and bombardment swirl around my head. And the smell of a freshly baked bagel reminds me of a time when I was forced to grow the hell up. Forget about the fact that I had already been a police officer, I had already lived in Europe for a time, I had already fell in love and married, the short yet meaningful walk, from Bryn Mawr Hospital to The Bagel Factory was as sobering a hike as there was. Nothing prepares you for becoming a parent. Reading all the tomes necessary to be a better parent, doesn't prepare one for that strange moment where a life is created that you are responsible for, both in the creation and upkeep. It had happened quickly. From the time I was awoken at 6am, to the time my daughter was born at 8:30, things were a blur. Once the baby was wrapped up, and mom cleaned up, I was able to unclench, and realized I was starving. I was assured by both a nurse and the new mom that it would be OK to go get some breakfast and that my strength and well-being was just as important as mom and baby's. I snubbed the cafeteria, feeling I needed some fresh air, and maybe a walk. I noticed The Bagel Factory was nearby and headed there. The smells coming from the little shop broke me out of the sad task of trying to get my head around recent events. I had just began working at a bakery myself, but these were hand made bagels made fresh on premises. Call it being stunned, call it hunger, but I was drawn to the place like geese to breadcrumbs. This was almost 12 years ago, but I still remember getting a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and a large coffee, and it was as good a meal as Id had. I kept thinking silly things like, " This is my first meal as a father" and imagining that someone will call me dad. My time in The Bagel Factory was brief yet memorable. Somehow I had the presence of mind to buy my wife her favorite, Cinnamon Raisin bagel with butter, before I left. She earned it. I headed back to BMH, feeling better for having eaten, with a spring in my quickening step, excited to get back and see my daughter. I should end this story here, with its happy ending, but sadly, life doesn't always play like a Disney movie. Upon returning to the room, I was met with the sad and concerned faces of the doctor and my wife. The recently purchased bagel, and the one in my belly, suddenly became very heavy. I was told that there were complications with the baby and that she had been taken to the NICU. Its funny how quickly the best day of your life can quickly become the worst. Details of this event are better left for another time. Its only important to know that Baby Sarah, had given her parents a horrible scare. There was bleeding in her cranium and she needed to be observed for a few days. It was a hard time, to be sure, but compared to other situations in the NICU, we were thankful that it only lasted a few days and we were able to take her home, in due time. I was amazed when they just told us it was OK to go. " What! Really? We can just take her home?" This, followed by my wife and i laying her car seat down in the middle of the living room , looking at the baby and saying to each other, "Now What?" So it was an OK ending after all (That chapter, anyway). The wonderful smells emanating from The Bagel Factory , went back to being a good memory. Just dont be weirded out if you ever see me in a Bagel place quietly saying to myself, " Daddy like!"
(4)Joe C.
I go to this place on weekends when we're around mostly because of lack of options. When you walk in it smells like old grease. The seating area is not kept particularly clean, and the food is inconsistent at best. Two stars (instead of one) due to lack of suitable alternatives. I bet this place would do terribly on a show like "Health Inspectors" or "Kitchen Nightmares". I'll go back but it's gross. If you're wondering what old grease smells like, go to the Bagel Factory. The smell leads me to believe that they don't clean up too well in the back. Not that the front is clean either. The tables (and sometimes the floor) are sticky, I'm sure you can find at least 7 or 8 straw wrappers and/or used napkins on the floor right now. Whoever does the cleaning is trying to do just enough to say "I did it, now I'm going home". No one cares. The food is inconsistent in every way. Sometimes the bagels are not thoroughly cooked or misshapen, or don't have everything on an everything bagel. You never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes the pork roll is warm, sometimes its cold. Sometimes the sandwiches are cut in half but usually not. My sandwich on Saturday was actually pretty good all around but this is an extremely rare occurrence. You get the point. Many of the patrons are Villanova students and apparently, college kids don't care about cleanliness, quality, cost, etc. I wonder if this is what it was like in communist countries where they had no options and service providers had no incentive to go the extra mile since they were the only game in town. Staff is full of hourly employees with no investment in the success or failure of the business. Sadly, the place is probably a gold mine despite its half-assed approach.
(2)Danan R.
I come here every Sunday to grab a dozen of the multigrain. They are the best in the area. Just make sure that you wrap them in the plastic bag and store them in the fridge. They will be good for a week. Plus they sell "last night's bagels" for $2.49/6, which is a good option for those lazy weekend days. Dunkin donuts doesn't even come close. The bagels' consistency is a bit softer than Manhattan's.
(4)Marty K.
I would like to start by saying that this bagel place has the best bagels in the (area), yet their service leaves a lot to be desired . My intent in writing this review is due in part to their coffee cups. There is no way to provide actually feedback to the company. Their cups are a complete hazard! The lids fit poorly, so when you pick them up, the lid pops off and streams burning hot coffee down your hand... After replacing my cup several times before I left, I got into the car to find that the third cup was dripping scolding hot coffee on my leg because the bottom of the cup was falling out.. ( I have photo proof, if the bagel factory would like to see this) It's really exceptionally hazardous, and the company should provide an easier way to give this information, so I don't need to write a Yelp review. Overal, good bagels, bad service and apparently dangerous coffee cups.. ( I wouldn't recommend hot beverages from here)
(3)