Checked out this bagel restaurant in DeKalb. It was one of the few places around here open in the morning. Barb City Bagels might be the best place in town for breakfast. Of course it's also open for lunch. There's coffee to go with bagels along with other kinds of sandwiches. Bagels are the main things of course. It has coffee with tons of syrups to choose from. The bagels themselves actually may be kind of an afterthought to be honest. Anyway these are still good. There's a lot of things on the menu. It's about $5 to get a latte. They have a few non dairy milks. It's about $8 for one of the bagel sandwiches, which is actually a good amount of food. There's quite a few combinations you can make. I got the Vegetable Sandwich, which comes on a choice of bagel. This includes cucumbers, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. Get a combo with a drink and chips. They also have tons of cream cheeses, and plenty of other toppings so you can get a pretty hearty breakfast or a lunch. Good place, but it has kind of limited hours. It's only open for breakfast and lunch. There's plenty of things for meat eaters, as well as vegans and vegetarians. read more

Barb City Bagels - Latte And The Vegetable Sandwich - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

The bagels are still good but they didn't have ice in their soda machine and their fountain drink sofas had no carbonation

Wow cute cozy place to hang out with friends and family The bagels are so good my favorite is sasame seeds with strawberry cream cheese They have tons sodas and huge selection of flavors Toronto coffee at your own liking I also had the turkey blt the lettuce was bitter but it was very good I loved the service and the ambiance the service is so great you want to come back loved this place read more

Barb City Bagels - a variety of beverages - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

It's been a few years. I had to get some equipment in for service, and stopped here with my wife for breakfast. The interior is nice and clean. There are seats, tables, local newspapers, magazines, all available to read. They have regular coffee and more available. And bagels, Fresh made from scratch daily. My wife ordered their Sausage Egg'Wich on an everything bagel, and she said it was very tasty. I had their Nova Lox & Cream Cheese, which was on an everything bagel. The capers were smothered in the cream cheese, which is a good idea so they don't go flying away. There was plentiful toppings, and the onions were very good, as were the tomatoes. While we were there, we ordered some "Bagel Bites" - we nabbed their last cherry and blueberry ones. They were quite tasty. This is a very nice breakfast/lunch place. It's right on Rt 38 - if you haven't tried this, you are missing a nice gem! read more

YEAHHHH BABY. Go-to breakfast spot if you're not in a rush. Their bagels are so fresh and hearty, and I love that you can mix and match the bagels and cream cheese! The service is always pleasant, and the wait time is non-existent. It's a very pretty place inside, and they always have interesting looking coffee specials. Y'all HAVE to try the frosted bagel bites, they're to die for. read more

This place so dope boi, 100% 10/10 highly recommend. The bagels are AMAZING, the staff are great, the fees are very affordable, and the wait time isn't too long. I also loveee the interior, it's so fun and whimsical. Go NOW or I will hunt you down. read more

I loved this place while I was staying in Dekalb. I got some really good bagel sandwiches here. I enjoyed all the varieties of bagels and cream cheese they had. The bagels were always fresh and soft. While there's no really unusual flavours, there's a pretty wide selection. They also do pastries like muffins and scones, and drinks. I also really liked the blueberry knot and sunrise muffin I tried! The bagel knots come gratuitously topped with cream cheese icing, which looked a little excessive, but I actually didn't think it was too much once I spread it a little. The chai was a little sweet for me, but it still had a nice flavour. FYI the mix they use has milk powder in it, so while you can change the type of milk they add to it, you can't make it dairy free (the staff was helpful to let me know about this when I ordered it with almond milk). The decaf coffee could have been stronger but was fine. They have a few different flavours of regular brew. The only thing I didn't like was the peach smoothie; it just tasted like syrup. The staff was great every time I visited. I really appreciated that they accepted the personal cup I brought for my cold drinks. Lots of comfortable seating in the shop. Big windows let in lots of light, and you can grab a newspaper to read while you're there. read more

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Awesome service, great food, and At a reasonable price. Breakfast, brunch, or just grabbing a coffee/bagel to go, you won't be disappointed!

A lovely local venue with yummy eats, please do patronize. IF you are wondering whether to indulge in the decadent bites, DO indulge in the blueberry knot, totally worth the indulgence. read more

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Bagels are fresh and the service is quick! They offer both made-to-order coffee as well as highlight a make-your-own coffee bar in the center. I highly recommend the honey lavender latte iced :) read more

Barb City Bagels - Bacon Egg and Cheese on a Bagel (Everything) - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

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It's nice that this is an independent small business. The staff was nice young folks who were working hard and providing good service. The vibe was a small town coffee shop The bagels were ok but kind of chewy for my taste. Skip the latte as it is made from a vending machine and it tastes like it. read more

Visiting DeKalb's campus for a few days and I always want to support locally-owned businesses so I stopped here. I wanted to like this place but I was not a fan at all of the nova lox with cream cheese on toasted bagel I ordered. Everything was flavorless, including the bagel which was too chewy/doughy. I had a hard time digesting it. I ordered a large coffee, which is self-serve, and that's fine, I'm not looking for anything fancy, but I emptied a few little tubs of liquid half-and-half cream into my cup and what came out wasn't all liquid- there were dried up white crusts of cream. How long has liquid cream been around when this happens? The service was fine- I did get charged for two coffees instead of one, but when I told the person working the register, she was very nice and apologized and took off the extra coffee. This spot is cute and in such a good location, walkable from campus. I just wish the food was edible. read more

I saw the fly in the bite box and I told the man who I ordered it that it seemed he smirked and ignored and left the fly in the cinnamon bites so I recommend you guys to check at bites before you guys decide to order.... Good Luck. read more

Barb City Bagels - Look at Cinnamon I saw the fly into bites - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

Returning to visit my alma mater and revisit a classic was not what I expected. Parking and location are great, easy to access and the ordering was simple. Unfortunately the staff has some trouble answering basic questions about the menu, additionally and while its later in the morning the bagel rack seems to be very empty (understandable). The latte machine they use needs attention, I didn't bother with asking for a refund and insisted on a coffee instead only to find the first two picks empty in the self-service dispensable and the cream to leave flakes in the coffee. I hope this place can do better in the future, still a lot to offer I'm sure. read more

Bagels are amazing, but the service for the coffee is pretty awful. 4/5 times we have gone they have forgotten to make the signature coffee drinks we order, 1 of which we were the only people in the place. The last time we came we decided to just get hot coffee out of the dispenser and they were out of everything but decafe. Only 1 friendly staff member the rest are either texting, stoned, or hanging out with friends in the dining area. I don't write reviews often but the management needs to work on staff training. read more

This place has a large variety of bagels, many I've never even heard of (french toast, peanut butter, Hawaiian) I had the French toast bagel with walnut and honey cream cheese. So yummy!! My partner had the peanut butter bagel out of curiosity, but we honestly thought it didn't really taste like peanut butter. They have a great selection of different flavors/creamers for your coffee. Also, the prices were reasonable. read more

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Solid spot for a bacon egg and cheese bagel in downtown Dekalb! They have a variety of seasonal drinks, we got the iced Sticky bun latte and the honey vanilla lavender latte read more

Barb City Bagels - Left: iced honey vanilla lavender latte Right: iced sticky bun latte - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

Delicious stuff!!! Very expressive stuff. Shrinking stuff. I used to go there years ago but I couldn't afford their flour and water mix high prices. Several years later I went back for their bagel bites They were 50% smaller and a lot more expensive It was my birthday treat and never again. read more

I came on a weekend day around 1 p.m. as I was into town with my mom and aunt as they shopped the street. I walked in and it was pretty slow, bagel case was sparse for the time of day which I understand. However, the young kids working seemed disinterested in general. I asked for an eggwich and a special latte that was written on the board right in front of the bagel case when I walked in. The kids told me "we don't do that coffee". Looking around, I saw just a few people with coffee and from the looks of their setup - I could tell it was a punch machine type of barista set up. No thank you. I paid the almost $10 for my sandwich and left without a drink. The bagels themselves were very chewy and kind of flavorless. Too much money for the food I got and the crappy service I was provided. As someone in the industry myself, I do hope the owner does some major overhauling of their processes and staffing. I always root for the small businesses, but this was hard. read more

Excellent selection, even though the sandwich prices are a bit on the high side. I had a bagel with egg and bacon and it was really good. Love the coffee and glad to see this place carry the Chicago brand. I will definitely stop by next time I am in the area and will have to try some of the wacky bagel flavors. read more

Good price. Good service. Great bagels! Would go back anytime. And would recommend to anyone.

Nice hometown business with friendly staff and good food. Parking is located in the rear of the store

double check your order as my eggwich with bacon was missing the bacon. Seems little, but when it is the only thing to remember, you really need to stick the landing. Start your day disappointed and stop at Barb city Bagels read more

I've came here several times for bagels- which are amazing! (My favorite is the Hawaiian). My aunt and I decided to stop and try some lunch here, which consisted of bagel sandwiches. She got a blt and I got a ham and Swiss on the Hawaiian. They were very good and the staff seemed a little busy but very helpful (my bagel wasn't completely cooked so she offered me a new one). I was very surprised at the selection of bagels at lunchtime however, that is why they didn't get 5 stars. Will be back to try more bagels considering I live down the street! read more

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I would highly recommend barb city bagels for those in the DeKalb area! Being a student from NIU I normally don't like to venture out too far from campus but BCB wasn't a far drive. This place is very cozy with a cute dine in area with tables and couches, a fireplace and a fish tank. I got the tuesday special which was a sandwich, chips and drink. For my sandwich I got the turkey bacon ranch on an asiago bagel, Kettle chips from which I got to choose from and an iced coffee. They have a great coffee area where you get to craft your own coffee just the way you like it with a variety of coffee syrups, creams and sugar. I opted for the cookie butter syrup for my coffee and it was delicious. They also had a variety of bagels and cream cheese spread to choose from. I will definitely be back during my break. read more

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Very nice bagels. Fresh, properly made, terrific variety. I like the Nova Lox sandwich on either plain or sourdough. I ask for a spread of cream cheese not a schmear. (Think butter not frosting) The dill, onion and capers are a must, I leave the tomato's. Just a personal preference, tomato's and fish don't play well together. I would love pickled onions in place of the fresh.....hint hint. Aside from a sandwich I love the sesame bagel. Oh and the Everything bagel, and the Asiago as well.....just go and support a local business that is doing it right. read more

Barb City is a DeKalb staple! All their bagels are made in shop except for the gluten-free one, which is a shame since I can't have the other ones (it came in a package but it was still good!). However, their bagels come in about a dozen flavors - including chocolate chip, cherry, garlic, and pretzel to name a few. The staff is SUPER friendly and offer a pleasant experience in store. There is a bit of a wait time, so I would try to order ahead if possible. There are a few covid concerns. Tables and booths are not socially distant and there are no tables blocked off. Also, the SELF-SERVE coffee station is still in use, which should be a relic of the past at this point in the pandemic. The staff wears masks and gloves to handle the food. read more

We drove 30 minutes to check this place out. Worth every mile!!!! Their bagels and "knots" are EXCEPTIONAL! They are so light and fluffy. Fresh made daily. Best I have ever had...period. We ordered breakfast sandwiches and they were made from scratch on the spot. Even though the place was busy, we still had quick service...and everyone was super friendly! Owners, Tim & Bobbi came out and gave us some interesting history on the place. Great people. Highly recommend this place. We will be back...many times! read more

Barb City Bagels - Sante Fe - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

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Today I witnessed a woman (it was the owner Bobbi, I believe, after looking at some pictures of their staff) scold the man in front of me in line after he spent nearly 10 minutes at the register trying to correct his only form of payment. He was visibly anxious and after exhausting his options, he apologized and said he would just leave. The other two employees behind the counter had NO problem letting this man go, but the owner decided to take it upon herself to teach him some sort of lesson very publicly. He was simply down on his luck, not out to ruin your precious small business. Everyone in the shop looked like they wanted to crawl out of their skin, including her employees. Another man behind me even offered to pay for the first man's order to make her shut her mouth and she DECLINED and told him he wasn't helping her situation. Apparently getting her money wasn't that big of a deal, but big enough to berate someone over it. And by the way- his total? 6 dollars and some change for a freaking egg and bacon on a single bagel. Bobbi, I hope you read this and I hope you are ashamed of the way you treated another human being today. It would do you some good to look within and evaluate just why losing out on a couple dollar bills due to a fluke felt like such a threat to your successful business. This was nowhere near the "warm, friendly" atmosphere you wish to maintain. Today, you were cold. But based on what I've heard from past employees, this wasn't the first time it's been clear you need a reality check. Please seek the necessary help to learn some basic compassion. read more

Went for the first time and was a little underwhelming. They were out of a lot of things at 11am, the tables were dirty, and the food was pretty mid-tier for how much it cost. I'd probably come back for a bagel and cream cheese every once in a while but I'd probably be better off going to dunkin donuts. read more

Love the french toast bagel with the honey walnut cream cheese. Thats the only thing to die for in there considering they a bit pricey for a college student. Only get a couple of cent off if you use your niu card though read more

Pricey, but good. Fresh,Fresh, and super fresh. I love it. great food, friendly staff. I'm glad they are a part of the downtown family.

If you find fault with these Bagels you need your head examined! Never heard of this place until today when they showed up on our job site with hundreds and hundreds of bagels, muffins and cookies..... (One of our workers paid for the "treats" out of her pocket.....) These are outstanding bagels and are on par what I lived on when working in NYC.... the everything begal is amazing and the Asiago ones are also outstanding! Not one of over 400 Construction Workers complained and they even enjoyed the muffins..... Great stuff here and worth the price! read more

I need to say up front- I'm not a bagel fan at all because I always enjoy soft bread much more than bread with hard texture. BUT, trust me I really need to use BUUUUT! This bagel place is amazing!! I've heard from friends this is the best bagel ever and I also saw an article stating this place is the top 10 bagel place in USA. There is one in Illinois, cool! But it's in DeKalb!!!! Impressively awesome! Okay, if you are visiting during the weekend for your breakfast, be prepared it'll be crowded. It's not like none of the seats left of you want to eat there, but a line would be expected. They have outstanding fresh made bagels with many many flavors. My all time favorite is garlic bagel. Everything and asiago bagel are excellent too. They have discount for their bagels before they close everyday if there's still anything left. My favorite favorite most delicious breakfast for me in this little town is their breakfast bagel sandwich. There are super tasty egg, ham, and American cheese in my garlic bagel - definitely above and beyond. Try it and you'll be amazed. Also, their bagel bites are excellent for snack or sharing. Of course it's nice for breakfast too. A lout of choices such as blueberry, raspberry, Boston cream, cinnamon raisin, etc. As you can see in my pictures, you'll have so much fun making your own coffee with whatever flavors you would like for the day you visit. read more

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Love the fresh bagels, my favorite is the jalapeno cheddar. I appreciate the option to sit outside, but the vibe inside is great too. Also grateful for the NIU student discount! read more

Barb City Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Dekalb, Illinois

Whenever I'm back in town, this is a place that is hard to not stop at! I'd say that the service is very hit and miss. If you go first thing in the morning (I am an early riser), be prepared to wait for items such as bagel bites and some of the bagel flavors to not be ready yet. Not a huge fan of their coffee, but bagel wise I always get a double toasted (otherwise it seems underdone) bagel and at least a few bagel bites to bring home to the fam. read more

Traveling through want breakfast sandwich. I will say there bagels are fresh and very good. Standard egg, sausage and cheese but good. Nowadays can't complain about price everything is expensive. I will say what they need to improve on is there customer service, the three girls working counter were about as warm as a wet blanket and for price you pay, you think you could get napkin with sandwich. Definitely sent me searching into my center council that day for a few napkins. read more

To say that this place is the bee's knees of DeKalb...is an understatement. I have an absurd love for Barb City Bagels. BCB is just what DeKalb needed. I rave about it to my roommates and classmates because I've been trying to make it my place to go (: I love how early it's open--but I really wish it was open a bit later! I would love to come in around 5 or 6pm to just sit and study after my classes. Of course, I understand that staying open later is not exactly cost effective for a bagel shop. The bagels are heaven! I've had their nova deluxe (lox w/ garlic cream cheese & the works), sourdough w/ salmon cream cheese, sun-dried tomato w/ jalapeño cream cheese, asiago w/ sun-dried tomato cream cheese, chocolate chip, and cinnamon crumble w/ honey walnut cream cheese. All these combinations are just so incredible--I recommend them all! Barb City Bagels are so soft, airy, and yummy! Bagels are $1.04 and $2.34 if you want cream cheese with it--I find it strange that most their menu items end in 4. I've also had their cranberry & blueberry bagel bites (they're basically tiny bites of heaven that you don't want to end) and their baja chicken wrap & Mediterranean turkey wrap. Everything is delectable! However, I do believe that they could work on the consistency of their bagel sizes. I've brought several people here that have not been satisfied with the size of the bagel they received, while mine was a decent size. Not only do I love their food, but I LOVE that they serve Intelligentsia coffee. I usually get a medium ($2.14) and they offer free refills because it's completely self serve! I'm a woman who loves choices, so seeing that they have ~20 different syrups/flavors & several cream options, I am a happy gal!!! Upon entering BCB, everything is just so cozy and the decor makes the cafe seem so homey! It's a perfect place to study because they have outlets on the wall and two comfy couches. My final recommendations would be to definitely play some cafe music because the place is so quiet that you just hear the workers talking or working and to possibly get rid of the fish tank because I'm not too sure it belongs! The workers that I have encountered are very friendly for the most part! There is an older woman that works there that could use a smile on her face at times. I believe that the owners step in to work once in a while and I love it! They're so incredibly friendly--customer service goes a long way! For a fairly new business, I think there are some aspects they could work on, but I think they are doing an excellent job with their product, aesthetics, and customer service! There is just so much to say about BCB because they're so amazing and they offer so much! NIU students receive 10% off their order, and bagels are 3/$1 during the last half hour of the day! If you're thinking about going--stop thinking and just go! You won't regret it! read more

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I really want this place to be great but it's not. It's not clean (shortly after the opening time), employees with long hair have it down and near the food, if the staff notices you they don't greet you. I rarely go there because the service is so sub-par, but when I do, its disappointing. read more

I wrote a 2-star review for this place one year ago, and I'm glad to say it's significantly improved since then! Barb City Bagels provides a nice,casual atmosphere with plenty of tables and cozy decor. Coffee: Intelligentsia coffee! They have flavored creamers, cream, milk, and unlimited refills. Great. Bagels: Large variety of bagels and cream cheese. Bagel breakfast sandwiches come with a generous portion of eggs on it, but I'm sad to say they continue to use microwave bacon which just tastes like salt (there's no joy in eating it). Prices: Very reasonable! The price of one coffee and 2 bacon egg bagel sandwiches was less than $10 (after applying the 10% student discount). Overall this is a great local business that I would recommend for coffee and bagels. read more