Firstly, the coffee is fantastic. Not sure what brand it is, but it's among the best I've found in the city. The bagels are similarly excellent, and the variety of homemade cream cheese options is extensive and delicious: honey almond, cranberry walnut, veggie, chives, et al. But the breakfast sandwiches are very dry, and overpriced, as are the fresh fruit cups. Moreover, as previous Yelpers have noted, the place is staffed by a collection of hipsters who don't always (OK, hardly ever) appear enthused to help you. That can be a bit off-putting. Also, there is virtually no room to stand in line to order or to wait while your order is prepared. The place is very popular among neighborhood 30-somethings and their kids, so it fills up fast. Again, I'm just not a people person before I've had my morning joe, so I could do without the proximity of bodies. The adjoining indoor seating area is smallish, but at least there is room between the tables. The outdoor patio on Leland is better. This place probably deserves 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding down. Still, try their bagels and coffee. You won't be disappointed. read more

Beans & Bagel gets a big fat F for customer service, there is no question. However, they make good stuff. If you're not in a rush and having a day of patience for hipster baristas, it's a solid place to be. Lame that you can't get in to the larger sitting area next door without going outside. I know it doesn't really make a difference, but what's that about anyway? read more

Okay, they've hired a French pastry chef and the stuff he makes is AMAZING. On the downside, they don't let you use the bathroom anymore. That is super annoying. read more

Incredible staff and atmosphere. One of the best spots in the neighborhood to sit and get some work done. But I have to dock a star for it being grossly overpriced. read more

I'll say out of the two things we have to choose from based on the title, I only like the latter half. I am not a coffee drinker, but I do like me some bagels. I thought they were a tad overpriced, I was still pleased with what I got and the atmosphere was quaint. On the plus side, they are definitely a community cafe. It definitely fits into the Rockwell neighborhood without sticking out like a sore thumb. Their hours are mainly for morning commuters and unfortunately, I've read that their Montrose location has suffered from the CTA stop closure there. Support local businesses and give them a shot. read more

The good: Coffee, chocolate chip muffins, granola, bagels, soup (winter), ice cream (summer). Day-old baked goods are very cheap and still tasty - they are wrapped on top of the glass display case. The so-so: Service, definitely. I do not go there on a weekday morning if more than 2 people are already in line, since I'm often running late already. I am a regular, and they are fairly friendly to me. I don't order the same thing much (except my drip coffee), so I don't expect anyone to remember my order. There is literally a cast of dozens of employees, so don't bother to learn their names. You may never see them again. Maybe they are mostly artists/students/musicians/independently wealthy? You can tell when they are in good moods or not. They are pretty disorganized and don't seem to care. You may hear any kind of music blaring at any time (including vulgar lyrics when kids are in the place on weekends). When they have the time, they give good service, usually. I spilled an almost full cup of coffee all over the side counter recently and the guy was very sweet about it and gave me another full cup. The disappointing: yogurt selection (2 flavors), tea selection (not very many), the prices for some things (salads). They don't carry Nantucket Nectars grapefruit juice anymore, which saddens me. I guess not enough people bought it. There is a $5 minimum for charges. The ugly: My husband got sick from their breakfast food at least once. So I don't eat any eggs here anymore. He won't set foot in the place and doesn't get why I like it. I haven't had their sandwiches in a long while, so no comment. read more

Came again and tried this place again. They wouldnt warm a pastry up and gave us an attitude. No thank you we will pass

Oh Beans and Bagels...how I love you so. I live far away now and I don't get to get there for the yummy coffee and sandwiches as much as I like. But I'm at Leland and Rockwell now. Here's what's going on: -I'm relishing a chewy, toasty pumpernickel bagel with chive cream cheese and fresh tomatoes. -Tito is asking if anyone would like to try the fresh baked Peruvian cookies that he's been experimenting with. -Ricky is washing dishes and taking about cars. -Kelly is playing Bloc Party just for me, and making cute faces at the baby in the stroller by the door. -Joe making up fresh Samba just as I walked in. Keep on doing your thing, guys. You rock. read more

I've visited both locations and have always been treated very well by a VERY friendly, courteous staff. The food is top notch and VERY reasonably priced!! I prefer locally owned, locally staffed NON-franchise coffee shops. I really like the layout of the Rockwell store!! Plus, situating both stores within steps of public transit is sheer genius!!! read more

This is for the B&B by the Rockwell station. Maybe the complaints about "hipster" service are for the other location, because I haven't seen it at this loc... And I went to this location about 4 days a week from April 08-April 09. The service was always incredibly friendly -- they remember regulars, no matter their age or status, and they make a great cup of coffee and bagel. They also have breakfast bagels which are pretty amazing and a great selection of juices. Their friendly service & pretty good music made my mornings bearable & I will always be thankful. There are some tricks - 1) The door to the larger eating area is separate, you have to go outside and go 1 door down on Rockwell, and there's no handle. 2) Beware the stroller set. if you get there b/f 9.30a, you're good. any time after, you're screwed and your ears will start ringing in no time. read more

Yes, it's slow and busy during the coffee rush, so if you're busy and go-getting, you'll be annoyed. The key is the secret room next door, the most unobstructed, distraction free wi-fi spot this side of the public library, and no one is going to rush you out the door. Great place to hang out on an off day. Plus, the sandwiches and treats are satisfying. read more

Ive been frequenting beans n bagela for half a decade and today was the last attempt forever. Food is great, service OK, but this place is always a zoo. I used to circumvent that problem by placing my order in advance (to go) instead of waiting in line to order only to wait another 20 minutes for your food to be ready. Well today, after years of calling my to-go in order ahead, the employee i spoke to refused to place my order without taking a credit card over the phone, suggesting it standard policy for the business. After clarifying that ive been a weekly customer for years he backtracked and claimed it was a new policy. Why the dishonesty? Why refuse a cash payment over the phone? You cannot legally refuse any legal tender for any reason. But he did, so i cannot in good conscience continue to support a business who treats people so disposably. That was it. Obviously they dont need my business any longer at refusing to allow me to pay cash, as i usually do, as a longtime patron. Im not a demanding guy. Its basic customer service and theyve lost a regular at failing to demonstrate even the most basic and legally required of accomodations. Dont like dealing with carry out orders? Dont take them in lieu of discriminating against people who do not want to surrender their banking information over the phone. The second star is for the fact that the food and coffee is actually quite good. Ive just been treated poorly by them too many times over the years and today was the last, albeit relatively minor straw. Hope form of payment discrimination works out well for them, as i wont be going back again. Not worth the hassle for the lousy treatment they display towards even longtime regulars. There are too many other options out there who dont treat their customers with contempt and enjoy making money regardless of form of payment. read more

I come here pretty much every day. It provides me amazing coffee,and great energy. Sometimes the lines are out the door but it's because people have no idea what they want to order. Lines are no problem because they usually have something playing on the tv in the corner. They are currently playing White Christmas. .^_^. Great service. Great staff. Confused customers and somewhere to sit if I had time to stick around. read more

This small spot is such a gem! I stopped by for a quick breakfast sandwich and chai latte, and couldn't have been more satisfied! Great service and I know they took extra time making sure both items were made to order. I will definitely be back soon! read more

Fortunately, I have not experienced any rudeness (or even slowness) from the employees here that is frequently mentioned in reviews. In fact, after stopping in here a few times, my experiences have been good. I can tell you that: 1. The smoothies are delicious-I had "Berries on Leland," 2. I enjoy the Metropolis coffee they serve and 3. The pastries are absolutely delicious (I don't know where they get them from, but will probably ask next time)-try the almond and chocolate croissant-sooo good. And I got all of this with no extra attitude. I was friendly and the employees that I encountered were friendly back. Since I live so close (and my boyfriend lives even closer), I will definitely return to Beans and Bagels and I will be back to try out their patio area (looks very nice). read more

The staff here are beyond warm and friendly! They get 5 stars for sure. Wasn't the biggest fan of my chai latte, it was rather bitter. But my sandwich was awesome, we got the Hemingway but subbed turkey for the lox and it was delicious. I was sad when it was over, and I normally don't care about sandwiches. I loved the laid back vibe of the seating area, the bench style seating and quirky decorations like the plastic dinosaurs that kept our kids entertained. Will definitely be back! read more

It's a bit of a trek from my neighborhood, but Beans & Bagels tends to be worth it. The coffee is good, the sandwiches and pastries are good, the staff is good. The lounge next door is great for getting work done. The cinnamon croissants are pretty baller. The place seems to attract a lot of parents for some reason. I have no idea. I was there for a few hours the other week and four sets of parents, babies in tow, came in to talk about how hard being a parent is. They all were pretty respectful of the fact that they were in a quiet room with people trying to read/write/whatever, but still, babies creep me out. POINTS DEDUCTED. EDIT: Knocking this down to a 2. The wifi signal is so weak it is unusable for any practical amount of time. I thought it might be my laptop, but after several experiences like this and finding that several friends have the same problem, this place is unfortunately not worth the trek for me anymore. read more

This place was a welcome find as I got off the Brown line, headed to yet another in a long list of apartments that day. Apartment hunting sucks ya'll. I kept meeting potential roommates who were nice online/on the phone, and in person were just....*sigh*. I was hot, tired, my feet hurt, and dammit I need a cold drink. But I don't drink coffee. Can't stand it. So why wander into a coffee shop? Because 99% of the time I can get a very decent cup of tea/glass of iced tea, choice of several flavors at most any coffee shop. And a pastry to boot. Like my hips need anymore pastries. Beans & bagels lacks tea choices. Eh, it happens (hey, the name does pretty much scream "Coffee!"). There was -a- tea choice. But they did have fresh squeezed orange juice, which was a welcome sight, and turned out very tasty. There were not many pastries on display, at least none that looked like they could be consumed w/o a fork....did i wander in at the wrong time of day? But a small french bread roll looked tempting, and turned out to be light, tasty, and oh I wish I had some jam hidden in my bag. Yes, I was the girl walking down the street, tearing into a bread roll in the middle of the afternoon. Don't judge...it was one of those days. Great location, if I'm back in the neighborhood I definitely want to try a sandwich (the descriptions were mouth-watering). But what I could have done without was the sneer from the barista/cashier. Yes I -only- want a roll and an orange juice. What's wrong with that? You give me food & beverage, I give you cash, we both say thank you and smile. Skimming other reviews it seems the attitude may actually just be trained into their employees. read more

Sweet Jesus, now THAT's a croissant! Haven't really gotten my bagel fix since I left the east coast but this comes close. read more

I love this place! I am pretty much addicted to the smoothies (try Strawberry Banana with soy and honey instead of yogurt). The bagels are great, wide selection of sandwiches, they have a great garden salad with a several dressing choices. Lately they've had peruvian style empanadas---AMAZING!!!! Also, dig through the freezer and grab a chocolate banana--DIVINE! The service can be slow when there's 20 people packed in. I'm a regular so the help is friendly to me. Throw 'em a buck and they'll hook you up from then on. read more

Their sandwiches far surpass those of any chain I've been to. Instead of offering one or two vegetarian sandwiches as an afterthought like Potbelly or Jimmy Johns, their numerous vegetarian selections are thoughtful and delicious. They might take a few extra minutes to make, but the wait is well worth it. Give the Ferdinand a try and you definitely will go home happy. Great coffee, great breakfast bagel, great sandwiches. Excellent outdoor seating as well. You can't go wrong getting breakfast, lunch, or dinner here. read more

Both locations are great, but the Leland location is larger, much faster and more tightly run. They serve Metropolis coffee, which is great, but for some reason the iced coffee is always slightly bitter. The breakfast bagel is outstanding. The thick-sliced ham is substantial and a little sweet, grill-charred around the edges, with sharp cheddar melted. Other meats/cheeses available. The other sandwiches are solid. I'm a fan of the Holy Jalapeno with humus and cucumber. Ruben is okay (slaw is good). Great location near the Rockwell Brown Line stop, very neighborhood-y. Free Wi-fi and lots of seating indoor and out. read more

I adore this coffee shop and am so glad it's been able to stay open during COVID. The drip coffee and speciality drinks, bagel sandwiches, and pastries are all fantastic. The line around the block in the mornings is well deserved! read more

As it seems with others I have a love-hate relationship with this place. I however prefer to go in the morning when it's a little busier. Service and quality seems better then. The last time I went in there it was in the afternoon and I was the only customer. The cashier was on her phone the entire time, barely made eye contact. My bagel came at an appropriate time but as usual I had to ask again for my coffee, as no one got it for me while I was waiting. Went home and as I began eating my bagel realized it was barely toasted and the peanut butter was minimal compared to usual and overal it was a sloppy job. All of this was something I could move past. Didn't care much, I've worked in the coffee industry for several years and still work in food service. I get it.... I guess. Then I finished my coffee. My last sip I got a mouth FULL of grounds. I'm pretty easy going and let things slide but 5 strikes and you're out. read more

The reviews seem mixed about this place, and there seems to be valid views on all sides, but the very important thing I feel is suspiciously missing is... the bagels are not good :( They are strangely underbaked and don't have a good chew as a result. It's just got a weird raw crumb and for the price, aesthetic, and bagel being in the name of the place you sort of would think that the bagel would be something they have down. If you're an north easterner or really religious about bagels don't get excited. The ingredients in the sandwiches are good quality though. I was a little disappointed to get barely melted cheese on the pesto panini once (like, basically still in the form of a cheese slice just sweating a little). The pastries that I've tried are yummy, which is nice. But ultimately what you want from a bagel shop near a train station is a substantial breakfast (read: a bagel) not a treat yourself moment. So its a little disappointing despite having a lot to offer. read more

Independent shop that carries Metropolis coffee. Hard to mess that up. I didn't have any problem with service, seemed pretty normal to me! Good prices, good product - no complaints here! read more

The quality of what I ordered was hard to mess up, so I can't complain about that (which was tea) and the staff seemed friendly when I ordered. However, the staff insisted on playing the most annoying, loud and obnoxious music possible during the time I was there. I attempted to study there and only stayed for about a half hour during which time they played about the first 20 seconds of several songs at full blast (as if flipping through an ipod). I was disappointed, as I don't have any good coffee shops in my neighborhood and wanted someplace to study with a good atmosphere. I left with a really bad impression. read more

Everytime I go here, I've had a problem. The first time I was here, I had just moved to the neighborhood and was excited about trying the new coffeeshop just down the street. I walked in and there were 3 or 4 employees working behind the counter. There were all doing some sort of sidework or standing there. The one filling up the fridge says, "just a second". Several minutes later, I'm walking out the door coffee-less and feeling slightly invisible. They don't go out of their way to be nice here. Usually they'll ask what I want and then disappear behind the machine. Someone else will come up to the register and try to take my order again. I worked in a busy, well-organized coffeeshop for couple years and this is pretty much the opposite of that. The only reason I ever come here is because it's right next to the train. If you have the time to spare, walk the extra couple blocks and go to The Grind on Lincoln. read more

This place is awesome if you like good coffee, decent bagels, and a heaping side of way too cool to be working anywhere else a-hole slacker hipster attitude. If you are really that miserable at your job, go somewhere else. Of course, this is what they thrive on; ruining your experience makes them feel better about themselves. They feel good about 'sticking it to the man' or whatever. (See, I can even cop me some slacker attitude!) Go anywhere else for a coffee and bagel. This place sucks. Here is where I sound just like many of the reviews below. I tried this place twice because I wanted to like it since I live just three blocks down. Both times the employees were jerks. I was lucky they would give me coffee is the feeling I got. The first time, the food was wrong. The second time, the food was wrong. How is this hard? Its not. They don't care about you. That is all. read more

So I've seen the good, the bad and the just plain ugly reviews. And having visited B&B quite a few times in the last six months or so, I'll give you my take on it. They do make good coffee. So good, I've been known to visit twice in one day. Pretty good for a girl who gave up caffeine right? They probably also remember me because I have that really annoying drink order (who orders a decaf frappe anyway), but I've never questioned if they'd secretly switched my drink to leaded (ahem, Starbucks). I've also got the annoying bagel order, which they've never scoffed at me, or said no to my requests, like other bagel establishments. And contrary to some reviews, I do see the folks being nice and friendly (including mr. mustache) - granted its not your bubbly, sugary, over the top friendliness - but again, this isn't Starbucks. Lets not forget these are people we're talking about, and not some coffee shop trolls. While I'm not saying that its ok to be mean or rude to a customer, I've never seen this happen. I have seen certain folk be completely rude and derogatory to their staff (you know who you are crabby lady) and the employee smiled, apologized for the misunderstanding, and tried their best to fix it. Then again, I don't think any amount of coffee would have fixed that lady that day. I've worked from their dining room on many occasions, and from their patio when its open. I think this is one of those places you just have to try for yourself. They do get slammed during the morning rush hour, but I usually go afterwards and my experiences have been just fine. read more

I'm sorry. Not even really good food could make me step back into this business. It's not that they're laid back, as some other yelpers have reviewed. That, I would welcome. But the people who work here are so incredibly rude that it boggles the mind. I've worked in comedy for almost two decades, so I love quirky, dry humor. I love the odd and unexpected. But there's no humor to them. It's just plain rudeness. The last time I was in, I ordered a sandwich, and asked if it was okay to put it on my debit card, since it wasn't that much money. After a snarky reply by the counter person, I commented that McDonalds will take debit card for only a couple of bucks. The guy actually "impersonated" me by repeating my exact words back to me in a stupid whiny voice. Hey, if I was being whiny, I would accept someone making fun of me, because I should lighted up. But I had just made an observation, as small talk while he was ringing me up. It really was so incredibly rude that I actually thought I must've misheard him. But I didn't. And this was after several times of visiting this business and getting snarky, mean, and rude comments by other employees. No way. No more. This place sucks. read more

I've gone here a couple of times, and neither time has been "good", really. I must agree with the other reviewers; the customer service is not that good. Nobody was exactly rude to me, but nobody was pleasant either. I've only ordered iced drinks while visiting, and both times were either "OK" or "BAD." I asked for an iced mocha once, and got what tasted like an iced americano with a splash of skim milk and chocolate powder mixed in. Nice bagel selection, though. read more

Decided to try B&B again since I was majorly craving a bagel. This time I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I was greeted promptly with a smile and received my order without attitude. Keep up the good work and I'll keep coming back! read more

Like this place enough. Closes thing around that has decent coffee. Pastries are always delicious, bagels are ok. They just updated the decor, wish they would have figured out a more efficient way to serve their customers. If you just want a juice or a drip coffee you still have to wait behind all the people who aren't quite sure what they want or have orders for a bakers dozen etc. Really wonder what the people in the back are up too. . . is it just one person. Hope they continue to grow and improve. Some sandwich shops/deli's have two lines, 1 where you buy already made things and coffee and another where you order sandwiches/ things that need to be made . . . I bet this would make a world of difference. Especially to those people who want to catch a train, because that's how I gauge if I can go in or not and I'm sure I am not alone. read more

Went to this lovely shop for the first time today. It encompasses the things I love most about neighborhood coffee places. The baristas were some of the friendliest I've ever encountered- A+ customer service. There is a lot of cute and creative outdoor seating, the pastries are bomb, and they even make their own oat milk. I'll definitely be back! Thanks for a great experience. read more

My family and I love Beans and Bagels. Tasty, unique, laid back. Ok, so we have dealt with occassional problems with our order, and sometimes it makes us crazy. But every time we have politely and patiently brought it to the attention of the wait staff and they have gone the distance to correct it. My partner and I jog regularly, and B&B is our end point for coffee and carbs. As regulars, sometimes they see us coming down the street and start our order so it's ready when we walk in. That's what happens when you shop local, and are a regular customer. We take care of them and they take care of us. Maybe all the complainers should try thinking of the frustrating B&B moment from a Buddhist perspective - what is that "moron hipster slacker" teaching me today about patience and generosity? read more

Beans & Bagels was my neighborhood coffee shop when I first moved to Chicago; I'm in a slightly different neighborhood now but I still like stopping by. It's not the sort of place you go out of your way for, but the coffee drinks are good, and they sell beans from Midwestern roasters. The sandwiches are also excellent, and the folks working there are always friendly. The area with tables next door isn't really the most comfortable for just sitting and reading a book or the kind of work that one generally gets done in coffee shops, but it's fine for having a drink or casual lunch with friends. read more

It's been a while since I reviewed BB, and I am happy to say that that have new friendly faces, people who start conversations with you, and they have been sprucing up their interior for a while and it looks super cute. The coffee is delicious and they haven't run out of bagels the last five times I've gone in, like they used to all the time. I'm really pleased that the nonchalant hipster vibe seems to have left the building altogether, and Beans & Bagels is what it should have been all along - a friendly corner coffee shop. I'm excited for them. Now, I just have to control my urges to go there everyday... read more

I really don't think I can express my love for the food here! I live in the burbs, but I have literally gone out of my way to pick up a lox bagel. Thankfully, my girl friend lives right down the street here so I've made it a tradition to get a bagel for breakfast in the morning. The breakfast bagels are pretty darn good (especially after a long night) and the freshly squeezed OJ is amazing! read more

Upon entering Beans & Bagels, breathe and repeat the mantra "Patience is a virtue............" because the people who work here are throwbacks from the late 60s and Haight Asbury. Mellow is an understatement. I will continue to go there even though it takes an Act of Congress to get your order in less than 10-15 minutes. They brew coffee from Metropolis - one of my FAVES - so, great on the coffee and buying whole beans to go. Their sandwiches are really good - bagels are good. I primarily go there for the really yummy chocolate chip muffins which sell out very quickly. However, the odds of me GETTING the aforementioned muffin are 50-50 as they continually mistake the choco chip for the blueberry. It has actually become a joke with me and my friends - "So, did you get the choc chip one this time or no?" From now on, I will stick my damn finger IN the muffin and then tell them "wrong muffin." I hadn't done this before because I thought it tacky and rude. Yes, I will continue to support them - but I cannot go there if I don't have a lot of time to waste. read more