Excellent sandwiches! I also like pretty much everything I've gotten on the side (pasta salad, cookies, etc.) Decent coffee. Good cold beverage selection, too :) Employees are a little cranky tho. They're not mean or anything, and I'm not looking for Sunshineville, but I always leave vaguely thinking "Gee, what did I do?" I really don't get that feeling anywhere else. Still, I'd go there more often if I got up that way more :) The sandwiches are something else. read more

The people are extremely nice and the place is quite trendy.... The iced coffee and the bagels are great, and cream cheese is delicious and generous. However, I find it hard to believe that an iced coffee costs almost 4 dollars here for a grande sized (only size offered). Seriously? A quarter of the cup is ice...I don't think the coffee was worth that much. I wasn't blown away by the bagel either.... I got a coffee and bagel at Einstein's for 5.50, so I think 12.50 for two iced coffees and a bagel with cream cheese is kind of ridiculous. But hey, they're next to the Rockwell brown line, so I guess you have to pay for convenience! read more

Great bagels, great coffee! If you haven't tried the Almond Brown Sugar Latte you should! They make their flavors in house from real ingredients and they're are way better than any Starbucks drink could ever dream to be. Love this place and they even remember my name, makes me feel like I'm in a small town coffee house. Plus, you can never go wrong with the dinosaur decor. A+ Beans and Bagels! read more

I've lived here long enough that I remember when Beans and Bagels opened. I remember thinking to myself years ago, 'wow, this place is kind of pricey'. I've been here a handful of times over the years, always at the suggestion of someone else, and every time I've always thought the same thing: the staff can be surly, expect to be turned upside down and shaken so all your money falls out, and the food and coffee is just ok (except for the pain au chocolate which is outstanding). Clearly, the only reason they stay in business is their proximity to the train. Otherwise, no reason to stop here - even for the pain au chocolate... read more

Hooray for them, I've bumped them up to two stars. I still stand by the review below, but as I've been taking to train to work, I must say the people who work during the week are world's better than those on the weekends. And to just comment on Desiree's post- I'm not a jerk, have never been on my cell phone (although, SERIOUSLY, it's 2008, I think we can get past the holier than thou attitude towards cell phones and accept people will be on them, but that doesn't make them A) jerks B) Starbucks sheep or C) worthy recipients for crappy service- but I digress) but they've consistently been rude. I have found the answer though: Entiment's Bagels- cheap and they stay fresh in my freezer. Oy, time for bed! I want to like Beans and Bagels. I really do. It's close to my house, it's a small locally owned business, they serve coffee and bagels, so in theory, this should be my Saturday and Sunday morning go to. No questions asked. But...such is not the case. The bagels and coffee are fine- I'm not looking for something to knock my socks off, so by all accords, I don't mind the sloppily schmeared bagels and comme ci comme ca coffe. It's the service that has kept me at bay. I've opted to walk in the other direction towards Dunkin' Donuts simply because I'd rather not deal with the frustration of such horrible, slow, service first thing in the morning. For whatever reason, the people who work here (and I am categorizing because I only used to go on the weekends, so this isn't necessarily the case for the weekday crew) have made up their minds that providing the product for which customers have paid for isn't the top of the priority list. I don't need a smile, a warm engaging "good morning" when I walk in and "come again soon" when I leave. I just want my food when it's done and to not linger worried they're going to screw it up (again) or forget to give it to me all together (again). I realize this is a lengthy rant, but it's a beautiful Saturday morning, I just took my dog for a walk and as we passed Beans and Bagels, I got pissed because they've driven me to the point where I really can't bring myself to step inside for an iced coffee, as much as I want to. read more

EXPENSIVE! I live right down the street from Beans & Bagels and I used to tell everyone about it. Lately though they have been in a price increase mode and I do not see the value in their offerings. A few examples: 1 Chocolate Croissant- $3.50 1 Breakfast Bagel (eggs, meat, cheese)- $5.75 1lb bag of coffee beans- $14.00 This used to be a great little local spot, but has now become a place that is too expensive to frequent. This is not the place to bring a family for a weekend breakfast as for coffee and bagels for all will cost you nearly $30. Don't get me wrong the bagel sandwiches taste good, the croissants are delicious and fresh, however I do not want to have to take out a loan to get breakfast. I wish I could say the same about the espresso type coffee drinks, but they too are a bit pricey and are inconsistent when it comes to taste and quality. I really hope the owners reconsider their skyrocketing prices to appeal to everyone in the neighborhood, not just those with deep pockets. I would much rather go here than to Starbucks, but on a budget, Beans & Bagels loses out. read more

Truly the worst service, but the best food! Strange occurrence! Staff is surly and defiant, yet the product doth please customer. Is it worth it? Only you are to decide. He "prefers" a minimum credit card purchase of $5 in violation of agreement with credit card company; "Just a small business 'in this economy tryin' to get it!' Fooled thee, though, as coffee + pastry will always be more than $5 anyway! Just a good humor. read more

This place brings so much vibrancy and sense of community to our little pocket of the city. It's part of our near-daily routine--talk about the fun murals outside with our toddler, chat with the friendly people behind the counter, run into neighbors, watch other families parade by on their way to work and school. Great coffee, bagels and donuts. Cozy places to sit if you want to eat in (or outside). Never change! read more

As a frustrated and lost East Indian limo driver in New Jersey once said to me: "Shut up! Shut up! You are being a beeg jerk!" Well, it's time for me to shut up and add some stars here. I'm a regular customer. Still love the Lox Bagel and the other sandwiches. AND, they make a really good oatmeal chocolate chip cookie which I'm wild about. Love the Metropolis brand coffee, too. Enough said... read more

I am seriously surprised by the complaints about service. I have been here a million times (starting this summer) and never had a single problem. Everyone is really nice and the main dudes even recognize me and chat me up. I work on the same street so some weeks I am there every day, I have never witnessed crappy service or rudeness! It is really small and I understand the irritation about not having anywhere to wait. However, the coffee is excellent and the bagels and sandwiches are out of this world. I wish it was cheaper, but you get what you pay for. read more

Pastries and coffee are delicious and the staff are always pleasant! I only wish they had one more barista when they get busy during certain hours. Sometimes I wait 10-15 min for my coffee which usually causes me to miss my train. I prefer to go to them instead of Starbucks but sometimes I just can't afford the long wait. read more

When two reviewers in a row use the word pretentious in describing the staff, you know there's a problem. Staff is unfriendly, unaccommodating...and pretentious! What gives? read more

I've been here several times and each time it gets worse. Not only is the place overpriced, the service is awful. The people at the counter are nice, but the wait is ridiculous. Case in point, order a small coffee to go. Took 15 minutes and finally I had to ask and they said someone else took it. Sigh, got my money back and called it a fluke. Just today, go back to give it another chance. Order a bagel and it took twenty minutes to toast it and add peanut butter. You cannot run a coffee shop with making people wait this long. No apology, just some crappy hipster music blaring which made the experience worse. Sorry beans and bagels, you will not be getting my $6.00 for a cup of coffee and a bagel. read more

Beans & Bagels is my favorite Lincoln Square coffee spot. Great pizza bialy bagels, amazing breakfast sandwiches, and a laid back atmosphere. The 86er and Cubano sandwiches are awesome too. The staff has always been very friendly and helpful in my 2 years going there on a regular basis, and it seems like they make it a point to personally remember customers. It gets pretty busy on the weekends and they close a little early in the day, but it's still a perfect spot for studying or grabbing a quick snack before catching the train from the Rockwell stop. If you live around Lincoln Square or need a new place to get work done, you have to check this place out. read more

Great bagel place. The sundried tomatoe cream cheese is awesome! The prices are very reasonable. The sandwiches are also very good. I have never had stale bagels here. I don't know what the other review is talking about. read more

I love Beans and Bagels. Coffee, bagels, croissants, make your own sandwiches..yes, please. And NOW....Italian dinner. Recently a friend and I went to Beans and Bagels for dinner and I highly recommend that everyone stop by to try the delicious food. It is some of the most authentic Italian food I have ever eaten. The staff was really enthusiastic, the decor was precious, and it's BYOB. I hope to come back as soon as possible to try all the other delicious dishes that people were eating at the tables around me - particularly the Chicken & Dumpling soup, the Porcini Risotto Arancini and the Braciole. I also am looking forward to bringing a larger group of friends in soon for a celebratory dinner as it would be the perfect place for a low-key, inexpensive, but festive and cozy dinner. read more

I almost gave these guys a second star because I realize it's not a New York bagel and I shouldn't expect too much...but the service was so bad and the food so mediocre that I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The other reviewers that mention slowness forgot to mention attitude...these guys seem not just lazy, but a little put out that you might request food from them. Really? Is this the best we can do for bagels in Chicago? read more

20 minutes for an overpriced, extremely average sandwich. Cool place. Tip: the dining area is in a separate building from the coffee shop so the staff doesn't have to look at the disappointment in your face. read more

So, during the weekdays I call my order in. Sunday, I decided to call in order ( I never have on Sunday till now). I guess they have a different crew in on weekends. Moron girl that takes my order writes it on a chalk board, but in her true unabashed stupidity decides to pen my order on the dry erase board and not tell anyone--including the cook. The soupbone behind the counter doesn't apologize or offer me a free coffee, just tells me they did not make it and asks if I want to wait. I know Lincoln Square is full of half brain slackers, but when they need a job, I thnk they all go to Beans and Bagels. The weekday crew is good, Tito is amazing, but I thought they lost all the morons, I think they may have just put them on Sundays. Good food, horrendous service. read more

The pastries are to die for. No really. The best croissants and other goodies you'll find in the city. The iced coffee with homemade vanilla syrup is also excellent. Love this little place. read more

I've been to Beans & Bagels about a dozen or two times since I wrote my initial snotty review. The staff is much, much better, they play great music, and they even make Detroit-style coney dogs from time to time. I've happily given up Dunkin' Donuts and now get my bagel fix at Beans & Bagel. read more

Amazing croissants! I have tried croissants all over the world but there is something about their flakey, buttery rich pastries. As a person who loves chocolate croissants, I skip them for their perfect plain ones. The bagels are fantastic and their coffee is swell also. read more

I love this place. It's really clean, the coffee is really good, and the bagels are spot on. They have an awesome bagel sandwich with lots of options including really good veggie sausage. Everything is fresh. They also decorate with dinosaurs, so that's amazing, and they use a lot of environmentally responsible ingredients and packaging. Sure the staff could sometimes come out of their hipster haze to say hello to customers, but generally the service is efficient and professional. read more

I have been going to B&B since moving to the area a few years ago. They used to have the best croissants in town. They were amazing. They still have a good menu, if a little pricey. My family and I still enjoy their donoughts and bagle sandwiches. My only issue was their pretentiousness. The other day I ordered my summer favorite of espresso and a separate cup of ice. I like putting the sugar in the coffee and the over the ice. This is what I grew up doing. The poor counter girld told me she was not supposed to serve that because it ruins the espresso. If I had pressed it I probablly would have been able to get it, but decided not to get the girl in trouble. I had to settled for an Iced Americano....which to me tastes more watered down and simple sirup. I guess I like the taste of ruined (bitter?') espresso better. I had never heard about that issue before. So I have tried finding out and of course, it all depends on taste. Then I got a little attitude about asking for the milk. The barista said, 'of course' , which sounded more like, 'oh really'. Then I got a pitcher with some milk, I had to call out to the counter area, because what I wanted was the milk I had ordered for my daughter. I will think twice about stopping there for just coffee, at least during the summer. the food is good enough. read more

I hate to give an unfavorable review for a place that I like, so I am starting by giving it 4 stars so you know I'm not a hater. I don't live close but my dentist is close so I usually stop by here after I have an early appointment, and the bagels and pastries are good, the coffee is decent and the staff has always been very friendly (also, bonus points for playing MST and other quirky classics on the TV). However, I ordered a to-go bagel today toasted and plain. When I got it home, I realized they had put (a lot of) cream cheese on it. I bought it with an oat milk au lait, so even that should have been a tip-off that I don't usually eat dairy. It's definitely not the cashier's fault - she specifically asked me when I ordered if I wanted that plain and I said yes. So maybe it was just a misunderstanding in the kitchen. Nevertheless, that's a pretty big faux pas IMHO - I am just lactose intolerant so I took a Lactaid and took half the spread off the bagel and it probably won't cause me too many issues. But I think of people who are maybe vegan or someone like my former roommate, who was deathly allergic to dairy - they would have gotten that bagel home and been unable to eat it, making it a waste of money. I just hope this place is a little more careful about making sure they understand a person's order next time so that doesn't happen - and next time, I will be sure to check my order before I leave the shop. read more

The addition of french pastries is bad for my weight and awesome for my taste buds. Coffee and bagels still top notch. Remains my favorite business establishment in Chicago. read more

I love the atmosphere, the food, and the service. Why only three stars then? Because they're ALWAYS OUT OF BAGELS. And yes, that's because I'm always going there in the late morning, but I don't think it's too much to ask for a place with "bagel" in the title to actually have bagels in stock. It's gotten to the point where I can't even go here because I feel like I'm being punished for not waking up at 6 AM. I do respect the philosophy of not wanting to waste food, but Beans and Bagels here are some ways you can do that and still provide your customers with what they want: 1. Sell day olds 2. Donate the food to charity. read more

Bagels are good, fresh OJ is great, service and attitude is horrible. I've lived right around the corner for years and am reminded every time I go in here just why not to come back. read more

Busy Coffee shop next to the Rockwell stop of the Brown Line. Metropolis Coffee is really good and they have two different types daily. Best Bagels and Muffins in the neighborhood. Tons of Sandwiches for either the meat eater or the vegitarian. It can be busy and a bit crowded on the weekends. Especially if someone rolls there gigantic double stroller into the mix. The people who run the place are always very nice and know who there regulars are. read more

They've completely changed my perception in recent weeks and months. Consistent now with selection and kitchen availability - though I'd give the clientele a much lower rating. Far too often I witness the standard-bearing Lincoln Square yuppie family purchase $100+ worth of bagels and croissants, completely selling them out in one fell swoop. I thought it was customary to call in large orders ahead of time? One satisfied and gluttonous customer does not trump many unsatisfied pending customers who no longer have a selection to choose from. read more

Service has gotten much better over time, but is still a bit slow during rush periods. The big upside is that they have hired a french pastery chef who makes some of the best croissants I'ver ever had. The ham & cheese is wonderful, rich and flakey. He also makes various sweets, like fruit tarts and eclairs. Well recommended. The only reason it doesn't get 5 starts is the slow at times service. read more

I don't know what people are talking about, I received nothing and witnessed nothing but good service and friendly people, form the employees to the customers everyone was really nice and polite. Granted they were out of bagels when I got there but I didn't get there until about one in the afternoon so I imagine they were all taken from the morning crowd. The coffee was great the croissant was FANTASTIC and they had a really nice environment in there, old R&B playing, respectably messy, and good conversation, AND from the place where I was sitting I found a new Yoga studio which is right across the street so take that Beans and Bagels bashers! read more

This review is for 3 things 1. Excellent coffee, and almost alway fresh decaf - which is hard to find. 2. Nice friendly staff - always, and throughout the years 3. Lastly an awesome quinoa salad, that now has me coming back for more. I would love to redecorate, and move away from the all yellow, textured walls, but who's complaining. read more

Beans and bagels, has really upped their A game in recent months. The lines are long, but, once it's your turn you'll see why. It's the excellent customer service, silly! Great sandwiches and bagels. I rarely order coffee from bean shops, because I feel like it's a rip. But the cold brew is pure magic, it's really yummy, and not watered down. I just wish they ordered more donuts, as they are usually out after 10 on weekends. For all of the customers ready to give up on them for spotty service. But yourselves in their shoes. The staff is dealing with alot of sub variations and it will slow things down. Take a breather and sip your latte. read more

Recently moved very close to Beans and Bagels and decided to pop in and give it a try. The staff was nice and I found out the bagels and croissants are made fresh by a pastry chef from Europe (I would be more specific but I can't remember, if you are really curious go in and ask ) but regardless chocolate croissant and bagels are great! My friends from out of town thought the place was cute and they also enjoyed their food and coffee. read more

Good bagels but the service really is lackluster, like other reviewers said. It's run by holier than thou hipsters who are rude- it's coffee and bagels, get off your high horse. read more

Good food, or I should say decent food, great bagels, terrible service.

Another edit as this has now eclipsed all other coffee shops in the world. Why? Three words... or rather three words (is an ampersand a word?) and then one word and then a couple words joined by a hyphen. First words: Ham & Cheese Croissants! Spectacular, though the spinach are nearly as. Second: Desserts - whoever is responsible for those croissants must have a hand in the desserts. So much better than Selmarie (and Selmarie is not bad). And third: Pit-Group. There is an actual blue pleather pit group in the dining room behind a wall that's perfect for my little freelancer meetings. Every get together feels like 1989 again. Service is great. The coffee is great. A multi-level parking structure for the strollers would be a nice addition. Well I'm editing this review because I've seen a vast improvement in B&B over the last month. They appear to have taken steps to improve service and hired some friendly folks to work the register. My orders have been correct the past 3 times in a row so I am adding a star for that and another because they now open at a respectable 6:30am. Kudos! I'm holding off one star because now I have nothing to bitch about. The two stars are for the food and coffee. The bagels are the best in the hood. The coffee is as good as coffee gets (coffee only gets so good.) The sandwiches are terrific. The minus 3 stars is for the hipster-doofus bullshit. Everyone there is HIGH! It's the only conclusion I can come to. More than once I have received my bagel with with the wrong cream cheese and the top from a different bagel on the bottom. How the hell do you screw up a bagel? I've waited for 20 minutes while my sandwich cooled behind the counter as one jerk-off argued the merits of Sean Cassidy's music to another jerk-off. My favorite B&B experience has to be when I was in mid-order and the cashier noticed one of those wacky home-made bicycles pass by on the street outside. He immediately ran out of the store past the 4 or 5 folks in line behind me and struck up a chat with the cyclist. Oh well. It's a hundred yards from the house so I'll keep coming back... only for the food and schadenfreude. Oh and one last thing; They should actually open at 7am if not earlier. I know that's asking a lot of folks who were out all night rocking to a band you'll never hear of, but IT'S A GODDAMN COFFEE SHOP! There... I'm all better now. read more

My husband and I love this little neighborhood coffee shop! I'm actually sad to see all the negative reviews. I've been thoroughly impressed with the food - I usually get a breakfast sandwich, but have had lunch here as well and it's always fresh, tasty, and hot. I noticed a lot of reviews say that it's slow..which I would agree with. I don't think you should go here if you're expecting the speed of a national coffee chain. We usually don't go here if we're in a hurry and needing a quick breakfast - because the sandwiches are made to order it takes a bit longer, and is totally worth it. For us, this is generally a place for slow weekend mornings where we can sit with a good breakfast and coffee and chat in the 'family room' style dining area. Also good for quick to-go coffees in the morning, but the line can be long:) The service has always been exceptional with super friendly staff. read more

I went at 930 on Sunday morning to pick up bagels for my 3 kids, husband and friend staying with us (six people!) and when I placed my order I was told that they had reached their limit of "large orders" and needed to save the bagels for people coming in later ordering sandwiches. Seriously?! Apparently ordering for your family on a Sunday morning from a place with bagels in the actual name is too overwhelming. This also proved to be true when my "allowed" order of only 3 bagels was lost which I discovered after waiting 25 minutes. Never again. read more