Pumpernickel Everything bagels (yum!), lots of other bagel flavors, fancy cream cheeses, a deli case full of goodies, baguettes, sandwiches, cookies, and biscotti... Ideal Bagel has a great little sit-down area to have a work lunch as well. It's not cheap, but it's GOOD LOCAL EATS. If you order a baker's dozen, they'll slice them (on request), package them up for you, and provide napkins. It will make your office very happy in the morning! Also, every time I go, parking is easy. I like the bagels here better than... the other bagel company ~ less DENSE and more flavorful. :) read more

Ideal Bagel - Ideal Bagel Co. storefront - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Two bagels cost us $32. The cashier does the math in their head and totally messed up our bill and I didn't notice until I swiped my card. One I addressed it she didn't believe I was right until a second employee did the math and showed her it was $12. She then went to refund me and said it would show back up in my card but two weeks later and still not refunded... The bagels were good but because of the mess up on the billing, the not believing me that it was wrong and the failure to fix the mistake I will.most likely not be going back. If you do enjoy a bagel here, know how much it should cost and check before you swipe read more

One of the best bagel places in Athens. Our favorites are the southernmost and the Cadillac. The southernmost is a plain bagel with jelly and sausage while the Cadillac is an onion bagel with bacon, a fried egg, and cheddar cheese. They have great spreads and several Deli options. Service is fast and the food is delicious. read more

Ideal Bagel - The Cadillac bagel. Bacon, egg, and cheddar on an onion bagel. Delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I wasn't sure what I was going to expect with this highly rated bagel shop, but boy was I surprised in the best way possible. I've been on a bagel craving recently, so since I've been homeless between leases, I asked my friend, who let me crash on his futon, if he wanted to come here. The store seemed a little... run down? Not sure if that's the right word for it. There's definitely a retro vibe going on and everything seems to be very homemade and down to earth. The menu is behind the counter. There's a little deli glass case that shows you large vats of cream cheese that I'm assuming they make themselves. There was a plate of a limited time, special bagel. When I went, it was a cheddar topped bagel. It was a little more extra than the normally offered bagels, the list of which was quite large. The bagels were starting to run out by the time I went, so I couldn't get the everything bagel I usually like. I ordered the lox bagel with just the regular salmon instead of the special salmon that they ran out of or the trout... which sounds really interesting now that I think about it. I chose the garlic bagel since I had never had one before and the man behind the counter suggested herb cream cheese for the lox. The man didn't lie. The bagel arrived relatively quick. The amount of salmon to caper to onion to cream cheese ratio was spot on. Every bite was just so delicious. I only just wished they had a few more strands of that glorious pickled? onion slices. While I was full to the brim, my friend decided to try that cheddar bagel with the jalapeno cream cheese on top of his lox bagel. For some reason, it did take a really long time for that to arrive, even though it was just cream cheese on a bagel. Rather than just give an excuse to us they brought us a sampling of a free raisin bagel! One side had a sweetened cream cheese while the other was the blueberry cream cheese that they said wasn't normally in their menu. It was a great place for a bite to eat. So far it's my favorite bagel shop that I've ever experienced. read more

Great bagels! Everything bagel is my favorite and their service is fast! Always love getting food this good at a great price!

Bagels are fresh and tasty. Not too big. Not too small. Just right. Pimento cheese was great, the pastrami juicy, and the fried egg was fresh and made to order. Worth the Saturday morning line! read more

Ideal Bagel - Open face bagels. Lox on one. Pastrami on the other. Fried eggs on both. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I appreciated the economical breakfast but found the flavor severely lacking. I ordered an everything pumpernickel bagel with roasted veggies. It looks like they were probably cooked many layers deep in an oven so they were cooked through but had no browning at all. They also were not seasoned and I had carrots and celery mixed in. Is eating celery and carrots on a bagel a trend because it certainly isn't something I'd seen before. As I bit into the sandwich I had a stream of oil run out the other end, down my arm, on to the table, and my entire mouth was coated in oil. After getting over the gag factor I removed the veggies, blotted the bagel, and ate it plain. The bagel was fine but the roasted veggies were a hard pass. The place was also big on plastic utensils, cups, disposable plates, etc. which felt really wasteful. If this place gets a dairy free cream cheese I'd probably risk another visit but eating oiled veggies on a dry bagel isn't an experience worth repeating. Someone told me they had hummus but I didn't see that listed anywhere and we weren't given the option at ordering so perhaps they were out? read more

Ideal Bagel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Bagels are delicious and nobody should doubt this and you happen to be visiting Athens or a local looking for a decent bagel joint, come here. Tons of various types of bagels that taste exquisite. A variety of great smears too! The coffee isn't half bad either. Good bagels, low price and the location has easy access with great parking. read more

Best bagel shop in Athens. Open 7 days a week. Highly recommend the smoked trout or the Lox. And skip the everything and go straight to the PUMPERNICKEL EVERYTHING bagel. You with thank me when you are done. Also if you are needing a dessert afterwards can I suggest a cinnamon raisin with the espresso cream cheese.....yum. read more

Fills the void that opened when Zims closed down a few years ago. Delicious bagels and amazing lunch sandwiches as well. Service has always been quick and the staff is very friendly. Recommend biking there as the parking lot is small and sometimes difficult to navigate. read more

Amazing bagels. I always get the house fish, the veggie cream cheese is my favorite to pair with it. I wasn't in love with the pumpernickel everything bagel, but the traditional everything bagel or an onion bagel is incredible with it. read more

Definitely come on a weekday, not a weekend if you don't want to wait. Sometimes lines wrap around the restaurant and can be up to 50 min of wait time if you come between 11-12:30 on Saturday/Sunday. One of my favorite places in Athens regardless of the wait. These are some of the best bagels in town, and I highly recommend getting the Lox on an Everything bagel with Bacon Tomato Cream Cheese! Also try their coffee both hot and iced (cold brew)! read more

BEST coffee in town - hands down. Bagels are delicious and made fresh daily. Lox and smoked salmon are cured in house, and with house pickled onions and capers it makes an tasty breakfast. The Tupelo (pnut butter, banana and bacon) is one of my favs. I get it in sesame bagel. Owner and staff are great and service is fast. Love this home away from home! read more

Ideal Bagel - View from a booth - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Actually lives up to the name, and it's my new favorite spot. Fresh bagels in the morning, Japanese method iced coffee (if you like cold brew, this is also good stuff), amazing sandwiches with fresh local bread in the afternoon, and what seems to be a collectively immaculate and eclectic taste in music among the staff. If Ideal Bagel were open late, I'd be here after work. What an awesome hangout. [Caveat: if it's busy, parking is a beast. There aren't many spaces, and the business next door reserves spots for expectant mothers.] read more

Pumpernickel everything bagel with bacon tomato cream cheese is where it's at. Seriously, come eat at this unassuming little bagel shop. The bagels are awesome and the lunch was great. I would have taken a picture of my lunch but I ate it already. :) the tresper sandwich was awesome. This was one of the better lunches I've had in a long time! read more

Best iced coffee I've ever had. Amazing bagels and cream cheese. If the strawberry cream cheese is in season, it's a must! Great service and love the atmosphere. read more

Me-mo-mama-mia this place is a-tasty treat. I love the bagels here and I love the staff. The special creamy cheesers are always ON POINT. They actually hate when I come in because I end up singing Alanis Morissette's "Thank You" from start to finish with the local Jewish acappella troupe Shabop-Shabop Shalom right at the counter because the food so good. These bagels are so fine I've started calling them Beygels. Thanks have a good one. I'm the noshelorette these bagels are my suitors every one gets a rose bagers can't be choosers read more

Their bagels are wonderful. The cream cheese is fantastic. The bacon and other ingredients they put in the bagels are high quality. Beyond that, they make an array of other breads. I go all the time and get a bacon egg and cheese, but I also pick up a bakers dozen from time to time to eat at home. It couldn't be better!!! read more

I used to live just up the block and eat here all of the time. I still make a point to grab a bagel every time I'm in town. High-quality, chewy bagels, and excellent breakfast sandwiches. They do some really cool cured and/or smoked fish, so I usually go for that, but the pastrami breakfast sandwich is also great. read more

This place is a smorgasbord of deliciousness. And with good reason; there's so much care put into everything they make: premium quality meats, ultra fresh bread and bagels, house smoked fish, homemade half sour pickles, sweet and savory smears... the list goes on! My personal favorite items: salt bagels, strawberry cream cheese, The Tupelo, The Cortese Sandwich (seriously mind blowing), and THE PICKLES. Seriously, you must try the pickles. read more

I friggin love this place for one thing... the lox bagel. I get it on an onion bagel with herb cream cheese and let me tell you... it is divine. The tomato, capers and pickled onion really compliment the house made lox. Only bagel I crave in town. Cheaper than the rest and better. I do order ahead a good bit before work so I can just pay, pick up and go. But to us townies, it's not really busy at 7:30 in the morning on a Tuesday read more

Ideal Bagel - The legendary lox bagel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Very very very meh. Passable at most tbh. The bagels are good, the stuff on top? Not so much. But the people who serve you are amazing, and the environment is really cool. read more

Continuing my education in Southern food - stopped by to get a bagel sandwich, the Southerner, with sausage and grape jelly. What an interesting combo, and it turned out a juicy and delicious surprise! I love foods you can just sink your teeth into and get a huge bite of savory deliciousness. read more

I wanted to love this place because I love bagels, and maybe it's just because I visited Sunday morning but my goodness they were understaffed. I waited in line for 20 min even though most tables are open. Also the lox bagel is interesting because it's very vinegary with the pickled onions, and although I like that they tried something new I guess I am just a purest when it comes to my lox bagels. read more

Ideal Bagel - House fish, salt with seasonal cream cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Friendly service. I'm so happy they have pumpernickel bagels, that's rare. Extra long line Sunday morning. For warning: THEY DONT HAVE AVOCADO. Which I was very disappointed about . They also won't hole out your bagel... which in result, a double toasted holed out bagel ends up too soft. If you do want your bagel holed out, they make you do it on your own then put the ingredients on the side. So they are toasting it and you are building it.. weird. Sitting here now eating my bagel , realizing the reason they don't hole out your bagel is because the bagels are really tiny. That's all I have to say thank you read more

Good and tasty. If you get there on a weekday, you can have a quiet and relaxing meal. Sundays are a different situation

The Real Deal. Eating breakfast now will return soon for lunch sampling. Menu is nice and tidy. The bagels have the right taste and chew. Prepared fresh daily. Lox are sliced perfectly I would compare this restaurant to a scaled down General Muir in Decatur. Worth the trip. read more

Ideal Bagel - Delicious. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Great first experience. They were very patient with us, as my wife and I were unfamiliar with their menu. Our order-taker enthusiastically explained the most popular choices of smear, also letting us know that we could try any kind we liked. We appreciated this, especially since they were moderately busy. The espresso smear was fantastic. Not too sweet with just enough coffee flavor. Wife had the bananas foster on a cinnamon raisin, which could have been a dessert. Will definitely return! read more

I almost hate leaving a 5 star review... not because Ideal doesn't deserve it, but because I'm selfish and hate when I get there and there's no parking and a line to order. Part of me wants to not share how delicious the food and coffee is, but I just cannot not give them the credit they desere!! Have not had a bad experience here ever... the bagels have been perfectly toasted every single time and the toppings are varied enough to fit even the most discriminating palete. Coffee is delicious, too, and the employees are the best! read more

Great, local, and friendly atmosphere breakfast/coffee house! The line was semi long, but it was worth the wait. I definitely approve and recommend to everyone; especially out-of-towners. read more

Ideal Bagel - The Dottie Bagel on Sharp Cheddar, the Cadillac Bagel on Onion, and Almond Milk Iced Coffee. Yummm! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

ideal is the best, so fresh and made to order!!! way better then athens bagel or any other bagel shops I've tried in athens , ideal is my go to for a good bagel!!!!! read more

Second time here- remembered how good it was last time! Ordered House Fish on everything bagel- one with lox & herb creamcheese & one with smoked trout & sundried tomato creamcheese...didn't want to have to choose between them. Yum! read more

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Quality is excellent, however the portions leave something to be desired. Atmosphere is definitely excellent. Coffee is better then most breakfast places but expect to pay for refills. For a bagel place, I really wasn't impressed by the bagels... they were just ok. Overall, a very solid breakfast option, just don't expect to get out for single dollar sign if you bring any sort of appetite. read more

Friendly service and wide selection of bagels / cream cheeses. The bagel itself was nothing special, though, so I'll probably stick with Jittery Joe's. read more

First time here, friendly staff, nice atmosphere. Lox herb cream cheese bagel to die for!! I will be back! read more

The best reuben in town!!!! Great bagels with creamy delicious cream cheese. Easy-going customer service. The interior decoration is lacking but the view from the window is all you need with all that natural lighting. Homemade dill pickles are good, too. read more

Pretty good bargain. Parking is sketch like it usually is in DT Athens. If the place is busy, you're on the street. I went in the building when the Nuwaubians were there. Looks like they kept the floors and ceilings the same. Bagels are small. I'm spoiled by Savvy's in Statham where they are giant and soft and glorious. The Cadillac was good. Sweet tea was good. I feel like they aren't realizing their full potential yet. Big City Bread is a grown up they could learn from. Do bagels, but do them the best. read more

Great food...great service! Highly recommend The Tupelo...peanut butter, banana & bacon on a toasted salt bagel. Prices are right on point, too! read more

Ideal Bagel - The Tupelo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Ideal Bagel is every bagel-aficionado's dream. The cream cheese are made in house and always fresh. The bagels are nice and light, not dense and chewy like the grocery store kind. My favorite is the smoked salmon bagel with the capers and picked onion over the everything bagel and some cream cheese! read more

just ok. bagel was small and too chewy, sandwich was pricey for something i could make at home.