Just entering Aldrich Plaza, the prominent presence of New York cuisine invites you with its unique…read moresignage.
Brand: 5/5
Pertaining to the exterior, you could not miss it. Big City Bagels has a prominent front easily identifiable on Aldrich Plaza. The interior has an expansive space, with many parts that make it stand out from any other bagel shop, such as a television showing the game.
The logo perfectly represents the establishment, for its unique design consists of the New York City skyline, a coffee cup lid, and a half bagel as components. These directly reference Big City Bagels' origin in New York City, and their menu items which include coffee and bagels. I love how companies chock so much meaning in their logos, for it is reminiscent of the Turkic tamgas which would directly inspire the Ukrainian trident; and the Japanese mons. While I do have an issue with the name of the establishment having too much length to memorize, I do think that the logo outweighs it to the point it does not notch off a star for branding.
Website: 5/5
It is simple to navigate with its abundance of information. Most of the menu items have their own images, but only by a slim majority. It offers a backstory on the restaurant, and discloses that it does offer discounts to public servants and donates to local causes. The website overall offers a wide variety of resources such as events and hiring, all within a simple color scheme that does not overwhelm you when you browse through it.
Ambiance: 5/5
It can get noisy for it is a popular spot with many customers regardless of the time of day. I would say that the large space handles it quite well. It also has the appropriate temperature at this month.
Service: 5/5
The staff have a cordial tie to the customers. They clearly show passion for Big City Bagels.
Wait Time: 5/5
I managed to receive my order after I nearly finished writing a single paragraph in my spiral-bound journal. I commend the establishment for having a system in place to facilitate a quick order.
Food: 5/5
I ordered the Buffalo Breakfast Wrap, which consists of eggs, bacon, cheese, and buffalo sauce within a spinach wrap, along with orange juice. I can say that as a night owl, this definitely woke me up with as much efficiency as a cup of coffee. The bacon had a much more profound taste than the eggs, giving the wrap a crispy taste. The wrap held together well without any of the contents falling off. The hot sauce gave the wrap a fair amount of spiciness, but not enough to give the wrap a repulsive taste, perhaps because the spinach wrap neutralized the heat.
Worth The Money?: 5/5
As a father-and-son-owned eatery, Big City Bagels hopes to give back to the community, which indeed has far more benefits than any major chain eatery. I can see how they fulfill the local multiplier effect, making them a local business worth frequenting.
For an establishment as bustling as Big City Bagels, you would hope that their website would catalog many images of the menu items, however there are significant gaps of menu items without images. However, as noted before, the logo itself makes Big City Bagels enjoyable, since it employs so much meaning that perfectly represents them. The preparation of the Buffalo Breakfast Wrap was appropriate for the wait time, for it steamed when I opened the foil.
For personal suggestions, I would like to see more images of the menu items on the website. I would also like the see the signage outside updated to the new version of the Big City Bagel logo.
I will say that factoring in the environment and the experience, the price of that Buffalo Breakfast Wrap was definitely worth it, even if the price is slightly higher.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
As a proud Jerseyan, this establishment destroyed any preconceptions I may have had about New York cuisine. I did offer one of the staff who served me a tip of $3.86, and whether she got it or not has weighed on my conscience.
Recommend To...
Anyone who knows someone in New York City, for the establishment encapsulates the New York experience with a booth and a foiled meal. I also recommend it if you are a night owl like me and need a good spicy breakfast dish to wake you up.