This diner has a huge, comfortable dining area which isn't immediately apparent from the street. The menu has tons of choices and there is a daily special menu also. Our server, Brenda, was hilarious and sassy in the best old style Chicago way possible. Even if the food had been poor we would have left smiling. I had a bagel breakfast sandwich which came with a side of fruit, tomatoes or hash browns. The hash browns were seemingly totally lacking salt but that was easily remedied with table salt. The bagel sandwich was excellent with a generous scrambled egg and nicely toasted bagel. Brenda even brought hot sauce anticipating that I might want it which I did. One thing that has to be noted is the (not good) value factor. The Bagel Restaurant is really pushing limits on pricing. 7.75 for a fruit cup, 4.60 for a cup of juice etc etc. read more

Food fine but tiny flies on bread and table. Bring back the exterminator Would thought you'd learned your lesson read more

Solid place. Surprisingly didn't get a bagel, but sat in the dining area. Very spacious and very friendly staff. I tried the patty melt and it hit the spot. Should definitely check it out. read more

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The Bagel is truly an iconic establishment in Lakeview East neighborhood. Historically it is a pillar to the LGBTQ+ community, offering a space for those to gather that didn't have families to see during the holiday times. Today, it stands strong with an extensive menu and friendly staff providing the same welcoming environment that started it all. Most recently I ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad, which is huge and super tasty. Their fountain soda comes with free refills, which is always a perk to me. I left happy and full at the end of my meal. If you're looking for a classic diner, I couldn't recommend it more. I'll be back soon! read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Chinese Chicken Salad - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We're back!! Had a mean taste for their outstanding hot beef brisket open face sandwich with plenty of gravy drizzled over it and the buttery scoop of mashed potatoes! Take a look at that gorgeous bacon cheeseburger lol yeah you bet I had a big piece of that too! Our regular server, Joey, is the exemplary waiter, whose friendly face and professional etiquette always makes us feel welcome and special. Outdoor patio is the cherry on top especially when Chicago is sunny/80°. Free parking is a luxury in their lot. read more

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We found the cutest diner in Chicago and it's a hidden gem. From the front it looks like a small bagel shop, but, go to the side & in the back and you will discover the diner. You must try the chicken broth with a "kreplach", it's delicious! The Skirt Steak was smothered in grilled onions (yummy!) and mouth-watering delicious! The cannoli cake is divine and a personal favorite. Have you ever eaten at the Bagel in Chicago? If you haven't, you're really missing out read more

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The bagel is a retro diner that takes the customer back in time to the 1950s; that innocent time of Americana we can only enjoy in movies nowadays. Tastefully decorated in red and black with wood trim throughout, and metal table tops; Feels as if one was dropped on a movie set; (perhaps, Back to the Future?) Challah bread slices and thin slices of toasted bagel that I couldn't stop eating. Plenty of pickle spears for the table. The chicken broth with a "kreplach" is a must-have. The delicate taste of the broth serves as a soothing enhancement to the hearty taste of the kreplach. The nova lox has a silky, rich, and flavorful taste with a hint of smoke and almost no salt taste. Generously served with thick and long slices, guaranteed to cover your choice of bread; served with tomato slices, cucumber, onion, green peppers, lettuce, and your choice of cream cheese and bread. The Salted caramel cake is that forbidden treat, not to be underestimated. Your sweet tooth will never forgive you. The lemonade was refreshing & delicious with that balance of sweet and sour and a bit of bitterness only accomplished with fresh ingredients. I give it 5 stars for food, ambiance, and service! read more

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Everything needs improvement in this restaurant. I won't go back. Ate there for years. The chicken soup I used to love was disgusting. I could not eat it. The only thing I could eat was the kasha. I never tasted bad chicken soup in a Jewish deli---- this was a first. The only good thing about this restaurant is there is free parking. read more

The Sautéed Chicken Livers with Onions meal I have ordered from The Bagel is my go to comfort food. I have also enjoyed the Golden Chicken Broth with Noodles, French Fries, and Noodle Pudding. And their Bagels have been good as well. Keep up the good service. read more

I went there last week. The food had little flavor. Greasy. Best thing was the dill pickles. It has lost the ambiance and flavor of the deli food it made famous. Not very deli but very tired old energy mixed with polite staff and poor food read more

I've always loved The Bagel and still do. Just stopped in last month and the soup, sandwiches and chopped liver were amazing as was their service!!! Well done. read more

As of June 2, their license has been suspended... I'll let you read the report Unfortunate because the staff is nice. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - FYI they're not open at this time due to a suspended license--I'll let you look into the report... - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's been too long since I had real Jewish deli. Huge matzoh ball in chicken broth. Generously piled corned beef on caraway rye with good brown mustard. Potato salad made with the skins still on (more protein and fiber). Bagel chips and challah in the bread basket. Pickles on the side. Bonus coleslaw. Service from the whole team is excellent. I'm full and happy. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is in fact THE bagel restaurant and deli. TOP BAGEL SANDWICH CONTENDER. I don't know the background on if/how they make their bagels, but I would be shocked if you told me they aren't made fresh in house. The bagel itself had the perfect height, fluff, and crunch. I mean... just look at the top of that bagel. It is baked so beautifully. Major major points for the runny egg on the bacon, egg, and cheese. I love opening a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel where the egg is running out of the wrapper. Bacon was crispy even after being delivered. Cheese was melted. I truly loved this bagel and place it high up on my list. It is simple, yes. No crazy flavors or anything that is unique to the shop, but if you want a simple, amazing bacon, egg, and cheese bagel THIS IS THE ONE!!! read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Bacon, egg, and cheese on plain bagel - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrible customer service. I won't be coming back. I have been a customer for over 20 yrs.

Pretty good bagels around the area I like how they have their own homemade cream cheese and the selection of bagels can't wait to try the rest of the menu I would highly recommend if you are in the area read more

The Bagel is a classic Jewish deli restaurant located on Chicago's Northside. The food was the best and the staff was super-friendly and once you walked in, it feels like you have been transported to 1952 Chicago. I will look forward to returning for a great meal. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - French Dip With Cole Slaw And French Fries - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered for delivery. Both 1/2 pastrami sandwiches were mostly fat. Very disappointed. Expected better quality.

Great people great service great food. I ordered the Rueben and it was a 10/10. Fries 15/10. Soup was delish. The only call out (and this is coming from a saltiholic) the whitefish spread was extremely salty. Free bread and pickles to start where delish read more

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We went here for a quick lunch yesterday. Both of us had the matzoh ball soup. It was delicious and was probably enough, but I also had the Reuben. It was mounded with corned beef and came with delicious Cabbage and Reuben sauce. The service was excellent! Love the pickle spears and crispy bagel slices that are given right when you sit down. read more

We used to love going to The Bagel years ago, but now it seems like they are only going through the motions. The grilled cheese, tomato and bacon sandwich was simply horrible. The cheese was a weird consistency and the bacon was hard-like it was grilled earlier in the day and heated up in the deep fryer. Either way the bacon was gnarly and tasted like bad fried chicken. The tomato- tasteless, but edible. The accompanying cole slaw looked like it was old and it was warm, so I didn't risk eating it. The potato pancake was undercooked and greasy. The other parts of our order were edible, but not outstanding. We will not be back since the preceding meals were not well received by us and expensive for the offerings. It's a shame, because we find the employees very affable and hardworking. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - I choked down what I could, but this $15 grilled cheese, bacon and tomato sandwich was barely edible. - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been there, Done That (with Lox on 'em), Bought the T-Shirt! The food and service are first rate. The quality T-Shirt is a treasure. read more

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The Bagel has been my go-to for a quarter of a century. The ambiance is deli/diner as it should be. The extensive menu has many great traditional items from corned beef to chopped liver to lakes and kugel and a lot more. A favorite is fried matzoh with salami. It takes rich and it is and delicious. The chicken soup with kreplach is a must: the rich filling has a great taste and mouth feel. At my last visit, it was disappointing. I had a sandwich with corned beef and chopped liver, both of which were dry. Service is, as always, quick and efficient. read more

This place is heavy on the nostalgia and takes me back to my childhood. All the Jewish deli classics. The vegetarian chili was good read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Bagel chips - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm only writing this because this is not the first time that I have had this happen. The prices here are getting really high, and yet I still come back to support this restaurant every few weeks, so am I a regular? Barely. However, when you are full of delicious food and you still want some of their delicious carrot cake, when you get home and open the box, the slice shouldn't look like it's been half eaten already, should it? Honestly, I would be ashamed of myself for giving this out as it is. As I said, this was NOT the first time I was sold what looks like somebody else's leftovers. Perhaps it's time to find a new place... read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Carrot Cake - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Consistently very good delicatessen food. Try the herring, potato pancakes and pastrami.

We were craving soup and a hot sandwich on a cold and snowy day. Matzo ball soup and a Reuben corned beef sandwich was exactly what we needed. Positives - bread basket with challah bread, sweet butter, bagel chips and fresh deli pickles are served before each meal. Excellent variety of hot and cold sandwiches, soups and other traditional deli offerings. Half sandwich and soup option Parking lot behind restaurant Good service Deli counter for bagels, bialys, bread and bakery goods. In general, a good old-fashioned deli/diner. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Matzo ball soup - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is my favorite comfort food restaurant. Their Matzo ball soup is magical and can cure any ailment. I've picked up soups for sick friends here. I frequent here not just when I am newly better after a sickness or ailment, but simply when I want some quality food. You can't go wrong with anything here. The staff takes care of you when you walk in. They've always been kind and caring when talking to me. I am so thankful for a good deli in the neighborhood! The decor is very nostalgic - there are musical posters hanging on the walls. It's a nice touch. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Golden Chicken Broth with Matzo Ball and noodles - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is the DEFINITION of a classic Jewish deli. They serve u homemade pickles and the matzo ball soup cured me. I also got the French toast sandwich and potato pancakes and they were delicious. 110% come again. The service was great as well :) very kind and accommodating. read more

Today I had 1/2 corned beef sandwich and a bowel of matzo ball soup. They were outstanding! The waiters are amazing. I took out a Reuben sandwich with fries. My son said they were amazing. read more

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I'm very impressed with the scope of their menu. There's really something for everyone. But some of the prices are outrageous and can't be justified. I was craving a good grilled cheese when I visited and it was over $11. For that price I was expecting it to be something special. But no, it was just regular bread with regular cheese that I could make at home for much less than a dollar. There are plenty of other restaurants in Chicago where you'll get a fancy grilled cheese with tasty toppings for that price. It just wasn't worth it. read more

If you're looking for a Jewish deli in Chicago, there are only a few choices left, and so some people will be forced to go to a family restaurant that attempts to serve some version of Jewish deli food. They're usually going to be disappointed. THIS is one of the reasons you'll be so happy to come to The Bagel. You are going to get great Jewish deli food: kreplach, corned beef, chopped liver, challah, pastrami, matzoball soup. Rye bread, yes, sure. Lox that you will love. And of course, bagels. Waitstaff are efficient and experienced. Kitchen is quick and does their job right. Decor has movie posters which are fun for nostalgia, as most of the movies are from decades ago. (Proof I'm no longer a young adult.) There is a front counter for deli-only orders, but I prefer to eat in, have a Dr. Brown's soda, and enjoy. It's not around the corner from where I live, or I would go more often. One of the very places in Lakeview where you can get free parking, too! read more

As for Jewish deli's, it was very meh. Reuben meat was a bit tough. Potato pancakes were thick and greasy... very oily. The bagels are very mediocre, nothing special. The french fries tasted like they were frozen. The challah Fench toast is their best item, but it was just barely good enough. Waaaay overpriced for the mid-level quality. Service was very good, however. Kind wait staff. read more

This place is extremely overpriced. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing, a "Francheezie." Regardless, the item I ordered should not have been priced at $15 with tax. It's a hot dog stuffed with cheese and then wrapped in bacon. It came with fries, lettuce and tomato on the side, but definitely not worth $15. The meal itself not being good didn't help justify the price either. When I called to pick up the order, the guy on the phone was felt very rushed. They weren't the friendliest either when I picked up the food. I also noticed that they had black & white cookies. I'm not sure if I've looked hard enough at other places here in town, but I've never seen black & white cookies in Chicago. Unfortunately they aren't made in house. That could have been a bonus. The cookies themselves were hard as a rock. Maybe they were too old, but they shouldn't be selling them that way. Definitely won't be returning. read more

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The entire experience was a good one... from the food to our wonderful waitress to the busboy. Was so good the first time, we went back for a second meal. First time, had a wonderful breakfast, and the second a wonderful lunch. Next, it will be dinner, and I look forward to it! A comfortable environment where anyone would feel welcome! read more

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Friendly atmosphere,friendly staff. The restaurant is in the back when you first walk in. The tuna melt and also the Spanish Omelet ..... DELICIOUS!!!! It can be noisy. But who cares. You're there for the DELICIOUS food. Before you leave don't forget to stop up front to see the wonderful bakery! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. Okay so if you don't know the Bagel is a STAPLE of the city. Unlike NYC, Chicago has been losing delis for the 30 years. The Bagel has continued to hold on and be successful at what it does: make great food and give incredible customer service. On this trip I got my usual, 1/2 pastrami on rye and matzo ball soup. The sandwich is excellent and there aren't many places you can get matzo ball soup in the city. This kicks the butt of the other big name "diner" in the city and just has such good food. Additionally, when it came to service my food came out FAST. I waited maybe 5 minutes during brunch service on Saturday. I was also seated immediately. Definitely give this place a try if you haven't and welcome back if it's a staple! It's one of the best for a reason! read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"The Bagel" came highly recommended to me. Service check, atmosphere check, long time employees check. My somewhat bland chicken noodle Matzohball soup fell short as it was only chicken broth, noodles and a ball. No carrrot, dill or the usual ingredients that Grandma would use. The whitefish salad platter was VERY good. I especially enjoyed the pickles and bread placed on the table. I miss the traditional Jewish deli as I no longer live on the East coast read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Whitefish Salad Platter - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bagel Restaurant & Deli is a place not just for only bagels. It's also an actual restaurant with menu items such as salads, sandwiches, and more. Lots of good things at low prices. Atmosphere is lacking kind of but that's just nitpicking. There's lots more than can be found in an old school Jewish deli such as latkes and matzo ball soup. Anyway, it seems most people come here for a bagel. It's the main thing of course. There's always a few baskets full of fresh baked bagels every morning. Lots of classic toppings are available such as cream cheese and lox. Not a lot of vegan friendly options. Of course, you can always take a few bagels home and have these another time. It's about $2 for a bagel. There's pretty much nothing else for me on the menu, so this is what order. Best bet for old school bagels. It has very reasonable prices. There's all the classic toppings. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Bagels - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff was very nice and on top of everything! The restaurant looked super cozy and gave really classic jewish diner vibes. I was excited about the menu but it tbh was pretty disappointing food quality. The corned beef was really dry and flavorless, nothing was put on the sandwhich besides the meat so it was very dry (i added the coleslaw). The matzo ball soup wasn't bad but nothing super exciting. It was also an incredibly expensive menu. The pickles were delicious though. read more

The Bagel Restaurant and Deli - Golden Chicken Broth with Matzo Ball - Delis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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