Bagel Factory

Espresso machine broken. Wtf. And the drip coffee tastes hours old. Unacceptable.
In addition, the restaurant is a mess. Tables all mismatched, half the room unusable with the remains of a failed ice cream shop.

Bagels are much better than Columbus Ohio and they are generous with groupons so I can load up with 4 dozen bagels. The person that waited on us was a little edgy when stating that she had to ring up our order as two separate order. It did not matter to us and hubby apologized for the extra work. But my sense is that perhaps she was edgy because groupon users gave her a hard time. When she saw that we were pleasant, she quickly became friendly as well. So to those who complain about staff, remember that a smile and a thank you nearly always helps get you what you want. I like their bagels, especially the marble rye ones. We help them out by calling in our order the day ahead. Even frozen for months, they are a zillion times better that what is available in Columbus.
Oh and in the past we have got their ruben’s which are very good. Just not appealing at 8AM.

Great selection. Quickly served. They forgot about one of our orders and we had to wait a decent time to get it. Staff was pretty friendly though. Cream cheeses were great. Be aware, they butter all the bagels before they put the other toppings on so if your a health but ask for NO butter. Cute little shop though.

I went here to get a bagel with butter. When I walked in I watched the server run both her hands over her face. She then proceeded to make my bagel without gloves and pressed down on it with her entire hand. I asked why they didn’t use gloves. She seemed put off and said she didn’t touch it, but offered to make another one. I asked for another one to be made. This time the frustration was taken out on my bagel. The butter was slapped on, it was smashed with her hand and then dragged across the counter, leaving a blob and streak of butter in its wake. I will never eat here again.

Went here on a Saturday around 1pm. We were in the mood for a Reuben. Attempted to order 2 and we were informed the they only had enough corned beef for one sandwich. Also they were out of marble rye. On top of that the cashier was rude when we showed our disappointed. We left…

Worst place in Sq.Hill. The only reason I went there couple times is because it’s right across from my work. People are rude, takes forever to get your food. Today i went there at 7:30 am and lady who takes orders was actually sleeping behind the counter. I place an order and went to pay. I had gift card and after gift card my balance was $ 1.06. Lady at the register start refusing to take my debit card and keep telling me it takes them 60 cents just to run my card. After I told her I will just leave my $ 25 order that I just place and walk away she finally took my card and asked me don’t come here if I don’t have cash. Well, I wasn’t planning to come back anyway

This review is from two years ago, but I think that it is relevant, being that it involves the same owner, and Bagel Factory has been there forever. It has never sat well with me that I did not write this review back then, but when cleaning out my email boxes, I came across this gem, and am sharing with you…
I purchased a Groupon for Bagel Factory since I often frequented the establishment. I mostly visited the location on Ellsworth, but also went to the one on Forbes. My biggest complaint at the time would have been the inconsistency. Sometimes I was so pleased with my bagel sandwiches, and other items, not so much. Sometimes they listened and got my to go orders right, but often they didn’t.
I was able to leave a PRIVATE review about my Groupon and took the opportunity to let the establishment know about my frustration and dissatisfaction with my recent trip that I used the Groupon for, what had gone wrong that specific time, and my remarks on the establishment in general. It is frustrating to frequently get your order wrong, and I though that I should let them know. I felt that the comments on the uncleanliness of their establishments was warranted. They are really dirty, with grime everywhere and layers of dust on everything above you. It’s gross.
Here is the owner’s response to my Groupon review…
«Same in each store. Your so wrong.»
That was her response. Not ‘I’m sorry that you had a bad experience.’ Nothing other than to basically call me a liar. So I responded…
«So, my husband’s egg sandwich didn’t come with cheddar cheese after
explaining that only mine was to have cheddar? And I didn’t receive a
tasteless, different type of egg sandwich at the Shadyside location
days after ordering and enjoying the same thing at the Squirrel Hill
location? Your business’s are not dusty and unclean? Either which way,
I am not surprised that this is your response to a customer who has
one too many times a bad experience at your place of business and whom
you have no interest and having return.»
Her kind response…
«You are the perfect example of a coupon user. Impossible to make happy. Want everything for nothing. We could never make you happy even if your order was 100%right. Thanks for supporting local. You obviously don’t care about your community.
Jamie»
I’m sorry, but is now chastising Groupon users? The same service that she gets paid for and provides? For the record, they still sell Groupons for The Bagel Factory on a regular basis. People should know how they really feel about them.
My response, «Actually, I have been frequenting your business since it first opened
at it’s Ellsworth location for more than a decade, off and on. I have
spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars, as I mentioned, some of your
items have been great, at times. This is the first coupon I have used
at your store. I don’t understand your hatred towards coupon users
when you are the one offering them in the first place, and I’ve
noticed, continue to do so. Your words are beyond insulting.
„Impossible to make happy“? The first breakfast sandwich (which I paid
for, full price, no coupon) I stated, was GREAT. I returned to have
another one, using my Groupon, which I purchased to SUPPORT the Bagel
Factory. Key word being PURCHASED. „Want everything for nothing“?
Where did I complain about the price? Where did I say that I wanted
more than what I asked for? My order should have been 100% right.
That’s not too much to ask when ordering an egg sandwich, on
everything bagel without cheddar cheese. You’re welcome for my
constant support of your local business’. And no, you will not
continue to have my money, full price or discounted ever again. This
has nothing to do with me caring about my community as you are not
part of it.
Thank you for your exceptional service, beyond rude response and
showing your true colors.»
And the final response that she gave…
«You have major issues More than a kid putting the wrong cheese on a bagel. I feel so bad for you. Best of luck»
Clearly she didn’t read or understand my original words. A kid did not put the wrong kind of cheese on a bagel. I STRESSED to the gentleman making the breakfast bagels that one was to have cheddar and the other NOT. The order was to go, and we got home, we discovered melted cheddar cheese on both of our egg breakfast bagel sandwiches. He was not able to remove the cheese or eat his sandwich because of it.
As a business owner myself, I would NEVER speak to my customer this way. This is personal. aggressive and so unacceptable.
Since this incident, I have never returned to any of their establishments, and never will. They have lost what was a tolerant customer, that spent a lot of money there. I have three children, and the convenience of their food and casual atmosphere was ideal.
I know that this review is lengthy and I am leaving out additional complaints about this business, but bottom line, I wouldn’t recommend it for any reason.

Back in September, we tried a week of ‘Buy Fresh/​Buy Local,’ with a goal of having 75% of our meals for the week locally-​sourced. I can’t say it was easy or cheap, but it was a great experience that left me with a lot of lasting decisions.
One of those decisions? Buying my bagels freshly-​made from the Bagel Factory instead of in a plastic bag from the grocery store.
I like the Squirrel Hill location because it’s convenient to my house, and although there is metered street parking in the front, there is also a (pay) parking lot behind the building if you have to go during a busy time of day.
They have a ton of different house-​made cream cheeses (the lox and chive ones are my favorites, although they have a variety of plain and sweet-​flavored cream cheeses as well). The bagels are stored behind a glass partition so you can see which of their dozen-​plus flavors are available when you go in. I’m partial to the cracked wheat and grain bagels, but there are blueberry, garlic, honey oat, plain, and everything bagels (to name just a few). All of them are super-​fresh and filling but light.
And best of all — at the Squirrel Hill location, if you go on a Tuesday to pick up your bagels, buy six bagels and get six bagels for free! Free bagels! You can’t argue with that!
The staff is always really friendly and helpful. They helped me learn how to freeze bagels without sacrificing quality (so that I could take advantage of that six-​free-​bagels deal). And any time there’s a sale or a special, they will tell you right away when you go in.
The only negative part of my whole Bagel Factory experience is that the stairs leading from the shop to the parking lot out back are metal, and no matter what shoes I am wearing, I sound like an elephant entering and exiting the building. Sorry, Bagel Factory employees! I wish I didn’t sound like a stompasaurus every time I go in!
This shop also has a huge chalkboard menu of sandwiches (although I have only gone for bagels, so I can’t comment on the sandwiches), and they sell fresh bread loaves, cookies, and other baked goods as well.
So, be ready to say goodbye to Thomas’ bagels at Giant Eagle. Once you get your fresh breakfast bagels from the Bagel Factory, you won’t be able to go back!

This was, perhaps, the absolute worst food experience in my life. Upon entering, there is so much going on visually that you have to get your bearings. There was so much merchandise piled everywhere I couldn’t even see the bagels. Then this surly dwarf of a clerk, who had the personality of a can of lye, asks,“whattya want?” Now, first, let me say that there were only two other people in the place and no one came in behind me. I mentioned that I needed more time. After about three seconds she asked, «you ready yet?» I gave my order which was as simple as possible… two plain bagels for here. She asks,” Do you want them toasted, sliced, cream cheese?” I repeated myself, «Just two plain bagels for here.» She asks in a put out way, «Do you want them sliced?» I said, «NO. Just two bagels in a bag so that it’s as simple as possible for you.»
Now, the bagels. The absolute worst. I would have been way ahead if I took the day old bagels. These were dry, hard and impervious to mastication.
If you are up to a challenge for your dental work and want to be spoken down to by an angry dwarf, then the Bagel Factory experience is for you

I love the food here. And it is super convenient. Those are 4 stars. But the service is just painful. Slow. Uninspired. Bothersome. The sense it get is that I am interrupting them by actually wanting to spend money. I would be a weekly customer if this weren’t so. As is I come maybe twice a year.

Despite the fact that I eat here frequently-​purely because of convenience and lack of a better option-​the bagels are mediocre, the service is slow, and the coffee is the worst you’ve ever tasted. Squirrel Hill, we can do better!

I have never had a bad experience at the Bagel Factory. I’ve eaten breakfast and lunch, redeemed Groupons, and gotten their specialty breads and desserts throughout the three years I’ve lived in Pittsburgh. It’s not a New York bagel, but in my opinion it’s without a doubt the best bagel in the burgh.

My first foray into the Pittsburgh Bagel Factory was about a year ago to use one of the Groupons they run periodically. The prices are reasonable, they accept credit cards, and the bagels are generally quite good. While I haven’t tried the entire menu I can also speak highly of their matzo ball soup and pastrami bagel sandwiches. Although they have free Wi-​Fi for customers, the tables are a little small for a full sized laptop and a couple of books — I usually work elsewhere in the neighborhood. I only have two minor complaints about the Bagel Factory. First, they don’t have any nutrition information, which makes it a challenge to incorporate into a diet of any kind. And second, unlike any other business I’ve encountered that runs Groupons, the Bagel Factory imposes a lifetime cap of three purchases (instead of resetting the cap with each new offer). I get that Groupon isn’t a very good deal for a lot of businesses and I’m happy to pay full price, but this is just annoying.

I’m very torn about Bagel Factory, as living in New York made me a bagel snob. It’s not fair to compare Bagel Factory to a NYC bagel so I won’t. But if that is what you are craving, this will not fill that void. I think the best bagel in Pittsburgh is a fair claim to fame, but Pittsburgh has some really bad bagels. Just a thought.
I ordered a rye bagel with bacon, egg, and cheese ($ 3.99). There was a ton of good, thick bacon on the sandwich, and that was AMAZING. Plenty of cheese and the perfect amount of egg as well. But the bagel was pretty much flavorless. Rye bagels should have flavor. If this place wasn’t called the bagel factory, it would be different. But the bagel was so whatever. The bagels are also really small for a fresh bagel.
I would definitely come back to the Bagel Factory, but I think they really should work on creating a more memorable bagel.
They accept credit cards.

On the other end of my old review of the pigs, this skinny kid working here is HOTHOTHOT… g’damn! Smear that syrup on me please.

Trully the best bagels in the ‘burgh, made on premises. Tried the Nova Lox, was a great bagel sandwich and the tuna salad was nice as well. Little expensive for what is being offered but worth it.

Not too thrilled with this place. They have good french toast but sometimes the flavor doesn’t repeat itself. The prices are a little steep for bagels, sandwiches and eggs. We had a groupon both times when we visited. They still honored our expired one for the price I paid for it. After buying french toast and a bowl of soup my total was $ 10. A little expensive for soup that taste like it came out of a can.
The sandwiches are decent but that’s all I’d really buy from here. maybe each location is different and has something better to offer. I personally like the oakland store better than the squirrel hill one. If you plan on eating here, i would check that one out first.

Not the best bagel while rating world’s best bagels, but pretty good for outside NYC, and definitely better than much of the west coast. Mind you, I have only experienced the bagel, and not the shop.
Prior to our short jaunt out to Fallingwater, my friend’s super nice boyfriend (also our driver for the day) went out to get our breakfast while we were getting ready to go. I got a toasted garlic bagel with plain cream cheese. It hit the spot.
They don’t skimp on the cream cheese, that’s for sure.

I had such high hopes for Bagel Factory. Their restaurant smelled great and had an extensive and exciting menu, as well as the eye-​temptations of all the breads and salads on display.
But then you get your food and it’s uninspiring. I had a turkey sandwich and, without a doubt, could have made the identical sandwich at home and in such a way that it (a) cost half the price and (b) had bread that didn’t scratch the roof of my mouth as I ate it.
I’m open to paying a lot for good sandwiches (consider something like Ann Arbor’s Zingerman’s, where a sandwich will cost $ 14); this just wasn’t good.
Likewise the other sandwiches I tasted were eh. The best thing I tasted was a latke, and that was still kind of boring.

This will be my local go to bagel place in Pittsburgh. Located in pleasant but crowded Squirrel Hill. In nice weather is an easy bike ride away.
Lots of seating.
Bagels are decent, decent for Pittsburgh.