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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bagels
Neighborhoods: Ravenswood, Lakeview, North CenterMontrose (Brown)
"I crawled out of my yelp hole to rave about Chava. AWESOME space, great seating. Free wifi with no limitations. Yummy clover coffee. I…" read more »
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Reality: 4.5 stars
Although I live much closer to their Rockwell outpost, I far prefer this location. Maybe it's because of the larger room, or just the staff seems that much more chill, I'm not sure. I have bi-monthly meetings at Ravenswood School across the street, and this is a much preferable alternative to Starbucks. I like their au laits, I like croissants. I like their barista guy who works on Wednesdays -- he's real nice and gave us a free croissant to take to our meeting when we bought a bunch. A good choice near the Montrose brown line.
1. They serve Metropolis coffee!
2. Free wifi!
3. Croissants with the ham and cheese baked inside it!
4. Across the street from the entrance to the el!
If they were open after 5pm on weekdays, I would come here more often.
So yeah....they're my replacement "Metropolis" coffeehouse! After moving away from Edgewater, I thought I never would taste real coffee ever again! So glad Beans and Bagels exists!
I've lived near this place for over 4 years and have frequented it many times. I don't know why. Convenience?
The baked goods are just OK.
The bagels, even though included in their name, are just OK.
The sandwiches stink.
Their espresso stinks. Their cappuccinos are even worse.
Their coffee is blended stronger than average which some will appreciate.
And their service - well, a bunch of indie hipster fall-outs who apparently love their weekly commuter crowd and shun anyone who they can't remember perfectly in their marijuana hazed artsy-fartsy minds.
Go if you want. I don't care. Neither will they.
The guys and one girl who work here in the early mornings are the nicest people. Their cheerfulness makes me cheerful -- even when I'm exhausted and cranky about trudging to work at an ungodly hour in bad weather.
Today, I am suffering for you, Yelp Community. I wanted to make sure that my review of Beans and… Read more »
They have a wonderful new drink called the Ancho Mocha. It's chocolately goodness with a kick of ancho spice. I just love it when I can get my chocolate and spice craving settled in one cup!
Plus, they make a mean chai latte! There is just something about the Metropolis Chai that tantalizes my tastebuds more so than any other chai.
Great local morning stop on my way to work or if I need to pick up a dozen or so assorted bagels and… Read more »
Great spot. I don't know what you guys who call it pretencious are smoking - they're so down-to-earth and real.
There's no artificial enforced Starbucks-esque perkiness here (which I can't stand first thing in the AM before I have my own cuppa) but if you're not a total jerkface you'll get perfectly good, friendly service.
Keep in mind that it's a little shop, and is right under the El, so there may be a bit of a wait if you come in the middle of the early-morning rush (7:45 - 8:15).
The drinks are well made (mmmm, there's actually foam on my latte!) the pastries and bagels are nice, and it's a good place to chill and people watch from the patio in the summer.
Never had the coffee here, but I've stopped in a few times for bagels. Everyone raves about the bagles. I'm a really boring guy so I get plain bagels with different kinds of cream cheese. Everyone was right. The service is slow and some of the guys who work there seem stoned. I don't think they're snobby. They're just really quiet. And the wait time is pretty long. I waited 7 minutes for a toasted bagel with cream cheese the other day. But at least they're consistently slow, I gotta give them that much. They don't raise your hopes and let them crash down around you.
The bagles are decent. They really slop the cream cheese on it, but no big deal because I can always just slop half of it off. I think it's kind of a waste of cream cheese, though. I would go here again because of the convenience of location and cozy setting. They have outdoor seating for warmer and dryer days, but just don't bring your dog. There's a sign that prohibits it. I guess one of these days I'm going to grab some coffee and a sandwich as well. I guess after that I can give them a more fair assessment.
EDIT: On the 6th day I had an iced coffee... and it was good. I still don't understand why reviewers are giving the servers bad marks for being snooty. I never got this vibe. They're quiet, but I never get any attitude. Maybe I should go a day other than Sunday.
If you have 11 minutes at 7:55am, this place is perfection.
PORTIONS of the other reviews are entirely accurate. In all fairness, I'm an extreme foodie and ex-you-name-it restaurant employee (nothing seedy, just food). So I appreciate good service, can wrap my mind around bad service(who knows how many people called off that day???), and genuinely appreciate good quality product.
Bagels= delicious, coffee= fabulous 98% of the time- ESPECIALLY iced, chai tea w/soy= better than Starbucks, Panera, Caribou (sorry, still love you guys 2nd best), ad infinitum.
HOWEVER, DON'T have an agenda. If you're on the way to work, as I usually am, having read the reviews AND having been there, give it an extra 8-15 minutes... The closer to 8-8:20am you get, the more time you need.
Still, I love this place. AND they're totally worth it. They are local, eclectic, interesting, artsy, sometimes saucy, always funny, whole-heartedly advertising open-mic nights, w/ bar info, & you-name-it performance ads on their bulletin board; the staff (though not entirely super-speed focused) are friendly, knowledgeable, and get an 8 out of 10 on efficiency. Plus they might even tell you a clever joke or 2.
Try this one out.
BOTTOM LINE: If you're a local/organic/free-trade enthusiast (ie. humanitarian on any level) you will not mind waiting an extra 3-4 minutes while engaging in fabulous conversation with the intellectual and quirkily funny baristas. Otherwise, patronize a less good-day-making establishment.
You know the phrase "it is what it is" ?? Enjoy that for your coffee and bagel. It's phenomenal.
i had a training less than a block away from beans & bagels, so i stopped in all 3 days before class. each time, i had a different experience, so as far as consistency goes, this place does not have it together.
the first day, i just ordered a cup of coffee. i got a little bit of attitude at the counter and the coffee tasted burnt--like the kind of coffee that sits at the bottom of the pot for too long. since it was before 8am, and i was desperate, i choked the entire cup down, but it was not a good experience.
i gave it another shot on the second day of my training class, mainly because it was very close. i ordered a latte, hoping for better luck. the guy at the counter was pleasant, but not annoying perky. the drink was just okay. nothing special, but good.
finally, on the third day, i decided to get a little fancy. i tried the pumpkin spice latte. there was a little bit of confusion at the register since there seemed to be way too many people behind the counter, but everyone seemed to be in good spirits. when i got my drink, it was just little bit hotter than lukewarm. not the best sign. not only was it just warm, but it was also ridiculously sweet. i could barely taste the espresso, but to be a little glass-half-full...a medium flavored latte was less than $3. perfect price for an over-worked, underpaid social worker.
Its a knack of mine to identify the music playing in Beans and Bagels when I stop by for my morning coffee. And like the food/drinks, its usually pretty good stuff.
Metropolis Coffee is good, but not great. But the bagels are 2nd to none in the city. And seriously, if you have Bagels in the name of your establishment, you know they'd better be good. I sometimes get a little crazy and throw some jalapeno cream cheese and tomato on one. I suggest you do too.
Finally stopped in for lunch last week as well, and their sandwitches are creative and solidly put-together.
Forget Starbucks-
Hubby and I were out with the pup, enjoying the sunshine (finally!) and exploring the neighborhood. I'd been wanting to try Beans and Bagels for awhile as I'd always heard good things, so we stopped in to grab a bite to bring with us to the park. Experience was..meh.
2 stars for metropolis coffee (mmm...so good)
1 star for the reasonable prices. I got a bagel with cream cheese, while hubby got a sandwich, plus two drinks came to roughly ten dollars (about the Starbucks equvilant of just two drinks).
Unfortunately, thats about all the good there was. The staff were rude and standoffish, my bagel was stale (and no olive cream cheese: which, to be fair, seems to be more a mid-western trend)
Also, it took a good fifteen minutes for our food to be ready. I get that they were kinda busy, but, as far as I could tell, everyone else was just ordering coffee. Fifteen minutes for a bagel and a sandwich? Seriously?
So, pending further investigation (I'm willing to give it a second chance for the coffee): 3 stars.
I'm not really sure what I was thinking with that last review. B&B is what a small neighborhood coffee shop should be like (well, outside of the hours, anyway), and that's not even considering that they have a lot of really great sandwiches and good bagels.
I very much like their Metropolis blend- it's a good a multi-purpose sort of "table" coffee, and they have a nice assortment of pastries and other coffee-appropriate items.
They serve Metropolis coffee, and sell it by the bag too (ground to your specification). It's kind… Read more »
I am a total creature of habit and because of that you will find me in B&B usualy twice a week always ordering the same thing. i know i know i live on the edge what can i say...
but regardless i absolutly love this place. its totaly layed back with a complete chill vibe, they always have something over the speakers playing that i inadvertently catch myself tapping my fingers to and not to mention a slew of veggie sandwichs always with fresh ingrediants and at a price that wont make you chose between the electric bill or lunch.
so one day maybe ill get over my fear of change and venture out but for now my heart fully belongs to honey on sunnyside and a cup of OJ. psssh who needs change...
Beans and Bagels, you taunt me. You have "bagels" in your name, yet each time I've visited for a bagel, you are all out. I understand it's the afternoon, but if you're open in the afternoon, don't you have the foresight to make enough bagels to last you past noon?
It's got to be said: Beans and Bagels is as fantastic as ever.
The prices are still reasonable and the food is still fantastic. And now, with their little bakery box, they have EMPANADAS! And they are delicious.
I must sadly note that the $5 c/c minimum is back, but c'est la vie. Still, this is one of my favorite neighborhood coffee joints in an area packed with 'em.
God bless Beans and Bagels.
This afternoon I found myself feeling down--maybe it was the gray weather…
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This little coffee shop has the very best bagels that I've had in the city and their coffee is pretty good and affordable too.
Now for the rest of the report. Like most of the reviews that have come before this one, the customer service is really lacking with the exception of a girl who works occasionally in the morning. I don't know her name but she usually wears a bandana to cover her hair and is always very friendly and hard working. The guy with the big beard is pretty cool too. The rest of the staff seems to be floating in a cloud somewhere. One guy in particular always gives me attitude for wanting my bagel sliced but not toasted and with cream cheese on the side. I know, this is a crazy request and probably makes me either a "yuppie" a "Chad" or any other stereotype that pisses hipsters off. i.e. people who have jobs that require something other than jeans for their attire.
Now don't get me wrong. This isn't meant to be a hipster hate fest; it's just that when I have an occasional day off and stop by in my non-work clothes, the level of service goes up exponentially. This leads me to believe that the staff has problems with the customer base, which is unfortunate. I have always supported local coffee shops and really don't care for Starbucks but I don't come to this place nearly as often as I would if the staff gave a little less attitude. i.e. the smart-ass comments that you think we don't pick up on.
My personal message to the staff:
Just remember, the guy standing across the counter from you may be the same person serving you a beer when you go out on the weekends, and he may listen to a lot of the same music you listen to and he may dress really similar to you when he's not going to his day job. The lesson? Don't judge a book by its cover. Allow your customers to be
D-Bags first, and then pass judgment. or... you can just continue with the apathy and go blaze up another one in the back. Eventually, the customers will decide if this place remains in business.
The guy who is bald with glasses (don't know his name) is always friendly and helpful.
They have new pastries which look good, but are overpriced in this economy ($2.50) . Hopefully they will figure that out.
Are the outdoor tables coming soon???
The bagels are great and sandwiches are good, coffee is good.
But I have been going here for years…
Read more »
I have only been here for the flatbread sandwiches, but they are delicious. That bread that they use is just so yummy. This sandwich is enough for two meals too. Their pasta salad was ok too - nothing exciting, but good.
They, like a ton of the restaurants on Montrose, seem to have pretty erratic hours. Sometimes, I'll try to stop in for a sandwich on the way home from work and they are closed already. We also tried to go on Saturday afternoon - around 3:00 - for a cup of coffee and they were closed already. I guess they are trying to save money, but the Starbucks at the other end of the block was crowded on that Saturday afternoon. I guess this is only a breakfast/lunch place.
Oh well, I will continue to get the delicious sandwiches if I can figure out what the regular hours are at Beans and Bagels.
This place is good for your standard cup of coffee, and I really appreciate their healthy food options (yogurt, fruit, salad, etc.) The sandwiches aren't bad either. They've got free wifi, but it's goes in and out frequently.
I used to go in all the time for iced coffee, which is actually an iced americano, but the quality has been inconsistent. The last time I went in the drink was awful and I had to dump it out after a couple of sips.
My main gripe with this place is the service. The baristas are friendly on occasion, but I've mostly witnessed bad attitudes from them. Being a barista myself, I know how hectic and stressful the job can be but being rude to customers is never acceptable.
The sandwiches here are pretty good.
With that said, remember high school? Think back, I know it's been a while. Remember that group of kids who thought they were way cooler than everyone else and acted rude to everyone who wasn't like them? Need a reminder? Order something here.
I love Beans & Bagels. They have The Best sandwiches in the city. My husband and I are like stalkers for their Kaliope sandwich-hummus, feta, banana peppers, capers, tomatoes. It's a dream come true. We have to hold ourselves back from going EVERY week. We're vegetarians and they have tons of creative choices, as well as what looks to be great meat options as well.
The coffee is good-awesome local company Metropolis. Expensive but worth it. We gave it out as Christmas gifts.
I have to leave and go get one of those sandwiches now that I've thought about it.
I had a fantastic experience!!!!! i was a little disappointed after lazing around until one pm when i decided i wanted a bagel. i walked down the street to try it out and they were all out of bagels! i decided it was worth testing out something else on the menu. I ended up getting a turkey panini which was FANTASTIC! the whole grain bread it is usually on was also out, so they served it on flat bread which was a blessing in disguise because i don't think i've had sandwich so tasty in a long while! they also gave us samples of a smoothie, which after trying, i immediately ordered. just thinking about it makes me want to go back soon! i'm excited to try their bagels and coffee when i'm actually up and moving early in the morning. the staff was friendly, prices great, and food amazing!
I have to say.... I haven't been here in years so I can't tell what they have been like lately but from my experience the sandwiches are awesome and the staff suck! I went so far as to write a letter to the owner because I used to work on Montrose and every time I went there they were so rude. They also seemed to be out of ingredients a lot for their smoothies which was very aggravating! I would maybe give them another try if I was in the area but I would never make a special trip because of the staff. It's too bad because their tree hugger on flatbread is maybe one of my most favorite sandwiches ever but it's just not worth it with the attitude and slow pace.
Tasty sandwiches, but the big flatbread ones are overpriced. The staff resembles something you'd find in a My First Hipster playset -- the sort of place that makes you wonder if the workers are issued a tattoo and a dye job on their first day. They're not bad people, but they have a definite cooler-than-thou vibe that grates a little bit, similar to what you find in a lot of bike shops and record stores. The service is also pretty slow. If you come in a group of more than three people, be prepared to wait fifteen minutes for all your orders to be filled.
Thrifty recommendation: Small bowl of soup with a bagel sandwich. More filling than the flatbread sandwiches for two dollars less.
Edit: Downgraded in light of one of their employees being a huge wankpile to a friend of mine. Loosen up that labret piercing, kid, and start treating your customers like human beings.
Another pretentious little coffee shop, taking itself too seriously.
The good: They sell Metropolis by the bag.
The bad: The overcharge for it.
The good: The bagels are fresh and the flavored c.c. spreads are tasty.
The bad: The rest of the fare? Meh. . . completely flavorless pasta salad.
The good: The place is generally well staffed.
The bad: C'mon people, for the love of Juan Valdez! You are brewing and serving f*cking cups of c.o.f.f.e.e. Yes, this could be considered some sort of public service to those is need of a legal fix. Yes, people love Metropolis. But really, could you just find it in your little narcissistic selves to get over it and dump the smirk-y smarmy snarky service already? No, really.
And, 1976 wants its bicentennial, faded t-shirt and sweat band back ya little shite, and hurry up with that breve.
Like everyone else, the only reason I continue to go to this place is because a. it is close to the Montrose El, and b. it is the only place near my apt to get a decent bagel. However, like everyone else has stated, the entire staff seems to be rabid potheads -- they will almost never get your order right. The last time I went in there the guy behind the counter was too busy staring at my chest to hear me ask for a simple "sesame bagel, toasted, plain cream cheese." He gave me something else with hummus instead.
But the most disgusting thing about this place is that none of the employees wear gloves when making your food! They stick their bare hands in vats full of chicken to make sandwiches, and touch everything else with their bare hands. It is nasty. They also all have beards, and every time I eat here I fully expect to get some hairs in my cream cheese. Thankfully it has not happened yet. (Sidenote: why must every coffee shop have servers with *beards*? Fine, ok, you are hipsters, but do I need your nasty beard hairs in my food? NO! It is not sanitary to hire these people.)
So, I would only recommend going to this place if you are *desperate* for a bagel, near Montrose, and absolutely starving. I think the Dunkin Donuts in the Western El has better hygiene practices than this place.
It's a pretty simple place, so I'll keep my review pretty simple, too.
I always get the same thing here:
Everything bagel with plain cream cheese -- Great!
Medium mocha with a shot of mint flavor -- Good!
Service: A tad slow at times but not overly so
Atmosphere: Plain, nothing special
Location: Great if you catch the El there
Price: Awesome!
Other: The coffee is usually too hot and the paper cups don't cut it. I have to use two cup holder thingies, which pretty much negates the use of the earth-friendly paper cups. This one detail makes me think about returning to Starbucks sometimes since I can custom order the temperature of my coffee (135 degrees, please).
I'll say 3.0 stars...just average.
I've been in this place a couple times and its alright. As other people have said, I think that the help is probably either stoned out of their minds or looking to score their next bag of Dank. The bagels are good and the cream cheese is also very good. The fact that they have some different flavors other than regular and veggie is nice. I have also tried some of the lunch sandwiches and they were pretty good. Its not to pricey and I'm usually in and out in a couple minutes since there typically isn't a line.
I like their bagels and their coffee, but in all honesty, I can buy good coffee and bagels in any one of a dozen places in the neighborhood.
Although Beans & Bagels may be more convenient than others I will choose to go somewhere else to avoid the down right BITCHY service that they offer.
I think this place is decent. The iced coffee is pretty damn good - you don't need to put anything in it. They play OK music.
Unfortunately, I keep ordering shit and they make someone else's shit first. Or they interrupt my order and let someone begin a full transaction first. Leaving me standing there. "Umm, are you waiting for something?" "Yes, I'm waiting to pay." Feels like an operation run by a high school clique.
The free wi-fi is welcome, but it craps out every 30 minutes. Just like their service, or something.
I stopped in here today for
a) lunch
and b) a reason to not be outside in the rain anymore.
I am a fan of lunch for under $3.
And I am a fan of all the badass concert poster art on the walls.
And I am a fan of the adorable and very sweet hipster-esque counter staff with their hats and facial hair and vintage t-shirts.
Sandwiches are original again at Beans and Bagels!
I have been going to this location of B&B for years. It started as a freshmen in High School as an afternoon chill spot with a friend who lived near by. I mostly remember ordering stupid coffee drinks but now have grown up to crave a good cup o' metropolis Joe. Delicious!
Sandwiches are sooooo good. I really appreciate the creativity behind the ingredients and how they are paired together. Mark the Birds Chive cream cheese and turkey is simple and delicious. Home on the Ranch's classic BLT flavor with a nice turkey, cheddar, ranch addition makes for good food. And if you are in the mood for something meaty try the Cubano, but be aware this is a messy one. (the red pepper spread has a way of making even the most sophisticated eater go through twenty napkins.) Great veggie options too! My fav is The Ferdinand, hummus, spinach, and tomato on a Pizza Bailie. (an over sized English muffin with sauce and mozzarella on top. YUM!)
Staff = Friendly, Gen-Y slackers who would rather work at B&B than grow up but they're all cool.
Atmosphere = A mix of thrift store purchases and restaurant depot supplies written all over the place. Local Art, promo posters, and hand written signs adorn the walls. (you can tell the cabinets behind the counter are pieced together from left over kitchen remodeling projects and yard sale finds)
Overall for a local joint under the tracks the food is great, the people are nice, but take the food togo before you notice what makes up the interior around you.
Right under the brown line stop, this place has helped me chase the sleepies away many a morning. Their coffee is delicious as it is Metropolis (yum!). The bagels and sandwiches are also super yummy. My fav bagel is the white cheddar, it adds the perfect amount of savory to my morning. There are tons of veggie sandwiches, and I have yet to regret a new choice.
The peanut butter and banana bagel sandwich may sound a bit too fat-Elvis, but it is yummy, best on a hot, toasted bagel yummm..... the coffee can't be beat. Iced coffee in the summer, hot coffee to keep the feeling in your fingers while waiting for the Montrose Brown line el in the winter... very, very good.
Great location to gab with your girlfriends over coffee...
Also, the bike rack in front doubles as a waiting place for your beloved puppy (you can watch them while waiting in line to order). Put in some outdoor seating for summer and i might never leave!
I love this place. I, personally, have always had the best of service [you can't expect a place to be speedy if you want your beverages and sandwiches made with love] -- almost* every visit has been superb, down to the perfect sandwiches walked out to my table [I guess that used to be an unheard of thing? Maybe it still is depending on who's working and how busy it is...] and killer coffee and smoothies at amazing prices [MUCH cheaper than ye olde SB down the street!].
I only wish I'd started going here as soon as my work moved a few blocks away. How much money I've dropped into that damned Starbucks, and for what? Super-expensive pre-made sandwiches and generic coffee. Sad.
*I say "almost" merely because one day I walked in to what seemed like Filter displaced. The music was a complete switch, the people behind the counter were new-to-me faces, and the place was packed. Not the tranquil yet energized environment I was used to.
Now open 'til 7:30pm weekdays!
But if you tell anyone, I'll fuc*king kill you.
I've been to this place twice now. Their sandwiches are superb, the atmosphere is very...local, good music and very friendly staff. Plus they served me my first TOMATOES in days! To put that into context, there's currently a salmonella (sp?) scare in tomatoes and no one is serving them. But Beans & Bagels brought in some high priced, organic ones just so me and my brethren could get our lycopene fix. That's effort. That's sacrifice. That's love.
I missed my train this morning and had about 15 minutes to kill before the next one. I was hungry (and cold!) so I decided to pop in to Beans & Bagels for - what else? - a bagel and some coffee.
There's a $5 minimum for credit cards, and it's surprisingly hard to reach that, even with a bagel + cream cheese and a large RedEye. Definitely way cheaper than Starbucks, and equal or better quality coffee. My giant RedEye was perfect (I actually drank it too fast and I'm having the caffeine jitters right now) and the bagel came out warm and slathered with lots of cream cheese.
My one teensy complaint is that the coffee comes in paper cups. They kind of hurt to hold, especially the really big ones. Next time, I'm bringing in a travel mug!
Non-corporate coffee (Metropolis, I believe) served with over-familiar snark from pierced peeps. I love it!
No, I'm serious. I don't do the coffee-in-a-paper-cup thing, but I stop here for a bagel and hummus, which is one of the best food bargains in the city at $1.49, or one of their Signature Sandwiches (tm) (jk, though they are quite well-conceived) every so often.
Great job staying open through the Brown Line renovations. I assume they also survived the water main bust this week?
Just a clarification, the coffee they sell is Chicago's own METROPOLIS coffee. Regardless, the anti-Starbucks sentiment is well-taken.
The staff is great and will always engage you in a conversation about anything from upcoming shows to bootleg taxidermy, and if you're a regular they're great about remembering your "usual." I think their prices are reasonable for what you get: made-to-order sandwiches with fresh ingredients. Make sure you get there before the morning rush is over, though, or they might be out of your fave bagel flavor, therefore ruining your day and sending you into a downward spiral of depression.
everyone here seems to think that a hipster behind the counter of a coffee shop is cause for alarm. i got news for ya, its not. i've come to the point where i expect the person serving my caffeine to have skinny leg jeans, an irreverent tshirt and a look of indifference on their face. either way, the service in this place has always been fine in my book (and i'm a stickler about such things).
the only other thing that needs to be said: hemmingway
this sammich is the freakin' awesome. a hearty portion of lox, cheese, tomato, spinach and pesto all grilled up and ready to go = delicious.
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