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Bruegger's Bagel Bakery
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Upland Rd (77, 96)
Porter Square (Fitchburg/South Acton Line)
Massachusetts Ave @ Porter Red Line Sta (77, 83, 96)
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Bruegger's Bagel Bakery
Review Highlights
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"...is their trail mix and strawberry cream cheese bagel." In 6 reviews -
"I get my coffee at Porter Square Books." In 3 reviews -
"...Bruegger's because now I can stop going to Dunkin' Donuts." In 4 reviews
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27 reviews in English
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Review from amy s.
Somerville, MA
4/9/2009
It's morning. I'm cranky and hungry but don't want to brunch out. I have a choice... walk 4 minutes to Dunkin Donuts or 20 minutes to Bruegger's for a half dozen bagels.
8 times out of 10, I choose the 20 minute jaunt to Bruegger's. The little brown package of chewiness is still warm by the time I get home.
And somehow, Bruegger's is actually cheaper than DD when you buy bagels by the half-dozen.... How is that possible? I dunno, but it sure makes me happy. -
Review from Aaron K.
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Didn't have a pleasant experience here. A usual fan of Bruegger's Bagels this place lacks the execution of others. Plain bagels were hard, not stale hard, but over baked hard. Staff was a little all over the place. Made me a sloppy sandwich and their chicken salad was below average. No clear line for customers to stand and people were in the wrong line multiple times. Superb location, and this must be where all their money goes. My money won't be going here again though.
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Review from Tony M.
Natick, MA
10/4/2011
Service and quality of the food is always superior to any other morning business in the area.
thank you very much. -
Review from Melissa M.
Medford, MA
4/2/2011
This place is abysmal. It's a Bruegger's, so if you have had Bruegger's before it's all the same.
Chain, chain, chain.
I have been here three times. Once, for a hot chocolate that tasted like pure water and I had to toss it after two sips. I did sear my tongue on it's hotness, so that was fun.
The second time, the place was jumping. Sunday morning after church. I had two douchebags in front of me who kept changing their order while the poor guy was trying to get them their food. They were even asking for things that are not on the menu. It was odd. For example:
DBag #1: "I'll have the spinach omelet."
Poor Bruegger's Employee: "We don't have spinach omelets."
DBag 2: "I said I didn't want my bagel toasted that much.
Poor Bruegger's Employee: "I will get you another one.
DBag 2: "No, it's okay, just toast it again.
Me: (in my mind) What THA FAAAAAHCK?!
I finally order and get my bagel. There are two tourists in front of me that apparently cannot figure out how to pay the man $2.45. Seriously, it took them 3 minutes.
DBags come back and they start arguing on who is going to pay for breakfast. Seriously, it's a 2 dollar bagel?! I don't knowwwww....
Third time I came back, the lady that got my bagel was singing something like "we haaaaave lots of baaagellls.....weeeeee haaaave lots of baaaaaaaagels.."
I got a pumpernickel untoasted and honey walnut cream cheese to go.
I pay the man. She asks if I want my bagel in a bag? Yes, I would. Since you know, it's TO GO? What do you want me to just carry in in my gloved hand into the snow?
I get the bagel, get on the bus, get to work, get to my desk. Open the bag and no fucking knife.
GREAT. -
Review from Kristen M.
Cambridge, MA
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
There is nothing I like better than a VARIETY of cream cheeses.
But really...REALLY adult contemporary?!?! Come on brueggers, I don't wanna listen to Celine Dion while I eat my Rosemary olive oil bagel -
Review from Simon L.
12/19/2010 2 photos
The bagels were still warm from baking. I am impressed - Brueggers Bagels are good. Egg bagel toasted lightly with plain cream cheese, still warm from baking. Doughy inside, crispy on the outside. A little too fluffy and airy but otherwise pretty delicious.
An everything bagel eaten with no topping was still warm and chewy delicious too. Just crispy enough on the outside with no toasting.
Quick and professional service, clean store. -
Review from Norah S.
Boston, MA
2/19/2012
WORST staff in the history of customer service! Seriously, I swear every staff member behind the counter shares a brain. Do not go here if you are looking for efficient, friendly or fast service - you will not find it here! Also, be warned, that the staff WILL let everyone in the world cut ahead of you at the cash register line if they are only there for coffee.
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Review from Pete S.
Somerville, MA
1/29/2007
The server skipped over the woman in front of me because her order was too complex. As in, (talking to woman in front of me), "I don't know if we have any, let me look in the back," then (immediately turning to me as if this makes her complete failure to 'look in the back,' or do anything else for her, invisible to previous customer) "May I help you?"
This is an awkward situation to be in, particularly when the server has a) already abandoned the customer before *her* to help this one, and b) I've been waiting like five minutes just to order a bagel, and want to be helped immediately but for the look of death rightly coming from said previous customer.
Then, and I will never forget this as long as I live, I had to argue with her to get her to toast my bagel, which she initially refused to do because the bagel was already warm.
There are times in life I wish I had every line ready, every good comeback and answer that'll really show 'em, and even if I ever do, I still don't think I'll be ready for "What you want it toasted for?" after asking twice already.
And to think, I sheepishly glanced around, like I was being unreasonable and unnecessarily making a scene. Geez, people, I wanted it toasted. Stop looking at me like that. It was a reasonable request!
Anyway, I never went back after that surreal day. Too much drama too early in the morning. I get my coffee at Porter Square Books. It's better, and they're much nicer. -
Review from Melissa D.
Brookline, MA
3/20/2011
The food is good- the issue is it comes with too much drama. My order is almost always wrong. How hard is sausage egg and cheese? yet every time I magically end up with gross bacon! This includes repeating it a few times too. Also while I appreciate the movement to try to go green, if I'm taking my bagel with me, what am I supposed to do with a cream cheese covered papery mess that you just handed me? Moreover, seriously guys- who doesn't cut a bagel in half?
1. listen to orders
2. if you don't give bags, make sure the wrap around the item is clean
3. cut the bagel in half
Other than that its pretty good. Price is OK, but they offer a ton of coupons. Coffee is pretty crappy, but its Green Mountain, so what do you expect.
seriously though- who doesn't cut bagels in half? -
Review from Tony W.
Boston, MA
11/13/2007
I love this place! Their bagels are great, and I hear that their salads & sandwiches are pretty good too.
What makes this place great is that I recently bought their endless coffee mug for $119 - for 14 months (it started on 10/31, and runs until 12/31/08) you can bring it in and get a refill of coffee, tea, or soda. Starting on 01/01/08, I can get 1 dozen bagels each month for 12 months, which is included in the promotion. With just the coffee alone, at the rate of 1 coffee a work day (work is across the street), I will have paid the mug off in 3 months, and get 11 more months of coffee for free!
I've never had a bad experience with the service there - the wait times can vary, because at different times they can get backed up. Otherwise, it's a great option for a bagel and coffee breakfast! -
Review from Irene F.
9/4/2008
So having grown up a New Yorker, it's pretty much illegal for me to give 5 stars to non-NYC bagels. That being said, Bruegger's ain't too shabby. I do like Finagle a bit more, but that's besides the point. We came by for some serious onion-ness, and we got it. Salmon bagels with onion and chive cream cheese on an onion bagel with extra onions. Yeah, I wasn't exactly planning on kissing anyone that night (neither was Natasha, from my understanding).
Delish. Me gusta. -
Review from Josh O.
Washington, DC
6/26/2007
They're a few minutes walk from where I live, and they have free air conditioning and free wifi. You can find me here on hot days (I work from home).
Plus their bagels are pretty decent. Compare favorably to anything else I've had so far in Boston (With New York so close, why do we lack good bagels in Boston?).Listed in: Porter Square
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Review from Liz L.
Knoxville, TN
10/14/2008
Place is alright.
Service is kinda slow and the employees seem confused a lot of the time.
Bagels are pretty decent.
I don't drink coffee so I can't comment on that.
And it is another one of those places where the tables are taken up by people on their laptops sipping the same cup of coffee for 2 hours. -
Review from Courtney N.
Gloucester, MA
7/10/2010
You can't go wrong with an iced coffee and a specialty bagel from Bruegger's Bagels. I am compelled to stop whenever I see one (even if it's just to buy some rosemary bagels to take home). My new favorite is their trail mix and strawberry cream cheese bagel. Delicious.
I've been stopping at the Bruegger's location to get a coffee before I go to volunteer for RFB&D, which is a few blocks down. It's a very convenient location with plenty of parking. The atmosphere is very low key- in fact, I never see any families which seems to be a staple of most other locations. I admit that this pleases me.
The reason for three stars is because, while friendly, the staff has a lot of trouble getting my orders correct. They ask me to repeat several times, and last time the person didn't think the trail mix bagel existed. Also, if I try to deviate from hazelnut and try some of the quirkier, summer coffees they either don't understand or give me iced tea. Yes, I've put cream in iced tea without realizing and it doesn't taste that bad but I wouldn't order it! I just wish they paid more attention and knew what products their store was currently selling.
I still recommend this place. I love the easy location, and lack of screaming kids, and you can't beat the taste of the bagels. Just be sure to enunciate your order or you might get peach iced tea instead of the coffee you were expecting! -
Review from Susie C.
Cambridge, MA
7/30/2008
Brueggers has the best bagels in Boston, hands down. They are chewy and dense - what a bagel should taste like. Dunkin Donuts 'bagels' are simply plain old bread that tastes like toast when it is toasted. Not at all what a bagel should taste like.
Get them when they're HOT so the cream cheese (thick and rich) starts to melt. It's a mouth watering combination that fills you up.
And, naturally, since the bagels are so delicious, their breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches are also delicious. Great fillings, super satisfying. -
Review from Lalin A.
Durham, NC
2/3/2007
I agree with Pete about the bad service. The staff treat you as if they are doing you a big favor by toasting your bagel. It feels as if they have much better things to do than be at Bruegger's and attend customers. Also, they are SLOOOOOWWW...
Besides, the bagels are not that special. There has been incidences where they were too chewy or rock-like! The atmosphere is boring. Nothing special over DD! -
Review from Steve K.
Somerville, MA
9/30/2010 8 Check-ins Here
Mmm...bagels
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Review from B P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/9/2007
Blech.
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Review from laura l.
Cambridge, MA
4/10/2011
I go to this Bruegger's frequently, since I live around the corner and have their endless coffee mg club deal. They're about to get some major competition because Panera is opening across the street, and despite my deal (I have another couple of months to go before I've made back my money on it) I'll probably start going to Panera more often--it definitely has better food.
Bruegger's is a franchise, so they do vary from place to place, but the fare is the same. The coffee is OK, not Starbuck's quality. Forget things like hot chocolate, which is like chocolate flavored water. The iced coffee is weak, too. Iggy's bagels are my yardstick and B's are just alright. They're small, not very crusty on the outside. I haven't much liked the soup I've gotten on occasion, and a few sandwiches are pretty good.
Food aside, the big issue I have with this Bruegger's is the attitude of one of the staff. There's one woman there who is surly, makes mistakes constantly, never apologizes, and gets angry about almost anything. I've seen her get into pissing contests with other staff, so it's not just customers. All the other staff are very courteous and friendly. The other staff I see on a regular basis always remember that I am in the coffee club, and that I like my bagel done a certain way. This one woman acts like she doesn't know me or remember anything about me most of the time, and this is after I've been coming in 5 times a week for over 5 months.
On an occasional basis, Bruggher's is fine, but I won't be buying the endless coffee mug club deal next year, I can tell you that. With Panera's great baked goods, better coffee, and wi-fi across the street soon, it won't be worth it. Also, I've never had an unfriendly staff encounter at any Panera I've been to. -
Review from Rebecca H.
Somerville, MA
9/15/2011
I went to Bruegger's a few days ago and got the mandarin orange salad. I've had good experiences with their salads before so I didn't expect to be so disappointed. I ended up only eating a few bites of it before I threw it away, the lettuce had gone bad to the point where it was clumpy and slimy. I gave two stars because i know that they're bagels are decent, but if you can't eat bread like me, stay away from Breugger's. They obviously don't make any effort to use fresh produce.
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Review from annie k.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2006
Surprisingly good bagels, the best I know of in Cambridge. Boiled so they are slightly crispy outside, chewy inside. Could use some more maltiness. The staff are generally very nice.
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Review from M. Deloris D.
Arlington, MA
6/11/2008
What's to be said about Bruegger's? They're a chain...so the bagels are of consistent and slightly better than mediocre quality. Pumpernickel is my favorite. The only reason I ever hit this location is to take advantage of the 'free wi-fi' if I happen to miss the commuter rail at Porter. The problem is that the signal is SO WEAK that the internet almost NEVER works! Crap on that. I now prefer to get fair trade iced coffee and hope that Porter Square Books' free wi-fi is on before 6PM.
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Review from Dap P.
Lexington, MA
9/20/2010
First off, it's a bagel and coffee place. This is a 5 star review on that basis. This isn't a 5 star place compared to Number 9 Park. Let's keep things straight.
That said, Bruegger's offers the best authentic bagels from a chain in the area. Dunkin Donuts' bagels are OK, but not quite right, and Finagle a Bagel bagels are ridiculous doughballs. Bruegger's bagels are a bit cruncy outside and chewy inside, boiled and baked, just the way they are SUPPOSED to be made.
This particular Bruegger's location is a good one. It's large, with ample seating. They have free wireless internet. The people who work here are friendly. And they keep the place clean--quite an accomplishment in Cambridge!
The coffee is also pretty good. I don't think they'll win any contests, but it's certainly "good enough" and reasonably priced. -
Review from Andrew C.
Salem, NH
3/7/2010
Good selection in bagels and fairly fresh. Nothing super amazing, but it's what you'd expect.
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Review from John W.
Cambridge, MA
5/16/2009
I'm glad I found Bruegger's because now I can stop going to Dunkin' Donuts...I know this is heresy to say in Boston, but their bagels are crap and their coffee is barely better.
Bruegger's on the other hand, has some awesome bagels. Not the best I've had, but up there. Coffee is also alright.
The bottomless mug deal is also pretty sweet if you're a commuter through the Porter Square T stop. -
Review from sharon r.
Boston, MA
9/19/2009
Sandwiches and salads are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced here. They charge you extra for everything, absolutely everything. I got 2 sandwiches with 1/2 turkey and 1/2 ham and they charged me $4 extra and claimed it was bc I got "extra" meat. Ummm...I'm quite sure there was nothing "extra" about the 2 measly slices of meat TOTAL on my sandwich. Talk about stingy! There are also no real healthy options here if you're looking for one. You're better off going over to the Shaws salad bar - way more choices and 1/4 of the price. Most of the staff is pretty rude and completely clueless. It appears they do not require you to have any customer service skills at all to work here.
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Review from Sarah W.
Cambridge, MA
7/22/2010
free wi-fi, ample seating, good bagels, flavored coffee. if you chat it up w/ the staff, they're friendlier.
