Einsten Bros Bagels

It’s great to have decent food and great bagels so close for students and others that live close by. The service varies since there’s so much turnover in employees.
My least favorite part about Einstein being in the campus is that the non-​compete keeps other restaurants out. I’d prefer more choices.

Is their an option for no stars? Check out the bugs flying around in the bagel case — that will surely make you hungry. I cannot believe GMU hasn’t done something about this place considering how horrible it is. The staff is generally not friendly and I’m pretty sure no one would go there if it wasn’t so convenient to class. This place needs a big time fix.

The food was ok, but the employee that helped me was extremely unfriendly, almost to the point of being rude. Major employee attitude adjustments needed at this location.

I ended up with a largely random assortment of bagels – perhaps this could be a benefit for adventurous customers? – after waiting for 45 minutes. The manager explained to me that they have a rigid policy that they cannot remove more than 12 bagels from the hoppers to avoid running out; instead they have to make you new ones. Why couldn’t they just give you the bagels they already have and get started making new ones? I’ll get off my amateur industrial optimization soapbox now.
Three more sources of irritation: The person handling my order treated me with all the courtesy due a particularly heinous war criminal, the place had no plain cream cheese (!), and the structural integrity of their muffins is questionable.
Also, really, opening at 8 am? Probably of if you’re a law student stumbling off to class, but for the rest of us… come on.
I don’t plan on going back when I’ve had so many good experiences at the Bruegger’s just a couple of blocks west.

Good selection of breakfast items — like bagels (obv.), muffins, cakes. The bagel dogs are not that good. Coffee is actually pretty good, including the iced coffee. Good seating within the location. Full service Einstein’s even though its at a school. Sometimes they only accept cash, which knocked their score. Also, I went one time to get something and they closed early that day. Another knock, but they are usually open till 8 pm to accommodate the student need.

Well, I’ve been here a few more times since my first review. I wish I could rave about it, but that is not the case. The employees are not very friendly and have a don’t-really-care type attitude. The food has been hit or miss. If you go with a basic bagel toasted with butter or cream cheese, you’re alright. But the sandwiches … like I said, hit or miss. I have a real issue with lettuce and tomatoes being unfresh — really kills a sandwich.
And the parking is difficult. Street meter parking that is often full. There is underground parking, but when I asked an employee how much it cost, she didn’t know … ! (And didn’t take any initiative to find out. Like ask her supervisor, or something.)
I’ll keep going for the basics. Cuz there just aren’t that many good bagel places in N. Arlington. (sigh)