Chicago Bagel Authority

Always love what I get. A good hot Sammy. I love the DePaul Reuben and the dillwood. And their breakfast Sammys are not to be messed with either. Yum

These bagels are amazing! Not only that, but the staff is extremely friendly. I would go back again and again. Definitely recommend!

Simply put, the food here tastes bad. From the bagels, to the toppings and sauces, to the chips. A mix between bland and offensive. Do yourself a favor and find a nearby NYC Bagel Deli or Einstein Bros. Bagels instead.

One star. I’ve given them many chances. Horribly slow, skimp on cream cheese. Waste of money.

It just really was pretty terrible. I ordered a toasted bagel sandwich, and after waiting 10 minutes to get it (I was the only customer there) I was extremely disappointed. I can easily make a better tasting and more creative ‘gourmet bagel sandwich’ at home. As sad as I am to admit it, chains like Einsteins and even Corner Bakery blow this place out of the water.
The staff were really nice, and I feel bad for writing such a bad review… But come on… Step your game up in terms of recipes (of the non customized menu options), ingredients, and process.
Never coming back.

The crunch n munch was underwhelming, the Doritos were really soggy by the time i got back to my office, but the sammy was really good otherwise.
The jalapeño chips were
, make sure you get them — super spicy! and the chocolate chip cookies are bigger than your face!

My office ordered catered lunch from here, and I was in heaven. The After Burner — with meatballs, banana peppers, pizza sauce, and provolone, on an onion bagel — was generously filled and steamed to perfection. This place is hard to beat for delicious bagel sandwiches; I’ll be back often.

Never been before today, so there were no preconceived assumptions. Nada. Nothing. Never heard of the place or saw the place before today. I do, however, know what a real bagel is and what its consistency should be. Unfortunately for CBA, they destroy the bread portion of the sammie by steaming the thing to death. We all know that the word death is never appetizing for much of anything, and neither was the Smitty’s Nook overall, that I ordered. First, regardless of the completely ruined (steamed) bialy, the way overwhelming taste is salt, salt and more salt! In other words, all I could think of when consuming this sloppy mix of turkey, bacon, smoked gouda, shredded lettuce, a tomato slice and soupy mayo, was the Atlantic Ocean on a waves crashing day. Couldn’t taste gouda to save my life. Oops — another death reference. Sorry. I know these are generally salt laden ingredients — and I get that. However.. .turkey, separately, should not taste so overwhelmingly SALTY, I’m gasping for water. To recall what I consumed (other than lots and lots of salt/​sodium), I had to look at the menu for a reminder. That’s not a good thing.
I’ll give this place 2 stars for customer service & a filling sandwhich. The guys working behind the counter are genuinely friendly and helpful to those who ask for assistance. As for hygiene, I wouldn’t look in the back unless you’re just checking out the place and hope it’s not an option where you’ll dine. It’s a wreck from a mess all over the place standpoint.
My final conclusion is this. For those who find salt a decadent pleasure, and prefer a sandwich to melt in one’s mouth, no particular chewing motions necessary… by all means, step into CBA and enjoy. Just keep in mind, $ 10.20 only buys a sandwich and a fountain drink, with nothing left for the tip jar.

Hide the salami was an excellent choice, just wished for a bit more on my bagel… Not super filling. Otherwise, I’m definitely coming back to try one of their many other sandwiches. Service is a bit slow and the line seemed to get pretty long around lunch time

Love the other locations. Get there when it’s supposed to be open, guy leaves the door locked and won’t serve us.
So sad because it’s making all the other locations look terrible.

The first staple is his Oxford, OH location. This location still offers great service and great food. The steamed bagels will stand up to any foodie challenge. The turkey is juicy and pairs well with any bagel.

why would a business schedule 1 person to open a bagel shop on a Saturday morning? it’s 9:20, there are several customers, and ONE guy is doing everything! I ordered coffee and he hadn’t even started brewing it yet (probably hadn’t had time, opening alone and all). the soda machine wasn’t turned on, the phone is ringing off the hook, and he was stocking drinks & chips when I walked in, but people were also waiting on him to make their bagels. as I’m waiting off to the side for my to-​go order, I’m counting close to 10 bagels on his prep-​board.
come on, CBA manager… don’t leave your opener out to dry.

I ordered the Egg McMahon which comes on a bagel with sausage, scrambled eggs and american cheese — 4 ingredients! I get to my office and find out there are no scrambled eggs on the sandwich. Come on people these are basics! Two people assembled the sandwich and no one noticed.
I ended up returning the sandwich and getting a refund. I probably won’t be back.

Great breakfast option in downtown. Service is friendly and quick. We loved both our options for bagels; huevos rancheros on onion I think.

omg yes! Anyone who went to Miami University absolutely loves this place, as its similiar to bagel and deli. The sandwiches are slightly different! (Where’s my salty whore?) but are still very good.
For those unfamiliar with a steamed bagel sandwich you should definitely try it out. And if you really want something good, try one of the ‘baily’ bagels. It’s like a mix between bread and a bagel.
Don’t forget the napkins either. Things get messy!

A decent bagel, though a little small for the price.
I have to admit I went here based on the name. And I’m a fan of the scheme, and a fan of the variety, and I’d been feeling «reuben» for some time. They also had some sort of Sweet Maui Onion kettle chips; all of this set me back about $ 10, after tip.
The DePaul Reuben, I have to admit, made for a fine lunch. The corned beef was moist, and the dressing and kraut smooth and sour, respectively. I don’t think I’ve ever had a rye bagel before, and this one was good. But I still felt like for a ten, I ought to get something bigger in size than a McDonald’s hamburger.
Overall I might be back for a breakfast bagel in the future.

Just came here for lunch today, I walk by the place when I’m walking home so wanted to try it–
I guess it makes sense that the windows are steamed up, being it’s «Steamed Sandwiches»
Pros:
1) The sandwich I got Smitty’s Nook, it was really good–
2) Like the paper towel holder on the wall by your table, so needed–
Cons:
1) You aren’t sure where to order from-​I asked and was told I could order from the register or down the line, so I ordered at the register-​I asked for no lettuce but when I got my sandwich it was covered in lettuce, I just scrapped it off–
2) Ordering systems isn’t clear-​While my coworker and I were waiting for our order, so were the other 8 people by the door-​The 2 guys making the sandwiches looked a little lost and behind-​Asking who had what while they were trying to catch up to the orders-​My coworker waited 10 minutes for his sandwich, it was never made when he placed his order-​I think a numbering system should be handed out-​What if 3 people got «Smitty’s Nook» all making changes to their sandwich… and one walks off with the wrong sandwich they ordered?
3) Tip set up on the computer-​In HS and college I worked as a waitress, busted my butt with tons of tables, running drinks out, refills, chips and salsa
when you swipe your card you have this option of tipping, they turn the screen towards you-​It makes you feel uncomfortable, not sure why a tip is needed… I know it sounds mean and I do apologize for coming off this way but it’s bagel sandwich with maybe 4 ingredients on it–
4) You might not want to eat in here, you will walk out smelling like a steamed bagel–
I will come back, as I said mine was actually pretty darn good-​But hopefully in time it will be less confusing when placing orders and knowing what customer ordered what sandwich–

Love the inside of this shop. Very chill and casual. The ordering system is the same way, a bit chaotic but if you’re paying attention, you’ll have fast service. You walk in and tell them what you want and they shout your order. I suggest standing by and waiting for your sandwich.
During peak times (breakfast on the weekends) it gets prtty busy.
I got the Belmont and it was okay. Personal preference, though. I like their concept of steaming the bagels but I found it no different than any other bagel.
I’d like to come back and try their lunch sandwiches to get a good read of taste.

No. Nonononono.
Ok, so I love bagels, I love Sandwiches, and for some reason, I had just for the first time patronized a CBA– on Belmont. DELISH Egg McMahon, and an amazing s’mores krispy bar afterwards, which I reluctantly shared with some lucky members of my pool team.
5 stars for that meal.
Then fast forward to today, where I met someone for a lunch date. The first thing I noticed was the mention of «steaming» everywhere. Huh? Did I miss this at the Belmont location?
My lunch date and I order 2 Clayboys and then sit to wait for them at one of the 3 tables. It’s a small place. But then 15 – 20 minutes go by, and no sandwiches– we had to ask. Maybe they called our name and we missed it, but a few minutes later they arrive wrapped in tin foil.
We open them up, and it’s as if this turkey sandwich had been sitting in water. There is literally kind of a «juice» in the bottom of this foil, making the sandwich soggy and gross. It has sprouts on it, but I’d forgotten about them, because there was no crunch. Like, when I picked it up, it was dripping.
This is bad. 1) It was hard and embarrassing to try and eat. 2) WTF is with the steaming? ok, steaming the bagel to make it is one thing, but steaming the whole sandwich? Never again. Never ever again, no. Couldn’t finish it. Ugh.

SO stoked CBA is open mere blocks from my office! After an inner struggle debating whether to get an egg sandwich for lunch or not, I decided on The Clayboy & it was exactly what I was craving.
Super friendly staff, quick service & excellent bagels/​sandwiches! Can’t wait ’til they have soup & more side options in stock.
Don’t forget to sign up for the rewards club & earn some points!