Brand: 6/10
Pertaining to first impressions, I was very…read moreunderwhelmed by the Bagel Joint, since the bland sign does not reflect the name of the business, since it has "Bagel" written on it. I actually had to look it up to clarify that this was the specific bagel shop located on the Quail Creek Shopping Center. It especially does not benefit from having such a sign juxtaposed with the unique business next to it.
I appreciate how the interior maintains the 2010s-era hipster minimalism, ranging from the fall décor to Bruno Mars playing over the radio. Would I say that the fall décor exhibited any unique feature of the establishment? Probably not.
Ambiance: 10/10
The noise from the kitchen activity did not intrude upon the experience, nor did the music become so obnoxiously loud I would have ate outside. There is a soft coziness to the interior ambiance that made it easy to enjoy my meal. For a small establishment, the space between tables and the waiting area sufficed enough, since no one obstructed my personal space.
Indeed, it uses the most out of what little space it has, which I respect in businesses. I could clearly understand the bagel options behind the glass.
Staff: 9/10
When I placed my order for the meat, egg, and cheese sandwich, the staff patiently asked me specific questions, such as which type of meat and which type of bagel buns. I appreciate staff who do this with a broadly defined dish. However, I was not asked if I wanted the buns toasted or not. Nonetheless, I can see how the staff mean well.
Waiting Period: 10/10
I always factor in the waiting period, whether in terms of taking or waiting for the order. I had a short, pleasant waiting period.
Food: 6/10
I picked a sandwich with ham slices and sesame bagel buns, which had a well-cooked quality to it. The underwhelming size and quality of the sesame bagel did not complement the eggs or the ham slices. The sesames had more flavor than the buns and the ham slices. The overall price with the meat, egg, and cheese sandwich and the water bottle brings it to close to $10, which definitely did not suit the quality of the course, or the establishment despite how accommodating it is.
Comes Together Well?: 7/10
For a quaint Quail Creek Shopping center business, the Bagel Joint definitely will satisfy any taste in bagels, since it is the only bagel shop in that area--but it only goes so far. I could easily find bagel shops with more unique qualities anywhere near me. I can see how the nostalgic element might work for it, but would wear out easily if the food does not.
People and economies are chaotic. Businesses should not just compete with each other, rather they should cooperate to both weather economic uncertainty and to establish a market to meet a wide variety of demands, which is what I wish to see with the Bagel Joint and the Shopping Center as a whole. I would like to see if Ramtown artists have any pieces of art they can contribute to the walls of the Bagel Joint. Perhaps the sign--and the establishment itself--could have a more unique name, like its neighboring businesses.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Averaging out the factoring scores rounded to exactly 8/10, which definitely fits this establishment. I would like to see how the Bagel Joint evolves with the times in terms of the food and the aesthetics.
Recommend To...
Anyone looking for a quick meal while also having a sense of nostalgia. Other than that, I cannot find anyone else who would be fascinated with this establishment.