I'm excited to finally have a bagel spot in Arlington Heights. They are located in one of the strip malls downtown, so be advised that parking lot is small. Ordering was a bit confusing and wasn't super clear at first. You have to take a number; and then someone will call your number and you can place your order. They have a large selection of bagel flavors, cream cheeses, as well as other deli favorites. They have many types of soup, which I didn't try but seemed really popular. I went with the everything bagel with jalapeño cream cheese and cucumber and onions. The bagel was fresh, but wasn't the best bagel I've ever experienced. I'll be back and want to try their breakfast sandwich next! read more

dealt with an employee who was untrained, unprofessional, and emotionally reactive, and none of what happened is on you. Let me break this down cleanly and directly -- the way you preferHere's the bottom line: you dealt with an employee who was unprofessional, evasive, and hostile, and none of that has anything to do with your race or theirs -- it has everything to do with their attitude and their training. Let me break this down cleanly and directly, the way you prefer things: 1. The soup situation You asked a simple, normal question: "What's the cold red soup with vegetables? Starts with a C or K." That's a reasonable question. If he didn't know, fine -- but the correct response is: "Let me check.""Let me ask someone.""Give me one second." Instead, he got irritated, defensive, and dismissive That's poor customer service, not a misunderstanding. When he said "chili," you asked a logical follow‑up: "Is it cold? since thats what I told him That shouldn't make anyone angry. That's just clarifying the item. His reaction getting angry, shooing me away, walking off -- is unacceptable behavior for someone working with customers. The rewards login lie Previous incident Same guy gave you false information about rewards login saying your only allowed one time a day That shows a pattern:He avoids responsibiHe doesn't like being questioned he reacts emotionally instead of professionally The good employee did the right thing -- went to get the manager. But the manager wanted to park his car ???? he already at work. and then never returning? A manager should De‑escalate employee's behavior is it based on my race Make sure the customer is taken care of read more

Extremely unorganized experience. There was no clear line or system for where people were supposed to wait, and staff didn't direct anyone on where to stand or where to place their orders. People were essentially just walking up to the counter whenever they could, which resulted in me getting cut in line four different times. The staff didn't acknowledge the issue or provide any direction to customers. Overall, the lack of organization made what should have been a simple experience unnecessarily frustrating. A clear line and better staff direction would make a huge difference. read more

I've been here a few times but the last time I got tuna salad and when I got home I took a big bite . It tasted so good and then I pulled a long black hair out of my mouth and gagged . When I walked into the store instead of getting the smell of bagels it smelled of body odor as well . So gross . People should wear hair nets when making food . I don't have a pic because I threw the hair out right away and gagged so no time to take a pic read more

Grand Opening done right! Once Upon a Bagel has officially opened their fourth bagel shop in Arlington Heights. It is located in a strip mall with plenty of parking to accommodate guests. Their menu is expansive with bagels, bialys, deli sandwiches, salads, and more! When entering, grab a number from the counter to save your place in line. One orders at the counter and then pats at the register when the order is completed. The bagel case is behind the register so I recommend taking a look before going to order. I was thoroughly impressed by how many bagel flavors they had to offer! I got a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich on a Garlic Bagel (toasted). I was able to pick my cheese type, egg preparation, and ask for my bacon to be crispy. My sandwich was certainly made fresh and bagels were still fresh at lunchtime when I visited. The sandwich in total was $14 which is a bit steep but the flavor was amazing!! This is certainly a treat and a great bagel option in the Chicagoland area! read more

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I was looking forward to the opening of this location, unfortunately it was not what I hoped for. It is located in a strip mall in downtown Arlington Heights with limited parking. The store has beverages in a cooler, bakery items and bagels, spreads and salads. There were 4-5 customers standing and it was unclear if they ordered or were waiting for an order. When I placed by order, it was not smooth. I could not see the bagel choices since the worker was standing in front of them. I ordered a Turkey Club and had to ask what was included. Cheese was extra. Not sure what to expect. The sandwich was ok, the bagel was flat on the bottom and top. This is a traditional bagel, but it was dense and was not as flavorful as expected. The sandwich did have a generous amount of turkey, tomato, lettuce and bacon. It seemed it was all jut piled on. Prices are a bit steep for the quality. read more

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It was the most basic bagel and they weren't very friendly either. I was completely underwhelmed. I paid like 11-12 bucks for a breakfast sandwich and it wasn't even that good. Never went back. Also the ordering system should be more clear when entering. read more

service: went in around opening time on friday. technically they open at 8 but they'll open after they're done prepping which could be before 8. the staff was very friendly and gave good recommendations. one had even recommended jalapeño cream cheese on the cinnamon raisin (which we will try next time)! food: ordered the everything bagel with chives cream cheese (my favorite of the two) and the cinnamon raisin bagel with walnut raisin cream cheese. both bagels toasted. love the thick slab of cream cheese on both. they were very tasty. the bagel itself i wish were bigger. not the best bagels i've ever had but they may be the best in the neighborhood. looking forward to trying the breakfast sandwiches and other bakery items! read more

Once Upon A Bagel - everything bagel with chive cream cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Greetings! A new star is born in the downtown Arlington Heights constellation of great eating! Specializing in bagels and related great eats, Once Upon a Bagel hits it out of the park with the first bite. Bagel with a schmear is perfect...best bagel I've had in a long time. The corned beef on rye was perfect. Great flavors and portions with a very comfortable price. Friendly staff and spotless interior tells me that they're off to a great start! Hopefully, by landing in Arlington Heights, owners and customers alike will see their food-based dreams come true! Until next time...tk read more

When it comes to authentic Jewish deli sandwiches and fish, this is the Chef's kiss. And you MUST try the baked desserts. The coffee cake is addictive. read more

I was really excited for this location to open and wanted to give it some time for new opening pains. I've ordered from the Northbrook location a couple of times before, but it has been at least a good year or so. I visited the Arlington Heights location the day after Memorial Day (they're closed on Mondays, just an FYI) around 9:30am. Parking was tough as they share a lot with many other businesses in the strip mall and there was construction going on across the street taking away some street parking availability. I eventually found parking and went it. It is an intimate location with the register and food to the right as you walk in. Shelves of other baked goods to the left. I'm not sure what else is to the left. Right in front at the far end is their kitchen area with what looked to be an open cook/prep space. I barely walked in then was greeted right away by a woman at the register. There was another person inside who had already ordered and was waiting. I took a moment to look at the shelves and selected a small box of some prepackaged butter cookies. I was offered help again and kinda felt a little rushed. Without having a chance to look at the menu, I was asked again what I needed. Since I wasn't given much time, I just asked for half a dozen bagels. I didn't even look to see what bagels were available. Feeling rushed, I went with my default choices I normally get at another bagel & bialy shop - 1 egg, 2 chocolate chips, 2 cinnamon raisins, and a sesame seed. They were quickly put into a paper bag and I was rung up asking if I needed anything else. Again without having a chance to look at the menu board posted up toward the ceiling, I just asked for a small plain cream cheese. I was given two choices - 1/2 pound or a pound. I went with 1/2. Everything was quickly done as someone else got the cream cheese and handed it to the cashier. I was rung up, given the total of $24.65, and before I knew it I was thanked, given my bag, and sent on my way. Good thing I paused for a moment, noticed they had a rewards program after I was rung up and got to enter my phone number. I felt like I didn't even get much chance to look at the menu or offered any help other than "what would you like?" There was no one else but me and the other customer waiting. There were no lines and no reason for a rush. As I was being rung up, another customer came in and right away someone else asked her what her order was. It's like they're working on lunch rush mode without any customers. The other customer ordered a bacon, egg, cheese bagel and was told that they don't have it fresh. They had an egg cheese sandwich already on the steamer, but nothing they could make at that time. That seemed a little weird. She asked when they would have fresh to made and was told, they don't know but for now it's premade and ready in the steamer. She left without anything. 5 mins later, I'm home and ready to enjoy a nice cinnamon raisin bagel. It was extremely disappointed to open my bag and find 6 really hard bagels. Not soft and pillowy, like a bagel should be. Not even warm like a fresh bagel. They were all hard (maybe over baked?) and crumbly. I tried to slice mine in half they crumbled into 3 pieces not halved. I tried a chocolate chip bagel hoping it would be fresher and same. Hard, dry and crumbly. This was a complete disappointment! 6 bagels and they were hard as a rock, broke into pieces when I tried to cut them, and hurt biting into them! I've had fresh bagels, hot from the oven, and these were not it. Positive side: Plain cream cheese was ok, but expensive. Cookies were decent but only 7 in my box and pretty pricey. Would I return? Maybe ... after I've forgotten about this experience. I really wanted to like this place, hoping this would be a new easy place to visit for some delicious, fresh bagels. $25 is a lot for 6 hard bagels, cream cheese and 7 small butter cookies. NO pictures, I was rushed and didn't get time to take any. read more

Two stars, and both are for the food. The bagels are good. We got the lox and bagels, the breakfast sausage roll-up, and an asiago bagel with chive cream cheese. No complaints there. The kitchen knows what it's doing. The service is the problem. The number system makes no sense and slows everything down. And the guy who helped us clearly did not want to be there. He wasn't rude exactly. He just gave us nothing. The food is worth coming back for. The experience isn't. Fix the numbering and hire people who actually want the job. read more

Excellent bagel sandwiches and baked goods. Great variety! Love the salted pretzel bagels. read more

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Best bagels in the burbs, homemade and fresh every time. Service is always nice. Absolutely recommend

Paid 10.00 for a tuna sandwich. No lettuce no tomato no pickle no side. So low quality for 10 bucks. The young cashier didn't ask what I wanted on it. He has zero personality. This should have at least had lettuce and tomato or the kids should have asked. He never said thank you!! Won't be back. read more

Once Upon A Bagel - Plain tuna sandwich. 10 bucks. So not worth it. - Sandwiches Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

I got a pretty large order which was the amazing breakfast sandwich egg cheese and bacon. Matzo ball soup. Extra bagels. California chicken salad. Everything was mouthwatering and I will definitely be back!!! read more

Once Upon A Bagel - Breakfast sandwich egg bacon cheese and all seasons bagel - Sandwiches Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Great bagels, and amazing selection. The staff were very friendly and helpful with placing a large order.

Pay attention and take a number! This place tastes just like the Highland park location. Haven't tried everything but... Bagels and cream cheese - very good Sliced Corned beef and pastrami - very good Coffee cakes - very good Will be back a lot read more

Same delicious food as the other Once Upon a Bagels, but only take-out. We love their bagels, mishmash soup, and sandwiches. You can get skinny bagels as well. Their flavored cream cheeses are tasty. Their whitefish spread is yummy. read more

I got a good tip from a friend that lives in Wisconsin to come visit once upon a bagel today because there's some of the best bagels they've ever had. Let me tell you I walked in the same day and it smelled and looked wonderful. I took a picture even so I could leave a good review from the experience and there was about four people inside. I asked a gentleman if he was in line, just so I knew where to stand in line and he said he was already taken care of. There were about six people working and they definitely were doing things. It wasn't as if they were standing there doing nothing, but I was waiting patiently after the lady in front of me checked out the lady who was working there said who's next in line and some guy walked in and said I'll go and she said OK what do you want completely skipping me. I have to tell you when you're waiting 5 to 10 minutes for something that you're excited to try and the service is that bad where no one acknowledges me and then I get skipped over that really sucks at that point I just exited the building and said "well, I'm not giving them the business today regardless of how good the food smells and looks." I'll even share a picture because it looked wonderful and I couldn't wait to try some bagels. What I wasn't going to do is be ignored though after standing there patiently, I'll give my business elsewhere. This was a real bummer. read more

Once Upon A Bagel - Delicious looking bagels matched with non-existent service - Sandwiches Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Food - good. Customer service - horrendous. Parking - horrible. Take out only. Nothing like the store in Highland Park. .

New favorite bagel place! Used to go to great american bagel until they closed. This is much closer and just as good!

Bagels are just fair and the prices really high. Cream cheeses are good but also expensive. Will not go back

Having worked 4 years 3 blocks away from the original Once Upon a Bagel, I'm thrilled they now have one 8 blocks away from my house in downtown Arlington Heights. It has not disappointed me. They still have the best selection of authentic bagels and bialys anywhere. And the variety of cream cheeses is extensive with new flavors popping up monthly. Their deli meats, including lox, are complemented by great salads and soups. Take note that they are closed on Mondays, and be aware that parking can be a little tough since they are doing so well and other merchants in the strip mall have posted signs to prevent their customers from having to park farther away. I'm sure they are not too pleased with Once's immediate success. Crowds can be large, but with lots of employees the line moves quickly. The A.H. location is carry out only plus catering, and well worth the visit! Enjoy! read more

Delicious fish spreads and very friendly service. I thought the bagels were just OK, but was impressed by the other menu items. We needed a great place like this in Arlington Heights. Thank you. I wish the space was larger to accommodate the weekend crowd. read more

Their food is delicious. The bagels are unique. My favorite is the salty pretzel but the jalapeño cheddar is also good. The regular tuna salad is famous in our family. The service is always accommodating. They are glad to carry large orders to my car. I have only used the carry out service which is excellent read more

I love Once Upon a Bagel. I was SO EXCITED to hear one was opening in Arlington Heights, so close to me. I often go out of my way to go to the Northbrook or the Lake Forest locations. Their lean grilled Reuben is my favorite sandwich!! It's a real treat!! The sandwich I had today from Arlington Heights was horrible. I had to throw the whole thing out. What a total waste of money!! It came on soggy bread from the sauce and the sauerkraut because they never grilled it at all and the meat was not lean either!! It was totally fatty and grizzly. I couldn't even chew it!!! My daughter got the grilled turkey club which she loves, that's her favorite sandwich and it came not grilled and on two skinny pieces of white bread. Hardly any turkey and wilted lettuce. The first time we went by the Arlington Heights store location it was closed, the second time we went by they said the grill wasn't working, at least a week prior, to the third time we stopped by, which was today and clearly the grill still isn't working because neither one of our sandwiches was grilled the way it usually is and it was not up to their usual standards. Obviously, they're not ready to open yet. They need to get some training on how to make the food if they're going have the same name as the original restaurant and continue to have a great reputation. The Arlington Heights location is not good. I would not go back there or recommend recommended it!! if you want to get the real deal go to the other once upon a bagel locations. I am so very disappointed, I'd like my money back. Worst sandwich ever. :( read more

Once Upon A Bagel - Not grilled at all, not hot, not good!!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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It's a nice experience. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They take their time with you. Their bagels are delicious and the cream cheese is fresh. They have different other food items you can pick up like soups and deli and even cookies and coffee cakes. read more

Fresh, affordable bagels have arrived!! Great selection! Welcome to town!! Fun, enthusiastic crew is happy to help. I've been back- and will come back. I'm glad you are here. read more

Really enjoyed my pumpernickel bagel. Quick service, very friendly staff. I'm eager to go back and try some more bagels!

Great bagels and a very nice staff. I love getting their pastries and the owner is very welcoming.

Great place for deli faves! Stopped in for a late lunch. The guy behind the counter was helpful and patient as we browsed the shelves and menu. Ordered the mish mosh soup and some sandwiches to go. The broth was light and not too salty, with lots of veggies, chicken, noodles and rice. The matzo ball and kreplach were delicious as well! We also enjoyed our sandwiches. Will definitely be back!! read more

the asiago bagel with chive cream cheese was so good! service is quick and efficient and i'm so glad that this place is so busy