Once Upon has decent bagels, but not great. What I do like are the breakfast dishes, especially the Mexican ones. The service is always very good too. read more

This review is not about the food! Love the menu, deli and restaurant. Last week I went on Yelp to see the hours. It was Friday, Nov 29th. The hours read open until 6:00. Got there at 5:00 and it was completely dark and obviously closed. So mad since I was coming from Deerfield. Today, Tuesday Dec 3rd, I called to place a carry out order. Started calling around 3:30 and after several unanswered calls, assumed it was closed. I was going to pick up my dog from the groomer, next door...so when I got there and saw it was open...I was really upset. What's going on? I even told them I tried calling and they said they weren't picking up the phones! Really? I'm bypassing Once Upon a Grill in Northbrook and Once Upon a Bagel in Highland Park to go to the Winnetka's Once Upon a Grill. Someone...please don't post hours on your website or Yelp when you're not honoring those hours and please pick up your phone so when we call ahead, the order can be ready...instead of assuming you're closed. You're food is good but I'm leaning toward going to the other locations. read more

Disclaimer, I know I am giving 5-stars for a bagel place. This is not an overpriced bistro, this wont have your favorite macademia nut milk latte. Its simple pleasure, bagel with an ice cream scoop of cream cheese goodness. Its madness on a Saturday morning. About 20 sleepy eyed, bed-head, possibly wearing their slippers patrons shouting orders to the dozen or so people behind the counter. Short order bedlam. They have about 15 varieties of bagels/bialys. Maybe 8-cream cheese options. There is always the PERFECT amount of way too much cream cheese on each seemingly always fresh bagel. Omlettes are alright, the other fare is just okay as well. But having a local gem, where you can just as well order a bagel, as a south of the border omlette, as a chili dog- its perfection. Get involved, go here. read more

Got another turkey sandwich from here the other day-turkey on white bread with Mayo, tomato, lettuce and red onion. Was delicious! It came with a pickle and I ordered the potato salad again. The potato salad was just okay today, may pass on that next time. There's a cute park across the street with picnic tables and a playground too :) read more

They are trying to do too many thing here. And at least from my perspective the deli part is meh.

I would suggest ordering on line to pick up vs. ordering in person. It is my impression that there is a process for ordering on line, however, order in person did not work well. Our order was lost and not fulfilled. The staff seemed annoyed when it was brought to their attention. They never apologized and ignored us to continue with on line orders. To enjoy the great food order on line and NOT in person. read more

I will continue to go here, but mostly for the tacos. I'm not all that intrigued by everything else I see. Good for families because the kids can be loud. Service is decent, but not great. That said, it's not really a "service" oriented place. Mostly go in, order, eat, leave. read more

Ask for an itemized receipt because the employees will charge you for everything including extra ice, without making mention of it. Massive rip off compared to the HP location-that location doesn't charge randomly like the Winnetka one does. Not going back. read more

Amazing bagels and fantastic service! I've only had their breakfast bagels, and on my most recent visit, I ordered an egg & cheese sandwich on an egg bagel- it was EGGCELENT! You can also add a meat (including turkey sausage), if you desire. My recent discovery was their fresh palettas from La Michoacana. They're delicious, and were $2.25 each. I tried the mango w/chili, strawberry w/milk, and horchata (my favorite). read more

One of the pros of moving to the burbs from the city was having a Once Upon a Bagel nearby! Since we moved here 3 weeks ago, we are so so so bummed and disappointed about this Winnetka location. The service is absolutely terrible. The people they have working there are cold and rude. They are not friendly what's so ever, seem miserable and blatantly act like they don't care about you. You are a number. That's it. It's gotten so bad that we drive to the Upper Crust Bagels in Deerfield just so we don't have to deal with the people working there. It's not only the workers attitudes. It's also the fact that they can't handle how busy they are. They need to fix their broken system because it's not working. The food takes waaaay too long. I hope one day the staff gets customer service training so we can feel comfortable ordering and going to what we thought was a neighborhood spot. read more

The mish mosh soup is our go-to comfort food!! Happy they're in the neighborhood. Only complaint is that their own staff should not take up parking spots. It hurts the business. read more

Way better bagels here than any place in the area... Aka Einstein or Panera. Service is quick and friendly and the bagels are fresh, soft and chewy, and made the way I like em: Sesame, toasted, with shmear and tomato. Coffee is just ok so I head up to the new Dunkin up the road. There's a seating area where they serve breakfast but there's too many screaming kids each time I pop in so I'm outta there! read more

This is our local go-to spot for bagels, lunch and soups etc... There are few standout aspects: --Proximity to a nice park across the street. Always a winner with kids on a nice day. --Great soups -- Really quite good bagels, schmears etc... --Party trays are very handy for home entertaining with a crowd --Their tacos are probably the best in the area and their off-menu taco salad in a fried tortilla bowl is something of an embarrassing indulgence A few negatives: --Dining room is very small and it seems like there is always at least one kid having a melt-down at a table in there, how this is possible, I don't know. --Sometimes it feels really hot in the dining area, more AC would be great --Staff are often overwhelmed and can't pick up enough after the aforementioned children who are having tantrums, so sometimes the floor is dirty and sometimes there are flies which does really turn my stomach. But, Once Upon is a good, classic deli, they probably need more dining space - break through the wall and grab the next spot. It's important to support local businesses so keep coming back here for more! read more

Worst of the Once Upon a Bagel locations. Cold eggs, no butter. Nice nice that employees can socialize with their friends. Oh well, the customers will wait. read more

GET TACOS! Do it. They're fantastic. Best value tacos on the north shore (way cheaper than Taco Nano but still fantastic). Taco Monday deal is a particularly awesome steal. This is a wholesome neighborhood joint that has something for everyone. The bagels are okay, the dining area is sub-par, but honestly I'm such a fan because it's exactly what every neighborhood needs. read more

Definitely one of our go-to's for breakfast but for lunch it is even better. Quesadillas, excellent. Hot dog, authentically delicious with my must have snap. Big surprise...best matzo ball soup. We noticed so many people having it on a warm summer Saturday, so we tried it. Very good and if requested, served with fresh challah bread. Amazing place, owned by Jewish family with Jewish food yet, run by Mexicans so the Mexican dishes are outstanding. Best chilaquiles we have ever had. What a surprise. read more

Food is generally good, but they are also exceptional at consistently forgetting items in pickup orders. Their food is good, but there's no excuse for fumbling phone orders when you have the opportunity to write everything down and check it off as it is bagged. read more

This was my first time going there and I was accompanied by two children (ages 1 and 3). Our food took over 30 minutes to receive (I'm sure it would have been longer if I hadn't said something) and they messed up my order twice... if I was alone I could handle this, but it's extremely tough with two kids. Once we did get our food they forgot to bring out my bagel. Also, the seating is VERY crowded. Expect to be bumping into people or getting bumped into left and right. However, I still gave 2 stars because the food was excellent.. The service was just awful. read more

Used them as my sole source of food for a month or two while my kitchen was under construction and we're still back there multiple times a week. Bagels, of course, are the best local option but there egg white salad is a personal favorite. All kinds of kid friendly options and their tacos nights are always a family favorite. read more

We had the bagel with egg and cheddar cheese it was amazing. Also the chocolate donut was rally good and service espectacular.

A great review for once upon a bagel Even when they're busy and they're busy a lot the carry out service is so fast! Everyone is always polite and they really work hard. read more

Good breakfast, really good bagels. So why the low rating? The service - rude, brusque, makes me want to not go back......and most of the time I'm only buying bagels. They just aren't nice, and they certainly aren't helpful or at all respectful. We're talking basics - a please, a thank you, an 'I'm sorry we ran out of that today' would go a long long way..... read more

I cannot imagine a better Deli to dine, we are so fortunate to have the outstanding quality of food and perfectly prepared and served with a smile. The Manager Randy, is where it begins he has the personality and enthusiasm to make you want to come back to Once Upon a Bagel, although it's about 10 miles North of me it's worth the ride. Randy has a greeting for every customer and special presence keeping everyone moving and putting out the plates that say " we care about our food prevention and our customers satisfaction". I had a small issue with a soup I special ordered and Randy was eager to make me happy and resolve the issue. We are customers for life. Don't miss a good breakfast or lunch at ONCE UPON A BAGEL, HIGHLAND PARK. THANKS AGAIN RANDY!!!!! JEAN read more

Love love love. The coffee is fantastic and bagels and breakfast - just the kind of back to basics place you can get good food, coffee and read the paper. read more

The bagels are excellent(5 star worthy) but their customer service (particularly the ordering process) leaves much to be desired. After phoning in an order and being told to pick it up in 20 minutes, I had to wait in line an additional 20 minutes to be given my food that was sitting behind the counter the entire time. By that time, the quesadillas had grown soggy. On top of all of that, the requested salad dressing was not included nor were any napkins or silverware. The store was sweltering, chaotic and really needed a manager to take charge and instill some organization. Many other customers were dealing with the same issue and, unfortunately, the place seems to fall apart when it gets busy. Lack of organization and motivation to make the experience better for customers are leading me to forgo coming here except at off hours to pick up bagels to eat at home. read more

I went today with my son for lunch and they now have a changing table in the bathroom!! I was very happy to see that. Thank you!

I'd been recommended this place before, and was eager to try with a couple friends. I had asked what they recommended, and my friends said everything was great. I got the pastrami On rye, going for a safe call. Man, was it not only a safe call, but a great call. Easy, quick service really helped as well. read more

Great breakfast in a New York deli style atmosphere. I don't like fish but the lox platter was great. Love all of the Once Upon restaurants!

The blizzard outside may make you sad today, but Once Upon is offering up a blizzard of love in the guise of my delicious Swiss, corned beef, spinach omelette!! Woo-hoo. The coffee's hot, the retro tunes are cranked up, the lox are dancing in my mouth, and the grill here is sizzling hot! Gotta get your butt in here. Yes, it's Hubbard Woods, but Once Upon is the real deli deal. read more

I'm not embarrassed that we pick up OUAB at least once a week...often twice. Their matzo ball soup is amazing, filled with a hearty portion of chicken and vegetables, and the BF loves the tuna salad. And don't even get me started on the bagels and lox spread - I haven't been back to Panera since. We just tried OUAB for brunch, and their portions are generous, the dishes tasty and the prices, well, cheap. We over-ordered, as we're wont to do, but we left very, very happy. The service is always wonderful, and the guys are always quick to wave and ask me about my day. I love this place! read more

I've never eaten here but I've had bagels and meats to go. Everything is good. I like that they offer skinny bagels and big deli pickles. I look forward to trying their ny style sandwiches and tacos. read more

Went to place in nbrook and was treated very poorly called mgr. in highland park and he apologized and told me to come in to his store where he said he would give me 2 dozen bagels. So being that I have some health issues I didn't come in right away so today I went in and there was no note about this and the gentleman behind the counter yelled there is no note outloud and when u come in u always try to get something for nothing I was so embarrassed how do u talk like that to cliental. This will keep me from coming back which I was a very long term customer to this establishment. Their are many other delis in the town of highland park where I am treated with the utmost respect and I will go there and might spend a little more but the men behind the counter are very respectful to their customers. What I was to spend at this store I spent quite a bit of money at Max's. read more

Ordered an everything bagel, toasted, with cream cheese. How hard is that? Well, the bagel was orange and had only a few sesame seeds on it. I think they just passed it under a heat lamp. "Toasted" it was not. It was flavor-free and dry. I hate to say I prefer Einstein's in downtown Glencoe because that place is filthy, they are often out of things, and the staff is not always pleasant or capable, but at least they can toast a bagel and it has flavor. I can't recommend this place for bagels. read more

Once Upon remains highly popular in the area for a reason. The food is terrific and I think it's actually pretty reasonable considering the quality and portions. There's really nothing like that classic deli sandwich that is piled high with turkey and topped off with lettuce, tomato and onion. It's simple, straightforward and absolutely delicious. It's just that really satisfying hit to the soul. Panera a block away is fine, but it's got nothing on a Once Upon sandwhich - whether turkey, brisket or something else, the sandwiches are ultimately very satisfying and really are that perfect hit right to the soul. You also feel like you're getting a value here - so many places now offer sandwiches with less and less actual meat. Here, you could actually split a sandwich with someone.and probably be and satisfied as you would be with a full sandwich at someplace like Panera. I mean that theoretically, as there's no way I'm sharing a Once Upon sandwich. Again, the food is very good - sandwiches are terrific, the soups are wonderful and there's a lot of other positives (great lox.and bagels.) If anything, Once Upon could stand to trim the menu a LITTLE bit - it's a very large menu and while I've never had anything I've disliked, I tend to wonder if it wouldn't be better served concentrating a little more on its core offerings - maybe that might simplify ordering and possibly bring down waits during busy periods. Not a real issue, though. The Hubbard Woods location is newer and very nice although lacks a little of the charm that the location in Highland Park - which is such a local institution - has. Still, Once Upon is Once Upon and really continues to offer the same great food in a new location. The people in Glencoe would likely have been happier if it was in downtown Glencoe instead of Hubbard Woods, but Glencoe's ridiculous planners likely would have rather added another bank (and they did, with a new Chase in a generic looking building that doesn't fit with the look of the rest of downtown Glencoe) or laundry. Thankfully, Once Upon in Hubbard Woods certainly isn't far. Nothing against Glencoe, which is certainly a very nice place, but other suburbs nearby are trying to diversify their downtowns and add more in the way of conveniences. Glencoe has taken a couple of small steps in the right direction, but scoring something like Once Upon would have been a major win. read more

Good bagels and breakfast food. Service is usually decent. Bad experience this am with male employee working take out counter. Bagels and eggs to go took 30 minutes. I followed up at counter and got attitude from the male employee. He reluctantly checked on my order and told me eggs were dropped and they had to remake. I would have appreciated the half-hearted lie if I hadn't been standing in front of the open kitchen the entire time, or if his attitude was improved. Mistakes happen. Be nice and people let it slide. Act like this person did and people look for alternative restaurants. read more

The food is good. Service fast and friendly. Diner, cafe style. Good breakfasts. Small quibble, can't get only one scrambled egg, must take two...always. Also, no Turkey sausage or bacon. Otherwise, great bagel and sandwich shop. read more

LoVed LoVed LoVed! What's not to luv here!! You can get what your taste buds are craVing here. We went in on $1.50 taco day, so that's what we tried along with selfish nachos. My only disappoint here was they run out out slim bagels early! read more

I really wanted a simple veggie sandwich and went in here hoping to get one, and I did - for only $6! the bagel was very fresh and delicious. Sandwich wasnt anything to write home about, but it sure hit the spot. Just make a simple sandwich of avocado, lettuce, spinach, tomato and cucumber. Hit the spot. They also have a whole menu of mexican food - lots of vegetarian options. I was very intrigued with the selection of homeade paletas as well. They were all labeled if they had milk or not - they had alot of great sounding flavors (rice pudding!) and alot of them were dairy free! I know i will be going back here for sure, while I work in the area. read more

I like this location even better than Once Upon a Grill, Northbrook. I'm pretty sure the menu is bigger here, and there's a nice selection of interesting Mexican options if you're bored with the Jewish deli fare. Lox platter was delicious--highly recommended. They even have a cooler with amazing paletas from what I believe was La Michoacana. I tried the delicious pistachio, and can't wait to try more flavors. read more

Great food great staff. You've gotta try the tacos! The guys there are always friendly, and on Mondays they have a great deal on tacos