I was warned that this place wasn't great but decided to try it myself. After walking up to the counter I was waited on shortly which was nice- but the woman behind the counter was very rude. The had no patience for the customers she was taking orders from. Then she tried to charge a man $3.12 for approximately 2 Tablespoons of cream cheese- I'm sorry but that's absurd. I got a sesame bagel with lox spread. The bagel was toasted to death. The bottom was so dense that I could taste that it was burnt. The lox spread tasted like pink speckled cream cheese and the amount they put on my bagel probably equalled the amount in the small container the woman said was $3.12. The bagel cost me $3.98- stop over pricing your subpar product! Only plus- I didn't smell like a bagel place when I walked out of there. read more

I hate this place. The prices are ridiculous, and there's an older white lady who always manages to nickel and dime me, on top of it. She charged me $2 to add hummus to my ($6) bagel sandwich. I guess they've figured out that people will keep pouring in no matter what they charge. read more

After reading the Yelp reviews extensively, I thought I had a game plan for tackling Sam's. I went later one Saturday morning, to avoid the morning rush, had my cash in hand, and restricted myself to just a regular everything toasted bagel and cream cheese. I decided I could live with bland or overcooked egg sandwiches if at least the bagels were worth it. They weren't. I'd put them a notch above Dunkin' Donuts, but way below most bagel places. These are not New York style water bagels. Even most bagel places outside of New York sell bagels that are first boiled and then baked. It's how you get the chewy, delicious middle with the crisp outside. The "everything" bagel was 75% sesame seed, with some garlic on top and only half the bagel came out toasted. It's probably worth noting, that upon re-reading some reviews, there appears to be something called "double toasted" which I would highly recommend if you want anything more than just a warm bagel. Other than the quality of the bagels (problematic for a bagel place), I see no issues with the rest of the shop. It's a bagel joint. You walk in, grab your food and walk out. Everyone was friendly, even the lady at the front counter who I expected to be Roz from Monsters, Inc. from reading all the reviews. It's small, but functional. The menu was much larger than I was expecting and can be read from the line, which I appreciate. Will I be back? Probably. I'm a glutton for bagel disappointment. Will I like it? Doubtful, but I'll update my review if my experience changes. read more

Great selection of bagels. Loved the very unique old bay bagel. Also enjoyed the sunflower bagel. Fresh and lasted for a few days since we got a half dozen. Coffee was not the best I ever had but very pleased with the bagels and fast friendly service read more

I decided to go back and re-review after reading all of the negative comments just to see what all the drama was about. I walked in wearing my best NYC CBGB T-shirt (Just to set the snobby New Yawker tone and to let them know who's ready to throw down.). See photo. It was Saturday morning at 8am and there were about 10 people there sitting at tables both inside and out (but no crazy hungover 20-something crowd). A woman quickly flew past me and cut in front of me even though there was no one else in line. I thought, "How NYC! Kudos to you, aggressive middle-aged lady!" I figured she must have been a neurosurgeon who was late for an operation so I didn't make a fuss. I mean, if I can get a good bagel AND help save a life all before 8am, how cool is that? The owner walk past and gave me a humble smile and muttered what must have been the equivalent of 'Good Morning' in a language I didn't understand. The indecisive line-budger ahead of me sang a happy "Good Morning, Joe!" to the cook behind the counter and Joe turned around and smiled back. There was no Bagel-Nazi barking orders and belittling patrons, which was a little disappointing (which is why I only gave them 4 stars). Pretty good selection of bagels (and they had plenty of them). They were of normal, average-sized bagel-shop-bagel girth (e.g. larger than normal). All-in-all it was drama-free bagel-buying experience. Oh, and they don't taste too bad...a slightly above average ("average" being store-bought and national-brand coffee stops). 6 large bagels for $6, not too shabby. My advice to people who don't like microwaved food yet saw the large bank of giant microwaves lined up above the counter and then ordered microwaved food anyway: Next time, don't. Order a bagel witha schmear. Though actually closer to a "3.5", my previous 4-Star rating stands. They get the half-point just for being a locally-owned mom-and-pop shop trying to make an honest buck. read more

Sam's Bagels - I walked in wearing my best NYC CBGB T-shirt (Just to set the snobby New Yawker tone.). - Bagels Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I got the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese on a plain bagel and it was delicious. Excellent service and staff is very welcoming and polite. Will definitely be returning to try something else.. read more

Meeeeeeeeh...Sam's Bagels is where Fed Hillians go to recover from their hangovers on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The little shop is located right near the Cross Street Market epicenter and it boasts a full menu of bagel related breakfast treats. While Sam's does have a big following here in Baltimore (on Sat and Sun expect to wait a bit), overall their bagels are pretty sub par. If you've had a really good New York style bagel in NYC or elsewhere, don't go to Sam's expecting a similarly delicious bagel. While they do make a full array of flavors, overall the dough of the bagel just doesn't compare to the thick skin/soft inside of a NYC style bagel. On top of that, the egg they use in their breakfast sandwiches is microwaved, not cooked right there in front of you on a griddle. Yuck! The cream-cheeses are pretty good and so is the coffee, but Sam's overall is worth passing on. read more

A nice place to go in the morning if you live in Fed Hill or Pigtown. Coffee is okay but every time Ive been there it has been a bit watery. Bagels are nice and they have an assortment of different sandwiches you can make with them. I usually go with the lox sandwich when i got there. Its a bit on the pricey side. A coffee and lox sandwich will run you over 10 bucks but if you got the money it is worth it. A healthy amount of smoked salmon is crammed between a bagel of your choice with onions, capers, and cream cheese. Its not my favorite coffee shop but if your in the neighborhood its worth a trip to try out. read more

I have no idea what all these negative reviews are about. I love Sam's! Is the woman at the front snarky? Absolutely. Will she yell at you if you don't have cash if your order is under $6? Definitely. But I sort of like that. This is not a frilly place where you stay and linger. You walk up to the counter, give them your order, and wait for someone to yell out your order. There are seats, but no one really sits. Everyone grabs their bagels to go. To be fair, I've only had the bagels with cream cheese, which I find to be perfectly toasted and delicious. I've read some complaints about the breakfast sandwiches, which could be legitimate. If you are looking for a sit down place, with warm and friendly service, this isn't it. But for decent bagels, they'll hook you up. read more

Good bagels, great location, quick service. I ordered 3 bagels - toasted with 3 different cream cheeses. 1.) Pumpernickel + Walnut Raisin = great taste, not enough nuts 2.) Pumpernickel + Very Veggie = great taste, not enough veggies for being "very veggie" 3.) Everything + Lox Spread = hmmm... it was good, not enough lox (like a previous yelper mentioned 'it's like cream cheese with pink speckles') Overall, the cream cheese flavors could use more stuffing...lots more, but the bagels are good. I also loved the quick service, I saw how hard the team was working during the rush...I admire that. I surely will come back again. read more

Sam's Bagels - Some bagels - Bagels Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Definitely the worst breakfast sandwich I've ever purchased in Baltimore. We opted to have bacon, egg and cheese on wheat toast since the bagels that were available did not look very appealing. The sandwich was entirely microwaved and contained so of lowest quality bacon I've ever had. There are several better options in the neighborhood so I urge you to avoid Sam's. read more

Cutest shop ever! Sam's is a local bagel shop aka not only is the food quality good, so is supporting a local business. They have a "make your own" ice coffee bar with different varieties of syrup, sugar, milks, and creamers giving you every option you need for your coffee fix. The bagels are phenomenal and made in house. If your looking for more of a lunch option, their chicken salad is on point! I can't say enough, this place is great!! Highly recommend!! read more

There's no other place to get bagels/breakfast sandwiches in federal hill area except here. There was a long line on a sunday morning since there was a football game. Got the bacon egg and cheese and they don't use real eggs. Turned off by it already whe i saw the eggs. The bacon seemed dried and old. The blueberry bagel was average. Wouldn't get bacon egg and cheese ever here again. Might just make my own. Guess it's true when people say ny and nj have the best bagels and breakfast sandwiches. read more

I thought Sam's was totally fine. I had a sausage, egg, and cheese on a jalapeno cheddar bagel and it was good, and my friend had the lox (with sprouts, onion, tomato, and cream cheese I think) and it looked fantastic. Granted we made it here later in the morning on a Friday so we followed the morning rush, but I have no complaints. Also worth noting, as a response to other reviews about subpar service, that while we were sitting the cashier lady offered to let a woman come back and pay later and offered my friend a free bottle of water when neither of them had enough cash. Sounds like a nice place to me. read more

Only giving this 2 stars because the food was edible. I got a turkey bacon egg and cheese on a cheese bagel. How can you make an egg sandwhich bland? Didn't even ask how I wanted my eggs, she told me it was a fried egg after making the sandwhich, it was clearly a scrambled and tasteless. Only got the food down by drowning my bagel in Franks Red hot sauce. Thank you Franks Red hot sauce for masking the taste of burnt cheese. There's Baltimore's best restaurant covers inside. If this is truely the best Baltimore can offer then I feel bad for the people that live here. I would suggest dinner the next city over. read more

Federal Hill desperately needs another bagel place. The quality of the food is just poor. The egg on breakfast sandwiches is microwaved right in front of you. Considering breakfast sandwiches are almost universally cheap, the prices are too high, especially when you can get the same thing at a better place for less. I unfortunately have been here several times because it was the only place for a quick breakfast sandwich within walking distance of my old house. Every time, I would leave jealous of people in Canton and other neighborhoods who have much better options to choose from. The only thing keeping this from 1 star is that they actually do have a pretty good selection of bagels. read more

Nice place for a quick breakfast or sandwich. Nothing really special about the bagels, but they are good. Customer service seems rushed/borderline rude and they don't allow you to use a credit card under 7 dollars-Which is so dated. I also heard them yelling in the back when I was eating my bagel. But I'd still come here for a bagel since there is no other bagel place nearby read more

Sam's Bagels - Everything bagel and a small coffee - Bagels Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Sam's has really good bagel flavors. My favorite are the jalapeño cheddar and the old bay. Very nice staff!

5 stars for what it is for me. I buy the sandwich wraps. Quick and decent. There are other places for gourmet breakfasts. Good coffee and great service. read more

Stumbled on Sam's for bagel & coffee & ABBA was playing & it got me off to a great day. Sweet, friendly staff. Love the poems/encouragements/prayer collages written in English & Korean in framed in white. Nice. read more

My experience here was brief. We were early for the Federal Hill Beats Festival and I've never really had the chance to walk around the neighborhood. I was on the hunt for coffee, small child and stroller in tow, when I saw Sam's. While incredibly quick, the customer service was so-so. They apparently weren't up for a chat that morning. The bagels are good and there is a decent selection. I probably wouldn't come back to Fed Hill specifically for a trip to Sam's. However, it was nice to have another option outside of the overrated Panera Bread. read more

I have a love-hate relationship with Sam's Bagels. As a Federal Hill resident it is the only coffee/bagel place that I can pop in and get something on the go. I do love their coffee and creamer bar, but I don't care for the bagels and I am a bagel fiend. They are too doughy and the breakfast sandwiches I've had in the past have not been good. I also don't like their policy of no credit cards without a $5 purchase. I understand the charge that they have to deal with but I wish it was a suggestion or a courteous ask, not a rule. I have been turned away for stopping in after a run and all I had was my card. I only go to Sam's when I desperately need fuel, other than that I'll pass. read more

Stopped in here after some exploring of the area. It was full of folks as it was a Saturday morning. I got a breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel. It was good but not great. Solid place to get something quick to eat. read more

I was kind of unsure about trying this place because the reviews were very mixed and some very just terrible. I went there for breakfast this morning to check it out. The place is small but does offer enough seating. We ( 2 people) ordered a large coffee, large iced latte (more like a frappe), an everything bagel with egg, cheese and tomate, an everything bagel with bacon, egg and cheese and one bagel with cream cheese. The total was $20 and change. It was not nearly as expensive as I thought. I enjoyed the coffee- Chesapeake Bay Brew. The everything bagels were okay ( I have had better) but not awful. The eggs are definitely why this place is getting a low review. They are not made fresh and you can really tell the difference. I can't say I would never go back to Sam's but I wouldn't go out of my way either. read more

Delicious bagels with lots of flavor options. Some rotate with the seasons. My daughter and I love their pumpkin bagels, which they started selling at the beginning of October. They are very family friendly, and I love that they open early in the mornings with upbeat music, so it's a great 7am destination on the weekends when my toddler wakes up ready to go. They have some other healthy food options and great toddler food options in particular (single string cheese, small and large cups of fresh fruit, milk, etc. read more

I get my usual sausage egg and cheese on everything and my large iced coffee. Love this place. Been coming for years!!!! Inexpensive and good food. Fresh bagels made daily too. read more

These bagels are PHENOMENAL!!!! Perfectly soft inside, perfect exterior. amazing breakfast sandwiches!! Try their banana nut bagel- it is the BOMB. read more

I got a tuna sandwich on a whole wheat everything bagel and it was pretty good! Nothing I can complain about with the sandwich, however I was sad to see them throwing out dozens of bagels when they closed at 2pm. I wish they could manage/estimate the number of bagels they'd need to make a little bit better or donate the bagels. Or even participate in the local food exchange with other restaurants in the surrounding blocks! Please consider this! read more

Uh-mayzing. Seriously. The homemade bagels are delicious. They have so many options and all are delicious. Perfect breakfast stop. We love to get breakfast there and then picnic on top of Fed Hill. Service is great and quick, they're almost always busy, but that's a testament of how good they are. Parking is limited but easy to get to on foot read more

Good bagels. Good people. Good day. Large selection of bagels and let me tell you they are delicious!

Whoa! We were not expecting much due to the ratings but this place was fantastic. We got a jalapeño cheddar bagel with bacon egg and cheese as well as some cinnamon raisin and everything bagels. They were outstanding. Fresh, crispy and not stale or days old like you get some places. The service was quick and kind and we were in and out in 5 minutes! DELICIOUS! We will absolutely stop here again next time we're in town! read more

These bagels are the real deal. Perfectly toasted for a crisp outside and a slightly chewy inside. Plain and everything bagels are the litmus test and they passed with flying colors. I really appreciate that they also have a delicious whole wheat everything bagel. Service was fast. FYI $5 minimum for credit cards, so be prepared to grab a cookie (the chocolate chip cookies were surprisingly fantastic too) or other item to use a card. To the owners: I would gladly pay an extra $0.20 - $0.30 fee to use a credit card for less than $5. read more

This place is a rip off! Honestly, there are too many other options in Federal Hill. Don't waste your time here. I've given this place 3 chances and every time they messed my order up. I'm charged almost 10 dollars for a whole wheat egg wrap and a coffee, and they can't even put the ingredients in it that I actually paid for! Also, they microwave everything!! read more

Doughy bagel, very lightly toasted, MICROWAVED into submission, and slathered with three times too much cream cheese in the hopes that one wouldn't notice the overall tastelessness. And nothing but Tropicana in the orange juice department. Meh! read more

If you are looking for a fast place to have breakfast without much hassle, Sam's Bagel is the place to go to. They have more than a dozen selections of bagels, but I specifically enjoyed their Jalepeno's bagel with sausage egg and cheese. The drawbacks on Sam's Bagel are I think they microwave all their breakfast sandwiches (Kind of how Dunkin Donuts do it). The bagel sandwiches seem overpriced (approximately $5 for the Sausage Egg and Cheese bagel). I didn't get their coffee, but I felt they were overpriced as well ($2 for a 16 ouncer). Other than that, it's a very cozy place to hang out in. Something about that place makes me feels at home. read more

Bagels are great here, and coffee is good too! Quick, cheap, tasty... Some great bagel choices and good breakfast sandwiches. Grab one, some coffee, and walk up to nearby Fed Hill for a Baltimore breakfast done right! read more

This is one of the best places to get a bagel....for take out! The staff is friendly and the food is good, but the dine-in is really small and uncomfortable. It really becomes a waiting area for your food than a place to eat, even more so on the weekend. I have to say the "Key Lox Bagel" is by far one of the best in the city! Fresh Lox with capers cream cheese sprouts and fresh cucumber..mmmmmm! it's a meal and a half! read more

If you want a great bagel closer to what you'd find in NYC I would take the time and go to THB in Canton. I ate at Sam's 3 times and finally realized by the third time it's not worth it! I'd rather get a bagel from the grocery store before going back. The bagels taste and texture is decent at best, and I honestly question if they use real cream cheese. It has an almost gritty texture to me. Wanted to like it since I live in the area but it's not worth eating bad food! read more

I haven't had a Turkey sandwich on sourdough bread so good it actually made me want to write a review on it. Just amazing. Perfect thing I needed to aid my handover and start my day. Will be going back again soon. Yes it has bagels and all that other crap, but take it from your ole pal Rob...bangin turkey sammy read more

1. I purchased OJ only to realize that it expired 2 weeks ago, after I got home 2. This was my second trip there, and both times my order was taken, I paid, and then I waited while the ladies talked behind the counter instead of making my bagel. 10 minute wait both times. 3. Also, it smells terrible in there. Not sure what they're cooking in there, though it definitely isn't bagels... read more