Noah’s Bagels

The service here was never something to write home about, but now that Noah’s has changed to Einstein’s it has gotten dramatically worse which is surprising considering I see many of the same faces here. Noah’s (I believe) has been under Einstein for a while, so I imagine not much has actually changed except the name. So considering this, I’m left wondering how it could have gotten so bad?
The last few times I’ve been here, at different times of the morning, they’ve been wiped out of all bagels. I can understand it more late morning on a Friday but not so much early morning in the middle of the week. Also on a recent visit, I spent 30 minutes in Einstein’s getting just one bagel. It was mind-​numbing to see how slow the person preparing the bagels was — in which she was left all alone to do — while some guy just paced back and forth behind the counter. Another girl was left to man the ridiculous «order on this polar end, pay over on that polar opposite» machines, going back and forth while the line was growing out the door from both the «order» end and the «pay» end.
As I stood waiting, I wanted to just jump over the counter and help the poor slow poke because I think I’ve seen bagels get «schmeared» and toasted enough to figure out how it works. At least to make my own before I die there in Kirkland Park Place.

Now Einstein Bagels. Executive summary… nothing’s changed. You might like this, but I don’t.
In light of the change and their grand re-​opening, I thought I’d give them another try. I can almost see Noah’s/Einstein bagels from my patio I’m that close though I choose to go to Blazing Bagels in Redmond whenever I get a craving for a bagel. I can’t say I’m particularly in love with Blazing Bagels… they’re just the closest good bagel shop I know of.
Location/​atmosphere
So, hoping for a new experience, I go in. If you’ve been to Noah’s you know how horrible the layout of the store is. If there’s one thing I’d fix this would be it. In a tiny store WHY ON EARTH do you make people order on the left, walk to the far right of the store to make they pay at a different register and then because there’s no other room in the store make everyone huddle in the middle waiting for their order. Unless nobody is there, they’re slow so it’s a constant «Excuse me», «Sorry, I need to get by», «Pardon», etc. if you are one of the few sitting at the few tables they have, you’re constantly having the butts of people waiting for orders squished into your face. Why did they not fix this???
Next, something has changed. I can’t tell what other than the obvious re-​branding of everything, however, the menu is exactly the same even down the cups of sugar covered bagel dots (these are awesome btw… just not something you want to eat all the time) The place seems less cluttered but nothing looks new. the cases and walls are still dirty. It doesn’t look like they re-​pained or re-​tiled (tile grout on the walls behind the counter is still dirty) I tried to figure out what was different exactly as I really felt there was something… I just couldn’t figure it out. Then again I don’t go in the store all that often. I’m usually just passing by while walking the dogs on the way to Starbucks…
Service:
Not bad. There was some confusion with the order because of someone else with a similar name, but that’s understandable. I can only fault them for not figuring this out themselves. It took me looking at the screen to figure out the name Matt was on there twice with a similar order.
I will say, there are fewer tattoos now. I honestly don’t care either way, but some people might not like tattoos and some people might think it adds a character that Seattle has and the eastside is lacking… so I’m just pointing it out. It looks like they replaced a lot of the staff from what I remember.
Food:
Bagels seem to be the same. They were out of a lot of stuff, but with the re-​opening they were pretty busy so I understand, however, they don’t have much variety anyway and that’s always been a big disappointment for me. They have the standard bagels like poppy seed and «everything» bagels. We were looking for breakfast sandwiches so these fit the bill (they were out of «everything bagels» so we went with a super onion instead). By the time of ordering, I’d already seen the menu hadn’t changed, so I resigned myself to getting their usual bacon and cheddar with microwaved eggs. My wife just had tomato and cheddar cheese on hers. She liked her bagel but mine was as bland as I remember.

I am a Noah’s fan and have always loved this location. The staff is nice, it’s always quick, even when there is a line. Noah’s bagels are always fresh… The sourdough is my favorite.
One complaint is the coffee… I’ve never been a fan of their blends. This location has lots of parking (although sometimes the lot is a bit busy).
I’ve been going to this location for years and have never had a bad experience. Great quick breakfast or lunch.

Okay. That was officially the last time I will ever come in here. At this point the food and the service and the speed (or lack of!) was so shoddy that fast food even seems the better option (and there should NEVER be a worse option than fast food).
1. I noticed this time the work counters and the bagel display counter are never very clean. The same stains have been there since the last time my craving for Noah’s bagels overwhelmed my good sense.
2. My bagel was improperly wrapped. There’s supposed to be another layer of paper (the white wrap or foil) to keep the schmear from leaking through the outer brown bag. This is minor, but makes me wonder what other procedures they skimp on.
3. Someone whom I can only assume was the owner pulled up and parked in the Fire Lane right outside the place, marched in, hopped behind the counter and started bagging her own order and things in the manner of, well, someone who owned the place. My concern is that if you are the owner, don’t you care for the welfare of your business? Maybe that explains why your car that you so incredibly rudely parked in the fire lane is so old and rather clunky-​looking. There were several people in line all over the place, no napkins, and empty bins in the self-​serve area, and you just breezed in and out without looking twice at anyone. Way to run a business.
4. There was one woman left to operate the registers. She kept telling us (all the people in line) that she was training and couldn’t ring us up. Fair enough, but why were you put here at the registers?
5. I ordered a coffee. I repeated my order and corrected the woman when she got it wrong. When I went to pay for my order, not only did I have to wait a long time (since no one could ring me up), but I saw it still input incorrectly in the little register screen. and no one had made any moves whatsoever to MAKE the coffee.
On all the various ways one can measure a business: product, service, etc. this place utterly FAILS.

OMG! I was SOOOO happy to discover a Noah’s in Kirkland the other day! I’ve missed those chocolate chip bagels SO MUCH! I was lucky enough to find them in Costco ONE TIME, but they’ve only had the imposter cinnamon-​raisin bagels every time I’ve been there since. I absolutely love the chocolate chip bagels from Noah’s!
There are lots of different flavors for the bagels (as expected) as well as the option to heat/​toast the bagels on the spot too.
I’ll be back!

In just two weeks in Kirkland, I’ve been to Noah’s bagels more times that I can even count. Sadly, I haven’t been too adventurous. Why? Because I fell madly in love with their vegetable cream cheese and can’t quite tear myself away long enough to try anything else. I have had it on a few different bagels though, so far the potato peppercorn has been the most interesting and delicious. They also make a nice latte. And my dog loves their peanut butter dog bagels!

Yes, I agree with Unilocaler, George C. Noah’s is overrated.
I heard great things about this place & I mean, how bad can a bagel be?
The bagel was hard & not very tasty. It wasn’t fresh. I will say that they DO have a huge selection of bagels though. Many to choose from but I haven’t been back since so I can’t really speak for most of them.

Noah’s is a little overrated.
My co worker was talking this place up and when I finally tried one of the bagels, it was ok. She was telling me that they were just like NY bagels which I found hard to believe.
The spreads were good and that’s the only reason why I’m giving this place 3 stars. The bagels alone are a 2 star rating.
Give them a try but make sure slap on a lot of cream cheese.

Can you say chocolate chip bagels? Ooooh, yeah!
While all of the locations used to be kosher (since it is a Jewish company), I think all except one are now non-​kosher. Meats and cheeses mingle freely.
Their bagels are amazing, and when they’re fresh and hot, they are yummy yeasty bagel perfection. Seriously, though, get the chocolate chip bagels. They will blow your mind.

Peppercorn bagels, that’s all you need to know.
Plus if you want the deeply-​missed discontinued jalapeño shmear they’ll put a bunch in a soup cup if you ask for it and charge you for a normal shmear.
Outdoor seating is nice, but dont be a dum dum like me and sit right next to the garbage can.

I walked in here at 730AM, half asleep, needing bagels. Actually I needed a lot of bagels and a lot of goodies to try to impress the office with since it was my day to bring breakfast treats.
Not knowing what to order and probably looking confused, the girl behind the counter immediately realized I was going to need some guidance. She presented a few variations for 15 – 20 people until I found the perfect combination: a bunch of bagels, muffins, some strudels, coffee cakes, schmears and I was set.
She asked me what kind of bagels I wanted, and with my blank stare she said, «You know what don’t worry — I’ll make sure you get a great variety.» She was just so nice!
I ran to work, showed up with my goody box and the emails started flowing with how delicious and fresh everything was. Thanks to this helpful bagel girl, I think I might have impressed the office even… maybe just a little.
I’ve been to this Noah’s several times for bagels (for myself) and have always had a stellar experience both with bagel quality as well with service, but I will absolutely remember to use Noah’s again for occasions like office treats where I don’t need to do any thinking at all, and where I’m so well taken care of with their amazing service.
Thanks Noah Bagel Girl — you were a fantastic help!

I HATE not having a nearby bagel shop so when I found myself in Kirkland on a Monday morning, I had to make a stop.
Love, Love LOVE egg bagels! I agree with previous posts that the ordering system is odd, but since it wasn’t busy it didn’t really matter to me.

I agree wtih John T completely as I also have a love /​hate relationship with this store.
I’ve visited Noah’s 90% of the Saturday’s over the last 3 years with my daughter and my best friend and her two boys. The quality of the bagels is top notch and they are always very consistent. I like that we can have the kids in the store or outside and we don’t have to worry about them making an occassional mess or being a bit loud.
What I absolutely hate is their process for ordering, paying, and getting your bagels. It’s always been a bit of a zoo in there, but they recently took it from a 6 to a 2 on a scale of 1 – 10 by making some «improvements» that have only made the issue worse. There are now a minimum of 3 people involved in your order (yes, even for just two bagels with cream cheese). One person takes your order and puts it in a computer on the left side of the store. You are then directed to a different machine on the far right side of the store where you pay with someone else. Yet a third person makes your order. The store isn’t set up to have 2 lines snaking through it either so it makes getting around the store and finding seating around everyone standing in line an adventure.
They also moved the location of the garbage cans and napkins. Now, the napkins are in only one location on the very far left of the store near the bathroom. The only garbage can I could find was on the very right right of the store near checkout. Now, that I’ve sat down with my daughter and our bagels and I need a napkin, I get to weave through the «order» line to get some napkins and when we’re done I get to weave through the «pay» line to throw away our trash. At the very least, please put the napkins it several locations and put the garbage can by the front door back! It’s natural the throw out your trash on the way out the door.
I hope they have a manager visit the store as a true customer sometime soon and make the necessary improvements.

You can’t imagine my excitement when I found Noah’s! Living in various cities, there has always been a Noah’s or an Einsteins (they are owned by the same company) to get my bagel fix on…
You can’t really go wrong with a bagel… but I suggest an Everything bagel with onion and chive schmear. YUMMERS. And try a cup of their Chelsea brew.

Sometimes I just need a toasted asiago bagel with a tasty schmeer. Yum yum.

Noah’s bagels are consistently yummy. My daughter and I go there a few times a month, and the food is always good. The bagels are chewy and soft on the inside, and I love the variety of flavors available. Noah’s changes flavors based on seasons, so it’s good to go in often to see what new thing they have. Our recent favorite was the pumpkin pie cream cheese flavor.
The service is friendly and fast. The staff is willing to make substitutions, and don’t mind if you ask for a sample or ask a few questions before ordering. It is usually very packed on the weekends, so you might have to take your order to go.
One more thing… I’m totally addicted to Starbucks coffee, but Noah’s coffee is amazingly good for a place that does not «specialize» in coffee. They recently had a seasonal drip that was to die for. Noah’s bagels is a good idea anytime of the day!

(9÷24÷12 Note: Noah’s Bagels is now Einstein Bros Bagels. Same company, different name.)
Visited the Kirkland location of Noah’s over the weekend for some bagels. I have never been to New York, so I am no bagel connoisseur. In fact, I usually pick up Safeway bagels instead because they are soft and chewy. I think that is the sign of a good bagel.
The Noah’s in Kirkland is a good place for a casual morning breakfast. In addition to seating inside the store, there are a couple of tables outside which are good for summer dining. I picked up a couple bagels here. I picked the gourmet pesto bagel ($ 1.79) and a sundried tomato bagel ($.99).
The gourmet bagels are very savory. They have cheeses and other toppings on it which makes it a considerable light snack. The sundried tomato is a standard bagel, but I was pleased with the slightly spicy flavor of this variety. While Safeway is my usual go to for bagels, I come to Noah’s for a larger selection.
In addition to bagels, they sell all sorts of sandwiches here including breakfast and deli varieties. There are also a selection of schmears you can pick up. I would give Noah’s four stars, if only the service was a little bit better. It always seems like I get the stink eye when I visit a Noah’s location because I just want bagels and nothing else. It is a bagelry isn’t it?
That said, Noah’s makes some decent bagels. If I had a desire for a bagel in a dine in establishment, Noah’s would be where I would go.

I am a huge fan of bagels and I think the northwest has a tragic shortage of good options… but Noah’s is definitely the best in my neighborhood! I have never had a bagel here that I didn’t love. It’s a great Saturday morning breakfast spot after a run along the Kirkland waterfront.
The bagels alone deserve 5, 6, 7, who knows how many stars. What deserves maybe less than one star is the service, if you can call it that. It’s gone progressively downhill lately, and now we have to flag someone down to take our order. Sad, because there is usually a girl standing behind the counter under the «order here» sign with a pen and order pad in hand, staring off into space. She tends to look surprised when we start ordering from her. I’m sorry, am I speaking to the wrong person? Order here sign, order pad, pen…
They also forget my fiancé’s orange juice. Consistently.
But I’ll deal with them, as long as I have a cozy bagel breakfast spot this close to home with the best bagels in the area!

I agree, this location is like barely a 3… I think the UVillage location is a tad– cleaner, nicer and has better service.
I do love their bagels but I’d rather have a sandwich from Specialty’s.

Back during my college days in good ol’ West Lafayette, Indiana, we had this gourmet (hey, Indiana standards for gourmet, ok?) bagel place on campus called Einstein’s, and I adored their grilled cheese sandwich. A friend introduced me to Noah’s, owned by the same company (though the sandwich unfortunately is long gone), and I was happy to see one so close to where I live.
As the original reviewer states, it gets crowded on the weekends, but I avoid this by buying by the dozen or half-​dozen during the week. They’ll even toast one for you right there and you can use the cream cheese you buy. Right now, I’m enjoying the seasonable pumpkin bagel with a pumpkin cheesecake schmear. The sandwiches also look good, but the only one I’ve tried was the whitefish, which was good and not the sort of thing you can find just anywhere.
EDIT: Friday mornings are «Baby’s Day at the Movies» at the Parkplace cinema. You have been warned. :)