Author Spotlight
Anna Marken
With walls covered in art and the smell of fresh bagels and pastries wafting from the kitchens, the atmosphere in Einstein Brothers is very warm and appealing. It is similar to a small, downtown bistro, full of modern art and furniture. The small restaurant is very cozy, which, if the crowd is light, is a good thing.
A large crowd, however, makes for a loud dining experience, and difficulty finding a place to sit in the limited space. The service is quick and the workers are always friendly. A recent visit to the restaurant during the breakfast rush left me waiting in a line almost out the door and without a place to sit.
By the time I got to the front of the line, my bagel of choice was sold out. My first bagel was Plain with Plain cream cheese. The thick, fluffy bagel was served with plenty of cream cheese. It was very soft and easy to eat.
For lunch, I ate the Turkey Bacon Thin, one of Einstein Brothers’ specialty bagels. The sandwich is served on a thin bagel, either plain or whole wheat. The bacon and lettuce were both very fresh and crispy.
Einstein Brothers is my go-to place when I need a quick meal. With quick service, friendly workers and excellent food, it is the perfect restaurant for any time of day.
The inside of Brueggers was very welcoming, with large windows and a view of the bakery in the back. Despite arriving in the middle of the lunch hour, there was no line and hardly anyone in the restaurant. The decor was that of a small French bakery, with warm colors and art and a diverse menu. The menu was full of unique bagel flavors such as Salt, Egg, Cranberry Orange and Rosemary Olive Oil. The list of cream cheese options was equally unusual: Garden Veggie, Bacon Scallion and Jalapeno were some of the choices.
I opted for Cinnamon Sugar with plain cream cheese. The thick pastry came with a decent amount of cream cheese and was served to me warm, fresh out of the oven. The warmth melted the cinnamon-sugar seasoning and spread the flavor throughout the bagel.
My other meal was the BLT. I was given the choice of having it made on bread or a bagel. The sandwich can be made on any flavor of bagel, but I chose plain. The bacon was a bit spicy, but balanced out by the light, cool lettuce and tomatoes.
Bruegger’s greatest downside was its distance. It took me 30 minutes to get there, and by the time I got there I was more relieved to be done driving than to be able to eat. However, he location was for the most part balanced out by the quality of the food.
Upon entering the Classic Cup, I felt as though I was in a fancy restaurant. The European style cafe is ideal for a nice breakfast or brunch. The sophisticated environment, complete with a bar, attracts an older crowd than the other restaurants. As a sit down, somewhat classy restaurant, the Classic requires a more dressed up attire. Not black tie, but not jeans and t-shirt.
The menu was full of fancy entrees such as fritattas and eggs benedict. I chose the Lox (salmon) and Bagel Platter, a bagel with salmon and several vegetables on the side. The salmon seemed to be a day or two old, but paired with the plain bagel and cream cheese, it offered a very different taste from any bagel I have ever eaten. The cream cheese took on the flavors of the salmon, adding a unique zest to the meal.
Even my plain bagel with plain cream cheese was full of flavor. It was lightly toasted and the cream cheese was thick and creamy. The bagel itself was not as large as the others, but it was so rich that it did not matter. The Classic Cup had by far the best plain bagel out of any of the restaurants.
With its balance between a casual restaurant and a swanky bistro, the Classic Cup is the ideal place for a meal with family or friends. It offers unique dishes at a fair price and a fun, interesting environment.
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