Once Upon A Bagel Lake Forest

Updated Review: I’ve lowered my rating for this business. The cake donuts were once fresh and delicious, but now they’re often thawed, which really diminishes the quality. While the bagel selection is decent, they tend to have more of a bready consistency rather than the lighter, chewy texture with a crisp exterior that true bagels should have.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 5

Great food great service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Awesome staff - love the bagels and cream cheese selection! The soups are also very good! I still need to try more of the menu. I really like the pastries to! Free cookie days rock!! Thanks all

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Simply the best! Was so excited when they opened this location. Best bagels and tuna salad EVER. We recently placed a big order for a party and they were really great to work with on the details, and the pickup went off without a hitch!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I eat at the highland park location 2-3 times a week. Tried the LF one and didn’t taste even remotely the same. Tisk tisk

Food: 2

Very tasty! I ordered the breakfast bagel sandwich and WOW, so good. I also ordered a few bagels to take away: plain, chocolate chip, cinnamon sugar, and pretzel w salt.

The girl who helped me was very sweet and recommended the house-made vegetable cream cheese. Mmmm. So good! Much better than a grocery store or chain bakery.

Unfortunately, I agree with another reviewer who said that some employees are unfriendly and don’t seem happy to be there. I witnessed an employee waiting on an elderly gentleman who needed more patient assistance. Ironically, the employee helping him was wearing a shirt that said “Be a Nice Human” 😕 In my experience, a genuine smile can go a long way. In customer-facing positions, it’s essential to be kind, patient and caring of those who are patronizing the business and possibly leaving a tip.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

I orderd delivery it took sometime to get here and I ordered a Ruben burger with CAJUN CURLY FRIES.....you tell me if that looks like Cajun curly fries + it was oily. The burger was decent not worth $16 tho

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 4

Great bagels, very much an east coast style bagel shop except it opens at 8...after school starts, after my husband takes the train, after breakfast. It's only a weekend option for us.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 3

I visited the store at 5:30 p.m. All the bagels were already in big black bags, which were stacked on the counter. There were only a couple of cheeses left to spread on the bagels. I bought four bagels and tried them at home. The taste was ordinary, without any special flavor. You can’t smell and taste fresh bagels. For me, bagels from Jewel Osko are much tastier>
Alex

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 3

Best bagels in the burbs and though smaller this location is no different.

Great location, friendly service, huge menu, and decent prices. Knocked a star off because the bagels just don’t do it for me. They are too soft - no crispy crust, almost like a grocery store bagel. And they don’t toast well (they burn easily and dry out) either. Upper Crust has better bagels, which is unfortunate because OUAB is much more convenient for me.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

If I could eat every meal here, I would—visiting is truly the highlight of my week. SO excited for this new location—so much goodness squeezed into a cute little shop. the team is fabulous, keeping their smile even with lines out the door on crazy hot days. you can’t go wrong with their soups, lox sandwiches & their fresh bagels.. once upon a bagel is the only place in IL this NY-er can get her bagel fix 🤤🤍

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5