Meeting the Einsteins

Everything tastes better when it's free.

There is nothing like waking up on a beautiful Saturday morning and going to get free breakfast. Our genius friends discovered this week that a new Einstein Bros. Bagels was opening today and their grand opening deal was - buy a large drink get a free breakfast sandwich.

We had to go. I have been very intrigued with the "breakfast" craze lately. It seems that every "fast food/casual" restaurant out there has some sort of baked breakfast sandwich. We arrive at Einstein's to meet our friends and first notice that they have definitely upgraded their interior. Food shots are displayed along the back near the menu and they have vertical food shots along the line. However the "line" and system of ordering are horribly designed. The line begins the moment you enter the door and ordering takes place in an awkward far right corner.

We got there before the big rush though and I was able to get to the front quickly. An assistant manager took my order with a hand held POS system...much to my dismay my wife wanted a bagel instead of a sandwich - bagels weren't free only breakfast sandwiches were. I still ordered two large drinks and a sausage egg and cheese bagel for myself.

Upon reaching the register the employee tells me as I'm paying that I still could have gotten another breakfast sandwich because I ordered two large drinks. Much to my horror she explains that I would have to get back in line and re-order to make it work. I decide to pass.

I get my egg, sausage and cheese on a bagel and it tastes pretty good. It doesn't taste like "fast food" and has a sense of freshness about it. It's highly possible it only tasted so good because it was free, I'm sure I would go back and pay $4.69 for it.

As we all continue to eat and talk we begin discussing the fact that I didn't get my second free sandwich (like I needed it). I asked two employees if we could make it happen that I saw walking around and while they agreed they could help me they made it sound to "difficult" and I lost interest. Our friends were much more determined. Jeremy the guy I was with decided to "handle it" and found the regional manager Jim who quickly decided that we needed our extra free sandwich. The result? An amazing egg, smoked bacon, spinach, Swiss & mozzarella cheese with spicy roasted tomato spread for free.

How much would it have cost if we would have paid on our own? - $5.19 Worth it? Yes. It was a good sized portion and the taste was exceptional.

Einsteins has always been a good restaurant, however I just don't dine their often. The bagels are great and the coffee is outstanding however, I believe the breakfast sandwiches may be a little overpriced as they come with no side or drink.

The best part of the day? Meeting the Einstein Brothers themselves - see our encounter in the video below...

All of the "new" breakfast offerings has caused a dilemma....which one is the best? The Breakfast Bake Off begins April 28th.