Owen's Bagel & Deli Shop Inc

Recommends

OTMommy

Joined 5 years ago

1/5??. I spoke with the owner and manager once about their bagels and they said they recommend that customers call ahead pick-up orders so they can bake them fresh for that person and have them ready. They said they have had trouble getting a good bagel - started with H&H and stopped because distributor could not keep inventory and then used a local guy who went out of business and are now using another local guy. Apparently don't want to make their own because equipment cost and too busy doing catering and other stuff. They said they are working on it and talking with several NY bagel companies again. Sounds like a rough experience, but that he agrees with you. You should say something to him about it. I go there a lot and have always found tall their workers to be responsive if there is a problem.

Otherwise, I think everyone agrees they make the best bagel sandwich in the City.

Doesn't Recommend

CHARDADODDLE

Joined 5 years ago

Horrible Stale bagels. Sunday morning my husband and I picked up a dozen bagels at this shop. They were stale and totally horrible. Maybe we caught them on a bad morning. Maybe we bought "day old", but we surely didn't ask for that. Yes, this place has character, but calling it a bagel shop is a joke. This place should be called Owens Sandwiches.

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DowntownCharlotte

Joined 5 years ago

Unique bagel shop worth the trouble of finding. As I've visited Owen's (as peole usually shorten it to) many times over the past year and a half, I struggled not giving a full 5 stars because of how cool this place is the first couple visits. Overall, its a great Deli that I would highly recommend to all of my friends and relatives for a great steamed bagel sandwich. It's a fun spirited, laid-back, family atmoshpere, that will keep you intrigued during your visit. (trust me, just read the walls)

My few minor reservations are that it seems they haven't quite figured out a system of taking orders and delivering it in a correct, timely matter. Also, the last time I went they wrapped the bagels in a new paper wrap, which stuck to steamed sandwich and ripped the top layer off the bagel(mine and my girlfriends).

On a side note, the owner who I've spoken with a couple times, seems like a GREAT GUY who takes great pride in his business. If this was in a better location, it would be a major hot spot!

Owens is a great place to get away from the hustle-and-busle of your standard breakfast lunch destinations. My personal recommendations are the Snickerdoodle coffee (better than Starbucks) and any of the Turkey selections.

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212emerson

Joined 6 years ago

a diamond in the rough. Finally, a place with some real character in this fine city of ours. Well, there are some unique places but in a city that is overrun with national chains, Owen's Bagel and Deli gives you great food with nice service in an atmosphere that is anything but ordinary.

I know what the other guy meant about taking a little while but I think that is only because they have to "steam" your sandwich. The wait was well worth it and there is plenty to look at while you wait. I love this place.

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owen7463

Joined 7 years ago

Always Aim to Please. Hi. I am Geoff Owen, owner of OBD. I appreciate your comments on our Shop. I do not know when you came in so it is hard to comment, but my wife and I have been frustrated too at how long it can sometimes take to get food out. We have always aimed to get your order withing moments of you walking in and getting the hot sandwich to you in about 3 minutes. We have timed it at 5-6 minutes lately. As we have grown in the Shop and also moved a lot of our energy to catering, we are guilty of neglecting to train new employees as we did when we 1st opened. We are now actively addressing it through better education of employees and incentives for speed and accuracy. However, we will never go to a "system" like Subway's out of fear that it will take away the personal touch that chains are void of. In addition, it just doesn't lend itself well to our unique products. Without a "system", we are especially dependent on our workers and we appreciate your patience as we work through our growing pains.

Make sure to say hi next time you are in. Thanks, Geoff

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cswitals

Joined 10 years ago

Great sandwiches - don't expect quick service. Quaint, funky little space with yummy steamed bagel sandwiches. I have been here a number of times, and would always give the food high marks (with the exception of the time a friend ordered a breakfast sandwich and bit into frozen egg). The service, albeit friendly, is quite slow, sometimes painfully so. I enjoy supporting locally-owned businesses, but is it too hard to adopt a Subway-style assembly-line system? I give it high marks for the good food with kitchy names. (Love the McCrorey - ham, cheese, on a plain bagel).