Bagel Palace Deli & Bakery

I have been to almost every single deli in Los Angeles and Bagel Palace Deli rates right up there. The rye bread is exceptional. The sweets are fantastic, as good as Junior's in L.A. and much cheaper. The cream cheese selection is immense. Having moved to Atlanta three years ago, it's fantastic that when I have a craving as I do now for real deli food, this place is there for me. I have no idea how this place got so many bad reviews. Goldberg's is also excellent.

Pros: Best deli food in Atlanta

Cons: Not a lot of ambiance

Posted 10/17/09

I am a New Yorker presently living in Chattanooga, TN. As I can't get good bagels at home, I buy dozens to bring home when I travel. I was somewhat satisfied with Goldberg's bagels that I got on my last trip to Atlanta but thought I'd try this place based on reviews from this site.
I bought one bagel to try before ordering more. There were few people there at mid morning so I sat at a table and started to pick-up a pat of butter. The waitress immediately accosted me with "You dont get butter with one bagel and you can't sit at that table, it's for the lunch crowd." I looked around at the empty tables and said "I don't see anyone." She said that they would be coming and I had to go.
At this point, I was ready to leave and go to Goldbergs but I was out of time. I bit my tongue and got up to get the bagels. I asked the counter woman for four dozen bagels and plenty of plastic bags. The older woman next to her, probably an owner, snapped, "one bag per dozen."
I felt like I was in a Seinfled episode. These idiots were more interested in a nickle's worth of butter, and bags than keeping me as a customer.
I wish I could say that I just walked out at this point but I was desperate for a real water bagel so I bought them.
The bagels were not as good as Goldberg's but better than what I get at home. I'll certainly never return.

Pros: none

Cons: Treated terribly

Posted 10/10/09

As long as I remember, it is the only place in Atlanta where I can get salami and eggs, and my favorite pastries and wash it down with Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Cola. Every family special occasion begins with picking up Bagels, whitefish salad, lox, and whatever tempts me in the case.

Pros: Excellent food, Kosher

Cons: Always BUSY and PACKED :P

Posted 05/08/09

The Bagel Palace is sleezy, dirty, and run down. The bagels are bad as well as the rest of the menu. Overpriced and unfufilled. Can't hold a candle to the real places. Doesn't even remind me of New York or New Jersey, and I lived in Jersey for 21 years. I hope your business goes under, I'm taking my business across the street to Einsteins, where you can get a decent bagel without getting ripped off. Don't even waste your time going to this hole in the wall.

Pros: Not a single Pro

Cons: New York, Ha, They Don't Know Jack

Posted 03/12/09

I live in the neighborhood and didn't want to bake a cake for my husband's birthday party last weekend. I'd been to Bagel Palace several times, both as a student at Emory 10+ years ago and most recently as a parent of two young ones who love the place - mostly for the bagel breakfasts and cookies that we bring home by the dozen and the proprietor who does magic tricks for entertainment. Everyone who ate the cake asked me where it was from - it was moist and delicious! And it disappeared, like magic.

I would disregard the grumblings of previous reviewers and go try the place for yourself!

Pros: Good food, great family atmosphere, awesome bakery

Cons: Southern staff (minus the management) may need to eat a knish or two to learn how to handle picky customers

Posted 11/18/08

So, I love this place - just like home (NYC). I have been there on a regular basis for the last 15 years. I have never seen any 4 legged creatures . Granted the shopping center is old and the BP can use a face lift, but in this economy most restaurants are lucky to stay afloat. The food is delicious. You can not find salads(tuna, Whitefish, etc.) better tasting anywhere in the city. The nova and lox are hand sliced, YUM!!! Blintzes, knishes and delicious matzoh ball soup, just like home. As for the bakery, I have never had a more mouth watering eclair or ruglach. My favorite are the Mt. Tops (choc. cake, buttercream all enrobed in choc. They have caramel ones too). We never go to eat without leaving with something from the bakery. Always fresh and moist and Yummy!!!! Try it I PROMISE you will not be disappointed. The owners and staff are great, it's a real family experience and it's great to be part of the family, especially when yours may not live in town. Oh, almost forgot, the meat is great. My personal favorite - pastrami and roast beef.

Pros: Love it all

Cons: None, except needs an update

Posted 08/31/08

I am not sure if the last few people who reviewed this restaurant have actually been to the Bagel Palace (unless those reviews are bogus), because I experience excellent food and service every time I go. The baked salmon is perfectly moist, smoky and absolutely to die for and the bagels are big and fluffy with a perfect New York crust. The servings are very generous and while I never have enough room for dessert, I always find some for a big black and white cookie or 1/4 lb of freshly baked thumbprints on my way out. If you haven't tried this place, you must and if you have, you need to try it again because you are truly missing out on a true Atlanta institution.

Pros: Smoked fish, bagels, veggie chili omelette, malts, service

Cons: I can't think of any

Posted 08/27/08

This place is awful. Being from the northeast, we craved a good bagel place. $9.50 for a tiny bagel with about a 1/2 teaspoon of cream cheese and one puny piece of lox. You're better off going to the grocery store for a Lenders bagel. The staff was clueless beyond belief- unable to get a simple order right, while the owner literally stood behind the counter counting his cash and doing nothing to expedite the slow service. Seriously disappointing- just spent over 40 bucks and two of the orders were wrong and every single thing was disappointing. Don't waste your time or money.

Pros: none

Cons: everything

Posted 05/10/08

Be careful of this restaurant. On the front it looks like a good old Jewish deli and bakery in Atlanta, but behind the scenes it is disgusting. Some of the sweets in the case have been there for WEEKS. Also, there is a 4-legged creature infestation...the last time I went there I had the pleasure of seeing one scamper behind the counter. First and last time I will ever go there.
The service behind the counter is sub par, and the employees seem to be more concerned about being on their cell phones rather than anything else.
Beware! There are a lot of other great restaurants to try in Atlanta that are a lot cleaner, a lot nicer, and a lot friendlier.

Pros: I honestly can't think of any

Cons: bad service, dirty

Posted 02/12/08

On 2-11-08 stood at counter for 15 min. We were the only customers .Three staff acted like we were invisible. The deli is very dirty and we saw inside bad conditions the case with the cream cheese and bake goods. We also saw old christmas cookies on display for sale . We read great reviews and could not believe how bad this place really is. We bought 1 bagel to try and the young lady helping us did not say a word after our purchase we said thank you and she rolled her eyes.

Posted 02/10/08

I love their bagels, nova lox, and salami and eggs, but in comparison to the
other Deli's in town like the one on Chamblee in Dunwoody, or all the Jewish Deli's in Southern Florida where I spend the winter months, they need to upgrade their interior and their service! The inside has empty old glass cases that look like they are from the 60's, and the floor looks like it is swept once a week!
On many visits, I have found the checkout lines very confusing and the people behind the counter somewhat rude! On one occasion, a waitress actually yelled at me when I sat down. I don't like to be yelled at when I go out to eat, and especially when I am spending my money at an establishment! The Bagels are the only reason I keep coming back! The Deli on Chamblee in Dunwoody, on the other hand, is so pretty inside and friendly.

Pros: love the Bagels

Cons: surly service

Posted 09/05/07

poor service and mediocre quality, did not meet my expectations considering the previous reviews. I recommend other restaurants in the druid hills/ decatur area such as sweet melissas and flying biscuit.

Posted 08/09/07

This place is so awsome. I almost do not want to write a review to keep this place a secret. Not only the bagles are awsome, the pastries are really good too. People working there are very friendly and service is great too.

Posted 02/03/07

Oh, how I wish I lived closer to Bagel Palace! Their bagels are just right, as you'd expect from the name, but other things on the menu are top notch as well. I've been numerous times, but have to tell you about a particularly nice experience when the tall gentleman served a table near me, noticed me eyeing the steaming bowl of matzo ball soup he'd just placed in front of another customer, and said "We just made a fresh batch. Would you like a bowl?" "Yes, please!" I said plaintively, and oh, my, was it good. Talk about homemade: lovely little strands of fresh dill floating in with the chicken broth and bits of carrot. Delicious. I'm glad that my sister told me about this place.

Pros: Tasty bagels, kindly service, and you can't beat the homemade matzo ball soup

Cons: Can get crowded, but that's a sign of its popularity

Posted 11/02/06

Bagels are great, I'll give you that.

But on more than one occasion we've found the food to be sub-par, and the service both surly and slow. The corned beef IS NOT what you get in NY.....my relatives would freak out if I served such a spread to them. The bakery items were not great either.

Why try to pawn yourself off as the Kosher place to be when you have Bacon on the menu! Come on Atlanta, wake up.....

Get the bagels to go, and pass on the rest...

Posted 10/06/06

I love this place, great breakfast, NY diner style and the staff with a southern style.

Many bagels varieties with many bagel cream cheeses.

If you are from NY, Jewish or just enough a big breakfast, you'll love this place.

Pros: Great Bagels

Posted 08/13/06

Being a nice Southern Jewish boy, this is the only place to go. The freshly baked bagels,are to die for. Just give me a toasted poppy bagel, with Nova, C.C., red onion, capers and chopped egg, and I'm in heaven. The Matzo Ball soup ain't bad either, try the chopped liver. The deli sandwiches are killer. The servers have plenty of NY attitude, and the owner is a real mensch! Go! No place in Atlanta even comes close, not since Charlie Leb's place closed downtown! Note: To those that like to complain, and most of my friends do, this is not a Kosher establishment, only Kosher style. They do not mislead anyone, by saying they are. So don't complain if you are looking for strickly Kosher.

Pros: Fresh Baked NY Bagels, Chopped Liver! Oy Vey!

Cons: Are you kidding!

Posted 08/10/06

Bagel Palace is a geniune New York Style Jewish Deli. They have great whitefish, lox, challah, bagels, well everything is delicious and authentic. They make the best deli sandwiches in town; the pastrami is a s good as what you'll find at Katz in New York. There are also non-Kosher items on the menu too. The bagels are perfection, especially the salt ones. If you're craving a taste of the Big Apple you have to go to Bagel Palace.

Pros: Real Jewish Food, Good value, quick service

Posted 06/02/04

Bagel Palace gets my vote because the bagels are crispy and chewy--just the way they're supposed to be, and they include salt among the toppings sprinkled on the Everything bagel. If it's one of those mornings when you need something greasy, give the knish a try, or if you're super hungry, opt for one of the omelet platters.

Pros: Great prices, Authentic bagels, Plenty of parking

Posted 03/30/04

Take a step into Bagel Palace & you'll leave the south behind. It's filled with Jewish families & Emory students with east coast origins (check out all the NY & NJ plates in the parking lot). The bagels are the best in Atlanta. I enjoy the egg salad on challah. My husband swears by the lox and eggs on an egg bagel. Take advantage of the good quality smoked fish and I love getting a few cookies to go.

Pros: great bagels, east coast feel

Cons: so-so service

Posted 11/04/02