Takeaway
Yes
Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels in Albany
Categories
Location on the map
Albany, Albany County, New York, US
Service options
Dine-in
Yes
Delivery
No
Highlights
Fast service
Yes
Great coffee
Yes
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Breakfast
Yes
Lunch
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Good for working on laptop
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Dining options
Breakfast
Yes
Lunch
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
University students
Yes
Planning
Usually a wait
Yes
Payments
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Phone: +1 518-453-5649
Site: http://www.uncommongrounds.com/
Site: http://www.uncommongrounds.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:6AM–8PM
- Tuesday:6AM–8PM
- Wednesday:6AM–8PM
- Thursday:6AM–8PM
- Friday:6AM–8PM
- Saturday:6AM–8PM
- Sunday:6AM–8PM
Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels in other cities:
Comments (199)
Why would you get bagels anywhere else. They are big and taste awesome. So many coffee and tea choices. The s’more cookies are the bomb. You guys rock. Well Done.
I like this place because very close to my house, and I can walk for my order. 🙂For orders, they don’t ask for a name, and always everything is mixed up 😕. Yesterday, someone got our order, and she pulled out and ... I lost my appetite when I saw that. 😢 We are in the middle of a pandemic... the risk is high... please asked the customers name and write down on order with a sharpie, please. Always room for improvement still.Thank you ✌️😊
The search is over. After moving up from the city the lack of proper bagels gave me debilitating depression, so I went out to try and find something to fill the void, but each sad deflated bagel only made it worse and worse. Until I finally crawled into Uncommon grounds and had a spectacular whole wheat everything with cream cheese and lox fit to be compared even with Pick-A-Bagel on Third.
Always one of my favorite spots to get a cup of tea and something to munch on while getting time to study. The atmosphere is quiet, plenty of seating and wifi is available. Perfect for a college student or working professional to get things done.
Before going there I had heard good things about this place but it didnt met those standards. There were multiple free tables but none of them were clean. The shake was not good. Biscottis that we ordered was alright.
Love their bagels. A coffee place that feels different compared to the regular chain restaurants.There are many tables available if you want to sit for long and work.
Fast friendly service. I ordered the Mediterranean Breakfast sandwich (egg, spinach, avocado, and pesto) on a pumpernickel bagel and an iced coffee. So good!
Stellar bagels! Incomparable in this area.Expected more of the chocolate chocolate-chip muffin, though. It looked so good and was oh so dull and tasteless.
Bagels are amazing however service was awful. My Husband went in this morning and the staff were rude and unhelpful. We will most likely not come back due to how un-welcomed he felt.
I’ve been going to this place for lunch ever since I was a little kid. There bagels are so good, definitely get salmon cream cheese and a poppyseed bagel.
Best bagels in Albany and possibly the best Ive ever had. This was my go to place for breakfast. Whether you get a bagel with cream cheese or a full breakfast sandwich, the food is amazing. Im also not too big on regular coffee but I actually really loved their house blend. It also has a chill vibe and is a great place to hang out and study.
Not sure if I came here on a bad day, but my bagel sandwich sucked. Turkey was so dry and flavorless. I ended up eating just a bagel with mayo, lettuce, and cheese. I was excited to try this place because Ive heard such great things .. but I think Ill keep going to brueggers.
Very disappointed. I went to On Common Grounds today at 1:30pm there were no bagels. My first, second or third choice were nowhere in sight. I spoke with the manager and the she told me there would be a thirty minute wait. I told the manager this was not acceptable and I will return. After returning I had to wait an additional six minutes. So I ordered my bagel and coffee and the coffee was cold. I have been going to this place for seven years and I have never seen it so unorganized. Will not be returning for a while. Things need to change.
The customer service sucks! I believe they intentionally made me the wrong sandwish, twice! The older woman that works there Sharon has a very poor attitude toward customers, even after they continuously leave her and other workers generous tips.Lattes are good, but the customer service really needs to be improved! Why cant one place have it all...good lattes, and customer service!?!?!?
I definitely prefer their coffee and food choices better than Starbucks and Dunkin. I wish there was one in my area but I always make sure to visit when Im in the Capital Region.
Very good coffee, juice, and a wide variety of jams. Was pleasantly surprised to see that they carry an array of non-dairy milk options.
I ordered a healthy harvest bagel sandwich no cream cheese.. i didnt get any bean sprouts on my sandwich but they made sure to charge me a dollar and fifty cents for hummus and then again for avocado.. mind you no bean sprouts but they didn’t disclose there weren’t any and offer a substitute and i did not get any cream cheese..ugh so disappointed ☹️ was craving the bean sprouts only reason i go there in the first place.. it will be a long time before i try and go back.. 9$ and didn’t even get what i truly wanted on my sandwich..
Staff change ... I use to order quite a bit. Produce was wilted. The bagels were slopped together. Did not make them correctly to order.Disappointed. Oh and the containers had chipotle and hummus all over them..Need to hire better people.Sorry for the bad review.Very disappointed..
Long lines but they get you through quickly. Got to get there early, as they get out of cinnamon raisin bagels pretty quickly. Good coffee.
High quality coffee! The beans are ground in the shop and are very fresh. The ambience of the cafe is great too. Photographs of paintings on the walls and antique pottery pieces decorate the place. The shop is located at a plaza and there is plenty of parking space.
My friends and I always get bagels from here but we have never received this kind of service. I went there two days back around 5pm after work and I was the only customer standing there. I ordered healthy harvest bagel and told him what veggies I wanted. After paying as I was leaving he called me and gave a separate bag of veggies saying sorry I forgot to put them on bagel and I saw him laughing later. First I thought that he had a rough day and didnt say anything at that moment but later I thought of writing this review so that nobody else is treated like this again and hope they try to improve their customer service.
Worst customer service I have ever experienced for absolutely no reason. If I could leave no stars I would. Hope her day got better, but I will never return.
They know bagels! Perfect crust on the outside, chewy in the middle. And their everything bagel is everything! A great spice blend. Im not crazy about their coffee but their bagels make up for it.
This one star is only related to their answering the phone - which they never do. totally annoying if you want to order take out. wake up!!!
Almost every time your out of most of your bagels.i see you do a good business. More reason to have stock on hand..at 10am.
Best almond lattes and cookies. Pretty much enjoy everything from this place.
Amazing pesto bagel with egg n cheese! Literally made my Sunday morning.
Good bagels when they’re there, but the only bagels they ever have in stock are plain and everything. I love the cheddar parm bagels but they are out of stock 75% of the times I go at this location, even going at different times of day and half their racks are constantly empty. Other locations like Clifton park are full every time I go.
I look for an excuse to go here. The caramel latte with skim, is delightful. The bagels are beyond exquisite, try a toasted everything with maple walnut cream cheese, you will not regret it.
Great espresso and tea selection. The salads are HUGE - lots of options for build your own. Ingredients always taste fresh.
Coffee is always good here. There is usually a line, but be patient. They roast their own coffee and make their own bagels. Nice spot if you want to avoid a chain place.
The bagels are large and chewy. One bagel can serve a family of five. Avoid weekends unless you have 30 minutes to spare.
Their coffee isn’t great, but they have relatively quick service for the long lines. Their bagels are decent— their location in Saratoga is definitely better. I just wish I don’t smell like stale coffee beans after sitting in there for an hour.
Great coffee excellet staff. And where do they get there pasties they are Awesome
Shazam! Clean, good lighting, nice music, and pleasing aesthetic... And! Friendly elves-- i mean workers. Just tried a shot of espresso for the first time here, and holy cow it was pretty decent !! ... Jeepers. Had to change my rating from 5 stars to 3 because a) the customer service is sometimes amazing and sometimes atrocious … & b) the coffee just isn’t that great— at least how they handle it in-store. : /
I like to frequent this place for the teas and to get some work done. This afternoon, I decided to get a bagel and a tea. Ordered a blt on an everything bagel and didnt realize until I was almost finished with it that it had cheese on it. I have a dairy allergy and have been sitting with an awful stomach ache for the past thirty minutes. I did not ask for cheese so I dont know why they put it on my bagel. They have good bagels, but youre going to want to double check your food before you eat it😒.
I had a caramel latte yesterday and I was not expecting it to be that good. I’ll have to return next time with my books because I miss the study environment I saw at the cafe. Socially distanced of course and staff wore masks.
Excellent. Great bagels, lots of options and outstanding service.
It was amazing I ordered a bagel and I got it pretty fast but make sure to be clear with your order
Nice, little place to grab breakfast. There is always great artwork on the walls (usually for sale and changes frequently). Their bagels are large and delicious. Always fresh, frequently warm from being just baked. A nice variety of cream cheese. They have some good soups and I can also recommend them for lunch, as they have a number of bagel sandwiches. Im not a coffee drinker, but I know many who really like theirs. Even if theres a line, they are generally pretty fast.
Excellent bagels, good service and fair prices. They forgot my cream cheese tub today I ordered which disappointed my family...
Classic campus adjacent coffee- great service, good bagels and sandwiches, plenty of coffee!
Great lattes , fresh roasted coffee beans and insanely over priced bagel sandwiches - the expense double the price from google menu. It’s ridicules - a bagel sandwich cost 8-10$. And it’s not even worth it. So coffee is recommended but not the food.
Wont go here anymore, they can only get your order right 50% of the time and the bagels are not as good as they used to be...
Disrespectful staff, expensive as hell, bagels meh, please dont go if you dont like being disrespected and broke.
Heres what happens when you think about money and not quality. Have tried their cold brew today. Tastes as pale sunflower seeds. Even Cumberland farms has a better coffee
The best coffee and bagels in the Capital Region, in my experience. If it were in the New York City, Long Island or New Jersey, I might give it a lower rating. Theres a little room for improvement: The bagels could be larger and fluffier. They could be more generous with the cream cheese. There could be more vegan options offered (vegan cream cheese). I dont know if the bagels are vegan. That being said its much better than anything else in the area. The bagels at The Bagel Factory are about as good. If Im in the Saratoga area, I try to throw them some business as well.
Bagels are awesome. Coffee is great. Sandwiches were fantastic.
Love the bagels! I go to Uncommon Grounds everything Im in Albany.
My first time coming here the staff was pretty rude. When taking my order the girl was rude and then when handing me my bagel the girl literally just handed me the bag with an attitude and said not a word just literally handed me my bag. Get your staffs customers service skills together! Bagel was good though.
I have yet to find a better bagel place in the area. Tons of options/customizations. The only things is that on weekend mornings the place gets crowded (as a brunch place should) and thus the ordering and picking up the order gets a bit overwhelming.
Vegans beware—don’t try to eat here. There isn’t a single vegan item on the menu—at least not marked, or identifiable by the staff, as such (like some accidentally egg- or dairy-free bagels marked with a V? Nah!). Also, no non-dairy spread of any kind—not even cheap margarine, let alone vegan cream cheese. They do have some nondairy milks without upcharges for your beverages, though.
Great little coffee shop and store. Most of the coffees they offer are organic and all are fair trade. Definitely recommend this spot!
I recently visited the Albany location with my sister, and we were greeted by some of the most friendly employees Ive been served by. They were all warm and engaging, and I immediately felt welcome. My + my sisters orders were ready very quickly even though there was a line (we were there at 2 pm on Sunday afternoon), and the food and coffee were very well done. I see why their bagels get rave reviews! Absolutely delicious, and a great portion size too for the money. The atmosphere/decor was also warm, inviting, and relaxing--perfect for my sister and I, who spent 4 hours chatting there that afternoon! Overall the place is a great spot for hanging out, grabbing a bite to eat, and even studying (many UAlbany students were there doing just that). With great food, inviting atmosphere, and friendly employees, whats not to enjoy about the place? I highly recommend.
Always my favorite bagel place in the area. I must admit we dont frequent as often as we used to, I feel like prices are on the rise. However, its always prepared fresh and properly. They are very detailed and will make essentially anything you ask for. Bagels are delicious and not too doughy. They have an awesome selection of toppings for sandwiches and bagels that are not traditional to most shops. They have an extensive list of beverages, coffees and teas. There are some tables and a few high bar spots to sit and eat. Its generally crowded lines can be very long on weekend mornings especially. I recommend giving it a try. Its worth it!
Ordered an iced matcha latte and it was warm. Then I ordered a vanilla cold brew and it tasted like mocha. My salad was drenched in dressing. Just very horrible vibes here. I recommend the one in Saratoga Springs. They seem like amateurs and don’t know what they are doing. Period purrrrrr
1st time trying there bagels.. all I can say Excellent.. I will be back
Great bagels but disappointed that the last few visits to your store on Western Ave - all tables are taken up by people working on laptops - reading- doing work. Majority of people I witnessed were not eating - just working as if they were in a library. This prevents patrons from being able to grab a bite to eat and to sit downMaybe you should consider turning off your pubic WiFi - so people come to eat and not just to do homework and take up sitting space for hours.
I absolutely love this place. Fantastic coffee, wonderful bagels and a friendly staff. They make my hectic mornings better. I only wish they would open a store in Michigan so that I could go more often. Ive started purchasing their coffee online and there was an issue with one of the orders. I sent an email before bed and they fixed it before I woke up the next day.Amazing place with the best coffee in the tri-state area!
Ive been coming here since I was a child. They brew their own fresh coffee every day and have some of the best bagels around the Capital Region. The line is worth the wait. The customer service is amazing. Best of all, the aroma of fresh coffee beans in the air is an experience to write home about.
One of the worst customer service experiences Ive ever had. My boyfriend was excited to bring me here because he was a regular customer at the Burlington location for over 20 years. The employees serving the food counter skipped us and took customers orders in line behind us. When I pointed it out, there was no effort made to appease us other than throwing our bagels together. The employees clearly had no system set in place for serving food and were bumping into each other behind the counter. I recommend each employee have a designated station to keep things organized and efficient. Also, a more customer service oriented attitude would help. The only reason Im giving this two stars is because the coffee and food was good. But a successful food/bev establishment relies on more than just that. I left feeling very upset about our experience and honestly never want to come back here.
The bagel sandwich that comes with the maple on it is amazing I need another one asap
The employees were real aggressive about people spacing out 6ft due to covid restrictions, which may make some uncomfortable, but made me feel good. Bacon egg and cheese bagel was top notch. If it wasnt out of my way, Id go way more often
Great bagels and coffee. I think its roasted on site. Everything is always fresh and delicious.
This is the best place to get work done.I always get a pot of tea and a bagel and get hours of work done.Great food, service, and atmosphere.Check out the rotating feature of local artists on the wall, usually for sale.I always love going there when they roast Coffee in store. There are few smells better on earth.
I am from down state NY where there are tons of great bagel shops. This is easily the best bagel place in the city of Albany. Bagels are fresh everyday and everything inside is clean and kept in nice condition. The coffee here is amazing as well. Has a few different types to choose from and I believe they grind there beans freshly everyday.
I really like this place the bagels are good the coffee is fine. They hang local artists pieces on the walls which you can purchase. The same and cream cheese is good when they have it. Although you can order a bagel with lox and schmear. Dont be overwhelmed by the look of the line to the door thats just where you order you pay further down the counter. The barista was pleasant I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a coffee or a fresh bagel. they also sell day-old bagels at a discounted price.
The coffee is good. The hot chocolate and cookies werent that great. The employees are friendly. They didnt have Everything Bagels any time I was there.The atmosphere is ok. It is loud and cramped.The line ends right at the door to come in. It makes it really awkward to even go in.The line does move, but if you only want regular coffee, I think you can just go to the register. The register happens to be in the middle of the place. There isnt much space between the line and tables to get in or out.Again, you have to go through the long, tiny space to exit where the line ends at the door.I only went there a few times while doing adoption events right next door. I dont think Id go again unless its the only place to get coffee. This store is next to a gas station or two that also have coffee.
Some of the best iced coffee Ive had in the Albany/Troy area. Breakfast sandwiches are delicious and the bagels are really big and fresh.Will be returning!
Just love this place. Great bagels, sandwiches, and salads. My favorite sandwich is the chicken salad on an everything bagel. Also come by for the fair trade coffees and teas. Chill atmosphere, catering to the grad school and artsy crowd from the University . Be aware that this place can get really crowded at lunch and dinner times on weekdays, but definitely give it a visit. Best bagels in Albany for sure.
Everytime I come here to do school work, I order a coffee and every time they mess up my coffee order. All I want is an iced caramel, extra caramel with cream. The one in Saratoga springs is way better.
My husband and I LOVE this Uncommon Grounds! Ahmad is absolutely hilarious and made us the most wonderful bagels. He has a wonderful sense of humor. Drew is also extremely helpful! This place is very well run!
Food and drinks are great, but the store usually has little flies all around. not something you want to see before you eat.
Unfortunately, this place has been hit or miss the last few times I went. Bagels werent toasted, and my husbands bagel was cut horribly. The bottom half was super thin, and the eggs and bacon were half way off the bagel when the employee cut it in half the second time. It was a disappointing mess. But I have had good stuff from there in the past.
If your into supporting local businesses or just looking for really good food, then this place is definitely one you want to support. Bagels are fantastic here. They are of a good size and really good tasting. Make great breakfast sandwichs also. Staff is always very friendly here. Only downside of this place is the line. Be prepared to wait.
They have great bagels, and you can feed two people completely satisfied for $20. The downside to mention is that they dont really have enough seating given their number of customers, and you may also have to stand in a 10 minute line to get your food. Worth it, but if you dont have much time or dont want to risk not getting a table, you should know this.
I’ve been to all the Uncommon grounds in the capital region cities, and this is the worst.I remember the guy making a bagel was so unkind, and even when they made a wrong coffee, no one apologized or anything.The quality of coffee? Not good.
Excellent Coffee. and thats the point, Excellent Coffee. I did also have the sausage, egg and cheese on a bagel. the bagel may have been made in their shop, but the other items were arranged out of the refrigerator. Sadly, made me feel the sandwich was no better than Dunkin Donuts.Did I mention that the coffee was excellent? It was. Bonus star for the coffee. Which was excellent.
I have mixed feelings about this popular and well-located spot, hard by the Western Ave. entrance to UAlbany. On the one hand, the food is quite good; I especially appreciate the fresh bagels. And although its often pretty crowded and loud, you can usually find a spot to sit and work for a while. But: the coffee isnt very good. Yes, they roast it on the premises, indeed right there at the back of the shop (which contributes to the overall din of the place)--but they simply arent great at roasting coffee, often producing a burnt and flat flavor. Also, although they claim to have free wifi, its almost always (like, 95% of the time in my experience) out of service. I have no idea whether this is because of actual technical incompetence or because they want to save money or move people along, but this is simply unacceptable in 2020. (If you point the problem out to them, my experience has been that they vaguely wave their hands about it and do nothing.)
The atmosphere is comfortable and low-key; quiet and neat. A clean, simple entrance leads to the counter, where a cafeteria style slide-your-tray-down-the-line awaits. Place your order, pay, stay and eat or take out. Perfectly nice. The food has always been fresh and service has been good. The bagels are very special. Try one. You will want to try more.
Great fresh bagels and fresh roasted coffee in house. Lines can be long at times but usually efficient. Quality food and drinks and friendly staff. Eggs are microwaved if your not into that, but everything else is FRESH!
Best bagels in the areaOpening a location in styveston plaza. They need to bring back banana nut bagel
I went there this morning for a the first time. It was fairly busy but the staff kept the line moving very well. Breakfast sandwich was very decent, It would probably be better with a fresh cracked egg instead of an egg patty, but the bagel made up for it. French roast coffee was excellent as well.Staff was very friendly, I will definitely be back!
The store should be called bagels uncommon because thats what you get. This place doesnt make bagels as a bagels store. Every weekend in the morning they have no bagels.
One of my most favorite places in Albany. Best bagels, bar none. Their cream cheese is great, and they know how to properly roast coffee. Once you go here, Starbucks is just McDonalds.
Just about the only place in town that actually roasts their own coffee, and the experience shows. They know what theyre doing with the bagels too. Dont take my word for it, tty it yourself! The grasshopper iced coffee is good.
This is one of very few places in the area where they know how to make REAL bagels. Unlike most spots, bagels from Uncommon Grounds are not simply bagel-shaped bread. Delicious, perfect crust/chew and flavor. Love it.
The bagel sandwiches are very well done and taste great. I like both their hot and iced coffees, so cant go wrong with either. Also a big fan of their layout/atmosphere/ambience.
Great Food, Miserable Manager (Jess).I called in and tried to place an order for pickup, and she passed off the phone to someone else because she didn’t want to continue taking my order. I showed up to get the order and no one had any idea what I was talking about. I work for GrubHub and do this everyday, and never wasted such a terrible 30 mins. I asked this lady politely that I called in and was wondering how I can get the order and she walked away and then never came back (later after talking to the really nice cashier woman I realize that was the super nice manager that I spoke to on the phone). The cashier asked the manager about the order and she said that they don’t take orders over the phone and had less than delightful body language. She kept throwing her hands around and was even disrespectful to her employee. I cancelled the order and nevertheless will never be coming back here. Save your time and go to the Uncommon in Saratoga. I love their coffee, but that manager needs to be taught how to not rub off her tough days on others— we all have them.
Great place for lunch or just coffee (or tea). Healthy food with emphasis on bagels and salads. Can be a bit crowded 11:30am til 1pm but the line moves fast. Staff are pleasant and very efficient. Excellent for take-out. Finding a seat for eat-in can be challenging during the main lunch rush. Tables on the sidewalk in nice weather. I always see 1 or 2 people relaxing with a book or working on a laptop. Most tables are for 2; back area has larger tables, one seating at least 6. Close to SUNY Albany, tucked into a well-kept strip mall in a residential neighborhood. Adequate parking.
Rotating FTO coffee varieties, fresh bagels well done, and welcoming ample seating, enough to like this place. But the STAFF are GREAT: they pay attention to detail on requests and prep! The healthy harvest, with lots of veggies, a great offering. I return frequently, and have for 20 years.
Love the bagels here--so delicious. Coffee is great, too, especially the smell of roasting beans late at night. As a doctoral student, this is the perfect study spot for me in the evenings. Baristas are friendly and take the time to get to know the customers. Busy on the weekends, but thats expected because its so good. I bring a lot of out-of-towners here for the NY bagel experience, and they often grab bagels for the trip home because they like it so much. Their cookies, salads, and soups are also delicious. Almost never disappointed in the food! Diverse group of customers, which is also nice--some students, some business meetings, some first dates, and some families. A bit of everyone makes a nice atmosphere.
This place got me through college. The staff was always a pleasure and went above and beyond to help me with any questions, recommendations and sometimes even small freebies as a gesture of being a loyal customer. I have graduated college and am no longer in Albany but when thinking back on college food experiences and being a world traveler / tough critic of bagels as Im from Long Island, New York, this is the spot. Great atmosphere, great people and this was my home away from home for years when I lived in Albany. If youre looking for an awesome vibe and creative people to meet and hang out with at a funky and terrific delicious and fresh coffee come to uncommon!!
This is the best bagel spot around Albany. The bagels are fine but the line is long and the system is disorganized. There is a reason that at most places you place your order at the register first. They have it backwards for some reason here and it doesnt function well most of the time.
Coffee beans, bagels, sure.But I just had the best cookie of my life.Update.The bagels are round baked bread. Over large and baked rings like the grocery store.Mr Bakerman go to NYC and experience bagels. You need a refresher. Copying Price Chopper is wrong. Round, bread hoops are not bagels. Sad thing is, your bagels were the best around for years. Are you the new Bagel Baker?
I used to like this place. Just went there today and their prices have gone astronomical! I just had the shock of paying over $8 for a toasted pesto bagel with humus! OVERPRICED!Received email from Uncommon Grounds. Be aware, menus are different at different locations. Prices charged may not be from the location / menu where you are located.. Lastly, there is a price difference between smear of and the topping without the preface of smear. that error will cost you! (& me this time)
I had a horrible experience there. The whole staff acted like they didnt want to be there and the server actually huffed at me when I had to ask my son if he wanted his bagel toasted. The food was okay, but I will never go to the Albany location again. I felt like I was an inconvenience to them. I understand it was busy, but if you cant deal with people, dont work in food service.
This is one of my favorite places. Really unique and cozy. A really good place to study and get a bite to eat because their bagels are DELISH. The salads are also tasty and fresh, and the portions are quite large and worth the cost They have a full espresso bar, which allows for an extensive drink menu. And free WiFi!
Staff were very friendly, this establishment has that TV or movie coffee shop with novel writers at the tables kind of feel to it, busy in the mornings with the college crowds, but the line moves pretty quick, the workers are like a well oiled machine, they work together so well
Loveee this cafe. Definitely one of the campus go-tos and a place to stop if youre ever in Albany. I love their bagel sandwiches and there are a lot of different drinks to choose from. You could buy a bag of bagels or dry coffee. A little small on the seating side, and the customer service is lacking sometimes by those at the register. Will be returning!
This is my go to spot for my wife an I every weekend. We have to arrive early because the line can become monstrously long. The coffee is amazing, the sandwiches are delectable and the quality is top notch. They truly care about their product and it really shows through. We have never had a bad experience at this location.
Extremely wide selection of coffee blends, bagels, cream cheeses, sandwiches, soups and salads. My personal favorite place to chill out for a while with some coffe and a nice bagel. 10/10 would recommend to anybody looking to have a nice breakfast or lunch, theyre even open late for a nighttime hangout sesh!
Probably the best bagels in Albany. Very similar to NYC bagels. One issue is that theyre usually out of several varieties all the time. The other issue is the slow moving line. It can easily take 10-15 minutes to move just a couple of spots. The coffee is also very good.
Nice selection of herbal teas. The smell of fresh baked bagels is so nice. The bad sides are there are not enough outlets and you may leave the place with a smell of coffee especially if you sat close to the giant coffee grinder for a long time.
Wow what a find. GREAT coffee shop in the heart of suburban west Albany. Excellent selection of coffees, fast friendly service, bagels, sammiches, salads, etc. GREAT ambience for hanging out, very warm atmosphere as opposed to the cold clinical Starbucks. Also...a LARGE coffee is less than $2.
Do they make a veggie bagel? Well its not on the menu so just get a regular bagel, add all the topping and - voilá! $2.50 laterYour tummy will be full and happy! Coffee was good. Both the latté and the brewed. Staff was friendly.
Atmosphere is everything, young and energetic is the feel. The smell of coffee beans roasting, rolls across the room in waves every so often, the staff and service are great, and the food is quality and fairly priced. Only recommendations, install power outlets, and better signage for where to order food vs ordering just a drink.
This location is more like an on-campus dining facility than a bagel stop. With school back in session it appears all the help is new college kids who havent studied the menu yet and arent in a hurry. Quality is still good but dont expect a speedy service
Friendly staff. Good bagels.
Love uncommon grounds. Been coming here for a while now. Workers seem stressed and definitely show it, but hey, I would be too if there was a line out the door everyday.
Clean,friendly staff and the best bagels .
I had lox spread on a sesame seed bagel. Fresh bagel, good amount of lox and the ambiance is truly pleasant. Will be back!
The bagel was phenomenal, but man do they overdo the cream cheese. I wiped a bunch off onto the paper the bagel was wrapped in to still have it glop out right onto my jeans. If you dont like eating your entire days worth of calories in cream cheese I suggest you ask them to go light on it.
Great coffee, nice place, friendly staff. They also have oatmilk which is always a big plus for me.
Getting this made me feel at home in VT again
Not Vegan friendly! Its 2021 can we get a plant based spread?! Geez...You arent the only ones. This area is so backward. Buy some Kite Hill and Ill come by.
Whenever I have monthly meetings with the Graduate Student Organization, we would always order bagels from Uncommon Grounds in the morning. We will get a bagful of bagels, all in different varieties. My favorite bagel from Uncommon Grounds is their sun dried tomatoes bagel, where you will get chucks of tomatoes in them. A bagel is better with some sort of spread, so I recommend their vegetable cream cheese spread, which contains carrots, scallion, and cucumbers. This is one spread that you wish you had more of. Their fresh brewed coffee and fresh bagels will lure anyone into their store, so it’s a good sign that they have good food.
Bagels very fresh, could use more cream cheese
The selection of bagels and cream cheese is really good, and Ive always received a delicious bagel. The down side is that it is constantly full of hipsters, and the line can be awful. The coffee is quite good.
Great tea selection, smells so delicious when you walk in. Good clean bathroom, plentiful seating and good prices so all around would highly recommend. Imagine it would get quite busy when school is in season but was pretty calm over winter break.
Good coffee etc but got two everything bagels with hummus and they charged like $6 per bagel (plain bagels were $1 each) and they spread the hummus on as thinly as possible and we got charged ~$5 for hummus on EACH bagel?? Thats much more than a whole tub of hummus idk idgi, dont waste your money on their hummus
Great bagels - larger and more flavorful than most other places. Great chicken salad. Big space with new curated art monthly. Parking area is a plus... Only downside is staff can be a bit slow and indifferent at times.
Great coffee and delicious bagels. Nice searing. Occasionally weve been and it smells strongly of cleaner which is gross but at least you know its a clean place!
Can get quite crowded weekend mornings, but overall Ive been pleased with the coffee and the quality of bagels. It always seems kind of dark from the outside, like it might be closed, but its not. Adorning the walls are paintings or photographs by local artists. Almost everyone in Albany probably has memories of hanging out here at some point.
Coffee was great as always, but idk what was going on there- the shop just did not smell good at all and i tried to tolerate it while working on my laptop, but eventually had to leave bc of it :/
Decent spot for coffee and a bite near UAlbany. Free WiFi and ample seating. Its definitely a college joint complete with funky artwork on display and apathetic staff. Bagels are too large and bready for my taste, although friends from NYC/Long Island claim its the closest thing to home bagels up here. Chicken salad is phenomenal and keeps me coming back. Coffee is good when its fresh brewed, but Im often served a stale or burnt cup.
The coffee is amazing and the staff is really nice. The bagels are delicious. Overall its pretty nice and a great place to grab a bite to eat.
Hip atmosphere, delicious bagels, salads and soups. Oh, and the coffee and tea are incredible. Gets a bit busy and I usually expect long wait times but I keep going back.
Its a fine little coffee shop to stop in and grab some nice food and drinks! I loved the southwest quesadillas there and recommend them if you are in the mood. I also got a French baguette, which was rather crispy but still delicious with butter. There are also good drinks there, such as my personal favorite, the spiced chai. The only complaint about the chai is that its a tad to sweet, but you can just ask for less sugar. All in all, this is a great place to stop in and definately worth your time!
Thoroughly enjoyed Lots of Lox on a toasted poppy seed bagel. Mmmm good. Packed place at 9:30am on a Monday. House roast coffee was a little on the dark side.
Delicious coffee beverages and excellent NYC-like bagels. The waitstaff are a little flaky and tend to get sandwich orders wrong...sandwiches are made to order as you wait in line. You learn whos got better short term memory really fast lol
So today I was having the morning from hell when everything and anything went wrong. My significant other says to me “let’s stop at uncommon grounds and grab some coffee.” So we go there and order coffee and breakfast only to realize at check out that I don’t have my wallet. JAY who is a employee there reaches into his own wallet and paid with his own money saying “don’t worry about it, I got it.” Me and my girlfriend who were so embarrassed at the time couldn’t believe it. Whoever the owner is I want you to know that the world needs more people like jay. Jay if your reading seriously from the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! I hope management reads this and realizes what kind of employee they have working for them. Your a good man and deserve recognition. Thank you again!!! I can’t say it enough. To management thank you and kudos on the hiring of this man!!!(Of course I later returned to pay this man his money back).
Enjoyable bagel and a good coffee selection. Their Italian dark roast coffee is bold.
Food and coffee are great, however the workers were rude and gave me a dirty look and ignored me when I nicely asked if I could just add a little more coffee to my cup because it was too sweet, I even offered to pay for it. Customer service was not very good.
Food is acceptable, staff seem young and not trained well. Here’s an example:My bill was $11.02, I gave the the guy $21.01 as I only had one cent in my pocket. I asked him “How about $21.01?”. He said “ok”. So I am expecting a Ten dollar bill back. He then proceeded to start digging into the change drawer. I said, “your going to give me 99 cents?.” He said, “yup”. So I took the 5 and the four singles and had him keep the 99 cents for the famous “tip jar”.I was trying to help him save BOTH time and not waste all the change in his drawer, but he didn’t get it. This is basic change making 101. Every cashier should learn this. However, I guess the management doesn’t teach these basic skills.Note to management:Most places have a dish with pennies for this purpose.
Love UC but always annoyed when i spend $35 on lunch then cant sit down because some student nursing a small coffee sits there with their books and laptop for 4 hours. They really need to address that so that paying customers can eat in and enjoy their meal.
Great place for lunch or a light dinner! A nice mix of sandwich, salad, and baked good options. Excellent coffee and tea selection, as well. Very popular place at lunch, so please get there early, however, it is well worth the late (so dont be bummed if you happen to arrive with a line out the door).
By far the greatest bagel shop north of NYC. Quality is unparalleled anywhere in the capital region. Coffee is fresh roasted daily, staff is friendly and down to earth. Only downside is no wifi (but Boston market next door has free WiFi you can connect to).If you visit Albany, this is a must if you enjoy a good bagel or bagel sandwhich.
Awesome place! The bagels and coffee are fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is very laid back, and its a good place to kick back and have a cup of coffee with a friend.
Wow, delicious salads and coffee. Bagels looked amazing even though I dont eat them, everyone else was loving them though. Second time there, definitely recommend it.
Excellent bagels sandwiches and coffee. Very nicely priced. Nice quiet environment to angel 8 oclock lee friend. The bagels are extremely large and always fresh.
Excellent store with a nice choice of fresh bagels and freshly ground & brewed coffees & limited but delicious desserts. Has Wifi connection. Can be a bit noisy especially if the line is to the door and limited seating.
If youre used to their location in Saratoga Springs, dont go here. As a matter of fact, even if youve never heard of their location in Saratoga, dont go here! Terrible service and food. I believe they bring all the old bagels from their Saratoga location to Western Ave. Stale bagle, rubbery flaccid egg, and disgusting cheese. Last I had to repeat my order to the young woman behind the counter three times.
The only place for bagels in the Capital District. Wish theyd expand into the city of Albany neighborhoods around New Scotland Ave. It sure would be nice to be able to walk to a place for coffee and a bagel.
Fantastic bagels and coffee! Also great place to get some work done. Nice atmosphere and they always have local art on the walls.
This is a fake uncommon ground not owned by the Saratoga and Clifton park owners. They don’t have names for any of their signature sandwiches and don’t give any options of bagel chips for the daysoup. The food tasted like it was microwaved, the soup had no taste, and the Saratoga and Clifton park locations have the best food ever. I don’t know how you can call themselves the same name. Zero stars.
Consistently good coffee and bagels. The staff are friendly. The seating for studying is scarce. Get there early or stay late for best chance at getting work done.
The absolute best bagels around here!! Terrific coffee and tea selections, as well as soup, salad, and sandwich selection. My favorite place to meet to work with friends.
I love the vibe, the colors are outstanding. Add to that the smell of coffee and the sounds of hopeful people make this a perfect place to chase away winter blues.
Soups are good, and bagels are house made however service is typically terrible and you WILL NOT leave this place not smelling of it. Not sure if vents need to be changed or better air flow needs to happen, but this place will make your clothes stink.
Nice spot for a really great bagel sandwich. A lot of choices for sandwiches, all of them customizable. Offers almond and soy milk for lattes if youre lactose intolerant/dairy sensitive.
Always get my bagels there.Also the best variety in cream cheese. Salads and soup
Ive been going here for years for coffee and bagels. Nothing compares in the area. Great variety and quality. Has a cozy atmosphere.
Enjoyed the lentil soup and made-to-order salad. Huge soft bagel!!
Sandwiches are amazing but the staff doesnt like new guests because they rushed me and didnt offer any help when making a selection. Food was great, though.
I am very disappointed in the bagel selection. They no longer make the Pesto Bagels anymore. They were the only thing I liked.
Cute coffee shop with plenty of seating (even for groups) which makes it a perfect spot for study dates. Large menu with many options. Service was friendly as well.
Honestly, this place serves 5 star coffee, teas and food. The ONLY reason I took a star off is because of the slow pace. Plan on reserving 15 minutes to get in, order and take out.With that said- love the place!
Great place for breakfast, lunch and casual meals. My wife and I usually go here for an after-movie snack as they have pastries and a nice variety of coffee and tea drinks. The bagels are also very good.
Good environment, hard to follow the flow when its busy. Good to sit and stay for a long time. You can smell the coffee beans as they roast them right there in the cafe!
I was there today, ordered a large Columbia coffee. The barista was this Chobby African American gentleman who’s wearing a lose red t-shirt and golden chain (I didn’t get his name) he poured me half house blend and half Columbia. When I asked him if he poured me the same kind of coffee he said yes. Had to come back to get a new cup because the barista lied and the first cup tested off.
Loved the bagel sandwich with eggs, pesto and avacado. The place is updated with comfortable seating. A great place to have breakfast and coffee anytime.
This is a great spot to get a good bagel and some excellent coffee. My only complaint is what feels like a lack of WiFi as I primarily go to coffee shops to work.
Always love it here! The workers are always so friendly, bagels are the Best in the capital region, and coffee is of superb quality. 😊
Love the bagels here. Always fresh and delicious. I go out of my way to come here . They are the closest thing to a Long Island bagel in upstate NY
Great bagels and coffee. I wish they were still making their pesto bagels though.
No worry for how long wait is . I was there for 40 mins to get a begal and a coffee . Most of crew looked asleep .
I love their bagels! Fast, friendly, and clean. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and definitely in a location perfect for students and young professionals
Everyone seems to love this place. Long lines at lunch but they do a good job turning it over. Great coffee and bagles, much more food options.
Came here for a quiet place to do work on my laptop but after purchasing two beverages, all the tables by an outlet were taken and the one outlet that was not being used was broken. Sadly, I ended up going to Starbucks...
The bagels are great and are big. The place can be packed at lunch time during the week tho so be sure to get there earlier to not have to wait in line and to have a chance of getting a seat!
Great food and coffee drinks. Lots of order issues the first 2 times I went there. But third time was great!
Nice environment to relax and study with a cup of organic coffee or a pod of tea
I come here all the time and I love it! They have great bagels and drinks.
Decent coffee nice atmosphere and the bagels were pretty tasty
Best bagels in the capital region... possibly the world?
My own experience at this place was excellent. Service here is friendly and fast. Coffee is quite good and is not expensive. The interior design is perfect for having a cup of coffee and chat with friends.
The bagels were good. Can be crowded during the morning hours.
This seems like a nice little place to get some good rustic coffee but the staff were extremely rude, coffee was made wrong, and from what I heard they take advantage of the younger staff in the work place.
Nice atmosphere, generally okay iced mocha.
Will never visit this place again, a overweight homie working behind the counter, suggested to my server to put a luggie in my sandwich, of which she replied to him, I cant, hes looking right at me me then they both look right at me. I then proceeded to watch her every move. She apologetically offered me extra pickles which I accepted. Home-Boy needs to walk!
Great coffee. Great homemade bagels. Great sandwiches made from bagels. Coffee beans from around the world sold by the pound. Friendly service.
Great coffee, fresh bagels and sandwiches. Gets very busy when college is in session.
Bagels and latte both excellent. Service was exceptional.
Staff is hit or miss. Usually in a bad mood to be honest. Food for the most part is good. I usually go a few days a week however with the state of the staff I dont plan on coming back that often.
My new favorite coffee shop! And the bagels are out of this world good!!! Also, the service is fantastic!
I love your place. My capachino was great, but very disappointed with my bagel. There usually great but today mine was burned and flat. Not happy
As busy as it was on a Saturday morning, we were in and out in a decent amount of time. Loved the cashier/manager/owner is a Red Sox fan 😊
Love this place! Bagels, soups, and tea are delicious. Staff is always friendly and service is quick.
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels 2023:
Review №1
2022-03-05This is the best coffee shop in the area with consistently amazing bagel sandwiches. Todays bagel was so well made, we had to take a photo. Its heaven in every bite! 😋
Review №2
2022-04-06Decent bagel, the coffee is the same as Starbucks, if you love that, you’ll love this. If you don’t, you won’t. Quite a nice interior with lots of seating. Service at the register was just ok. She got it done but without any real feeling of welcome.
Review №3
2022-05-11Would be great if they opened at 6 like it says. It is 6:15 with a line of people waiting outside and the lights aren’t even on. Wish I could say this was a rare occurrence but it happens every time I come. Some day another bagel place will open and maybe this place will value the time of their customers. Gotta be to work at 6:30 still not open at 6:20.
Review №4
2021-09-14Best bagels. Best cream cheese. Best bagel sandwiches. Best espresso. Best almond milk latte. Best everything bagel with jalapeño cream cheese combo ever. Seriously, come here anytime of the day and you will be treated to some of the best bagels and coffee you have ever had. Dare I say this is a religious experience. I might dare. Be prepared for a bit of a wait if you come in the mornings and on the weekends...but like I said...worth it. 1000%
Review №5
2021-08-30First time here. Latte is absolutely amazing but didnt like the masala chai. It tastes just like the vanilla chai latte of dunkins not great. Bagels seemed fresh even though it was the closing time. Must talk about the ambience inside. Really amazing.
Review №6
2022-05-11I love closer to the Saratoga location and go weekly, love it. This location is closer to work for me. Grabbing to be to work early and wanting to grab coffee and a bagel should be a relatively easy task... However the Western Ave uncommon grounds states they open at 6AM (which would be perfect when I need to be at work around a similar time) but I have never once arrived and walked in the door at 6. There are always customers waiting prior to 6 that wait typically until 6:20 to go in ... Hence the decrease in stars. Besides the poor timing, staff are friendly and food/coffee are good.A little expensive for the bagel to sandwich filling ratio though.
Review №7
2022-03-27A good place to work. One of the best cafes in Albany. Their beagles are great.
Review №8
2022-04-03Great place. Line out the door. Went Sunday morning at 10am. Got the lumberjack sandwich on everything bagel with a coffee. Quick even though it was busy.Only wish they had more options to fancy up my coffee. Cant say they dont have great coffee, because they do. But I didnt know where everything was if it was there
Review №9
2022-05-16I live in North Carolina now. Left NY almost two years ago. I’ve tried dozens of coffee and bagel shops since coming to NC. None compare to Uncommon Grounds. I was a regular there for many years. Their coffee, lattes, bagels and other foods were always of the highest quality. Was rarely disappointed (and I’m not the easiest guy to please!). I miss that place!
Review №10
2021-08-19I always stop while Im in Albany. Hard to beat. Whether its breakfast or lunch Ive always been satisfied.While youre there you might as well bring extra bagels for the freezer.