Rubinstein Bagels
Bagel shop · Redmond ·
Hand-crafted bagels, unique schmears, and hearty sandwiches
Hand-crafted bagels, unique schmears, and hearty sandwiches
"Andrew Rubinstein sold his namesake shop to restaurateur Ethan Stowell, a move that excited and surprised local fans." - Brenna Houck
"Rubinstein Bagels is listed as one of the mini chains under the Ethan Stowell Restaurants umbrella." - Harry Cheadle
"Founded by Andrew Rubinstein, the original Rubinstein Bagels expanded to three shop locations and roughly 40 employees before Rubinstein sold his stake to restaurateur Ethan Stowell and stepped away; he has said he preferred actually making bagels to managing a larger operation. The previous shop’s heavy sandwich program added complexity and made rushes tougher on staff, which is one reason Rubinstein wants to keep his new venture simpler and focused on bagels." - Harry Cheadle
"We’re just gonna come out and say it. We don't get the Rubinstein hype. The bagels themselves at this South Lake Union shop are just fine—airy with some chew—and we’re fans of the fried onion and chive schmear. But really, it’s the engineering and construction of the bagels where things take a wrong turn. Don't waste too much time admiring The Spheres on your way out—the bagels need to be eaten immediately or they’ll turn into hockey pucks. And the double down, a.k.a their lox, tomatoes, red onion, and caper bagel, is laid on so thick with toppings that everything just slides around when you take a bite. Plus, their bacon, egg, and cheese is usually coated in a slick sheen of grease. But if you're in Amazon territory and need a quick snack, Rubinstein does have convenience going for it. Stop by in desperate breakfast times." - Kayla Sager-Riley
"Chewy and with a hint of sourdough, the jawns at Rubinstein Bagels were widely praised in Seattle and even landed on a best-in-the-country list. Through a partnership with restaurant empire-builder Ethan Stowell, Rubinstein opened his first brick-and-mortar location in late 2020 in South Lake Union, expanded into Capitol Hill the following year, and planned to open a third location in Redmond in 2023." - Harry Cheadle
