Einstein feeds your appetite for variety

Devin Humphreys making fried eggs for the bagel snadwiches at Einstein Bros. Bagels. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)

The warm, sweet fragrance that permeated Einstein Bros. Bagels made me so hungry that I wanted to eat the large cardboard poster picturing its hot “Farmhouse” sandwich, made with cage-free eggs, thick-cut bacon, ham, cheddar and “country pepper shmear,” all served on a cheesy hash brown bagel. But Einstein’s most appetizing aroma during my most recent visit was actually not that of a hot breakfast or even baking bread.

“Oh, that smell of cooked spinach is so good,” said Amber Randall, general manager of Einstein’s Hixson location.

She was right: The spinach had a fresh yet surprisingly buttery perfume, a delicious reminder that Einstein does not skimp on the flavor of its lighter options. For example, its “thintastic” chicken pesto — made with grilled chicken, creamy pesto, juicy tomato, melted mozzarella and balsamic vinaigrette, all served on a plain bagel — has just a fraction of the calories and carbs of other hot sandwich options.

For diners looking to up their veggie intake, the restaurant’s “hummus veg out” is bursting with greens — arugula and spinach, to be specific — as well as cucumber, tomato, onion, roasted red pepper, hummus and double-whipped garden veggie “shmear,” all served on a multigrain roll.

Yes, Einstein has much more than hearty eats such as the yummy-looking Farmhouse sandwich. The restaurant has much more than just sammies, too. In fact, its menu boasts a dozen sweet treats — including muffins, cookies and cinnamon twists — a delectable lineup that now also features lemon poppy seed cake and chocolate lava cookies.

The next time you stop by Einstein, you’ll want to bring your appetite. But based on how tasty those cardboard images look, you’ll also want to order fast.