My family tries to hit up Marco Island for a week every summer. We go into hiding and spend our days obsessing over where to eat, Doreen’s Cup of Joe, Joey’s Pizza, Red Rooster, Sami’s Pizza & Grill to name a few. I’m usually the first to wake up, which means I’m the one out there looking for the breakfast goods.
I was on a bagel kick, so Empire Bagel Factory (239 N Collier Boulevard) fit right into my current situation. There’s also a location in Naples in case that’s closer to you.
It’s a few minutes before 7 AM when I walk into Empire Bagel Factory. A customer is reading his morning paper and enjoying his coffee. I’m assuming he was enjoying his coffee, I didn’t really ask him, but it makes for a better story.
Empire Bagel Factory Menu
I’m looking over the menu, figuring out what to have when I spot the Jalapeño Asiago Bagel. By the way, Empire Bagel Factory is only open till 1 PM, and there is also a lunch menu if that’s your thang.
The Egg Sandwich calls to me, so it becomes a Jalapeño Asiago Breakfast Sandwich with egg, bacon, and white American cheese. I try to tack on the Cinnamon Rolls, but there are none available, bummer.
I take a seat with the sandwich and a latte just a couple of tables over from the other fella, not next to him (I hate people who do that). There are just two things, the first and last bite. The first one thinking how incredible this sandwich was and the last one regretting that it was coming to an end.
A half-dozen bagels hitch a ride with me for my trip back to my tribe, along with three vanilla and three chocolate doughnuts. Everyone raved about the bagels, the flavored cream cheese, and the doughnuts, particularly the vanilla one.
On our last day in Marco Island, everyone stopped at Empire Bagel Factory for a to-go breakfast and some bagels to take back home. Yeah, they’re that good.