Panera Bread

Oh Panera, what happened to thee? I used to come here everytime I went shopping at the stores connected to and man I’m just so aggrevated today after my visit. So I was Christmas shopping and decided to come grab lunch to go before work. I get in and there’s a huge line, naturally as everyone is shopping for the holidays near by. They have just put in new credit card ordering stations so rather then wait on a huge line while in a rush I chose to do that. There was a man directing people to it on the line that worked there. He went to the people behind me and showed them to it, totally skipping me for some reason even though I planned to use my card. So then I wait my turn for that and order up a pick two combo. I chose a small soup and half salad. It had the option to customize my salad so I did. I was really craving grilled chicken so I made sure that was in my salad. Mind you the salad I chose had it already as one of the ingriedients. So I wait on line to be called a good 10 minutes later. I get my food and go. I asked if they included utensils in my bag the woman said they did. I get to work only to find that I had no grilled chicken in my salad and to make it worse they didn’t give me a spoon for my soup. Which by the way was room temperature at best! So I didn’t quite enjoy my salad like I had hoped and since I was at work had no spoons accessible. So I had to eat my now cold soup with a fork and use the soup cup as a drinking cup. I am so irritated. I am not returning to that Panera… Ever!

Service is always good. Food is good, but that is predictable — and satisfying. What’s up with the folks posting negative reviews? Former employees maybe?

I don’t know where all the bad reviews for this Panera are coming from. I’ve been here so many times and I’ve never had issues with my order being wrong or taking extremely long to get to me. I’ve used the kiosks without any problems and I’ve also ordered from their mobile app for pickup from here. The worst thing about this Panera is that it’s always crowded.

What has happened to Panera? I used to treat myself to a hearty Frontega Chicken sandwich, a big salad or tasty soup at least once a month at various locations in NY and NJ. However, the sandwiches here seem smaller and sloppily put together… Everything we ordered was lukewarm at best. Ugh.

It’s been years since I’ve been to a Panera Bread. We stopped in just to get some drinks. Coffee and hot chocolate. The cashiers and the wait staff were very friendly. I had a minor issue with my order and they took care of it and made it right immediately. Great coffee! :)

My wife and I enjoy going to Panera bread for breakfast and lunch. We enjoy the coffee and pastries for breakfast and the pick two for lunch. The price is decent and the facility is always clean. The staff is always friendly, but the service can be a little slow which is often due to the large crowds. This has gotten better recently due to the new kiosk they have for customers to order and pay by yourself. Overall we will continue to patronize this restaurant.

Since they started they kiosk system in my area the place went from ok to «I can’t believe how stupid this is». They have less people working registers and more people walking around with my food trying to find where it goes. The register receipt says your order will be right or we’ll fix and give you a treat. I have not had a correct order since the kiosks came into use and I never received a treat from them. The stores all seem to have the same disjointed service as I found the same problems in every one I try.

If I could I would give this a minus rating. I was there an hour ago. The first part of my experience ordering, very helpful, but those people preparing the food! First of all, I waited a long time for my food, and not one of them made eye contact with me. i felt like I was invisible. Second, NOT ONE OF THEM WAS SPEAKING ENGLISH — how so rude! Not only to your customers, but to their co-​workers who speak English only. And it was filthy back there! There was a guy standing there putting in numbers (put mine in before I got my food to make it look like my wait time was less)…He new I was upset and I told him the service was horrible. he just said «I’m sorry» — I also told him they should be speaking ENGLISH! HOW HORRIBLE — whoever trains your staff should be fired!

The cashiers are friendly, clear, and efficient unfortunately I can’t say the same for the kitchen staff. They’ve messed up my order on numerous occasions. The most recent was 2 weeks ago when I paid for a full sandwich and went home to discover I only received half. I asked for an apple on the side and I got chips instead. The salad ratios are always a surprise too, never consistent despite always ordering a full salad. Sometimes they skimp me on every ingredient of the salad, or sometimes they give way too much lettuce and too little of everything else. One time I ordered a Fuji Apple chicken salad, and there were literally no apple chips in there. I only come here for its convenient location when I have to rush to pick up food for work. If it wasn’t for that, I would not come here.

A bit disorganized with the lines, everyone is kind of just bunched up, no real line. There is also a buzzer they hand to you to let you know to pick up your food once it’s ready, which is different, but I guess each Panera has a different system. It is however very spacious, I was pretty impressed. Just when I thought I had reached the back of the restaurant, there is yet another seating section further down lol the women that come here are very snooty, as I experienced so many heavy sighs, and dirty looks towards others, eek! Anyhow, the food is as great quality as any other Panera I have been to, and so I shall ignore the lifeless cashier and Debbie downers and enjoy my Caesar salad with a side of turkey avocado blt, and of course a chocolate chip cookie for good measure, which by the way was so not from today, it was a tad tough and not soft and chewy as I have had before. But I’ll take it! Hehe

Good service but very slow. I can literally be the only person in line and still wait 6 – 8 mins to be helped. Otherwise, good atmosphere and everything is in its place.

Last August, I got a work catering order and they never made it. I called when it was a few minutes late and they told me it was impossible. It took 20 minutes to get on the phone with the manager and give the order number. The President of my company was one of the members at the lunch, and Panera made look really bad. They also were not nice or apologetic. They didn’t even write me back when I complained through another store manager.

Disorganized; ordered a rapid pickup and it took 35 minutes. I understand that it won’t be done in ten minutes, so I always give a grace period and 20 minutes is pushing it. By the way, when I arrived here it was empty and there was one person in line. Yet, everyone who came after me got their food first. The boy preparing the food, did not know what he was doing and seemed over whelmed. Instead of preparing my waiting «rapid pickup» he just left it sitting there unfinished. I spoke to the wonderful manager Lauren, and she offered me a refund, but the time spent there was excessive.

Panera is one of my go-​to healthier options for fast food. They have a huge selection of sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries and you don’t feel as guilty eating them. I love the half sandwich and half soup options, their broccoli cheddar soup is amazing. I have never had anything there I didn’t like! I also think the prices are just right and if you are a Panera rewards member it seems like there’s always some coupon waiting for you when you check out. I have been to this location many times and service is always fast and staff is friendly. It’s not the most well designed Panera in terms of seating but I’ve never had a problem finding seats and the free WiFi is great too.

If I could give this place zero stars, i would. Had a bad experience here today with an employee behind the food counter.
Basically put my food on another customer’s plate, took it off after the customer came back, put it on the food prep counter (without a plate) and then plopped it on my plate, right in front of my face. Made me wait the entire time and rudely cut me off before I could point out to her that the sandwich was mine. I know they’re busy and it’s during lunch hour rush but was the rudeness necessary?
Not sure if it’s a race thing but the employee was pretty nice to the customer who she accidentally gave my food to but wouldn’t even let me get her attention or word in edgewise about her mistake.
Also, pretty positive the guys sitting behind me after I finally returned to the table with my food implied I’m «entitled» and said some stuff about workers at Panera not being slaves. Don’t know who you are but know the entire situation before you open your mouth to speak. So sick of the racist attitudes of some of the people in this area.
I will never go to this Panera location– not worth it to put up with their rude employees and for some of the classless patrons who go there who can’t mind their own business.

You Pick 2 — is great special. Try cookies, they sometimes have $.99 special with lunch.

Great Cheddar Broccoli Soup and Italian Combo sandwich. I don’t know about their Paramus, New Jersey location but in Little Neck, NY and in Mt. Holyoke, Massachuttes, and in the mall near Great Adventures in New Jersey and in all of the other locations I’ve eaten at — Panera Bread is a great neighborhood restaurant that has free WiFi, plenty of tables, is clean and the food is great. Many possible combinations and they are all great tasting. Decent size portions, Panera members get freebies like drinks and desserts after every few meals.
I sometimes stop there after work if the dinner menu at home is not that appetizing or if the wife is too tired to cook. Always fresh, cheerful staff, nice choice of desserts, and drinks.
First time I ever tried a Panera Bread was in Orlando, Florida about five years ago and I preferred it over all the other fast food restaurants. I Have been back dozens of times ever since.

Quick and cheap — you get what you pay for. Better for lunch — leaves you hungry for dinner. I’ve heard other locations are better. I would hope so. Next time — well there won’t be one.

I hate writing bad reviews, I really do. but it’s almost a public service to do so these days.
The staff at this Panera is a group of young adults who obviously hate their jobs and have no interest in the service industry. I overheard one of the women say, «we should just close the doors so people don’t come in anymore so we can all go home early.» Red flag.
Also, as many of my reviews suggest, I am on a gluten free and dairy free diet. When I asked them about a salad they had (99% of the time it’s a safe bet for me), her response to me was, «My manager said that we don’t have a single thing that’s gluten free.» And I responded, puzzled, «Not even the salad?» And she responds, «I think the dressing has gluten in it.» She picks up a big book, flips through 2 pages while looking at the pastries and goes, «Yup, everything has gluten in it.»
So we left.
The biggest issue is that if you search «gluten free» when you’re in the area, Panera Bread comes up… you should change that right away, kthanks.

Service was quick. The place is huge. It was pretty busy when we got there.
Came on a Saturday around 3:30 and I heard them say to stop taking Mac n Cheese orders because they ran out! Huh?!
My half-​sandwich was a bit sad, though. Tasted fine.