Panera Bread

Could I really say something bad about Panera Bread? Maybe that the parking and the line no matter the location is always difficult and long, but well worth it.
Panera seems to hire the most pleasant employees. I been going to this location for awhile and every time I have a great experience, wether it be dine in or take out always a wonderful experience. This location is always very clean inside and very welcoming, makes you feel at home.
I love how if you dine in you are given your food on a plate as if to enjoy it, as if you were at home. The food is always wonderful. I am such a big fan of the chicken noodle soup and the Italian sandwiches.
Panera also offers a very quick order online service and can pick it up inside without waiting in any line. It’s very wonderful to go in and out. And still enjoy fresh hot food.
This Panera always has tables outside with umbrellas to enjoy your meals outside with a loved one or even alone. Great way to relax and enjoy.
I really love this location, the employees and the food. I encourage this location and Panera Bread in general if you like sandwiches, soups and pastries.

My feeling is that sandwiches have bee going very downhill! I tried again today… something advertised as a steak sandwich (steak & white cheddar) What a crock of S — -. It came out on a lousy dry roll, not panini’ed (i.e. grilled), a cheap cold roll as in cheap bread. Where was the beef? the menu said steak??? It was cold roast beef!!! and a cheap tasting slice of no flavor cheddar cheese, and I mean cheap, could have partially been imitation cheddar. What a crock, to lie on their menus! The sandwich was gross.
It also seems to me that their retail whole loaves of bread have been looking cheaper and cheaper…

I don’t go to this location if I have the choice. I’ve stopped 3 times and all 3 times, the line was pretty long (plus the set up at counter is weird anyway), it’s loud inside, and the seating is not as comfortable or available as other nearby locations. Also, the parking is shared and always full, making parking a pain as well.

This is a typical Panera. The food is consistent, you know what you get. The place was very very busy, yet really organized in terms of servers to help distribute food on the customer side of the counter, as well as clean up tables/​pick up your plates for you. Although I would recommend the cranston or east greenwich location above this spot (these other locations remain slightly ahead in terms of cleanliness and service), this is a standard Panera to visit. Highly recommend the split soup/​salad option, especially the classic café salad and the black bean soup.

Southwest chicken on flat bread. Broccoli Cheddar in a bread bowl. Endless decent ice coffee. It’s all about consistency. You can depend on that fact that every single one will give you the same quality and taste. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of chain restaurants. Unless they derive a certain percentage of their meats and produce from local sources. But when it comes right down to it, the bread is great, The soup was great, the flatbread was tasty but it could have come out of a box.

I have eaten assorted bagels, breads and breakfast items here on numerous occasions. some of the best bagels I’ve ever had came from here and the egg soufflé is out of this world delicious!!! I have yet to try the lunch items but if it’s as delicious as the other items are I can’t wait to try it.
I can totally see why every time I drive by I see panera packed while chipotle AKA deluxe Taco Bell right next door is not busy.

I have eaten catered bagels and sandwiches from Panera at work a couple times and they are great! When I eat here at the restaurant though, the food is less than impressive. Ordered a sandwich on one visit, and was offerer bread as a side… really? A baguette as a side… for a sandwich.

I’m actually really surprised about the negative reviews!
I come here a lot for lunch and I really do love their food. This one remains consistent with the others I have been to. I am pretty indecisive so I like to look on their website prior to leaving work so that I know exactly what I want. They also have a nutritional section online where you can add up everything that you are eating.
Customer service has always been great! I have never had to wait a long time for food and I’ve had conversations with a lot of the people that take my order, they seem very sweet!

I love the quiches and bagels. Everything bagel is my favorite. The staff is awesome. Always friendly always pleasant. I go there a lot and they seem to recognize me which means a lot. They do breakfast great … The only thing that stops from it getting five stars is I haven’t had any good sandwiches there yet. They all seem to be lacking something. Maybe I just have a more tricky pallet but they are boring. I will still go there for breakfast and coffee.

I realized after I wrote a ‘Tip’ for this Panera that I should have really written a review! I have been to this Panera many times and have always eaten in. When I ordered a salad it usually comes in a large bowl and I usually can’t finish it. Well…
This week I was famished and was at Smithfield Commons doing several errands before I had to go to an appointment. On the way out I decided to stop into Panera and get a Poppyseed chicken salad which also has fruit and pecans in it and also a small ½ Green tea ½ lemonade drink. I knew I was pressed for time so I asked the person who took my order if he would please have them put it in a To Go container just in case I had to leave. No problem he said. I paid the $ 12+ and waited for my order.
When it was ready I picked it up and sat in a booth. Problem #1 no pecans. Ok that can happen. I had mentioned to the order taker that I had an ALMOND allergy but pecans were fine. When I went back to the person that made the salad they said I was allergic to nuts. When I explained to her that it was just almonds, she looked at me and said well here are your pecans and tossed them… not so happily, on the salad.
Then Problem # 2 … I noticed the size of the salad (same one which I had) that the woman in the next booth had. It was made mine look dwarfed!!! Mine looked like I had ordered the half salad. Since I was pressed for time I just ate it and left.
Now don’t get me wrong, the salad was very good and I realize that a container is more expensive than a reusable bowl and that most people that get something in a to go container don’t usually open the bag until they get home or back to work but seriously now… they knew I was going to start eating it there. Had I gotten it in a bowl and then asked for a container later to take my leftovers with me what difference would it have made???
Needless to say this trip to Panera in Smithfield Commons was NOT one of my better experiences. Live and learn.

This is the first time that I tried this chain restaurant. I was in a pinch and I wanted a sandwich and through I maybe be able to get a more upscale one here.
WAS I WRONG!!!
I go in around 7PM and place is in a shambles. I guess they were busy earlier because it wasn’t when I went in and behind the counter was a dump. Trash all over, employees stepping in it.
I order the signature Turkey Avocado BLT. I will concede one thing. I got the small baguette as the side and is was pretty good, but the sandwich was a disaster.
The sandwich came with large uncut pieces of avocado and big hunks of green leaf lettuce. The sandwich tasted awful and it suffered from the worst sin of sandwiches soggy wet bread. They toasted the sandwich with the veggies on it so you get warm mushy vegetables and soggy bread.
For a 10 dollar small sandwich with barely any turkey, it was terrible, almost inedible.
Go to D’Angelo’s instead don’t waste your time. And for anyone who thinks the food from this place is better for you, take a look at the nutritional content. It is some of the most unhealthy food you’ll ever order.
Thanks

So, yes I am reviewing a chain, and not in an extremely negative light.
My mom and I went out for an afternoon of shopping and I suggested a snack before parting ways. SHe is always down for a pastry and I hadn’t had any lunch so I suggested Panera to satisfy her sweet tooth and put something a bit hearty into my tummy.
It was a down time and for once it wasn’t clear where the line was. The tomato soup i had was consistent and I love the fact that they are made by a New England company, Blount fine foods.

I have been to alot of Paneras for many meals and to this location for breakfast only. The two main difference from other Paneras are as follows. One, I find as previously stated is this place has no fireplace like many Panera locations (The new Lincoln Panera does not have a fireplace so this may be a RI fire code). Two, this location has the most lively and best «early morning» people watching crowd of all the Paneras I’ve visited. On a side note, the biggest draw back might be parking as the lot is shared with 2 other table service restaurants which open later in the day.

I like this Panera, nice enough people, good food. Interior is getting a little raggedy but just get your food to go.

Aside from the fact that this Panera is the closest location to my humble abode. This Panera is conveniently situated at the entrance/​exit of the Smithfield crossings. Where you can have your *insert bakery item here* and eat it too!
It’s definitely the most busiest Panera I have been to. Come around lunch time and you have a diverse set of people with co-​workers chatting over last years revenue, students quizzing over a set of flash cards, girlfriends returning from their mini-​shopping spree and young families with their little ones.
It is a chain restaurant, so the menu is pretty standard. Just like every other Panera out there. They have a calorie count corresponding to the menu item (for you health conscious folk). The food isn’t «extraordinary» but you have to admit that it definitely ranks higher on the list of «fast-​food-​ish» fan fare. So I can’t complain.
Despite the hustle and bustle in this Panera they are still very efficient at serving the food quick and to your table (should you be patient enough to wait). The parking lot can be a bit of a nightmare if you hate to walking. All in all it’s pretty decent here.

This is my favorite Panera location. The employee’s are friendly and helpful. The baked goods are much better than the Attleboro location. The pumpkin pie bagels are seasonal but to die for. I get them with honey walnut cream cheese. They’re so worth the 2000 calories and the chunky thighs. My only wish would be a peanut free baked good menu. They have this amazing display of coffee rolls, muffins and cute little iced pumpkins cookies right next to peanut butter cookies. My poor 4 year old gazes upon the goods with hungry eyes, drooling on the glass. Then explodes into tears when I inform him everything contains peanuts.
«But why?!» Why? 5 stars if the yummies wouldn’t kill my kid.

Whoa! This place was packed on a Sunday afternoon. The bakery was well-​stocked and the food was prepared well, but it seemed like the staff lacked pep in their step. I’ve definitely been to Paneras where, even though the place was busy, the service was fast and efficient. At this Panera, the guy delivering food seemed lost and the manager, who was working behind the counter, seemed a little frazzled. However, nothing would deter me from going here again. The place was clean and everyone was friendly.

I have spent many hours at this panera to study for tests and I find this Panera to be average and at times above average. Food is standard and you get what you order. I usually like their bagels and espresso drinks. The few reasons why I will keep coming to this Panera are:
1. They have adopted the new system where they bring the food and drinks to your table. I really like that because I can go find a seat and not stranded next to the narrow corridor waiting for my food.
2. I can always find parking outside.
3. There are plenty of power outlets along the tables near the window. I can always find a seat to chill with my ipad/​computer to get a few things done.
4. There is a Target, Home Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and etc within the same area. It makes my trip worthwhile!

Panera Bread is OK at best. They have really good soup but other than that everything is else is meh to average. If you get the sandwich as the «Pick 2 Combo» it is this little tiny thing with a few tiny pieces of meat and always seems greasy. I find it very overpriced and not worth the money. I try my best to be healthy and was looking at the nutrition facts. I have no clue how they jam so much unhealthiness in sandwiches that are so small. It is one of life’s great mysteries. Take a look one day you will be shocked. I don’t mind eating unhealthy from time to time but those sandwiches are not worth the destruction to any healthiness you are trying to accomplish.
If you find yourself at a Panera go with the soup that is the best thing you will find there.

I love Panera’s bread and soup, but I find the rest of the food a little greasy (breakfast + lunch sandwiches), sweet (mochas), and overpriced (small portions for big money). Still their black bean soup is amazing and their bread is soft and yummy, so I still come back.
I also find the layout of their restaurant to be comfortable for sitting down with a good book or a stack of work.