Panera Bread

(This review is strictly for the PM after dinner time – I am never here during the day.)
My BIG peeve with Panera is the imposition of the «half» sandwich.
Who the F**k came up with this?
Why is the «half» the norm and the «full» treated like a minority? I guess to save money? Weird. But what if you’re REALLY hungry?
(That’s why 80% of Panera’s patrons are female. They naturally eat less & always need to keep skinny – so this is diet food). Whatever.
The «full» is also terribly OVER-​PRICED. (If this was Subway –the foot-​long would be $ 24.99 .) Ridiculous.
The sandwiches are also POORLY made and uneven. Something is always lop-​sided and falls out on your tray or lap. Are the staff told «OK– pile everything in the dead center –all evenly on top of each other – do not attempt to use the spaces on the outskirts of the bread –direct center only — pile it as high as it can go so that it will all plop out when eaten». Does one need a 12 hour course on how to make a sandwich? When they are at home do they put all the peanut butter & jelly in the direct center of the bread in a ball?
Not a fan.
So why 4 stars ?
NOT for Panera’s food. (I do like their Bear Claws though !)
The 4 stars are for Panera’s S P A C E .
Longitude & Latitude. Comfy seating and plenty of it!
Long Island has gotten so OVER-​POPULATED that there is simply NO ROOM anymore.
Anywhere.
Going out to dinner on a Friday & Saturday night has become a nightmare.
(Please Unilocalers – expect an HOUR WAIT. I’m really tired hearing about this.)
I never do it anymore. And now because of the influx of imported wealth in the area; Thursday is the new Friday! Forget it!
(I’m waiting for Wednesday to be the new Thursday so that I can only go out on Monday nights on this wretched Island.)
The Culprit: Across the street.
The Syosset Starbucks.
See it ?
Yeah well it is impossible to get a seat there. Why? Recent renovations removed seats to make… a big empty space in the middle of the store… because…um??? Why? I dunno – ask them .
This Starbucks has become a study hall for local pre-​med students (PM – after dinner time) .
If you are reading this now– you probably know some of them. Maybe some of them are your sons & daughters even? (If that is the case– PLEASE drive them to the public library instead of Starbucks!)
Well – they camp out there EVERY SINGLE NIGHT taking up all the seats piling mountains of text books and electronics while studying, texting and chit-​chatting with each other. Sometimes they get a coffee or a drink. Other times… they order NOTHING. Sometimes they come in with their OWN food & drinks! I have seen this myself.
For some reason they cannot go to the Syosset Public Library (which is HUGE!) and do this.
Also-​now most public libraries have modern coffee shops inside as well!
So yeah– deconstruction & pre-​med-​i-​tation (I’m so tired now even my puns are deflating) have ruined this Starbucks…(plus the staff got worse)…um what was my point here???
Oh yeah:
That’s where Panera comes in!
Buy your drink at Starbucks, walk across the street to Panera & go in– order a bagel or a pastry and choose from dozens of comfy booths, chairs & tables. Even on a Saturday or Sunday night ! These places are HUGE! You can’t possibly fill them! PLEASE DO NOT LET THE PRE-​MED STUDENTS KNOW about this place though.
Promise?
P. S. I do like Paneras mini-​quiches! Delicious! They never have them out at night – only the day.

I’m not a big fan of this Panera Bread at this location. It’s right on Jericho Turnpike, which is convenient, but annoying when you pull out the parking lot, due to the traffic. They have a decent size parking lot but the spots fill up quickly since they share the lot with other businesses. For lunch, I recommend coming earlier to beat the rush because it gets really busy. The first time I went there for lunch, I was making circles around the dining area just looking for table to eat on. On the up side, they do have an option where you order/​pay online and they will have it ready for you when you arrive. Therefore if you decide to eat here, plan ahead.

This Panera bread is horrible! There are flies everywhere and one landed on my food. The tables were dirty so I decided to eat outside. I went up and asked for some more dressing for my salad and I was serviced by a blonde manger. She seemed like she didn’t even wanna be there and all I asked for was dressing and she was so snotty to me. I don’t think I’m ever going back if finding a clean place to sit and dressing is the end of the world for these people and that lady.

Place is very clean and staff is very friendly
but when you get a half salad that’s what you should get. I ordered a half of a Chicken Ceasar salad with an apple and I got a half a salad bowl with half the salad in the bowl. Barely any salad and barely any dressing. So disappointed!

im happy with the food and for the 1^st time i can say most of the people who work there are nice but the parking lot is always crazy i can never get a spot anf its in a area where traffic is bad

I find this particular location a pleasure to visit. Friendly staff and in four visits, plenty of seating. That is not the case in other locations, particularly the one in Carle Place which it seems the world goes to regularly. Many a time I have stood with trays in hand, my kids tugging at my shirt, waiting for a table to open up there. But not here.
As far as the food, it is consistent with most Panera locations I have visited. Will be going back.

If you want your order to be completely messed up (paid for chicken on my sandwich and no chicken was added, panini burnt to a crisp, among other issues) please order Rapid Pickup from this Panera location.

This is a nice Panera with a good location. The staff are friendly, capable and helpful. The rewards program is neat. They offer a free birthday pastry and, as you accumulate points, free food items. The food is consistently well prepared and tasty.
The downside is the parking lot. It’s crowded, too small for the restaurant and has a narrow entry. When you leave its sometimes difficult to get onto Jericho Turnpike. Sneak out the back way and use the side access road.
For fast food, it’s a good choice.

This Panera is a place that I frequent on a weekly basis. It is a very well organized and managed establishment. They do a terrific job taking in orders and moving the food. You do not wait any length of time to get what you ordered. The restaurant is clean and roomy, and the staff are well trained on customer service skills. I’m a ‘lunch’ diner and I like their soups especially the Creamy Tomato and the Baked Potato. Their sandwiches are great too. Try the Sierra Turkey. They serve a great Lemonade too. There is ample parking alongside and in the back. PB also does a fine job with their catering.
There’s a reason why I go to this place regularly. It is not just for the Rewards Program, it is the consistency of their quality food and service. Try it out, you will not be disappointed. gk

Love this location! Very speedy service and always clean! Keep up the good work guys!

WHOA! This Panera is confirmation as to why I try NOT to come to their stores. Being on Jericho Tpke, their location is great for customer traffic but awful for legitimate traffic. When you can eventually get into the parking lot, it is a mess and a half. The lot is small and I was terrified that I was going to run a hungry patron over.
Inside, it was just as hectic. I went during peak lunch hour (shame on me), and the crowd was dense. While the staff was efficient in getting customers in and out, the amount of people there was simply overwhelming. I didn’t bother trying to find a seat because they had all been occupied by businessmen and mothers with strollers.
The food was good, as expected, but the chaos may not be worth it.

Awesome half and half offerings for lunch.
Get the Panera card for free upgrades and dessert.
Not too expensive.
Healthy salads and Ice Teas.

Great panera. Very nice space with a big fireplace. However, the parking lot was a mess.

As far as panera goes, this is a great one. The staff is really friendly, and we can always manage to find a seat. Sometimes the coffee is a little weird (AKA bad) but last time I just told one of the employees, and she gave me a new cup to try a different coffee, which was much better.
I’d recommend the chicken avocado cobb salad. OH and I recently discovered that you can get extra chicken for $ 2 ($ 1 on a half salad), which is definitely worth it if you’re looking for a little more protein.

The salads come with nuts… tell them at ordering and once you pick up at the window. The service and restaurant are good.

I been to a few Panera’s and I’m always a fan. Their service and food quality is always great.

Good, fresh coffee! Go up to grab a refill, too as its self service.
Friendly service. Very clean.
Right by a DSW, so have your dose of caffeine then shop away!

Experienced Panera for the first time at this location. Staff is always friendly, and food is always fresh and prepared well. Dining area is always clean and there is always a place to sit, never overly crowded. Always my go to spot when I don’t feel like cooking dinner.

I have been eating at Panera for YEARS so I would feel a little bad giving it anything less than 5 stars. For what it is, it’s a 5-​star. It’s quick, healthy, and the food is decent. It’s not the most amazing food on the face of the planet, but it’s tasty, and I get the Panera urge relatively often.
You have to get the MyPanera card. It’s one of those rewards clubs that’s actually worth it, save room on your keyring or wallet for it and discard the countless others you have wasting space. I get all giddy when I have a free reward waiting for me. I was just informed that a free pastry awaits me. Helloooooo, tasty cookie. Or muffie. Or pumpkin pie. Or cinnamon roll. Or… maybe I’ll stick with my New Year’s resolutions…
Anyways, good salads, good paninis, good soup and good iced tea — love the acai berry. Unsweetened, and better than (in my opinion) S-​bucks iced passion tea, plus it’s cheaper. Win-​win.
You may not know this, but they do have baked chips instead of the fried if that’s what you’re craving on the side. Some (normal) people don’t want bread to go with their bread. I’m always somewhat bewildered when I order a bread bowl, and they ask, «Do you want bread with that?» …You literally just gave me a bowl of bread. Um, no, I want not bread, thank you very much.
Fav’s include the chicken noodle soup, Asian sesame salad, tomato and mozz panini (with chicken added sometimes — yum), Thai chopped, the list goes on. Oh and the toffee crunch cookie, I dream of thee. I am very sad that last year they had the mint chocolate cookie for the holidays and this year they have red velvet. Most people might think I’m crazy for saying this, but… I hate red velvet. There. I said it. I might as well order a whole baguette to go with my bread bowl now.

New and very clean.
Tons of places to sit.
Always crowded but the staff knows how to move the line along.
I enjoy the chicken noodle soup with bread.
I also enjoy the turkey sandwich.
The cookies are tasty. (go for the m&m one)
The other baked goods are just okay, nothing special.
Food comes out quick and hot (well, the hot items come out hot and the cold ones cold of course)
One of the cleaning ladies, I didn’t catch her name but she was very friendly and cleared my plates even though she didn’t have to. I am grateful for her kindness.
If you need a quick lunch this is a good place to go.