Have Panera cafes always been sort of gross or have they gotten worse?

[Anonymous]

I’m referring to the in-store cleanliness and caliber of workers. I’m traveling for work and just ordered a sandwich. UMC suburb location. No drive-thru so I went inside and ordered on a screen. The wait was much longer than I thought, so I stood and waited by where the food comes out for 20 minutes.

The entire store was a disaster. Garbages overflowing. Tables not cleared. Cup lids out of stock. Drip coffee empty. And I’m not well-versed on all health code rules but it sure seemed like the three cooks were casually violating a lot of them, repeatedly. I learned one of the women just had child protective services called on her (she was sharing this with her colleagues). All three looked like they had poor hygiene.

I was so grossed out by it all I finally just walked out without getting my sandwich. I honestly lost my appetite.

[Anonymous]

The food is definitely so-so but I haven’t experienced any locations with conditions like you describe. Sounds like an issue with that particular store.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to Panera twice last year and both stores were a mess. I refuse to go back even though we still have gift cards.

[Anonymous]

Like many places during and since the pandemic, they’ve declined.

[Anonymous]

Ours is a mess but the workers are nice and the food is still ok for what it is.

[Anonymous]

The ones I go to are absolutely horrible. I probably won't go again. Tables are never cleaned, and the restroom hasn't been cleaned in a month. I don't know how they expect people to eat there. I have serious doubts about their cleanliness in the kitchen if they are willing to let their dining room look so bad.

they had no shame about adding tips at the registers though.

[Anonymous]

The bathrooms are also super gross. Soap gone, paper toweling empty…smell like urine…wet floors. I can’t blame the people who work there for peanuts, I wouldn’t be a cashier or cook AND janitor cleaning up bathrooms. But it’s nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The food is definitely so-so but I haven’t experienced any locations with conditions like you describe. Sounds like an issue with that particular store.

Same here.

[Anonymous]

It's almost always dirty enough for me to notice at the Falls Church location. And I'm kind of the opposite of a neat freak, so if I'm noticing it, it's pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's almost always dirty enough for me to notice at the Falls Church location. And I'm kind of the opposite of a neat freak, so if I'm noticing it, it's pretty bad.

Which Falls Church location? West Broad or another one? I always get curbside and now I'm wondering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's almost always dirty enough for me to notice at the Falls Church location. And I'm kind of the opposite of a neat freak, so if I'm noticing it, it's pretty bad.

Which Falls Church location? West Broad or another one? I always get curbside and now I'm wondering.

Yes, W. Broad.

[Anonymous]

I just went to the one in Aspen Hill Md this week and it was clean and the food was good. I have no complaints!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m referring to the in-store cleanliness and caliber of workers. I’m traveling for work and just ordered a sandwich. UMC suburb location. No drive-thru so I went inside and ordered on a screen. The wait was much longer than I thought, so I stood and waited by where the food comes out for 20 minutes.

The entire store was a disaster. Garbages overflowing. Tables not cleared. Cup lids out of stock. Drip coffee empty. And I’m not well-versed on all health code rules but it sure seemed like the three cooks were casually violating a lot of them, repeatedly. I learned one of the women just had child protective services called on her (she was sharing this with her colleagues). All three looked like they had poor hygiene.

I was so grossed out by it all I finally just walked out without getting my sandwich. I honestly lost my appetite.

It has Not been like this but we have noticed the same. We have stopped eating there. Yuck

[Anonymous]

Always been bland and grimy

[Anonymous]

They don’t care about the stores. Most of their revenue comes from catering, drive thru, to-go, and large door dash orders.