Panera Bread is gross

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only good thing about Panera is that they donate the food at the end of the day. I volunteered at a homeless shelter and someone would go down the street every night at closing and bagged up all of the bread, cookies, bagels, etc. They don't throw away the food.

That's good to know. I used to work at a coffee shop when I was a broke college student and it pained me to throw perfectly good food in the trash.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who agrees on how nasty this place is.

I went once and was totally underwhelmed. And thought it was heinously overpriced for what you get

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a recent thread about this. I agree it's gross. The chicken on the salads is repulsive.

What do you like to eat out instead? Or do you prefer to homecook all your meals from scratch with only organic ingredients?

NP, but where shall i start? Cava, Sweetgreen, zoes...

Panera is disgusting. If Panera is the only option, I'd rather go hungry and wait. If im going to eat a high calorie meal, it better not be garbage

+1000

Might as well get McDonalds and actually enjoy it and KNOW that it's a trash meal than have one that tastes virtuous and is really bad for you with the same amount of processing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good for what it is. A place to work, use WiFi, and have coffee / pastry or lunch. I've used it several times for work catering and have been happy with it. I wouldn't choose to go there other and those reasons.

That is actually why I DON'T like it--too many people going in to buy a cup of coffee and camping out all day with their laptop. So many times I've tried to go in to eat, and there is no where to sit because someone who bought one drink 3 hours ago is taking up a whole table for six.

It makes me wonder if they are really meant to be a restaurant, or is it primarily a remote work place like Regus, that happens to sell food.

+1. Can't stand that. They should have a rule for that.

They do. It is published on the web-site that you accept the WiFi policies when you connect. The rule is that during busy times (anytime there are no tables) that WiFi use is limited to 30 minutes. If you have troubles finding a place to sit, go back to the counter and ask for the manager. Explain that there are no seats and that there are several patrons who have been there for more than 30 minutes. The manager should go around and ask some of the people who have an old dead cup of coffee to vacate their tables. If however, they go back and purchase new food, they can stay. If not, they have to vacate. The manager should be able to clear some tables. It's been a while, but I've seen managers ask patrons to vacate their tables when they were not eating/drinking.

[Anonymous]

It's a fast food place. We've done the quick pick up option on crazy days. Not delicious food but better than other fast food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a fast food place. We've done the quick pick up option on crazy days. Not delicious food but better than other fast food.

Agreed. Better than McD's or Wendy's but pretty much the same. We only get it when we are desperate and want drive through.

[Anonymous]

I love their cinnamon crunch bagels and they will give you as much butter as you want!
I prefer butter over cream cheese.

[Anonymous]

I as never a fan but I was with someone who loves the place and the other day we went. The Summer Corn Chowder was actually really good! Not too many spices, you could taste the corn and a very pleasant aroma.

[Anonymous]

Sitting in Panera as I type this...y’all out yo minds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is fine for fast casual. Not great, but better than McD or Wendy's.

This.

Big step up from yuckier places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good for what it is. A place to work, use WiFi, and have coffee / pastry or lunch. I've used it several times for work catering and have been happy with it. I wouldn't choose to go there other and those reasons.

That is actually why I DON'T like it--too many people going in to buy a cup of coffee and camping out all day with their laptop. So many times I've tried to go in to eat, and there is no where to sit because someone who bought one drink 3 hours ago is taking up a whole table for six.

It makes me wonder if they are really meant to be a restaurant, or is it primarily a remote work place like Regus, that happens to sell food.

+1. Can't stand that. They should have a rule for that.

They do. It is published on the web-site that you accept the WiFi policies when you connect. The rule is that during busy times (anytime there are no tables) that WiFi use is limited to 30 minutes. If you have troubles finding a place to sit, go back to the counter and ask for the manager. Explain that there are no seats and that there are several patrons who have been there for more than 30 minutes. The manager should go around and ask some of the people who have an old dead cup of coffee to vacate their tables. If however, they go back and purchase new food, they can stay. If not, they have to vacate. The manager should be able to clear some tables. It's been a while, but I've seen managers ask patrons to vacate their tables when they were not eating/drinking.

YOu want to spend 30 minutes standing there to know who has been there too long. I am taking my food with me if there are not tables.

[Anonymous]

All the Panera hate? Really?? Who knew?

I love Panera. Kids have something to eat, and I prefer it over McDs or Wendys. (Though not over Taco Bell, because.... well, because Taco Bell!).

Love their Thai Chicken Salad, and the Greek Salad with Chicken.

Someone else mentioned the Frontega Chicken Panini - also a hit at our house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one af Wheaton Plaza is the the best - good food, great customer service. Very popular so they run out of seats.

In general I wish they'd take some salt out of the food otherwise it's good.

I went to the Wheaton one for coffee and there were three roaches on the coffee cream and sugar counter. Repulsive!

I don't like the Wheaton one, but I do like the one at Aspen Hill!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I as never a fan but I was with someone who loves the place and the other day we went. The Summer Corn Chowder was actually really good! Not too many spices, you could taste the corn and a very pleasant aroma.

Yes, I just had the corn chowder the other day with the Med Veggie sandwich. I really enjoyed my meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good for what it is. A place to work, use WiFi, and have coffee / pastry or lunch. I've used it several times for work catering and have been happy with it. I wouldn't choose to go there other and those reasons.

That is actually why I DON'T like it--too many people going in to buy a cup of coffee and camping out all day with their laptop. So many times I've tried to go in to eat, and there is no where to sit because someone who bought one drink 3 hours ago is taking up a whole table for six.

It makes me wonder if they are really meant to be a restaurant, or is it primarily a remote work place like Regus, that happens to sell food.

+1. Can't stand that. They should have a rule for that.

They do. It is published on the web-site that you accept the WiFi policies when you connect. The rule is that during busy times (anytime there are no tables) that WiFi use is limited to 30 minutes. If you have troubles finding a place to sit, go back to the counter and ask for the manager. Explain that there are no seats and that there are several patrons who have been there for more than 30 minutes. The manager should go around and ask some of the people who have an old dead cup of coffee to vacate their tables. If however, they go back and purchase new food, they can stay. If not, they have to vacate. The manager should be able to clear some tables. It's been a while, but I've seen managers ask patrons to vacate their tables when they were not eating/drinking.

YOu want to spend 30 minutes standing there to know who has been there too long. I am taking my food with me if there are not tables.

No. You don't actually have to know who has been there. If there are no tables free, just go talk to the manager. The manager will clear some tables. You may not know, but the managers often have an idea who has been there the longest. There are usually 2-3 managers or asst managers on duty and one of them periodically circulates through the dining room or checks on the staff cleaning the tables and they often know people who have been camped there for 2-3 passes. I've gone to a manager a few times over the years and more than once, by the time I got back to the dining room, a table had cleared. Only had a couple of times that a manager had to actually ask someone to vacate a table for other guests.