Anonymous wrote:I actually love Panera and probably get it once a week. Their baked potato and chicken and wild rice soups are so yummy and I love their salads. I don't find them expensive at all. My husband and I will get two "you pick two" items and 2 drinks and it's around $25?

It's garbage empty calorie not fresh at all fast food. The meal you paid $25 for isn't worth $5.

Anonymous wrote:Then, don't go??

Haven't been in years, we just had their catering for lunch. Worse than I remember!

Yep. Everything, even baked goods, is prepared in regional factories, frozen and shipped. The baked goods are thawed and finished at the store.

I actually love Panera and probably get it once a week. Their baked potato and chicken and wild rice soups are so yummy and I love their salads. I don't find them expensive at all. My husband and I will get two "you pick two" items and 2 drinks and it's around $25?

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you, their food is not good and I do not understand why so many people seem to love it.

The food is legit gross. I don't get it. I think they just acquired Au Bon Pain too, so that's another place to avoid.

Never eat it around here, but when we're driving down I-95, it's always a welcome stop compared to the other options. Same thing when visiting my family in the boonies in the south.

I agree 100%, OP.

All of their food has an odd taste to it, to me.

I haven't been in a while, but it was always our go to for quick fast food when travelling. Easy to eat reasonably healthy meals and pretty consistently decent.

Agree with you, their food is not good and I do not understand why so many people seem to love it.

I do agree that it's expensive for a quick service restaurant, but I enjoy it and think it's tasty!

Did you just recently go for the first time? IMO, it used to be much better than it is now.

There was a long thread about this just a few months ago. Why start a new thread? Just comment on the old one:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/644233.page

Then, don't go??

Remember the "Panera voters" in was it Atlanta? It's marketed as this place upper middle class people love. Rich kids study at after school. This place sucks. Coffee sucks, sandwiches on par with airport refrigerators, dry bread, microwaved soups from a bag. And it's sort of expensive!