Panera Bread

I’ve been eating at this Panera bread for years. They’re always quick, efficient, and have never messed up my order in over 8 years. They never harassed me for staying 2 – 3 hours when I was a student and my internet was down as many other establishments often do. They had no problem with me using one of their lounge chairs and ordering coffees. I have always felt welcome and comfortable at Panera bread and I can always count on them for good food (and wifi!)

REVIEWS FROM 2 SEPARATE VISITS BELOW…
I can always count on Panera’s for a good salad and cup of tea or other compatible beverage. Salad vegetables are always fresh and in stock with the occasional exception of some variety not being available. Prices are lunch worthy but a better value if you buy a whole salad versus half portion. Best to avoid them during lunch rush (11am-1:30pm) as the lines are long and the quality of service is significantly compromised we found a few of the times we went. This last visit resulted in my chai latte tea being forgotten, my salad looking a bit less organized (although fresh & tasty) and they failed to offer me a «free treat for my inconvenience» (after I brought it to their attention) as they promise to do on the receipt. The teas are tasty and interesting
MAY 26 2016 VISIT…
They offer a free cookie as incentive to use the kiosk to place your order rather than a real person. After placing order though kiosk and getting seated, we were told that they were «all out of the kiosk cookie for the day» after a rebuttal from me… And a Little negative attitude from the server… They produced another «non-​kiosk» cookie? SEE PHOTO. My Thai salad and Cappuccino were decent.

As with other Paneras (Panerae?), sandwich and salad options that are a bit better than average; I thought the «power kale» caesar was very good actually, with crisp, fresh leaves, just enough dressing, and addictive little parmasean flatbread croutons, though the chicken pieces were a bit dry. Whereas at other Panera outlets coffee tends to be lukewarm, it was piping hot here. What really stood out is the service. The place was packed during a recent lunch stop, and we had to wait a few minutes for a table to clear, but our meal came out the minute we sat down. I’ve waited longer at Paneras (not to mention at McDonalds, Burger King, and the like) when they were much less busy. So I’d look favorably on a return visit here, even when I was pressed for time.

The food here is ok — not great, but ok. The customer service is terrible, which seems to be a company standard, since it holds true at every Panera I’ve ever eaten it. The management must not care.

I checked into Unilocal when I went to pick up a «Rapid Pick-​Up» order. On my way out I noticed that this Panera had fewer stars than I would have expected. What makes one Panera different from another Panera? I read the reviews. Several people commented that their orders had been wrong. I looked in my to go bag. Yep. My order was wrong.
I ordered two soups, both in bread bowls. No one had to make anything fresh. Just take the bread, cut the hole, pour the soup, done. My order was missing one bread bowl and both side dishes. I took my dinner order back inside and had these items added without a problem.
I drove back home thinking I was so clever to have checked before I left Panera. That feeling of cleverness was replaced with foolishness when I realized that my two soups were two different sizes. I had one entrée-​size soup and one side-​item-​size soup in my bag. How did this happen when I placed two identical orders? For SOUP?
I’m going to go ahead and help out fellow Unilocalers: if you order Rapid Pick-​Up from this location, be sure to check your order. I just want to remind you that checking your order means removing every individual item. Then comparing your items to your receipt. Then making sure that everything is included. Then opening your food items to make sure that they are correct. Maybe even comparing what you receive to menu descriptions just in case you end up with something totally wrong. It seems like an unnecessary step on the part of the customer, but it is really better for you to do it yourself to keep from raging once you get home.
Really though, avoid this location for take out orders.

I ordered a breakfast sandwich and large chicken Cobb. Bad on me for not checking but why I got home I had half a chicken Cobb and 2 knives to eat it!

This place is my comfort zone. I know when I’m craving a delicious salad or sandwich, I can rely on (particularly this) Panera to satisfy that craving. I love their Thai chicken salad, it’s always super fresh with juicy chicken and a hint of spiciness. The regular size is enough to fill me up and have me going for hours.
The service is always good, although sometimes the crew members sound/​seem just bored, but nonetheless very friendly. They’re prompt with getting the food out and when not very busy, they’ll bring it to your table. The only thing that really knocked it from a 5 star to a 4 is that they could work on keeping the restaurant a little more clean. The tables sometimes sit un-​bussed with debris on the tables and floor.

I have sort of a macro and a micro issue with this Panera Bread.
The larger issue is with Panera itself. The ingredients don’t taste that high of quality, yet the prices are far above what you’d pay at a peer sandwich/​salad place like Potbelly. Panera has done well marketing itself as a healthier fast food option, but a close calorie comparison on their menu quickly dispells this myth. So the food is overpriced, not that great of quality, and unhealthy. Why am I paying $ 10 for lunch again?
This location has consistent execution errors. Salad to go? They only fill their dressing cups up ½ way, so you’re forced to eat a dry salad or do like I did and drive all the way back to get more. I dined-​in last night eating a Cobb salad. Something was amiss and halfway through I realized they forgot to put bacon on it. These are just a couple examples. We’ve been here a couple dozen times at least, and I’d say 75% of the time they get something wrong with our order, which is never overly complicated with substitutions etc.
My final point is about the baked goods. They bake everything overnight, so it gets nice and stale as time goes on. Superior chain bagel execution can be found at a place like Einstein or Brugger’s that makes fresh bagels throughout the day.
Panera is panera. It’s depressing.

I’m a big fan of Panera bread… especially the Spinach Power salad!
This one is pretty good too. It’s small, so it’s tightly compacted… can’t say the lady at the counter was super friendly (which they usually are).
But the location isn’t too bad, and it appears to do a lot of volume efficiently.
3 Stars… average

Late dinner after working almost 12 hours. I’ve been to this location before and haven’t been disappointed. Tonight I was going to be really good and not get anything sweet, but the carrot cake was calling my name. The staff was extremely friendly and service was fast.

Always a long line no matter what time you get in. The staff focus on socializing more then trying to dissolve traffic, especially at lunch time. Orders get messed up most of the time. Our office is very close, we usually have more then one food order and it never comes out right.

This is a chain, so food doesn’t vary much. What bothers me is the limit they apply to internet use. Even when the place is not crowded, you’ll be kicked off after 30 minutes. This is allegedly only a lunch time thing. Otherwise I find it a great place to get some work done and have an expensive bagel.

I’m a big fan of Panera — I’m a massive fan of bread in general so how could I not love this place? Their freshly baked loaves, baguettes, bagels, and sourdough breadbowls are amazing. I also appreciate that they make and serve everything fresh, so even your meal is not exactly healthy (news flash: «fresh» does not necessarily equal «healthy») you can trust that it is natural and free of unnecessary additives.
They offer soups, salads, and sandwiches that are sure to delight anyone from the meat-​lover to the vegetarian, alike — there are even some vegan-​friendly options that are great (Black Bean Soup, for the win; also the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich is great minus cheese; and again who doesn’t love bagels?) too.
Oh, also, their lemonade and iced coffee are some of the best I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a quick bite in a semi-​classy form, Panera is your ideal destination. I’m told Panera can get expensive but, frankly, anywhere can — depending on how you order; I’ve never found it particularly pricey to feed myself here. But seriously, the Black Bean Soup in a Breadbowl is a win-​win, so show up on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday.

I’ve been coming to this Panera location for years. It’s clean, has plenty of seating, great food, friendly service, and I love my Panera rewards card. My favorite thing to get here is the tomato basil bisque. It’s wonderful.

Merciless and impatient cashiers. Tables left uncleared, unclean.

Panera is by far one of my favorite study spots, but this location seems to have been designed to detract from studiers. With the 30 minute limit on internet around lunchtime and the lack of tables near outlets, I can’t help but think it was a conscious effort to keep law students away. Fine, if that’s what you want Eisenhower Panera. I’ll go to another branch to savor my soup, salad, and hazelnut coffee.

Sucks… service!!!

Have you ever been to a Panera before?
Good. Then I can skip the review of the food, which is exactly the same as every other Panera, although the spread of baked goods seems more extensive than the usual.
Where this Panera differs from its brethren is that it’s especially large and a great place to bring your laptop for a few hours of focused work. Although it gets distractingly crowded around lunch, it’s otherwise a low-​key and quiet place to work. Grad students, take note.

This Panera is close to my house, so when I’m in the area, I’ll swing by and grab some coffee. I’m a fan of hazelnut coffee and it’s the only coffee I’ll get at Panera.
I also love their asiago cheese bagel… while I have tried other bagels, this is my favorite. I like their combo deals… ½ sandwich and a cup of soup… if you go often, make sure you get their ‘my panera’ card opened up… whenever you spent specific amount of money, you get free food items, like coffee, bagel, etc. There’s no fee to join, totally free.
This place gets busy in the morning when all the workers swing by as they head to work. It’s also busy during lunch time, especially during the weekends.
I haven’t had issues with the service… if you order food, you get a number and they will bring the food out to you. However, when you are done, make sure you take your plate, etc. and drop it off in the bins by the trash cans.
Overall, I’m a fan of Panera. Give them a try and judge it for yourself.

Well, Panera, here we are. There’s nothing about you that’s particularly remarkable… and yet, I can’t seem to get along without you.
When my mom came to visit me two summers ago, and we were wedding dress shopping, and we knew we’d be faint and cranky without lunch, here you were.
When things were feeling just a bit too crowded with the roommates, and I needed a place to drink coffee and read anonymously, here you were.
When our friends helped SK move to Ann Arbor and we needed an easy, early, but yummy breakfast before they hit the road, here you were. (Although I still resent a little bit that your overwhelmed staff gave away our soufflé – the last of its kind!)
And now that our apartment has somehow lost access to all the reliable open wireless networks that we used to have, and I can’t get to Unilocal from home, here you are.
With your bacon turkey bravo, your French onion soup, your hazelnut coffee, your «have a seat and we’ll bring your food» practice, your free wifi, and your cozy fireplace. And just far enough from campus that at 7:45 on a Tuesday, you’re only about half full, and mostly occupied with families and sleepy babies (oh come ON, sleepy baby, don’t start screaming on me now!), instead of stressed out students (I’m so done with that vibe!)
Your easy chairs seem custom-​designed for ultimate ugliness, and your music is seriously terrible (light jazz «Stand up for your Rights»? Really? I’m about to stand up for my rights all right.)
But I won’t, because right now, you are exactly what I need.