Panera Bread

We had dinner there a few nights ago. I really like the idea of building your own pizza and salad. The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious. My only gripe would be the parking but that’s the case with most of the fan area. I would definitely eat here again!

I am a huge Panera fan, so it pains me to review this location after my visit today. I want to start by stating that I by no means rate the food two stars, I am rating my less than satisfactory experience.
I was greeted by the unpleasant aroma of burnt toast. I believe the toasters were being used incorrectly, I could hear the manager attempting to «train her staff» as she yelled, seemingly frustrated– they didn’t appear to be listening.
I used the self kiosk system to avoid the line, pretty cool. Then, I waited at the pickup area, and my name appeared on the done side of the screen. So, I went to retrieve my bag, and the staff member standing at the counter handed me the bag. As I was walking out, I noticed I was missing my cup of fruit. When I went back, the staff member who handed me the bag said, «oh yeah, we don’t have the fruit for the fruit cup.» At that moment I realized she was complete cool with letting me roll out of the place without the side I was up-​charged for at the kiosk. She then unapologetically said they could get me one of the fruit cups from the front counter. I’m a pretty chill guy most of the time, so I said it was all good. I then waited 7 minutes for this cup of fruit, which was a mere 10 paces away. I completely understand when businesses are crowded and mistakes are made, but I believe a little staff retreat my be needed to bump up the customer service at his location. Panera boasts quality customer satisfaction, being in a college location doesn’t warrant poor service.

I go to Panera once a week, this one being my most frequent. The food is always good and good for you. Their Mac and cheese is absolutely amazing. Their staff is funny, upbeat, and friendly. Occasionally they’ll forget the extra baguette or chips I may add to the order, but they always fix the mistake and give you a free treat. Obviously, apology accepted. Their rewards program for frequent customers is also wonderful. With every few visits, you get a free or discounted item. I once got free coffee for a month! And they also celebrate your birthday. The only reason I’m giving a 4 star review, is because while they fix their mistakes, they’re pretty frequent. Otherwise, love Panera.

Got the chicken noodle soup for lunch. Good flavor however the bowl I got had mostly broth and very little else (noodles, vegetables, etc). The soup was also very oily. Also, checking the nutritional value a bowl of the chicken noodle soup, it is 170 calories but contains 1330 mg of sodium.

I really like this panera because of their location to my classes at Monroe park. They’re pretty efficient and always produce really great salads, soups and sandwiches. They’ve recently added a self-​checkout counter so be sure to give those a try. Overall, I’d day dining in is always better because the portions are heartier compared to taking food to-​go

Out of all the Paneras I’ve been to this is by far the worst. They’ve burned my food, forgotten to give me my food, taken 20 minutes to make a bagel and cream cheese while five people behind me get their orders, and served me incredibly bitter drinks due to the fact that they keep messing up the recipe. The final straw for me is the fact that I found cooking oil in my pumpkin spice latte, which is ridiculously nasty and gave me food poisoning.
Update: I went to talk to the manager at a different Panera and he talked down to me and told me I was allergic (I had one the night before), then told me that it was what I ate last night (I ate Panera for dinner last night), and then told me I mistook it for the syrup they used when you could clearly tell it was cooking oil. All in all its been a really bad experience.

The person taking my order was very rude.

Worst panera location. They assume everyone is a college student since its on campus so they skimp customers and treat them poorly. I ordered four bagels for a meeting and got one knife and one small cup of cream cheese which is generally only meant for one bagel. I had to go back to get more for the meeting and they just handed them to me. Isn’t the policy some sort of free cookie if they mess up your order? Awful service, awful location.

I’ve yet to encounter anything other than outstanding service at Panera, and this location is no exception. When picking up our meal, we noticed an item we had ordered at the cash register was mistakenly left off of the order. We expected to simply go back to the cashier, pay for the item, and then get it made… instead a customer rep stepped in and quickly made the order at no charge.
This is well above and beyond the customer service one expects at the average restaurant, and is always appreciated when one has a toddler in tow.
The food, of course, was delicious as always.

Even though I talk a lot about not liking corporate places when I go out to eat, I can’t help but say how much I like Panera. There’s certain staples I always tend towards when I go there, but everything on the menu is really quite delicious. Personally, I think their tuna salad sandwiches with everything on them (including mustard) are the most delicious thing on the menu cup, especially apparent with one of their fruit smoothies. But that’s just me — try it out for yourself and tell me what you like best!

I enjoy lunch at Panera, but the bagels are better from Einstein Brothers about three blocks away. I can’t eat lunch at Einstein’s because I don’t hold the belief that everything can or should be served on a bagel.
The only thing I don’t care for at lunch is that you could write «no pickle» in English, Spanish, and French, and the cooks are throwing the meals together so fast, they ignore my request. I freaking hate pickles and whatever damned lobby they created that thinks everyone needs a pickle with their meal.
The hot chocolate is a bit bitter for my taste, but it’s better than Starbucks. All said, I would go to 7-​Eleven for a hot chocolate if I were going to buy one.

They messed up my to go order. I live too far away to give them a chance to correct things. First impressions are only made once!

This Panera location is conveniently located on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. It can get busy during lunch and dinner times. Compared to other Panera locations, this one is a bit small. Service here is great. I’ve had no complaints every single time that I’ve been here. I think its a perfect place to have a hangout with a friend. The parking lot is really small and can get really crowded.

I usually come to Panera Bread for lunch and desserts. The broccoli and cheese bread bowl is a winner in my book. I like the panini’s as well. The cinnamon rolls are tasty (warm). I never can eat just one. This location usually stays busy with VCU students studying. Prime lunch hours are busy during the week. There’s a small patio area in front of the restaurant. The patio area fills up fast on a nice day. The atmosphere is always live at this location. The parking can be a hassle. There’s a small lot in front of the restaurant but that’s hit or miss. The employees are friendly. The summer is more laid back. I give this Panera Bread location a 3.5 rating.

Food is about the same at all locations. This one is poor when it comes to customer service. No pager or call from the pick up area so I guess they expect telepathy. We had to wait on counter girl while she yucked it up w her boyfriend, then didn’t understand our order.
I like these places but this one sucks when it comes to service.

Great!!!

I really only need to say one thing… French onion soup in a bread bowl. Absolutely divine. Now go and get some. You can thank me later.

Just like any other Panera Bread: an awesome study environment, good music, plenty of seating, Wi-​Fi, opened til 8pm Sundays and 9pm weekdays. Not bad. Plus, the food (and my love… coffee) has been good whenever I go. This Panera is nestled in a fairly ideal study environment surrounded by restaurants from Ethiopian food to Chipotle. The collegiate environment is also refreshing for those who live in the Bottom or Downtown.
The To-​Eats:
1. Salmon Salad (~$ 10): a fairly large bowl of greens, choice of dressing plus a fist-​sized salmon portion. It was simply delicious.
2. Any of the «Pick 2» choices (e.g. ½ salad, ½ soup).
3. Coffee – iced or hot. My favorite: Hazelnut. They are pretty conscious about the coffee’s freshness and label the coffee accordingly.
4. Scones. Tried the strawberry scone (glazed with bits of the fruit).
The Do-​not-​like-​to-​Eats:
1. Cinnamon scone. OK, so the scones are good, but this one is way too cinammon-​y and sugary for me.
The Downside:
Parking. The lot’s fairly small for both Chipotle and Panera customers. If you come during a busy lunch time, it’ll be hard to find parking. Street parking is also rare to come by around there given the area’s ongoing construction. I recommend arriving at a non-​meal time or walking over from further away.
Overall, I’d recommend this place for a lax meeting or study session with friends. Food’s like any other Panera’s. The cashiers always have smiles on their faces. The bathrooms and eating areas are constantly kept clean. I’ll definitely be back.

I went here every morning during my college visit, and it was great! The place was clean and it had a lot of interesting paintings! It wasn’t too crowded like most Panera places but unlike most of them, the staff here were so warm and friendly!

Every Panera that I’ve ever been to is the exact same (which is a good thing). Wood interior with one of those industrial economic green, burgundy patterns, big windows, natural lighting, and a grip load of pastries. This one in Richmond is no different. Big crowd when the undergrads are in their finals season. My new discovery? The cobblestone muffin. Cinnamon, apple, raisins, frosting, sort of a chewy texture. Ask for a knife and a fork.