Panera Bread

Panera Bread is really good. The food is always fresh and the menu is large enough even the pickiest of eaters (ie: me) can find mouth watering choices. I love the country bread, cheese bread, cinnamon bagels and their baked goods! All aboard the carb caboose! I think the prices are fair, some may think they are high. Be prepared to hear at least once during your visit "wait, what? *insert menu item here* is *insert 'ridiculous' price here*?!?!" But that sums up my only gripe about Panera Bread: the OTHER customers. I have a list of things I could complain about but I'm unsure of the character limit here on this review so I'll limit it down to the most pressing. a) You order and you pay up front. You collect your meal 10 feet away in the back. I'm not sure why but there seems to be a phenomena that causes people to suddenly get nearsightedness when entering Panera Bread. b) If you are going to give a fake name to the person up front to attach to your order PLEASE REMEMBER IT! The rest of us will have to be subjected to hearing it called roughly every 20 seconds. I've been tempted more than once to go collect said unclaimed meal and throw it into the fireplace. c) People who 'move in'. Panera is not an extension of your home, don't treat it as such! The free wi-fi of course adds to the problem. Panera Bread is not: Your office, your dorm, your living room, or the proper place to make loud cell phone calls regarding your/your loved one's medical history/relationship status, take your shoes off and or clip your toenails. It seems like people like staying in the restaurant for hours. I'd say an hour to hour and a half should be the window, then you get thrown out and have day old bread pelted at you. This problem contributes to the fact that while there is ample seating...the turn over rate for these seats is very slow...so people with freshly ordered food often have nowhere to sit during busy times. I hope this has offered illumination.

I was just there yesterday and had lunch. I have a chicken salad. Everytime I go there I always enjoy what I get. The service changes sometimes it's standard and sometimes the young employees could offer better customber service. The good news is the food is always consistant.