I visited the new Panera location for the first time today. I ordered the vanilla cream almond cold brew. As an avid coffee drinker, it was terrible. The coffee tasted watery with almond milk. I took my drink back to the counter & spoke with the general manager. She told me I couldn’t get a refund for a drink I didn’t like. Really?????? So she made me a latte with caramel. It tasted like a cold glass of milk. No coffee whatsoever. I will NEVER buy cold coffee drinks HERE again! Vegetarian options: Non dairy milk
I placed an online order that should’ve been ready at 5:28 PM. Went to go pick it up. It wasn’t ready until 5:48 PM. Nobody apologized said anything wouldn’t even look at me.
Went to get breakfast. Ordered three bagels, cold brew, and a parfait. They ended up being out of two of the bagels we asked for. They didn't follow directions on prep for the bagels we *did* get and then they couldn't fix the order because they didn't have any bagels left. They also forgot our parfait. We asked for the cold brew to be made with half and half and it was the color of 2% milk by the time they were done. There was hardly any coffee in it.
Stopped at this location to grab some begals for my wife. Get home, open the bag and couldn’t believe my eyes. What the heck are these, they look and taste more like a pretzel without the twist. I obviously made a mistake stopping here but it was on my way home. Never again.
Not sure why I keep trying. They are constantly out of everything. They have yet to have all the ingredients for anything I have ever ordered. Today I ordered a Bacon Avocado Melt. They were out of the bread. Ok, had to pick another bread. Then I received a melt with no melt and crumbs of bacon on burnt toast and no dressing.
The old Panera at the end of the Points East strip mall was quiet. I never had an issue there. Fresh bagels right in front of you. People eager and happy to take your order at the register. "Would you like them sliced?" Happiness and welcoming all around. I was surprised by the new place located in the parking lot. As I've had to wait a long time in the drive through line here before (for an order of one bagel), I decided to go inside to order. To my ignorance, I did not not know they had shifted to Kiosk ordering, even though there are two registers seemingly ready to ring people up. I noticed that the visible trays of bagels are gone, and I actually did not see any bagels listed on the overhead menu above the registers (again, suggesting at least a few people still prefer to order at the register). No one caught my confused but "ready to order" vibe ( I was the only one standing at the register), or asked if I needed help, or (from a good business model) took my order. Employees were milling about. I agree with other reviewers that the corporateness of this newer store is off-putting. By de-personalizing the experience, reducing customer contact, and by cutting labor costs, Panera management could discover they have lost business. After ten minutes, I left and decided to visit their chief competitor on the other side of town where I had an altogether different and more positive experience.