Panera Bread

I do enjoy Panera, I'm just unhappy with this location.  I've given up on the hot sandwiches- they are served mediocre temperature.  Gross.

I often leave with my lunch to return to my job and realize my silverware has not been included.  I must lock up my store again and return to get a soup spoon.  My fault for not checking the bag before leaving, I guess.

Last straw was this morning.  I just wanted a tea and thought I made that clear.  The general manager was ringing me up and did what I assume corporate presses him to do- he asked, "Are you sure you don't want a bagel or pastry to go with that tea?"  

If I wanted a pastry, I would have ordered one.  Hassling a sleepy eyed customer into buying more than they requested is not upselling- it's offputting and annoying at best.  

Perhaps this manager should focus more on providing better customer service and quality in what was already ordered to get his numbers up, instead of trying to squeeze extra dollars out of customers by attempting to get them to purchase items they don't want.

I give up.  I'm going to Turkey Time or Potbelly's in the future.

The only saving grace for this particular branch of Panera was the usually great food that they are known for. This has got to be the worse Panera I have ever been to. When I arrived the two staff behind the counter were more interested in having a conversation with each other than helping customers. Then they got my order wrong. Like I said, were it not for the usually great pastries and decent teas, I would have given this location a one star review.

I dig Panera now. Before,  I used to hate Panera because I couldn't stand the grody smell or the chain-iness of it.  I have changed.

The food is varied and okay.  While you might not want to have a romantic date, celebrate a graduation, get married/civil union-ed, or throw any other type of fancy event here, you will want to study/write/work here.  This Panera is spacious, clean, stocked, and coffee'ed.  You can stay for awhile and make some other study buddy friends!  You can practice a hermit lifestyle in the back in a cozy little nook if you want.  You can sit near loud obnoxious people who don't know how to use their indoor voices.  You can move away from the outside-voice talkers to another spot.  Whatever your studying/writing/working style is, this Panera can help you out.

Fair warning: this is a chain restaurant, which means that they do not play around with the AC.  Wear layers.