Came in for a quick lunch on Tuesday and the line was out the door. Took about 10 minutes to get to the register. Service was friendly and I received my order in about 5 minutes. However, the cashier never asked me what I wanted as a side to the salad I ordered. It seemed like he was too rushed and I ended up getting the side I did not order. Major bummer.
Review Source:Service was pretty lame and they got my order wrong. Once corrected I walked away with a chicken caesar salad which was good but had more of those crisp lettuce ends than I prefer. (I like more leaf) The croutons were a little stale but the chicken was good enough. I ended up putting the salad in my bread that came as a side and dipping that in the dressing (which was really good). My own concoction was satisfying and made me interested in trying one of their sandwiches now. I give 2 stars based on service and pricing. My salad was $8...cheap but not cheap enough for what I ate. I'll try the $6.99 1/2 and 1/2 meal next time and will update my rating if I'm pleasantly surprised.
Review Source:I come here for lunch once in a while for years now, so I decided its finally time to write a review. The location is in a busy South Loop plaza where it can be a hassle to park in the lot and then get your ticket validated for free parking. You can always park outside in the street where there are tons of spots, but you will have to pay meter. Anyway, the food here is pretty decent and this is always a good spot to come for lunch if you are in the area.
The Chipotle Chicken is really good and it is probably my favorite thing to get here. I always get this with the cream of broccoli soup on the side, which is delicious. Another plus is they have soup in a bread bowl.
Southwest Flatbread is the latest thing I have tried and worth commenting about. It is good and I tried this with a side of BBQ Chicken Salad, which is really good too. I normally don't eat salad or crave salad, but I must say this one is worth eating.
The only thing bad I have to say about this place is that the tables are always dirty and the utensils are always dirty, so I would have to ask for plastic fork or spoon.
This place is awful. Out of the 10 or 15 times I've been here, I've never seen it clean. This place is filthy and stays busy, which is fine, but that means there should be staff cleaning off the table sweeping the floors.
Especially since they are so expensive and the food is not that tasty. FYI, a meal for two people including two drinks was $30. I could have gone to White Palace or the Bongo Room for those prices. Lower your prices or clean up. And the internet is always super slow too.
Go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or Whole Foods as these are better options (and cheaper too!).
There is not much new to say about Panera. Â Everything there is delicious and worth every calorie you consume! Â I do like this location a lot! Parking is free for the first 90 minutes with a validated card. Â After 90 minutes it is still really cheap to park there too. Â Gotta love the south loop! =)
I would love to give this Panera 5 stars but I can't. Â =( Â I have been here multiple times and always had great customer service, Â However, my last experience was not so great. Â They messed up my order and when I went back to pick up the items that they had failed to put in my bag I didn't even get so much as a "sorry for the inconvenience." Â This knocked them down to 4 stars in my book.
Fantastic and quick service, exactly what you want when you are hungry. Â I walked in on a Monday evening and placed my order right away. Â The associate that was ringing up my order, Aubrey, was very helpful when she gave me a tip to order the bigger soup size because it's only a dollar difference. Â She was even kind enough to get both the cup sizes so I could compare and make my choice! Â I am a huge fan of Panera Bread, even though I get the same thing every time because I'm obsessed with it (Tomato and Mozzarella Panini). Â I will definitely go back when I get another craving. Â Even though I live down the street so driving isn't my main mode of transportation to get here, if you purchase something from Panera, or any of the stores in this little mall, make sure you get your parking ticket validated!
Review Source:I went with the Mediterranean egg white breakfast sandwich; whites, white cheddar, tomatoes, spinach & pesto. Â I was expecting the flavors to be a little more bold, but it was pretty bland...bummer. Â My mango ginger mint tea made up for the lack of flavor. Â It's sweet, spicy and refreshing all in one.
Review Source:Had their sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. It was probably one of the WORST breakfast sandwiches I've ever eaten! It was WAY too salty and peppery that some parts of the sandwich were completely inedible! What a waste of $4, an egg McMuffin from McDonalds would have tasted 100 times better at a lesser price.
The only good thing about this particular Panera Bread is the plentiful seating and convenient south loop location.
I am usually a fan of this panera bread. Â However, I visited on Saturday afternoon and it was very disappointing. Â After we got our food we could not find a clean table in the place! Â Yes, there were plenty of empty tables but they were all dirty!!! Â We stood for awhile to see if someone would come and clean a table and eventually cleaned our own table. Â Most of the condiments were not filled. Â We had to ask for butter and then wait 10 minutes for it. Â Very disappointing.
Review Source:This place is pretty awesome considering they have a variety of soup and bread. I can't complain about the service either.
Occasionally you will see tables filled with bread crumbs or drink marks when service isn't moving fast enough. This is expected, just bring your own towel to clean...
What a cute location! Again, I work in luxurious Cicero, IL so we are always trying to find ways to escape and find alternative eats that are healthier than fattening Mexican fare (not that I'm judging -it's delicious -but you can only eat it so much before you pop a button on your work pants!)
This location is located in an adorable little mall type building. Lots of glass windows to let the natural light in. Line moved fast. -And only a quick commute down the 290 east for us. Plenty of cheap (metered) street parking right there on Canal.
It was our little escape from work. Nice to be in a different scene and, as always with Panera, good food!
This is one of my favorite lunch spots to visit with my son.
The restaurant is clean, employees are happy and food is good.
The only downside is that many students come and buy a coffee or a small item and sit to use the free wifi for hours, holding up a table that could otherwise be used by others. However, I do understand how student life is, so I really try to be patient with that aspect.
During the 11am-1pm timeframe, this restaurant can be crowded on week days, so plan accordingly.
Maybe it was just my son's kids meal, but it was pretty meager. (hence the missing star) I wanted to get him mac and cheese but they said it would be a 20+ minute wait and he was hungry, so I got him the pbj. It was a small sandwich, which is ok because its for a child.
But there was only a tube of yogurt and small sandwich on this large plate. No drink, no little garnish or napkin or anything. Next time, i'll be ordering him a soup. I can make a small pbj at home, it was silly of me to order one in a restaurant when he's not a picky kid.
That being said, I still love panera and i'm happy to have one in the south loop!
I'm not much of a fan of chain retaurants, but I needed an open coffee place on a Saturday night to do GRE work and all the locals are closed by 5...
Coffee was good, french onion soup was everything I like about french onion soup.
I only felt compelled to write this because one of the employees was really nice. I left my keys on the floor after I moved tables and some guy, I think his name was Carrington, returned them!
You rock, Carrington!!!
I had a great experience here! I came after a weekend morning workout, so I asked the cashier to help me order a healthy half-salad, half-soup combo. She was very friendly and helped me pick out the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad and Black Bean Soup, and they were both super yummy!
Even though it was busy, my food was ready in less than 5 minutes. Plus they validate for an hour and a half for the parking garage.
Love this location!
It's your run o' the mill Panera. Â Nothing fancy. Â Nothing new. Â Nothing outstanding. Â It is a little small, always packed, and a little messy because it's always packed.
The location is pretty good.  You can park in the structure for 90 minutes without paying (get the ticket validated). *PSA* DO NOT park in the Whole Foods only lot; you WILL get towed *end PSA* There is pay-box street parking too.  There are a number of stores in this little mall-like structure.  Felling crafty? Head to Michael's (just don't use your credit card: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeaconnews.suntimes.com%2Fnews%2F5218310-418%2Flocal-michaels-shoppers-hit-in-debit-card-fraud.html&s=8cee462bd5ea40d4ca939c31c51c4f4c9e3a9686548420a949da9686132f34ca" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://beaconnews.suntim…</a>).  Want some expensive organic and eccentric products? Check out Whole Paycheck, er, Foods.  Need some glasses, rugs, knick-knacks, and other tchotchkes for a not-so good-price since the store used to be called Cost Plus? Go to World Market.  Need a quick change of clothes for a pretty good price and then some shoes to match your new duds? Marshall's and DSW are there for your convenience!
So, the location outweighs the actual place, but it can make for a pretty good study spot if you can find the room.
My first time at this particular Panera location today. I'm coming back!
GREAT service (there was a chick at every register! and there are 5!) and GREAT seating options.
My only complaint would be that the A/C... well, I don't feel it. But the wifi is great (as evidenced by this review).
P.S. This is wayy better than the other Paneras in Chicago. :)
I normally LOVE Panera, however, when this store opened up I went and got a take out salad and when I got home I found a HAIR in the salad. Â I emailed the corporate office complaining and got NO response. Â I guess they must be so busy they can afford to lose customers.
I have gotten feedback from some other people about this location saying that it's dirty.
Yuk.
I too used to love Panera until I became borderline vegetarian. Â Also, my friend owns a deli and I know what it is like to get a real sandwich priced within reason (and not because he is my friend.) Â
Panera order #1: Â Tuna Salad on wheat $7.99. Â Sooo much mayo. Gag! Gag! Dripping and squishing into my bread. Â More mayo than tuna. Â My deli friend tastes it and says "Oh I've bought this before for the deli. Â It's premade in Canada. Â Comes in a jug. Â I don't use it." Â And... he doesn't. Â Watched him make his tuna salad from a giant can of tuna, mayo, dill weed, green onion. Â Super yum and so not drippy!
Panera order #2: Â Asiago Beef on wheat $7.99. Â Lame. Â Sad. Â What? Â 3 pieces of roast beef. Â Just 3?! Â Yep:-( Â Smoked cheddar (1 pc.), lettuce (1 pc.), Â tomato (2 pc.), red onions & horseradish sauce. Â This was a flat, sad, forlorn looking sandwich.
I was a bit embarrassed because I had recommended Panera while we were running errands. Â I think we'll get a snack next time and then go back to his deli when we really want to eat a hearty sandwich without breaking my bank at least. Â If you are interested try 'Bryn Mawr Deli" Â on Bryn Mawr. Â Not as fancy as Panera but easier on the wallet.
Kudos to Panera for excellent customer service and a clean store!
Panera bread will always have a special place in my heart.
Because of my silly mom.
See - when she came to visit from France two summers ago she fell in love with the concept. She couldn't get enough of the hazelnut coffee (weird I know), the cinnamon crunch bagel and muffins. 'Cause we do have a lot of yummy things over there but not quite anything like that. Which makes me think that I would definitely get rich if I were to open something along the lines of Panera, or a brunch place in my hometown...
But I digress.
The only reason I am reviewing Panera (I chose this one because it's the one I frequent the most) is because of the new calorie information clearly displayed on their menu.
LOVE IT.
I was about to order an 'innocent' sounding tomato-basil-greens-mozzarella salad  when I saw an heart-stopping 750 calories attached to it....when you love your cheese....well....you pay for it. I switched to the Asian Chicken. Still did the job, with half the calories.
Sad day for dairy....but good day for my hips!
UPDATE:
Apparently the calorie information is not available in all restaurants.....which makes me really sad. And angry, And frustrated.
; )
I come to this particular location on Sunday afternoons. Â Anytime between 1030 and 1200 is fairly crowded, so I make my way there between 2 - 5pm. Â I think people give Panera a hard time because they don't realize the particular niche that it serves. Â It's NOT a coffee shop. Â It's NOT really a sit-down restaurant. Â It's a bastardization of the two, the "Target" of the eating world. Â
The wifi at this location is consistent, and I do agree with people that the outlets are scarce and sort of ill-placed. Â However, since I am rarely there for more than 1.5 hours (free validated parking time), I don't have an issue. Â
The food could be better, sure. Â I've found that the most consistent thing on their menu is the grilled cheese sandwich on country miche. Â The soups are ok - I get the French onion if I do happen to order soup, and it's usually on the overly salted side, so I get it in the bread bowl. Â
They changed their trays/baskets a few months ago for dine-in customers. Â All entrees now come on these green-ish large plates that stack up well on one another. Â It's nice in the fact that it eliminated the need for a sheet of parchment paper. Â Less waste isn't bad, you know?
They did raise prices in the last calendar year, though most restaurants have done so as well. Â This location is convenient and you can do your shopping at whole foods, work out, get some glasses, go to world market, and even get shoes from DSW all in the same trip. Â If you know not expect 5 star service or 5 star food, then you won't be disappointed.
I certainly come here more for the free WiFi than for the food. Â The food is fine - overpriced for what it is, but I do really enjoy their tuna salad sandwich. Â Soups are hit or miss.
I have to issues with this Panera, though. Â First: there are not enough outlets!!! Â Second: if you're there during lunch hours (I think 12-2, but maybe more), WIFI is limited to 30 minutes. Â Which isn't so terrible in itself, I understand they want to move tables, but more that sometimes the place is empty and you still can't get back online. Â That is annoying.
I work nearby and order at least once a week. Good things: Walking distance from work, unlimited pop, it's close to World Market, and the parking lot has a great view of the Sears Tower (I like to take pictures..).
I hate their sandwiches.. I really do.. I just don't like the flavors of some of the breads/meats/ingredients. The only thing I can bring myself to ordering without cringing is the regular ol' turkey sandwich. BUT I doooo love their cheddar broccoli soup! Or is it broccoli cheddar? Whatever it is, it's the only soup I pay for.. all the others are free, they come with an entree.
Also.. my co-workers always get their orders wrong! And they make them wait a half hour for a fresh panini.. what the........??? Â I also don't like that the tables are always packed. They should have a seat assigner because sometimes one tiny person with lots of paperwork takes up a booth or big table that could seat 4. You, inconsiderate lone patron, are a D.B.
I used to love love love this place
i dont anymore
im a picky eater, the only thing id get when i'd come here is a turkey & cheese sandwitch with NOTHING else besides that....
i loved this place because they used to hook me up with two slices of cheese...not anymore
ALSO
the past THREE times they goofed me order......IE
"No, i didnt want the chips, i asked for the apple"
"Yes, i said plain, i don't want any green things or mayo"
This is the closest location to my work and I will sometimes come here to meet with co-workers. It is crazy busy during lunch, you will often be left looking for a table for 10 minutes if not more, and the cashiers always rush you. Just today, i ordered a cup of soup and the lady charged me for a bread bowl. Ugh, I was annoyed when I discovered it and I didnt want to wait in the line to correct it.
The free wifi and parking is an bonus, always with some lunch time browsing at DSW, and World Market.
Yes, this place does get busy in the early morning and around lunch time. Soups at Panera are great - I haven't met a soup I didn't like. Cream of chicken and wild rice is king!
The service varies - it may get hectic during the "rush hour" but overall the staff have been friendly. On one occasion I got extra soup because they ran out of the one I ordered.
Laptop-wise, it's pretty good. There are plenty of outlets and the wireless is free.
My only wish is that they would have soup ready at 8 instead of 10am. I love soup. For breakfast. Yeah, I went there.
I've been here a couple of times to study but I've learned to avoid the crazy lunch rush hour, even on weekends. After I finished my lunch, they bussed my tray and then the manager told me and several ppl who just didn't happen to be eating or drinking AT THE MOMENT to leave because several ppl were trying to find seats for lunch. I totally understand that but really, only a handful needed seats and she didn't have to tell all like 8-10 tables to leave! I'm still sort of on the fence about this issue but anyway...
Food here isn't bad for what it is. I've mostly just tried their soups, salads and sandwiches. The soups always tend to be on the more salty side but the salads are fresh and sandwiches filling. I like the half half deal (choose 2 out of the 3: cafe sandwich, cafe salad, or soup).
They always have plenty of bread samples. And if you need a break, DSW is just upstairs or Whole Foods right next door.
I've been to a few Panera locations, and this one is horrible.
Our office ordered lunch right before we closed for winter holidays. We faxed our order to the restaurant to make it easier to understand; the order was typed out, very clear, and I called to verify receipt. I talked to the girl who received the fax and asked if she had any questions - she said no, and that it would be ready by the time we came to pick it up (about an hour from the time the order was placed).
Three of the people in our office went to pick it up, and it wasn't completely ready. They noticed that there was a couple of missing items, and told the employee about it; he said that "this bag and that one" were correct, and he had only forgotten a cup of soup and a dessert. By the time they returned, soup had spilled everywhere because it wasn't packaged correctly, one of the soups was incorrect, and another dessert was missing.
I called the restaurant to let the manager know that we were really disappointed in the experience and that we probably wouldn't order from them again because of a lack of confidence. A first call to the restaurant resulted in me being placed on hold for five minutes; I hung up and called back, let the person who answered the phone know I had just been on hold for five minutes and wanted to speak with a manager. When the manager finally got to the phone, she said that the dessert wasn't charged, so that was no big deal (although it was ordered, and very clear, and that was the only item one of our staff members had ordered), and that she would send our office some coupons so we would give them another chance to prove that "we are better than that". It has been over a month, and we haven't received anything from them.
Not everyone goes to Panera to make a $1.50 soda last six hours while they take up a giant table to study. Some of us go there to actually buy the food and drink they sell there. So this review is on the intended business of Panera!
We've been to a few Paneras. I get that this one is fairly new. But I'm not sure that's much excuse for our bad experience today. Ordering took forever, and not because it was busy, the staff were just slow. When we got our food the soup had been thrown onto the tray and around a third of it was spilt. The sandwiches didn't look anything like they had in other locations and they didn't taste anything like them.
The cherry on the top was that all three of us ended up sick this afternoon. Really sick.
The one star is for the fact that you can park here for free. That's literally the best thing it has going for it. In future we'll take a walk to one of the others.
This Panera is really amazing. The inside is very nice, not expected of a Panera bread. There is a lot of seating and booths. This is a good place to study because they have free wi-fi...The noise here doesn't bother me. I feel like I get distracted studying at places like this and I was suprised at how much I got done. The staff is super nice and free parking is a plus. You'll see me here studying a lot from now on.
I should probably rate the food too. I found the sandwiches made perfectly, not sloppy at all. The onion soup was delicious. I ate every last bite. Everything seemed fresh and tasty...The green tea is really good too.
I have to give some love to this location. Â It doesn't have the nooks and crannies of the Panera location on Congress, but it does have a plethora of plugs. Â The fireplace area is the best and you'll usually see people around it with laptops. Â If I get there early enough, this is where I sit my ass.
So, for telecommuting purposes, Panera wins out on nearby Starbucks. Â Free coffee/soda refills. Â Lack of smelling like coffee. Â The only knock on Panera is that their wifi is not the most stable (but it is free!).
I do eat lunch there every now and then. Â I gotta support the chain (as if they need my support).
BONUS: Â I don't know how long it'll last, but parking is free inside and around this new "strip" mall. Â You can also drive up the huge parking structure ramp/bridge.
Ah yes, the newest Panera in the city.  This Panera is part of  new up-and-coming complex that includes a DSW warehouse, an Office Max, and soon a Whole Foods and a Linens and Things, etc.  Because this is/will be a complex, it has several parking garages, which is always handy.
This one has a fireplace, and you might want to be near it, because the large glass windows can lead to a chilly atmosphere. Â Sometimes there's slow counter service. Â Heads up guys, someone's standing at the counter!
Also, on the sign where it says "free refills on tea" they really mean "free hot water". Â The free WiFi makes up for that, though.
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