Panera Bread
“There is ample parking around the location and right next to Menlo Park Mall.”
“They bring your food to your table based on the little pagers so we don't have to crowd around the counter waiting.”
“A lot of people on laptops typing away and happy to share an outlet if you need one.”
Panera Bread
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I like this Panera the best — for me the food is always the same, more or less, whichever location you go to. I prefer this Panera because of the layout of the seating and tables. Compared to the closer location to my home (in Brunswick Square Mall), this is bigger, and also has more options for people who want more privacy and to be away from people (Granted you aren't going during peak lunch or dinner hours). There's plenty of booths, but almost quaint and quiet nooks and crannies of other tables, not to mention two additional seating areas on opposite sides of the restaurant, which I believe can be closed off if needed. I occasionally saw managers having meetings there or holding interviews.
Large parking lot too. Usually never have trouble finding a spot.
Free wifi.
Small bathroom — 2, maybe 3, stalls.
High turnover of staff who are comprised of young kids. Sometimes the managers here are obnoxious in how they talk to the young workers which is a bit of a turn off.
This Panera is one of my favorites. Of course it has all the standard "You Pick 2", bagel, beverage, pastry options that others have, but the staff and set up really help make for a comfortable experience.
Employees: friendly. All of them. The person at the register offering recommendations and patience when you can't make up your mind. The person building your order who makes sure they have your side of choice absolutely correct (wheat not white, apple vs chips). The person wiping tables and offering to bus away your finished tray. The manager who swings by to make sure you're happy where you're sitting. Thank you everyone – you're wonderful.
I also like the structure of this Panera. It's sub-divided into three different areas which allows you the feeling of a Panera crowd, but also keeps things moderately quiet and reduces traffic. There's a side room that's walled off from the order counters, a main dining space in the center, and another side room twisted off the main center (terrible description, but you'll get it when you see it).
The last few perks I'd call out is that coffee is always fresh, location is good for ducking off Route 1 or escaping Menlo Park Mall, and that patrons are typically friendly. A lot of people on laptops typing away and happy to share an outlet if you need one.
I learn something new every time I enter a different Panera Bread! This location has a modified table service. You can order at the register, the self-pay iPad kiosks, or at the table using the mobile app. They are also using a table tracker location technology, so the servers know where to deliver your food. I'm so excited about all the new changes and new ways I can now order my Fuji Apple Chicken Salad. Keep it coming.
I used to love Panera but as someone else mentioned, they have got very sloppy. They make the most poorly constructed sandwich as it is always falling apart. I had the tuna today and the sparse amount of tuna wasn't evenly properly spread in the bread. I once had a tomato and mozz sandwich and the tomato was only in one side of the sandwich. Sloppy Sloppy Sloppy.
I have always enjoyed their soups. My favorite is the tomato soup. But, at almost $10 for half of a sloppy sandwich and a small bowl of soup and having to clean up after myself…yes, that sorting of the tray items is a PITA (and I don't mean bread), I might as well go to a local diner.
My favorite place to go for a good salad or soup. Inside, there is ample space for seating even if you're with a group. I usually always take advantage of the drive-through lane. They're quick with processing your order during peak dinner hours as well. As far as the food, it's pretty on-point along with the other chain locations and the staff is really friendly. There is ample parking around the location and right next to Menlo Park Mall.
What's better than a relatively healthier-ish fast casual restaurant? A relatively healthier-ish fast casual restaurant with a drive-thru. I used to dine here often before my apartment had internet and I've done the drive-thru many a time since. I mean, when I'm in a drive-thru kind of mood, it's often a no brainer versus neighboring McDonald's and White Castle. I've never been a big fan of Panera, but the quick availability of (at least what appears to be) non-terrible food has its appeal. The barbecue chicken flatbread was my usual go-to before they removed it.
As far as location-specific mentions, this particular spot irks me sometimes, mainly from a service standpoint. One thing that stands out is how they sometimes don't ask if I want bread, apple or chips when I do the drive-thru – and just automatically give me chips. I don't know if this is a common thing in Panera drive-thrus, but it catches me off guard since I usually don't even think to ask.
This is probably one of the worst panera that I have been to mainly because of the customer service.
I waited patiently in line to buy 4 gift cards. There was only one register open. When it was my turn, there was a problem with ringing up the gift cards. The girl who worked the register had me swipe my card about four times because she tried ringing each card individually. While this was occurring the manager took over another register to help the person behind me instead of addressing my issue first. Finally the manager gets on the register and does the same thing, makes me swipe my card a few more times. Finally a third person tries to assist with the situation and yup not helpful at all is what I say. They finally figure out that the gift card system is down.
When I asked for them to call another store to assure that I could purchase my gift cards there, they offered no such help and the girl walked away from me.
I finally asked well what should I do wait or go to another store … Which I don't know why I should be asking this… And the manager said yes it could take hours until the system was up.
It would have been nice #1 for them to problem solve my issue when the manager was assisting me.. But no she was just as lost as the rest of the workers. Lost twenty minutes of my life to people who don't know how to do their job.
Good place for meeting and groups and studying but tables are often left dirty and don't expect your order to be perfect most of the time.