Panera Bread
“Pretty high tech since they have kiosks where it makes it faster to order and check out.”
“I think they keep the temperature to something just below 70 degrees in the seating area so make sure you have a jacket of some kind.”
“On the wall there are two vertical flat screen TVs that have two columns, one for placed orders and the other for ready to pick up orders.”
Panera Bread
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Been to this one a few times during lunch break. I like the double option they offer for a fairly decent price. I got a chicken Caesar salad where they give plenty of chicken and paired it with broccoli cheddar soup. Lines move quick and there is plenty of room to sit. Free wifi too so that's a plus as well
I've been to this Panera twice since moving offices. I'm a bit surprised at all the complaints. Yes, it's a sandwich chain and yes, occasionally I want to go elsewhere but this specific Panera is pretty impressive.
The kiosks all around the main room of the store enable you to order quickly and efficiently but you can still use the cashiers at the front if you want (and you must if you are paying with cash). I'm grateful for the kiosk ordering system because it shows you all the different veggies, meats, sauces, and cheeses you can add or take away and what the prices for them are individually. I recommend scrolling through the options, they have some great choices. This essentially allows you to make your own sandwich and I always walk away happy with my order.
Once you've ordered, you move into the back area where your name is called within minutes and you can go on your way. The last time I was there they gave me the wrong order. I realized this when I walked out, so I went back and they immediately fixed the problem and offered me a free cookie for my inconvenience. I really appreciated their ability to own the mistake and their quick solution to solving it. Well managed establishment.
And the food — I really like it. Fresh tasting bread, great meats and cheeses, usually for about $8-$10 a sandwich, which really isn't too shocking in NYC. I've never gone wrong with an order here so if you need a quick place to grab a bite, I do recommend this Panera.
Panera Bread is another suburban chain that has invaded the city like locusts. Seems they have spots popping up everywhere and I found this one by accident.
Ordering is done by yourself at kiosks. Makes it fast and easy if its crowded I guess. Kind of robotic but if you hate human interaction it's perfect!
Dining area on lower level.
Very clean. Even an elevator to go down and eat if needed.
Free WiFi and outlets to power up too.
When I dropped in here to have something to eat (apple chicken salad and half sandwich combo) I was the only non-Asian person in here. Maybe 15 of them all on computers and studying. Everyone was whispering. I felt like I had invaded their private club or something.
That being said, for the price you pay the portions are on the small side when it comes to that "You Pick 2" combo. They are a bit chintzy when it comes to stuffing their sandwiches with ingredients. It's more bread than fillings.
I regretted not just going over to Wendy's after this meal. Could have had a Frosty.
I've had more bad experiences here than good but I come back because I like their Asiago bagels for breakfast.
Long story short, today I got my usual from the kiosk and decided to get mini chocolate chip cookies. As I was waiting for my order many customers were waiting for their coffee. Some lady was so upset that they had 3 empty coffee canisters and didn't want to wait anymore for the coffee to be made. I didn't blame her. The manager said the coffee was still brewing. Apparently this location didn't keep up with the coffee making during the busy morning rush. When I got my order the lady told me they ran out of the mini cookies and that I can get two big cookies which would come out to the same price or get a refund. I opted for a refund. I was shocked that the cookies were sold out. It was 8:50am. Who the hell bought all the cookies!?
Last few visits was a bummer. One time the kiosk I used didn't work when I tried to pay. I told the cashier named Eric and he said to just order from him. He wasn't very nice and didn't inform a manager that the machine needed to be fixed. I wanted to order from a kiosk because I obviously didn't want to talk to anyone and it was easier for me to customize.
Another visit I got chicken bbq panini and a damn Gouda cheese rind was in it along with chicken that was pink. I tweeted panera my problem and told the manager. The manager said the chicken is suppose to be pink because it was smoked and just picked up the Gouda cheese rind with his fingers and said he would give me another sandwich and said he can give me another kind of chicken. Panera tweeted me back right away and offered me a gift card for the problem. Thanks Panera!
The good ole days at Panera. I used to go to Panera a lot during my high school/college days to study. Buy one thing and you won't get kicked out even if you stayed there for hours.
Food:
It's a chain store, people. You can't really expect much from a chain restaurant in terms of quality of the food, especially in the city area. My go-to (when I'm too lazy to cook and don't want to spend $20+ on restaurant meals) is the 'you pick 2'. Choice of two things from salad/panini/soup. WARNING: Portion size is tiny. You will get hungry after an hour or so.
Service:
They're mediocre here. They have about 10 kiosks and if you pretty much come up to the register to order, they look at you like you're an an idiot and don't know how to use the machine.
Panera has been having a lot of promotions lately and for the month of April, it's free bagels everyday (excluding jam and cream cheese – not even worth getting any spread cause the amount they charge is ridiculous).
Went today and this girl (tried to get her name on her name tag. Name started with an O and ended in an A. Couldn't even the middle letters cause it was ineligible) gave me the nastiest attitude. Btw, this girl helped me last time and didn't even do her job right cause she nonstop talking with her coworkers. I don't tolerate with people like in the restaurant industry and if she was honestly my server at a restaurant, I would have left without even eating. But who am I to complain right now, cause I just walked out with a free bagel.
During the few times I've been to this Panera Bread location, I've been impressed with the seating and space, but with the food, less so.
I like that there's a variety of seating you can choose from: you can sit at the high tables where there are outlets at every seat, at the booths, or at the low tables. I've come here on some fternoons when I'm out in the city, needing something to eat while getting work done around Koreatown, and this is a reliable place to do so (in terms of being able to find a seat and an outlet).
Food-wise, what Panera Bread offers isn't anything exceptional, but I wouldn't expect something different than that. It is awesome that they prize the clean ingredients they use in their food, but it could certainly taste better. That's what I thought about the Roasted Turkey + Avocado BLT I got during one visit here. I liked that the food was healthy, but I sensed that the turkey was processed and filled with chemicals (aka, not too fresh).
Ordering food has been a relatively seamless process here, and the TV screens that list customers' names help a lot with knowing when your order will be ready and how long you have to wait for it.
They had really cool kiosks that made ordering great if there's a long line, but to be completely honest, you might just be better off ordering from the counter. Also, the kiosks go directly to a take-out option so your food comes in cardboard boxes and a paper bag. I'm not entirely sure if take-out is the only option, but if so, it seems as if they skimp on the food compared to other panera bread's I've been to.
The food at this one was pretty typical of all the rest, great if you want something quick, though I wouldn't say the price was worth the food.
Portion size: tiny. Prices: high.
I like this location only because there is a lower level with adequate seating, and is very clean. It's a great place to study or hang out for a while. There are kiosks to order your food with a computer, so you never have to speak to anyone which is an added benefit.
They don't offer butter for the baguettes they sell, which makes no sense.