Fresh-baked goods, fresh-brewed coffee and creative sandwiches served up in relaxed, roomy surroundings.

by Contributor

In Short
Bright colors and comfortable furniture give this chain cafe a laid-back feel, with scattered tables that beckon coffee-sipping readers, chatters and diners. All baked goods--bagels, muffins, two dozen kinds of bread--are made fresh on the premises. Sandwiches include turkey-artichoke panini and Asiago roast beef, plus standards like chicken salad and smoked turkey. Soups change daily, but popular choices like broccoli and cheese, chicken noodle and French onion are always on the menu.

01/11/08

A nice variety

by amandajtodd

You say the cost is too high.. well maybe if you took a look at what goes in to what you are eating you'll understand. Everything you eat at Panera was baked the night before and there are no perservitaves. Everything is all natural. All the chicken is antibotic free and preservitive free. Trans Fat is zero. And at the end of each night all the bakery items are donated. I think I am ok with paying a little extra for natural food than going to arby's and eating their roast beef sandwhich. Maybe you should take a look at what that looks like before you eat it.

12/20/06

KEEP GOING IF YOU LIKE PAYING MORE FOR SO-SO FOOD

by frankbreve

I used to like this place but it has progressively gone down hill over the past year. First of all, the coffee seems consistently bad each time I visit (it used to be very good). Their soup selections are horrible--nothing new or innovative. Same old tired soups. I don't know why they got rid of the forest mushroom suop because that was their best by far. They make a so-so sandwich--certainly not worth the price. I'm much happier with an Arby's roast beef--better value and very tasty. I will say that Panera has great bread though--that's why I still visit. As for their other menu items--if you like paying more for so-so food then keep going. I think Einstein's has superior food and better coffee so I have been visiting them more lately, eventhough they too are somewhat overpriced.

• Pros: Great bread
• Cons: Lousy food and poor value for the money

11/30/05

Shouldn't be listed for cheap eats!!

by alyjoe29

I think Panara Bread is far from being cheap!!! The food is not worth the waiting in line,finding a table,being called for your food and then CLEANING THE TABLE!! way too overpriced..Sometime you get a good salad sometime it's so small and not worth the money... Soup is always good though and so is the bread. Pastry is mostly dry and the coffee is not good!! My family doesn't go as much anymore.

• Pros: good soup
• Cons: expensive

06/03/05

Service is like a Chinese Fire Drill!

by divamjp

Everytime I walk in I always get in a line that is not a line and then a few seconds later it becomes a line. All the little Stepford people who love this place seem to have no problem with the set up there. Maybe I just need to go there more often. Thankfully the food is pretty good, but as far as "cheap eats" that would be a big NO. p.s. If you are going to advertise low carb bagels, please try to have some in the morning. I know, what kind of idiot would go to Panera for low-carb bread of any kind? Well, FYI, they happen to do a mean low-carb asiago bagel, which goes very well with any of their sandwich fillings.

07/19/04

Great food and ambiance

by pommr001

Panera is the place to go to either catch a quick bite or catch up with friends. You can eat and dash or sit for hours with their laid back and inviting atmosphere. The food will keep you coming back with their fresh made soup and sandwiches and their tantalizing desserts or start your day with their fresh bagels and outstanding coffee.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Inviting atmosphere, great food

04/09/04

Not Cheap Eats

by mcieri

The food is great but it sure is not cheap unless you get a plain bagel and a cup of coffee. Me and my wife eat there all the time and for something normal like soup sandwich and drink its like 20 bucks that is not cheap eats.

02/22/04

Yum!!!

by dherod

I love Panera Bread. I go there at least three times a week. I have had breakfast, lunch, and dinner there and everything is good. The food is a lot better than any fast food place you can go and the price is about the same.

02/07/03

Pretentiousness on a budget

by boondoggle

Overpriced, pretentious, and limited menu with atmosphere ripped off from Starbuck's, complete with bistro tables outside to make sure people see you while you feed your face. Meat on sandwiches is sparse at best.

02/07/03

fair

by daeaton

the food is average overall. Good bread though. Doesn't offer a good value to food ratio.

• Pros: eclectic
• Cons: too exspensive