Panera Bread — Restaurant in Aiken County

My experience at Panera in Aiken SC this morning was truly embarrassing for your company. From the entry to the time I left. I stood up front for 2-3 minutes with no one even being up front. Someone that worked there came out of the restroom when I got there, which I later learned it was the manager Brandy. She didn't even acknowledge me or say someone will be with you in a moment. Sasha was too busy worrying about me using the chip reader instead of swiping my card, or telling me that I couldn't use my Panera card for both transactions to even be friendly. It was almost as if I was an inconvenience for me to be a customer, and PAY THEM MONEY. Finally I got to the back to see why I was such an inconvenience. John the guy in the kitchen, was the only considerate person there. HE WAS SO NICE AND NEEDS A RAISE TO DEAL WITH HIS COWORKERS!!!! Brandy and Coleman were so worried about the lunch orders that went out that day they couldn't even help John in the kitchen. Brandy was bithing the whole time, saying 14 Dr peppers, I do not have all of that. Do utensils go in the catering boxes, because I don't even know. Come to find out she is a manager and didn't even know what went in the catering boxes.....maybe you should reconsider your management and the remainder of your staff will fall into place. Coleman was bithing about the orders too, saying "yea I almost WENT OFF when they were ordering". Finally 18 minutes later I had both of my sandwiches after pretty much going off on the staff. John does not deserve to be treated the way that he is doing all the work. After all the madness and words exchanged, I wasn't offered anything for my time waiting, a partial refund or anything. They obviously do not live by your company's words, "accuracy matters" My order numbers were 240 and 241 for my coworker and I. GET IT TOGETHER PANERA...

This aiken location has to be the worst hands down. I ordered on the app. The app said it is ready (at the time it was supposed to be) to go to the rapid pick area and get my food. Went and there was no order. Girl put another up on the counter, it wasn't ours. Now it is 5mins past the time it said it was ready. I asked the girl behind the counter she just replies "name" and walked away. 5 mins later she comes back and places the order on the counter and walked away (not in the rapid pick up windows) I yelled back to her 'is this mine' she said yes just still need to make your half gallon drink. Took the order and once back at the table realized it was missing my daughter's soup. When I said this to her she said it's in the bag... I said no it's not. So she walked away and got.the soup. So now I take the soup and drink back to the table. My spicy chicken sandwich is cold, the French baguettes were both stale and the sandwich tasted horrible, the cheese was dried out. I wound up taking the chicken out and put it in my cheese broccolli soup to make it edible. The when we finished the lunch I realized they did not give us our Pecan pastry either so I had to go back again. The girl ignored me and the other guy there (who was very pleasant) took care of me. Also the tables were all dirty, we went to 5 tables before we found a somewhat clean one. There was another lady there at the time who was having issues with her order being ready as well.

Paid $54 for 2 people to get soup and sandwich, I would expect better service and quality of food.

It was not busy, when we pulled up we thought it was closed because it was so dead. Now I know why there was a lack of people, I will never return to this panera location.

We eat panera a lot, but never again...

I can't recall a single time I've entered through the doors and not been greeted. The food has been great each time and only one occasion where my order was rang up incorrectly (ordered chicken ceasar salad and was rang up as ceasar salad) . I discovered the error only when my food was brought to me and the staff was quick to correct the mishap with absolutely no hassle.

Throughout your dining visit it is not unusual to have staff walking around checking to see if you your meal is church, whether you need anything additional, or simply to clear your area such that you can sit for a bit longer. I do enjoy that the people working here always smile and make you feel welcomed, and don't greet you with a "this is just a paycheck" kind of attitude.

I love that the sweets and bread are made fresh DAILY! I have tried pretty much everything in the menu and the only thing I have not liked is the squash soup; but then again squash soup just isn't my thing.

I love that Panera Bread takes pride in customer service skills; lots of surrounding businesses can take a lesson in this area as it is lacking in a big way in most places.

Pick 2 is my fav as it allows the opportunity to have 2 different items. Lately I have been a fan of soup and salad, but also will switch it up to have sandwich & soup OR sandwich & salad.... You can't really go wrong. I think on one of my next visits I may try a breakfast sandwich on one of their...