Panera Bread — Restaurant in Aurora

So I realized today why I thought I didn't like Panara! This specific Panara is horrible. I used to go here mainly for soup but would get a meal occasionally and every single time it ended up not being good. Eventually I just erased Panara from my lunch rotation. Last week a friend invited me to a different location and I reluctantly went... The food was great! I ordered the new green goddess sandwich and soup, A+. I thought maybe I was remembering Panara wrong or maybe they changed....Tonight I talked my husband into going but unfortunately we went to this location because it's near our house.

As I said, I was quickly reminded why I stopped going here. This photo is the sandwich I received! Who would ever want to eat this? It is a green goddess caprese melt but has no green goddess lol and it is supposed to have fresh mozzarella? So is that those little white dots?! Mind you this is an $11 sandwich.... My husband ordered the Southwest Chicken (which was what my friend had at the other location and it was sooo good!) There wasn't much on it either and what was on it was on one half of the sandwich. It seriously had like %75 of the fillings on one side so if you were sharing with someone, one person would have a pretty good sandwich while the other person would have mostly bread. Or you eat the good side and then start the second have and end up being super disappointed haha...

Also on a side note I have a sips membership that I use a lot at near my job.(Even without eating there it's a good deal if you buy a daily coffee or other drink) Well not if you like tea... I've tried to use it at this location after work at least 4 times in the last 2 months and they NEVER have the teas in the evening. I do not drink soda so sometimes I just feel like its not worth having. Why dump the tea 2 or more hours before they close every night when you know people are stillgoing to come in to eat.

Overall.....Just avoid this location. If you're in this area and want this kind of food, there is a place called Modern Eatery a block down same type of food but way better quality (They have really good ice teas and different types of soda! (that are not made by coke or pepsi which to me is...

So last May I stopped by to get breakfast after a cooperative lab exercise. I ordered an Asiago bagel and breakfast sandwich. They buzzed me and told me my bagel would be ready at the next counter. I saw the bagel and grabbed it to sit down and eat. I got my drink and was about to sit down to relax and rest my over taxed brain. The lady came from behind the counter screaming at me. I had no idea why. She demanded to see my receipt. I didn’t have one as I declined it at the register. She claimed I stole the food and asked me my name. I told her I was Paulie. She screamed in my face she called Dave. Employees witnessed it and seemed mortified. She berated me. I was clueless as to why. She actually put her hands on my plate and took the bagel. Apparently I took the incorrect bagel. She screamed and yelled in Spanish to her coworkers behind the counter. Finally I heard her scream my name and berate my as if I was a child when the bagel was ready. I don’t even go up. An associate approached me and handed me a slip with a phone number for the corporate office. I never asked but she said to call it and tell them everything.

EDIT:

I called and in June got a call back. Here’s where it gets interesting. I was apologized to and told to come in and there would be a meal on the house from Richard. I went three weeks later to be met by the mean woman who told me unless Richard was present I’d have to pay. I just left. Then I got a call from the area supervisor I gave her all of the information and she promised the free meal. I informed her I wouldn’t go back to the location as I had another interaction with the lady (to be told she’s the manager) and could I just get credit at the Panera downtown. She agreed. I’ve received nothing in a year almost. I’ve made phone calls only to be ignored.

20 bucks for a breakfast I didn’t eat and not one agreement have they kept. Just saying worst customer...

I'm typically a huge panera fan. I crave their baguettes as a substitute for Parisian ones that I became addicted to during my time abroad. I would seriously just eat the bread here, but I've grown to like other items.

Anyway, I have been to this location several times and had subpar service. Then a few months ago, I had horrible service. The cashier got our order wrong, charged us $8 more for an item that we never ordered and when brought to her attention, she told us there was nothing she could do about it. Absolutely refused to give us our money back even though we did not want the item. The manager gave us a free cookie "for our trouble". Uhmmm, thanks?!

So, we boycotted for awhile but I was feeling chicken and wild rice soup, and it was right across the street from UCHealth, convenience won out. Of course they didn't have my soup...only available on certain days, so I ordered a salad and deli turkey sandwich. The order came up rather quickly for how busy they were, so that was good. I started eating my sandwich and it tasted a little off. I figured that was because I wasn't used to eating a turkey sandwich (yes, I'm an idiot). Fast forward a few hours and in starts the awful stomach pain. I have had a baby....I know what labor feels like, and these stomach cramps were reminding me of my labor. Awesome. I am 99% sure that I got food poisoning (which I've had the pleasure of having before) from this turkey sandwich. So, needless to say, I will NOT be returning to this panera again. No matter how much I want a baguette or how close it is...