Panera Bread — Restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls

They have pretty good soups here and I like the chicken tortellini, too. I've had only good service and food here. I'd have given 5 stars, except for the issue I had with a gift card for someone else that removes 2 stars from all of this.

As it turns out, after Panera Bread was bought by Krispy Kreme, they started to issue gift cards without a PIN number that can only be swiped and used at their store. These cards cannot be exchanged, refunded, or even sold online if the person you give the gift card to does not want or need it.

I tried to give this card to my dad as a gift, but he is elderly and not able to eat many of the foods that they serve anymore. He wanted to go to another place. I tried to return the card, but was not able to. I tried to get it exchanged for an e-card, but that too was an uphill battle. I ended up having to get my dad another gift and using the card myself, which was not right and not what I had intended. A lot of people would have been angry about this, more upset than me, if they did not frequent Panera Bread enough to have a reason to use it once they found out the gift cards cannot be sold, refunded, nor exchanged if they do not have a PIN.

Be aware that the gift cards they sell this way are being sold at all major retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot (where I got the one for my dad) with no mention or indication of this. There is a type of older gift card for Panera Bread that can be resold online if you have to exchange it or get your money back partially after buying one, but only if it has a maple leaf symbol on the card, and only if the retailer that wants to buy the card will accept it. Many don't even accept Panera Bread gift cards anymore because of this issue that Panera Bread deliberately causes to make sure you are stuck with it if whomever you bought it for doesn't want it to avoid having to refund anything.

I guess it's legal...but it's really dodgy to do this to your patrons and customers, especially around the holidays when it comes to gift cards for friends and relatives. My suggestion would be to AVOID ALL GIFT CARD PURCHASES AS GIFTS FOR PANERA BREAD TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY UNLESS YOU'RE 100% SURE THEY WANT OR NEED THEM. If you're not sure, give them cash or a prepaid visa gift card instead, because even though the service is good and the food is nice although pricey, if you get a gift card here you probably won't ever be able to exchange it or get...

Sarah, the manager, at night, was a terrible example of leadership, in a customer based setting. She was all about saving money for the company, but forgot the fact that in order for a business to continue to survive, you have to have return customers. She made you feel like you’re a terrible person for asking for what you ordered. Yeah I asked for a lot, and paid a lot, because it’s not just me- I have to ask for the things that everyone in a party of five may not get - like a knife for the spread for one kids bagel, an extra bowl for a split salad, an extra dressing, my extra apple chips, extra pecans (which I asked for when ordering in case there was a charge to pay), the romaine I ordered to add to the apple Fuji. When I went to get it from the pick up counter she was so annoyed and I said sorry but I saw the girl type it in the notes and she’s like, “yeah, she typed in SOME things!” She’s like here and she didn’t give the extra apple chips that I assumed I paid for because I ordered it- she’s like u didn’t pay for it just so you know - and pushed three apple chips toward me. Made me feel like a beggar. It’s like it’s not my fault if she didn’t charge me. How about charge me for a side of apple chips and give me more than three and no attitude. I like my food HOT and my chicken noodle soup was like warm- wow way to ruin dinner - but hey, yeah there’s a microwave!! So I go over to heat it and guess what - doesn’t work and SARAH says you have to mess with the nob and push it in hard and turn it - they hears that it didn’t work- they heard I don’t like cold soup- they don’t care. I’m just a Karen to them but to me I’m someone who pays a lot with me times 5 and I want hot soup - sorry. Unbelievable rudeness. Do you think I wanted to open up the pecan twist and see it was Rock hard and my kid says, “ lol that thing would be dry still sitting in a glass of water.” I told her since I couldn’t even eat my soup and so you think she offered me a different item? No. If you have self respect- do...

First off upon walking in the cashier was standing there with hand on face like she was Uber bored. SMH.. Secondly I place my order LG Cesar salad extra chicken, half steak & mozzarella sandwich. Waited about 5-7 min., for order no biggie. Drive 15 min., to get home only to see that my Cesar salad has no cheese and white lettuce..like the end of the romaine...needless to say I called several times no answer. I'm beyond disappointed because of the amount of money I spent. Secondly the sandwich was ok. But the sandwich wasn't mines the Cesar salad was. And YES! I'M LIVID!! I will never patronize the Panera in Cuyahoga falls AGAIN.. F++ 🚫🤬

So to add to my review the store manager reached out to me "per corporate ' and I still stand by my review. Store manager states that they were on camera putting cheese on my Cesar salad. Which again the cheese was not on there. She states that the employee whom was to greet me upon walking in had just been chewed out by another customer. Which I understand. I work in customer service myself. But those are the times where you either step away to gather yourself or take some deep breaths to regain your composure. This has NEVER HAPPENED upon me going to the Fairlawn Panerai. I've always been greeted with a smile, even after witnessing an employed be treated unfair by a customer. I stand by my review. The manager was making excuses for poor employees and management is not great as well. I see why this store is like that. So again. I WILL NEVER PATRONIZE THE CHAPEL HILL PANERA IN CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO. THEY DESRVE NO STARS AND A F+..

Sidenote..I disconnected the call because poor management equals poor employees. Be a professional and own up to the mistakes @ your store. Not...