Panera Bread — Restaurant in Decatur

They have a wonderful variety of baked goods and lunch items, HOWEVER, they're ONLY available in EXTREMELY LIMITED quantities so you MUST get there VERY EARLY if you want anything but the MOST BASIC bagel or similar. And, even that basic bagel with cream cheese will run around $3+, with the fancier stuff running more. EVERYTHING on their menu is ALA CARTE, so if you want a HALF sandwich, plus a SMALL mac 'n cheese, plus a drink for lunch, you're looking at $18-$20 per person, and for rather SMALL PORTIONS at that! If you're doing an OCCASIONAL lunch with a friend, or just grabbing a quick coffee, tea or other drink, then it's not a big hit to the budget compared to the likes of Starbucks, but for the average Jane or Joe, eating here regularly could add up quite quickly. In their FAVOR, the frequently FRESH INGREDIENTS and PREPARATION methods used (no fried foods here), are likely big benefits, because who needs clogged up arteries? So, if you're on a DIET, only want HEALTHILY prepared foods, AND have a very POSH BANK ACCOUNT, this is your place! We're none of those things! On the UP SIDE, they DID have very NICE, HELPFUL employees, but the SCARCITY of their baked goods, very SMALL PORTIONS, and overall EXPENSIVENESS of nearly everything, are definite, huge drawbacks for us, hence the 3 stars, instead of 5, despite the flavor and freshness of their items. Because really, who wants to spend that much money and time, then have to run around the corner to Chik-Fil-A, because you're...

My fiancé and I went to Panera tonight. I was really looking forward to my bread bowl, as he had promised me to take me the day before. My experience however has left me wondering if I will ever again eat at Panera.

We ordered dine in but when we got our food they had packaged everything to go, citing they were doing take out only- granted there were people still eating in the restaurant.

We unpacked our food, my bread bowl was a hunk of bread. Uncut, cold, the top barely cut off, and my husband had to take the bowl and microwave it himself. They actually showed him where the microwave was and told him he could do it himself. I was also missing my side piece of baguette.

My husband ordered a Caesar Cobb salad- croutons were so incredibly stale that it was akin to eating rubber. They gave him enough chaser dressing to cover one bite of his salad and he barely eats dressing.

Our chocolate chip muffin was also stale. They claimed to be out of items that could be seen behind the counter. This was altogether a disappointing and saddening experience. I will not be returning to this Panera ever, and maybe...

We stopped here while traveling through the area for breakfast on a Sunday morning and were honestly a little disappointed. We decided to take a break and dine in and when entering the gentleman that took our order just seemed bothered about being there on a Sunday morning. We were going to eat a couple of breakfast sandwiches, but were told they couldn't do scrambled eggs, only over easy. I asked if I could have mine hard and was told no. I know things are tough with COVID and all but how can you have eggs for easy, but not scrambled, you just whisk them right up right?? So I got a souffle and it was not very good and also got a cheese danish that was stale. My husband got the bacon, egg, and cheese on brioche and it seemed stale as well. This was NOT the usual experience that we have come to expect from Panera Bread, they are usually so much better than this. I hope that it was just a...