Panera Bread — Restaurant in Fairfax

August 1, 2018 approximately 12:30 pm

Seriously? This is the restaurant that's been soooo popular? I've refrained from setting foot inside this restaurant for years because my gut instinct told me Panera was not worthy of the hype......and I was 100% correct.

Chaos. Clean clean chaos. Just as I expected - bright sparkling clean chaos. The kind of chaos one experiences at a brand new restaurant working out the kinks BUT Panera is NOT new.

I tried ordering at a kiosk thinking it would expedite my lunch order. Nuh uh - no way. It's a joke Panera plays on their customers.

The online menu does NOT include some of the menu items listed on the board physically hanging on the wall. In fact, I noticed their "Summertime" paper menu does not even list their cold beverages. Only their fruit smoothies. It's another example of chaos. Summertime menus omit items. Online system also omits items. Got it! More clean Panera-style chaos.

So the online system did not have the sandwich I wanted. I then had to leave the kiosk & wait in line. I then placed my order. It's noisy inside. The cashiers are both rushed & not very friendly. I understand though. It's difficult to be friendly when working in a chaotic environment.

Being aware of my surroundings & the deafening noise, I made eye contact whenever speaking to the cashier & spokevin a loud strong voice. I even repeated my order twice AND reconfirmed my order once with the male cashier working the counter.

My order arrived & it was wrong. Completely different sandwich. And it was pathetic looking for $7.00 - it was a sad pathetic sandwich. Looked absolutely nothing like any of the sandwiches in Panera tv commercials.

I wanted to cancel my order & leave but I stayed. The correct sandwich did arrive quickly. And it looked much better than the 1 I was first served. And it tasted very good. Do I think it's worth $7? No.

My iced-tea was excellent. Prickly Pear Hibiscus. Very refreshing.

Panera, you boast about "clean food." That's terrific. But try cleaning your restrooms. I left the restaurant with a very bad opinion of Panera as a company & brand. Like I said from the start: NOT worth the hype. Support a local mom & pop biz or Taylor Gourmet. Their sandwiches are AWESOME. And their employees are friendly &...

I really try to not review restaurants but this is ridiculous. If I could give a 1/10th star I would.

Apparently Panera in Fairfax believes it perfectly alright to mess up delivery orders over and over and still get paid.

Whoever the owner is, they must be the greediest person in Faifax County Virginia. He/she should lose his/her franchise license for hiring people who go out of their way to mess up orders.

This place has the worst management and food prep staff in town. If I could order from ANY other Panera from my app, I would and I would not look back.

I’ve ordered from this restaurant for several years and within the last year or so I can easily say every delivery is wrong. All of them… and I always order a chicken Cesar salad. It’s mind numbing how they screw up a simple salad. I’m well beyond expecting any level of hope in refunds, correct orders sent back out, or the ability to order delivery from any of the other Panera restaurants surrounding my home.

This time I asked for romaine. So the prep person called me on my cellphone and asked if I wanted all romaine or a mix with iceberg lettuce. I said the mix of both is fine. They sent neither romaine nor iceberg lettuces. It’s mixed greens. I ordered at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon so they weren’t busy and besides… they literally called me on the phone.

What type person calls to clarify what you want on your order and then sends something completely different. Someone who sent lettuce that was not even spoken of. Just unilaterally decided to randomly select a lettuce.

My warning to everyone is don’t order pick up or delivery. You need to stand directly over the person preparing your food because if you don’t they will reach for whatever is closest to their hand and give it to you. You will need to point at each object you wish to purchase because the prep person doesn’t know the difference between food options.

I’m fairly sure the person fulfilling orders cannot read and I know they certainly...

My recent stop at Panera Bread, intended to be a quick, comfortable break, was unfortunately marred by disappointing drinks and noticeably uncomfortable seating. While Panera generally excels in providing a pleasant ambiance, this particular experience was hampered by two key areas that need serious attention. ​The main letdown was the beverage selection. I opted for one of the specialty fountain drinks, and frankly, the taste was off. It tasted diluted, almost watered-down, and lacked the robust flavor I expect. It felt like the mix was too weak or the syrup ratio was incorrect. A simple drink shouldn't be a source of complaint, but this left a poor initial impression, and I noticed the same watery quality in my companion's beverage as well. If Panera is going to feature specialty drinks, the quality control needs to be consistent and high. ​Beyond the lackluster drink, the seating arrangements were surprisingly uncomfortable. The chairs felt stiff and unforgiving, and the booth I chose had a hard, unyielding backrest. For a café that encourages people to sit, work, and relax, the furniture simply didn't promote a comfortable stay. After only twenty minutes, I felt restless and eager to leave, which defeats the purpose of choosing a welcoming café environment. ​While the food service was fine, the combination of poor-tasting, weak drinks and the unwelcoming physical environment significantly detracted from the visit. Panera needs to adjust its drink quality assurance and re-evaluate its seating ergonomics to truly live up to its reputation as a cozy,...