Panera Bread — Restaurant in Fairfield

Let me tell you, I used to be a 20-year Starbucks drinker. I worshipped the line, the ritual, the name scrawled on the cup. But lately? Walking into a Starbucks feels dead: 90% takeout, minimal people sitting, minimal chatter, that third-place energy gone. Meanwhile, Panera is doing something smart. Really smart. It’s not just food, it’s strategy.

Paul Carbone (yes, the CFO now steering Panera Brands) isn’t tinkering around. He’s helping reinvent Panera into what Starbucks used to be: a place you go to stay, to work, to mix with others, to linger over a cup. With over 57% of Panera’s sales now from ecommerce and the Unlimited Sip Club subscription model drawing in folks who used to drop $4–5 per drink elsewhere, Panera has pulled ahead.

Let’s talk about that Sip Club: for about $10.99/month (now bumped to ~$14.99 in many places) you get nearly everything: hot or iced coffee, teas, fountain drinks, Charged Lemonades, free refills while you’re in the café, drink every two hours. This isn’t just value for someone who wants a drink here and there — this is a power move to lock in daily habit. Students, freelancers, people with laptops — they show up more, they stay longer, they spend more.

Contrast that with Starbucks under Brian Niccol. He walked in, saw what’s happening: falling same-store sales, stores with dwindling in-person crowd. He’s trying with his “Back to Starbucks” turnaround: store closures, job cuts, simplifying the menu, re-investing in the café experience. But he’s got a steep hill. The cracks are there. The momentum is with value and habit, and when customers can get more for less and an environment that invites them to stay, that’s a powerful one-two punch.

So yes — Panera has won me over. If you asked me six months ago: I’m Starbucks all the way. Now? I hit Panera every day. Sip Club is unbeatable. Quantity. Quality. Ambiance. And people are flocking back in. Starbucks might still dominate in brand recognition, but Panera is quietly taking back territory: the territory of the lingering, the working, the connecting.

If you're a coffee drinker, if you're someone who wants more than just “grab and go,” Panera is the new Starbucks you wished Starbucks still was — and seeing more and more places...

I typically order the warm bowl from the store at the mall and the quality is much better and you get a larger serving. I just got my dinner there and my bowl was tossed in the bag. The ingredients where all over the place and it barely had enough food to the point where I couldn't see the hummus that should have been in there. So I asked for it, because the last time at this location, it was forgotten. So I opened the bowl and realized a dab was in there but because there was barely any food in there I could not tell. At the mall location, the bowl is full and you can tell there's hummus there because it's pressing on the top. The lady offered me some extra and I refused because she was trying to convince me that the bowl there and the bowl at the mall are the same, I'm like I'm the consumer, I should know when there's a difference in quality. The only advantage here is the dining space, it's much larger than at the mall. Definitely better quality and service at the mall as well.

Update: After consuming the bowl I had to go take some left over antibiotics because both my tonsils began hurting after I ate. You go figure...dirty food does that.

$20 wasted, to think I even tipped on a takeout order, just to have this experience. I will never be going back...

This is by far the best Panera considering atmosphere, it feels so cozy but also very stylish. Has a fireplace, outdoor seating, different sections that makes you feel like you are in a different place every time you sit at a different section. Fast internet, easy access to plugs for your computer, very friendly and fast working stuff and always very clean with full selections exhibited. Parking lot is large enough and makes it very convenient even in extremely busy Black Rock area, there are other stores at the mall so you can shop without having to drive after you had your meal or drink. Drink selections are limited in Panera the old menu was much better. But still the best of its class in a large perimeter in that part of Fairfield. Most Panera customers are not happy with the small interior very modern look as it gives the expression of a fast food place. Panera customers usually like to sit down and hand out at their local Panera. This was seems new and nice with old glory. Which makes it favorite hand out cafe in...