Panera Bread — Restaurant in Florida

Awful experience, after spending almost $30 dollars for a bowl of soup, a grilled cheese sandwich (double), and a small (tiny) Mac 'n cheese for my son, plus a medium drink from the fountain which by the way, it was dispensing very watery Pepsi, my wife and I felt like we had had the appetizer only. So i went to the ordering screen again, and this time i ordered another Mac n cheese (this time large) and a Cuban panini which it comes with pulled roasted pork meat . These two new items set me back another $21 dollars in total. I then sat back on the table an waited for the waitress to bring the food. Few minutes later, the guy shows up with the sandwich and the slightly bigger Mac n cheese (large order). And upon receiving the food on the table, I inmimmediately perceived a very strong odor like rotten something, I knew it was coming from the sandwich, I never got a single bite from it cause I knew the pork was in really bad condition. The pulled pork is sometimes marinated and seasoned with a mix of lemon and orange juices plus some other species, to give it a nice juicy flavor. Well, this pork was not like that, instead it smelled like it was rotten already, and of course I wasn't going to eat it like that. I took the plate to where they are dispatched. And explained to the waiter that the meat in the sandwich was in really bad condition, they could also smell the very unpleasant odor from probably 3 feet away. I asked the waiter if I could get the sandwich replaced for something else, but definitely nothing with pork in it. The waiter explained what had happened to a guy in a blue shirt which looked like the manager, and then that guy asked me in a very despective tone, what kind of sandwich do you want?? I said a ham and cheese but without the pork. The guy was noticeably defiant and apparently he didn't like me bringing the rotten meat to his attention. Then he told me, we can't take that sandwich back, and turned his back on me, I asked again, where should I put this sandwich cause nobody is going to eat it, and he replied again that they couldn't take it back, but in a more despective way. I am a man and my patience is not my greatest quality, so I gave the plate to the waiter and went back to my table before my instincts betrayed me and I decided to take this personally with that "manager" or whatever the hell he was there. A minute later, the waiter shows up to the table again, with literally two slices of bread with a slice of some ham and a slice of cheese between them. All cold and without napkins, no chips, nothing. I serve my dog her food with much more decency than the "sandwich" they sent me to the table. I asked the waiter for the chips, and a box to go, cause I didn't want to spend another minute in that place. I can only hope they don't keep serving rotten meat in the sandwiches to anyone else, cause it won't be long till somebody becomes sick with that putrefaction. Me personally, I'm never ever setting another foot in that restaurant again, much less recommending it to anyone else. If I could give this place 0 stars I would. I hope someone in the health department reads this review and send someone to inspect the food these people are serving in that restaurant, I bet they would find...

I stopped at the Panera on US 41 Page Field this morning, hoping I would have time to get a blueberry muffin (nothing else). I decided to pull in when I saw there weren't too many cars in the lot and there was only one (1) car ordering at the drive through. I should have known that since it took so long just to place her order, I would be there for a while. Since I couldn't pull out of the drive thru I waited just a minute before the employee took my order. I rounded the building to pick up my 1 muffin, that car was still there waiting for her order. I sat behind that car for 8 minutes before her transaction was completed! By now I was running late for work. When I talked to the girl at the window, I mentioned to her that I thought an 8 minute wait for 1 blueberry muffin was a bit ridiculous. Her comment was "I'm sorry we had a long line", well it certainly wasn't behind me! I offered her the suggestion of asking the person (or the store) who was taking so long to put her order together if she couldn't have asked the customer to pull forward so she could hand me my muffin, which was waiting right there at her drive thru window. Of course I didn't get a response, just a cheesy smile and 'Have a nice day". I thanked her and said "I hope so now that I'm late for work" , as she quickly closed the window in my face! Now I know that if I spoke to management (about customer service and time management) I would get all kinds of excuses, about how it all started with COVID...then I would have been schooled on all the new high tech ordering that's out there (that I could have used, for quick pick up and/or delivery. Well here's something to think about "management", if I see a place where I want to spend my money on "fast food" as I'm driving to work , those new technology features aren't always available at the last minute. Most likely because to use them I would have to use my cell phone, which in our state is illegal to do while driving, and if I decided to pull over to use the technology I may as well just pull into your drive thru. As far as I remember a Drive Thru at Fast food or semi fast food restaurants were for convenience, Again the best thing that could solve this problem is to train your employees to kindly as the customer to pull up (which I'm sure they wouldn't mind) so you won't have me writing this big long review. It would be well worth my time, if only your Company can implement that policy. I will say my Blueberry Muffin was delicious, but maybe not worth the 8 minute...

I give the food 5 stars and the service 1-2 stars for the weekend staff. The staff preparing the food have a bad attitude and are rude to customers.

I am standing by the counter waiting for my drink along with other people. A few minutes pass by and I ask a staff member if my drink was already made. They act clueless and asked me what I ordered and then begin making it. Moments later, a staff member places a drink on the counter and walks away. How am I suppose to know whose drink that is if you don't announce it? I take the drink assuming it's mine since I ordered first before the people around me. I drink it once I get to my car and it's not the drink I ordered. Great! I paid for a Peppermint Mocha and got a plain coffee.

I also witnessed another staff member place a bagel into a toaster without gloves. The customer that ordered the bagel told her, "I don't want that one. You're not wearing gloves." With impulsiveness, the girl threw the bagel in the trash and put on gloves slowly with a nasty attitude. And once the customer walks away all the staff members begin to trash talk the customer for not wanting the first bagel, right in front of me, another customer. Purely ridiculous and not professional. Does the staff member mean to tell me that she washed her hands right before handling that bagel? I don't think so. She should have, so she could seen her sour face in the mirror and it might remind her to smile and be pleasant to customers.

I do not expect this type of customer service from Panera Bread. This occurred on a Sunday morning. I know it must not be great to work on a Sunday morning, but at least you have a job. Many people don't. Panera Bread customers work too and don't deserve to be treated...