Panera Bread — Restaurant in Fort Smith

July 1st 2022. (Stuff Happens! Please note that on previous occasions the experience had been a little better!)

My mother wanted to eat out for a change, and asked me for a suggestion. I chose Panera Bread. We we're close to it, they have something BOTH of us could eat, and it's on our way home. However, upon entering the building I could not help but notice the very dirty looking glass doors and windows to the restaurant. I also stepped out to get something from my vehicle and reentered through another set of doors, which had not been cleaned in a good while as well. Not cool #1.

I ordered their Mediterranean Bowl (V) and *specified what I wanted. The cashier acknowledged my request -- an option they offered, and even listed online. We were handed a disc that lights up when your order is ready. Looked like a cool little spaceship thingy. The cook or prep guy apparently did not get the memo. After returning from the bathroom, I noticed my mother had the device in her hand with red lights flashing. I think cool - I take it from her and go to get our order. I serve my mother first, return to the counter and notice that I was given a bowl with other stuff added; stuff I made clear I did not want in my bowl. Not okay #2

After promptly but politely letting the prep guy know what I had ordered, and that I could not eat what was in the bowl, he seemed confused and really did not respond in a way that I understood what would happen next. So I asked if another could be prepared without those dressings and he said yes and apologized for the error.

Ok, so next; meanwhile my mother is munching away- 😂, thoroughly enjoying her bowl and commented on the chicken being tender, and that was a good thing. We are chatting a bit, when she suddenly inquires "where's YOUR food?!" I had noticed there was a bowl sitting up there on the counter. I thought to myself well surely, he would let me know when the replacement meal was ready, so I waited a little longer, not wanting to believe he'd NOT let me know that my bowl was ready. Come to find out the prep guy just had it sitting on the edge of the counter! And other customers had been coming and going to that counter, without letting me know it's ready! He could have handed me that spaceship thingy again after realizing the initial bowl was not as ordered. #3 Not cool.

So, I guess at least a star🌟or two is warranted, because my mother enjoyed her meal, which was a good thing... For that I am grateful. And hey, at least the bathrooms were clean!

I usually do not write any reviews if I don't have much more than complaints about an experience... my hope is that a manager will do something about any legitimate concerns a customer of theirs has. I think the 1st impression of the cleanliness of a restaurant we go to eat in is important, and that adequate communications amongst staff and real efforts to correct any mistakes made are also vital... so in my opinion, these are...

Brutal honest review!

The teriyaki chicken and broccoli bowl was far from perfect. The rice was dry, the chicken was not breast meat and had slimy fat pieces in it. The broccoli was inconsistent with some being decent and some tasting like it had passed it's preferred participation stage.

The southwest chicken melt was ok but not like the vibrant image depiction on the overhead menu. The bread crust was definitely consistent with the teeth on a chainsaw, ask my gums between a missing tooth or two...

Broccoli and cheese soup was absolutely phenomenal! Warm, creamy and smooth, chunks of broccoli were bite size and easy to eat. Not too salty but great balance of rich flavor.

Steak and white cheddar sandwich had a good balance of horseradish and cheese but maybe a bit short of steak. The bread was the same seek and destroy gum mutilator... Overall rating on this sandwich is a 4/10

Drinks were green tea papaya and pretty awesome.

The absolute best part was the lemon cookie by miles. Sorry I didn't grab a pic before it had all the way melted into my heart and stomach.

Side note: the drink area was a bit messy, some messy tables and the men's bathroom was trashed. Seemed to have more employees than customers and not sure why the restaurant would be this dirty 2 hours before closing with only 3 tables seated.

There was absolutely no music playing and the gentle drone from the table pagers continued for long after they were returned to their basket on the counter and could be heard throughout the entire restaurant.

Continuously heard employees in the back complaining about other employees while we were eating.

They did seem to have great tea though...

Total for the wife and I to eat tonight was $43.35 and I don't think the price adequately matched the service, facility and quality.

Sorry Panera, this is my second attempt in 15 years and I sadly won't be back.

P. S. My wife just told me that an employee finished in the stall next to her and left the bathroom without washing...

I will start this out by saying the quality of the food is good, there is nothing wrong the taste of the food. That is if you are one of the lucky people to get a order correct. I have had my order wrong on 4 occasions of the 6 times that I have been at the Fort Smith location. It does not seem to be the people that ring the order up as my receipts have been correct. But it seems the people making the order wrong are the people making the food. I will go down the list of orders that I have received that were incorrect in my past trips, with my latest one today. 1-2) Roasted Turkey Avocado BLT - Told them no mayo I'M ALLERGIC. They put mayo on the food. They did this two separate times! 3) Missing cookie from order. Funny thing is this was my free points that I was given from calling corporate about the previous mess up of the second time they gave me mayo on my sandwich. 4) Missing vegetables and sauce to Toasted Steak And White Cheddar. This one happened this evening as a Family member called about the mess up and the male manager, yes I said the MANAGER told him the sandwich does not come with horseradish and pickled red onion. But anyone with a brain can clearly see that it does come with that on their website. Maybe he needs more training along with the other staff who can't get orders right. Long story short, I'm done with this place and I am done trying to be nice because it has not improved my experience from this place. No amount of freebies can make me come back and I suggest you all save your Panera cravings for another location because I can almost guarantee you your order will be incorrect at this one. If you like your order wrong from young teenagers who play on their phones all day and can't read basic instructions on a piece of paper or computer, the jobs not hard, I previously done the food industry jobs for 8 years, then enjoy! At this point, I would give zero...