Panera Bread — Restaurant in Gainesville

After speaking to a Panara employee I decided that I wanted to serve a Holiday Pastry Ring for Christmas Eve morning, since that was when my family was getting together. I wanted to ensure that one would be available so I ordered one online 4 days in advance and paid for it online. I arrived on the scheduled pick up day all ready to run in, grab my pastry and run out. When I got there it wasn't ready, so I asked an employee, who stated that they did not have my pastry ring. Josh, the manager on duty, walked up behind her and said that he tried calling me to inform that they did not have my order. I looked at my phone and he called a few minutes before my scheduled pick up time. I asked him why they did not have my pastry ring and he stated that they only make 2 a day and already sold out of them. I was confused and told Josh that I ordered mine 4 days ago and did not understand why they did not make an extra one or put 1 of the 2 that were made aside for my order. He explained that they do not see their orders until 5 minutes before the pick up time, which still does not make sense to me especially with bakery orders. I then asked what are they going to do now. I already paid for the pastry ring and now I don't have anything to bring for Christmas Eve morning. Josh stated that I could pick something out of the bakery case. It was 4:45pm and the case was almost empty except for 2 cinnamon rolls, a bear claw, muffins, and cookies. I asked Josh what was I supposed to choose from, the case was practically empty and he rudely stated that it was almost 5pm and they sell out quick. He also pointed out that since I ordered a pastry ring I could not choose any of the muffins. So I was left with the 2 cinnamon rolls and a bear claw that he cut up in fourths saying that it was just like the holiday pastry ring. I wish I could post pictures so that you can see what they gave me unapologetically instead of what I paid for. I left so disappointed and frustrated. This whole experience really put a damper in my Christmas Eve morning with my family, who were visiting from Michigan. So the morning that we were all together I served little quaters of hardened cinnamon rolls and a bear claw, which was good but there was only 4 pieces of that. I would have been better off just buying Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and served those. All of this said in hopes that Panera make some changes in their online ordering to ensure that what is ordered from the bakery is actually available when the customer comes in to pick up...

If you want to be nice and pay for the car behind you, PAY FOR IT WITH CARD otherwise the managers will STEAL YOUR MONEY!!!

I used to work for this exact Panera store. Some of the staff were really friendly, but a few of the managers are very dishonest people. One time a woman came through and asked to pay for the person behind her's food as a bit of random good Samaritan kindness. I checked her out and then one of the managers came up to me and asked "You didn't actually use her money to pay for the person behind you did you?"

I told her I did, and then I was reprimanded and told that if someone comes through with cash and tries to pay for the car behind them, that I was supposed to just pocket it and split it with the rest of the team working that day. Because "They're coming to Panera's. The people here can pay for their own food". I told her they payed with card and she said "Oh. Well I guess there was nothing you could do then," as though that somehow made a difference.

That experience, and a few others have left a very sour taste in my mouth for this specific Panera location. I know not everyone that works here is like that. There's a manager named May that is particularly friendly and was not (to my knowledge) dishonest, but more than one of the other managers here would blatantly steal from their customers and that to this day...

I’ve been frequenting Panera bread for at least 15 years. I’ve frequented many all over the country. I usually order the same thing, a Pick 2 with a Greek salad and soup. I noticed on this visit that the salad bowls were considerably smaller than they used to be, which would have been fine if the bowl was filled with salad. However, the bowl was smaller, and it was barely half full with salad. Is lettuce really that expensive that the bowl can’t be filled? I spoke to the manager and he said it’s the same size it’s always been. That’s an outright lie. Do you think we are all stupid and we don’t know the difference. That was an insult my intelligence. After we left Panera, my daughter and I had to go to another restaurant to eat lunch. What they served with a poor excuse for lunch and at $10 per person, now I have to consider whether I’ll give Panera a second chance. I’m hoping it was just this particular restaurant so I guess I will try another one but if this is what their servings are now, then I will strike Panera off my...