Panera Bread — Restaurant in Georgia

Update They Have Gotten The Wooden Stirrers in. I was hoping that was just a supply issue not what the one young lady said about them not going to be carrying them.😀🥳. 9/3/24

It actually wasn’t food. It was coffee on more than one occasion. The coffee wasn’t hot or fresh. I can tell when the coffee is hot because I actually have to use one of those cardboard sleeves. This happened on more than one occasion certain coffees have been out and on one occasion, I had to wait for it to be brewed, I just recently started going back to Panera. I did am doing a membership trial of the coffee. But the reason why I am posting this as well is this because they ran out of Wooden stirrers For the coffee on Friday. And that would’ve been OK had the person just said that they need to reorder But one employee told me that they no longer carry them. I usually go there twice a day because it’s kind of fun you know I like coffee and you can get other beverages. I was just there that morning and they had them. Prior to the young lady telling me this. The person at the register is new really didn’t know what I was talking about she thought the plastic things that you put in the lid to keep the coffee from spilling was a stirrer. 😳In fact, they have a lot of new staff right now But the woman that told me that they no longer carry them I’ve seen her there before. So I was there this morning and they were out and I’m sure by now a lot of people especially Saturday morning noticed there were no stirrers. They were running around trying to find them on Friday evening. I just looked over to my left and saw there was a straw problem solved. But the more experienced person told me to use the plastic things as well. 😢. You can’t stir the coffee properly if you’ve added some things because it won’t touch the bottom without you burning your hand.??? And on Friday evening, they appeared to be no manager because they could’ve just asked the manager. This morning a lady and I we were talking about it and then I saw a much older gentleman asking where they were. I’m not sure what they told him. There is definitely something going on wrong there. If there was one closer other than that one, I would probably start going there because there seems to be some disorganization. I really had stopped going to panera. My favorite thing there is their soup. My favorite one was the chicken and rice. The flavor changed now I have been getting it recently, and it seems as if the flavor has returned. They are not are not very cheap one time my daughter and I we got sandwiches at this location and those sandwiches were so bad that I know she hasn’t returned. We both had taken a long hiatus from Panera bread??? I’m originally from the St. Louis area and it’s called the St. Louis Bread Company and they are awesome. I imagine it is just this location I used to live to Duluth and I went to the one that’s on state Bridge. It was fine. I think there’s management issues there. I was actually thinking I may not go there. I’m...

I used to think the Panera in John’s creek was just not managed properly and I just had bad luck there but it’s clearly a company wide management issue. I just bought dinner for my wife and I, two hours before closing (8:00pm). First placing the first sandwich order they say we’re out of ham for the night... ok seems strange since you sell sandwiches but whatever maybe a lot of people wanted Cubans on a Sunday night. Place my order For two and pull up to the window to pay and I’m greeted with “you need to pick something else we don’t have enough tomato soup”. Not the first time I’ve gotten attitude from an employee at this location (Buford), and I’m very understanding and laid back. Check my order before pulling away and I’m missing a sandwich AND the one I did get is completely a mess and not made at all how it normally is. Wrong bread and half the size it was supposed to be. Wait another 10 minutes for the missing sandwich and the girl drops it aimlessly in my car window. Before I could ask anything else she had walked away. I will not be giving Panera any more of my money, we have gone them regularly for years and they clearly have quality issues. I get it’s supposed to be fresh, this the appeal but they clearly cannot deliver what they advertise. Go to a local shop that actually appreciates your business. I normally don’t write bad reviews but this was worth the verbal venting. Maybe someone who cares about this business will read this.

Update

Called to speak with manager. A girl claimed to be the manager, when I voiced my concern she said she would speak with the manager. “I thought you said you’re the manager?” She says “hold on”. A guy come on the line and says he’s the manager, says he can refund in the morning. He takes my name, I ask for his and he hangs up on me. My wife calls back immediately and speaks with another woman and then she hangs up on my wife. Terrible...

2023 REVIEW: Wow, has it really been 5 years since our last review as follows? Sad to see that the quality and service has not improved. It amazes me how many times they just happen to run out of bread, but don't know this until I'm at the window to pay for and pick up my food. And their new sandwich? Nothing like the picture, and if you are going to include the word "stacked" in your menu item, it better not be lacking stacked ingredients. Very disappointed. I'd be willing to pay more for the food if it matched quality ingredients and service. TIP! If you come here for the soup, try making your own by searching the restaurant soup name and copycat recipe. Not only will you be able to replicate it inexpensively, but you won't have to underfill the container of soup like this Panera does - see pic.

2018 REVIEW: The high prices would be justified if they could actually make their sandwiches look remotely close to the advertised pictures. For example, their roasted turkey and avocado BLT is pictured with 7 slices of avocado, but this location regularly builds their sandwich to come with only 2 slices (if that). When we first complained, we were told that it was near the end of the night and they were out of avocado, but this occurs repeatedly across weeks and months (even 1.5 to 2 hours prior to closing time). And to run out of round dinner rolls this early in the evening; repeatedly along with their soup of the day? There is a systemic problem with this Panera Bread which aligns with other negative feedback listed. Comparatively, McDonalds will compensate for lack of satisfaction by replacing the entire meal or throwing in some apple pies. But when we reported this repeat systemic issue to corporate, Panera simply said; thanks for reporting this...