Panera Bread — Restaurant in Georgia

My wife and I stopped at this Panera on our way home from Blairsville, GA where the Cuban restaurant we wanted to try whole in the area was closed on Monday's. We arrived at Panera around 5:20 PM for dinner and the place was almost empty. There were two other tables occupied.

Ordering was quick and our order taker was friendly but not outgoing or with much knowledge of the menu outside of what she could find on the terminal.

I ordered the Steak and Arugula Whole Sandwich that was served with a pickle spear. My item was very good and the portion size was adequate at a cost of $8.99 with no sides. The food was fresh and I would order this sandwich again.

On the downside, my sandwich did not have much meat. The meat was piled nicely in the middle of the bread but the meat only covered probably 50% of the bread. In the menu, this sandwich is served with the following" Grass-fed seared steak, arugula, vine-ripened tomatoes, pickled onions, garlic and herb cream cheese spread and mustard horseradish sauce.

My sandwich had steak, arugula, and tomatoes on sourdough. Three was no pickled onions, garlic herb cheese spread or mustard horseradish sauce.

My next complaint on this location/visit was that we waited 15 minutes for our order to be called. They provide a buzzer to alert you to pick up your order at the window and it never went off despite us being the only ones who came in or were served during our visit. After 15 minutes I walked up to the counter and found our food sitting in the window but nobody to ask if it was in fact ours. I waited and finally took the order and went to our seat.

PRICE/CHARGE: This is the biggest area of concern for me. My receipt shows a total of one iced tea, on whole sandwich and one-half sandwich to be $19.37. However, upon leaving the store I checked my account and I was charged an authorization of $23.06. There is no explanation of this additional amount authorized and there was not anybody at the register or available when we left to ask. I understand automatic gratuity but if that is the case here staff member did anything to assist us during our visit to earn a tip or warrant one. I will be watching this as the charge is settled and if it is settled for the amount authorized I will be contacting the corporate offices of Panera. The receipt does not show any reference to any gratuity being automatically added so this seems to be a deceptive business practice...

Panera Bread - A Symphony of Hits, Misses, and Unforgettable Mac n' Cheese

Panera Bread often feels like a sonnet written in the language of comfort food. It’s a cozy spot where the aroma of freshly baked bread coalesces with a symphony of flavors to offer a casual dining experience that's popular with the family.

The star of the show, the Marlon Brando of the Panera Bread menu, is undoubtedly the Mac and Cheese. It's as if the essence of comfort has been distilled into a creamy, cheesy concoction that coats your taste buds with a sense of satisfaction akin to a warm hug on a cold day. It's a dish that commands an encore with every bite, always hitting the right notes.

On the other hand, the grilled cheese and sandwiches sometimes deliver performances that range from standing ovations to polite clapping, depending on the day. They're like the unpredictable weather of a British summer, sometimes a bright sunny day, other times a bit overcast.

Their menu, however, has a habit of behaving like a game of musical chairs, where your favorite dish might disappear just as you're about to order it. This inconsistency is as disappointing as reaching the last page of an enthralling book, only to find it missing.

But when the curtain call arrives, Panera saves the day with its spectacular Fuji Apple Cranberry drink. It's as refreshing as a dive into a clear mountain stream, washing over you with a splash of sweet, tart, and crisp flavors, turning any meal into a moment of refreshing indulgence.

In essence, Panera Bread is akin to a gripping movie with a stellar cast, unpredictable plot twists, and unforgettable moments. You might find some scenes lacking, but the highlights and the overall experience make it a show worth watching again and again. Comfort Food Rating? A comforting 3.8 out of 5, with extra applause for the Mac n' Cheese and that irresistible Fuji Apple...

I have been here multiple times before, but I went there 3 days ago and had a terrible experience! They were out of most of their soups, no big deal I will change my order a little. I tried to order a pick two, and upgrade my soup to a bread bowl. The girl taking my order said you can’t do a bread bowl on pick 2, I pointed to the sign which says differently. She goes oh ok Ill have to figure out how to do that, we pay and sit down. Our food comes out and my soup is not in a bread bowl, I tell the server delivering our food he says they said it wasn’t paid for. I show him my receipt that says “BREAD BOWL”. He says the girl typed that in and I didn’t pay for it, so I asked how that was my fault that their employee messed up? I spoke to the manager and she was like you didn’t pay for it, again I thought I did, that’s what I ordered and the girl taking the order doesn’t know how to input that. The managers exact words “I guess this time I’ll give it to you but I can’t do that next time” I said you can’t fix your employees mistakes? She responded “she’s only been working here 3 days”. Which I understand, but then have someone helping her. Definitely will not be returning to...