Panera Bread — Restaurant in Hoover

This was my 1st time ever trying Panera and my experience at this location from the time I walked in the door until I walked out the door was WONDERFUL. With this being my very 1sr time at Panera the cashier ,JP, who took my order was VERY patient, VERY informative about their menu, and just VERY kind to me. After I placed and received my order I decided to place another order since I live at least 20mins away & that I could spend all the money on my Panera gift card that I've had for a couple of years. The manager , Ashley, so GRACIOUSLY took my 2nd order and my interaction with her was VERY PLEASANT. She made sure I got the best deal for the amount of money I had left on my gift card. Because I was trying to see what size soup or bread bowl that I would be able to afford, which was buy a soup & add a bread bowl on the side. Ashley also made sure to inform me that I had another rewards that I could redeem. Then I can't forget about the training Cashier Jasmin. Even though she didn't take my orders she still made sure to HAPPILY Greet me while I was there and answered any questions that she could. I actually didn't know she was a new trainee until after my 2nd order when I over heard , Ashley, their manager explaining and showing her somethings. The 3 of them made my 1st experience at Panera Bread was wonderful that I asked Ashley if she would write down their names so that I could leave a review. Oh yeah, I have to leave a GOOD review for the people in the kitchen and the person who fixed my food. Because when I got home I was VERY pleased when I started eating my sandwich & soup. Then the Orange Scone I chose was...

Against my gut feeling from my last unsatisfied experience, I wanted to order a breakfast sandwich to pickup on my way to work. I first tried to use the app which I could not get to work. I called the store to put in a to go order and after being on hold for several minutes I was disconnected. I called again and was put on hold, but I could hear the employees in the background saying, I think it's the same lady who just called. I held for 6 minutes and 24 seconds then was disconnected...hung up on me. I went into the store and ordered a bagel w/cream cheese and asked to speak with the manager. There was at the most eight people in the store. While I waited I looked around and saw one employee walking around with a headset playing on his phone doing nothing. He did come over and asked if I needed some help. I said, yes, I want to see the manager. After a minute or so the manager came out and asked what was going on and I explained to him what happened with phone situation and that I was in hurry which is why I was trying to order breakfast for pickup. He tried to tell me how short staffed and busy they were. I said and I quote, "yes yall look real busy". He just looked at me and said have a good day. This is so disappointing. This was b/w...

I’m writing this review after having just left the Hoover location. This is maybe the fifth or sixth time that I’ve gone to this location and ordered one of the charged lemonades and it has tasted it’s spoiled or sour. To my understanding, the charged lemonades are not fizzy or carbonated, however, the one I got today and several others that I have gotten from this location have tasted bubbly, carbonated, and outright, spoiled, like they’ve been left to sit and ferment. This is completely unacceptable and it surpasses being a customer service issue and becomes a health issue. Someone needs to address this as soon as possible. The lemonades that are kept at the drive-through need to be kept fresh for the customers that are coming to the drive-through to order them. Is there not a nightly process for refreshing these drinks to make sure that they are not spoiled when they are handed out the window to the customers? This is absolutely disgusting!

P. S. — other than getting the spoiled lemonade, I cannot complain about the customer service at all. The gentleman at the window today was very kind thank and courteous, as have been most of the staff that I have encountered when I come to get my lemonade....