Panera Bread — Restaurant in Jackson Township

You know how sometimes you go into a restaurant not really knowing what to expect? That's what happened during this visit at this location. I've been to this location before, and nothing has changed as far as the look and environment of the place, but the food and service was excellent during my previous visit.

This visit was completely opposite of my previous patronage. As soon as you walk into this location, you get a sense that nobody wants to talk to you or see you. Before you even get to the cashier counter, you're welcomed by tablets mounted on wonky worn out stands where you order food at. But I get it, sometimes they probably get busy and it's probably just easier for customers to utilize technology to assure accuracy of what's being ordered. So I put in my order using the tablet, but I forgot to order a bottle of water. So I went to the cashier counter and waited about 5 minutes or more for someone to help. The cashier counter was deserted, and there was no one in sight. So I made my way to the pickup window where you get your food, and came face to face with a manager and two associates. I'm not sure where they were coming from, but one of the associates was taking off a jacket, so I'm thinking they were coming in from outside. But I don't know and I don't want to assume anything. But you would think that I had just cursed them out because of the resentful and discontented looks on their faces when we came across each other. I forgot about the water because I wasn't sure what was about to happen. I just continued to the pickup window and grabbed my order. I realized that my Madagascar vanilla bean coffee drink thing was missing. So I went back to the pickup window, and inquired about it. One of the associates that was putting orders together looked at me like I was trying to get something for free, and could care less about what I ordered. So I had to pull up the email copy of the order and show it to her. She explained to me that orders don't always go through accurately using the tablets. So she told another kitchen associate that I needed a coffee drink with vanilla. What I got was not what I ordered, but I didn't want to stir up any more tension than what seemed to be going on. I took the drink anyway, and tried to doctorate with creamer from the coffee bar 😞

When I do these reviews I try my best to not be overly critical of workers and businesses. I also try not to undersell their greatness and services, but if something's not right, I have to call it out. This location at this time of visit was full of workers from management to the staff that just didn't seem to be connected to the quality of other Panera's that I've been to. So if you're reading this review, take it as a concern that if you're in the mood for soup and salad, or a delicious Panera sandwich, that this location may be similar to roulette. You might have a decent experience, or you might not.

As always, enjoy...

My wife works just down the road from me and told me that she was having a rough day today. I asked her what she would like for lunch, and she smiled saying that she would love some Panera Bread soup! She was wanting something warm, tasty, and hearty! We get to Panera at Belden, and there was a woman taking the orders that had no right to be near a computer. She was confused by the interface of the register, and obviously overwhelmed and frustrated. My wife ordered a Green Goddess Caprese Melt – Toasted Baguette. The woman kept asking if she wanted the chicken flatbread or the bowl. Which neither were an option for the item being asked for. The woman then asked multiple more times which sandwich was it? Then we were running out of time on our breaks, and she pointed to the item on the board behind this woman, and the woman replied that she was getting flustered because the items are named differently on their interface than on the menu. My wife said I would like the Green Goddess with the chicken. On the board, in this location, it says that the item has chicken on it, on the website it shows that there is no chicken, but you can add chicken or bacon. After a frustrating interaction ordering her food, I just asked or the Pepperoni Mozzarella Melt – Toasted Baguette. We leave, I dropped my wife off at her office, and before I can get to mine, I get a text that there was no chicken on the sandwich, whatsoever. After the frustration of the day, and then the interaction with the cashier who I hope is just new, I was overwhelmingly upset. Finally, I get to my office, back to my desk and I open my sandwich up, and the bread was so hard, and food smelled completely unappetizing! I barely took 2x bites from this thing that was easily over a foot long and I took the food, rolled it back up in the wrapper, and then I took it to a trash can outside the building so that no one had to smell it. Today, 2x sandwiches, 2x bagels, 2x bags of chips, and a parfait cost me $44. I called the store, a young woman answered. I asked her if this was the location on Belden, she confirmed. I told her about the situation with my wife's food, and her immediate reply was: Are you sure? I told her that this was the 1st and last time I will ever stop at that location. Personally, I cannot see a reason to return to Panera Bread at all. The other thing I did not care for at all, they had the cutlery in bins that you barely had any clearance to see which was which of the spoons, forks, and knives. Watching people just reach in grabbing the utensils and then tossing whatever they did not need back into the bins. I do not want to put those in my mouth, not knowing who has touched what, after touching whatever other people do through their days... the location was clean, aside from that. Sadly, that is the only good thing about...

I've rejoined the coffee subscription program after a hiatus. I'd become frustrated with the slow drive through and weak decaf. I now rate this Panera three stars and here's why:

Two stars are subtracted because of the drivethru. It is So. Freaking. Slow. First of all, whoever is working the speaker needs to listen. If it's poor quality, or not working, FIX IT. I shouldn't have to repeat everything. I speak clearly, and at a volume which should be easy to hear and understand. Secondly - why bother asking for my subscription phone number at the speaker, because Three: You Don't Even Start Making My Coffee Until I'm At The WINDOW. I was the only car in the drivethrough on a morning last week, and that's exactly what happened. AFTER I pulled up to the window, I watched the very slow worker get a cup. Set it down. Go pick up a pot. Pour it in the cup. Go back and set it down. Go to the refrigerator for the half-n-half. Pour (evidently) so much in that the coffee ended up being very very light cream colored. More time to select a lid, and put it on, with the worker's hand covering the whole lid, including the part I was going to have my mouth on. Gross. The over to the window (slowly) to hand it out to me. GOOD GOD people! The purpose of a drive through is for convenience and SPEED. Please consider undertaking both of these qualities. Please. Then I get to work, take a sip, and it is the weakest brew I've ever had. Tastes like the grounds were used to make another pot after the first time they were used.

The other three stars are for Eileen. Ilene maybe? I've given up on the drivethru and go in now. The coffee (for whatever reason) is stronger, and she is very pleasant every time. :) I can park my car, go in and get a large coffee to go, and be back in my car faster than going through the drivethru.

A year ago: First time in this morning, had joined the 'free unlimited coffee' program, thought I was doing the right thing by going in rather than holding up the drive-thru line because I didn't know how it worked yet. There was one customer finalizing their order at the counter. When it was my turn, the guy at the counter did not greet me, and said nothing. He just stood there. So I said "Hi, I'm new. I joined your free coffee program, what do you need - the email, some type of code?" Without much conversation at ALL, we somehow negotiated an empty cup for me, a lid, a stir stick, and one sugar packet (didn't ask how much I wanted) and after a few button pushes, I was apparently free to go. No 'thank you', no 'have a nice...