Panera Bread — Restaurant in Lafayette

On our journey from Chicago to Louisville, we hit the midpoint on I-65 around Lafayette, Indiana, and boy, were we in need of a break! Lo and behold, the shining beacon of deliciousness known as Panera Bread appeared before us. Easy access from the interstate? Check. Inviting ambiance? Double check. So we cruised into the parking lot and stepped inside for a much-needed refueling session.

And let me tell you, fate was on our side that day because we encountered the superstar of all cashiers - the one and only Natalie! This gal deserves a standing ovation for her professionalism, positive humor, and that magnificent smile that could light up the whole restaurant. Seriously, she made ordering a delightful experience, and I can't remember the last time someone's cheerfulness left such a lasting impression.

Natalie wasn't just all talk and no action; she was genuinely eager to help and served us like it was a privilege. It's like she had a secret mission to make everyone's day better, one smile at a time. I couldn't resist pausing to thank her for her incredible attitude - we definitely need more Natalies in this world!

But that's not all. The good vibes didn't end with Natalie. The bathrooms were squeaky clean, and the seating area was cozy and spotless - a true oasis of comfort for road-weary travelers.

So, to sum it all up, if we ever find ourselves in that neck of the woods again, you can bet your bottom dollar we'll be making a beeline straight to Panera Bread, hoping to catch a glimpse of the extraordinary Natalie. Hats off to you, Natalie, and kudos to Panera for creating an awesome experience that goes beyond just the food. Keep being the sunshine we all need...

I’m not sure who is in charge of hiring and promoting, but there is a team member, Zach B, who really should be in charge of the whole place. Truly. I’ve been coming here almost daily for the last two years (hello Coffee Club Subscription!!), and my experience here had been mediocre at best. Apathetic team members, average (or worse) service, even a cold customer service at times. Then a number of months ago, Zach arrived at this store, and you can just TELL when he is on the schedule when you walk in. Orders are fulfilled correctly and QUICKLY, food prep mistakes are owned and corrected POLITELY (that NEVER happened before), and the service is just genuinely pleasant. I frequently witness Zach always going the extra mile to jump into any scenario with a passion and willingness to help customers and fellow team members alike. He OWNS his station, but also pitches in everywhere around him.

Please PLEASE promote him and make him responsible for the hospitality training of other employees. But please just don’t promote him away to a different store…this location is finally the one I really want to be at!! Bottom line: If I owned this franchise, I would want Zach B responsible for the hiring and training of team members as well as overall customer experience.

Note: If it would be helpful, please reach out to me for further details and information. I don’t know Zach in any capacity other than the guy who makes it a great experience to be at this Panera. As a team leader and branch manager myself (albeit not in food service), I just know that I would want someone to tell me if my employee was as professional and...

Worst Panera ever! I would give it zero stars if I could.

I placed an order for curbside pickup yesterday for 6:45 PM. I arrived and clicked on the button saying I was there at 6:47 PM. It replied saying "You're Here" and that my order would be out shortly. It never came. I waited for more than half an hour, called the national customer "service" number, which was no help, and called the local number twice - the first time it rang 40 or 50 times before disconnecting itself and the second time it just disconnected without ringing. I never received my food and had to go to Wendy's instead - which is what I should have done in the first place.

This Panera has always had bad management with faulty orders and sometimes long wait times, but this is the first time I was stiffed completely. They charged my credit card but never brought out my food and it was impossible to reach them by phone - this is unacceptable. During the more than 30 minutes I was there they brought out food to one other party and people were going in and out so I know they were supposedly doing curbside pickup. I will never go to this Panera again and you shouldn't either - they are the worst and apparently not capable of doing curbside pickup. I know things are tough during the epidemic but they've had ten months to practice and should have it...