Panera Bread — Restaurant in Lakewood

if it's soup & grilled cheese you crave GO TO DENNY'S ON YOUNGFIELD! You get the "WHOLE" sandwich, 3 kinds of cheese on artisan bread, perfectly grilled FOR ONLY EIGHT BUCKS! Best grilled cheese I've had besides my own & soup is good too....at least on loaded baked potato night. So about Panera this Thursday evening,,,,, i stopped going here months ago because i was disappointed and/or greatly shorted on portions (like the meat in sandwiches or lettuce in salads) way more often than not. Even the "not" times the food was nothing great for the price. Anyway I've had this toothache a couple days and wanted softer food and since i had a couple "we miss you" type offers i decided to try again thinking maybe after all this time they have different staff who take a little pride in their work. I ordered a value duet, half grilled cheese and cup of tomatoe soup, soup was fine, grilled cheese was worse than school grilled cheese in the early 80's. The bread kinda looked grilled, i guess, but this was thee softest grilled cheese, or "non-grilled " cheese I've ever had in my life and it was dry, which is weird since it was soft. Wasn't very cheesy...i don't think it even had 1 whole slice and was barely melted, more like just warmed enough to stick to the bread. Plus it seems in the past it was made with 2 kinds of cheese by default, not only american. Also i think they changed the kitchen sink cookie recipe cuz it was equally disappointing, doesn't even look like i remember it. And the brownie cheesecake bites,,,,, save your money. it's a yummy lil thing to cure a chocolate craving, about the size of a grocery store mini muffin but seriously over priced at 1.99 or 5.99 for 3 and there's nothing cheesecake about it, not even a hint. if you eat here after reading this just remember......i...

beware online orders! apparently if you order through Panera.com the restaurant 'sometimes' gets the order and will fill it at the time you request. if you order through Panera Catering the supervisor says the catering order is done at the Belmar location and sometimes transported to their location. I ordered online at 9am for 3:30 pickup. Show up 3:15, counter person says it will be a few minutes. at 3:40 I ask someone in the back and they have no idea I even made an order for pickup at Colfax/ Mills location. That's when they told me that Belmar makes the catering order. They agreed to make the order (how generous!) but tell me they "get" an hour to make the order. Not that they "need" an hour, but they "get" an hour (entitlement!) even though I ordered more than 6.5 hours in advance. So I called Belmar location - they were friendly and helpful and said they had the order ready. Curiously the Colfax supervisor did not think or offer to call Belmar. Just told me they "get" an hour because the order was more than $ 100. Order was waiting at Belmar when I got there - so I asked to pick up at Colfax location but the order was sent to Belmar location and Panera (corporate) made no effort to get it to the pickup location at Colfax. So if you make an online order you should probably make several phone calls to hassle the store to actually make your order and have it at the place they said you could pick up. They will charge you when you order, but apparently don't feel the need to communicate your order to the store you request. Online ordering is...

I went to the Panera by Colorado Mills on 8/3. I ordered Coffee & a Cherry Brittany. When the young female cashier struggled to get it from the case, she dropped it upside in the pan of Cinnamon Buns. I very politely asked if I could have a different one. The girl completely ignored me & continued to close the box. Thinking she didn’t hear me, I asked again. She answered with a nasty “I heard you the first time”. She said there’s nothing wrong with this one. It just lost some of the cherries”. I said I really don’t need an attitude from you. Again ignored me. I said “I would like to speak to the manager”. Ignored again! I asked did you hear me that time “I want to see the manager”. No acknowledgement from her & no eye contact as she went a few feet to get the manager. I explained to him what had happened & she starts defending herself. I looked at the manager & said seriously. He said “I’m sorry. She’ll give you a different one. Then rudely asked “Is there anything else I can do for you”. They were both extremely rude & unprofessional. I have been in this location several times & noticed lately no matter when you go in there is no line & the place is empty. I have been a retail manager & trainer for many years. Perhaps Panera should hire me to teach simple basics of customer service to the staff at this store. At the very beginning all that was needed was simple eye contact & “yes of course you can”. I will not be giving my money to Panera again. There are so many wonderful new “clean” food eateries opening that are delightful. Be wise & steer clear...