Panera Bread — Restaurant in Lee's Summit

Panera is my go-to lunch place, I go there or order from there A LOT. I have been to Panera's all over the country and this is probably the worst one I have ever been too. In the last three months I have gone to this location three times and all three times something about my order has been wrong or I have experienced some issue. The first two times I went I ordered a Caesar salad (no chicken) and both times they put chicken on it. Now, normally people would say "oh free chicken", but as someone who worked in the food industry for several years, I see this as wasted product; mostly because I just picked it off and threw it away. I also ordered extra croutons with my tomato soup and the croutons were put on the salad and not the soup. Both of those times, the boys that were preparing the food spent most of their time talking and joking around rather than making food, which explains why my food is ALWAYS wrong.

The last time I went to this Panera was no different, it was actually worse. I ordered the same thing, Caesar salad and tomato soup, my salad was not mixed so all the dressing was on one side but for the most part the food was fine. However, the boys in the back were joking around about how they made a turkey bacon bravo sandwich earlier but did not put any turkey on it. I honestly could not tell if they did that on purpose or not, it seemed like they thought it was hilarious instead of being apologetic to the customer who had been ripped off.

After I finished eating, decided that I wanted a iced caramel latte to take with me so I ordered using the Panera app and "rapid pick-up" from my table (side note: the app is great and I use it all the time). After ordering my latte, I went to throw away my plate and as I was cleaning it off the young lady cleaning the lobby came over and said that she would take care of it for me. I did not get her name but she was apparently the ONLY good employee working that day. I went to see if my latte was sitting on the "rapid pick-up" station (it had been roughly 5 minutes since I ordered) and it wasn't there so I waited. There were four young ladies behind the counter, all were talking and standing around; eventually one girl stated to make my latte (after several minutes of my waiting) and she took her sweet time AND THEN she just stopped and walked away! My latte just sitting there! The young lady that was cleaning the lobby went back there and started to finish my latte when she saw it sitting there (literally the only good employee working that day). The girl who had started making the latte came back and said she would finish it and that the other girl could bump it off the screen. After my latte was finished, this employee LEFT IT behind the counter. Just sitting there, AGAIN! She saw me standing there the whole time (next to the rapid pick-up stand) and STILL left it back there. She went to stand with the other girls and chit-chat while I stood there. I waited and even started looking around the counter to see if it was done, and not one of them asked me what I was waiting on or if they could help me. Mind you, there was NO ONE in line at this point and all four of them were standing there. I had to go up and ask if I could get my latte and no one said "sorry" or anything, even though they had watched me stand there for almost 10 minutes waiting on them. To top it all off, when I got my latte it was made wrong. No whipped cream or drizzle, which is what it says in the description and in the pictures.

In conclusion, I love Panera and I have been a Panera rewards member for 7 years, but this was an awful experience and was totally avoidable if the employees would just care a little. If this situation had still happened but someone (ANYONE) said "Sorry about that!" Or had offered me a pastry for my long wait (which is what I would have done at my previous jobs) it would have been fine, but these people did not seem to care at all. The only reason I gave this location 2 stars is for the girl...

Whenever my hubby & I road trip to the extended Kansas City area, this location is a personal favorite. The entire team is top-notch. From the adorable young lady who helped us yesterday (I wish I remembered her name!) but she was originally from my home state of Oklahoma & has pastel highlights in her hair. She was so friendly, as if we were guests in her home… To the amazing member of management we met today, Dee. She is the sweetest lady.

It so was neat to observe Dee in action both yesterday & again today, motivating the team instead of giving commands like other faster food restaurants, working right along side them instead of out of sight (wherever managers at countless other establishments go). Fostering a team environment takes skill as opposed to stereotypical “barking orders”. The employees were treated with respect & in turn gave their best. No outbursts in the kitchen or bickering in foreign languages as we had observed elsewhere during this trip.

In short, Panera on Chipman Rd in Lee’s Summit MO does everything right. Providing a personable environment, food items hot, with everything ready at the same time. No hot drinks getting cold while waiting on hot breakfast sandwiches or vice versa.

Corporate management, please thank Dee & the rest of the...

Since I HAVE TO FIVE AT LEAST ONE STAR… Made an order for pickup, one item was supposed to be a BOWL of chicken noodle soup. Instead I paid a bunch of money for broth, 3 tiny pieces of chicken and two little chips of carrots. No noodles. Seriously? Is anyone awake while making soup? Are they even awake putting soup into a container? If I wanted chicken broth I would have opened a can. I also a ordered the strawberry chicken salad. When did you guys get so cheap? A few bits of chicken and two strawberries does NOT a strawberry chicken salad make. But hey, I got lots of lettuce, WOOHOO… cheapos. And finally, a pepperoni pizza… 8 slices of pepperoni… SERIOUSLY?? I can’t believe how bad this order is. I did pickup because I have an injured leg and was unable to dine in. Guess I should have so I could send it all back and save my money. Boo hiss Panera… your quality has been going downhill FOR SOME TIME and this I think is...