Panera Bread — Restaurant in Maplewood

Unfortunate that many food chains after the pandemic continue to have poor management, taste, and service, and this location has followed suit. My most recent time here has been such a let down that I wanted to share my experience. I'm not one to usually complain or go out of my way to write reviews all the time, much less actually ask for a refund from an establishment, but the hour long wait time for one dine in breakfast sandwich (which never arrived), and the lack of communication and service has been one of the most unpleasant I've had in a long time. There was barely acknowledgement by staff of the folks waiting by the pick up area, names were not being called once the orders were ready, orders that actually were made were 50/50 on being accurate or were too cold and needed to be warmed up again. There didn't seem to be any direction given to the staff that were working and stumbling through orders, and there was a lack of management in stepping in to figure out why orders were taking so long. It was confusing who the manager was because the individual that eventually gave me a refund (which wasn't even my correct order I realized later) barely acknowledged me, and had initially disappeared somewhere for a few mintues without saying anything when I had asked for a refund. They barely uttered an apology or reasoning as to why things were so slow. I would have been more understanding had I and other patrons been acknowledged and a simple "we're short staffed/new staff" or "thank you for waiting" would have sufficed and made it less frustrating but I understand it really is the lack of a supportive upper management that is the cause of the poor customer service and work flow. I will not be visiting again or recommending...

OK well, I visited this place for the first time today, 11/8. It's been months that I have actually went out and got food somewhere. Decided to make a order through the app, which went perfectly. Ordered 4 bagels and 2 cream cheeses, pretty simple order right?

Well they forgot the cream cheese. Not a huge deal but I paid for these items and how could you forget that. That is 33% of the order missing. Not a good first impression for this location or your brand name.

Since this was a pick up order, I grabbed the bag, thanked them and went home. As soon as I got home, took the bagels out for my girlfriend and I and no creem cheese. So I had to go all the way back. It's morning and I am hungry, not very happy. All the way back....

As soon as I get there, head inside and I walk over to the area where you pick up your food. The employees are literally standing around taking and socializing. I have worked in the food industry and there is always something to be doing, not standing around taking. When you do that, you get distracted and mess up people's orders like mine. Anyways, I laied down my receipt and stated, "hey I got all the way home and the cream cheeses was missing. Can I please get the two I'm missing."

The employees looked at each other like I was interupting their conversation, just to get my missing items. Yeah not too happy about that. I will not be going back to this location, had better experience with the Vadnais Heights location in the past. So this is my new spot maybe in the next month or so.

But as they say first...

I planned a "mommy morning" to myself, and arrived early on a day that happened to snow storm everyone else in (I was here on 7/28/19 at 7:20 a.m.). I don't know if it was because she didn't want to be there or because there were no customers, but the woman who rang me up (middle aged, short dirty blonde hair) had an issue with the world. She had short snippy answers and acted as if I was stupid. It was the first time I'd gone out by myself for a treat without my husband and kids in 3 years, and she ruined it for me.

Me: "Sorry! I haven't ordered from here for breakfast in forever. Give me a quick second."

She rolled her eyes at me and sighed and then when I asked her about what spread they had for bagels, she wouldn't tell me and said that "original or honey walnut would be the ones that taste best with that bagel." I honestly don't know why she was in such a rush and why she was so upset; there was no one else waiting in line, and only two other customers in the whole place.

I will be going to the Roseville location from now on.

The only thing that saved my trip was the fact that the Caribou staff (located in the same general shopping area) was amazing. I should've gotten both my breakfast and coffee from there instead.

3 starts is awarded to the amazing Cinnamon Crunch Bagels that I bought for myself and my husband--were great the...