Panera Bread — Restaurant in Mobile

Girl working the register was clueless. I asked if they had vegan options and she said "no". I know this isn't true. I ordered an everything bagel with avocado and an Americano. There was a little confusion back and forth because I have never ordered at a Panera before and the girl taking my order had no idea what she was doing, but I figured it was a pretty easy order so I let it go and trusted her. She tried to talk me out of the Americano by telling me "it's just espresso and water"... Um yeah. Everyone knows that. I guess she was hoping not to have to make it?

She then puts an uncut everything bagel on a plate and hands it to me. I'm pretty confused. I ask where the avocado is and she says "that's food so they make it over there" (pointing to her left). Umm... Ok. My bagel isn't food but the avocado is?? Weird..

So I stand at the next counter and I see a girl making a piece of avocado "toast" ... Which is actually just bread not toasted, or barely toasted. Thought it was someone else's because I just need avocado for my uncut (?) untoasted (?) everything bagel.

While I'm waiting for my avocado the girl at the register makes me come back for my Americano instead of walking it over to me. I guess that's not her job. I'm still confused by it all

Then they hand me this pathetic bread with avocado. I tell the second girl that I didn't order that and there must be a mistake. I just wanted avocado for my bagel. I get deer in the headlights from her. Then the girl from the register comes over and starts an ARGUMENT with me telling me I'm wrong and that I ordered a whole nother piece of bread and avocado on top of my (uncut?? and untoasted??) bagel.

I said I don't want this and tried giving them the toast back and they just stood there, determined to do nothing to fix anything to make it right.

Frustrated. I just said forget it and grabbed that stupid $4 pathetic avocado bread that probably would have cost them pennies to toss and refund me. I took it to my table and scraped the avocado off, sawed my stupid bagel open with a dull butter knife and put the avocado on myself and then put the "toast" back in the window for them.

While I was eating I knew they saw the toast I left in the window for them because of the loud teeth-sucking response when they saw it. Still no offer to refund me anything or make it right. I'm just a dumb customer who should have known better I guess.

The Americano was ok.

This is my first and very last time at a Panera. Probably at this one or at any other one. This is a good place for someone who knows the menu already and exactly what they want. Make sure you ask them to cut and toast your bagel because they don't offer. Don't ask for a coffee drink more complex than a poured coffee because they don't want to make it.

I could have bought 3 packs of bagels and 3-4 avocados for the price. Young people shouldn't get into the service industry if they are not passionate...

We go about 2-3 times a week because their Greek goddess salad and veggie soup is the best! We typically enjoy the food for lunch, though the salad portions are never the same, and I looked at photos through the reviews and see it's not us who have gotten more over flowing the bowls one day, but the next time hardly anything in there. We pay anywhere from 40-60$ depending if I have my daughter or friend with us that day.. and I will say over the time going the manger Rachel has become more aggressive towards customers and her employees. She yells at the top of her lungs where I was sitting by the front door and could hear her voice yelling at my mother from the food /drink machine area. Rachel does NOT deserve to be a manger and she really brings that place down. We go there because usually it's near where we go shopping after,also we really love the open window area and get to watch the planes go by, and the salads,soups and sandwiches are really good. But Rachel really needs to seek psychological help, because I have never ever in my 30 years of living, ever seen a Manager of all things, treat their customers let alone their employees poorly in front of their customers. Not sure if she's having a bad life at home and dragging it to work, but I feel most of the other workers are pretty nice and things a great that day when Rachel is not around or out of sight. The reason I am attaching this about her is because my mom in the past had started about how the salads started becoming inconsistent and we have many photos along with the ones in the reviews from other people, that must days we were getting to the top of the bowls or over flowing the bowls of salad, but the day my mom stated that we got hardly any lettuce at all, we understand the tops are whatever because those cost most, but to pay 40-60$ for lunch and hardly receive any lettuce at all is really upsetting knowing lettuce is the cheapest thing you could add more too. So Rachael than began screaming at my mother how the workers are only supposed to give a cup of salad and a few toppings etc but the way we both know how most of the time the workers are inconsistent and so the majority of the times we were coming we were getting decent amount that felt that 40-60$ was fine for lunch, too that day where we hardly had anything in the bowls was ridiculous. We are not the only customers who have issues with Rachel, and her employees cower to get when she steps in the kitchen and we have over heard them speaking about trying to avoid her or not feeling they made mistakes because they are deathly afraid of her. Sadly she does Not need to be working in a environment she can not handle correctly, let alone...

Not that anyone from Panera will actually read this or respond but it needs to be said. This location is obviously on the verge of permanently closing. I've been a regular at this location since it opened. During COVID shutdowns, I would still order 2-3 times per week and pick up my food curbside. When the business hours were shortened, I adjusted my schedule to still make it by a couple of times per week. There used to be some great employees here and top notch customer service. Not so much anymore. Today, I ordered a simple to go item on the kiosk along with a coffee as usual. I pay for the monthly unlimited coffee plan as well. After waiting about 15 minutes, I asked if I could go ahead and get my coffee cup while my food was being prepared. I was told no, and somewhat rudely at that. It was explained that they since I ordered food at the same time, I would have to wait until the food was ready so they could read the receipt and see that I ordered a coffee. So, I waited an additional 20 minutes which put my wait at 35 minutes total. At this time, a manager showed up and I asked where my order was in line and let her know that everyone refused to let me at least have my coffee cup while I was waiting. She also very rudely responded with "I won't give it to you either." It seems that this location is taking extra steps to desperately save money and that is why there are these responses to a request for a simple coffee cup. A word of advice if it's not too late for this location; If your customers are having to wait for an extreme amount of time for their order, it would definitely help to go ahead and give them their drinks. That way, the wait wouldn't seem as long. This is basic Restaurant 101. Also, I would make sure that the employee preparing the food isn't complaining loudly the entire time about everyone's order and proclaiming that she doesn't care. To Panera, you saved whatever money it costs for me to have a coffee ahead of time and the potential that maybe, just maybe, I didn't actually order a coffee. You have lost a loyal, long time customer and literally dozens of food...