Panera Bread — Restaurant in Mountain View

Ok, I love Panera. It is such a classic comfort food. It’s fresh, the portions are generous, and I have never had anything bad there. One of the things I like most about Panera is its consistency. It has the predictability of McDonald’s with the freshness of a local bakery and the quality of a sit down cafe.

It’s hard to find good bagels in California (compared to the Midwest or East Coast) but Panera’s are decent, with good cream cheese, and the cinnamon crunch ones are a fun twist.

Their mac and cheese is so gooey and creamy and comforting, and their chipotle chicken avocado sandwich reminds me of a Mexican torta. The chicken on sandwiches and salads is always well cooked and tender in a way that I can never get it at home, and the You Pick Two + a side means there’s a ton of different variations to try based on mood. Have a cold? Get two different soups and tea. Got two kids to feed? Give one the half sandwich and the other mac and cheese, for less than the kids menu.

Anyway, I digress - but I hope this location stays here for a long time. It’s a healthy and fresh option that reminds me of home and is a million times better than making a quick run to a fast food place, for only a few minutes longer. You can go for any meal of the day from early until late, and find a safe, quiet, calm place to eat or work where no one will rush you and there’s always...

Honey, let me spill the tea on this Panera situation. ✨👑

Two stars, and that's being generous, sweetie. Now, don't get me wrong, their Sip Club has me living my best hydrated life. Those lemonades and teas? They're giving me life, darling. And those food deals? Mama's saving coins left and right.

But the moment I sashayed into that dining room, I knew something was off. It's looking more beat than my face before I put on my lashes. The ambiance? Honey, it's giving "forgotten dressing room at a community theater."

And let me tell you about the Mac n Cheese catastrophe. I ordered it thinking I'd get some cheesy realness, but what did they serve it in? A bowl that looked like it had been through more than my wig on a windy day. Dirty doesn't even begin to describe it, sweetie.

I'm disappointed, Panera. You're serving looks with those drinks, but this queen needs cleanliness to go with her carbs. Get it together, or this diva might just death drop right out of here for good....

I guess it has been a couple years since I ate at a Panera Bread, but I remember them being more catering to the people like me who have to eat Gluten Free. There used to be a "secret menu" that you could order from and be assured there was a salad bowl or grain bowl that would be gluten-free and usually dairy-free. Now seems things have changed and I had to really explain to the cashier my dilemma and needing to do a gluten free option. I thought he understood and I was able to get a quinoa/rice bowl with avocado and sauce and topped that with a fried egg. But when my order came, there was a nice bread roll next to it - whomp whomp. I would have thought that the person working at Panera Bread would know that bread contains gluten. I guess not. But meal was good and I didn't get sick - I exchanged the bread for chips when the server brought it out. I'm not sure why I wasn't asked for my choice of a side when I placed my order,...