Panera Bread — Restaurant in North Port

Most dysfunctionally operated Panera I've ever been to by far. Lived here for 2 years now and nothing has changed. I haven't been to this place in months because literally every time I come here it's a disaster. A year ago there was a hair in my oatmeal, and I promise with my heart it was no hair from a person's scalp.

Over Thanksgiving I visited my family in Stuart, FL and we all went to that Panera, I was not happy with that decision and almost didn't go because of my experiences at the North Port Panera. There was 11 of us including little kids on a busy Sunday at 1030, and everything was fantastic and we got our food faster there then I did today when I was the only person in the drive thru at 930 on a Sunday morning.

Today, I ordered 2 breakfast sandwiches and a hot chocolate. I pay, then promptly received my supposed hot chocolate (I've gotten this drink at this Panera over a dozen times so I know what it tastes like). It had almost 2 inches of thick white foam, (not whipped cream) no sign of the cookie marshmallows, and ZERO taste of chocolate, it tasted like straight hot cream. When the girl came out to apologize for my long wait I told her about my drink and she was noticeably offended and said, "I just made it myself exactly how it says to." So Panera either changed the way they make there hot chocolate since last winter or she messed up and was mad at me for it. She was extremely rude and did not apologize. After sitting at the window for at least 8-12 minutes total, I waived them down to get my money back. After a young kid that is handling my food/drink is noticeably upset at me, and I didn't deserve the attitude, I will not touch that food, thanks but no thanks.

While getting refunded I nicely asked how does this happen when I'm the only person here? The lady said well the 1 guy in the back went on break and the other guy didn't make your order. Thank you for the honesty.....but who the heck goes on break at 930am??? Y'all only been open for like 3 hours and he needs a break already? You got to be kidding me?!?!

The older lady was very understanding and helpful and in my opinion should be the manager, only person that knows what she's doing and how to be around customers. What I witnessed at this place is so unprofessional it's a joke. Whoever did the hiring at this place needs a new job. The problem is not with the hourly employees, although they obviously need major improving too, the problem is with Panera's...

Another prime example of a national company trying to take advantage of the situation that are country is in! It's always been tough to swallow the concept of paying extra for a half of a sandwich! Now that they've jacked their prices up because they absolutely have to make a fortune off of you, the half of a sandwich is absolutely ridiculously priced and they have cut down on the quality as well and they have cut down on the amount of people working in the store. So your customer service has gone down as well! I would have avoid this place at all costs and your cost will be great! It's time to take these national chains where they need to be, they need to start recognizing who pays their bills and that they are not on the United States welfare system supported by the citizens of this country! Absolutely a rip-off what they are trying to charge for the quality of food and service that they give you. Absolutely a total rip-off and I hope their doors shut down soon or they come to life and figure out how their bills get paid, they get paid by customers and you won't have customers. If you decide that you want to charge way too much money for a freaking half of a sandwich, let me say that again a half of a sandwich! What a freaking rip off. Off I would stay away from this place at all costs and every single one of their chains until they decide that they recognize where their money comes from and they actually have to give something for it! What a joke! What a complete joke. A half of a sandwich, just just think of that! Is 12 bucks now! Probably higher by the time I posted this review because they need more money. Hurry up and give them money. They have to have money they need as much as they can. So please give them money please please please. They're having a hard time. The pandemic hurt them. It's really really sad. Please please give them money or not! There are lots of sandwich places around this restaurant that are giving you a full sandwich for the same price and it actually has meat on it! And the people that work there don't act like they're doing you a favor by showing up! How pathetic how pathetic. I can't even believe they're still...

I went to Panera because the one in Port Charlotte has always been stellar on all aspects of my dining experience. But I've gone to three other ones in the last month and I was utterly disappointed. One of them was messed up because even though we chose the correct location on the map for our app order it went to a different location. Another one which is located new Tropicana field had decent service and the food was mediocre what was strange is when I wasn't able to get a drink because they didn't have any of Guave lemonade, green tea, hibiscus drink, etc, etc. The cashiers stated that Panera doesn't do those drinks anymore yet I stated I get them in port Charlotte all the time. So they then said that it's because the county doesnt allow them too... Like really you could of just said we don't want to, or it's not cost effective for us.... The third one which I visited yesterday October 1st. We went through the drive thru and ordered 1 pick 2 chipotle chicken avocado melt with 10 vegetable soup and a baguette along with a Turkey bacon avocado melt, (or something like that). 1st I didn't receive my additional sandwich. 2nd the baguette was just thrown in the bag, I'm used to it being in a separate bag like they do with the cookies. Throwing my bread loosely in this day and age is just lazy and disrespectful. 3rd when I eventually did get my sandwich it was sloppy the avocados were wedged and not sliced, the bread was soggy and falling apart, and on my sandwich it was a mess and some spots had no meat or ingredients while other sections were falling off the sandwich. For a pick two with a half sandwich it was $20 hardly worth it to begin with for quality food, but throw all the hassle and low quality builds on top of it and it's like why is this worth more than Wendy's? Very unhappy and count myself lucky that I happen to live near a Panera that knows what they're doing. I knew I should have just went to Chipotle like...