Panera Bread — Restaurant in Orlando

Management and the owner get two stars as whoever their hiring person/people sure know how to pick team players with a great work ethic.

This staff was fabulous! Very clearly an understaffed location and the staff was quicker than nearly every other Panera Bread we have been to and our order was completely accurate, THE FIRST TIME.

Management and/or the owner need to start paying staff better and give them all the incentive to work.

The food was exactly as we ordered it. It was exactly the temperature it was supposed to be and the bread was extra fresh which is not always our experience at Panera. Amazingly, while the person taking our order literally began falling asleep standing up from clearly being worked way too hard and long, they were fast, thorough, polite, and got our large order correct the first time we told them the order. I am so impressed with the staff who was at work that day. I live 14 hours from this location, never met them before. I have been in the restaurant business and have worked in fast food.

While I witnessed what appeared to be a manager attempting to catch the cooking crew up on orders in a genuinely helpful and polite manner, it took me back to days when 5-6 people called out for the same shift. I’m grateful it seemed these staff members have a great relationship as a team, many don’t. It’s up to the owners and the manager to get it together from the backside and fill those empty positions that are clearly there. The drive thru was closed off and even as fast as they got our big order out in the middle of call ins, the ordering line was out the door. It’s obvious enough money is coming in to give this staff and many more people decent wages and treat them with respect so they’ll continue show up for work. Don’t burn out the great staff you have now.

5 stars all the way for the staff on site and the perfect order. I was missing cutlery, but should have checked before driving away. Otherwise, absolutely perfect.

2 star ms for the head manager/owner. Get it together before you are yet another location closed due to burning out your staff. I repeat, this was my first time ever at this location and I closed my restaurant in 2013 to raise my kids. I have no skin in this and don’t know anyone even in that town. I know amazing staff when I see them and I know poor management all too well. I wasn’t there long, but this was the smallest amount of staff I’ve ever seen at a Panera except when I drop by just before closing time. How they got my order out so fast and accurately, I am in total shock. That said, they were exhausted, overwhelmed, and I could see burnt out written all over them. I’ve been there, don’t put your staff in...

I have patronized this Panera quite a bit and usually the service is quick and friendly. However today was the complete opposite. I did a drive-thru pick-up order as I have done many times before, however when I arrived to the drive-thru there was a note saying to pull to the window for all pick-up drive-thru orders. I proceeded to the window where the employees inside were appearing to be cleaning up, and doing the last orders. The store closes at 9, and I arrived to the window at 8:34pm. I saw employees look over and see me at the window and quickly turn their backs as if they didn’t see me. I sat and waited 5 minutes while they continue to not acknowledge me at the window. Finally at 8:39, I called the store to speak to someone there and one of the same girls who pretended not to see me, ran back to answer the phone. I told her I was here for a pickup order. She advised me that I needed to pull up to the window and get the employees attention. I told her I was currently at the window. She then said, Oh I will TRY and find your order. She then took another 3-4 minutes before she brought me my food that I clearly saw sitting there the whole time. This is so unprofessional. If the employees would rather not take drive-thru orders at a certain time they should specify to pick-up inside. I specifically select this store because of the drive-thru option. I’m a bit shocked at the service today as this has never been my experience...

I’m actually quite disappointed in writing this review as this is the Panera that I visit everytime I want Panera. I have never had a problem with them until recently in which I ordered in the drive-thru a Frontega Chicken Panini. Once I got home, I didn’t even get the panini I asked for but I didn’t want to make a big deal about it since this was the first time this Panera got my order wrong. I went today to eat dinner with mom, and the Broccoli Cheddar soup she ordered was slopply plated, and we had to wait for our Frontega Chicken Paninis. Once we got them, the cheese in mine was still cold so I had to get back up. I was expecting them to make a new panini, as the inside of the one I ordered quite honestly did not look apetizing. They simply reheated the panini and gave it back to me. While me and my mom were eating, we could hear the staff in the kitchen laughing, making jokes, and talking very loudly. While this is happening, a staff member begins to vaccuum right next to us and we pretty much had to leave. On my way out, I redeemed my pastry that I ordered and asked to speak with the manager. He apologized for the poor service and gave me a voucher for the next time I came to eat there. Once I got in the car, I realized that I didn’t even get the pastry I ordered. For $30 I would have eaten somewhere else. Very disappointed with my experience here, won’t be coming back...