Panera Bread — Restaurant in Palm Desert

This Panera and the people here do not focus on quality. They are "too busy." Yet we as the customers pay their bills. I know fine dining, hospitality, casual dining, fast food, and everything in between. This place needs help. I took my baby in here after having a bad experience at Pho Vu down the street! Thinking this would be better. The service is terrible. The lady who took my order at the front should not be working there, or offered some severe training to up her effectiveness there. A robot could have done better. She was like talking to a wall. I had to pry information out of her about what my options were when it came to ordering sides. It was literally painful to order. And what happened to them taking food to your table? You have to go get it yourself? I asked for a side of bread to go with my "You pick two;" she corrected me nonchalantly "French baguette." Yes, chick, bread. I want the bread. I asked for a sliced apple for my son's side for his Mac n cheese and she said she could ask but took a big huff (breath) in and acted like it was a big deal. I told her the last panera did it for me so he won't choke. She said she'd ask. (Ask?) Cut the damn apple! Lol! Or are you going to hand me a steak knife to do it? What happened to service? After my order I go to find a table in the corner, which ALL OF THEM ARE DIRTY. INCLUDING THE CHAIRS. I ask the lady at the food making counter to please have someone clean a SPECIFIC table for me. She asks me to sit somewhere else. I tell her all of the tables are dirty. I wait nearly five minutes with a diaper bag, a purse, and a baby in my hand after grabbing my own high chair and standing by the specific table I want. Standing. Standing. Standing. No one comes. The same chick who was at the front who took my order walked right past me to the patio doing nothing, wandering. I go back to the food counter and ask about the table to be cleaned. She says she sent the girl but they are busy and understaffed. I told her I understand, BUT my time is valuable too, it's been at least 5 minutes, and I have a burden in my hands! (Still holding baby, big diaper bag backpack, purse, and no where to sit without getting my butt dirty) Finally someone comes to wipe down the table and the booth and I can sit with my baby and sit my stuff down. When our order comes up soon after, the apple is not sliced. I don't want excuses, I want better service. Compassion. Empathy. BASIC CUSTOMER SERVICE. Basic intelligence? Artificial intelligence? I...

PASS ON THIS PLACE! We stopped at this Panera on our road trip. It was conveniently located just off the freeway and the bathrooms were clean. These are the only two positive things I can share. We placed our takeaway order and then proceeded to wait for over 20 minutes for our food. We finally got our order and left. Once in the car we realized our order was missing utensils and an entire side order of tomato and cucumber salad. The grilled signature chicken sandwich was cold. The chipotle chicken avocado sandwich was luke warm. The steak and white cheddar sandwich was also cold, yet the cheese was melted. All these sandwiches were supposed to be hot. I called and ask for a refund but was told I had to come back in person. I asked to speak with a manager and was told they were too busy and would need to call me back. I left my name and phone number but never received a call back. What a rip off! Paid for cold food and food I didn't...

I asked for a breakfast bagel. Sausage egg and cheese. I wanted to substitute cream cheese instead of the American. They said they will put it on the side. I asked if they could just put it on the sandwich and they said no we don’t spread cream cheese on the bagel for you we just put it on the side. I questironed them again asking if they can put the cream cheese on the bagel and they said no. So I pull up to the window to pay and they immediately ask to park me when there was no one behind me in line. I got two items, so the wait shouldn’t be long. The person gave me an attitude when I told her I was in a rush and didn’t want to park and wait but would rather wait at the window. Panera has tons of bagels and multiple types of cream cheese and they are a drive thru. How does it make sense that they won’t put cream cheese on a bagel when their whole existence is to prepare this type of food...