Panera Bread — Restaurant in San Diego

Perhaps it was just an odd time of day (early on a Sunday morning), but there was only a single person working the register (and all I was ordering was a single agua fresca drink, so didn't think I needed to get out of line to use the Self-Order Station).

I try to always have patience with newer employees that have to request help frequently (we all started off being that guy/gal at some point, right?)...

But I was truly disgusted by the fact that this new kid thought it was appropriate (or necessary- since there clearly wasn't many customers at the time!) to sweep the floor of the front register area WHILE he took my order and awaited my payment?!?! 🤢

No gloves, he didn't wash or sanitize, and then unfortunately THEY now have to serve your agua fresca drink from the back- even though I HADN'T ordered one of the caffeinated (ie over-caffeinated) tea drinks!

I was horrified and nauseous when I realized he was the one collecting my cup & pouring my drink... and it was especially awful that he did this back behind the counter/wall somewhere- so I couldn't even watch (to know if there was ANY CHANCE IN HELL that he MIGHT have used a squirt of hand sanitizer or something before handling my cup and lid... there clearly wasn't enough time for him to have washed 🤮)

He came back to hand me my lovely contaminated drink, and I just stared for a second- quite horrified that I no longer had an option but to accept this disgustingness 😩

I was about to request to speak to the Manager to suggest that the kid be RE-Eduacated/Trained that this most-definitely ISN'T an appropriate practice for a food establishment... Even I recalled that she had actually pooped her head around the corner to assist him with ringing up the order for the customer in front of me (which seemed unusually complicated and lengthy), and had clearly seen him sweeping while ringing up the other customer's order too!!! 🤯

Plus, my pup was still tied up outside in the atypical heat- so I let it go... and sani-wiped the entire outside of my cup and lid to try to help myself accept that I now had to drink from this contaminated cup in the 80° morning sun (what else would I have done- requested my $4 Refund AND gone completely thirsty, or had to find another place already Opened to purchase another drink?!)... like it made any difference to the INSIDE portions of my cup and lid which he must have touched while pouring my drink with his filthy hands 🤮🤮🤮

I wanted to cry, but my pup was DONE being tied up waiting for me- so I took some deep breaths and tried to put it out of my mind for the time being... But I will NEVER forget the horror I felt!

SO...

I stopped in here for lunch today and I can honestly say this was the worst “restaurant” experience I’ve had since the pandemic started. I brought my two year old daughter in to grab a quick lunch and decided to eat inside because it wasn’t crowded & it was chilly/ drizzling outside. Halfway into our meal, the restaurant was bombarded with teenagers from the high school across the street. Suddenly, the tables designated to be kept unoccupied to maintain social distancing were all taken, it was loud and because it’s a restaurant, everyone had taken off their masks. My biggest issue is the fact that roughly 85% of the kids inside were NOT paying customers and weren’t eating lunch. . . They came to get out of the rain and socialize. I honestly can’t believe Panera bread allows this (not the first time this has happened if you read other reviews for this location).

I will NOT be returning and will be sure to tell everyone I know how irresponsible, dirty and inconsiderate this location is. Also, my daughters “deli turkey sandwich” looked like it came out of the high school cafeteria. . . Definitely not worth the amount of money I...

My son was very hungry today after school, so he decided to go to Panera Bread at Pacific Highlands Ranch which is cross street of his school for some afternoon snack. He ordered a bowl of soup, it costs $5.06, but unfortunately my son only have $5, he looked for every corner of his bag, failed to find 6 cents. The cashier a young man finally refused to give him the soup. I think the cashier didn’t do anything wrong for his work, but not so nice and generous. Compare to this, Luna Grill, another restaurant cross the street did a sweet thing. They paid for all dinner for my friend and her 2 daughters when my friend found her left her wallet at home, no cash and no credit card with her. What they did is so warm-hearted. My son said he’s so hungry at that time, he really wish the young man can do his favor but he didn’t. After listening my friend’s experience at Luna Grill, a lot of friends including my family visited that restaurant to show appreciation and support. Well, after today my son’s experience, I would never go to Panera Bread at PHR. They are not friendly, not generous and not...