Panera Bread — Restaurant in San Ramon

02.09.2024 Update: Stopped back in at this location around 7pm, while on the road for a cup of coffee & loaf of bread. They weren't busy. Fresh decaf coffee was available, which we appreciated. Almond milk was almost empty, had enough for over serving only. Tables looked clean, restaurant seemed more organized & in order this time. We'll stop by again another time & hope that the first encounter isn't the norm. Unless something is really awful with the food or service, I believe it's more fair to reassess with two or three visits and edit my rating accordingly. +1 star on atmosphere, food, & overall. Didn't see any employees this visit, so couldn't get more almond milk.

01.2024 First time we stopped in at this location in San Ramon. It was a busy time of day, we understand that. Food was prepared to go as requested. Employee at the counter where others are preparing salads, bowls, etc. was totally unhelpful. There was a stack of napkins on the counter bow within her reach. I said, "Could we please have some extra napkins?" and she said, "They're over there" pointing to the cold drink counter about 12 ft away. Not sure back why she couldn't just accommodate that simple request, but instead, I picked up a large bag, with 2 beverages, and my purse, and walked back over there to get more napkins after setting everything down. We're not lazy. It was just napkins. In front of her. Which is why we asked her in the first place.

Food itself contained a large dollop of yogurt (Mediterranean bowl) though we didn't select yogurt on our bowl & have never had it with our meal in the past. We threw out a decent portion of our food because of this as we didn't have time to wait for them to remake it. Side baguette was yummy - chewy on the inside and crusty on the outside, but not too hard to chew as with prior baguettes. Sandwich with hummous was fresh, sparce on produce though we selected "extra" when ordering. Coffee was good, almond milk was available with no upcharge. Many tables needed to be cleared and wiped. Don't know why people don't take their dishes to the designated areas, but staff needs to wipe down tables, even when they're busy. Free parking lot with adequate spaces. Not far from...

Before, we had good experiences in Dublin Panera Bread, and we also have ok experience in San Ramon Crow Canyon Panera Bread.

But today in Panera Bread we had very bad experience:

1st. We wait more then 25 minutes and see other tables ( at least two tables) came late then us and got food served before us.)

2nd, finally the food is coming, but the lettuce in the sandwich is totally rottenest! We have to take it out! And the turkey taste like just taken out of refrigerator,( also taste like store in refrigerator for a very long time, not fresh.)

3rd. We told the person who made the sandwich about the lettuce and showed her the lettuce, she had a look and said:"Sorry about that." And then kept on what she is doing, doesn't care at all.

Based on this time experience, I will never step in San Ramon Crow Canyon Panera Bread again.

Don't they think the keep food fresh is the 1st thing they should done? Do they will expect themself to eat $10 Sandwich just have rotten lettuce and frozen turkey? I paid $20.5 for this meal include tips, if I know will be treat like this will not pay tips when I ordered it.

Don't they think they should do First come in First served?

So disappointed with this store!( Maybe because they don't have manager for now,) but at least they should have...

Well I have Covid and am stuck in a hotel room and have to order my food as I have traveled here on business and no other resources to assist. So I ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. The food arrived hot except for the sandwich. The sandwich was $8.59 for grilled cheese but I ordered it cause I thought I could keep it down. Next was the soup. Panera Bread should really call this a cup of soup. This soup was another $8.49. The soup was mostly liquid, I think i had 3 chunks of chicken and a handfull of noodles. Should have just just ordered delivery from the story for two cans of Hearty Chicken noodle and would have had left overs and half the price. Then there was a delivery charge. Why are they charging a delivery charge when they also ask you to tip the driver? If the delivery money goes to the driver then why do I need to tip? Confused. My total order was $26 for a small cup of soup and a grilled cheese. Every time I try to give Panera Bread a new chance, I walk away with the same reasons I stopped...