Panera Bread — Restaurant in South Bradenton

I don't leave many reviews, but in this case I had to.

Using the Panera website, I ordered lunch for a co-worker and myself. I later get an email from DoorDash (Which I did not use to place the order) that the order was delivered. The picture showed it at the wrong address. I double checked everything to make sure I had not messed up the order, I had not.

I called the Panera of Cortez and spoke with the manager. I was told that they were too busy to help with a refund or reorder, and that I should call DoorDash myself (Which again I did not use to order).

After calling DoorDash myself, they couldn't help me because I was not the one to place the order...they asked I call Panera Back. Over a 15 min window Panera did not pick up the phone.

I had to call Corporate to get a refund, which they wanted to give me as "Reward Points." Finally I got a refund (in 7-10 business days) and still no food.

Dear Panera Manager at 1520 Cortez Rd W, here is how you handle that situation properly in the future...

"I am very sorry about this. We are incredibly busy here at the moment, but let me take your phone number and I will get this taken care of for you as soon as I can. I will have it handled within the hour and call to let you know. Again I am sorry for the inconvenience."

Originally, I didn't want a refund, anything free or complimentary, I just wanted to reorder my food and receive what I paid for. However after this experience, I am done with our local Panera and whole-heartedly recommend their nearby competitor...

My Aunt and I went to Panera together a week ago and both of us enjoy Panera's Atmosphere and the food. But this was the first time we visited this location. We ordered a half of a sandwich and soup each. She ordered a soda and I ordered a strawberry banana smoothie. We were given a number pager and we sat down. We only received my Aunt's meal and they collected our pager. I sat for a few minutes thinking they would bring mine and they never did. So I waited 5 minutes or so and then walked up to the counter and asked someone about my food. They said I don't know what happened, it was sitting on the counter still. I was handed my plate and apologized to. Then I said I also ordered a Strawberry banana smoothie and didn't receive that as well. They said ok I will let Her know and have her bring it to you. I sat back down and a woman walked towards us with a smoothie and said we gave your smoothie to another customer and you can have theirs. On the side of it was a tag which said to go customer #_ _ Strawberry smoothie. I was like okay I don't like plain strawberry at all so I had to go back up and give them the one some one else ordered and have them remake mine. I Love Panera and the Food is Fantastic, but the Service at this location is Chaotic at best. I will go again, but for...

Drive thru was confusing with the 2 for a $1 less…marketing needs to work on that one. I was at the window asking the dude what that meant, and our language barrier kept us from connecting.

My food sucked because I didn’t understand him, he didn’t understand me, and the concept made no sense.

Anyway…

My salad was supposed to have been their strawberry poppyseed salad. Instead, I received a fruit cup with Great Value shredded taco lettuce at the bottom. This is what I received. (Photo below)

Corporate needs to either go down on the prices, or UP THE FOOD QUALITY FOR THE PRICE YOU’RE ASKING. I will NEVA eat here again. My food looked like pig slop, juice at the bottom of my salad included. So I hope their person that reads reviews reads mine. I couldn’t even eat it and when I take it back tomorrow after it sits in more fruit juice, maybe they will tighten up on the food. I can’t believe they charged 11.00 (all I added was an avocado) and they only gave me a quarter of a slice!!! Terrible food here! It ain’t fresh! Go to Detweiler’s! It sure as hell won’t look like this, or cost as...