Panera Bread — Restaurant in South Carolina

I ordered online for curbside pickup. Everywhere online it states that orders are ready typically between 5-10 minutes after the order is confirmed. After placing my order (1 bacon, egg, and cheese brioche sandwich and 1cold brew), I received an email stating it would be ready 9 minutes after it was placed. I arrived at the location maybe 10 minutes later and checked in, as the signs and email direct you to. I received a confirmation saying someone would bring my food out shortly. I was the only car waiting for curbside pickup at 8am on a Wednesday. After 13 minutes went by, I called the location and stated that I was there currently waiting for curbside pickup and had been for 10 minutes (it had been longer), and asked if I was supposed to come inside (even though curbside is the antonym of that whole concept). The person who answered the phone said "yeah, that's usually a good rule of thumb" and asked for the name on the order. I gave it to them and asked if I was misunderstanding the concept of curbside pickup and they said "no, that's how it's supposed to work, but sometimes we're just not on top of it in the morning". I've worked in customer service, mostly in the food industry, for my entire working life and I would never expect that to be an appropriate response to this situation. I was very aware of how busy, or not, they were because I was parked right out front and while I was on the phone still someone brought me my food. I just feel bad for the woman who pulled up after I'd already been sitting there for almost 20 minutes, because she was probably going to have the same experience. My complaint is: don't state the speediness of your service if you can't guarantee it and don't blame the lack of urgency on the morning shift, you are a corporate business, that has guidelines for every location, the time of day shouldn't ever matter for the quality of service or product. I say product, as well, because how am I supposed to know if my sandwich was ever any good fresh, now that it's cold and...

I have to say this is probably the WORST location out of any Panera Bread I’ve been to as a regular customer for the past 10 years and I will explain why. I’m making this review after giving this location MANY chances to redeem themselves and I’m constantly reminded of why I should cease from eating here… I ordered a broccoli cheddar bread bowl and a drink via rapid pick up normally since it’s quick and easy during my lunch at work. I go in to get my food and it’s sitting behind the counter due to constant theft in keeping orders on the rapid order shelves. The gentleman hands me my drink cup and bag of food. I check inside my bag and see I did not even receive my bag of chips or my soup. Just the lump of bread for the bread bowl…. I go to the line and get my bowl of soup from another gentleman and proceed to get myself a ginger ale before heading to my car. Mind you there were hardly any lids available and not even ANY napkins to take. How are people supposed to keep clean and not spill their drinks when basic supplies arent even available? Anyway I took a sip of my drink in the car and it tasted of pure seltzer. So I had to go BACK into the restaurant, dump my drink and get another different flavor. I left and drove back to work and while pulling out my bread bowl to pour my soup in I realized they never even cut the bread bowl to begin with! I have to dig into it myself in order to pour it. The management here is absolutely POOR in that it’s constantly messy, supplies are always out and preparation of the order is almost always incomplete or improperly made. I have given this location enough chances and this will be my last. My money is much better spent at an establishment that takes pride in how presents itself to customer and making sure what the consumer pays for is exactly what the consumer gets. I believe once management changes then the quality of THIS Panera location...

Terrible Customer Service overall. Words cannot explain my personal experience today. On top of the outrageous price for the sloppy and selfish sized serving Sandwich. I'd never dine at Panera Bread in West Ashley, SC again. $10.00, plus tax, for a sandwich that wouldn't satisfy a 4 year old child ready to eat lunch or dinner. Totally false advertised commercials. An overrated and over priced menu with limited items! Go see for yourself. To each of his or herself own. It's not the Panera Bread Resteraunt we see drool for on TV Ads. Or, the Franchise I really used to enjoy having at least once a week for a great lunch about 2 years ago in N. Charleston, SC. I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe it was this particular location. Since when do they weigh small chopped up, tiny morsels of Roasted Chicken on a Sandwich with a thin slice of cheese and some less than fresh Romaine Lettuce? Outrageous what you get for ten bucks today at most places. The only class that this Panera Bread had was the Class "A" Inspection Sticker on the outside of the restaurant door! I agree it does looks and feels inviting and comfortable. Until you step up to the register. It just isn't worth $10 for a sandwich on 2 slices of thin bread. You would have a better lunch at "Starbucks"! However, it still maintains the part of being a typical Bread Bakery. But, what a terrible disappointment. Especially, based on the dull & unfriendly Customer Service, and lackluster courtesy. To top it off. ...They sell fresh tossed Salads with ZERO Ranch Dressing in their salad dressing variety. Huh? Forget about it! I'll stick to "Jersey Mike's" or "Publix Supermarkets" for a hearty Sandwich (if I'm not back in my hometown of NYC. The prices of a basic sandwich in Charleston isn't worth these...