Panera Bread — Restaurant in Spokane

Update 1/12/24: this Panera Bread has improved...more like changed for the better. I got a coffee ☕ and fat lemon cookie today. I've returned a few other times since my bad review below and I didn't realize that it had been improving until today when I was paying attention and remembered that I wasn't at the Valley location and was like, "Oh, this is Northside and like WOW it's been different here, better!" I noticed the employees are different too and nice customer service. I had been returning subconsciously not realizing the changes were bringing me back in. Old review: I don't mean to be harsh but I have had it w/this location b/c of this: I am well traveled so I know what the business owners of Penera Bread expect from their employees and for the customers even though I do not know the owners...the Division location in Spokane WA isn't it: This location on Division is a nightmare for me where the location in the Valley is the opposite; the Division location has way too many issues and I will elaborate only on my awful experiences. The odd thing is the prices are inconsistent for a bloody cup of tea. I order a small and get a large cup and I get charged more too. Let me not forget to mention the rude greetings...these employees act like they are allergic to a spectrum of emotions and when employees are rude to me when I am polite it kills my day and I don't want to be in the present. I keep asking for regular creamer b/c they keep putting out more than one selection of diet creamers. Unlike, the location in the Valley, this is not an issue. Today, I made a mistake buying soup, hot tea, and coming here period b/c I get charged for a large cup, my soup looks nothing like the image and it's only liquid, and the size of a cat dish...nothing even close to the image. My tea tasted gross b/c I was forced to use diet creamer - creamer helps w/the bitterness in tea but only regular creamer can do that. The bread that came w/the soup was hard as a rock, not edible! Customer service was like so aweful, the girl might as well not be breathing b/c she acted and looked like she hates her job and...

The food is meh for the price. While the food is acceptable, I anticipate higher quality given the price I'm paying.

Furthermore, the water on the soda fountain tastes dirty. The taste has been unpleasant for more than a month, leading me to question whether the nozzles receive the daily cleaning they should. Considering there are crumbs between the seat cushions in the dining area that are not cleaned up daily (I came in at opening, and they were still there, and they look old), I doubt they do. With their staff, they should be able to keep this place much cleaner.

It's also difficult at times to speak with an employee who isn't working the pickup window. I really don't like bothering them since they are busy filling orders and dealing with customer questions about those orders. Often, the front counter remains unstaffed, with either no one or just one person managing a queue of customers. The line isn't usually long, but frequently 15-minute orders seem to be the norm, and waiting for that is tedious... Not dinging you here, people; use the kiosks. They are super easy and save your order for next time, and they show you all of the available options. If you still want that human connection, go use the kiosk to figure out what you want to order before going to the counter. It'll save your time and save their time, and even with Panera removing options all the time, there are options in the kiosk you may not know of by skimming the big ol menu wall.

Also, BRING BACK ONION AND CHIVE CREAM CHEESE! (Read as chanting, not as angry yelling. I really miss it, darn it. Y'all had better stuff than Philadelphia's...

Well first it's a little confusing to know if you are supposed to use the devices to order your own meal upon entering the place to ordering with a person. The employee was good and very polite. We ordered 2 clam chowders bread bowls a PB&J for my grandson and a chicken noodle breadbowl for myself. Paid and sat down. 5 minutes later a guy comes out and tells us they have no clam chowder well not like we have a choice at this point we've already took 10; minutes to order sitting for another 5 before they tell us they don't have what we wanted to begin with. Out of curiosity I asked if my chicken noodle was available with a confused look he said nothing like that was ordered so thankfully I found out I didn't have anything even coming. The sandwich for my grandson was awful, bread was hard barely any peanut butter and the yogurt was warm and when I opened it was gross. Not to mention it was a $5 sandwich like wow! So my family basically all ate at different times because I had to go back and order mine while my family was being served. Extremely dissatisfied and feel they really need to step it up. Your soup sandwich board is confusing with combos and prices the wait staff was timid and seemed scared to approach us. Next time I'll go to taco Bell like I was going to and pay over $20 for at least some warm food. We were so hungry at this point we just ate what we could and left. Not on on my list to...