Panera Bread — Restaurant in St. Charles

I have not been to Panera since before the pandemic. Many years ago this restaurant used to be my favorite lunch stop, but after several bad food experiences I just stopped going. And then I saw the new chicken sandwich, packed with flavor. On paper that almost $13 sandwich sounds AMAZING. I finally capitulated and decided to place an order on the app, choosing curbside pickup, which by the way is an amazing option, IF it works out that way. Anyways, I was almost finished placing my order when I received a call. After ending my call, which wasn't long, I went back into the app to complete my order only to discover my entire order was deleted and I needed to start all over. At this point, I ask myself, is this an omen? After convincing myself that I was being ridiculous and should definitely proceeded to try that flavor packed chicken sandwich. Once I placed my order for a second time, I got a prompt from the app that I will now need to go inside to pick up my food and to follow the signs. A little irked, but whatever, I've got a flavor packed chicken sandwich waiting for me. I arrive and go inside, locate where the food should be, which was supposed to be waiting for the last 10 minutes for me, but nope, my order is not there. The place was packed and busying with customers and staff, so I wait and fumbled through my phone to confirm the store, and confirm it is supposed to be done but the app is of little to no help. After a few minutes I get lucky enough to catch the attention of a staff member. As I'm conveying my plight, sure enough, behind the counter I spot a bag with my name on it. The bag was located in the curbside orders. I show the staff member the Panera app which prompted me to come inside. She apologizes. No problem, not her fault. I rush home to try this flavor packed chicken sandwich, only to be disappointed because the only flavor I was picking up from the dried out chicken was the bitter taste of burnt. There was barely any sauce or garlic chips, although I'm not sure that would have helped much if anything. I also ordered a large white loaf of bread, and since I rushed through ordering a second time, I neglected to indicate I wanted the bread sliced BUT that's not the real issue, they literally threw the bread into the bag with my sandwich without even placing it in an appropriate sealed plastic or even paper bag. Unprofessional. Needless to say, the entire ordeal has confirmed for me yet again, sorry Panera, you are not worth a $13 chicken sandwich and a $10 loaf of bread for so...

Dining in, I ordered a P2 and a cinnamon roll. I was given the P2 and figured I had to pick up the roll at the bakery. Manager Mike and cashier were busy so I waited. Once called over, I tell the cashier I wasn’t sure if I picked up the roll I ordered with her. She asked for my receipt, I told her I didn’t get a paper receipt but it’s in my email. The manager abrasively jumps in and tells me I should have gotten it with my food. I said okay, well I didn’t. With an attitude he walks to the kitchen, I to the counter and rereads the receipt to just stare at me. I repeat I had my P2 already, just needed the roll. He looks at the receipt again and states “I don’t know what to tell you, it should have been there.” Kitchen staff tells him it was never given to me and he just says “ Okay. It was supposed to be there. Sorry.” Walks away. The roll was dry, close to stale. Floor looks like it hasn’t been vacuumed in a week and all tables were dirty. Unkept location, poor food and awful customer service...

Unfortunately every time I go to this Panera they’re out of bagels and I’m told they won’t be making anymore for the rest of the day. Today was the worst…a Saturday morning and I ordered an everything bagel and then was told that it was ordered prior to me by a customer in line. The employee did refund me the cost of the bagel and gave me another one with everything seasoning on the side, but it was cold, barely, if at all toasted. I understand why employees were running around, there wasn’t enough product to sell, even in the baked goods case. The coffee was cold and one container was empty. I feel that a couple of the staff were trying to do it all. And the cook staff yelling out names didn’t help the atmosphere, sounding stressed and overwhelmed. Not sure what’s changed here but definitely something is wrong. I miss...