Panera Bread — Restaurant in Statesville

I loved this place when they first opened. Today was sadly my sixth and final visit. I order the same exact thing, every time; and the food quality is ALWAYS GOOD. The problem is that the order is ALWAYS WRONG.

Today I walked in to wait 5 minutes or so for a cashier, I was the only customer in the store. A manager had to be called to ring up a steak and cheese bagel. I was asked if I wanted my free bagel reward, sure I do. The receipt printer was inoperable, is that OK? For $29.37, I’m going to need to see that thank you.

I was charged for my “free” bagel, and $10.39 for a steak bagel. I was going to let this go and wait for my food. But…

Panera has this odd procedure where you wait for some items at the register, but get some items from the kitchen. I waited for my pastry item for several minutes, finally resolving that I will be better off just at the kitchen. After a few more minutes there, while still the only customer in the store; I began to review my receipt with the manager. She was pleasant, but said perhaps the prices went up. She offered a refund on the free bagel, but could offer no solution to a $10.39 bagel as rung up with drink and chips no drink no chips.

Are you confused yet? I was. She suggested I get a refund and depart. I complied.

I am disappointed, as my wife and I love Panera as a rule, and if they got it right would have visited a few times a week. I gave them every chance to provide value beyond McDonalds, but the experience is half for three times the price.

Panera sent me a survey a few visits ago, and I told them about my consistent problems. My automated response was that they hoped I would try again. When some executive reads this in a year when they have struggled to figure out why sales are sluggish in this unit, know I tried to tell you. Best of luck...

Pretty annoying experience here on 9/9/2025. Walked in around 7:15, door shows they close at 9pm. Not a single customer inside the restaurant, two on patio, one car in drive thru. So not exactly slammed. No one at register.

Family walked up to the register and began looking at the board to choose what we wanted. Female worker came out and walked between us all, no words said. Sat down at a table beside us. Maybe she was on break or clocked out, but a "Someone will be right with you" might have been nice.

Younger male in the back baking area with headphones in made eye contact with us several times. He was cleaning up the breads, hell he even walked beside the register and emptied the baked goods area with us standing there 3 ft apart. Never said a word or took earphones out to address us.

We stood there for a good 5 or 6 minutes. I thought surely he'll acknowledge us or tell someone else were up here if this isn't his station. No one came. After another minute or two of this awkward standing he finally said something like "Were yall trying to order here?" gesturing to the register. Man Im standing right in front of it staring at the board, a good 3-4 ft past the kiosk things.

Just said nah, were good and walked out. I see other customers reviews say very similar things. Packing the food up and ignoring customers with an hour and 45 mins left to go is a wild strategy for success. I understand if you were slammed or it was 30 mins to close, but teo team members watching a family stand at the register is interesting. Panera is expensive already, but my daughter loves it so we go. If I get overpriced food and miserable service, I'll...

If I could give is 0 stars, I would.

Friday, we order through the app. Picked up the food and brought it home to Harmony. (30 minute drive). Come to find out, the food in the bag isn’t even right. It’s like we got half of someone else’s food and we were missing half of ours.

Then as I take a bite of whoever’s sandwich I ended up getting, THERE WAS A ROCK IN IT! A rock!

We call the store and get a refund for the order.

Today we put the order in again. Same order. This time we checked that our food was there and it was. Get all the way home to find out that there is horseradish on the sandwich (that was ordered without horseradish). The manager claims that the sandwich will be remade but refuses to refund the money for a second time.

I love Panera. Panera is not the problem. I’d love to be able to order from my local store and my order at least be correct and free of ROCKS! Then, to top it off, management is not taking responsibility for their employees mistakes.

My fiancé looked forward to eating that sandwich and loved Panera. This store has no quality control and refuses to compensate when they are in the wrong.

I don’t want another sandwich for you to get wrong. I want To be refunded and never return to...