Panera Bread — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

Hands down one of my favorite type of food, half sandwich and soup, or a great salad but that is sadly where it stops. The employees at this location are very nice BUT most speak with an accent that is just too hard for me to understand. I am not quick on my feet when its my turn because I keep changing in my head what I want. I am also gearing up to explain to my husband how I spent as much on lunch for one person as we spend on dinner for two anywhere else. They have ridiculously high prices and while the food is consistently good it still doesn’t cost them that much to make a half sandwich and cup of soup. Forget the drinks I usually just have my water bottle from home with me. I have to laugh when I go to pick up my meal because 9 out of 10 times they forget the bread and that damn bread they guard with their lives. They break off a little chunk and give you a look like its the last supper and there has to be enough to go around for all. One guy said to me you have a half sandwich so you don’t get bread with it. I said not true...look at the menu board it says soup with bread. His eyes boar though me and he said well we cant keep doing that when you have a sandwich on the side. What did he think I was carrying a small Child in my tote purse and was going to feed it...so what i like to splurge once in a while if I am paying for it i am getting it. I was later to find out he was a covering manager, ha he didn’t get too good of a score on my receipt “let us know how we’re doing survey and earn yourself a cookie” LOL. But when all is said and done i do love PANERA food but can only afford it...

I have been ordering from this location for some time now, and my wife and I typically stop in at least twice a week, but going forward will go to the Hicksville location instead.

We both ordered a soup and salad combo. Hers was fine and my soup was great, but the half-Greek salad was really a half a third salad (see photos). It was not what I receive when I've ordered online over the last 6 months. I then got in my car, drove to the location, explained the situation and showed the manager Oscar the salad. He looked at me and told me that the way I was receiving it prior was incorrect, that the workers were measuring with their hands, not the scale, and what I what I received was the correct amount. He said he was sorry I wasn't happy and that if I like he can add some "romaine" to it. Highly subpar. Romaine? Really? I was hoping to get a new portion altogether but instead what I got was a manager putting the blame on his workers.

Perhaps two stars is a bit harsh considering we've always had good service at this location. So this review is entirely based on the manager's unsympathetic response to a steady customer who frequents this establishment as often as we do.

Will avoid this...

Recently stopped in (will leave out exact date to protect identity of employee in question) with my nephew who was excited to get some baked good for his grandparents who have COVID.

Store was almost empty. Immediately encountered a female employee who was cleaning down the glass. I asked a few questions about the bakery items and I could tell right away she had no interest at all in helping me. All the baked items were grouped together because she was cleaning and I couldn’t see the price on a bag of chocolate chip cookies. When I inquired of the price she replied “ it’s on the bag”. I have a vision issue and I don’t think it was a hard question but she couldn’t be bothered. Her attitude did not improve the entire time. After the transaction was complete, I thanked her for her time, she did not reply.

I’m tempted to give her name but I’m confident, based on her behavior that store management is aware that she is a problem. People like this should not be in public facing positions.

Will not return to this location and it’s a shame.

Please speak with this princess before she runs off...