Panera Bread — Restaurant in Town of Manlius

Every experience I have had here has been atrocious. The old Panera across the street was just as bad but I thought I’d give them the benefit of doubt. First experience I went to the drive through and was the only car. Waited and said “hello” and no one helped me. After 7 minutes I parked and went inside. I was the only person ordering with one person waiting ahead of me. Took two seconds to order my one smoothie at the touch screen. I proceeded to wait fifteen minutes for a smoothie! They were not busy at all. Went about a week later to the drive through, again for ONE smoothie! I sat at the window waiting for ten plus minutes! I don’t know why I went again today, but I ordered drive through a coffee, U Pick 2 with a Napa almond chicken salad, strawberry poppy seed salad and chips. AGAIN there was no one ahead of me and after paying I was told to pull up to the right to wait for my food. No problem. Until I got home to eat my $18.32 priced food which was ALL inedible. I got a baguette instead of chips which looked like it had bites taken out of it. The chicken salad barley had chicken on it I realized after taking a bite. The salad looks like it had been sitting old for days. The strawberries were soggy, slimy and smelled fermented, the lettuce was browning and the dressing cup was not even 1/4 of the way full. I have no idea what’s up with this place but avoid it at all costs. I will not be returning, I’d rather eat...

Fayetteville, NY location has really dropped off. We have been customers since they opened in Towne Center.

This morning was not a good experience; ordered breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon on chiabatta. I found what was prepared to be less than satisfactory. The bacon was chopped and there was very little of it. You needed a microscope to find a piece cheese. I brought the sandwich to the manager in the cooking area. Her reply “ we are low on our supply of bacon”— I said you have to be kidding and whoever prepared this sandwich should be fired. Standard offer from her: Do you want another sandwich or your money back? I went for a return of my $5.50. Suggested she walk across the parking lot to Tops and buy all the bacon she needs.

Panera management just does not care. My wife ordered her favorite sandwich on the sprouted grain roll. You guessed it, they do not have that roll today?

I did have a good cup of light roast coffee. I went to top it off and the light roast had run out. I pointed that out to the counter person. I opted for hazelnut while light roast was replenished. I finished an entire medium coffee before the light roast was replenished.

The Fayetteville location needs a lot of help and personnel that wants to do better for their customers.

Managers can make a difference if...

I am a big fan of Panera, I think they have a wonderful business model and terrific food. I am at a Panera at least 4 times a week as I travel a lot with work. Among all the different franchises I've visited; Fayetteville is the most inconsistent location. When they are good they're great but when they're bad its a disaster. I have placed three orders from them this week alone and each time they either forgot something (silverware or food ordered) or sold out of a product and kept us waiting without informing us. I hate to sound arrogant here but your customers' time is valuable. Incorrect orders are frustrating especially when food is ordered online where the staff can read exactly what it ordered on a printed ticket. I cannot stress this part enough - If you are sold out of something (especially a rapid pick up order) let your customers know so that they can pick something else from the menu as opposed to sitting there waiting without a clue. This is not to say that they are the absolute worst Panera to dine in - they just need to lend a bit more attention to customer service and producing...