Panera Bread — Restaurant in Urbandale

A most unfortunate experience. A person in my groups billfold was stolen at this Panera, we caught the person in the act. We asked Panera staff 4-5 times to call 911 so that we could check the parking lot for their license #. When we came back in-no one had called the police. I questioned the person in charge and they stated that they had to get permission from the manager who was at home. When they called her, she told them NOT to call 911! They tell me this is standard protocol. When we called the police, there was no one qualified at Panera to help them view camera footage. Thankfully no one was having a hear attack or life threatening issue. I have since tried to contact the Manager numerous times. They do not answer their phone at this location. I have contacted 2 other Panera's in the city and they indicate they get complaints on this Panera's lack to answer the phone all the time. I am not faulting Panera for what happened. I am totally faulting them for the action they took--which is none. Several people in our group are there almost daily. Others are there often. Unfortunately we will not be there going forward. Nor will the people we tell this sad story to. You have to feel safe in the places you choose to do business with. Not the case here. I would have liked to of had a conversation with Renee - the manager, but unfortunately she won't answer her phone. A letter to corporate is all I can do. The police have not been able yet to obtain store camera footage. I hope Panera cooperates with the local...

Panera is one of my favorite spots for lunch. Homemade soups like Tomato Basil, Chicken Wild Rice, Chicken Noodle and Black Bean are my favorites. Soup menu varies from time to time. A large variety of sandwiches available, not just ordinary ham/ cheese combinations. Turkey cranberry is just one of the many delicious sandwich combinations available. Half sandwich/soup or half salad/soup available combos are available too. Summer menu includes more salads. Sweets are out of this world, and can include cookie for 99 cents with meal. Shortbread cookies are sumptuous! That's only one of the numerous treats. Chai drinks, coffee drinks available plus fresh made bread, soup bowls and more plus bagels. There's a choice of chips, a baguette bread or an apple with meal too. Eat there or get to go. Promise of antibiotic free chicken. This company is very community conscious in their commitment to the community. Baked goods are donated and are picked up nightly for distribution to local food pantries. Not many restaurants make such a commitment, and I applaud them for it. With​-fi available. Prices are...

DO NOT ORDER DRIVE THROUGH PICKUP

I've ordered at this Panera quite a few times. Food is always fine. Front of house staff can be rude, but the manager is cool.

For the first time, we decided to order drive through pickup. However, Panera is NOT fast food, so when people actually place their order in the drive through, they have to wait the full 15 minutes for their order to be made WHILE SITTING IN LINE. We ended up waiting a full 60 minutes to get our food - it had been ready for 50 of those 60 minutes, just sitting and waiting for other people's orders to be made in the drive through. They also stated you can't pick up your order in store if you order it for drive through, even if it's ready!

I can't even begin to figure out the rationale behind any of the decisions surrounding their drive through system. There are so many easy fixes here. Just have people wait curbside when they order in the drive through! It's...