Panera Bread — Restaurant in Virginia

The food is really good. The people are nice, but could use more training. Every single time I have ordered something from the breakfast menu (6 times now), the order is wrong, including today which is why I’m writing this review. I order the SAME sandwich every time. And each time something is wrong. There was one time I ordered my breakfast and paid for it.. and then when they called my name, it was to tell me they were no longer doing breakfast.. it was 10:34... and they refused to make my breakfast sandwich (that I already paid for) but told me i could order something else or I could get a refund. I decided to order a sesame chicken salad, and then was not given the full size salad. The next time there was no egg on the sandwich, which I didn’t realize until I got home. I called and the manager offered me a free replacement, which when I got, it had the wrong bread. Today i ordered something on an everything bagel but instead got wheat bread. They remade the sandwich, which I was grateful for, but I had just finished working a 10 hour overnight shift at work. And when you’re not used to working those hours it takes a toll on a person. So having to wait longer for the food was less than ideal. The same trip, don both sandwiches, I ordered an over easy egg but they had cooked it all the way through on both sandwiches..which almost defeats the purpose of an over easy egg. I know it’s not always the people making the food that are making the mistakes, but also the cashiers. Like when they take a breakfast order past breakfast hours, or ring in the wrong type of sandwich. The only reason I go to this Panera is because it’s right by my Work and only 8 minutes from my house. I gave two stars because the food-when it is done correctly-is good. Anything I’ve ever ordered for lunch has always been accurate too, but for some reason, the breakfast team just can’t seem to get it...

I'm a huge fan of Panera Bread, member of the Sip Club and the Rewards Program and I eat @Panera almost every single day. It's a shame that even though I live only a couple of miles from this particular Midlothian location I MUST always choose to go to another location 20 mins away from my home only because every time I come here the experience is simply unbearable. I came again today only because it's stormy outside & I should not venture far from home. But I always end up regretting it. This place is always a mess: tables are either super dirty or so wably one can't eat soup on them. There are NO napkins to be found anywhere. The drink's table/counter looks as if it has NEVER been wiped and the floors (carpet) are filthy. Even the way tables are set up is like all disorganized. I see plenty of employees behind the counters! Why is NO ONE assigned to keep the dinning area clean and decent??? It all completely takes my appettite away. I'm sitting here Soup & Sandwich in front of me getting cold because I'm so disgusted that I no longer feel like eating! I go to other locations and is not like this. Food quality here is not the best either. What's wrong with this place?? I had to walk up front to ask for napkins!! How can anyone that works here not notice this many basic things?? This is unacceptable at ANY Restaurant. Why is THIS one such a mess in comparison to the rest of the Paneras?? PLEASE....do something!! I read many other customers with same complaints here. Is anyone reading????

BTW...I did mention to the front counter about the non-existence of napkins anywhere & the filthy Drink's Table in dire need of a simple wipe clean. Yack!!!!

I hope if i ever decide to return to this Location (highly doubt it!) that at least something has...

Until I can leave a national review of Panera as a company, I'll leave one for my local one. Cleanliness - throughout Covid they kept up better sanitation & cleanliness practices, knowing which tables are clean and which are not. However, since the mandates have been lifted it has gone back to their pre-covid messy situation, leaving tables dirty, sticky, booths full of crumbs. I have been coming here since it opened and even years ago I could always expect to have to clean my own table and seat. Because of the consistency of the dirtiness I would say it is not a staffing issue. Staff has been overall pretty friendly over the years. I feel it would do Panera a HUGE benefit as a company to include more plant-based options. I got a bowl for the first time today and it is pretty sad. I will definitely go back to Cava, Chipotle, or Roots when I have the opportunity because those places have much better value for the money. At Panera, if I'm going to take away the meat, cheese, and other animal products from my meal, I should be able to add other ingredients at no cost. The options are mediocre if I am with a group and have no other choice but to come here and order, but at least there are options to improve upon from here. I come here because I enjoy the cafe atmosphere where I can do my own thang independently. If there were local cafes that offered more of what I'm looking for I'd be there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately you don't find much of that out here in the burbs. It's unlikely that Panera as a corporation will listen to customer feedback like this, but at least I try. You aight Panera. I'm not mad at you....