Panera Bread — Restaurant in Waco

Never really been impressed with Panera Bread in general, but I had hopes it was just other locations, so we stopped here while traveling for supper. We walked in and one of our children was car sick and vomited profusely on the floor. No matter how many napkins might have been available this was a job that was going to need a mop and water/cleaner. I informed the guy at the front. He asked if we were ready to order so I assumed he did not hear me. So I repeated that my child threw up on the floor and he dismissed it with someone will clean it up later. It was right in the middle of the walkway in, so not only gross but a safety issue. He had us order, which between our unfamiliarity with the menu and his unfamiliarity, combined with some food not being in stock, was an interesting and lengthy struggle. At the conclusion, he told me the mess would be cleaned up. Someone else had already walked in, hopefully around it. Then began the extremely long wait. There is a busy drive-thru and this seems to contribute but this is not a place to take hungry kids for dinner if you need food at the speed of a typical restaurant. Once we got the food, it was good, better than the other locations I have experienced, and the kitchen people seemed nice. It’s just not worth the stress of waiting around, and that goes for a handful of Panera...

Solid Panera location with their signature cafe atmosphere - modern design with warm wood tones and coral accents. Love their new digital menu boards and the convenient rapid pick-up area for online orders.

The breakfast sandwich I tried was done well with fluffy eggs, though tables could use more frequent cleaning during peak hours. The spacious seating area has a mix of booths and tables, with their signature pendant lighting creating a cozy ambiance.

Pro tip: Join their Unlimited Sip Club (spotted on their cups) if you're a regular - it's great value for coffee and drinks. The exterior is well-maintained with good accessibility features and bollards for safety.

While the food quality is consistently good (those cheese eggs look perfect!), knocked one star off because the tables needed better attention during my visit. Still a reliable spot for fresh-baked goods, soups, and sandwiches when you want something a step up from fast food.

Best for: Quick business lunches, coffee meetings, or grabbing breakfast on the go. Their rapid pick-up system is efficient if you order ahead...

I love Panera Bread, but this was the worst PB experience I’ve had so far. I’m giving it two stars only because I’ve never had a bad experience before. But this was my first time to try this location. I was the only one through the drive thru, and there were only 3 cars in the parking lot so I can’t imagine it was hopping inside. After I placed my order, I pulled up to the window. I realized I’d been waiting an incredibly long time for no one to have greeted me or taken my payment. I sat and waited at the window after I’d placed my order for between 5 and 8 minutes. When the window was finally opened, I wasn’t greeted, and when I handed my payment in, the woman at the window flippantly yanked it from my hand. I sat another 2 minutes after I’d paid, waiting on my food. When it was handed to me, still no thank you, no apology for the wait or failure to check in at the window. After I left, I opened my salad and realized there were full chunks of...