Panera Bread — Restaurant in Washington

I don't write reviews. And I certainly haven't ever written a review about a month after initially visiting said establishment. But I can't stop thinking about this Panera bread, or shall I put it, I can't stop thinking of a certain someone at this Panera bread.

I have eaten Panera many times before but it was my first time visiting this establishment. I decided to go through the drive thru because I was crunched for time. The voice at the order window right away struck me as kind and pleasant. Sweet and soft like honey. The kind of voice that could lull me to sleep or urge me to pursue my dreams.

When I got to the window, I felt the breath knock out of me. I couldn't believe the goddess I was seeing. I never thought once of the Panera uniform until I saw her wearing it. Her name was Angie. And what a beautiful name for such a beautiful individual. As I stated, I have gone to a many Panera in my time but never have I in all my days seen such a stunning and gorgeously radiant Panera employee like I saw this day while sitting idle in my Toyota Corolla. In fact, never have I ever seen an employee at any establishment ever that had me as speechless and consumed as my dear Angie had me. And I swear to you all that the mac-n-cheese I had that day tasted far superior to any other mac-n-cheese I have had. It tasted of love and gentleness, of a soft touch on the cheek and a gentle breeze in the summer sun. All things that remind me of my dearly beloved Angie.

I have returned a many time now in search for my Angie. I returned the next day at the same time but she wasn't there. I returned during the late evening another day because I understand an employees schedule can vary. Still didn't find her. I went so far as to enter the restaurant but no sign of her. I even visiting seven times total in the span of 48 hours but no sight.

Maybe this establishment was dumb enough to fire her. Or perhaps she too knew of her own beauty and moved on. But I miss her. And my mac-n-cheese doesn't taste the same. Please come back Angie. I wish to...

Firstly, let me explain two things. One, I managed delis in Seattle area for twenty plus years so I have experience with this type of food. Two, I understand completely how hard it is now to hire/train/keep people. Understanding all this, the system in this Panera and possibly Panera as a whole is clearly broken. They have always been over priced for the product and after as much of your money they can squeeze out of you. But to go into an quick service establishment for lunch and have to wait 30 MINUTES for your order should be unacceptable to anyone including management! It seems pretty clear that orders sent over the website for pickup or delivery, and possibly even the drive thru, take precedence over customers who choose to walk in and dine. If your backed up in the kitchen, tell the front of house staff to warn people before they order, not some lame “ well maybe it wasn’t that much of a back up when you ordered” bologna. If your customer orders a meal-entree drink cookie-expecting to receive the deal price on the cookie, tell them at the time that the one they ordered doesn’t qualify. Don’t charge them $3.50(!!!)more for it with no notice. And how about listing the ingredients and spreads on your menu sandwiches without having to guess or ask a lot of questions. Any place serving sandwiches worth enjoying will show you this-like veggies, or condiments-such as the damn horseradish spread that came on mine. Yes I could have questioned the counter girl but would that be a waste of time? Probably. I literally watched the timer at the order window roll past 29 minutes from order to pickup. For a whole sand, half sand, small soup, plus chips and an apple. With one drink, the cookie, and tax it was over $32!!! As I said, the system here/@Panera is all wrong for this to happen. And I’ll guess it is consistent. If I could give zero...

Before the Covid crisis, this Panera Bread was sensational. I used to go frequently because it was one of the best Panera I have visited. But something happened to this restaurant during the lapse of the pandemic. Maybe a change in management, I don't know, but something serious happened inside. I went back to this Panera when the restaurants were permitted to reopen; it was not the same restaurant that it used to. From that point the place has gone down the hill and today is a third-world business on the roadside. Furthermore, with the time the lack of hygiene has become more and more evident and at this moment it is already a risk to eat there. Whoever enters to eat in will have the opportunity to see the kitchen when his/her name is called. The filthiest toast ovens that can be seen is where sandwiches are placed. And so it is the rest of the kitchen and the restaurant. In addition, they have nothing. If you need napkins, there are none. It's Panera and there's no 'pan' (bread). The food looks like it came out of some mysterious place and not a restaurant kitchen. I ordered salad; I ordered with extra chicken and extra avocado but I got tiny bit of both, on top of a lettuce so old it came with the edges of the leaves wilted. The dish looked coming from the garbage. The service is hellish: there are more people in the kitchen than customers, yet the food is late and looks disgusting. I don't understand how the Washington State Health Department hasn't done anything because this restaurant does not have the hygienic conditions...