Panera Bread

I've had some pleasant meals and experiences at Panera Bread before but unfortunately this was not one of them. I don't know if they were training new people or just managed badly this particular visit. We were 4 people, my parents, in their 80's, my brother along with myself. We all ordered the pick 2, two of us with soup and sandwich, 2 with soup and salad. Somehow my mother's salad was missed. Checking the receipt showed we didn't pay for her to have one. I had to go back and forth several times between the registrar area and pickup to get it settled - paid and picked up. Then it turned out they gave us the wrong salad! I did not go back again. We paid more for the one we didn't get. Also they didn't give us the the pick 2 price, full price for both soup and salad and they were the same size as the rest of us. It was all very confusing. My brother had to make extra trips to pickup also for they neglected to give us plastic utensils to eat with and none were offered by the napkins. The area you take your dishes to was way overfull, I told them and they did have someone clear it. My brother also said the bathroom had no paper towels, he had to use napkins after he came out to dry his hands. He decided it was such a bad experience he refused to bus his dishes and wouldn't allow me to do his either. I had tipped at the time we ordered and even again when I went back to pay for the missing salad. I've decided to never tip till the end of my experience with them. They'll need a tip jar on the way out the door. We have a girl's lunch planned on the calendar for this particular Panera Bread. I hope they've got their service right by then.

Prices too high for mid quality food. They always put items on my sandwiches I ask to be removed. I get charged more than quoted prices. It always seems to be teen and twenty-something social hour at the Lex Ave. store. They are too busy socializing to provide real customer service. Last time I was in there the assistant manager asked me to leave after I was falsely accused of harassing customers who were actually my misbehaving kids. No questions asked by the idiot assistant manager, just 'I need you to leave' and that was it.

First off paid for a their "signature" chicken sandwich almost $11 that was so small and bland then to top off their Mac n cheese was $6 and again three bites gone! The staff just gave me the ritual saying the servings are preportioned and didn't seem to care. Honestly tasted like bland cafeteria food. I love the vibe inside just wish some of the food items would match the style.