What is your opinion on Panera Bread?

[CZroe]

Let's hear it..

My mother heard me mention eating there once so now she keeps spending my money on Panera gift cards. I am getting sick of my usual Turkey Bacon Bravo and would like some suggestions.

This kind of crap is why I had to cut off her funding last month but I'm still saddled with GCs for Panera and other places. She also bought a TGI Friday's GC purely because she had a coupon that is now expired. She'll take ANY excuse to get in on the Kroger 4x fuel points on GCs. I keep explaining how she isn't saving nearly as much as she thinks but it's like talking to a compulsive gambler who refuses to listen.

 

[rudeguy]

I don't mind it. Its not my first choice but I will go there if someone else wants to.

We get bagels from there a lot for work. They are good.

 

[KeithTalent]

We have one up here. Some of the stuff looks decent through the window, but I've never actually gone in to eat anything.

KT

 

[rcpratt]

Good food but it's overpriced. Getting a you-pick-two or whatever they call it combo can cost you nearly $10. The bagels are good.

I'm kind of confused as to whether this thread is about Panera or your mother.

 

[stargazr]

Not bad. Only ate breakfast there a few times though. I used to pick up cinnamon raisin bread but haven't been there for awhile.

 

[KeithTalent]

Good food but it's overpriced. Getting a you-pick-two or whatever they call it combo can cost you nearly $10. The bagels are good.

I'm kind of confused as to whether this thread is about Panera or your mother.

What do you get for $10? That does not sound expensive to me unless it's just a coffee and a bagel or something like that.

KT

 

[CZroe]

...
I'm kind of confused as to whether this thread is about Panera or your mother.

Neither, actually, but I'll take any menu suggestions seriously.
.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Panera is like Chipotle, "upscale" fast food that is good but can definitely see people not being wowed or finding it too expensive for what you get. Panera doesn't really have a cheap direct competitor (like Taco Bell to Chipotle) though, so they can more easily carve out a niche.

Good food but it's overpriced. Getting a you-pick-two or whatever they call it combo can cost you nearly $10. The bagels are good.

I'm kind of confused as to whether this thread is about Panera or your mother.

This. I love their food but it's a bit high, especially if you're used to places where you can load up with meat for similar prices.

I'd do the pick 2 with potato soup in a bread bowl and half a Mediterranean veggie sandwich. I liked the I.C. Spice or something drink when they still had it (and they'd give a thick straw which is so much better for milkshake like drinks). Also love their bear claws with the almond pieces on top.

 

[brainhulk]

I thought i read somewhere all there stuff is microwaved

 

[mmntech]

Food is a big step above your typical chain deli. It is expensive though. I've been pretty spoiled living near what's arguably the best Italian grocery in the Greater Toronto Area, so any sandwiches that don't come from there are crap in comparison.

 

[rcpratt]

What do you get for $10? That does not sound expensive to me unless it's just a coffee and a bagel or something like that.

KT

I believe you can choose 2 of 3 - half sandwich, half salad, soup.

It's certainly not terrible; I know many locations it's impossible to get a lunch for less than $10. But for what it is, which is basically glorified fast food, I think it's a bit much. But obviously it's working for them.

 

[KeithTalent]

I believe you can choose 2 of 3 - half sandwich, half salad, soup.

It's certainly not terrible; I know many locations it's impossible to get a lunch for less than $10. But for what it is, which is basically glorified fast food, I think it's a bit much. But obviously it's working for them.

Interesting, thanks. I'll have to go check it out.

KT

 

[darkswordsman17]

What do you get for $10? That does not sound expensive to me unless it's just a coffee and a bagel or something like that.

KT

You can get a meal, but it's not the most filling. It takes the pick 2 with a sourdough bread bowl, half a sandwich, and chunk of bread to fill me up. And that was like $11-12 IIRC.

It's been a while since I've been there, but they didn't load up anything so it's not the most filling.

Also if you want a lot of meat and toppings then it's not really for you. Basically if you like good hearty breads, soup (solid but not spectacular; I like their soup better than any other fast food/chain that I've had, but it's not Soup Nazi good), unique but good sandwiches and/or salads, and decent bagels/rolls/sweets, then I think you'll like it.

It won't replace your go too morning place (i.e. coffee and donut/breakfast sandwich/whatever), but it's a nice change of pace.

 

[KeithTalent]

You can get a meal, but it's not the most filling. It takes the pick 2 with a sourdough bread bowl, half a sandwich, and chunk of bread to fill me up. And that was like $11-12 IIRC.

It's been a while since I've been there, but they didn't load up anything so it's not the most filling.

Also if you want a lot of meat and toppings then it's not really for you. Basically if you like good hearty breads, soup (solid but not spectacular; I like their soup better than any other fast food/chain that I've had, but it's not Soup Nazi good), unique but good sandwiches and/or salads, and decent bagels/rolls/sweets, then I think you'll like it.

It won't replace your go too morning place (i.e. coffee and donut/breakfast sandwich/whatever), but it's a nice change of pace.

So it's like a fancier Subway?

They always have this caramelly cinnamon sticky bun thing in the window that looks delicious.

KT

 

[Scarpozzi]

I used to go there quite a bit, but as they franchised out, it's lost its appeal to me. Coffee is decent, bagels are ok....sandwiches and soups in a bread bowl are great if you can handle the carbs. I do like their souffles.

I don't typically go out of my way to eat there because it's not health food and the prices are just a touch high.

 

[darkswordsman17]

So it's like a fancier Subway?

They always have this caramelly cinnamon sticky bun thing in the window that looks delicious.

KT

Subway does offer quite a few similar things now, but it's nowhere close to the same. Just check out their website. And unlike most, the food you get served is close to what they show.

I'd say definitely give it a try, but vet what you eat there as some of it just isn't worth it (don't order OJ for instance, the one I went to you'd see them pouring it out of a grocery store gallon). I can't speak to their coffee either (I don't know of anyone that switched to going there instead of Starbucks for whatever that's worth).

I do like their sweet breads (they usually have quite a variety, I liked their cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and a few others).

Comparatively speaking, I'd get equally full from eating a foot long BLT from Subway as I did from the soup, bread bowl (with eating most but not the bottom half of the outside of the bowl), half a sandwich, and chunk of multi-grain bread.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I used to go there quite a bit, but as they franchised out, it's lost its appeal to me. Coffee is decent, bagels are ok....sandwiches and soups in a bread bowl are great if you can handle the carbs. I do like their souffles.

I don't typically go out of my way to eat there because it's not health food and the prices are just a touch high.

Yeah. It's a nice change of place treat, but the price and fact that most everything is there is loaded with carbs means it's more of a once a month type of thing for me. Nice for a drizzly fall or winter evening or a nice calm breakfast spot (er, sound like I'm writing for J Peterman).

Oh, forgot about their breakfast souffles. They had an egg and spinach one I liked.

 

[destrekor]

So it's like a fancier Subway?

They always have this caramelly cinnamon sticky bun thing in the window that looks delicious.

KT

That is probably the cinnamon bagel (top is covered in crunchy cinnamon sugar). That thing is surely included in the category of ambrosia in all pantheons. :awe:

 

[KeithTalent]

Subway does offer quite a few similar things now, but it's nowhere close to the same. Just check out their website. And unlike most, the food you get served is close to what they show.

I'd say definitely give it a try, but vet what you eat there as some of it just isn't worth it (don't order OJ for instance, the one I went to you'd see them pouring it out of a grocery store gallon). I can't speak to their coffee either (I don't know of anyone that switched to going there instead of Starbucks for whatever that's worth).

I do like their sweet breads (they usually have quite a variety, I liked their cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and a few others).

Comparatively speaking, I'd get equally full from eating a foot long BLT from Subway as I did from the soup, bread bowl (with eating most but not the bottom half of the outside of the bowl), half a sandwich, and chunk of multi-grain bread.

Just checked out the site, it looks decent. I love sandwiches and the options around here are terrible, so I am definitely going to give this a shot.

That is probably the cinnamon bagel (top is covered in crunchy cinnamon sugar). That thing is surely included in the category of ambrosia in all pantheons. :awe:

Haha, maybe that's it. I though it had gooey stuff on it too though. :hmm:

KT

 

[destrekor]

Haha, maybe that's it. I though it had gooey stuff on it too though. :hmm:

KT

It could be, or could look like it. It definitely gets a little gooey when served warm. I haven't had Panera in years, save for a plain bagel brought into work last year. As others have said, if you choose to try and limit carbs, it's one of the first places to fall of your list of places to visit. Not that I'm entirely successful at avoiding high carb intake, but it definitely helps not having sugar-coated bagels.

 

[NoTine42]

I used to really enjoy the Greek salad as part of that sandwich/salad combo.

Description: Romaine lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes, feta cheese, pepperoncini, red onions, Kalamata olives, pepper & our Greek dressing.

 

[clamum]

It's pretty good, though IMO fairly pricey for what you get. I usually order the chipotle chicken panini and their chicken noodle soup. It's quite good but just kinda expensive I think.

 

[zokudu]

I like their Thai Chicken Salad and a cup of soup normally.

My girlfriend likes it a lot so we go there maybe 2 times a month at least. I would say it FEELS pricy but I don't know where that comes from. The two of us runs about $25 and we're full at the end. We got to On the Border and spend $25 and it feels cheap (Like good deal cheap). I think because it's a fast casual restaurant rather than a sit down place.

 

[tynopik]

pick 2
- frontega chicken panini
- french onion or brocolli cheddar soup
- roll as the free side

 

[purbeast0]

the food is okay, but i feel like a "meal" there is a happy meal for 5 year olds. i'm never full when i leave because their portions are tiny. i rarely go there because i don't feel like buying 2 meals.

i'd go to jasons deli or cosi over panera every time.