What is your opinion on Panera Bread?

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twinrider1

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2003
4,096
64
91
lol, here to mention that cinnamon crunchy top bagel thing. It's doubt any NY/NJ native would call it a real bagel, but it is fantastic.
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
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Not a huge fan of Panera. The food is mediocre and there are always a bunch of idiot Wifi squatters. There are better sandwich places and better bagel places. Their bread is also really hard.
 

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
14
81
www.markbetz.net
lol, here to mention that cinnamon crunchy top bagel thing. It's doubt any NY/NJ native would call it a real bagel, but it is fantastic.

Yeah we don't put those in the bagel category, but they're damn good :).

Panera overall is ok. They have good sandwiches, and I still think they make the best cherry danish the world has ever known.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
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.

I always feel stuffed with a half Turkey Bacon Bravo. I never order a full unless I am splitting with someone.
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
I always feel stuffed with a half Turkey Bacon Bravo. I never order a full unless I am splitting with someone.

I never take portion advice from AT, most of the time when people here say it's not enough food, it is more than enough for me.

KT
 

rcpratt

Lifer
Jul 2, 2009
10,433
110
116
It's enough food to mostly fill me up. I generally find myself wanting a few more bites, but I don't think a departure from standard American sizes is a bad thing.
 
Mar 11, 2004
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I always feel stuffed with a half Turkey Bacon Bravo. I never order a full unless I am splitting with someone.

You'd make a terrible Hobbit. You feel full after half of one of those? That's probably the most meat laden item Panera offers, but it looks like it's about half, maybe 2/3s of a 6" Subway and I don't know of anyone under the age of about 10 that would be full from just that even (and I'm not around megafatties either).
 

Mai72

Lifer
Sep 12, 2012
11,562
1,742
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I took my uncle there a few times. He had the habit of annoying the workers. Always wanted to sample the soup before buying. Always wanted more napkins when eating. This was too cold, our that was too hot. Eventually they had enough and asked us to leave.

:(
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,355
1,867
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Panera is like $30 for a meal because the food is so small. Their coffee is pretty good though.
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,444
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I never take portion advice from AT, most of the time when people here say it's not enough food, it is more than enough for me.

KT

You'd have no problem with them then. I generally only go out to eat if I haven't eaten much of anything else (maybe a bowl of cereal or a simple sandwich or some fruit and yogurt or something), so I'm wanting a feel full for hours type of meal.

It's enough food to mostly fill me up. I generally find myself wanting a few more bites, but I don't think a departure from standard American sizes is a bad thing.

I don't either, but I wish they'd upsize a bit. If they cut out a bigger section of the bread bowl so you get more soup it'd be enough. If their normal sandwiches/soups/etc were 25-33% bigger I think it'd be solid value.

Weird thing is, it seems like a lot of people feel that way, and so if people felt they were getting good value they'd probably eat there more often. But maybe they're trying to get people to splurge for their sweets or take home bagels/bread. It does seem odd. And with the bigger sizes people that don't want the full amount could get half or cups of soup more feasibly.

Another funny thing is when they don't do a good job of predicting how busy they will be. Hated going there on a drizzly evening and finding out they were out of bread bowls and it's not even 6pm yet.
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
I am getting sick of my usual Turkey Bacon Bravo and would like some suggestions.

You started this thread because you're too fucking timid to try something new on the menu? You have got to be kidding.
sFun_banghead.gif
 
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Oct 25, 2006
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Not filling? What?

There's tons of carbs and a insane amount of calories in Panera bread meals.

How the hell could you not feel full?
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Costly for what you get.

I don't go often but my last visit I got one of their pasta dishes. There were two sizes, I got the larger one. It was over $10 and I was shocked at how small it was. For a couple bucks more you could have that plus AYCE salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden, with table service. And while OG isn't gourmet eats, it's as good as Panera.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
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You started this thread because you're too fucking timid to try something new on the menu? You have got to be kidding.
sFun_banghead.gif

Nope. You missed something when you deleted the rest of my OP from your quote. Look closely.
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
Nope. You missed something when you deleted the rest of my OP from your quote. Look closely.

The whining about your Mommy? That's your problem.

You don't seem to be getting many menu suggestions, so it looks like you're stuck eating your Turkey Bacon thing until Mommy gives you a gift certificate for somewhere else. I'll bet it really sucks being forced to order exactly the same thing every time you go to Panera.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
The whining about your Mommy? That's your problem.

You don't seem to be getting many menu suggestions, so it looks like you're stuck eating your Turkey Bacon thing until Mommy gives you a gift certificate for somewhere else. I'll bet it really sucks being forced to order exactly the same thing every time you go to Panera.

Dense? It's a parody thread that also rants about a personal issue and solicits menu suggestions. Link to original is hidden in the OP.

Of course my rant is about my problem but I've already taken the stated steps to correct it.
 
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Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
37
91
Costly for what you get.

I don't go often but my last visit I got one of their pasta dishes. There were two sizes, I got the larger one. It was over $10 and I was shocked at how small it was. For a couple bucks more you could have that plus AYCE salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden, with table service. And while OG isn't gourmet eats, it's as good as Panera.

Costly is right.

Would you believe Sam Covelli (owner) is the neighbor (lives next door) of my brother-in-laws parents. That guy lives in a huge mansion. You guys want to make him richer now? lol!
 

Mai72

Lifer
Sep 12, 2012
11,562
1,742
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Costly is right.

Would you believe Sam Covelli (owner) is the neighbor (lives next door) of my brother-in-laws parents. That guy lives in a huge mansion. You guys want to make him richer now? lol!

He doesn't deserve his success? So what if he lives in a huge mansion. Did he live in a huge mansion when he started Panera bread? He had the guts to go for it. People don't see the blood, sweat and many hours that is needed to have a successful business. All they notice are the materialistic things and get mad.

I'm not saying this is you.
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
Dense? It's a parody thread that also rants about a personal issue and solicits menu suggestions. Link to original is hidden in the OP.

Of course my rant is about my problem but I've already taken the stated steps to correct it.

I see over forty earnest replies to your supposed "parody". It looks like just another ATOT "Look at me. I'm a complete loser." thread.
 

thestrangebrew1

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2011
4,116
799
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I love their cinnamon bagels there but I won't be back for lunch. I had a pick 2 combo and got soup and a lame sandwich for around $10. Oh I've also had their spinach quiche which is pretty good.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
I see over forty earnest replies to your supposed "parody". It looks like just another ATOT "Look at me. I'm a complete loser." thread.

The parody is the reason it exists. It doesn't mean I can't earnestly ask for menu suggestions even though I agree that it wouldn't be thread-worthy otherwise. Not sure how asking what others like to eat there makes me a loser. Am I a "complete loser" because I support my aging mother but cut her off from spending my money directly?
 

Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
37
91
He doesn't deserve his success? So what if he lives in a huge mansion. Did he live in a huge mansion when he started Panera bread? He had the guts to go for it. People don't see the blood, sweat and many hours that is needed to have a successful business. All they notice are the materialistic things and get mad.

I'm not saying this is you.



You woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something?


relax...relax....
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,527
14,911
146
Panera is the "Starbucks" of sammich shops. Food is OK, but somewhat overpriced.

Of course, they don't aim for the same crowd as McD's...but rather the iPhone using hipster crowd, so MINO.