Panera Bread

I really enjoy coming here because they have great food and excellent customer service by the cashiers. There’s one thing that really bothers me and has happened multiple times (which is the reason I’m giving it 3 stars). I have seen the manager Mike reprimand the employees in front of customers in a very unprofessional/​rude way. Customers shouldn’t have to know what’s going on behind the counter (do those things in private FYI). Not only those he look bad, his embarrassing the employees and making customer fee uncomfortable. I hope upper management corrects this, someone like that shouldn’t be managing anybody. The employees here are so nice and helpful every time except this man.

I come to this location often and it is by far one of the best panera bread locations I have been to. The people are very friendly. The service is great. Even when it’s busy you won’t wait a long time for your food to be served. You can eat and take your time without anyone bothering you or giving you the stare to leave. Good to know there is a place where you can eat good food with respectable employees.

They are open for business. And nothing that I wanted to order was ready. 7:00am. There should not have been an issue. Choose to go elsewhere. Can’t keep giving this place a chance.

Panera is so E’fen expensive and skimp on how much they put in there sandwich. I bought the two Turkey Cranberry on Whole wheat Flat bread which had about 3 leaves of Spinach looks nothing like the photo on the website and a few pieces of Turkey a hint of Cranberry taste and two Creamy Tomato soup of which also are not the same size that you would get when ordering out (less quantity) and almost paid nearly $ 40. Its as if I’m on a diet order for weight loss. I want what I paid for. Who does Panera think they are charging such high prices in a time of messed up economy. I am the type of person that will pay for something that is worth its value I am not a cheap person when dining out. My girlfriend thinks I’m crazy when I spend a little more than most but I tell her as long as we enjoy it, I’m good.

So I came into panera bread with a friend that never came. So we are looking at the menu and deciding what to order. It wasn’t even busy and the lady at the counter was being so rude. She kept on shaking her head and giving us the look. She even turned to whisper something to one of her coworkers. I asked if there was a problem and she’s like no there no problem just move out of the way. She was Caucasian girl with glasses. I came at Friday at 11 am. I was completely offended because she could of asked us nicely to move away, we would of done it. I love panera especially the soup and salad deal but she completely destroyed my mood so we left.

Amazing soup and bread. It’s one of those rare places where the food is consistent. I would prefer the staff be a little more attentive, but that’s a small issue. What matters is the food and its great.

Thumbs up to cashier Shajera. There were 2 registers opened when I walked in. A woman was waiting at one register so I stood on line at the other register. While waiting I already noticed the woman was trouble. When the customer in front of me finished before the customer in front of her, the woman dashed towards Shajera. I don’t appreciate her cutting me so I said spmething to the effect like excuse me? She said ‘I was here first.’ I told her I was on this line and she was waiting over there (at the register to my left). When she insisted, she made me mad. She was trying to cut in front of me and yet is making me to be the person who did wrong. Then she said ‘if you want to go ahead (to order) then go ahead” but she didn’t leave and continues to compliant. Shajera stepped in and said to her «she (me) was here first». This pissed her off and she started saying that’s not true. She demanded to watch the video. She said «if you watch the video you will see I was here. «I told her «you were here but on the other line.»
With the time she wasted bothering me and the cashier, I could have been done with my order (I only wanted a cinnamon roll) already and she could cut BEHIND me.
Thumbs up to Shajera for doing the right thing. I have been to other establishments where the cashier actually would serve these rude customers who cut in front of me. She deserves a raise.

This review is a tough one to write. I’m going to be honest. I have been coming here since I moved to Astoria. It’s always a solid go to for a quick soup and salad (generally pretty diet friendly if you try) I have never had a complaint until now.
Strike 1: (Which wasn’t even a strike until all the other shit happened)
I didn’t hear them call my name. I was looking for a place to plug in my laptop. My food literally sat up there (without a second chance at getting my name called) I thought to get up and check (I take some responsibility) but really? Not 1 more shout out. It took me 2 min to find a decent outlet, I couldn’t have missed my name more than once. I’ve gotten better shout outs from DJ’s in the club.
Strike 2: They give me the wrong dressing for my salad — which then turns into me realizing they’ve given me the wrong salad. The shorter woman working who was also mentioned in a previous Unilocal review as a «gremlin» (which is tough — but she clearly wasn’t trying to be my friend so it stays) is now HYPER annoyed that she made the wrong salad and now has to re-​make the right one. I know — I know, I have so much nerve asking for what I paid for.
Strike 3: So after all of the back and forth attitude and the fact that it took a trillion hours to get fixed my soup is cold cause it had been sitting there, I again have to ask for dressing. She now looks at me like she wants to kill me but wait — it doesn’t stop there, I have no fork (she took it with the other wrong salad). As she is likely whispering about me to her compadre I think to ask the cashier for a fork as the exchange of the past 900 hours was awkward enough. Why make it worse?
Not sure if I was just super annoyed at her awful attitude but the food also didn’t taste as fresh as it usually does, the chicken was dry — lettuce had an old lettuce taste to it. Not my favorite experience. I think I’ll grab a tea. The only person who is capable of messing that up is me.

It’s a chain type of food place so it’s hard to judge because I don’t usually eat at a chain place. My friend took me here for a bite and I think I can say something different because my experience was ok and not bad. The salad I had was pretty big, gigantic to be precise. I thought I couldn’t handle such a big plate but since it’s a big salad, I ate it like there’s no tomorrow. It was not that bad to tell you the truth. I love my own salad and hardly eat salad outside but this one was ok. It was good to try. As a food critic, never say no to enter anywhere and try everything. You can’t be that bias to try everything, can you? Nothing to complain about the staff, they were fine.

930pm on a Saturday and customers being told there is no bread only salad and soup? Let’s see how long this lasts… disappointing…

Very rude uneducated people working at this location especially a short mexican-​ecuadorian girl who looks like a gremlin and has a mole or piercing on her face that works nights
employees here cannot think they are
«About that life» if u work at panera bread

I came here because I have house guests and I was in no rush to get home. So I decided (against my better judgment to have a late lunch here). Staff is friendly but I am not coming here for friends… so read on!
I really don’t understand why Panera even exists in Astoria let alone NYC. I have been to this Panera twice — once in 2009 for a bagel and today for a sandwich. I was so disappointed. For $ 8 I got a half veggie sandwich and a small lemonade. The portion of the sandwich was sooooo tiny. Really Panera? For $ 5 this is what you give me?
The two stars is for the clean space and free Wi-​Fi. But that is not enough to bring me back. I can make a pathetic sandwich all on my own.
If you are reading this and can boil water, then I guarantee that you can make a better meal that what you will get here.

I have complain about Panera bread. When they put pasta primavera in their menu on (February 2015) the size of the bowl was big and the price was 8.79 plus tax. I went to Panera bread and i ordered pasta primavera again last thursday night. I was shock, the bowl was small The price was same (8.79 without tax) .They serve the pasta with soup cup. They claim they always serve with small size. Which is it is not true. They want serve less with same price. They want to fool customer and cheat. Also it show, they dont respect their customer.
Thank you Panera bread.

Chain itself: 4
Location: 2
I should start by saying I have an unexplainable affinity for Panera in general. I love the breads, the cookies, the weird way their steak sandwich is entirely inconsistent in regard to the amount of steak you get or where it resides inside the sandwich. I’ve sought them out wherever I’ve lived since 2003 or something and I’ll keep going back for reasons I cannot explain, especially since they’re a bit over-​priced for what you get, but man, this location can turn into a rowdy day care center at a moment’s notice (as many locations can, probably) and it definitely detracts from whatever conversation or book you’re trying to focus on while eating. Despite my love for the chain, this is a huge downside.
For example: If you enjoy watching/​listening to groups of unattended pre-​teens stand on chairs and shout «Shit, shit, shit!» over and over (7:00 pm on 2÷15÷15) or crowds of elementary-​school children fighting over chairs, food, and throwing their jackets around for about an hour (4 to 5 pm on 2÷13÷15) or sitting next to people who use the sitting area like a living room while they slip off their shoes and talk loudly using the speakerphone option on their cell (6:45 pm 1÷19÷15) with nary a manager in sight to rectify the issues, then this is the place for you!
They do have a sign about unaccompanied minors (meaning they’re aware of the noise/​disturbance issue) but they don’t seem to do much about it. I guess that’s the trade off for their disturbingly good kettle chips. Since this is NYC I really should just go to the local joints, but a «taste of suburbia» is oddly comforting, even after years of living here. Whatever. Rant over.

I really like Panera Breads for a lunch option. They offer quality hot sandwiches, soup and salad along with fresh baked goods at great prices compared to a fast food joint. I always get the ½ combo of chipotle chicken and broccoli cheddar soup – it’s soo good. This spot is perfect alternative to have lunch prior to a movie (Regal Kaufman Studios is across the street) rather than spending $ 20 on popcorn and soda. It’s a win for me!

What’s not to love its Panera Bread. I love this place the soups, sandwiches and salads are always fresh. My favorite things are the broccoli cheese soup, chili and of course the delicious bread they give you with the soups. I like that the food and service here is always good.

Panera’s are a great chain. I try to avoid most chains but this is quality.
Sign up for a My Panera card and get free stuff! Who doesn’t like that?!
The pastries are yummy, food made fresh and with real ingredients and just tastes better. Try the quiche if there are any left! They’re the bomb!

I enjoy Panera’s food and overall ambiance.
The Environment:
Depending on the time of day, you get a mixed crowd in here. Can be extremely busy and noisy when local schools get out. Sometimes they have a difficult time keeping the tables clean since it can be quite busy, but there’s lots of seating at least. Good for long studying sessions with access to great food, coffee with free refills, restrooms, and free (sometimes limited) Wifi. Music isn’t too loud though (I cringe just walking past Applebee’s). No electrical outlets for public use though.
The Food:
Salads are a bit expensive but delicious. Fall is a great time for their soups– broccoli cheddar or the autumn squash. Bread is fresh and yummy, but they do run out of bread bowls on cold days. Sometimes the whole wheat bread doesn’t taste quite as fresh though. I think they also have a secret healthy menu with power bowls. Wish they had more dairy-​free options. And I was told they can heat up any panini or sandwich if you ask.
You get a similar experience at most Paneras. Glad to have this chain around though.

The workers are pretty nice and patient. The shop is relatively clean as a worker goes around throwing things out and wiping tables. It’s a pretty nice sized store.
The bread for the bread bowl is so tough and chewy and the croutons they throw on top are just old bread which are tough and chewy as well. Basically rocks. Not even toasted.

The food is good in a very basic home style kind of way and in my opinion a bit overpriced, just a little but it’s understandable for a retail dining establishment, no matter how casual. The atmosphere is nice, clean with the perfect lighting. Staff seem active, informative and responsive most to all of the time. There’s a soda fountain in the bake and the oven in the morning is quite busy. In the summer, it make for a nice environment to sit and cool off with some of their food choices. And in the winter it makes for a nice cozy place to just sit back to escape the cold.
I have had a few things off their menu including their sandwiches. The meat, veggies that go inside the sandwiches are clean and tasty. But the magic texture is in their bread, I really like Panera Bread’s bread. It has a nice outside crust and soft center.
It’s a shame the only serve the Soufflé in the morning. Those are one of my favorites.
Their soups and salads (fresh) are good also but soup-​wise I think I’d prefer something from a chain of another place like a Hale and Hearty.
I saw Pizza on their menu once, not sure if still available and never tried it.
And onto the desert: nothing special and a bit overpriced. The last order of just desert because they didn’t have Soufflé or the Soup I wanted was for a over done, a bit too sweet brownie with fudge smeared on top but that Chocolate Duet Cookie when warm was soft and really really good.
Restroom: Not so clean, not so dirty
Wifi: Crappy