Panera Bread

Got a pick 2 — grilled cheese and Mac n cheese, both comfort foods. Grilled cheese is wonderful, with a soft gooey center and a nice crust. The Mac n cheese has a white sauce, very creamy.
The food is consistent.
Service is good, the food came out quick, but a few tables were not cleaned. I came at a slow time so some staff were on break so I can’t fault them for that.
It’s a nice place to come and chill and have a light convo or use your laptop.

Over the past 2 years I’ve seen a lot of good employees leave since its been under new management. I’ve seen the general manager, Lulu Williams, treat her employees like sh*t, and the staff is always running around like headless chickens.
Service is mediocre now, as if the remaining staff are forced to be there.
The food is sub par now, no love or soul in it.
And the bakery is always out of pecan braids.
A few years ago, the service was fantastic and the food was always amazing, although slow, it was worth the wait.

I’ve been to every Panera in the county, multiple times. This one is consistently the worst in terms of being out of bakery items. The pastry area is always picked over, half the items are sold out and the other half are just one or two items. It’s such a pathetic, sad display, totally unappetizing. Contrast it with the Clairemont location, which is always well stocked. The other major issue with Hillcrest is the pathetic wifi speeds. As I write this, there’s only one other user on a laptop yet my speeds are below 1 Mbps. It’s even worse when it’s busy, to the point where it’s nearly unusable. To their credit however, there doesn’t seem to be a time limit.
The tables could be bused a little faster, the floors could be vacuumed more often but those issues are common to most Paneras. Overall this place isn’t awful, the service is fine and I’ve never had a problem with the food but the sad, picked over bakery and inadequate WiFi make for an unenjoyable experience. I live nearby but often go to Liberty Station or Clairemont when I want my Panera fix.

I come here often. I won’t return after this evening. I was eating my meal. One of my faves. I had the perfect view of the kitchen. As I was looking on, I see one of the supervisors and/​or managers, in the red shirt, Ashley, break of a couple of pieces of bread with her bare hand and toss them into a bag for a to go order. The employees preparing food always wear gloves for the most part. I come here often to eat in or pick up. I’ve seen enough. The fact that I witnessed this this evening, as I was sitting there, just finishing up my meal… I’m disappointed. It’s gross. She went on the touch things, her hair, her face, doors and etc. My regret is I didn’t chase the customers with to to go order and tell them what I witnessed. No more Panera of Hillcrest for me. Sorry.

I love this place. I can always customize every item. The food always feels fresh and it’s so delicious. No Panera can go wrong.

This location is always so hard to actually dine at because its so busy plus the parking sucks. Defintely a high traffic area especially around lunch time. I would recommend coming late in the day maybe for dinner when the hillcrest business crowd dies down. I like this location because its pretty spacious and has ourdoor seating for us sun loving san diegans. Plus theres tons of stuff to do around here after you eat if you want.
I always get the same young guy whos extremely nice and attentive. The cooks in the back are really fast even on the busy days. Whipping those salads and sandwhichs out fast.

I always enjoy Panera. It was My first time at this one. Theyre out of the bagel on a Sunday morning. Then after I look at the wrong menu for 5 minutes, when I try to order she lets us know they don’t do breakfast anymore. And finally the salad I get is old, lettuce in it looks like it’s been out since last night. I didn’t enjoy the soup either. Everything tasted like it was made the day before.

This review is specific to this location. First I was very disappointed that, in such a military friendly town, this location decided not to participate in panera’s veteran’s day deal. Today, I decided to give them another chance. I ordered a cup of chicken noodle soup and waited. And waited. And waited. There was no one else in line but there was also no one in the prep area. I’m not exaggerating. Not a single person was there. After ten minutes I asked the guy at the register if I could just get my money back. He apologized and said that someone would be scooping the soup out now so it would take longer to get a refund. He felt bad for my wait so told the shift manager. I thought that was a good sign but instead as she was handing me the soup she stopped and said «I understand you don’t want this anymore?» I just took it and left. This place is so convenient and I love panera but I can’t support this franchise anymore. Not with people who treat their customers as being there to serve them. Ridiculous.

Stopped in for breakfast on Black Friday. cashier is older gentleman, very friendly. Multiple people come by while we were eating asking if we needed anything. Very attentive.

Oh Panera… I stopped in here two days last week (Tuesday then Thursday); to pick up some bakery goodness. I need to be clear, I don’t blame employees for inventory (or lack thereof), I know that is something usually done by the manager or corporate office somewhere, based on sales and expected sales…
Day one:
I stopped in to pick up a loaf of a cool bread to make for sandwiches around 6:30pm… No bread, no where, completely out of bread… I thought it odd since they closed at 9pm to be completely out of bread by this time, but oh well, these things happen, its the Hillcrest location — I’m sure they are busy… I enjoy the pumpkin-​shaped shortbread cookie that comes out at this time of year… They have placards and ads all over the store showing them… Also out of them. At 6:30. When you close at 9.
Okay, whatever, these things happen someone may have come in and bought a whole bunch or something…
Day Two:
I stopped in at 4:00 in the afternoon (again, they close at 9) to pick up just cookies this time — completely out again…
It bothers me. I want to like Panera Bread more, but I just have yet to have a good experience with them… I can’t give positive review if you are out of inventory all the time.

Not happy with this panera. I ordered the the chicken quinoa salad and there were like 10 grains of quinoa on the salad. Really disappointed. If it’s in the name, it should be a major part of the salad.

We haven’t been to Panera
Bread in a long time we both agreed
we should come back again for
something different and it’s the best
it’s ever been.
Why???
I’ll tell you why…
They revamped the entire menu
and I can honestly tell you it
was the best thing they ever did.
We like the Hillcrest location
the best. It’s really nice and
cozy inside and has a lot of
seating and outside seating
as well.
Nice and quiet
and everyone seems to
keep to themselves while
working on their lap tops.
There seasonal sandwiches
and panini sandwiches are in.
Check them out!!!
They also have whole grain
flatbreads, salads, broth
bread bowls and pasta, soups
and Mac…
… and a kids menu.
Plus, pastries and sweets,
low fat fruit smoothies, power
smoothies, beverages, hot
drinks and frozen drinks.
For breakfast they have
breakfast sandwiches, breakfast
power sandwiches, soufflés,
morning add-​ins and bagels
and cream cheese.
I got Mac and Cheese.
Let me explain…
You will find these items in
the Mac and Cheese section
in the new menu that you
should pick up and look at
because they have some
amazing things.
It was shell pasta in a blend
of creamy cheese sauce and
tangy Vermont white cheddar
cheese.
I also asked for soup in a
sourdough bread bowl with
creamy tomato soup and
the bread that was resting
on top of my bread bowl
I used for dipping plus my
other roll.
It was a really good tomato
soup and I definitely could
have had seconds.
It was rich, creamy and had
the best tomato flavor I ever
tasted in a tomato soup.
We will definitely be back!
UPDATE:
OK!
We came back and
experienced something totally
different from the last time
we were here.
I was already set with
what I already wanted.
But I didn’t get what I
ordered.
OK! Here goes:
Half sandwich.
Bacon Turkey Bravo:
The ingredients:
Smoked turkey breast, applewood–
smoked bacon, smoked Gouda,
lettuce, vine-​ripened tomatoes, and
signature sauce on tomato basil.
Half Pasta:
Tortellini Alfredo:
The ingredients:
Tortellini pasta filled with a
three-​cheese-​blend, tossed
in Alfredo sauce and topped
with Asiago-​Parmesan.
I ordered my sandwich
with everything on it and
opted out the bacon.
When my sandwich arrived
it was a hot mess.
Hold on…
First of all when I ordered
my half sandwich and
half pasta I didn’t get what
I ordered.
The front counter cashier
suggested that I could have
the sandwich panini-​style
but I wanted it the way it was
written on the menu. I should’ve
said I would like it cold but I
trusted them to make a good
sandwich because our last visit
was a really nice one.
The turkey tasted like regular
turkey meat you get from the
deli. The smoked Gouda was
the smallest sliver of a piece
of cheese I have had on any
sandwich. I actually though it
was an apple slice. There was
a rind on the Gouda cheese
that they did not take off.
My tomatoes were very anemic
and there was a bunch piled
high on my sandwich.
OH! and did I mention there
was ONLY one piece of lettuce
that was drenched with sauce.
There was so much sauce put
on my sandwich that when I
picked it up everything was
falling out. This WAS supposed
to be a panini-​style sandwich…
RIGHT!!!
RIGHT!!!
OK!
Then why was…
there ONLY grill marks on
one side of my sandwich.
It was taken off the panini
maker too soon because
there were cold spots
throughout my sandwich
as well.
The Tortellini Pasta:
(GARLIC OVERLOAD)
and the pasta was cooked unevenly.
Some pieces were nice
and tender but others were chewy
and I think there were way too
many different kinds of cheeses in
this pasta.
Even though there were some
issues with our food that doesn’t
mean we wouldn’t come back.
I do like Panera Bread.
I guess I’ll have to choose
something different next
time.
I can understand if they’re still
working out kinks after revamping
the whole fall menu. Some
favorites are still there and others
are not. But you do have to
remember this is the Fall menu
and it’s new.
I do like how they keep the menus
seasonal. Something different and
not the same olé, same olé when
different seasons are here.

Panera is a decent alternative to fast food. This Panera is conveniently located in the HUB formerly known as Uptown District next to Ralphs & Trader Joe’s. It’s always nicely air conditioned & there’s plenty of tables/​seating areas. It’s a great place to get some work done with WiFi access. The staff are friendly, place is clean and the restrooms are spotless. You can choose from freshly made sandwiches, salads or soups & nutritional info is listed on the menu.

Came in at 8pm for dinner. Place was dirty employee was rude when placing order didn’t even smile or thank us. I love panera bread in Coronado there service is wonderful maybe this one needs to learn from them.

Underwhelming. First, I feel like I am sitting in a retirement home with many dirty tables scattered about the establishment. The tomato soup bread bowl, the soup was just above room temperature. The half Italian sandwich had a brick of meat obviously prepared beforehand. I wouldn’t recommend coming here.

I love Panera. There is truly nothing that compares to that broccoli cheddar soup and the amazing bread. Nothing does it for me besides Panera. I need to order a Costco size of their soup.

Panera has gone down the hill over the years. This location is okay. The service is good and the food remains meh. I only came in because I had a coupon.

Prompt service when I walked in, although I caught him in the middle of another task. I think he may have been thrown off because he forgot to ask me what I wanted as a side and assumed I wanted more bread with my bread bowl…
When the server brought me my Soup I informed her that I wanted the Apple, she apologised and brought me an Apple. :) and I got to keep the baguette. Bonus.
I like the bread bowls here because they hollow them out a little bit more then some places, this provides more room for soup! :) mmmmmm ummmmm.

I’m from L.A. but visiting S.D. All Paneras are basically very good: food wise, etc.
But I was really impressed with the employees at this Panera; esp. Joshua and the manager: so nice, so helpful and so hard working. Kudos guys!

When I was going through my intense GMAT-​prep days, I was always looking for great places with free wifi. I live close by and tried out the Starbucks in the same plaza but found their chairs very uncomfortable.
This panera bread definitely hit the spot for me. Free parking can be found in the underground section and it’s always so convenient to go to Ralph’s after an intense study session.
Only reason i docked a point is because the food here is just okay. ALthough I must point out that their service is immaculate!

If you’re looking for quick & great service, this location does it for me. I came in @ 12:30pm preparing myself for a long line and wait for food. I was pleasantly surprised my food came into my table in under 6 minutes.
I ordered the Pick 2: Turkey, avocado BLT with tomato soup and washed it down with hibiscus tea.
Even saw a staff member walking table to table to check on people’s visits.
Kudos to this team!

Clean, quiet location (I came at night)… another Panera bread in the world of many franchised locations of this restaurant. No major complaints about this location, it’s just another Panera. Food was average, service was pretty good. Disappointed Panera no longer serves Roast Beef though. Not a bad place to go if you’re really craving some Panera.

They must have read the reviews, because I haven’t seen anything but great service from the staff that runs this Panera location.
I’ve become one of those people that skulk around San Diego, finding coffee shops with available outlets, and free wifi to separate myself as far away from the pajama hobo that I become at home. I like to do work here because it is quiet, and I don’t have to fight for a table.
Food has a pretty fast turn-​around, and their coffee is decent. Props to Juan (we don’t have a close relationship; just snagged a peek at his nametag.) for being bubbly, and quick on his feet. Customer service is on-​point here.

This Panera Bread and everyone inside is asleep.
I love Panera Bread, this location however is extremely SLOW.
There is usually a line, and once you finally order it takes way to long to get your food compared to other locations.
This locations hours are ridiculous as well. Closes way too early.
Panera Bread is awesome, just go to a different location unless they intelligently start drinking their own coffee.

The woman who rang me up today at 1pm on the far left register was so not paying attention at all to me she was talking to another employee while taking my order. She gave me my number and I sat down outside, about 30 mins later I still didn’t get my half sandwhich and soup so I walk inside and see someone walking around with it. Happened to be mine and he told me the cashier didn’t put a number with it so I waited forever just to get cold soup. Don’t work at a restruant if you have shitty
Hospitality