Panera Bread

I love going to panera bread! But this location just has the WORST cook ever!!! (Which goes by name of Nick). Came with some friends (we all ordered separately) but as we sat down next to the kitchen patiently waiting for our food. One of the servers asked the cook if my friends food was ready and that’s when he began ranting about how many orders he had and how people aren’t patient & understanding and just kept going on and on. It was very disturbing, one we didn’t even ask the server to ask for her food, two I am more than sure he knew we were sitting right next to the kitchen since he literally kept talking crap the whole night. Then he mentioned something about moving because people here are so rude? Lol Nick please take a look in a mirror. Never thought I’d write a bad review but this was just on a whole other level. Food is amazing of course but just sit far away from the kitchen if you want to have a nice peaceful meal with your friends :)

I ate at Panera a few times over the late spring and early summer months last year. The final time was why I stopped eating there. I ordered a whole salad but they gave me a half. On the receipt it says something to the effect that if your order is incorrect you get something for free. I took the salad back to the counter where the kitchen is and the ‘chef’ said he could not take it back and that I had to return it to the cashier (?). He then told me he could prepare another half salad and I could dump them into a larger bowl or something like that. Basically I guess he was going to give me half a salad for free but I’d paid for a whole one so I’m not really sure what exactly was happening. In the end I got the second half of my salad and did not receive any sort of free item. I emailed customer service through the company’s website and they said that the restaurants are franchises so there wasn’t anything they could really do but that they would pass on my comments to the owner. I haven’t eaten there since because Sharky’s Mexican Grill is next door and the service is usually good and I like the food better there anyways.

They advertise in store and on receipt about caring about accuracy and rectifying if they goof up. Stopped by for to-​go order on a road trip and discovered missing item after we were long gone. Called to tell them but their «fix» is for us to return for item or give them my credit card number over phone to credit. Won’t be back and not giving info to people who already screwed up. Maybe if the cashier wasn’t so busy chatting to her co-​worker, your business could get things right in the first place and you’d have better ratings?

AWESOME and extremely PATIENT customer service just now, which is a rarity at such establishments so close to closing time. Odalis greeted me promptly, checked the product ingredient log to ensure no nut allergens, and even demonstrated the different thicknesses she could slice my bread. Would definitely return here!

I’m really surprised by all the negative reviews on here. My family and I have been here a number of times and we have never been disappointed. I’ve indulged in their turkey bacon bravo, along with a number of their soups and salad. We have never been disappointed with the outcome of the food, or the service. Maybe we have just hit it on a good day?

I’ve never been to Panera for Breakfast and I tried their Steak and Egg sandwich. I asked the girl what it came on and she said Ciabatta but when it arrived it was on a bagel, normally I wouldn’t care but I was looking forward to the ciabatta. Thankfully Maria was soooooo nice and made me a new one right away. She was so sweet, kind, and helpful that it really made my morning!

I come to this location maybe once a week. I usually get a bagel with cream cheese or one of the delicious soufflés. I decided to try something different today and get the breakfast sandwich with avocado on it. It looks picture perfect until I opened up the sandwich. The avocado was black. I don’t know about you but I don’t like to eat black food.
Panera is a company that prides themselves on having the freshest ingredients, I didn’t see this today.
I don’t think I will be returning to this location any time soon. Hopefully the one in Oxnard is better.

I went to panera bread today and I was pretty grossed out by the lack of cleanliness. There were ants all over the inside of their pastry case. When I told the girl at the desk, she was already aware that there was an ant problem which was concerning. Then she only took out the trays that had the ants on them. The floors were really disgusting and sticky at only 10 am.

Tried their chicken soba noodles and was pleasantly surprised! At 360 calories and $ 8.99, their soup came out hot hot hot which I love and pretty tasty. Would definitely come back for this!

Although I find myself generally underwhelmed with their food these days (why oh why don’t you have the crusty YUMMY French bread anymore with the soup — now it’s just a hunk from a regular old loaf of grocery store Italian — whahhh!), I do want to point out that the Panera In Thousand Oaks does a good thing for the community by donating all of its leftover bread on Tuesdays to the free clinic where the homeless, undocumented, and anyone else needing medical attention can go to see a doctor and often get some food, blankets, clothing, toiletries, etc.
Bravo Panera!

Unfortunately this experience has definitely determined that i will no longer visit this location. The overall atmosphere of this location was for whatever reason dingy. Being that i needed to use the ladies room I made my way there even before placing my order and there were brooms mops and signs right outside of the door. I’m not sure if that’s where they store them but it was definitely an eyesore. Inside the the bathroom was pretty horrendous. There was tissue scattered everywhere in pretty much every stall and the soap dispenser was practically falling off the wall. This place will go on my «I’ll just hold it» list if I ever have the misfortune of returning.
Customer service may not be a priority here because the cashiers were not inviting and I felt like taking my order was a chore. No smiles or enthusiasm pretty disappointing being that i have visited various locations and have felt they upheld a pretty high standard for customer service.
I may have found the food to be less than because of my already ill feelings towards this location but I went with the usually appetizing tomato soup and it seemed to be chunkier and not as flavorful the fuji chicken salad was just ok. I did however order a large iced green tea because I usually can’t get enough of it but i didn’t even get a quarter of the way through it. It had a mildew like finish which was very off-​putting I sipped it multiple times thinking it was all in my head but after risking it a few times i decided to throw it out.
All in all this place isn’t like any other location I’ve been to in the worst ways sorry Panera Ventura I won’t be returning.

Finding the right words for a review can be complicated at times but when the food speaks for itself well… you get it

Called my order in 20 minutes ago and I’m still waiting here?! They are not busy. Mediocre food (at best) and terrible customer service. Not coming back

Just had a chicken sandwich from Panera with raw chicken. Yuck!
Update: called to complain and was told, «no it comes to us that way. Lot’s of customers think it’s raw but they’re mistaken.»
Where’s the zero star button?

I can’t complain about this Panera. Another place that I tend to end up quite a lot. The employees are friendly (and very patient when I can’t figure out what I want) and the service is quick. I like this location. They aren’t exceptionally busy when I go and I’m in and out quickly. All pluses.

Typically, I’d give this chain a 3.5−4 stars for convenience, menu, and facility. I’ve never had bad customer service at a Panera but sometimes the quality of food has been poorer than expected. I usually get the sourdough loaf sliced and just take it home. This visit at this store however, was the best Panera experience I’ve ever had. I love soup and I’m also sick so I need it. Dylan helped me pick out the Lentil Quinoa Egg Broth Bowl which has put this chain on another level for me.
The bakery items are usually too rich for me but I can never say no to toffee so I threw it in and ended up throwing it up because I didn’t know it had Brazilian nuts (nut allergy). It was my own fault for not asking but they were all so nice tonight. Dylan sold me another bowl of the lentil quinoa egg broth and gave me a super helping. I’m leaving appreciative, full, and healthy; an experience that’s changed my perspective after years of occasionally visiting this chain.

If I could give no stars I would! I just went and got a panini to go, My brother and boyfriend also got sandwiches and we got some pastries. We spent $ 35 which was fine. The panini was not cooked. It was slightly grilled but cold and flimsy. I got it without cheese or spread. There were two pieces of cold thin bacon and hardly any turkey, I could taste mayo on the bread (which must have been an accident but it was gross). The grilled cheese my brother got was hardly cooked through and only half the bread was grilled. I’m pissed and disappointed because we were really hungry and driving home to visit family and already late. On top of it they were just extremely slow and chatty and didn’t know what the sandwiches had on them when I asked.

I was impressed with the fast service and quality of food for the price, I was hungry and I don’t usually eat fast food, but I like food fast. I had a caprese sandwich.
Great fresh sandwiches on great bread, and really comfortable seating.

I’m not sure why so many people love this chain.
I’ve tried two different locations including this one and the food is cafeteria bland at best.
I ordered the chicken blt sandwich and I couldn’t finish it. The chicken tasted like it was frozen and had just been thawed out, the bacon was thin and bland and the bread was soggy.
And I’m not sure how pointing to a box with an old brown apple, a stale piece of bread and bland chips is supposed to be appetizing…
I won’t be going back.

I have been to many Panera locations since they’ve sprouted up everywhere and this is no different.
Delicious food? Check.
Fresh pastries? Check.
Tons of pasta/​sandwich/​soup selections? Check.
Friendly cashiers? Check.
Happy full tummy at the end of the meal? Check. Check. Check!
Coming from a road trip tonight, I especially appreciated how kind the staff was even though I walked in half an hour before closing. I was starved and made full within the half hour. Thanks!