Complaining about a chain restaurant without coming across as overly critical is a fine line. However, it is just that, a chain. The emphasis on fresh ingredients does make a difference. I typically get a salad with a baguette side. Come in expecting your meal to be of decent quality and the bread/baked goods to be enjoyable and fresh
(4)
Deke K.
My '07 and '11 reviews still hold pretty true with this being a "meh" experience. They are often busy and the frenetic pace minimized the service and cleanliness upkeep. We did have an employee offer to take our dirty plates for us which never happens and was delightful. I ordered the new Thai half salad at $5. The dressing was sooo acidic and tasted like hair spray--I thought it was rancid. The manager stood behind the product (without tasting it) saying "It's how Thai people like it, it's spicy". Sorry Thai is a personal favorite food and this insults the ethnic scrumptiousness of their foods. It was not a "spicy" issue it was a flavor issue. A friend got an "Asian salad". The only difference we could see is one had dressing, one did not. A third friend had a great looking flatbread sandwich. The manager replaced my salad with balsamic and it was quite edible. (However, you could see the manager and the greasy-haired employee speaking under their breath to each other with the replacement which made me uncomfortable.) I appreciated this as the other was so inedible I would've had to leave it. I've never returned a meal before and would have tolerated it were it in any way possible to eat. They have improved the side bread, offering a softer chewier roll than the coarse unbite-able French loaf slice of before. They have a lame order process and two of the four registers are not in view of the menu. They just sigh and wait for you to dream up an order or walk back and forth to see the menu while others groan in the line. A little friendliness and helpfulness would've gone a long way. When you order a plain water, it comes out pink, making a statement on how "pure" the water is. My big lesson is to order dressing on the side in the future. But I will only go here when forced by pals. I love soups and salads but too many other places do it with care and deliciousness. I've tried for 7 years to like this place and just can't force it.
(2)
Aaron V.
zero stars is too much for this location,tried over and over to give them a chance to do anything right,this was my last visit ever and sure they wont be here for too much longer ,with toojays and kekes in town now,why suffer here anymore,everything was horrible this time,like usual they were out of just about everything they should always have and although it was 54 degrees outside they still managed to be even colder inside,management here is non existent!!
(1)
Amanda J.
I usually have the Frontega chicken sandwich, french onion soup and carrot cake muffin. The sandwich is delicious. However, the last few times the basil was missing. I'm not sure if this is an adjustment to their recipe, but this took the sandwich to a different level. The french onion soup is delicious. The carrot cake muffin is hit or miss. I've had some that were dry, some that were soggy and others that were fantastic!
(3)
Kristen C.
The food is good! I had half of a big kid's grilled chesse sandwich which is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever had! and a bowl of cheddar broccoli soup which was also delicious! It came with a side of chips and I also ordered a pumpkin muffin- YUM! The service was relatively quick but I don't like how you cannot use more than one coupon at a time. We had a $6 off coupon and a free danish from our rewards card and you could not use those together. The girl at the register offered to re-ring everything again and do it spearately but by this time there was a huge line so we said forget it.
(3)
Robert H.
Terrible location. Strange very congested parking lot. Restaurant is way to small, same mess as the parking lot, Crowded uninviting atmosphere. Food is hit or miss. At this location they have the employees, yell out your name when your order is ready. Most Panera locations give out those beepers when its ready. Do not sit in front of the pick up counter. Your eardrums will ache from all the yelling. It is quite unprofessional. Not impressed with the location, but the employees do their job. It's not their doing I give this location a poor rating, it is the corporate I give it to. Though I'm not sure if Panera has franchises and this is one. They need to do some changes here on S Florida. Quite frankly I was surprised Lakeland has 2 locations. It doesn't seem like the sort of community that would even have one. Since it seems like the BBQ, fat fast food chain restaurant kind of town.
(1)
Janet C.
I love this place. I had the Power Chicken Hummus Bowl and it tasted excellent. The Hummus was to die for. I recommend this salad to anyone especially if you're vegetarian, just ask to have it without the chicken. I would get it again next time. It's that good.
(5)
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Address :4208 South Florida Avenue
Lakeland, FL, 33813
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Adam W.
Complaining about a chain restaurant without coming across as overly critical is a fine line. However, it is just that, a chain. The emphasis on fresh ingredients does make a difference. I typically get a salad with a baguette side. Come in expecting your meal to be of decent quality and the bread/baked goods to be enjoyable and fresh
(4)Deke K.
My '07 and '11 reviews still hold pretty true with this being a "meh" experience. They are often busy and the frenetic pace minimized the service and cleanliness upkeep. We did have an employee offer to take our dirty plates for us which never happens and was delightful. I ordered the new Thai half salad at $5. The dressing was sooo acidic and tasted like hair spray--I thought it was rancid. The manager stood behind the product (without tasting it) saying "It's how Thai people like it, it's spicy". Sorry Thai is a personal favorite food and this insults the ethnic scrumptiousness of their foods. It was not a "spicy" issue it was a flavor issue. A friend got an "Asian salad". The only difference we could see is one had dressing, one did not. A third friend had a great looking flatbread sandwich. The manager replaced my salad with balsamic and it was quite edible. (However, you could see the manager and the greasy-haired employee speaking under their breath to each other with the replacement which made me uncomfortable.) I appreciated this as the other was so inedible I would've had to leave it. I've never returned a meal before and would have tolerated it were it in any way possible to eat. They have improved the side bread, offering a softer chewier roll than the coarse unbite-able French loaf slice of before. They have a lame order process and two of the four registers are not in view of the menu. They just sigh and wait for you to dream up an order or walk back and forth to see the menu while others groan in the line. A little friendliness and helpfulness would've gone a long way. When you order a plain water, it comes out pink, making a statement on how "pure" the water is. My big lesson is to order dressing on the side in the future. But I will only go here when forced by pals. I love soups and salads but too many other places do it with care and deliciousness. I've tried for 7 years to like this place and just can't force it.
(2)Aaron V.
zero stars is too much for this location,tried over and over to give them a chance to do anything right,this was my last visit ever and sure they wont be here for too much longer ,with toojays and kekes in town now,why suffer here anymore,everything was horrible this time,like usual they were out of just about everything they should always have and although it was 54 degrees outside they still managed to be even colder inside,management here is non existent!!
(1)Amanda J.
I usually have the Frontega chicken sandwich, french onion soup and carrot cake muffin. The sandwich is delicious. However, the last few times the basil was missing. I'm not sure if this is an adjustment to their recipe, but this took the sandwich to a different level. The french onion soup is delicious. The carrot cake muffin is hit or miss. I've had some that were dry, some that were soggy and others that were fantastic!
(3)Kristen C.
The food is good! I had half of a big kid's grilled chesse sandwich which is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever had! and a bowl of cheddar broccoli soup which was also delicious! It came with a side of chips and I also ordered a pumpkin muffin- YUM! The service was relatively quick but I don't like how you cannot use more than one coupon at a time. We had a $6 off coupon and a free danish from our rewards card and you could not use those together. The girl at the register offered to re-ring everything again and do it spearately but by this time there was a huge line so we said forget it.
(3)Robert H.
Terrible location. Strange very congested parking lot. Restaurant is way to small, same mess as the parking lot, Crowded uninviting atmosphere. Food is hit or miss. At this location they have the employees, yell out your name when your order is ready. Most Panera locations give out those beepers when its ready. Do not sit in front of the pick up counter. Your eardrums will ache from all the yelling. It is quite unprofessional. Not impressed with the location, but the employees do their job. It's not their doing I give this location a poor rating, it is the corporate I give it to. Though I'm not sure if Panera has franchises and this is one. They need to do some changes here on S Florida. Quite frankly I was surprised Lakeland has 2 locations. It doesn't seem like the sort of community that would even have one. Since it seems like the BBQ, fat fast food chain restaurant kind of town.
(1)Janet C.
I love this place. I had the Power Chicken Hummus Bowl and it tasted excellent. The Hummus was to die for. I recommend this salad to anyone especially if you're vegetarian, just ask to have it without the chicken. I would get it again next time. It's that good.
(5)