Today when I walked into Panera for lunch, it was pure chaos (more so then usual). I ordered a wild rice soup and chicken cesar salad. My soup was perfect but they got a little confused on the salad. They started making the salad I ordered but midway though decided to make a strawberry and dried apple salad instead. Boo, Panera!
(2)
Brenden B.
I went to this Panera with a friend for a quick work lunch. This location is fantastic, big, open, clean, and busy as hell. Like I have mentioned before you can not really judge one chain from another on the food since they all follow the same recipes. The food was fresh and the bread with my soup was warm, which was actually a first. I will say you could tell the employees cared about this place as they kept that place spotless and the food tasted fresh and was nicely crafted, instead of those Paneras you go to that are in a suburban mall with "I hate the world" teenagers that just slop the ingredients together and god knows what else. A word to other Panera managers, this is a model store with great staff, fresher food, and quality of care. Take note.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Since starting work downtown, this Panera has become my go to for a quick lunch. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Panera due to my love of baked goods, and their soups and salads are pretty tasty, too. I'm not a fan of their pastas or sandwiches, but the BBQ Chicken Salad hits the spot everytime, and all of the soups are a solid choice when you are craving something warm. This location is increidbly conventient, located at Michigan and Madison, but that means that it gets pretty busy right around lunch time and also gets a lot of tourists due to its proximity to attractions like the bean and the art institute, which can cause long lines and long waits, especially if you are getting your order to go. I've even encountered long wait times during non peak hours, so either order in advance or be prepared to wait a bit. The potential for a long wait is why Panera's rapid pick up has become my best friend. You can order online and tell them exactly when you'll be in to pick up your food, and your order will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive. The rapid pick up area is a cabinet against the wall next to the Madison entrance - just look for the to go bag with your name and order, grab it, and you are on your way. My order has always been ready at my chosen time, and I've never had a problem with order accuracy. Service can be hit or miss (note the long waits), but it is usually ok to good. Just be aware that if you love Panera's breakfast menu, then this location is very strict about the cut off time for breakfast orders. Ordering at 11:01am on Saturday? Sorry, no breakfast for you. Are you going to be dazzled by the food and service here? No. But if you need a reliable meal or snack when downtown, then this is a pretty safe bet.
(3)
Michael M.
I've had nothing but solid experiences here (though I usually only go in the mornings, so I cant speak for later in the afternoon). The line usually move along quick. The service is pretty fast for dining in. It may take a lil longer for sandwiches and what not--but toasted bagels come out usually within 5 minutes. The mornings they used to play jazz music in the back ground, but now I think its more pop music. It can be relaxing in the middle of the week if you need to get away from the office for 20 minutes in the morning. Once you eat their Honey Walnut bagel spread, you'll start fantasizing about it.
(4)
Cristina G.
I love to came to panera. Nice food , nice place , so price is good , and I just love it , my favorite bread now is Asiago cheese delicious .
(5)
Sarah T.
I ended up there by chance, when I saw "bagels" on the menu my stomach said "yes". The waiting line was pretty quick, even when it looked quite busy. I chose the honey walnut cream cheese, which is amazing and the bagel was pretty nice as well (they have a large choice). Smoothie was nice. Perfect for a quick lunch stop, there is enough space to sit, otherwise the location is great for a to go.
(4)
Sergio L.
I decided to come back to this location after a couple of months of not coming here because of the rudeness of one particular food runner . Customer service is a thought industry and if you don't have the touch for it ,get out ! Today I asked for a pick two item , with the cheddar soup and chicken Cesar salad . My salad came with out the chicken . I let know one of the associates working here , which was the same person who brought my food , but I never got the chicken. Incredible how quickly he forgot that ! The Two stars are for the food that is always good ! I hardly believe I will be coming back to this location !
(2)
Karolina T.
Came here around 1pm for lunch on Friday during work. Wow, was it packed! The line was almost out the door then there was another line to pick your food up. Some how everyone behind us ended up getting their food before because by the time we got our grilled cheese and smokehouse turkey and pasta , there was no more line. It took 30 minutes, and I understand it was a busy lunch time, I just don't understand why everyone after us got their order first. My friend thought his pasta was oily and the portion tiny. My sandwich and other friends grilled cheese were pretty good. At least the bread was on point and you could tell the staff was trying their best with the frantic lunch crowd.
(3)
K K.
We were looking for a place to stop and have a drink and be able to sit outside and relax. The surrounding coffee shops were closing in an hour and had already shut down their patios, so Panera was the only option. Service was extremely slow given we only ordered two teas (the hot tea was a do it yourself) and a frozen lemonade. It took almost 8 minutes just to get drinks. The entire time we waited, there was a food order at the counter just sitting. I don't know if a runner takes those to the table or a name was to be called out. We never saw an employee doing anything to get the once hot food and guest who ordered it to come together. We decided the food looked good but after seeing food sit and cool off as that order did, if we return it'd only be for the frozen lemonade. Hopefully this is not typical of Panera Bread.
(3)
Sarah T.
Overall a pretty good location. My order came out in five minutes, which is pretty good for a lunch rush. However, while I was waiting, I heard an employee openly complaining about customers to her coworker. Very unprofessional to do that while out on the floor. It would also be nice if they had the new "Order From My Table" feature that some stores have recently launched, but hopefully they'll get it soon. Food was good and order was correct, which unfortunately doesn't happen at every Panera.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Sometimes the work day gets hectic and you hardly have any time to do anything save for the piles and piles of work on your desk. Lunch is the last thing on your mind. Panera's Rapid Pick-Up service is key during these times when you're hard-pressed for time. You simply place and pay for your order online and it's ready at the time you select to pick it up. Truthfully, I haven't dined in at this location since I've taken advantage of the Rapid Pick-Up during my three visits. My order was correct each time and was ready and waiting for me when I stepped into the store. If you're picking up an online order, enter from the door Madison Street. There's a cabinet against the wall where the online orders are housed. This saves you from having to entered from the Michigan Avenue side and walking through the crowds of people that may be gathered about placing and waiting for their orders. As for food, my go-to choices are definitely the You Pick Two. I enjoy their Broccoli Cheddar soup, Bistro French Onion Soup, Low-Fat All Natural Chicken Noodle Soup and the Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich. You really cannot go wrong with either of those options. The only downside would be the price. My You Pick Two with a cup of chicken noodle soup and half of a Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich with a side of chips cost me $9.17. You can easily spend over $10 if you were to get a drink and/or any dessert. A cup of Bistro French Onion Soup with a French Baguette side cost me $4.75. I mean, the food is good, but it's not *that* good. I can't really say much for the service and environment because I've only ordered online. It does seem pretty busy during the lunch hours since it's located on Michigan Avenue by Millennium Park and the Art Institute. I definitely will keep my trips to a minimum or when I'm in an absolute pinch due to the high prices.
(3)
Elisabeth K.
Placed a phone order because I was working And couldn't be away long. Ordered a half sandwich and a cup of soup. They asked when I would be in I said 10 minutes. 15 minutes later I come in to pick it up and they hadn't even started making it! After waiting there for ten more minutes a manager finally asked what I was waiting for while the other manager was busy flirting with the associates...isn't the point of a phone order to not have to wait?
(2)
Eric C.
The food is very good as always. However this place is so crowded that waiters lose track of time. It took us 45 minutes to get served. Unacceptable.
(2)
Betty P.
I always enjoy Panera Bread. The food is always good and served in a reasonable time frame. This one met those normal expectations. It was just a little too busy, and there wasn't a lot of seating. I was surprised by the "waiting" service, which is obviously because they are a busy location. It was nice not to have to wait by the kitchen to pick up our stuff, or to have to clean up afterward.
(3)
Andrea S.
[TLDR: The management needs an attitude adjustment and the food comes out very slow and incorrect.] So I have lived a block from this Panera for a year and a half now. I work a few block away as well so it was very convenient for me to grab lunch or dinner there. I have always been a fan of Panera's food and service in other locations. This location gets the 1 star because the last 3 experiences were pretty horrible. All three visits the food took over 20 minutes to be made. I usually try to avoid the rush hour during lunch but sometimes my schedule dictates when I eat and not I. The last time I went in during lunch to grab a BBQ chicken salad (one of my go-to favorites) and they took forever to prepare it. ...It's a salad that you throw some cold cut up chicken on... it's not rocket science. Anyways, they forgot to put the BBQ sauce on the salad and the to-go box was only half full with ingredients. Not the $10 salad I was expecting. I got back to my office and opened it feeling very disappointed; however, I did not have time to bring it back and wait another 20 minutes for them to redo it. Today's experience irked me the most. I am a BIG fan of quality customer service. Even if the food is just average or bad- the redeeming factor is ALWAYS good customer service for me. Today I brought a colleague along and we both ordered the Soba Noodle Chicken Bowl (It's literally just soup and noodles with cut up chicken on it. Again- not a difficult order). I ordered first, and my coworker ordered a few minutes after me. We waited in the cramped and messy takeout area on the benches near the counter. The waiters looked lost and confused with the POS system and the manager (an older fellow) was expediting food from the counter and barking orders at his staff behind the counter. It took them over 20 minutes to get my coworker's food to her. I expected mine any second after that since we had ordered the same thing and I ordered before her. Another 10 minutes past and still nothing. I assumed my order was lost in the cluster of the lunch rush. I walked up to the manager and politely asked if he had seen a take-out order for a Soba Noodle Chicken Bowl for Andrea. He turned and rudely said, "No I haven't seen it but it should be coming out soon." Kay. Not very reassuring. I said, "Okay, I just wanted make sure because my friend ordered the same thing after me and she got her food 10 minutes ago." He turned back and said, "Well, you ordered a hot dish and sometimes hot dishes take longer to come out. It should be up shortly." WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THAT?! Come on Panera... you can do better than that. Coming from someone who has worked for YEARS in the restaurant industry (both casual and fine dining), I would have NEVER made a remark like that to a customer. The correct response during a stressful time would have been to apologize for the wait and then ask your staff if my order was on it's way. (Then gone home tonight and complained about your "terrible" customers to your wife. The poor thing.) Just because you are a chain restaurant does not mean you can skimp on customer service. One manager that I have encountered there has always been very polite and great with customers. He also efficiently expedites the food out during the rush hour with class and accuracy. He is a younger, thin gentleman maybe in his 30's with glasses. I want to clarify that the salty curmudgeon I encountered today was NOT this fellow. Perhaps the traditionalist generation needs a lesson in management and customer service from generation X & Y... Overall, I was very disappointed and will not be returning to this Panera. There are hundreds of other restaurants to patronize in the loop that will politely care for their returning customers.
(1)
Monique W.
I do rapid pick up which is great but I don't always check my order and they use to pack it correctly. Now!!!! They don't pay attention to the orders too closely, it an item/s aren't missing they will add incorrect items. My suggestion is check all Togo orders because you don't want to be pissed when you get home.
(4)
Alicia C.
If I could give negative stars I would. I went for a bagel, they gave me the wrong one. But hey it happens. The. A fly landed in my bagel and I went back for anther one, one I was gonna pay for, and the cashier said no. SHE SAID NO. She refused to gets a bagel. I asked fora manager and no one showed up and I left. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY.
(1)
Shawn L.
Oatmeal breakfast was very good. Egg white and ham sandwich was a nice light breakfast. Internet access is free but painfully slow.
(4)
E G.
The food here is typical of any panera. I am disappointed with this particular location because the service is consistently slow. Even when it is not crowded expect to wait at least 15 minutes. With so many other options around the loop with a similar price point, I don't plan to return here.
(2)
Salvatore M.
Great place for lunch or breakfast...enjoyed the sandwich and the smoothie...good sweets too.
(4)
Sonika ..
I am a frequent Panera bread visitor. This location is in front of Millenium park,went on a weekday evening and it was busy but the service was still quick. I had a reward for a coffee but the cashier was nice to let me substitute iced tea instead, which tasted very fresh ! I had a bear claw (kind of almond pastry) , mango tea and bagged a blueberry muffin for later which was very moist.
(4)
Sitara E.
UhOh. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Panera. I've been an ambassador for them for just about a decade now... I walked out of my way just to visit this Panera after a very long day and this HUGE location was filthy. I mean. .. it looked as if a parade or sports event took place there, the team lost and everyone just got up and left. EVERY SQUARE INCH had trash on the table, the chairs were in the walkway turned all about, crumbs covered all the empty tables (even the work stations with built in computers). It was, literally, unbelievable. I'm not a snob, but call me what you want .... it was unappetizing, no condition for my party of 2 and just. ... pitiful. I can't think of one reason how it could possibly look like that... they were fully staffed, no marathon took place, it's 7:30pm at night and... I couldn't stomach even ordering to go. MANAGEMENT needs to be reviewed. They have all of the latest Panera upgrades and are already letting it go. PS: Get more outlets! Every panera is known for being a place to meet or do business, etc. This is the first Panera I've been to that has only a few outlets.... not helpful.
(1)
Mike L.
Wow has this location declined rapidly. Was there on a Friday night at 5:00PM. All the coffee pots were empty except the decaf which was from 1:10PM. (By the way Panera's new policy of not having all the coffees out all day is the reason I stopped going regularly. They say just ask and they'll make it. Yeah. Good luck. You'll wait at least 45 minutes if they don't forget about you. Go to Corner Bakery down the street all the coffees are there and checked and replaced in a timely manner all day.) Asked them to make dark roast and fought attitude from 2 employees who were just chatting with each other. Asked for no mayo on my sandwich, it came with mayo. Forget you guys I don't care how nice your window views are.
(1)
Jen B.
This PB location is in the heart of downtown and is easily accessible from Michigan Ave and tourist attractions like the bean and the art institute. It's one floor, but there is plenty of space to accommodate tourists and local workers alike. There is a full case of baked goods on display, and the same offers apply here as they do at any other PB location (Take Two (i.e. special pricing if you buy two items off the menu), 99 cents to add on a pastry, etc). The cashiers and servers are attentive and polite. They willingly take your dishes away, and will provide to-go boxes and bags on request. This PB location has mifi computer portals at certain booths and tables. The keyboard is on the table itself, and there is a monitor where you can access email and other websites for free. This makes it easy to take a short or long break, especially if you're stopping in to charge a phone and need access to social networking or email while you enjoy your meal or coffee. The food here was cold when it arrived. Lukewarm at best. I ordered chicken tortellini and pieces of the chicken and tortellini were cold, others warm. I contemplated sending the pasta dish back, but I was afraid I'd lose my seat and didn't want to lug my belongings back to the counter. The condiments section is well-stocked and kept clean. I couldn't locate extra cutlery, so you will have to ask the counter for this. I will advise you to skip the women's bathroom. It's the dirtiest bathroom I have ever seen-toilet paper strewn all over the place. It's almost as if some kids thought it would be fun to take TP and rip it up. Hopefully, it will be better once summer tourist season ends. Otherwise, its your typical PB. Just a bit more people and filled with people from around the world visiting Chi-town.
(2)
S K.
This location is beyond bad. Ordered a dozen bagels w/ two cream cheese choices and got back to the office for a meeting to find no cream cheese and no knives, napkins, etc. Two days later I ordered french onion soup and they forgot croutons and baguette. Today I ordered greek salad with chicken and guess what?? No chicken. It doesn't do any good to complain to them....they offer a free drink. Really? I spend my time ordering and reordering and coming back and forth to get the right order and you would like to give me a fountain soda. No Thanks. Bypass this place and go to any of the other places available that actually care. I mean, seriously, three orders in one month wrong. Get it together Panera.
(1)
Phillip C.
one of my favorite Panera's in the city. step one: have a Panera card - it's the best thing that will ever happen to you. step two: at this location, have April (I hope that's her name) take your order. her customer service exceeds expectations. extremely patient, helpful, and is ALWAYS smiling. she also gets bonus points for remembering me. a great way to keep clientele. my overall experience is pretty good for a chain like this. the reason it lacks the 5th star is due to restroom cleanliness. we all know a clean restroom makes for a good business. keep up the great work - i'll definitely be coming back.
(4)
El V.
No one that works at this panera bread likes their job. They need to re staff this whole place because they are losing a lot of customers by their nasty attitudes and rude comments. My order was wrong and when I told them it was wrong I got an attitude for it. And you DONT get a "free treat" when your order is wrong.
(1)
Megan S.
This location is great. Although extremely busy, they are knowledgeable about gluten-free concerns and relatively quick considering the volume.
(4)
Haley B.
I ordered a kids meal Greek salad and apple because I'm not about to pay for an $8 salad that I won't consume in it's entirety. So naturally I pretended it was for a kid. Whatever. My inner child was only a little hungry and I am trying to get behind portion controls on my meals. So I give them my name and they didn't ask questions because... They didn't seem to give a shit where the kids meal was going to which was awesome. I felt less guilty about not paying the extra two floors for the same size salad that was meant for an "adult half salad" - but I get back to wait for the meal and I hear the bitch making my salad say "Kids Greek Salad - are you fucking kidding me? Ain't no kid got time to eat a Greek salad" The bitch is right. If I had actually ordered my kid a Greek salad I'm positive they would stick up their nose and be like "Tha fuck... Is this" That being said ... I could have been a mother, I could have had a kid that liked Greek salad, point being is that I could hear ever negative comment that came out of her unprofessional mouth. If I had actually given a flying fuck about what she said, I would have told the manager. But since I cheated Panera I figured if keep my mouth shut and let someone else do it because eventually the wrong person will hear her comments and say something to someone that matters. I just thought I would get on yelp and bitch about it. But the food was excellent. :D
(3)
Sam M.
The food at this Panera is the best, but when I do take out the service is so slow. A few times they have forgotten I even ordered and the last time I was there it took 25 minutes to get my food. I recommend eating there if you want to sit down, they are very fast if you are eating in the restaurant.
(3)
Stephanie L.
So this Panera kind of drives me nuts. I always go and get a coffee with sugar free vanilla. Sometimes I forget that they dont have sugar free caramel and order it anyway...they give me the thick syrup that I dont want. I have to give it back to them saying that I ordered sugar free. They then tell me, they dont have that...then I say, I'll take whatever sugar free you have. Also, the coffee is ALWAYS out. Today, at 830AM (prime time), all of the coffees were empty except decaf...when I told the lady, she basically ignored me. Another customer came up and I informed her all of the coffee was empty. Its slightly annoying because its supposed to be convenient to grab coffee and go, but they dont keep up on it. There's a TON of seating so that is nice. Also, bonus to showing me all of the calories in everything! YIKES!!!
(2)
Mark E.
I like Panera, for the most part. The sandwiches are hardy and the chips and a fountain drink are solid company. The only thing I'm not thrilled about when I eat at Panera is how quickly the bill seems to add up. A light lunch for my wife and I was 22 bucks, somehow. I know, it's not their fault, it's whatever we ordered, but it just seems like a bit much when you can get a huge sub at some local deli for $7 bucks and not even have room for chips.
(3)
Teri Y.
I'm a fan of Panera Bread so I can't believe that I'm giving this location a 1-star either. But this is based on the chicken noodle soup I ordered. I came back to the office, opened up my bowl of chicken noodle soup and then realized with my spoon that it was 90% broth and 10% noodle and chicken. There were literally only a few slivers of noodle in the entire bowl of broth as if the noodle was only meant for garnishing the broth. The chicken was almost non-existent. Are they kidding? $5 for a bowl of broth that is supposedly called chicken noodle soup? Come on. I chose an apple instead of a bag of chips for my side. I cut open the apple and it was rotten and black inside. Totally unacceptable. I want my $5 back.
(1)
Marta S.
Stood in line for 10 minutes while Christina took her sweet time slicing loaves of bread. When she finally got back to the register, we were 7 minutes past the breakfast cutoff of 11am. She refused to take an order for breakfast. I had a free sandwich on myPanera card, but she couldn't find it and didn't show any concern when I suggested it should be there. Horrible service. I probably spend $500-$1000/week at Paneras all around the Chicago for client lunches, and this location has BY FAR, the least customer-centric environment of any store I have been to.
(2)
Patrick L.
A pretty good Panera. I've seen the lines build a few times, sometimes in part to their exceptional patience in giving service at the counter. Overall though, the majority of times I've been in there the lines have been small. The employees have all been very friendly. The routinely come around and check for empty plates which is nice if you're planning on sitting for a little bit to read or do some work. The orders also seem to come quite quickly which is good if you're on a schedule!
(4)
Jasmine L.
I love the location and the staff has always been friendly when I've been there. One day this past summer, as they were closing up, the manager overheard that I had a craving for cinnamon crunch bagels, and since they throw out what they can't donate, she gave me one along with cream cheese. WiFi is decent speed, but there's a 30 minute cap on it during the lunchtime period, so if you need to get work done then, it's sort of a pain. The place is spacious...just wish there were more outlets, then it'd make the perfect study/work spot.
(4)
Marin C.
I was super-duper thirsty due to it being friggin 90+ outside, such is life. Got myself a large green tea at this Panera's and I felt better. My friend had lunch. No complaints.
(3)
Carolyn T.
It pains me to give this Panera a one-star review because I am usually quite a fan of this chain restaurant, but my experience at this location today was certainly worthy of one star. For reference, I give one-star reviews very rarely. Recently, The Color Run took place in Grant Park/Millennium Park, which is a 5K race in which people get a lot of powder color all over themselves. After the race, lots of people (myself included) gave business to tons of cafes and restaurants on Michigan Avenue. There were 50,000 people running the 5K and I imagine a pretty large percentage of them sought refreshments after a sweaty run. We chose to go to Panera to get pastries and a smoothie. We waited in line for about fifteen minutes, got the pastries right away, and then started the wait for the smoothie. We waited for at least half an hour for that smoothie. During that time, I had to go to the bathroom. I had not been expecting to use the bathroom there at all, but I also had not expected the wait for one smoothie to be that long. So, I walked toward the back of the restaurant to the bathroom, but found that there was an employee there blocking my way. Even though there were plenty of other people sitting at the tables behind her, she wouldn't even let me walk through before even knowing that I was headed to the bathroom. I told her I was just going to use the bathroom, but she said in a very cold tone, "The bathroom is closed." She didn't even apologize or give any explanation. She also gave me a very judgmental look because I was covered in color dust. After I sat down, I noticed that she let other people walk through who were not covered in color dust. What the heck!? After the female employee switched positions with a male employee, I decided to see if he would also deny me entry. Even though he was friendlier, he still told me that I could not use the bathroom. When I asked why, he said that it was a mess, so they were not letting anyone use it. I said, "I really don't think it's right to deny paying customers the right to use the bathroom here. What am I supposed to do--walk over to Jamba Juice, wait in a huge line, and buy something just so I can use that bathroom instead?" Suffice it to say that I was NOT happy. I also asked the employee where the manager was but he didn't seem to know beyond "someone in a hat walking around." Here's the thing: I understand that any restaurant has the right to deny services to anyone. But my issue was that I was NOT denied as a paying customer. If I'm good enough to purchase $20 worth of pastries and a smoothie at your establishment, then I sure as hell am good enough to use your bathroom. To make matters worse, when my smoothie was finally ready, it was the worst Panera smoothie I have ever had. It was very, very watered down and I could barely taste the mango. Gross! Because of this whole ordeal and having to find a bathroom elsewhere, our quick stop for a smoothie at Panera ended up costing $30 in parking (it should have been $12). The next time I'm craving a smoothie, I'll be giving my business to Jamba Juice next door.
(1)
Pearl T.
Asiago Roast Beef (steak) sandwich has always been my favorite at Panera, and this location was consistent with delivering. I went to this location over the summer with my son to get take out to eat at Millennium Park, and the reason for 3 stars in stead of 4 or 5 is that it took FOREVER to get our sandwich (I think we waited about 10 minutes or so). I understand that this place is busy since it's tourist central, but I believe it is up to the manager to make sure he/she has properly staffed the shop and properly trained the employees to be the most efficient. I have been to other Panera shops where this is the case, and it's amazing how quickly a well-run establishment can "pump out" the orders.
(3)
Corey D.
Worked at a Panera Bread for 3 years as a Team Trainer so I know the drill. Cashier wasn't knowledgeable about which meats were currently available. Line staff was moving at a not so fast pace. Ordered a Pick 2 and got Broccoli Cheddar soup instead of the Black Bean soup that I ordered. Black Bean soup was lacking the beans due to not stirring the soup before pouring. Nice atmosphere, efficient dining staff, and wifi worked.
(2)
Jevita N.
Went here for lunch today. Order my food to go. Although they had 4 people behind the counter only one was taking orders. Got up there to take give my order for the pick 2 special. However, she did not ask me what I wanted with my sandwich (chips, bread or apple). Picked up my food and realized when I got to work they gave me bread. WHY do I need bread when I order a sandwich... Overall I still love this place!!
(4)
Danni M.
Okay. First off, could the cashiers be any ruder? There wasn't anyone in line but they were so pushy. This panera is in Chicago. You would think they would make enough bread bowls for the entire night. But no! It's not even dinner and they didn't have any bread bowls. Our cashiers were Elizabeth and Mariaelen. They could have been a little nicer. Geez. Most people come for the bread bowls and it's so annoying when they don't have any... We were so hungry so we still got soup but still. It's not the same. The food was good but the customer service could be improved.
(2)
Eileen P.
Wow - I told them no cheese on my salad and when I got back to work it was loaded with cheese. I called the manager (I paid in cash) and didn't save the receipt as I threw it out with the salad and she told me there was nothing they could do as "too many people want free food." I was shocked. It was their error and they wouldn't fix it. I then called corporate headquarters and they told me it was at the manager's discretion and there was nothing they could do. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as a meal is a meal and this is so unfair. It would be different if it was a sandwich and I could just pick the cheese out of it but it was a salad and I couldn't do it.
(1)
Dino N.
Be careful with the menu, make sure you read it and ask questions. I ordered a turnkey melt and it had bacon in it, even though the menu didn't specify it. I also ordered a veggie sandwich and got meat on it.
(1)
Brandon B.
Freshly opened Panera in the loop: unusually big and spacious interior compared to the others that I have seen. Of course the food is the same standard as other places, these things tend to be standardized right? Lucky for me this is right in my building! Increasing the number of coffee options within 100 ft of my front door to 4 (2 Starbucks, Caribou, and now this....who will win?). Perfect location right across from Millenium Park, they will likely be very hopping soon. The manager is very nice and seems to be very involved in getting things going the right way. Excellent 200 degree Hazelnut coffee and my favorite: the cinnamon scone. Open 6am which is great.
(5)
Erica D.
It was my First Job, Associate Trainer at the local Panera Bread, circa 2005..But it seems that LOTS have changed since then! Yes, the soups still come in bags, about 85% of the menu has stayed the same but the quality has drastically decreased!!! You Pick Two... Broccoli Chedder soup, great for the first two minutes until it went cold. Sierra Turkey, served on a Asiago Miche Bread, red onions, lettuce and chipotle mayo.. First two bites, all bread. Lack of Sandwich ingredients turned me away. so as I sit here with a 1/2 eaten You Pick Two, a pop-up from their WiFi comes up and says 5 min left... WHAT?! Theres a time frame on how long you use their internet. Havent even fully finished my meal and they're already kicking me off the internet. Not what I had in mind for a nice, quick lunch to get some work done. Next time you'd like to stop in for a quick bite at this Panera Bread location, i'd suggest a bagel and your off!!!
(2)
Dodge S.
We like coming here for the pick-two menu deals, combined with the loyalty card, can sometimes give a dollar or two discount. The restaurant looks new, is kind of a big space for a downtown location, and unlike other Panera Bread locations this one provides table service (instead of you waiting to pick up your order at the counter). Here's a hint: even with the pick-two menu selections if you get a salad it always seems to show up in a large bowl instead of half-size. Also I love coming here for the free and dependable wifi.
(3)
Alex M.
This is the best Panera I have been too. This service had been better than most other Panera's and they bring the food out to your table. The location is great right in the middle of everything.
(4)
Vicki Z.
I've never had an issue at this panera. I think with the location and traffic they receive they do a good job. Sometimes lines get long, but the wait time isn't horrible. This is my favorite location. Last time I literally got my you pick two under 5 minutes during a lunch rush hour. I'm impressed.
(5)
Jasmine C.
The grand daddy of Paneras. It's spacious, and I mean really, really spacious. So spacious I thought it was a library of some sort when I first walked past the huge windows and peered in to see tables upon tables of people on laptops drinking coffee. Super love! It was hopping at lunchtime but I still managed to find a nice booth. P.S. Try the Thai chicken salad with chicken noodle soup for a healthy satisfying lunch! Yum!
(4)
Kimberly L.
I usually love Panera Bread, so when we stopped by here in Chicago, I was hoping to get great food and service. It's across the street from the Millennial Park. And I bet many lunch hour people and visitors stop by this location. The cashier was training that day and we had a huge order for 7 people. She was working along side her trainer and they were nice. The food, however, was not to par. My soup was half cold and my sandwich looked thrown together carelessly. Disappointing. Wish they could step it up a notch.
(3)
Kate S.
We stopped here for a refreshing lunch in the middle of a hot Chicago day, after visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. I ordered the strawberry poppyseed chicken salad, which I think is a special for this time of year, along with a whole wheat roll, and my partner got the asiago roast beef with potato chips. My salad was big and very tasty, with strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, pecans, and large strips of peppered chicken on a bed of greens with a light fat-free poppyseed dressing. The combination of sweet and savory was very pleasant. The roast beef sandwich had good chunks of roast beef and a cheesy bread--it was a good sandwich. The ambienace was normal for a Panera, somewhat crowded because of its location and the fact that it was prime lunch hour on Memorial Day, but we were still able to relax and enjoy our meal. There was a man who came in asking for money, but the manager promptly escorted him out without creating a ruckus. Other than that, the clientele was mostly young students, some of whom seemed to be cramming for a pathology exam with large bags of Ghiarardelli chocolates. Which has nothing to do with anything.
(4)
Kelly K.
FINALLY, a Panera in this part of the Loop! As far as the food goes, it's on par with all other Paneras. This Panera is extra spacious and has free WiFi.
(4)
Kevin K.
I like Panera, but I try to avoid this location. The prices are more expensive here and the service is very slow. If you go around lunch time you can expect to wait 20 minutes for food if you eat in. It's annoying watching all the "to go" people get their food before way before you just because they got "to go".
(2)
Al Y.
I've been here preparing for a board exam from 9am till closing almost everyday for the past 3 weeks. Mornings are open and the internet is fast. There's a 30 minute limit between 11am till 2pm. Internet stops at 10pm though closing may be at 11pm on Fri and Sat. Busiest days are usually Tues, Wed, Thurs for lunch starting at 1130 till 130pm. The back area with the fire gets full and there have been countless days where there was no seating for all the people eating, so I just relocated to the front where there are outlets along the front window overlooking michigan ave and Grant Park. Outlets are located in the front, in a couple of 2 person booths (2 in the front & back), and along a series of seats. It seems they made those small booths specifically for studying space. There's a very nice, glossy table next to the fire and usually after 7pm few people except large groups like to take this spot and its prime location. As far as food, I've ordered almost everything from the menu and it's the same from all the paneras I've frequented from Sacramento, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego. I've gotten to know a few of the employees and a manager and they are working so hard to make it great. I even met the baker in the back. There's only one baker for each shift (1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon). There are a ton of employees in the back during lunch and usually 2 servers/waiters for the front and 2 for the back. They actually clean and pick up your plates, and serve you the food at this location. You take a electronic marker when you order and the waiters will know where you generally are. On a good day you can sit out front or the side and eat out with all the people walking by on Michigan Ave. Be careful, I have witnessed a few burglaries at this location since it's a prime location for all the families and tourists to be eating at. Also, the bathroom is heavily used by non-patrons and have heard of people getting things stolen from within the bathroom. Protect your belongings at this location because from what I have realized, even with camera evidence, the police cannot do much to recover what you have lost. So overall, the experience as a study location is superb, but watch your stuff and ask other patrons to watch your belongings (I've been fine, the employees actually are watching and have on multiple occasions stopped people from soliciting for money or just kept a close eye). The employees and managers provided me with drinks and food since I got to know them. As a visiting spot, it's the busiest panera I have ever been in making it an exciting place to see a hodgepodge of unique people from local workers coming during lunch rush hour to tourists from around the world. As far as food, I recommend Thai Salad, Asian Salad, breadbowls with broccoli cheddar (although calorie count can go up really high with the breadbowl if you eat all of it), creamy tomato soup. Prices for soups after tax are about 5.53. Salads are about 8 depending on what you get. Salads do come in very large bowls and can be healthy and filling if you get some with meat. Get a loyalty card and you can randomly get discounts and free pastries. It tracks what you generally buy. They also keep upgrading my cup size from small to medium when I buy coffee or tea. In general, depends what you are looking for from a Panera, but key words for this place are large space, very busy during lunch hour during mid week and saturdays, nice fire keeping backspace warm, touristy, unique, healthy food, and free refills on coffee and teas.
(5)
Chelsea G.
It's been a long time since I ate at Panera, but it's right next to school. I have to say - I was bothered that I was paying $9+ for a sandwich, especially when the place was filthy and I couldn't even find a table that was clean (ample dining space, no clean tables). I waited over 15 min & when my sandwich did come it was the wrong one. So...I asked the manager for a refund because I could tell they were having an off night & I just wanted to go home, seeing as I just left a 3 hour group meeting. The manager on staff was SUPER nice & candid about them being short staffed. She refunded my sandwich & made me the correct one to go, with a smile and a handshake. We all have those nights - I appreciated her being so cool about my refund. On the other hand - a friend told me there was a rat in the dining room a few days prior to that...so I think some definite changes need to be made before I return.
(2)
Glen C.
Standard Panera. I paid extra to get a bread bowl with my soup & sandwich, and they gave me soup in a cup. It's annoying that I will have to check my order at the counter from now on. Honestly, I really do not like places I can't trust to get my order right for take out, especially something that simple. Not a good first experience.
(3)
J Aiden S.
I got an order to-go because I enjoy their french onion soup. I received it without any cheese or croutons. Just onions and broth.... how unpleasant.
(1)
Reginald M.
Panera, your Michigan Ave location was a disaster. We wanted to eat something and decided to try your restaurant as opposed to my favorite, Corner Bakery. That was a mistake. As we were waiting to order I noticed that your business was under staffed and there were dirty tables everywhere. I didn't want to stay but we were already in line. We ordered and STILL THE TABLES WERE NOT CLEANED and NO SIGN OF ANY STAFF ANYWHERE CLEANING THE RESTAURANT!!!! Embarrassing and poorly run. Finally we finished ordering and I HAD TO CLEAN A TABLE FOR US AND WIPE IT OFF. At this point I was PISSED!!!! Then while waiting for food a homeless guy walked in and was diseased, smelled and NO ONE DID anything to get him to leave. I REALLY JUST WANTED MY MONEY BACK and wanted to leave. Dirty tables everywhere, still not cleaned, others had to clear tables to sit down. Disgusting and terrible. Finally food arrived and it was also just terrible. Corner bakery is 10 times better. I can't believe I just payed $25 for that crap you call food. So now there are dirty dishes and tables everywhere, a bum begging for money and stinks, no employees cleaning anything and the food is terrible. Panera, you should be ashamed and embarrassed to be in business. I was in the restaurant industry for 11 years and I'm disgusted. At corner bakery when I grab a quick lunch the tables are constantly being cleaned and even your plates are taken when you are finished. There's something called SERVICE which you don't seem to have! I'll never, ever, ever go to another Panera again!
(1)
Tal C.
This Panera is huge, and the table tracker system is awesome- they bring you your food! The food is what you'd expect from a Panera- reasonable prices, typical sandwich/salad fare, and delicious, creamy mac and cheese. It's a good place to study all day, though it seems that some groups of teenagers with nothing to do have decided to make Panera their hang out, which can make it a bit loud at times.
(4)
Ciel D.
Good tasty snacks and great lunch options. Very affordable, and it's actually a great you've for the portion sizes & quality of food. I wish they had Coke products instead of Pepsi though.
(4)
Gary J.
WORST service ever. This place is a laptop cafe, not a restaurant. Nowhere to sit because everybody is on their computers with an empty cup of coffee on the table. Nobody is eating. 5 times my order was lost and I had to leave and eat somewhere else Manager is rude and the children that they employ should have stayed in school.
(1)
Kate J.
I couldn't decide on a salad so I chose the new Roasted Turkey Harvest Wheatberry Salad. There was a giant picture of it on the menu and it looked good. When I got the salad there was hardly any decent lettuce in the bowl. A lot of it looked wilted and had no crunch. I'm not even sure what a Wheatberry is? The Gorgonzola that came on the salad didn't taste like much. Panera had a lot of food options so I'm sure I'll still visit a location again but not to get a salad! My $7.74 was waisted this time :(
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Emily J.
Today when I walked into Panera for lunch, it was pure chaos (more so then usual). I ordered a wild rice soup and chicken cesar salad. My soup was perfect but they got a little confused on the salad. They started making the salad I ordered but midway though decided to make a strawberry and dried apple salad instead. Boo, Panera!
(2)Brenden B.
I went to this Panera with a friend for a quick work lunch. This location is fantastic, big, open, clean, and busy as hell. Like I have mentioned before you can not really judge one chain from another on the food since they all follow the same recipes. The food was fresh and the bread with my soup was warm, which was actually a first. I will say you could tell the employees cared about this place as they kept that place spotless and the food tasted fresh and was nicely crafted, instead of those Paneras you go to that are in a suburban mall with "I hate the world" teenagers that just slop the ingredients together and god knows what else. A word to other Panera managers, this is a model store with great staff, fresher food, and quality of care. Take note.
(4)Rebecca B.
Since starting work downtown, this Panera has become my go to for a quick lunch. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Panera due to my love of baked goods, and their soups and salads are pretty tasty, too. I'm not a fan of their pastas or sandwiches, but the BBQ Chicken Salad hits the spot everytime, and all of the soups are a solid choice when you are craving something warm. This location is increidbly conventient, located at Michigan and Madison, but that means that it gets pretty busy right around lunch time and also gets a lot of tourists due to its proximity to attractions like the bean and the art institute, which can cause long lines and long waits, especially if you are getting your order to go. I've even encountered long wait times during non peak hours, so either order in advance or be prepared to wait a bit. The potential for a long wait is why Panera's rapid pick up has become my best friend. You can order online and tell them exactly when you'll be in to pick up your food, and your order will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive. The rapid pick up area is a cabinet against the wall next to the Madison entrance - just look for the to go bag with your name and order, grab it, and you are on your way. My order has always been ready at my chosen time, and I've never had a problem with order accuracy. Service can be hit or miss (note the long waits), but it is usually ok to good. Just be aware that if you love Panera's breakfast menu, then this location is very strict about the cut off time for breakfast orders. Ordering at 11:01am on Saturday? Sorry, no breakfast for you. Are you going to be dazzled by the food and service here? No. But if you need a reliable meal or snack when downtown, then this is a pretty safe bet.
(3)Michael M.
I've had nothing but solid experiences here (though I usually only go in the mornings, so I cant speak for later in the afternoon). The line usually move along quick. The service is pretty fast for dining in. It may take a lil longer for sandwiches and what not--but toasted bagels come out usually within 5 minutes. The mornings they used to play jazz music in the back ground, but now I think its more pop music. It can be relaxing in the middle of the week if you need to get away from the office for 20 minutes in the morning. Once you eat their Honey Walnut bagel spread, you'll start fantasizing about it.
(4)Cristina G.
I love to came to panera. Nice food , nice place , so price is good , and I just love it , my favorite bread now is Asiago cheese delicious .
(5)Sarah T.
I ended up there by chance, when I saw "bagels" on the menu my stomach said "yes". The waiting line was pretty quick, even when it looked quite busy. I chose the honey walnut cream cheese, which is amazing and the bagel was pretty nice as well (they have a large choice). Smoothie was nice. Perfect for a quick lunch stop, there is enough space to sit, otherwise the location is great for a to go.
(4)Sergio L.
I decided to come back to this location after a couple of months of not coming here because of the rudeness of one particular food runner . Customer service is a thought industry and if you don't have the touch for it ,get out ! Today I asked for a pick two item , with the cheddar soup and chicken Cesar salad . My salad came with out the chicken . I let know one of the associates working here , which was the same person who brought my food , but I never got the chicken. Incredible how quickly he forgot that ! The Two stars are for the food that is always good ! I hardly believe I will be coming back to this location !
(2)Karolina T.
Came here around 1pm for lunch on Friday during work. Wow, was it packed! The line was almost out the door then there was another line to pick your food up. Some how everyone behind us ended up getting their food before because by the time we got our grilled cheese and smokehouse turkey and pasta , there was no more line. It took 30 minutes, and I understand it was a busy lunch time, I just don't understand why everyone after us got their order first. My friend thought his pasta was oily and the portion tiny. My sandwich and other friends grilled cheese were pretty good. At least the bread was on point and you could tell the staff was trying their best with the frantic lunch crowd.
(3)K K.
We were looking for a place to stop and have a drink and be able to sit outside and relax. The surrounding coffee shops were closing in an hour and had already shut down their patios, so Panera was the only option. Service was extremely slow given we only ordered two teas (the hot tea was a do it yourself) and a frozen lemonade. It took almost 8 minutes just to get drinks. The entire time we waited, there was a food order at the counter just sitting. I don't know if a runner takes those to the table or a name was to be called out. We never saw an employee doing anything to get the once hot food and guest who ordered it to come together. We decided the food looked good but after seeing food sit and cool off as that order did, if we return it'd only be for the frozen lemonade. Hopefully this is not typical of Panera Bread.
(3)Sarah T.
Overall a pretty good location. My order came out in five minutes, which is pretty good for a lunch rush. However, while I was waiting, I heard an employee openly complaining about customers to her coworker. Very unprofessional to do that while out on the floor. It would also be nice if they had the new "Order From My Table" feature that some stores have recently launched, but hopefully they'll get it soon. Food was good and order was correct, which unfortunately doesn't happen at every Panera.
(4)Jennifer L.
Sometimes the work day gets hectic and you hardly have any time to do anything save for the piles and piles of work on your desk. Lunch is the last thing on your mind. Panera's Rapid Pick-Up service is key during these times when you're hard-pressed for time. You simply place and pay for your order online and it's ready at the time you select to pick it up. Truthfully, I haven't dined in at this location since I've taken advantage of the Rapid Pick-Up during my three visits. My order was correct each time and was ready and waiting for me when I stepped into the store. If you're picking up an online order, enter from the door Madison Street. There's a cabinet against the wall where the online orders are housed. This saves you from having to entered from the Michigan Avenue side and walking through the crowds of people that may be gathered about placing and waiting for their orders. As for food, my go-to choices are definitely the You Pick Two. I enjoy their Broccoli Cheddar soup, Bistro French Onion Soup, Low-Fat All Natural Chicken Noodle Soup and the Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich. You really cannot go wrong with either of those options. The only downside would be the price. My You Pick Two with a cup of chicken noodle soup and half of a Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich with a side of chips cost me $9.17. You can easily spend over $10 if you were to get a drink and/or any dessert. A cup of Bistro French Onion Soup with a French Baguette side cost me $4.75. I mean, the food is good, but it's not *that* good. I can't really say much for the service and environment because I've only ordered online. It does seem pretty busy during the lunch hours since it's located on Michigan Avenue by Millennium Park and the Art Institute. I definitely will keep my trips to a minimum or when I'm in an absolute pinch due to the high prices.
(3)Elisabeth K.
Placed a phone order because I was working And couldn't be away long. Ordered a half sandwich and a cup of soup. They asked when I would be in I said 10 minutes. 15 minutes later I come in to pick it up and they hadn't even started making it! After waiting there for ten more minutes a manager finally asked what I was waiting for while the other manager was busy flirting with the associates...isn't the point of a phone order to not have to wait?
(2)Eric C.
The food is very good as always. However this place is so crowded that waiters lose track of time. It took us 45 minutes to get served. Unacceptable.
(2)Betty P.
I always enjoy Panera Bread. The food is always good and served in a reasonable time frame. This one met those normal expectations. It was just a little too busy, and there wasn't a lot of seating. I was surprised by the "waiting" service, which is obviously because they are a busy location. It was nice not to have to wait by the kitchen to pick up our stuff, or to have to clean up afterward.
(3)Andrea S.
[TLDR: The management needs an attitude adjustment and the food comes out very slow and incorrect.] So I have lived a block from this Panera for a year and a half now. I work a few block away as well so it was very convenient for me to grab lunch or dinner there. I have always been a fan of Panera's food and service in other locations. This location gets the 1 star because the last 3 experiences were pretty horrible. All three visits the food took over 20 minutes to be made. I usually try to avoid the rush hour during lunch but sometimes my schedule dictates when I eat and not I. The last time I went in during lunch to grab a BBQ chicken salad (one of my go-to favorites) and they took forever to prepare it. ...It's a salad that you throw some cold cut up chicken on... it's not rocket science. Anyways, they forgot to put the BBQ sauce on the salad and the to-go box was only half full with ingredients. Not the $10 salad I was expecting. I got back to my office and opened it feeling very disappointed; however, I did not have time to bring it back and wait another 20 minutes for them to redo it. Today's experience irked me the most. I am a BIG fan of quality customer service. Even if the food is just average or bad- the redeeming factor is ALWAYS good customer service for me. Today I brought a colleague along and we both ordered the Soba Noodle Chicken Bowl (It's literally just soup and noodles with cut up chicken on it. Again- not a difficult order). I ordered first, and my coworker ordered a few minutes after me. We waited in the cramped and messy takeout area on the benches near the counter. The waiters looked lost and confused with the POS system and the manager (an older fellow) was expediting food from the counter and barking orders at his staff behind the counter. It took them over 20 minutes to get my coworker's food to her. I expected mine any second after that since we had ordered the same thing and I ordered before her. Another 10 minutes past and still nothing. I assumed my order was lost in the cluster of the lunch rush. I walked up to the manager and politely asked if he had seen a take-out order for a Soba Noodle Chicken Bowl for Andrea. He turned and rudely said, "No I haven't seen it but it should be coming out soon." Kay. Not very reassuring. I said, "Okay, I just wanted make sure because my friend ordered the same thing after me and she got her food 10 minutes ago." He turned back and said, "Well, you ordered a hot dish and sometimes hot dishes take longer to come out. It should be up shortly." WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THAT?! Come on Panera... you can do better than that. Coming from someone who has worked for YEARS in the restaurant industry (both casual and fine dining), I would have NEVER made a remark like that to a customer. The correct response during a stressful time would have been to apologize for the wait and then ask your staff if my order was on it's way. (Then gone home tonight and complained about your "terrible" customers to your wife. The poor thing.) Just because you are a chain restaurant does not mean you can skimp on customer service. One manager that I have encountered there has always been very polite and great with customers. He also efficiently expedites the food out during the rush hour with class and accuracy. He is a younger, thin gentleman maybe in his 30's with glasses. I want to clarify that the salty curmudgeon I encountered today was NOT this fellow. Perhaps the traditionalist generation needs a lesson in management and customer service from generation X & Y... Overall, I was very disappointed and will not be returning to this Panera. There are hundreds of other restaurants to patronize in the loop that will politely care for their returning customers.
(1)Monique W.
I do rapid pick up which is great but I don't always check my order and they use to pack it correctly. Now!!!! They don't pay attention to the orders too closely, it an item/s aren't missing they will add incorrect items. My suggestion is check all Togo orders because you don't want to be pissed when you get home.
(4)Alicia C.
If I could give negative stars I would. I went for a bagel, they gave me the wrong one. But hey it happens. The. A fly landed in my bagel and I went back for anther one, one I was gonna pay for, and the cashier said no. SHE SAID NO. She refused to gets a bagel. I asked fora manager and no one showed up and I left. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY.
(1)Shawn L.
Oatmeal breakfast was very good. Egg white and ham sandwich was a nice light breakfast. Internet access is free but painfully slow.
(4)E G.
The food here is typical of any panera. I am disappointed with this particular location because the service is consistently slow. Even when it is not crowded expect to wait at least 15 minutes. With so many other options around the loop with a similar price point, I don't plan to return here.
(2)Salvatore M.
Great place for lunch or breakfast...enjoyed the sandwich and the smoothie...good sweets too.
(4)Sonika ..
I am a frequent Panera bread visitor. This location is in front of Millenium park,went on a weekday evening and it was busy but the service was still quick. I had a reward for a coffee but the cashier was nice to let me substitute iced tea instead, which tasted very fresh ! I had a bear claw (kind of almond pastry) , mango tea and bagged a blueberry muffin for later which was very moist.
(4)Sitara E.
UhOh. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Panera. I've been an ambassador for them for just about a decade now... I walked out of my way just to visit this Panera after a very long day and this HUGE location was filthy. I mean. .. it looked as if a parade or sports event took place there, the team lost and everyone just got up and left. EVERY SQUARE INCH had trash on the table, the chairs were in the walkway turned all about, crumbs covered all the empty tables (even the work stations with built in computers). It was, literally, unbelievable. I'm not a snob, but call me what you want .... it was unappetizing, no condition for my party of 2 and just. ... pitiful. I can't think of one reason how it could possibly look like that... they were fully staffed, no marathon took place, it's 7:30pm at night and... I couldn't stomach even ordering to go. MANAGEMENT needs to be reviewed. They have all of the latest Panera upgrades and are already letting it go. PS: Get more outlets! Every panera is known for being a place to meet or do business, etc. This is the first Panera I've been to that has only a few outlets.... not helpful.
(1)Mike L.
Wow has this location declined rapidly. Was there on a Friday night at 5:00PM. All the coffee pots were empty except the decaf which was from 1:10PM. (By the way Panera's new policy of not having all the coffees out all day is the reason I stopped going regularly. They say just ask and they'll make it. Yeah. Good luck. You'll wait at least 45 minutes if they don't forget about you. Go to Corner Bakery down the street all the coffees are there and checked and replaced in a timely manner all day.) Asked them to make dark roast and fought attitude from 2 employees who were just chatting with each other. Asked for no mayo on my sandwich, it came with mayo. Forget you guys I don't care how nice your window views are.
(1)Jen B.
This PB location is in the heart of downtown and is easily accessible from Michigan Ave and tourist attractions like the bean and the art institute. It's one floor, but there is plenty of space to accommodate tourists and local workers alike. There is a full case of baked goods on display, and the same offers apply here as they do at any other PB location (Take Two (i.e. special pricing if you buy two items off the menu), 99 cents to add on a pastry, etc). The cashiers and servers are attentive and polite. They willingly take your dishes away, and will provide to-go boxes and bags on request. This PB location has mifi computer portals at certain booths and tables. The keyboard is on the table itself, and there is a monitor where you can access email and other websites for free. This makes it easy to take a short or long break, especially if you're stopping in to charge a phone and need access to social networking or email while you enjoy your meal or coffee. The food here was cold when it arrived. Lukewarm at best. I ordered chicken tortellini and pieces of the chicken and tortellini were cold, others warm. I contemplated sending the pasta dish back, but I was afraid I'd lose my seat and didn't want to lug my belongings back to the counter. The condiments section is well-stocked and kept clean. I couldn't locate extra cutlery, so you will have to ask the counter for this. I will advise you to skip the women's bathroom. It's the dirtiest bathroom I have ever seen-toilet paper strewn all over the place. It's almost as if some kids thought it would be fun to take TP and rip it up. Hopefully, it will be better once summer tourist season ends. Otherwise, its your typical PB. Just a bit more people and filled with people from around the world visiting Chi-town.
(2)S K.
This location is beyond bad. Ordered a dozen bagels w/ two cream cheese choices and got back to the office for a meeting to find no cream cheese and no knives, napkins, etc. Two days later I ordered french onion soup and they forgot croutons and baguette. Today I ordered greek salad with chicken and guess what?? No chicken. It doesn't do any good to complain to them....they offer a free drink. Really? I spend my time ordering and reordering and coming back and forth to get the right order and you would like to give me a fountain soda. No Thanks. Bypass this place and go to any of the other places available that actually care. I mean, seriously, three orders in one month wrong. Get it together Panera.
(1)Phillip C.
one of my favorite Panera's in the city. step one: have a Panera card - it's the best thing that will ever happen to you. step two: at this location, have April (I hope that's her name) take your order. her customer service exceeds expectations. extremely patient, helpful, and is ALWAYS smiling. she also gets bonus points for remembering me. a great way to keep clientele. my overall experience is pretty good for a chain like this. the reason it lacks the 5th star is due to restroom cleanliness. we all know a clean restroom makes for a good business. keep up the great work - i'll definitely be coming back.
(4)El V.
No one that works at this panera bread likes their job. They need to re staff this whole place because they are losing a lot of customers by their nasty attitudes and rude comments. My order was wrong and when I told them it was wrong I got an attitude for it. And you DONT get a "free treat" when your order is wrong.
(1)Megan S.
This location is great. Although extremely busy, they are knowledgeable about gluten-free concerns and relatively quick considering the volume.
(4)Haley B.
I ordered a kids meal Greek salad and apple because I'm not about to pay for an $8 salad that I won't consume in it's entirety. So naturally I pretended it was for a kid. Whatever. My inner child was only a little hungry and I am trying to get behind portion controls on my meals. So I give them my name and they didn't ask questions because... They didn't seem to give a shit where the kids meal was going to which was awesome. I felt less guilty about not paying the extra two floors for the same size salad that was meant for an "adult half salad" - but I get back to wait for the meal and I hear the bitch making my salad say "Kids Greek Salad - are you fucking kidding me? Ain't no kid got time to eat a Greek salad" The bitch is right. If I had actually ordered my kid a Greek salad I'm positive they would stick up their nose and be like "Tha fuck... Is this" That being said ... I could have been a mother, I could have had a kid that liked Greek salad, point being is that I could hear ever negative comment that came out of her unprofessional mouth. If I had actually given a flying fuck about what she said, I would have told the manager. But since I cheated Panera I figured if keep my mouth shut and let someone else do it because eventually the wrong person will hear her comments and say something to someone that matters. I just thought I would get on yelp and bitch about it. But the food was excellent. :D
(3)Sam M.
The food at this Panera is the best, but when I do take out the service is so slow. A few times they have forgotten I even ordered and the last time I was there it took 25 minutes to get my food. I recommend eating there if you want to sit down, they are very fast if you are eating in the restaurant.
(3)Stephanie L.
So this Panera kind of drives me nuts. I always go and get a coffee with sugar free vanilla. Sometimes I forget that they dont have sugar free caramel and order it anyway...they give me the thick syrup that I dont want. I have to give it back to them saying that I ordered sugar free. They then tell me, they dont have that...then I say, I'll take whatever sugar free you have. Also, the coffee is ALWAYS out. Today, at 830AM (prime time), all of the coffees were empty except decaf...when I told the lady, she basically ignored me. Another customer came up and I informed her all of the coffee was empty. Its slightly annoying because its supposed to be convenient to grab coffee and go, but they dont keep up on it. There's a TON of seating so that is nice. Also, bonus to showing me all of the calories in everything! YIKES!!!
(2)Mark E.
I like Panera, for the most part. The sandwiches are hardy and the chips and a fountain drink are solid company. The only thing I'm not thrilled about when I eat at Panera is how quickly the bill seems to add up. A light lunch for my wife and I was 22 bucks, somehow. I know, it's not their fault, it's whatever we ordered, but it just seems like a bit much when you can get a huge sub at some local deli for $7 bucks and not even have room for chips.
(3)Teri Y.
I'm a fan of Panera Bread so I can't believe that I'm giving this location a 1-star either. But this is based on the chicken noodle soup I ordered. I came back to the office, opened up my bowl of chicken noodle soup and then realized with my spoon that it was 90% broth and 10% noodle and chicken. There were literally only a few slivers of noodle in the entire bowl of broth as if the noodle was only meant for garnishing the broth. The chicken was almost non-existent. Are they kidding? $5 for a bowl of broth that is supposedly called chicken noodle soup? Come on. I chose an apple instead of a bag of chips for my side. I cut open the apple and it was rotten and black inside. Totally unacceptable. I want my $5 back.
(1)Marta S.
Stood in line for 10 minutes while Christina took her sweet time slicing loaves of bread. When she finally got back to the register, we were 7 minutes past the breakfast cutoff of 11am. She refused to take an order for breakfast. I had a free sandwich on myPanera card, but she couldn't find it and didn't show any concern when I suggested it should be there. Horrible service. I probably spend $500-$1000/week at Paneras all around the Chicago for client lunches, and this location has BY FAR, the least customer-centric environment of any store I have been to.
(2)Patrick L.
A pretty good Panera. I've seen the lines build a few times, sometimes in part to their exceptional patience in giving service at the counter. Overall though, the majority of times I've been in there the lines have been small. The employees have all been very friendly. The routinely come around and check for empty plates which is nice if you're planning on sitting for a little bit to read or do some work. The orders also seem to come quite quickly which is good if you're on a schedule!
(4)Jasmine L.
I love the location and the staff has always been friendly when I've been there. One day this past summer, as they were closing up, the manager overheard that I had a craving for cinnamon crunch bagels, and since they throw out what they can't donate, she gave me one along with cream cheese. WiFi is decent speed, but there's a 30 minute cap on it during the lunchtime period, so if you need to get work done then, it's sort of a pain. The place is spacious...just wish there were more outlets, then it'd make the perfect study/work spot.
(4)Marin C.
I was super-duper thirsty due to it being friggin 90+ outside, such is life. Got myself a large green tea at this Panera's and I felt better. My friend had lunch. No complaints.
(3)Carolyn T.
It pains me to give this Panera a one-star review because I am usually quite a fan of this chain restaurant, but my experience at this location today was certainly worthy of one star. For reference, I give one-star reviews very rarely. Recently, The Color Run took place in Grant Park/Millennium Park, which is a 5K race in which people get a lot of powder color all over themselves. After the race, lots of people (myself included) gave business to tons of cafes and restaurants on Michigan Avenue. There were 50,000 people running the 5K and I imagine a pretty large percentage of them sought refreshments after a sweaty run. We chose to go to Panera to get pastries and a smoothie. We waited in line for about fifteen minutes, got the pastries right away, and then started the wait for the smoothie. We waited for at least half an hour for that smoothie. During that time, I had to go to the bathroom. I had not been expecting to use the bathroom there at all, but I also had not expected the wait for one smoothie to be that long. So, I walked toward the back of the restaurant to the bathroom, but found that there was an employee there blocking my way. Even though there were plenty of other people sitting at the tables behind her, she wouldn't even let me walk through before even knowing that I was headed to the bathroom. I told her I was just going to use the bathroom, but she said in a very cold tone, "The bathroom is closed." She didn't even apologize or give any explanation. She also gave me a very judgmental look because I was covered in color dust. After I sat down, I noticed that she let other people walk through who were not covered in color dust. What the heck!? After the female employee switched positions with a male employee, I decided to see if he would also deny me entry. Even though he was friendlier, he still told me that I could not use the bathroom. When I asked why, he said that it was a mess, so they were not letting anyone use it. I said, "I really don't think it's right to deny paying customers the right to use the bathroom here. What am I supposed to do--walk over to Jamba Juice, wait in a huge line, and buy something just so I can use that bathroom instead?" Suffice it to say that I was NOT happy. I also asked the employee where the manager was but he didn't seem to know beyond "someone in a hat walking around." Here's the thing: I understand that any restaurant has the right to deny services to anyone. But my issue was that I was NOT denied as a paying customer. If I'm good enough to purchase $20 worth of pastries and a smoothie at your establishment, then I sure as hell am good enough to use your bathroom. To make matters worse, when my smoothie was finally ready, it was the worst Panera smoothie I have ever had. It was very, very watered down and I could barely taste the mango. Gross! Because of this whole ordeal and having to find a bathroom elsewhere, our quick stop for a smoothie at Panera ended up costing $30 in parking (it should have been $12). The next time I'm craving a smoothie, I'll be giving my business to Jamba Juice next door.
(1)Pearl T.
Asiago Roast Beef (steak) sandwich has always been my favorite at Panera, and this location was consistent with delivering. I went to this location over the summer with my son to get take out to eat at Millennium Park, and the reason for 3 stars in stead of 4 or 5 is that it took FOREVER to get our sandwich (I think we waited about 10 minutes or so). I understand that this place is busy since it's tourist central, but I believe it is up to the manager to make sure he/she has properly staffed the shop and properly trained the employees to be the most efficient. I have been to other Panera shops where this is the case, and it's amazing how quickly a well-run establishment can "pump out" the orders.
(3)Corey D.
Worked at a Panera Bread for 3 years as a Team Trainer so I know the drill. Cashier wasn't knowledgeable about which meats were currently available. Line staff was moving at a not so fast pace. Ordered a Pick 2 and got Broccoli Cheddar soup instead of the Black Bean soup that I ordered. Black Bean soup was lacking the beans due to not stirring the soup before pouring. Nice atmosphere, efficient dining staff, and wifi worked.
(2)Jevita N.
Went here for lunch today. Order my food to go. Although they had 4 people behind the counter only one was taking orders. Got up there to take give my order for the pick 2 special. However, she did not ask me what I wanted with my sandwich (chips, bread or apple). Picked up my food and realized when I got to work they gave me bread. WHY do I need bread when I order a sandwich... Overall I still love this place!!
(4)Danni M.
Okay. First off, could the cashiers be any ruder? There wasn't anyone in line but they were so pushy. This panera is in Chicago. You would think they would make enough bread bowls for the entire night. But no! It's not even dinner and they didn't have any bread bowls. Our cashiers were Elizabeth and Mariaelen. They could have been a little nicer. Geez. Most people come for the bread bowls and it's so annoying when they don't have any... We were so hungry so we still got soup but still. It's not the same. The food was good but the customer service could be improved.
(2)Eileen P.
Wow - I told them no cheese on my salad and when I got back to work it was loaded with cheese. I called the manager (I paid in cash) and didn't save the receipt as I threw it out with the salad and she told me there was nothing they could do as "too many people want free food." I was shocked. It was their error and they wouldn't fix it. I then called corporate headquarters and they told me it was at the manager's discretion and there was nothing they could do. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as a meal is a meal and this is so unfair. It would be different if it was a sandwich and I could just pick the cheese out of it but it was a salad and I couldn't do it.
(1)Dino N.
Be careful with the menu, make sure you read it and ask questions. I ordered a turnkey melt and it had bacon in it, even though the menu didn't specify it. I also ordered a veggie sandwich and got meat on it.
(1)Brandon B.
Freshly opened Panera in the loop: unusually big and spacious interior compared to the others that I have seen. Of course the food is the same standard as other places, these things tend to be standardized right? Lucky for me this is right in my building! Increasing the number of coffee options within 100 ft of my front door to 4 (2 Starbucks, Caribou, and now this....who will win?). Perfect location right across from Millenium Park, they will likely be very hopping soon. The manager is very nice and seems to be very involved in getting things going the right way. Excellent 200 degree Hazelnut coffee and my favorite: the cinnamon scone. Open 6am which is great.
(5)Erica D.
It was my First Job, Associate Trainer at the local Panera Bread, circa 2005..But it seems that LOTS have changed since then! Yes, the soups still come in bags, about 85% of the menu has stayed the same but the quality has drastically decreased!!! You Pick Two... Broccoli Chedder soup, great for the first two minutes until it went cold. Sierra Turkey, served on a Asiago Miche Bread, red onions, lettuce and chipotle mayo.. First two bites, all bread. Lack of Sandwich ingredients turned me away. so as I sit here with a 1/2 eaten You Pick Two, a pop-up from their WiFi comes up and says 5 min left... WHAT?! Theres a time frame on how long you use their internet. Havent even fully finished my meal and they're already kicking me off the internet. Not what I had in mind for a nice, quick lunch to get some work done. Next time you'd like to stop in for a quick bite at this Panera Bread location, i'd suggest a bagel and your off!!!
(2)Dodge S.
We like coming here for the pick-two menu deals, combined with the loyalty card, can sometimes give a dollar or two discount. The restaurant looks new, is kind of a big space for a downtown location, and unlike other Panera Bread locations this one provides table service (instead of you waiting to pick up your order at the counter). Here's a hint: even with the pick-two menu selections if you get a salad it always seems to show up in a large bowl instead of half-size. Also I love coming here for the free and dependable wifi.
(3)Alex M.
This is the best Panera I have been too. This service had been better than most other Panera's and they bring the food out to your table. The location is great right in the middle of everything.
(4)Vicki Z.
I've never had an issue at this panera. I think with the location and traffic they receive they do a good job. Sometimes lines get long, but the wait time isn't horrible. This is my favorite location. Last time I literally got my you pick two under 5 minutes during a lunch rush hour. I'm impressed.
(5)Jasmine C.
The grand daddy of Paneras. It's spacious, and I mean really, really spacious. So spacious I thought it was a library of some sort when I first walked past the huge windows and peered in to see tables upon tables of people on laptops drinking coffee. Super love! It was hopping at lunchtime but I still managed to find a nice booth. P.S. Try the Thai chicken salad with chicken noodle soup for a healthy satisfying lunch! Yum!
(4)Kimberly L.
I usually love Panera Bread, so when we stopped by here in Chicago, I was hoping to get great food and service. It's across the street from the Millennial Park. And I bet many lunch hour people and visitors stop by this location. The cashier was training that day and we had a huge order for 7 people. She was working along side her trainer and they were nice. The food, however, was not to par. My soup was half cold and my sandwich looked thrown together carelessly. Disappointing. Wish they could step it up a notch.
(3)Kate S.
We stopped here for a refreshing lunch in the middle of a hot Chicago day, after visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. I ordered the strawberry poppyseed chicken salad, which I think is a special for this time of year, along with a whole wheat roll, and my partner got the asiago roast beef with potato chips. My salad was big and very tasty, with strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, pecans, and large strips of peppered chicken on a bed of greens with a light fat-free poppyseed dressing. The combination of sweet and savory was very pleasant. The roast beef sandwich had good chunks of roast beef and a cheesy bread--it was a good sandwich. The ambienace was normal for a Panera, somewhat crowded because of its location and the fact that it was prime lunch hour on Memorial Day, but we were still able to relax and enjoy our meal. There was a man who came in asking for money, but the manager promptly escorted him out without creating a ruckus. Other than that, the clientele was mostly young students, some of whom seemed to be cramming for a pathology exam with large bags of Ghiarardelli chocolates. Which has nothing to do with anything.
(4)Kelly K.
FINALLY, a Panera in this part of the Loop! As far as the food goes, it's on par with all other Paneras. This Panera is extra spacious and has free WiFi.
(4)Kevin K.
I like Panera, but I try to avoid this location. The prices are more expensive here and the service is very slow. If you go around lunch time you can expect to wait 20 minutes for food if you eat in. It's annoying watching all the "to go" people get their food before way before you just because they got "to go".
(2)Al Y.
I've been here preparing for a board exam from 9am till closing almost everyday for the past 3 weeks. Mornings are open and the internet is fast. There's a 30 minute limit between 11am till 2pm. Internet stops at 10pm though closing may be at 11pm on Fri and Sat. Busiest days are usually Tues, Wed, Thurs for lunch starting at 1130 till 130pm. The back area with the fire gets full and there have been countless days where there was no seating for all the people eating, so I just relocated to the front where there are outlets along the front window overlooking michigan ave and Grant Park. Outlets are located in the front, in a couple of 2 person booths (2 in the front & back), and along a series of seats. It seems they made those small booths specifically for studying space. There's a very nice, glossy table next to the fire and usually after 7pm few people except large groups like to take this spot and its prime location. As far as food, I've ordered almost everything from the menu and it's the same from all the paneras I've frequented from Sacramento, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego. I've gotten to know a few of the employees and a manager and they are working so hard to make it great. I even met the baker in the back. There's only one baker for each shift (1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon). There are a ton of employees in the back during lunch and usually 2 servers/waiters for the front and 2 for the back. They actually clean and pick up your plates, and serve you the food at this location. You take a electronic marker when you order and the waiters will know where you generally are. On a good day you can sit out front or the side and eat out with all the people walking by on Michigan Ave. Be careful, I have witnessed a few burglaries at this location since it's a prime location for all the families and tourists to be eating at. Also, the bathroom is heavily used by non-patrons and have heard of people getting things stolen from within the bathroom. Protect your belongings at this location because from what I have realized, even with camera evidence, the police cannot do much to recover what you have lost. So overall, the experience as a study location is superb, but watch your stuff and ask other patrons to watch your belongings (I've been fine, the employees actually are watching and have on multiple occasions stopped people from soliciting for money or just kept a close eye). The employees and managers provided me with drinks and food since I got to know them. As a visiting spot, it's the busiest panera I have ever been in making it an exciting place to see a hodgepodge of unique people from local workers coming during lunch rush hour to tourists from around the world. As far as food, I recommend Thai Salad, Asian Salad, breadbowls with broccoli cheddar (although calorie count can go up really high with the breadbowl if you eat all of it), creamy tomato soup. Prices for soups after tax are about 5.53. Salads are about 8 depending on what you get. Salads do come in very large bowls and can be healthy and filling if you get some with meat. Get a loyalty card and you can randomly get discounts and free pastries. It tracks what you generally buy. They also keep upgrading my cup size from small to medium when I buy coffee or tea. In general, depends what you are looking for from a Panera, but key words for this place are large space, very busy during lunch hour during mid week and saturdays, nice fire keeping backspace warm, touristy, unique, healthy food, and free refills on coffee and teas.
(5)Chelsea G.
It's been a long time since I ate at Panera, but it's right next to school. I have to say - I was bothered that I was paying $9+ for a sandwich, especially when the place was filthy and I couldn't even find a table that was clean (ample dining space, no clean tables). I waited over 15 min & when my sandwich did come it was the wrong one. So...I asked the manager for a refund because I could tell they were having an off night & I just wanted to go home, seeing as I just left a 3 hour group meeting. The manager on staff was SUPER nice & candid about them being short staffed. She refunded my sandwich & made me the correct one to go, with a smile and a handshake. We all have those nights - I appreciated her being so cool about my refund. On the other hand - a friend told me there was a rat in the dining room a few days prior to that...so I think some definite changes need to be made before I return.
(2)Glen C.
Standard Panera. I paid extra to get a bread bowl with my soup & sandwich, and they gave me soup in a cup. It's annoying that I will have to check my order at the counter from now on. Honestly, I really do not like places I can't trust to get my order right for take out, especially something that simple. Not a good first experience.
(3)J Aiden S.
I got an order to-go because I enjoy their french onion soup. I received it without any cheese or croutons. Just onions and broth.... how unpleasant.
(1)Reginald M.
Panera, your Michigan Ave location was a disaster. We wanted to eat something and decided to try your restaurant as opposed to my favorite, Corner Bakery. That was a mistake. As we were waiting to order I noticed that your business was under staffed and there were dirty tables everywhere. I didn't want to stay but we were already in line. We ordered and STILL THE TABLES WERE NOT CLEANED and NO SIGN OF ANY STAFF ANYWHERE CLEANING THE RESTAURANT!!!! Embarrassing and poorly run. Finally we finished ordering and I HAD TO CLEAN A TABLE FOR US AND WIPE IT OFF. At this point I was PISSED!!!! Then while waiting for food a homeless guy walked in and was diseased, smelled and NO ONE DID anything to get him to leave. I REALLY JUST WANTED MY MONEY BACK and wanted to leave. Dirty tables everywhere, still not cleaned, others had to clear tables to sit down. Disgusting and terrible. Finally food arrived and it was also just terrible. Corner bakery is 10 times better. I can't believe I just payed $25 for that crap you call food. So now there are dirty dishes and tables everywhere, a bum begging for money and stinks, no employees cleaning anything and the food is terrible. Panera, you should be ashamed and embarrassed to be in business. I was in the restaurant industry for 11 years and I'm disgusted. At corner bakery when I grab a quick lunch the tables are constantly being cleaned and even your plates are taken when you are finished. There's something called SERVICE which you don't seem to have! I'll never, ever, ever go to another Panera again!
(1)Tal C.
This Panera is huge, and the table tracker system is awesome- they bring you your food! The food is what you'd expect from a Panera- reasonable prices, typical sandwich/salad fare, and delicious, creamy mac and cheese. It's a good place to study all day, though it seems that some groups of teenagers with nothing to do have decided to make Panera their hang out, which can make it a bit loud at times.
(4)Ciel D.
Good tasty snacks and great lunch options. Very affordable, and it's actually a great you've for the portion sizes & quality of food. I wish they had Coke products instead of Pepsi though.
(4)Gary J.
WORST service ever. This place is a laptop cafe, not a restaurant. Nowhere to sit because everybody is on their computers with an empty cup of coffee on the table. Nobody is eating. 5 times my order was lost and I had to leave and eat somewhere else Manager is rude and the children that they employ should have stayed in school.
(1)Kate J.
I couldn't decide on a salad so I chose the new Roasted Turkey Harvest Wheatberry Salad. There was a giant picture of it on the menu and it looked good. When I got the salad there was hardly any decent lettuce in the bowl. A lot of it looked wilted and had no crunch. I'm not even sure what a Wheatberry is? The Gorgonzola that came on the salad didn't taste like much. Panera had a lot of food options so I'm sure I'll still visit a location again but not to get a salad! My $7.74 was waisted this time :(
(2)