I was a regular to this place for the last 3 years until the service and quality of food began a steady decline. I visited twice in the last month and have finally decided to write a review. A week ago I ordered a grilled cheese (which is not even grilled btw) and when I got home it was so awful I wouldn't feed it to my dog. Stale bread, with no butter, simply slapped into the panini press with cheese in it for $7. It might as well have been a microwaved cheese sandwich. I tried to call the manager, Amanda, to help me with this as she has helped me in the past. She told me she needed a receipt which I did not have, and ended up saying to me "too bad" and telling me that in her opinion it is the best thing on the menu before hanging up the phone on me. Must have not been in a great mood that day. Upon my arrival for pick up this day, it seemed that the employee making my sandwich was more concerned about his cell phone than making my sandwich correctly or keeping his hair brushed and pants pulled up. If there was an easy way to get a hold of the franchise developer, they should definitely know about it because customer service here is not their top priority. You would think after that experience I would be smart enough to stay away but lemme give them another shot. So today I ordered online and upon arrival to pick up, my order wasn't ready yet. I was 3rd in a line of 7 people and there was only one cashier. The cashier was obviously not experienced enough to run the line by himself so it was amazing to me that out of the 2 managers that were there, neither of them stepped in to help, and one of them just sat there and watched the chaos. I get to the counter and he asked for a confirmation number which I gave them. They said that they already made the order and that someone stole my pick up order from the shelf !?!? Are they serious or is this just an excuse for their mess up?? They took another 10 minutes to slap an order together from memory before forcing me out the door with a bag. When I got home this time, there was no croutons for my soup and I was shorted a baguette that I had to pay extra for. I'll probably avoid ordering from here in the future unless it's simply a coffee or pasty, or unless they get their stuff together. Everything here including the food and the staff could really use an overhaul.
(1)
Patrick T.
This place is all right. The steak in the steak salad comes out cold which is not the best. I'm not a big fan of Panera in general. I think the baked goods are dry and overpriced. I ordered a sandwich that was all right. They ask you if you want chips or an apple in your combo. I decided to be healthy and asked for an apple, but they gave me chips, which is what I secretly wanted.
(2)
Arm F.
The chicken fettuccine alfredo was pasta with undercooked lunch meat sprinkled on top of it. I don't know why people are rating this place so high. Panera bread is usually known for their bread but the bread here sucks. I was really surprised to not see real chicken at Panera. Not sure if it is just this location. I remember Panera being high quality. The workers here seem to have no interest in serving or cooking food. Make sure you don't take your date here!
(1)
Brandon E.
I am always impressed every time I come to Panera. Their food is great and is prepared pretty quickly. I just started being a vegetarian and they have a lot of good choices that actual taste good. I would most definitely suggest this restaurant for anyone.
(5)
Molly H.
I go to this Panera at least 3 times a week as it's on my way to work. I like Panera as far as chains go because the food is actually good, there are healthy options and it's consistent. That all being said, I have a major problem with the way they staff in the mornings. More than one person should be on the register at 7am!! I will say, 9/10 of my interactions with the staff are very pleasant, but way too often there's one person scrambling around doing everything while 2-3 other people seem to be doing....I don't know, something else. I assume getting catering orders ready or office stuff or something. This morning really prompted me to write this review--the woman ahead of me had ordered 2 dozen bagels. And all of those bagels need to be sliced. And boxed. And bagged with cream cheese. Thank God they didn't need to be toasted or I probably would have walked out because just this one guy was doing all of this on his own when I clearly saw two other girls there that I think could have easily spent the literally 2 minutes it would have taken to take my order and blend a smoothie. It's just a matter of being able to multi-task. I also think it's ridiculous that the person who takes my order has to go over and make my drink. There should be people on the register and people making drinks and/or food. I don't see the reasoning in combining the two unless it's, like, 9pm on a Monday night or something. Not in the morning on a weekday. Also: Panera. Please join us all in 2010 and start offering iced coffee. Seriously. Enough people order it now where giving them a cup of ice to put scalding hot coffee into doesn't make sense. Anyway--as far as Panera's go this one's fine and I wouldn't tell anyone to stay away. I just wish the service was more efficient.
(3)
Allison O.
I come to Panera thinking I'll get something a tad better than what I can get at Subway. I love their Chicken Salad sandwich, but the Asiago Steak sandwich I got yesterday left a lot to be desired. First off, they were out of the Asiago bread...which freaking makes the whole sandwich. Was offered it on the three cheese bread, and I accepted (and upon eating questioned whether it was actually plain bread). I see the girl making my sandwich pile an obnoxious amount of horseradish sauce on the bread; don't get me wrong, I love horseradish, but not so much horseradish it literally hurts to eat the thing. She takes the steak out of the refrigerator that was pre-packed in parchment paper. Ugh, so I guess not much better than Subway after all. The only reason I gave 3 stars is because of the M&M cookie...which is well...a cookie. What's not to like.
(3)
Jennifer S.
I just stopped at panera quickly in the snow after having an appointment at the hospital. This panera (and the whole complex) is new since I graduated from U of M (2005). There's a Qdoba here and a korean place too. The panera was empty at 9 am (it was also a snow storm) on a Thursday. It's the same as all the other paneras...I just think panera coffee has kind of a funny after taste...I prefer starbucks to be perfectly honest.
(4)
Jason C.
I'm here once a day, at least... my usual is large cup of coffee. This place gets busy from 11:30 am to 1pm, Mon to Fri, especially when U of M's Fall and Winter semester is in session. Parking can be an issue when it's busy, but if you go during the right time, you'll be fine. I agree with some comments, they can do a better job with staffing their cashiers... it seems it's hit or miss... when the line gets long, they should open up the registers, but it takes a while and the cashier on duty doesn't call someone over...
(3)
Melissa M.
Alright, I love Panera and I go to this one regularly, but this one is always out of something or another! Frequently it is whatever the seasonal menu item happens to be. So I just plan on ordering the standard when I go to this Panera. The one on Jackson and the one on Eisenhower always seem to have a little higher level of service as well.
(3)
Carrie W.
The food is fine--as many would agree, Panera food is generally the same no matter which one you go to. However, I really appreciate the service at this Panera. The manager here is really on the ball: personable, polite, and always making sure the customer is happy. That goes a long way in my book, and makes this my favorite Panera in Ann Arbor to get a meal or a coffee, and get a little work done.
(5)
Austin C.
This Panera falls in the middle of the pack as compared to the rest of the chain. They have plenty of seating and free wifi which makes them a great location to study/surf the web. The free parking also makes them a great option for anyone that doesn't want to pay for North Campus parking. It is just a quick 5 minute walk from Pierpont Commons. In the mornings they play very nice classical music that is conducive for studying. For anyone studying at noon or later, be warned that they switch to cheesy elevator music and Kenny G interpretations of contemporary music. Make sure to bring those noise canceling headphones for the music transfer that always occurs at noon.
(3)
Russ W.
I was a regular to this place for the last 3 years until the service and quality of food began a steady decline. I visited twice in the last month and have finally decided to write a review. A week ago I ordered a grilled cheese (which is not even grilled btw) and when I got home it was so awful I wouldn't feed it to my dog. Stale bread, with no butter, simply slapped into the panini press with cheese in it for $7. It might as well have been a microwaved cheese sandwich. I tried to call the manager, Amanda, to help me with this as she has helped me in the past. She told me she needed a receipt which I did not have, and ended up saying to me "too bad" and telling me that in her opinion it is the best thing on the menu before hanging up the phone on me. Must have not been in a great mood that day. Upon my arrival for pick up this day, it seemed that the employee making my sandwich was more concerned about his cell phone than making my sandwich correctly or keeping his hair brushed and pants pulled up. If there was an easy way to get a hold of the franchise developer, they should definitely know about it because customer service here is not their top priority. You would think after that experience I would be smart enough to stay away but lemme give them another shot. So today I ordered online and upon arrival to pick up, my order wasn't ready yet. I was 3rd in a line of 7 people and there was only one cashier. The cashier was obviously not experienced enough to run the line by himself so it was amazing to me that out of the 2 managers that were there, neither of them stepped in to help, and one of them just sat there and watched the chaos. I get to the counter and he asked for a confirmation number which I gave them. They said that they already made the order and that someone stole my pick up order from the shelf !?!? Are they serious or is this just an excuse for their mess up?? They took another 10 minutes to slap an order together from memory before forcing me out the door with a bag. When I got home this time, there was no croutons for my soup and I was shorted a baguette that I had to pay extra for. I'll probably avoid ordering from here in the future unless it's simply a coffee or pasty, or unless they get their stuff together. Everything here including the food and the staff could really use an overhaul.
(1)
Patrick T.
This place is all right. The steak in the steak salad comes out cold which is not the best. I'm not a big fan of Panera in general. I think the baked goods are dry and overpriced. I ordered a sandwich that was all right. They ask you if you want chips or an apple in your combo. I decided to be healthy and asked for an apple, but they gave me chips, which is what I secretly wanted.
(2)
Arm F.
The chicken fettuccine alfredo was pasta with undercooked lunch meat sprinkled on top of it. I don't know why people are rating this place so high. Panera bread is usually known for their bread but the bread here sucks. I was really surprised to not see real chicken at Panera. Not sure if it is just this location. I remember Panera being high quality. The workers here seem to have no interest in serving or cooking food. Make sure you don't take your date here!
(1)
Brandon E.
I am always impressed every time I come to Panera. Their food is great and is prepared pretty quickly. I just started being a vegetarian and they have a lot of good choices that actual taste good. I would most definitely suggest this restaurant for anyone.
(5)
Molly H.
I go to this Panera at least 3 times a week as it's on my way to work. I like Panera as far as chains go because the food is actually good, there are healthy options and it's consistent. That all being said, I have a major problem with the way they staff in the mornings. More than one person should be on the register at 7am!! I will say, 9/10 of my interactions with the staff are very pleasant, but way too often there's one person scrambling around doing everything while 2-3 other people seem to be doing....I don't know, something else. I assume getting catering orders ready or office stuff or something. This morning really prompted me to write this review--the woman ahead of me had ordered 2 dozen bagels. And all of those bagels need to be sliced. And boxed. And bagged with cream cheese. Thank God they didn't need to be toasted or I probably would have walked out because just this one guy was doing all of this on his own when I clearly saw two other girls there that I think could have easily spent the literally 2 minutes it would have taken to take my order and blend a smoothie. It's just a matter of being able to multi-task. I also think it's ridiculous that the person who takes my order has to go over and make my drink. There should be people on the register and people making drinks and/or food. I don't see the reasoning in combining the two unless it's, like, 9pm on a Monday night or something. Not in the morning on a weekday. Also: Panera. Please join us all in 2010 and start offering iced coffee. Seriously. Enough people order it now where giving them a cup of ice to put scalding hot coffee into doesn't make sense. Anyway--as far as Panera's go this one's fine and I wouldn't tell anyone to stay away. I just wish the service was more efficient.
(3)
Barry T.
The main redeeming quality about this Panera is that there is free parking, and is less packed than the Paneras down on North University or Washtenaw (haven't been to the one on Eisenhower, but that one is quite a bit away from campus). There's a long table that fits 8 people if you end up having a group meet-up here (or in our case, a weekly afternoon class). Unfortunately, their service is a bit spotty (sometimes good, sometimes you can stand waiting to put in your order for more than 5 minutes with no one at the counter...) I guess the alternative is waiting in line for more than 5 minutes at other Panera locations. Otherwise, it's a plain old Panera indeeeeeed.
(3)
Barry T.
The main redeeming quality about this Panera is that there is free parking, and is less packed than the Paneras down on North University or Washtenaw (haven't been to the one on Eisenhower, but that one is quite a bit away from campus). There's a long table that fits 8 people if you end up having a group meet-up here (or in our case, a weekly afternoon class). Unfortunately, their service is a bit spotty (sometimes good, sometimes you can stand waiting to put in your order for more than 5 minutes with no one at the counter...) I guess the alternative is waiting in line for more than 5 minutes at other Panera locations. Otherwise, it's a plain old Panera indeeeeeed.
(3)
Michael S.
I do like Panera a lot, but there's not one too conveniently near me, so I stop when I can. My experience with the one on Plymouth Rd. was not the best, but that's my fault. I didn't order what I usually do. This time I opted for the 1/2 Southwest BBQ flatbread sandwich and 1/2 Garden Salad. I like more bread on my sanny, so I don't know what I was thinking. It tasted alright, but not as good as I had hoped. The salad was fine, too, but I like a different dressing that what was on there. The coffee, as usual, was great. The service was quick and accurate. The space was pleasant and clean. I only hope they build one closer to me.
(4)
Austin C.
This Panera falls in the middle of the pack as compared to the rest of the chain. They have plenty of seating and free wifi which makes them a great location to study/surf the web. The free parking also makes them a great option for anyone that doesn't want to pay for North Campus parking. It is just a quick 5 minute walk from Pierpont Commons. In the mornings they play very nice classical music that is conducive for studying. For anyone studying at noon or later, be warned that they switch to cheesy elevator music and Kenny G interpretations of contemporary music. Make sure to bring those noise canceling headphones for the music transfer that always occurs at noon.
(3)
Melissa M.
Alright, I love Panera and I go to this one regularly, but this one is always out of something or another! Frequently it is whatever the seasonal menu item happens to be. So I just plan on ordering the standard when I go to this Panera. The one on Jackson and the one on Eisenhower always seem to have a little higher level of service as well.
(3)
Carrie W.
The food is fine--as many would agree, Panera food is generally the same no matter which one you go to. However, I really appreciate the service at this Panera. The manager here is really on the ball: personable, polite, and always making sure the customer is happy. That goes a long way in my book, and makes this my favorite Panera in Ann Arbor to get a meal or a coffee, and get a little work done.
(5)
Michael S.
I do like Panera a lot, but there's not one too conveniently near me, so I stop when I can. My experience with the one on Plymouth Rd. was not the best, but that's my fault. I didn't order what I usually do. This time I opted for the 1/2 Southwest BBQ flatbread sandwich and 1/2 Garden Salad. I like more bread on my sanny, so I don't know what I was thinking. It tasted alright, but not as good as I had hoped. The salad was fine, too, but I like a different dressing that what was on there. The coffee, as usual, was great. The service was quick and accurate. The space was pleasant and clean. I only hope they build one closer to me.
(4)
Allison O.
I come to Panera thinking I'll get something a tad better than what I can get at Subway. I love their Chicken Salad sandwich, but the Asiago Steak sandwich I got yesterday left a lot to be desired. First off, they were out of the Asiago bread...which freaking makes the whole sandwich. Was offered it on the three cheese bread, and I accepted (and upon eating questioned whether it was actually plain bread). I see the girl making my sandwich pile an obnoxious amount of horseradish sauce on the bread; don't get me wrong, I love horseradish, but not so much horseradish it literally hurts to eat the thing. She takes the steak out of the refrigerator that was pre-packed in parchment paper. Ugh, so I guess not much better than Subway after all. The only reason I gave 3 stars is because of the M&M cookie...which is well...a cookie. What's not to like.
(3)
Jennifer S.
I just stopped at panera quickly in the snow after having an appointment at the hospital. This panera (and the whole complex) is new since I graduated from U of M (2005). There's a Qdoba here and a korean place too. The panera was empty at 9 am (it was also a snow storm) on a Thursday. It's the same as all the other paneras...I just think panera coffee has kind of a funny after taste...I prefer starbucks to be perfectly honest.
(4)
Jason C.
I'm here once a day, at least... my usual is large cup of coffee. This place gets busy from 11:30 am to 1pm, Mon to Fri, especially when U of M's Fall and Winter semester is in session. Parking can be an issue when it's busy, but if you go during the right time, you'll be fine. I agree with some comments, they can do a better job with staffing their cashiers... it seems it's hit or miss... when the line gets long, they should open up the registers, but it takes a while and the cashier on duty doesn't call someone over...
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch 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 : Yes Caters : Yes
Russ W.
I was a regular to this place for the last 3 years until the service and quality of food began a steady decline. I visited twice in the last month and have finally decided to write a review. A week ago I ordered a grilled cheese (which is not even grilled btw) and when I got home it was so awful I wouldn't feed it to my dog. Stale bread, with no butter, simply slapped into the panini press with cheese in it for $7. It might as well have been a microwaved cheese sandwich. I tried to call the manager, Amanda, to help me with this as she has helped me in the past. She told me she needed a receipt which I did not have, and ended up saying to me "too bad" and telling me that in her opinion it is the best thing on the menu before hanging up the phone on me. Must have not been in a great mood that day. Upon my arrival for pick up this day, it seemed that the employee making my sandwich was more concerned about his cell phone than making my sandwich correctly or keeping his hair brushed and pants pulled up. If there was an easy way to get a hold of the franchise developer, they should definitely know about it because customer service here is not their top priority. You would think after that experience I would be smart enough to stay away but lemme give them another shot. So today I ordered online and upon arrival to pick up, my order wasn't ready yet. I was 3rd in a line of 7 people and there was only one cashier. The cashier was obviously not experienced enough to run the line by himself so it was amazing to me that out of the 2 managers that were there, neither of them stepped in to help, and one of them just sat there and watched the chaos. I get to the counter and he asked for a confirmation number which I gave them. They said that they already made the order and that someone stole my pick up order from the shelf !?!? Are they serious or is this just an excuse for their mess up?? They took another 10 minutes to slap an order together from memory before forcing me out the door with a bag. When I got home this time, there was no croutons for my soup and I was shorted a baguette that I had to pay extra for. I'll probably avoid ordering from here in the future unless it's simply a coffee or pasty, or unless they get their stuff together. Everything here including the food and the staff could really use an overhaul.
(1)Patrick T.
This place is all right. The steak in the steak salad comes out cold which is not the best. I'm not a big fan of Panera in general. I think the baked goods are dry and overpriced. I ordered a sandwich that was all right. They ask you if you want chips or an apple in your combo. I decided to be healthy and asked for an apple, but they gave me chips, which is what I secretly wanted.
(2)Arm F.
The chicken fettuccine alfredo was pasta with undercooked lunch meat sprinkled on top of it. I don't know why people are rating this place so high. Panera bread is usually known for their bread but the bread here sucks. I was really surprised to not see real chicken at Panera. Not sure if it is just this location. I remember Panera being high quality. The workers here seem to have no interest in serving or cooking food. Make sure you don't take your date here!
(1)Brandon E.
I am always impressed every time I come to Panera. Their food is great and is prepared pretty quickly. I just started being a vegetarian and they have a lot of good choices that actual taste good. I would most definitely suggest this restaurant for anyone.
(5)Molly H.
I go to this Panera at least 3 times a week as it's on my way to work. I like Panera as far as chains go because the food is actually good, there are healthy options and it's consistent. That all being said, I have a major problem with the way they staff in the mornings. More than one person should be on the register at 7am!! I will say, 9/10 of my interactions with the staff are very pleasant, but way too often there's one person scrambling around doing everything while 2-3 other people seem to be doing....I don't know, something else. I assume getting catering orders ready or office stuff or something. This morning really prompted me to write this review--the woman ahead of me had ordered 2 dozen bagels. And all of those bagels need to be sliced. And boxed. And bagged with cream cheese. Thank God they didn't need to be toasted or I probably would have walked out because just this one guy was doing all of this on his own when I clearly saw two other girls there that I think could have easily spent the literally 2 minutes it would have taken to take my order and blend a smoothie. It's just a matter of being able to multi-task. I also think it's ridiculous that the person who takes my order has to go over and make my drink. There should be people on the register and people making drinks and/or food. I don't see the reasoning in combining the two unless it's, like, 9pm on a Monday night or something. Not in the morning on a weekday. Also: Panera. Please join us all in 2010 and start offering iced coffee. Seriously. Enough people order it now where giving them a cup of ice to put scalding hot coffee into doesn't make sense. Anyway--as far as Panera's go this one's fine and I wouldn't tell anyone to stay away. I just wish the service was more efficient.
(3)Allison O.
I come to Panera thinking I'll get something a tad better than what I can get at Subway. I love their Chicken Salad sandwich, but the Asiago Steak sandwich I got yesterday left a lot to be desired. First off, they were out of the Asiago bread...which freaking makes the whole sandwich. Was offered it on the three cheese bread, and I accepted (and upon eating questioned whether it was actually plain bread). I see the girl making my sandwich pile an obnoxious amount of horseradish sauce on the bread; don't get me wrong, I love horseradish, but not so much horseradish it literally hurts to eat the thing. She takes the steak out of the refrigerator that was pre-packed in parchment paper. Ugh, so I guess not much better than Subway after all. The only reason I gave 3 stars is because of the M&M cookie...which is well...a cookie. What's not to like.
(3)Jennifer S.
I just stopped at panera quickly in the snow after having an appointment at the hospital. This panera (and the whole complex) is new since I graduated from U of M (2005). There's a Qdoba here and a korean place too. The panera was empty at 9 am (it was also a snow storm) on a Thursday. It's the same as all the other paneras...I just think panera coffee has kind of a funny after taste...I prefer starbucks to be perfectly honest.
(4)Jason C.
I'm here once a day, at least... my usual is large cup of coffee. This place gets busy from 11:30 am to 1pm, Mon to Fri, especially when U of M's Fall and Winter semester is in session. Parking can be an issue when it's busy, but if you go during the right time, you'll be fine. I agree with some comments, they can do a better job with staffing their cashiers... it seems it's hit or miss... when the line gets long, they should open up the registers, but it takes a while and the cashier on duty doesn't call someone over...
(3)Melissa M.
Alright, I love Panera and I go to this one regularly, but this one is always out of something or another! Frequently it is whatever the seasonal menu item happens to be. So I just plan on ordering the standard when I go to this Panera. The one on Jackson and the one on Eisenhower always seem to have a little higher level of service as well.
(3)Carrie W.
The food is fine--as many would agree, Panera food is generally the same no matter which one you go to. However, I really appreciate the service at this Panera. The manager here is really on the ball: personable, polite, and always making sure the customer is happy. That goes a long way in my book, and makes this my favorite Panera in Ann Arbor to get a meal or a coffee, and get a little work done.
(5)Austin C.
This Panera falls in the middle of the pack as compared to the rest of the chain. They have plenty of seating and free wifi which makes them a great location to study/surf the web. The free parking also makes them a great option for anyone that doesn't want to pay for North Campus parking. It is just a quick 5 minute walk from Pierpont Commons. In the mornings they play very nice classical music that is conducive for studying. For anyone studying at noon or later, be warned that they switch to cheesy elevator music and Kenny G interpretations of contemporary music. Make sure to bring those noise canceling headphones for the music transfer that always occurs at noon.
(3)Russ W.
I was a regular to this place for the last 3 years until the service and quality of food began a steady decline. I visited twice in the last month and have finally decided to write a review. A week ago I ordered a grilled cheese (which is not even grilled btw) and when I got home it was so awful I wouldn't feed it to my dog. Stale bread, with no butter, simply slapped into the panini press with cheese in it for $7. It might as well have been a microwaved cheese sandwich. I tried to call the manager, Amanda, to help me with this as she has helped me in the past. She told me she needed a receipt which I did not have, and ended up saying to me "too bad" and telling me that in her opinion it is the best thing on the menu before hanging up the phone on me. Must have not been in a great mood that day. Upon my arrival for pick up this day, it seemed that the employee making my sandwich was more concerned about his cell phone than making my sandwich correctly or keeping his hair brushed and pants pulled up. If there was an easy way to get a hold of the franchise developer, they should definitely know about it because customer service here is not their top priority. You would think after that experience I would be smart enough to stay away but lemme give them another shot. So today I ordered online and upon arrival to pick up, my order wasn't ready yet. I was 3rd in a line of 7 people and there was only one cashier. The cashier was obviously not experienced enough to run the line by himself so it was amazing to me that out of the 2 managers that were there, neither of them stepped in to help, and one of them just sat there and watched the chaos. I get to the counter and he asked for a confirmation number which I gave them. They said that they already made the order and that someone stole my pick up order from the shelf !?!? Are they serious or is this just an excuse for their mess up?? They took another 10 minutes to slap an order together from memory before forcing me out the door with a bag. When I got home this time, there was no croutons for my soup and I was shorted a baguette that I had to pay extra for. I'll probably avoid ordering from here in the future unless it's simply a coffee or pasty, or unless they get their stuff together. Everything here including the food and the staff could really use an overhaul.
(1)Patrick T.
This place is all right. The steak in the steak salad comes out cold which is not the best. I'm not a big fan of Panera in general. I think the baked goods are dry and overpriced. I ordered a sandwich that was all right. They ask you if you want chips or an apple in your combo. I decided to be healthy and asked for an apple, but they gave me chips, which is what I secretly wanted.
(2)Arm F.
The chicken fettuccine alfredo was pasta with undercooked lunch meat sprinkled on top of it. I don't know why people are rating this place so high. Panera bread is usually known for their bread but the bread here sucks. I was really surprised to not see real chicken at Panera. Not sure if it is just this location. I remember Panera being high quality. The workers here seem to have no interest in serving or cooking food. Make sure you don't take your date here!
(1)Brandon E.
I am always impressed every time I come to Panera. Their food is great and is prepared pretty quickly. I just started being a vegetarian and they have a lot of good choices that actual taste good. I would most definitely suggest this restaurant for anyone.
(5)Molly H.
I go to this Panera at least 3 times a week as it's on my way to work. I like Panera as far as chains go because the food is actually good, there are healthy options and it's consistent. That all being said, I have a major problem with the way they staff in the mornings. More than one person should be on the register at 7am!! I will say, 9/10 of my interactions with the staff are very pleasant, but way too often there's one person scrambling around doing everything while 2-3 other people seem to be doing....I don't know, something else. I assume getting catering orders ready or office stuff or something. This morning really prompted me to write this review--the woman ahead of me had ordered 2 dozen bagels. And all of those bagels need to be sliced. And boxed. And bagged with cream cheese. Thank God they didn't need to be toasted or I probably would have walked out because just this one guy was doing all of this on his own when I clearly saw two other girls there that I think could have easily spent the literally 2 minutes it would have taken to take my order and blend a smoothie. It's just a matter of being able to multi-task. I also think it's ridiculous that the person who takes my order has to go over and make my drink. There should be people on the register and people making drinks and/or food. I don't see the reasoning in combining the two unless it's, like, 9pm on a Monday night or something. Not in the morning on a weekday. Also: Panera. Please join us all in 2010 and start offering iced coffee. Seriously. Enough people order it now where giving them a cup of ice to put scalding hot coffee into doesn't make sense. Anyway--as far as Panera's go this one's fine and I wouldn't tell anyone to stay away. I just wish the service was more efficient.
(3)Barry T.
The main redeeming quality about this Panera is that there is free parking, and is less packed than the Paneras down on North University or Washtenaw (haven't been to the one on Eisenhower, but that one is quite a bit away from campus). There's a long table that fits 8 people if you end up having a group meet-up here (or in our case, a weekly afternoon class). Unfortunately, their service is a bit spotty (sometimes good, sometimes you can stand waiting to put in your order for more than 5 minutes with no one at the counter...) I guess the alternative is waiting in line for more than 5 minutes at other Panera locations. Otherwise, it's a plain old Panera indeeeeeed.
(3)Barry T.
The main redeeming quality about this Panera is that there is free parking, and is less packed than the Paneras down on North University or Washtenaw (haven't been to the one on Eisenhower, but that one is quite a bit away from campus). There's a long table that fits 8 people if you end up having a group meet-up here (or in our case, a weekly afternoon class). Unfortunately, their service is a bit spotty (sometimes good, sometimes you can stand waiting to put in your order for more than 5 minutes with no one at the counter...) I guess the alternative is waiting in line for more than 5 minutes at other Panera locations. Otherwise, it's a plain old Panera indeeeeeed.
(3)Michael S.
I do like Panera a lot, but there's not one too conveniently near me, so I stop when I can. My experience with the one on Plymouth Rd. was not the best, but that's my fault. I didn't order what I usually do. This time I opted for the 1/2 Southwest BBQ flatbread sandwich and 1/2 Garden Salad. I like more bread on my sanny, so I don't know what I was thinking. It tasted alright, but not as good as I had hoped. The salad was fine, too, but I like a different dressing that what was on there. The coffee, as usual, was great. The service was quick and accurate. The space was pleasant and clean. I only hope they build one closer to me.
(4)Austin C.
This Panera falls in the middle of the pack as compared to the rest of the chain. They have plenty of seating and free wifi which makes them a great location to study/surf the web. The free parking also makes them a great option for anyone that doesn't want to pay for North Campus parking. It is just a quick 5 minute walk from Pierpont Commons. In the mornings they play very nice classical music that is conducive for studying. For anyone studying at noon or later, be warned that they switch to cheesy elevator music and Kenny G interpretations of contemporary music. Make sure to bring those noise canceling headphones for the music transfer that always occurs at noon.
(3)Melissa M.
Alright, I love Panera and I go to this one regularly, but this one is always out of something or another! Frequently it is whatever the seasonal menu item happens to be. So I just plan on ordering the standard when I go to this Panera. The one on Jackson and the one on Eisenhower always seem to have a little higher level of service as well.
(3)Carrie W.
The food is fine--as many would agree, Panera food is generally the same no matter which one you go to. However, I really appreciate the service at this Panera. The manager here is really on the ball: personable, polite, and always making sure the customer is happy. That goes a long way in my book, and makes this my favorite Panera in Ann Arbor to get a meal or a coffee, and get a little work done.
(5)Michael S.
I do like Panera a lot, but there's not one too conveniently near me, so I stop when I can. My experience with the one on Plymouth Rd. was not the best, but that's my fault. I didn't order what I usually do. This time I opted for the 1/2 Southwest BBQ flatbread sandwich and 1/2 Garden Salad. I like more bread on my sanny, so I don't know what I was thinking. It tasted alright, but not as good as I had hoped. The salad was fine, too, but I like a different dressing that what was on there. The coffee, as usual, was great. The service was quick and accurate. The space was pleasant and clean. I only hope they build one closer to me.
(4)Allison O.
I come to Panera thinking I'll get something a tad better than what I can get at Subway. I love their Chicken Salad sandwich, but the Asiago Steak sandwich I got yesterday left a lot to be desired. First off, they were out of the Asiago bread...which freaking makes the whole sandwich. Was offered it on the three cheese bread, and I accepted (and upon eating questioned whether it was actually plain bread). I see the girl making my sandwich pile an obnoxious amount of horseradish sauce on the bread; don't get me wrong, I love horseradish, but not so much horseradish it literally hurts to eat the thing. She takes the steak out of the refrigerator that was pre-packed in parchment paper. Ugh, so I guess not much better than Subway after all. The only reason I gave 3 stars is because of the M&M cookie...which is well...a cookie. What's not to like.
(3)Jennifer S.
I just stopped at panera quickly in the snow after having an appointment at the hospital. This panera (and the whole complex) is new since I graduated from U of M (2005). There's a Qdoba here and a korean place too. The panera was empty at 9 am (it was also a snow storm) on a Thursday. It's the same as all the other paneras...I just think panera coffee has kind of a funny after taste...I prefer starbucks to be perfectly honest.
(4)Jason C.
I'm here once a day, at least... my usual is large cup of coffee. This place gets busy from 11:30 am to 1pm, Mon to Fri, especially when U of M's Fall and Winter semester is in session. Parking can be an issue when it's busy, but if you go during the right time, you'll be fine. I agree with some comments, they can do a better job with staffing their cashiers... it seems it's hit or miss... when the line gets long, they should open up the registers, but it takes a while and the cashier on duty doesn't call someone over...
(3)