This Panera always seems to be on the ball whenever I visit. Clean, fast and friendly. The food here is always stocked too. When I am in Canton or Westland after five I hear "Oh we're out of that" about numerous items. I can come in here an hour before close and they have anything I want. They are now also open until 10. Happiness. For fast foodyish but not fried up fare I have always considered Panera to be reliable. I first sampled it in St Lou under its name of St Louis Bread Company and was thrilled that soon after they brought this incarnation north. They rotate menu items and there always seems to be something new to try. This occasion I had an awesome shrimp roll with over ten substantial whole shrimps and a ton of avocado slices with a basil lemon mayo on a typical lobster roll style bun. It came with a cup of soup or a cafe salad but they let me upgrade to the strawberry chicken salad for a mere couple bucks more. Holy huge dinner, I took some home. I like that they bake things fresh here, have a wide variety of salads and a decent soup selection. The asiago and cinnamon crunch bagels here are awesome and they have a good variety of flavored cream cheeses. The iced tea and lemonade are stellar too. Add a dessert to any combo for 99¢? Winning. I'm not a food snob, I'm not saying this place is gourmet. It's a chain. It's also a decent option. Besides with my Panera card my upgrade was free, they had loaded two bucks off a combo onto it :).
(3)
Angela J.
Usually great selection of soups salads with fresh veggies and scrumptious bread; my little guy LOVES THE BUTTERED noodles (although I can make them got a whole lot less cost at home!); pricier than fast food but better quality too I Recommend doing the free rewards program if you go more than once in a while...fresh party every so often
(4)
Beck E.
The workers were very friendly here when I went. It was difficult to find outlets though, especially given the lunch rush. It was REALLY busy, though I arrived shortly before noon (probably prime lunch time). They must be doing something right to be that popular!
(3)
Michael S.
One nice thing about Panera is that it's pretty consistent from location to location. my visit here was no exception. My Chipotle Chicken was good, though i was hoping for most of it, given what I paid. I accidentally ordered a "meal", since it came with a side (chips, per my request. It must have been the medium coffee I had with it. I didn't go at a rush time, so the speed at which i was able to complete the transaction and receive my meal was not surprising, but refreshing. Staff were efficient and friendly. I was able to resist those delicsious looking baked goods!
(4)
Athena K.
An okay panera location, nothing special. Staff are friendly. Floors and bathrooms are clean. This place is very loud and often busy.
(3)
Wally S.
I guess my tastes must be changing. My jalapeño/cheddar bagel with ham, egg, and cheese was rather boring and it cost me a heck of a lot of Weight Watchers points and cash. Add the cost of a coffee to that and you've spent enough to put 2 gallons of gas in your car. While they sell themselves as healthy, I see them more as just expensive for small portions. That's OK though for some people, just not for me. An extra star for this place for giving us a free cobblestone sweet roll after we were staring at it in the case and salivating.
(3)
Suzanne S.
This is short and sweet....not one of my "usual" reviews.. We go to Panera quite often and I've made several reviews of the horrible treatment we've received by a clerk at the Canton Panera. But I've also written how wonderful the Westland Panera has been, the Novi Paneara and also the six mile Rd. in Livonia, Panera! I have been to this one on Washtenaw just a couple of times and it was very very busy this particular day! We got our order very quickly and found a place to sit luckily. We had to clean and "bus" our own table, I am guessing because it was so busy, they didn't have the "help" to go out and clean up the lobby area. So if I'm taking any points away, it's just for cleanliness of the lobby! The food was great! I had the Aisian Chicken salad with chips and a soda! My friend had a sandwich with chips and some soup! The cream of chicken and rice soup is great, by the way! All in all, this Panera was a great place to visit because they seem to be aware of how busy they get and they had the food prepared qucikly and to our liking!
(4)
Kayla C.
LOVE their strawberry smoothies! The employees are always very nice and I often hear them calling their regulars by name.
(4)
Steven C.
This is a great place for soup and sandwiches! I especially love their espressos. Of course their bread and pastries are excellent also. A great place to just sit and read when you need a break.
(5)
Mae S.
Good place to meet with friends over coffee or lunch, especially if it's a little before or after everybody else's simultaneous lunch hour. Easy parking (usually), food served reasonably quickly (counter service), overall taste and quality of food is good with fair variety. Watch out for the high-calorie special sandwiches -- the Italian Combo lists 1100 calories, which makes it almost 2 Big Macs at 570 each! If you are going for calories, why not go directly for the Danish pastry? Pretty kid friendly too.
(4)
Andrea F.
Through the years the sandwiches have taken a big downgrade. I used to get the frontaga chicken sandwich and it was always so fresh and filling now it is a very lacking sandwich- not enough chicken, and lower quality bread. Panera still deserves three stars for their excellent soups and bread bowls.
(3)
Eric A.
Typical panera. Friendly staff and its usually easy to get a table. Parking sucks since they share a parking lot with whole foods. Great overall.
(4)
Noah M.
While the food and service is great. The WiFi is horrible. My phone is running a faster upload/download speed according to speed test.net . Panera, I get it, you manage your bandwidth per user to not slow the whole network down but why not just get a faster connection and increase thw bandwidth per user. Most people here are on the internet and its soooooooooooo friggin slow!
(3)
Elena W.
This is the second time in a week that I have picked up a "treat" lunch at this Panera and been disappointed. The bread does not taste fresh and the sandwich is all messed up - thrown together. in addition, not made the way I asked; last week requested no sauce, sauce on it. This week requested no onions, onions on it. Frustrating, these are not cheap! The coffee and chocolate croissants are great, though.
(2)
Beth H.
Super dirty for being 5pm. I would think employees would have cleaned or at least checked the restrooms since the lunch rush. I spoke up to the manager that the bathroom needed attention. Not much attention to detail in this place.
(2)
Mia M.
This Panera is always busy, and I can see why! Each time I go to his location, I'm pleased with the service. The employees are attentive and polite, and the building itself is clean. Panera doesn't house the fanciest foods; it's soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, and they do those things well. Everything is pretty decently priced, plus there's free wifi and tons of seating. The environment is great for anything from catching up with a friend, or hunkering down for some studying. This location is one of my favorites. The people are nice, the food is good, and it has a nice atmosphere. Plus, I love their chai tea!
(4)
Alice L.
This was my first time trying Panera Bread. When we got there, the workers took care of us as soon as we were ready and were very friendly. My husband and I both decided we would get takeout. We ordered the Bread Bowl French Onion Soup and their Rigatoni San Marzano Pasta which came with its own bread! The bread bowls were very sturdy and went perfectly well with the French Onion Soup. The peas in the pasta were well cooked as well as the sausages. For a chain restaurant, the food was great overall. I will return and recommend this place. This location definitely deserves 5 stars for carryout. If you are dining in, the place is busy and fairly loud. I'll have to see how I feel about the dine in experience the next time I go here.
(5)
Shirley H.
When I start feelin sick, I love taking advantage of the "pick 2" combo for under $10. My hubs was nice enough to pick up a small cup of chicken noodles soup, small mac and cheese and an apple the other day. The chicken soup was pretty good and my only complaint is there's not enough chicken or noodles. I would say the cup is 90% broth. I've had some chicken noodle soup, where the noodles disintegrate the moment it goes into your mouth, and I'm happy to report that this is not the case for PB's soup. The mac was okay this time around. The noodles were cooked fully but the sauce lacked some flavor. Some pepper might've made the mac taste a little better. It could just be better when it comes hot out of the kitchen. I am also a huge fan of the tomato bisque soup, that comes me a small bag of garlic toast-like croutons that soften up when they sit in the soup for a minute or two. When I'm in the mood to spoil myself a little and have extra calories to eat, I'll order an iced chai latte. They always seem to have a great balance of spice and milk. I'm pretty picky when it comes to chai, so if I'm hankering for chai, I definitely come here. A downside to this PB is the location and the craziness of the parking lot, especially because Whole Foods is next door, along with Barnes and Noble, Walgreens, Georgetown Gifts, etc. I would rate this PB a 3.5/5.
(3)
Ron G.
I forget what they called it but some sort of Mexican flatbread was quite the flavor sensation. Definitely give it a shot. In the mornings everything bagels and hazelnut coffee are the perfect way to start the day. Yum!
(4)
Jenn V.
Wow, apparently some people really don't like Panera. I don't usually review chains or fast food places, but I felt compelled after seeing some of these reviews. First, whoever voted it 'spendy' in price (which means $31-60 pp) is being ridiculous. C'mon, we all know Panera is cheap. Soups, salads, sandwiches, bagels, muffin, a few pastries, lemonade, chai, espresso based drinks, etc. Their 1/2 sandwich and soup combo is like $7. How do you not find that cheap? Panera Cafes, and this location in particular, are clean and usually have somewhat friendly staff. It's a great place to study and do some work-- they are one of the few places anymore that offers free wi-fi and won't kick you out after you've sat there for 5+ hrs and only purchased a coffee or bagel. Some of their menu items can be really high calorie like some said, but they have lighter choices, including fruit cups, yogurt parfaits and some select soups, sandwiches and salads. So you have your options. While their food isn't spectacular it isn't bland or tasteless. Seriously, what are you guys expecting? It's Panera. You know what to expect, and it serves a certain purpose. If I wanted to have a nice lunch with a friend, I would obviously go elsewhere. But if you want to get in a few hours of studying away from home and grab some food, or you are running errands or work in the area and need some quick food that is NOT from the drive-thru, then you have found your place.
(3)
Andria B.
Everytime I visit thisd Panera location, the staff are incredibly friendly and the food and drinks are always fantastic!
(5)
Bonnie L.
I just don't like Panera food that much. I think their salads are soggy, their soup is bland, their sandwiches are greasy, their caramel latte is too sweet, their bagels are just ok. I never go here for the food. It is, however, a wonderful place to study for extended periods of time, if you can find the right table. Free wi-fi always helps. They recently put in two high tables directly facing the wall near the fireplace with a total of eight outlets nearby. These tables are ideal for parking all day--crabby old ladies can't catch your eye to glare at you for sitting there too long, because you're facing the wall. I try to make it there within an hour of opening; otherwise there's no guarantee of getting any seat near an oulet- by ten there are typically upwards of a dozen laptops open, the focus of their owners' intent gaze. EDIT: I finally found something I like here- the baked egg souffle. Unfortunately, it's 490 calories and 32 grams of fat. And only served "while supplies last" in the mornings.
(3)
Tina W.
When I feel like splurging on deserts, I always come here and buy their muffins. :) And I've never come to this particular location for food, but I have many fond memories of soup and sandwiches at the Panera at home.
(3)
Marina E.
I ordered their soup and salad combo, a chicken salad sandwich and a corn chowder soup, both which had no flavor. The place was packed and I am still scratching my head on why.
(2)
Andrew M.
perfect for in and out service as you head out of town in the morning, the location is off washtenaw ave. very close to whole foods. the service and the food is great. panera is a great option replacing "fast food". they continue to upgrade menu definatly recomend this place.
(4)
Sarah P.
I love Ann Arbor for introducing me to Panera. While I am usually anti-chain establishments simply b/c they can't compete with the mom and pop places, Panera is an exception! I love their turkey artichoke, smokehouse turkey, and frontega chicken sandwiches. While their paninis may not be gargantuan and they may be a tiny bit on the greasy side, they are fantastic and fresh! Their salads are pretty inventive (think Fuji Apple chicken with pecans and homemade apple chips). Their chicken noodle soup and their black bean veggie soups are low calorie and not bad at all. I usually order the salad/sandwich or soup/sandwich combo and get a mouthwatering whole grain baguette slice as a side (sides are free). I highly recommend their bread...any of their breads! I also love their bakery! Their pumpkin muffin and bagels (seasonal, of course) and so incredibly yummy and their asiago cheese bagels (I am a self-proclaimed asiago cheese bagel snob) is moist and has cheese oozing out of it. The cinnamon crunch bagel is pretty darn good too! Their baked egg souffles are these little, delish, buttery combinations that really satisfy me beyond belief! Ooooooh and they also have free wifi and offer a pleasant studying atmosphere! As an added bonus, their website has nutritional information for those wanting to make informed health conscious decisions :-P!
(4)
Elena W.
This is the second time in a week that I have picked up a "treat" lunch at this Panera and been disappointed. The bread does not taste fresh and the sandwich is all messed up - thrown together. in addition, not made the way I asked; last week requested no sauce, sauce on it. This week requested no onions, onions on it. Frustrating, these are not cheap! The coffee and chocolate croissants are great, though.
(2)
Beth H.
Super dirty for being 5pm. I would think employees would have cleaned or at least checked the restrooms since the lunch rush. I spoke up to the manager that the bathroom needed attention. Not much attention to detail in this place.
(2)
Athena K.
An okay panera location, nothing special. Staff are friendly. Floors and bathrooms are clean. This place is very loud and often busy.
(3)
Angela J.
Usually great selection of soups salads with fresh veggies and scrumptious bread; my little guy LOVES THE BUTTERED noodles (although I can make them got a whole lot less cost at home!); pricier than fast food but better quality too I Recommend doing the free rewards program if you go more than once in a while...fresh party every so often
(4)
Michael S.
One nice thing about Panera is that it's pretty consistent from location to location. my visit here was no exception. My Chipotle Chicken was good, though i was hoping for most of it, given what I paid. I accidentally ordered a "meal", since it came with a side (chips, per my request. It must have been the medium coffee I had with it. I didn't go at a rush time, so the speed at which i was able to complete the transaction and receive my meal was not surprising, but refreshing. Staff were efficient and friendly. I was able to resist those delicsious looking baked goods!
(4)
Andrea F.
Through the years the sandwiches have taken a big downgrade. I used to get the frontaga chicken sandwich and it was always so fresh and filling now it is a very lacking sandwich- not enough chicken, and lower quality bread. Panera still deserves three stars for their excellent soups and bread bowls.
(3)
Shirley H.
When I start feelin sick, I love taking advantage of the "pick 2" combo for under $10. My hubs was nice enough to pick up a small cup of chicken noodles soup, small mac and cheese and an apple the other day. The chicken soup was pretty good and my only complaint is there's not enough chicken or noodles. I would say the cup is 90% broth. I've had some chicken noodle soup, where the noodles disintegrate the moment it goes into your mouth, and I'm happy to report that this is not the case for PB's soup. The mac was okay this time around. The noodles were cooked fully but the sauce lacked some flavor. Some pepper might've made the mac taste a little better. It could just be better when it comes hot out of the kitchen. I am also a huge fan of the tomato bisque soup, that comes me a small bag of garlic toast-like croutons that soften up when they sit in the soup for a minute or two. When I'm in the mood to spoil myself a little and have extra calories to eat, I'll order an iced chai latte. They always seem to have a great balance of spice and milk. I'm pretty picky when it comes to chai, so if I'm hankering for chai, I definitely come here. A downside to this PB is the location and the craziness of the parking lot, especially because Whole Foods is next door, along with Barnes and Noble, Walgreens, Georgetown Gifts, etc. I would rate this PB a 3.5/5.
(3)
Ron G.
I forget what they called it but some sort of Mexican flatbread was quite the flavor sensation. Definitely give it a shot. In the mornings everything bagels and hazelnut coffee are the perfect way to start the day. Yum!
(4)
Eric A.
Typical panera. Friendly staff and its usually easy to get a table. Parking sucks since they share a parking lot with whole foods. Great overall.
(4)
Noah M.
While the food and service is great. The WiFi is horrible. My phone is running a faster upload/download speed according to speed test.net . Panera, I get it, you manage your bandwidth per user to not slow the whole network down but why not just get a faster connection and increase thw bandwidth per user. Most people here are on the internet and its soooooooooooo friggin slow!
(3)
Wally S.
I guess my tastes must be changing. My jalapeño/cheddar bagel with ham, egg, and cheese was rather boring and it cost me a heck of a lot of Weight Watchers points and cash. Add the cost of a coffee to that and you've spent enough to put 2 gallons of gas in your car. While they sell themselves as healthy, I see them more as just expensive for small portions. That's OK though for some people, just not for me. An extra star for this place for giving us a free cobblestone sweet roll after we were staring at it in the case and salivating.
(3)
Liz W.
This Panera always seems to be on the ball whenever I visit. Clean, fast and friendly. The food here is always stocked too. When I am in Canton or Westland after five I hear "Oh we're out of that" about numerous items. I can come in here an hour before close and they have anything I want. They are now also open until 10. Happiness. For fast foodyish but not fried up fare I have always considered Panera to be reliable. I first sampled it in St Lou under its name of St Louis Bread Company and was thrilled that soon after they brought this incarnation north. They rotate menu items and there always seems to be something new to try. This occasion I had an awesome shrimp roll with over ten substantial whole shrimps and a ton of avocado slices with a basil lemon mayo on a typical lobster roll style bun. It came with a cup of soup or a cafe salad but they let me upgrade to the strawberry chicken salad for a mere couple bucks more. Holy huge dinner, I took some home. I like that they bake things fresh here, have a wide variety of salads and a decent soup selection. The asiago and cinnamon crunch bagels here are awesome and they have a good variety of flavored cream cheeses. The iced tea and lemonade are stellar too. Add a dessert to any combo for 99¢? Winning. I'm not a food snob, I'm not saying this place is gourmet. It's a chain. It's also a decent option. Besides with my Panera card my upgrade was free, they had loaded two bucks off a combo onto it :).
(3)
Mia M.
This Panera is always busy, and I can see why! Each time I go to his location, I'm pleased with the service. The employees are attentive and polite, and the building itself is clean. Panera doesn't house the fanciest foods; it's soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, and they do those things well. Everything is pretty decently priced, plus there's free wifi and tons of seating. The environment is great for anything from catching up with a friend, or hunkering down for some studying. This location is one of my favorites. The people are nice, the food is good, and it has a nice atmosphere. Plus, I love their chai tea!
(4)
Alice L.
This was my first time trying Panera Bread. When we got there, the workers took care of us as soon as we were ready and were very friendly. My husband and I both decided we would get takeout. We ordered the Bread Bowl French Onion Soup and their Rigatoni San Marzano Pasta which came with its own bread! The bread bowls were very sturdy and went perfectly well with the French Onion Soup. The peas in the pasta were well cooked as well as the sausages. For a chain restaurant, the food was great overall. I will return and recommend this place. This location definitely deserves 5 stars for carryout. If you are dining in, the place is busy and fairly loud. I'll have to see how I feel about the dine in experience the next time I go here.
(5)
Beck E.
The workers were very friendly here when I went. It was difficult to find outlets though, especially given the lunch rush. It was REALLY busy, though I arrived shortly before noon (probably prime lunch time). They must be doing something right to be that popular!
(3)
Suzanne S.
This is short and sweet....not one of my "usual" reviews.. We go to Panera quite often and I've made several reviews of the horrible treatment we've received by a clerk at the Canton Panera. But I've also written how wonderful the Westland Panera has been, the Novi Paneara and also the six mile Rd. in Livonia, Panera! I have been to this one on Washtenaw just a couple of times and it was very very busy this particular day! We got our order very quickly and found a place to sit luckily. We had to clean and "bus" our own table, I am guessing because it was so busy, they didn't have the "help" to go out and clean up the lobby area. So if I'm taking any points away, it's just for cleanliness of the lobby! The food was great! I had the Aisian Chicken salad with chips and a soda! My friend had a sandwich with chips and some soup! The cream of chicken and rice soup is great, by the way! All in all, this Panera was a great place to visit because they seem to be aware of how busy they get and they had the food prepared qucikly and to our liking!
(4)
Kayla C.
LOVE their strawberry smoothies! The employees are always very nice and I often hear them calling their regulars by name.
(4)
Steven C.
This is a great place for soup and sandwiches! I especially love their espressos. Of course their bread and pastries are excellent also. A great place to just sit and read when you need a break.
(5)
Jenn V.
Wow, apparently some people really don't like Panera. I don't usually review chains or fast food places, but I felt compelled after seeing some of these reviews. First, whoever voted it 'spendy' in price (which means $31-60 pp) is being ridiculous. C'mon, we all know Panera is cheap. Soups, salads, sandwiches, bagels, muffin, a few pastries, lemonade, chai, espresso based drinks, etc. Their 1/2 sandwich and soup combo is like $7. How do you not find that cheap? Panera Cafes, and this location in particular, are clean and usually have somewhat friendly staff. It's a great place to study and do some work-- they are one of the few places anymore that offers free wi-fi and won't kick you out after you've sat there for 5+ hrs and only purchased a coffee or bagel. Some of their menu items can be really high calorie like some said, but they have lighter choices, including fruit cups, yogurt parfaits and some select soups, sandwiches and salads. So you have your options. While their food isn't spectacular it isn't bland or tasteless. Seriously, what are you guys expecting? It's Panera. You know what to expect, and it serves a certain purpose. If I wanted to have a nice lunch with a friend, I would obviously go elsewhere. But if you want to get in a few hours of studying away from home and grab some food, or you are running errands or work in the area and need some quick food that is NOT from the drive-thru, then you have found your place.
(3)
Andria B.
Everytime I visit thisd Panera location, the staff are incredibly friendly and the food and drinks are always fantastic!
(5)
Bonnie L.
I just don't like Panera food that much. I think their salads are soggy, their soup is bland, their sandwiches are greasy, their caramel latte is too sweet, their bagels are just ok. I never go here for the food. It is, however, a wonderful place to study for extended periods of time, if you can find the right table. Free wi-fi always helps. They recently put in two high tables directly facing the wall near the fireplace with a total of eight outlets nearby. These tables are ideal for parking all day--crabby old ladies can't catch your eye to glare at you for sitting there too long, because you're facing the wall. I try to make it there within an hour of opening; otherwise there's no guarantee of getting any seat near an oulet- by ten there are typically upwards of a dozen laptops open, the focus of their owners' intent gaze. EDIT: I finally found something I like here- the baked egg souffle. Unfortunately, it's 490 calories and 32 grams of fat. And only served "while supplies last" in the mornings.
(3)
Tina W.
When I feel like splurging on deserts, I always come here and buy their muffins. :) And I've never come to this particular location for food, but I have many fond memories of soup and sandwiches at the Panera at home.
(3)
Marina E.
I ordered their soup and salad combo, a chicken salad sandwich and a corn chowder soup, both which had no flavor. The place was packed and I am still scratching my head on why.
(2)
Andrew M.
perfect for in and out service as you head out of town in the morning, the location is off washtenaw ave. very close to whole foods. the service and the food is great. panera is a great option replacing "fast food". they continue to upgrade menu definatly recomend this place.
(4)
Mae S.
Good place to meet with friends over coffee or lunch, especially if it's a little before or after everybody else's simultaneous lunch hour. Easy parking (usually), food served reasonably quickly (counter service), overall taste and quality of food is good with fair variety. Watch out for the high-calorie special sandwiches -- the Italian Combo lists 1100 calories, which makes it almost 2 Big Macs at 570 each! If you are going for calories, why not go directly for the Danish pastry? Pretty kid friendly too.
(4)
Sarah P.
I love Ann Arbor for introducing me to Panera. While I am usually anti-chain establishments simply b/c they can't compete with the mom and pop places, Panera is an exception! I love their turkey artichoke, smokehouse turkey, and frontega chicken sandwiches. While their paninis may not be gargantuan and they may be a tiny bit on the greasy side, they are fantastic and fresh! Their salads are pretty inventive (think Fuji Apple chicken with pecans and homemade apple chips). Their chicken noodle soup and their black bean veggie soups are low calorie and not bad at all. I usually order the salad/sandwich or soup/sandwich combo and get a mouthwatering whole grain baguette slice as a side (sides are free). I highly recommend their bread...any of their breads! I also love their bakery! Their pumpkin muffin and bagels (seasonal, of course) and so incredibly yummy and their asiago cheese bagels (I am a self-proclaimed asiago cheese bagel snob) is moist and has cheese oozing out of it. The cinnamon crunch bagel is pretty darn good too! Their baked egg souffles are these little, delish, buttery combinations that really satisfy me beyond belief! Ooooooh and they also have free wifi and offer a pleasant studying atmosphere! As an added bonus, their website has nutritional information for those wanting to make informed health conscious decisions :-P!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Liz W.
This Panera always seems to be on the ball whenever I visit. Clean, fast and friendly. The food here is always stocked too. When I am in Canton or Westland after five I hear "Oh we're out of that" about numerous items. I can come in here an hour before close and they have anything I want. They are now also open until 10. Happiness. For fast foodyish but not fried up fare I have always considered Panera to be reliable. I first sampled it in St Lou under its name of St Louis Bread Company and was thrilled that soon after they brought this incarnation north. They rotate menu items and there always seems to be something new to try. This occasion I had an awesome shrimp roll with over ten substantial whole shrimps and a ton of avocado slices with a basil lemon mayo on a typical lobster roll style bun. It came with a cup of soup or a cafe salad but they let me upgrade to the strawberry chicken salad for a mere couple bucks more. Holy huge dinner, I took some home. I like that they bake things fresh here, have a wide variety of salads and a decent soup selection. The asiago and cinnamon crunch bagels here are awesome and they have a good variety of flavored cream cheeses. The iced tea and lemonade are stellar too. Add a dessert to any combo for 99¢? Winning. I'm not a food snob, I'm not saying this place is gourmet. It's a chain. It's also a decent option. Besides with my Panera card my upgrade was free, they had loaded two bucks off a combo onto it :).
(3)Angela J.
Usually great selection of soups salads with fresh veggies and scrumptious bread; my little guy LOVES THE BUTTERED noodles (although I can make them got a whole lot less cost at home!); pricier than fast food but better quality too I Recommend doing the free rewards program if you go more than once in a while...fresh party every so often
(4)Beck E.
The workers were very friendly here when I went. It was difficult to find outlets though, especially given the lunch rush. It was REALLY busy, though I arrived shortly before noon (probably prime lunch time). They must be doing something right to be that popular!
(3)Michael S.
One nice thing about Panera is that it's pretty consistent from location to location. my visit here was no exception. My Chipotle Chicken was good, though i was hoping for most of it, given what I paid. I accidentally ordered a "meal", since it came with a side (chips, per my request. It must have been the medium coffee I had with it. I didn't go at a rush time, so the speed at which i was able to complete the transaction and receive my meal was not surprising, but refreshing. Staff were efficient and friendly. I was able to resist those delicsious looking baked goods!
(4)Athena K.
An okay panera location, nothing special. Staff are friendly. Floors and bathrooms are clean. This place is very loud and often busy.
(3)Wally S.
I guess my tastes must be changing. My jalapeño/cheddar bagel with ham, egg, and cheese was rather boring and it cost me a heck of a lot of Weight Watchers points and cash. Add the cost of a coffee to that and you've spent enough to put 2 gallons of gas in your car. While they sell themselves as healthy, I see them more as just expensive for small portions. That's OK though for some people, just not for me. An extra star for this place for giving us a free cobblestone sweet roll after we were staring at it in the case and salivating.
(3)Suzanne S.
This is short and sweet....not one of my "usual" reviews.. We go to Panera quite often and I've made several reviews of the horrible treatment we've received by a clerk at the Canton Panera. But I've also written how wonderful the Westland Panera has been, the Novi Paneara and also the six mile Rd. in Livonia, Panera! I have been to this one on Washtenaw just a couple of times and it was very very busy this particular day! We got our order very quickly and found a place to sit luckily. We had to clean and "bus" our own table, I am guessing because it was so busy, they didn't have the "help" to go out and clean up the lobby area. So if I'm taking any points away, it's just for cleanliness of the lobby! The food was great! I had the Aisian Chicken salad with chips and a soda! My friend had a sandwich with chips and some soup! The cream of chicken and rice soup is great, by the way! All in all, this Panera was a great place to visit because they seem to be aware of how busy they get and they had the food prepared qucikly and to our liking!
(4)Kayla C.
LOVE their strawberry smoothies! The employees are always very nice and I often hear them calling their regulars by name.
(4)Steven C.
This is a great place for soup and sandwiches! I especially love their espressos. Of course their bread and pastries are excellent also. A great place to just sit and read when you need a break.
(5)Mae S.
Good place to meet with friends over coffee or lunch, especially if it's a little before or after everybody else's simultaneous lunch hour. Easy parking (usually), food served reasonably quickly (counter service), overall taste and quality of food is good with fair variety. Watch out for the high-calorie special sandwiches -- the Italian Combo lists 1100 calories, which makes it almost 2 Big Macs at 570 each! If you are going for calories, why not go directly for the Danish pastry? Pretty kid friendly too.
(4)Andrea F.
Through the years the sandwiches have taken a big downgrade. I used to get the frontaga chicken sandwich and it was always so fresh and filling now it is a very lacking sandwich- not enough chicken, and lower quality bread. Panera still deserves three stars for their excellent soups and bread bowls.
(3)Eric A.
Typical panera. Friendly staff and its usually easy to get a table. Parking sucks since they share a parking lot with whole foods. Great overall.
(4)Noah M.
While the food and service is great. The WiFi is horrible. My phone is running a faster upload/download speed according to speed test.net . Panera, I get it, you manage your bandwidth per user to not slow the whole network down but why not just get a faster connection and increase thw bandwidth per user. Most people here are on the internet and its soooooooooooo friggin slow!
(3)Elena W.
This is the second time in a week that I have picked up a "treat" lunch at this Panera and been disappointed. The bread does not taste fresh and the sandwich is all messed up - thrown together. in addition, not made the way I asked; last week requested no sauce, sauce on it. This week requested no onions, onions on it. Frustrating, these are not cheap! The coffee and chocolate croissants are great, though.
(2)Beth H.
Super dirty for being 5pm. I would think employees would have cleaned or at least checked the restrooms since the lunch rush. I spoke up to the manager that the bathroom needed attention. Not much attention to detail in this place.
(2)Mia M.
This Panera is always busy, and I can see why! Each time I go to his location, I'm pleased with the service. The employees are attentive and polite, and the building itself is clean. Panera doesn't house the fanciest foods; it's soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, and they do those things well. Everything is pretty decently priced, plus there's free wifi and tons of seating. The environment is great for anything from catching up with a friend, or hunkering down for some studying. This location is one of my favorites. The people are nice, the food is good, and it has a nice atmosphere. Plus, I love their chai tea!
(4)Alice L.
This was my first time trying Panera Bread. When we got there, the workers took care of us as soon as we were ready and were very friendly. My husband and I both decided we would get takeout. We ordered the Bread Bowl French Onion Soup and their Rigatoni San Marzano Pasta which came with its own bread! The bread bowls were very sturdy and went perfectly well with the French Onion Soup. The peas in the pasta were well cooked as well as the sausages. For a chain restaurant, the food was great overall. I will return and recommend this place. This location definitely deserves 5 stars for carryout. If you are dining in, the place is busy and fairly loud. I'll have to see how I feel about the dine in experience the next time I go here.
(5)Shirley H.
When I start feelin sick, I love taking advantage of the "pick 2" combo for under $10. My hubs was nice enough to pick up a small cup of chicken noodles soup, small mac and cheese and an apple the other day. The chicken soup was pretty good and my only complaint is there's not enough chicken or noodles. I would say the cup is 90% broth. I've had some chicken noodle soup, where the noodles disintegrate the moment it goes into your mouth, and I'm happy to report that this is not the case for PB's soup. The mac was okay this time around. The noodles were cooked fully but the sauce lacked some flavor. Some pepper might've made the mac taste a little better. It could just be better when it comes hot out of the kitchen. I am also a huge fan of the tomato bisque soup, that comes me a small bag of garlic toast-like croutons that soften up when they sit in the soup for a minute or two. When I'm in the mood to spoil myself a little and have extra calories to eat, I'll order an iced chai latte. They always seem to have a great balance of spice and milk. I'm pretty picky when it comes to chai, so if I'm hankering for chai, I definitely come here. A downside to this PB is the location and the craziness of the parking lot, especially because Whole Foods is next door, along with Barnes and Noble, Walgreens, Georgetown Gifts, etc. I would rate this PB a 3.5/5.
(3)Ron G.
I forget what they called it but some sort of Mexican flatbread was quite the flavor sensation. Definitely give it a shot. In the mornings everything bagels and hazelnut coffee are the perfect way to start the day. Yum!
(4)Jenn V.
Wow, apparently some people really don't like Panera. I don't usually review chains or fast food places, but I felt compelled after seeing some of these reviews. First, whoever voted it 'spendy' in price (which means $31-60 pp) is being ridiculous. C'mon, we all know Panera is cheap. Soups, salads, sandwiches, bagels, muffin, a few pastries, lemonade, chai, espresso based drinks, etc. Their 1/2 sandwich and soup combo is like $7. How do you not find that cheap? Panera Cafes, and this location in particular, are clean and usually have somewhat friendly staff. It's a great place to study and do some work-- they are one of the few places anymore that offers free wi-fi and won't kick you out after you've sat there for 5+ hrs and only purchased a coffee or bagel. Some of their menu items can be really high calorie like some said, but they have lighter choices, including fruit cups, yogurt parfaits and some select soups, sandwiches and salads. So you have your options. While their food isn't spectacular it isn't bland or tasteless. Seriously, what are you guys expecting? It's Panera. You know what to expect, and it serves a certain purpose. If I wanted to have a nice lunch with a friend, I would obviously go elsewhere. But if you want to get in a few hours of studying away from home and grab some food, or you are running errands or work in the area and need some quick food that is NOT from the drive-thru, then you have found your place.
(3)Andria B.
Everytime I visit thisd Panera location, the staff are incredibly friendly and the food and drinks are always fantastic!
(5)Bonnie L.
I just don't like Panera food that much. I think their salads are soggy, their soup is bland, their sandwiches are greasy, their caramel latte is too sweet, their bagels are just ok. I never go here for the food. It is, however, a wonderful place to study for extended periods of time, if you can find the right table. Free wi-fi always helps. They recently put in two high tables directly facing the wall near the fireplace with a total of eight outlets nearby. These tables are ideal for parking all day--crabby old ladies can't catch your eye to glare at you for sitting there too long, because you're facing the wall. I try to make it there within an hour of opening; otherwise there's no guarantee of getting any seat near an oulet- by ten there are typically upwards of a dozen laptops open, the focus of their owners' intent gaze. EDIT: I finally found something I like here- the baked egg souffle. Unfortunately, it's 490 calories and 32 grams of fat. And only served "while supplies last" in the mornings.
(3)Tina W.
When I feel like splurging on deserts, I always come here and buy their muffins. :) And I've never come to this particular location for food, but I have many fond memories of soup and sandwiches at the Panera at home.
(3)Marina E.
I ordered their soup and salad combo, a chicken salad sandwich and a corn chowder soup, both which had no flavor. The place was packed and I am still scratching my head on why.
(2)Andrew M.
perfect for in and out service as you head out of town in the morning, the location is off washtenaw ave. very close to whole foods. the service and the food is great. panera is a great option replacing "fast food". they continue to upgrade menu definatly recomend this place.
(4)Sarah P.
I love Ann Arbor for introducing me to Panera. While I am usually anti-chain establishments simply b/c they can't compete with the mom and pop places, Panera is an exception! I love their turkey artichoke, smokehouse turkey, and frontega chicken sandwiches. While their paninis may not be gargantuan and they may be a tiny bit on the greasy side, they are fantastic and fresh! Their salads are pretty inventive (think Fuji Apple chicken with pecans and homemade apple chips). Their chicken noodle soup and their black bean veggie soups are low calorie and not bad at all. I usually order the salad/sandwich or soup/sandwich combo and get a mouthwatering whole grain baguette slice as a side (sides are free). I highly recommend their bread...any of their breads! I also love their bakery! Their pumpkin muffin and bagels (seasonal, of course) and so incredibly yummy and their asiago cheese bagels (I am a self-proclaimed asiago cheese bagel snob) is moist and has cheese oozing out of it. The cinnamon crunch bagel is pretty darn good too! Their baked egg souffles are these little, delish, buttery combinations that really satisfy me beyond belief! Ooooooh and they also have free wifi and offer a pleasant studying atmosphere! As an added bonus, their website has nutritional information for those wanting to make informed health conscious decisions :-P!
(4)Elena W.
This is the second time in a week that I have picked up a "treat" lunch at this Panera and been disappointed. The bread does not taste fresh and the sandwich is all messed up - thrown together. in addition, not made the way I asked; last week requested no sauce, sauce on it. This week requested no onions, onions on it. Frustrating, these are not cheap! The coffee and chocolate croissants are great, though.
(2)Beth H.
Super dirty for being 5pm. I would think employees would have cleaned or at least checked the restrooms since the lunch rush. I spoke up to the manager that the bathroom needed attention. Not much attention to detail in this place.
(2)Athena K.
An okay panera location, nothing special. Staff are friendly. Floors and bathrooms are clean. This place is very loud and often busy.
(3)Angela J.
Usually great selection of soups salads with fresh veggies and scrumptious bread; my little guy LOVES THE BUTTERED noodles (although I can make them got a whole lot less cost at home!); pricier than fast food but better quality too I Recommend doing the free rewards program if you go more than once in a while...fresh party every so often
(4)Michael S.
One nice thing about Panera is that it's pretty consistent from location to location. my visit here was no exception. My Chipotle Chicken was good, though i was hoping for most of it, given what I paid. I accidentally ordered a "meal", since it came with a side (chips, per my request. It must have been the medium coffee I had with it. I didn't go at a rush time, so the speed at which i was able to complete the transaction and receive my meal was not surprising, but refreshing. Staff were efficient and friendly. I was able to resist those delicsious looking baked goods!
(4)Andrea F.
Through the years the sandwiches have taken a big downgrade. I used to get the frontaga chicken sandwich and it was always so fresh and filling now it is a very lacking sandwich- not enough chicken, and lower quality bread. Panera still deserves three stars for their excellent soups and bread bowls.
(3)Shirley H.
When I start feelin sick, I love taking advantage of the "pick 2" combo for under $10. My hubs was nice enough to pick up a small cup of chicken noodles soup, small mac and cheese and an apple the other day. The chicken soup was pretty good and my only complaint is there's not enough chicken or noodles. I would say the cup is 90% broth. I've had some chicken noodle soup, where the noodles disintegrate the moment it goes into your mouth, and I'm happy to report that this is not the case for PB's soup. The mac was okay this time around. The noodles were cooked fully but the sauce lacked some flavor. Some pepper might've made the mac taste a little better. It could just be better when it comes hot out of the kitchen. I am also a huge fan of the tomato bisque soup, that comes me a small bag of garlic toast-like croutons that soften up when they sit in the soup for a minute or two. When I'm in the mood to spoil myself a little and have extra calories to eat, I'll order an iced chai latte. They always seem to have a great balance of spice and milk. I'm pretty picky when it comes to chai, so if I'm hankering for chai, I definitely come here. A downside to this PB is the location and the craziness of the parking lot, especially because Whole Foods is next door, along with Barnes and Noble, Walgreens, Georgetown Gifts, etc. I would rate this PB a 3.5/5.
(3)Ron G.
I forget what they called it but some sort of Mexican flatbread was quite the flavor sensation. Definitely give it a shot. In the mornings everything bagels and hazelnut coffee are the perfect way to start the day. Yum!
(4)Eric A.
Typical panera. Friendly staff and its usually easy to get a table. Parking sucks since they share a parking lot with whole foods. Great overall.
(4)Noah M.
While the food and service is great. The WiFi is horrible. My phone is running a faster upload/download speed according to speed test.net . Panera, I get it, you manage your bandwidth per user to not slow the whole network down but why not just get a faster connection and increase thw bandwidth per user. Most people here are on the internet and its soooooooooooo friggin slow!
(3)Wally S.
I guess my tastes must be changing. My jalapeño/cheddar bagel with ham, egg, and cheese was rather boring and it cost me a heck of a lot of Weight Watchers points and cash. Add the cost of a coffee to that and you've spent enough to put 2 gallons of gas in your car. While they sell themselves as healthy, I see them more as just expensive for small portions. That's OK though for some people, just not for me. An extra star for this place for giving us a free cobblestone sweet roll after we were staring at it in the case and salivating.
(3)Liz W.
This Panera always seems to be on the ball whenever I visit. Clean, fast and friendly. The food here is always stocked too. When I am in Canton or Westland after five I hear "Oh we're out of that" about numerous items. I can come in here an hour before close and they have anything I want. They are now also open until 10. Happiness. For fast foodyish but not fried up fare I have always considered Panera to be reliable. I first sampled it in St Lou under its name of St Louis Bread Company and was thrilled that soon after they brought this incarnation north. They rotate menu items and there always seems to be something new to try. This occasion I had an awesome shrimp roll with over ten substantial whole shrimps and a ton of avocado slices with a basil lemon mayo on a typical lobster roll style bun. It came with a cup of soup or a cafe salad but they let me upgrade to the strawberry chicken salad for a mere couple bucks more. Holy huge dinner, I took some home. I like that they bake things fresh here, have a wide variety of salads and a decent soup selection. The asiago and cinnamon crunch bagels here are awesome and they have a good variety of flavored cream cheeses. The iced tea and lemonade are stellar too. Add a dessert to any combo for 99¢? Winning. I'm not a food snob, I'm not saying this place is gourmet. It's a chain. It's also a decent option. Besides with my Panera card my upgrade was free, they had loaded two bucks off a combo onto it :).
(3)Mia M.
This Panera is always busy, and I can see why! Each time I go to his location, I'm pleased with the service. The employees are attentive and polite, and the building itself is clean. Panera doesn't house the fanciest foods; it's soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, and they do those things well. Everything is pretty decently priced, plus there's free wifi and tons of seating. The environment is great for anything from catching up with a friend, or hunkering down for some studying. This location is one of my favorites. The people are nice, the food is good, and it has a nice atmosphere. Plus, I love their chai tea!
(4)Alice L.
This was my first time trying Panera Bread. When we got there, the workers took care of us as soon as we were ready and were very friendly. My husband and I both decided we would get takeout. We ordered the Bread Bowl French Onion Soup and their Rigatoni San Marzano Pasta which came with its own bread! The bread bowls were very sturdy and went perfectly well with the French Onion Soup. The peas in the pasta were well cooked as well as the sausages. For a chain restaurant, the food was great overall. I will return and recommend this place. This location definitely deserves 5 stars for carryout. If you are dining in, the place is busy and fairly loud. I'll have to see how I feel about the dine in experience the next time I go here.
(5)Beck E.
The workers were very friendly here when I went. It was difficult to find outlets though, especially given the lunch rush. It was REALLY busy, though I arrived shortly before noon (probably prime lunch time). They must be doing something right to be that popular!
(3)Suzanne S.
This is short and sweet....not one of my "usual" reviews.. We go to Panera quite often and I've made several reviews of the horrible treatment we've received by a clerk at the Canton Panera. But I've also written how wonderful the Westland Panera has been, the Novi Paneara and also the six mile Rd. in Livonia, Panera! I have been to this one on Washtenaw just a couple of times and it was very very busy this particular day! We got our order very quickly and found a place to sit luckily. We had to clean and "bus" our own table, I am guessing because it was so busy, they didn't have the "help" to go out and clean up the lobby area. So if I'm taking any points away, it's just for cleanliness of the lobby! The food was great! I had the Aisian Chicken salad with chips and a soda! My friend had a sandwich with chips and some soup! The cream of chicken and rice soup is great, by the way! All in all, this Panera was a great place to visit because they seem to be aware of how busy they get and they had the food prepared qucikly and to our liking!
(4)Kayla C.
LOVE their strawberry smoothies! The employees are always very nice and I often hear them calling their regulars by name.
(4)Steven C.
This is a great place for soup and sandwiches! I especially love their espressos. Of course their bread and pastries are excellent also. A great place to just sit and read when you need a break.
(5)Jenn V.
Wow, apparently some people really don't like Panera. I don't usually review chains or fast food places, but I felt compelled after seeing some of these reviews. First, whoever voted it 'spendy' in price (which means $31-60 pp) is being ridiculous. C'mon, we all know Panera is cheap. Soups, salads, sandwiches, bagels, muffin, a few pastries, lemonade, chai, espresso based drinks, etc. Their 1/2 sandwich and soup combo is like $7. How do you not find that cheap? Panera Cafes, and this location in particular, are clean and usually have somewhat friendly staff. It's a great place to study and do some work-- they are one of the few places anymore that offers free wi-fi and won't kick you out after you've sat there for 5+ hrs and only purchased a coffee or bagel. Some of their menu items can be really high calorie like some said, but they have lighter choices, including fruit cups, yogurt parfaits and some select soups, sandwiches and salads. So you have your options. While their food isn't spectacular it isn't bland or tasteless. Seriously, what are you guys expecting? It's Panera. You know what to expect, and it serves a certain purpose. If I wanted to have a nice lunch with a friend, I would obviously go elsewhere. But if you want to get in a few hours of studying away from home and grab some food, or you are running errands or work in the area and need some quick food that is NOT from the drive-thru, then you have found your place.
(3)Andria B.
Everytime I visit thisd Panera location, the staff are incredibly friendly and the food and drinks are always fantastic!
(5)Bonnie L.
I just don't like Panera food that much. I think their salads are soggy, their soup is bland, their sandwiches are greasy, their caramel latte is too sweet, their bagels are just ok. I never go here for the food. It is, however, a wonderful place to study for extended periods of time, if you can find the right table. Free wi-fi always helps. They recently put in two high tables directly facing the wall near the fireplace with a total of eight outlets nearby. These tables are ideal for parking all day--crabby old ladies can't catch your eye to glare at you for sitting there too long, because you're facing the wall. I try to make it there within an hour of opening; otherwise there's no guarantee of getting any seat near an oulet- by ten there are typically upwards of a dozen laptops open, the focus of their owners' intent gaze. EDIT: I finally found something I like here- the baked egg souffle. Unfortunately, it's 490 calories and 32 grams of fat. And only served "while supplies last" in the mornings.
(3)Tina W.
When I feel like splurging on deserts, I always come here and buy their muffins. :) And I've never come to this particular location for food, but I have many fond memories of soup and sandwiches at the Panera at home.
(3)Marina E.
I ordered their soup and salad combo, a chicken salad sandwich and a corn chowder soup, both which had no flavor. The place was packed and I am still scratching my head on why.
(2)Andrew M.
perfect for in and out service as you head out of town in the morning, the location is off washtenaw ave. very close to whole foods. the service and the food is great. panera is a great option replacing "fast food". they continue to upgrade menu definatly recomend this place.
(4)Mae S.
Good place to meet with friends over coffee or lunch, especially if it's a little before or after everybody else's simultaneous lunch hour. Easy parking (usually), food served reasonably quickly (counter service), overall taste and quality of food is good with fair variety. Watch out for the high-calorie special sandwiches -- the Italian Combo lists 1100 calories, which makes it almost 2 Big Macs at 570 each! If you are going for calories, why not go directly for the Danish pastry? Pretty kid friendly too.
(4)Sarah P.
I love Ann Arbor for introducing me to Panera. While I am usually anti-chain establishments simply b/c they can't compete with the mom and pop places, Panera is an exception! I love their turkey artichoke, smokehouse turkey, and frontega chicken sandwiches. While their paninis may not be gargantuan and they may be a tiny bit on the greasy side, they are fantastic and fresh! Their salads are pretty inventive (think Fuji Apple chicken with pecans and homemade apple chips). Their chicken noodle soup and their black bean veggie soups are low calorie and not bad at all. I usually order the salad/sandwich or soup/sandwich combo and get a mouthwatering whole grain baguette slice as a side (sides are free). I highly recommend their bread...any of their breads! I also love their bakery! Their pumpkin muffin and bagels (seasonal, of course) and so incredibly yummy and their asiago cheese bagels (I am a self-proclaimed asiago cheese bagel snob) is moist and has cheese oozing out of it. The cinnamon crunch bagel is pretty darn good too! Their baked egg souffles are these little, delish, buttery combinations that really satisfy me beyond belief! Ooooooh and they also have free wifi and offer a pleasant studying atmosphere! As an added bonus, their website has nutritional information for those wanting to make informed health conscious decisions :-P!
(4)