Panera Bread

I work in an office right across the courtyard from here, and I pick up lunch here about once a week. I really want to like this place, but they just cannot get an order right to save their lives. Last week, they forgot my apple. This week, they gave me the wrong cookie. Today, they forgot to add chicken to my pasta.
The times I have gone back to correct them, they were slow to acknowledge me, and not very professional. Service I’d expect from a fast food chain, but not from someone asking $ 14 for a to-​go salad. Pretty tasty food, but they need some new management!

I guess I’m an unfair judge because I only get their heavenly macaroni or their broccoli soup, but they’re both great. I like places where sometimes the manager actually rings you up instead of hollering for one of his employees, and the manager here is super friendly! I’ve never had a problem with bad service here and the food always comes out quick. If you get their rewards card thing you get a dollar off pastries or drinks fairly often (:

I’ve pretty much decided that I just need to live in Liberty Station because I love everything about it.
If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. In one day, you could take a workout class, play on the grounds or have a picnic, Stand up Paddle Board, and of course go out to eat.
Of the many options, there is the old tried and true — Panera! The food is remarkably consistent and you’re not punched in the gut when you have to pay either.
Kids love their menu too! Especially the Mac N Cheese. I got the Tuna Salad Sandwich because I’m boring like that. It’s my favorite Tuna Salad Sando of any that I’ve tasted, so that alone will keep me coming back!
This location is in a perfect spot. HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUge parking lots on both sides and a cool courtyard off the main entrance. This location is the best thing since Sliced Panera bread. Ahahahahahaha — ok that was much funnier in my head, but you smell what I’m stepping in…

Never will return. Service sucked, food was thrown together and cold. The store was a mess, tables all over in need of being cleared and the restroom was a diaster!

Up to the standards I expect from Panera. Had the MOST fun ever with Ebenezer, the cashier. Exactly spot on with customer service. If I owned a business, I would hire him in a New York minute. Management, give Ebenezer a raise!!!

Super disappointed with to-​go quality of this location. Got a sandwich last week and did not receive my side. Ordered a broth bowl today, and the bowl had NO BROTH AT ALL — kind of defeats the point of a broth bowl. Not inclined to come back here again.

I LOVE Panera but I ESPECIALLY LOVE this location of Panera. I come to Liberty Station once a week for school and enjoy stopping in to Panera before class. My absolute favorite menu item is the Italian Combo Sandwich. It’s perfect. It’s got roast beef, ham and salami in a delicious baked bread. It’s so good. Pair it with a soup from the You Pick 2 deal and you’re golden. My current favorite is the Autumn Squash soup. It’s both sweet and savory. It’s perfect for this fall/​winter season.
The staff at this location are very friendly. I once tried the turkey chili and didn’t really like it. It’s got edamame in it and just tasted a little funny so I didn’t eat more than a bite. One of the staff members noticed that I didn’t touch the soup and asked me if there was something wrong. He insisted that he’d like to pour me another soup but I told him I was full and wouldn’t have anywhere to store it during class so it was okay. He proceeded to tell me that he wanted to make it up to me and offered anything, so I grabbed a cookie. That’s good service. I appreciated that he really wanted to make it up to me and make sure that my experience was a good one.
Like other Paneras, there’s plenty of space to lounge and study. I often come here and catch up on emails while eating. It’s quiet and comfortable. A lot of young students from high tech can be found in here after school hours so that can make it a little hectic, but overall it’s a very nice environment.

We came by for lunch and luckily it wasn’t too busy, so no lines for us. Nice, clean location with indoor tables/​booths and a few outside seating areas. The employees were very friendly and provided fast and great customer service.
We both ordered the «You pick two» meals in which you get to pick any two half sized orders of a sandwich, pasta, salad, or soup. A side of chips, bread, or an apple are also included with the meal (drinks are an additional cost). We both ordered a Caesar salad, sandwich, and chips. The Caesar salads were a good size portion for a half serving and went well with the sandwiches. The first sandwich was the Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT (turkey, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and salt & pepper on sourdough bread) which was served as a cold sandwich and was OK. The second was the Frontega Chicken Panini (chicken, mozzarella, tomato, basil, red onions, and chipotle mayo on focaccia bread) which was served warm and was our favorite sandwich of the two. The kettle chips are their bagged potato chips which were crispy and lightly salted. We shared a cup of their Iced Green Tea which was extremely refreshing and you get free refills!
Good food. Not heavy on the stomach. Fresh. And they have a variety of items to choose from including pastries and bagels. We’ll be back.

Too expensive. But service is generally good and food is consistently fine :)
Their chicken & wild rice soup is my fave!

Ok this is the second time I’ve had an issue with a sandwich I got here. The first was when I got a sandwich that was super mushy and soggy. This time… my near $ 6 HALF sandwich was so light on the meat it was disappointing. I’m a big fan of panera… but may choose to have lunch elsewhere if this keeps happening.

Been to this location 3 times now and each time my order has been messed up and now my wife called in and they didn’t even enter the order. The manager was the one that she talked to! Alex! You bastard! She’s pregnant and all she wanted was Panera but no, Alex you had better plans didn’t you? Hey at least you didn’t have to deal with me when I came in huh? Then the rest of the staff looked at me like «hey sucks to suck man» none of them gave a crap! Then the togo chick gave me an attitude for no reason! I didn’t cause a scene in the place at all so she had no justification other than she is just a jerk. All my anger is being channeled into this review. To put it plain and simple I will never be going back to this establishment again and that hurts to say because I love Panera.

My father and I came in for a quick bite and ordered our sandwiches mine came with a very unsightly looking piece of meat so I brought it to their attention I believe his name is Mark he didn’t have a uniform on so not sure if he was manager or a supervisor but he was very apologetic and helpful and even gave my daughter one of their delicious pumpkin cookies! Because of him we will be back!

This Panera location is pretty great. Far better than the one Panera in the Phoenix area (sad face). Roomy, great/​fast service and fresh food. We come here every time we are in SD. Free parking is across the street, free wifi and everyone is patient and friendly.
The pick-​2 is best for indecisive people like us and we like that you can upgrade to include pretty much any combination of salad, soup or sandwich. Since we miss their sourdough, we got bread bowl soup with a salad and it was wonderful, refreshing and filling. Great kids menu as well and we enjoy that you choose a side of a sourdough baguette, chips or an apple (they can cut it for you upon request. The iced green tea is fabulous and you just need to ask for refills at the counter. I really enjoy the seasonal strawberry poppyseed salad but wish I had added feta cheese.
The only negatives are the dirty floors/​tables and that they forgot hubby’s chicken on salad. When he asked about it, they gave him a huge handful. Guess he got his protein for the day? :-)

I am giving this place three stars because I like the food served at Panera Bread, but there are three things that I continue to notice about this particular location: First, the service is slow, so make sure you are not in a hurry when you stop buy. Second, they have messed up my order a few times (this has happened in my to go items — for some reason, my sides seem to be more often forgotten than remembered. The last time I ordered four meals to go, none of the sides were included. Third, I can’t help but notice that there is a huge employee turnover.
The fact that there is a huge employee turnover is a sign of employee dissatisfaction. Bummer… no wonder people keep messing up my order. They are not happy employees.
Oh yeah… the last time I asked for butter, I was told where to get it myself…

This place is okay. They have friendly staff but it takes too long to get anything. I have been doing a couple online orders for pick up and I still have to wait an extra 5 to 10 min after they say it will be ready.
Sandwiches and soup is good. I am not a fan of the salad or pastries.

When I’m craving soup for a cold, I’m left with few choices in the point loma area. I could trek to OB Noodle House, but on weekends the parking is just not worth it. Therefore, I find myself at Panera bread at Liberty Station.
Parking is super easy. There is a huge lot that Rock Churchgoers SHOULDN’T be parking in, but regardless it stays pretty empty.
This Panera bread provides nutrition information for every choice, and the standard menu fare. I knocked the stars down a bit for cleanliness. This location is really starting to show its age, with trimmings peeling up and crumbs on the tables.
I really appreciated the wall outlets for laptops by the lounge area. They also have free wifi, so this would be a great place to work quietly (it didn’t get crowded even after church.)
Would I come back here? Sure! I definitely will return if I need a soup fix. However, Con Pane does such a better job with sandwiches.

WTH, Panera?
I used to like this chain. I’m not sure where things went sour, but sour they are.
The first time we ever visited this restaurant — many years ago, pre-​Yelp for me — we got an order to go. Mine was a half sandwich and a cup of soup, and his was a full sandwich. We waited around for them to make our meals, then walked out the door with the bag they handed us.
It wasn’t until we got home that I found that the half sandwich I had ordered was not in the bag. So, I called the store and spoke with the manager. After some back-​and-​forth, in which I said repeatedly that I was not interested in driving back out there to retrieve my missing sandwich half, I was promised a meal on the house the next time I visited.
Needless to say, I never took them up on that.
But, we were in the area again recently, and wanted something different. My husband suggested Panera, and I had no good reason to shoot that idea down (though the last experience was still a bright memory in my head).
We had the mongrels with us, so I stayed outside with them while my husband went in to get our order. My order was easy: the «Pick 2» with the chicken Caesar salad and the tomato and mozzarella flatbread. My husband got a steak sandwich.
Once again, we head home and open the bag, only to find that once again, Panera had screwed up my order. At least this time they didn’t short me a food item. They just «forgot» to add the chicken to the salad. Lame.
The food was not good. The lettuce pieces were browning by the time they got to me, yet apparently that was’t a cause for alarm for them. The flatbread was terribly constructed — the tomatoes were clumped together in a ball at the base, and everything fell apart as I was eating it. Maybe I’m being too fussy because I was already upset at them, but this just made it worse.
My husband said his sandwich was okay, but «for a place that talks about their bread all the time, it wasn’t that good.» His words, not mine.
And I’m once again reminded why I don’t eat at Panera anymore. I guess this is a sign from the universe, telling me to eat at home more often.

Like every other Panera, the portions are a little small for American portions but I think that if you eat like a European, then the portions are the right size. I really like their breakfast soufflés and their chicken noodle soup. The soufflés are a little small for about $ 5 but they are 100% deliciousness and decadence. I love the ham and cheese one.
There is plenty of parking and the location is tucked next to the Trader Joe’s.
Remember to sign up for their rewards club!

I love coming here. Nicest employees EVER.
We love the outdoor seating and the sweet selection of teas at the fountain. And if you swing by early enough, there’s typically a decent dessert selection available. Panera also does a great job on online ordering. It’s very convenient to be able to walk in the door, grab the order from the shelf, and leave. Whoever thought of this … I love you.
The downside, however, and this is obviously more to the Panera chain than this particular location, is that the value of buying a single flatbread versus the double option is really crappy. I went with the single turkey flatbread the other day for $ 6 and it was like eating a couple potato chips. And I know that because I ate a bag of chips with it, and the chips were more satisfying. Panera Corporate seriously needs to reevaluate those pricing options, because those flatbreads are simply worthless. I’d seriously rather eat a frikking Pop Tart.

Let me say that first: I like Panera. Like McDonald’s, just for breakfast, less tacky, and friendlier. The value is good, the food is decent. Normally.
Now, why you’re being such a grump cat, Sebastian?
I’ve been there 3 times during a San Diego stay with out-​of-​towners, that I just wanted to show a good time. Erm, no.
COFFEE:
Sure, it’s not Philz Coffee or your neighborhood roaster around the corner. But watering down the filter coffee 3 days in a row looks like a pattern.
HAIR IN YOUR SANDWICH?
When I discovered a long, black hair in my Turkey Sausage Spinach Sandwich, I went to the kitchen and mentioned it. No biggie, just make a new one, I thought. Instead, the waitress and the kitchen worker weren’t apologetic, they examined the sandwich as if they couldn’t believe it. While doing it, they found a second long, black hair. Without apologizing they brought a new one, and managed to forget the spinach on the Spinach Turkey Toast.
They could have offered money back, or extra goodies… but no.
What I don’t get is why kitchen workers with long hair are not supposed to wear a hair protection — every fast food kitchen has better standards than this Panera store.
Weak.