Panera Bread in Chicago

“I love this Panera! I’ve been here three times before. The people at the front this morning (Jan 2) were helpful, joyful and relatable. Quick to serve, too. Maybe I caught them on a good day!
Sleek, modern spot to people-watch, if you get a seat when it’s busy; there’s surprisingly a lot going on between the second door and the pick up counter.
Love that there’s no loud music, there’s shades on the windows, and when it’s slow is really a treat. Getting to sit and take a breather on Halsted is not an every day occurrence.
“The best part of bread is sharing it.” I’m curious how the employees benefits differ from other “fast food” restaurants 🤔
I forgot to mention that today I used the bonus card from their holiday sale. Super easy swipe at register! Plus I got a $3 sandwich from points, so my meal was one dollar (and 31 cents)!“

“I was in the hospital when I ordered my food. And the food came to me delicious, fresh. I was very impressed. Everything was good. I would recommend people to go there because it is grateful. Thank you very much and god bless and keep up the good “

“I’ve been coming here almost every day on my long Chicago visit. You wouldn’t believe the positive energy, accuracy and excellence of this staff. Even in busy times, they are crushing. I’m a Panera loyalist, and this location is top notch 👏👏👏“

“We recently learned that Kay might be relocated to manage a different location, and we are writing to express our strong opposition to this potential move. Since Kay took over the management of this location, her exceptional leadership has been nothing short of transformative. Her dedication, expertise, and positive energy are contagious, inspiring her team to deliver outstanding service with precision and efficiency. Orders are fulfilled flawlessly, and the atmosphere she cultivates is one of warmth and mutual respect. Her leadership style embodies the very best of what we hope to see in our community. She motivates and uplifts those around her, fostering an environment of growth and excellence. Her presence is a gift, and her departure would leave a void that cannot be easily filled. We need leaders like Kay, who by example teach us what it means to strive for greatness, to treat others with kindness, and to take pride in our work. We urge you to consider the impact of your decision. Keeping Kay in our community means preserving a beacon of inspiration, a model of positive leadership, and a driving force behind the exceptional service we have grown to expect and appreciate. Miss Kay,stay with us, and together with your team, keep shining your light. The future of this community depends on leaders like you. Thank you for taking our heartfelt request into serious consideration.
Also, thank you to the whole team at this location for your consistent hard work and always for your welcoming energy. You are very much appreciated.“

“This is by far one of the best Panera I’ve been to. The food was phenomenal. My food was hot and fresh. I received my food in a timely manner. The Panera was very busy, but the service was very smooth. The staff was friendly. I will be back 10/10“

“The food is great and the staff are clearly working hard to get everybody’s order out. Good thing to note that a ton of hospital employees are trying to get lunch at the same time so there’s a bit of a wait — ordering online or app ahead of time is advised“

“I’m here almost every day because of the sip club membership. Moneys been tight recently, and as a daily coffee drinker, it’s saved me a lot. I have nothing but good things to say about the employees here. I am absolutely appalled at their working conditions — short staffed, rude customers, and cramped working area (this is a Panera “to go”, and it’s teeny tiny!). Whenever i go in, no matter the time of day, the proportion of orders to customers is so unfair to the workers. And, i always see entitled tourists looking impatient, or rude DoorDashers shoving their phones in the workers faces. Despite all of this, i have never heard a snap or a complaint from the workers. In fact, more often then not, i am greeted with a smile and a welcome. I work in customer service, and I would be nowhere half as nice if i was this overworked! Panera is a tough job (I’ve had friends with them), and it underpays. The machines are complicated and orders usually have multiple components that are hard to juggle. Today, at noon during the lunch rush, there were only 2 people on the floor! These employees are rockstars and so resilient (although there should be more of them hired to help out).
Now i head home and see the negative google reviews, and it’s so obvious to me that many of them have never worked in the service industry a day in their lives. If i was able to tip 100% every time, I would!“

“I used the app on a Saturday night around 7:15p. I wanted to find a Panera with a drive-thru because I was too exhausted to look for parking and get out of the car. The Panera on Fullerton, Damen and Elston was the nearest drive-thru.

I was able to order easily. It even allowed me to select my pickup time, which I appreciated. I pulled in, gave my last name and was told to pull up. I received my food from a friendly gentleman.

My soup was hot and my salad was fresh. It seemed to be made to order. I will return to this location again.“

“Grover at the Panera on Rush is the best! He’s always incredibly kind when I pick up my order, and every time he’s working, my sandwich is made perfectly. You can tell he truly takes pride in his work—he’s an outstanding employee who goes above and beyond.“

“For being a hospital location.. they did their best to make it feel like a regular Panera Location. My food was good (as expected) and the service was fast & friendly. I got just what I wanted from my experience here.I give it 5⭐️Jerry (the pigeon) gives it 5.5⭐️“

“Stopped by Panera Bread for a quick lunch and it was just what I needed. I grabbed a soup and sandwich combo, and everything tasted fresh and satisfying. There’s plenty of seating if you want to stay a bit, and it’s a nice spot to relax or work for a short while.“