I ordered the Toasted Caprese Focaccia, which looks lovely and sounds great. Look at what I received, below, versus the image. Yes, I know the images won't be exactly like what we receive, though they SHOULD be, but what I received was pathetic and looked disgusting, frankly. They should be deeply, thoroughly ashamed to hand someone food that looks like it had been dropped and stepped on it, while open.
These sandwiches aren't cheap, but I get a marginally better version of this at a Starbuck's, and theirs are a joke as well.
Once upon a time, Panera was a great place for a terrific sandwich. This? This is garbage being sold as food.
Food: 1
Olivia Magan
yummy!
Veronia Fahmy
They need to fire that female that seems to be manager/shift leader, terrible experience! She was rude to us. First I ordered a drink then a sandwich and a pastry. When they pulled out the order it was missing the drink so I asked for it she said they didn’t get it or have it after handing me the order with the sandwich and pastry with my name on it. Then asked for my phone number after I told her I ordered it and showed her the app to verify? After that she was like oh yea we have it right here so she didn’t bother to check when I asked her already about it. Then we proceeded to eat on the benches so then she kept staring us down and asked us to only move to one bench only even though there were no one else at Panera at that time, it was just me and my husband. On top of that I ordered a Diet Coke and it was not available even though app wasn’t updated but I didn’t say anything. Honestly needs a different management cuz I won’t be coming back here. All the way we spent eating our food she was staring us down. Then at end of my last bite she came outside and said location isn’t dine in and kicked us out
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
asbin haise
Ridiculous employee etiquettes. Can’t even wait in the restaurant till your uber arrives
Kimberly Phillips
I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews. My order is always correct and ready when I get there. I loved that they opened a location in River North.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicholas Van Zandt
Service was quick and the staff were very helpful. Felt like I needed to counteract some of the negativity
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ece Howell
I love Panera bread very much, but particularly this location workers are , most of them are mean and make the atmosphere so unwelcoming! I fell so bad for the owner he could really get better reviews and businesses but with this team it is not realistic!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Lindsey Williams
Everytime I order from this Panera without fail my order is wrong. If you order a bread bowl just know you will not receive it with your order. The last 4 orders I have had to go back in to ask for something forgotten. When you receive the food it’s poor quality and just a bummer when it’s supposed to be an easy option that isn’t necessarily cheap. Very disappointing, I was excited to have one in River North 😔
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sophia Hess
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!
Rude lady just screamed when i try to get hot water.
Marty Fry
I never wrote reviews but I spent my entire lunch break (45 mins) waiting for food that was supposed to be ready in 10. Absolutely ridiculous.
Service: 1
Isabella C
Customer service is atrocious, I got my order and returned to ask for it to be fixed. I stood at the register for 10 minutes while workers passed me and didn’t offer to help. I ended up having to interrupt their conversations to ask for assistance
Jay Fal
I experienced slow service and poor communication during my visit. It took 35 minutes to receive my half dozen bagels and coffee. My name wasn’t on the monitor, so I had to ask about my order. I was then told the tote coffee wasn’t ready, and I had to wait another 15 minutes. While waiting, I asked if the bagels could be placed in a tray or box. Without saying a word, the staff member just handed me the box. I also asked the manager if I could have some complimentary cream cheese since I didn’t have time to stop at the store. Again, she said nothing and handed me just two small cups. The lack of communication and overall experience was disappointing and could definitely be improved.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Annika T.
I asked if a salad was vegetarian and the employee confirmed, turned out it wasn't and was all covered in bacon. Had to throw it away.
Happiest prosperous New 2026
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered the Toasted Caprese Focaccia, which looks lovely and sounds great. Look at what I received, below, versus the image. Yes, I know the images won't be exactly like what we receive, though they SHOULD be, but what I received was pathetic and looked disgusting, frankly. They should be deeply, thoroughly ashamed to hand someone food that looks like it had been dropped and stepped on it, while open.
These sandwiches aren't cheap, but I get a marginally better version of this at a Starbuck's, and theirs are a joke as well.
Once upon a time, Panera was a great place for a terrific sandwich. This? This is garbage being sold as food.
Food: 1
yummy!
They need to fire that female that seems to be manager/shift leader, terrible experience! She was rude to us. First I ordered a drink then a sandwich and a pastry. When they pulled out the order it was missing the drink so I asked for it she said they didn’t get it or have it after handing me the order with the sandwich and pastry with my name on it. Then asked for my phone number after I told her I ordered it and showed her the app to verify? After that she was like oh yea we have it right here so she didn’t bother to check when I asked her already about it. Then we proceeded to eat on the benches so then she kept staring us down and asked us to only move to one bench only even though there were no one else at Panera at that time, it was just me and my husband. On top of that I ordered a Diet Coke and it was not available even though app wasn’t updated but I didn’t say anything. Honestly needs a different management cuz I won’t be coming back here. All the way we spent eating our food she was staring us down. Then at end of my last bite she came outside and said location isn’t dine in and kicked us out
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Ridiculous employee etiquettes.
Can’t even wait in the restaurant till your uber arrives
I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews. My order is always correct and ready when I get there. I loved that they opened a location in River North.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service was quick and the staff were very helpful. Felt like I needed to counteract some of the negativity
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love Panera bread very much, but particularly this location workers are , most of them are mean and make the atmosphere so unwelcoming! I fell so bad for the owner he could really get better reviews and businesses but with this team it is not realistic!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Everytime I order from this Panera without fail my order is wrong. If you order a bread bowl just know you will not receive it with your order. The last 4 orders I have had to go back in to ask for something forgotten. When you receive the food it’s poor quality and just a bummer when it’s supposed to be an easy option that isn’t necessarily cheap. Very disappointing, I was excited to have one in River North 😔
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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!
Restaurantji Recommends
Rude lady just screamed when i try to get hot water.
I never wrote reviews but I spent my entire lunch break (45 mins) waiting for food that was supposed to be ready in 10. Absolutely ridiculous.
Service: 1
Customer service is atrocious, I got my order and returned to ask for it to be fixed. I stood at the register for 10 minutes while workers passed me and didn’t offer to help. I ended up having to interrupt their conversations to ask for assistance
I experienced slow service and poor communication during my visit. It took 35 minutes to receive my half dozen bagels and coffee. My name wasn’t on the monitor, so I had to ask about my order. I was then told the tote coffee wasn’t ready, and I had to wait another 15 minutes. While waiting, I asked if the bagels could be placed in a tray or box. Without saying a word, the staff member just handed me the box. I also asked the manager if I could have some complimentary cream cheese since I didn’t have time to stop at the store. Again, she said nothing and handed me just two small cups. The lack of communication and overall experience was disappointing and could definitely be improved.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I asked if a salad was vegetarian and the employee confirmed, turned out it wasn't and was all covered in bacon. Had to throw it away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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