Panera Bread

I have been an avid panera bread customer since I walked in to the Fair Lakes, VA location in highschool. I am now 42. This location has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I will no longer give this company my money. The only consistency in this location is my orders being incomplete, incorrect, or the quality is absolutely terrible. The only item that kept me coming back is the broccoli and cheddar soup with the sourdough breadbowl, which is terrible to say since they dont even prepare the soup themselves and even most of the time, their breadbowl is stale. I had succumbed to just ordering online so that I wouldnt have to deal with the incompetent staff, can actually open my bag and check my order, and knew that if there was an issue with an order, it would be my fault because I probably ordered it wrong. NOPE! After multiple issues that I swept under the rug, this time, when I ordered online, I came to pick up my order, they did not have an item that I had ordered. When I went up to the counter to ask for item (as I usually do because there’s always something missing) they tell me they’re sold out. They were really about to have me walk away with an item I paid for knowing that it wasn’t in the order. When I asked for a manager, I had to speak to 2 different employees attempting with no success to give me a refund before having to demand to speak with a manager. 5 minutes later, the manager with purple hair comes out. I tell her my grievances and she says “things are missing even if you do drive thru?” GIRL, the reason I had to start doing online orders and picking it up in the store is because when I did do drive thru, I would drive away before realizing I was missing orders. This location is completely incompetent and it’s a shame because it’s a new location and the only location in this area. Time to find a new place to go to religiously.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

The experience here is absolutely horrible the food here is not prep to the right standards I normally see health concerns here and hard labor practice running here one manager name Erika, she mistreats her employees often when I come in. I’m a daily here soo I wouldn’t recommend this cafe for short

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Came here this morning the people are nice. I ordered a cup of coffee and a sandwich, they must have changed the dark coffee recipe because the coffee taste like water when I asked for more the quy changed it however the second batch taste the same. I then asked for hazelnut and was told there was no more. I asked to speak to the manager and was told they don't have anymore but they can brew some. Come on now🤷🏽‍♀️So they wasn't going to brew any🙄

Pretty new Panera. I’ve never been to a Panera where they didn’t have a self order kiosk. So that was weird waiting for 5 minutes before a worker greeted us & took our order.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 2

Zoey provides the ultimate customer service. I appreciate the kindness and patience she has with each customer. She could give a master class on customer service. Keep up the great work Zoey!

Service: 5

I LOVE,LOVE LOVE our Panera!!!!! I wanted one to come to my area and IT DID!!!! I find everything about it great!! Except maybe the drive thru. But, maybe that was the best they could do with the space given. But, that has nothing to do with the service and wonderful atmosphere you will find at MY PANERA in Ft. Washington. Salads and sandwiches are THE BEST!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Take 10 minutes for a simple order of a vanilla latte, cleared their drive-thru like three times. Incredibly slow would have done better to get out my car go to the giant go to the Starbucks energize and get back in my car I probably would have been on my way. Was early enough to get coffee ended up 10 minutes behind waiting on them

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I'm a very loyal customer here because this Panera consistently delivers. The service is always friendly, the atmosphere is perfectly laid-back, and everything is exceptionally clean. It’s my reliable spot for a quality meal.

I highly recommend their comfort classics: the Tomato Soup and Mac & Cheese, plus the fresh, satisfying Chicken Fiesta Sandwich. A truly great dining experience every time!
Which one do you think best captures your positive experience?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

They take forever

Absolutely the worst Panera Bread experience I’ve ever had — and it happened right here in Fort Washington, MD.

The drive-thru wait was ridiculously long, with no explanation or apology. I sat there forever, only to be handed food that was cold, sloppy, and clearly thrown together with zero care. It’s like the people working there just didn’t care at all about quality or customer service.

If you’re expecting anything close to the usual Panera standard, save yourself the time and frustration — this location is a complete disaster. Between the wait and the awful food, this was a total waste of money.

Do better!!!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

No one is ever at the front to greet you, the bakery shelves are always bare, the food orders are always wrong and/or incomplete. And the parking lot is a cluster.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

This Panera bread location is in a very convenient area. The food is always fresh. I am a regular here. Staff memberJaliyah Provides excellent customer service is always courteous and friendly and gets me in and out with no delay

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I ordered a bowl of chicken noodle and a cup of macaroni. The soup was okay but the macaroni was HORRIBLE! It was overcooked or reheated, mushy and tasted old. I am going to to email the store directly. Come on, you can't serve customer's old food! The cashier in the drive was nice but it takes more than that for customers to return.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

On August 1,2025 , the young ladies that work in this establishment were very not engaging at all, the young black girl that prepares the sandwiches is so rude and nasty, when I told her twice about my sandwich, she call herself fixing it again and threw the sandwiches on the metal platform like in front of me, she’s never smiles always looking mean and doesn’t speak , I guess the white manager female is so nice but she really doesn’t say anything but here’s my take , don’t go here.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

The drive thru line is very slow. I love their smoothies and I sometimes go there just for them. And it’s super disappointing when they run out of things.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3