I don’t even know where to begin. Today, Panera didn’t just ruin my meal—they ruined my day, my trust, and almost my life. I ordered a Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, without chicken, because I’m vegetarian and, more importantly, severely allergic to chicken. Seems simple, right? Apparently not.
The first time, they gave it to me with chicken. I tried to be understanding—mistakes happen. I politely gave it back. But instead of fixing it, they gave me an entirely different sandwich, some cilantro monstrosity with someone else’s mac and cheese on the side. They confused me for a completely different person, Sammy, just because we’re both Indian. I guess to Panera, all Indians are interchangeable. That moment hurt more than I can explain.
Trying to stay calm, I took a bite before realizing it wasn’t mine and returned it. I held onto the mac and cheese, thinking maybe it was a small apology gift for the mistake. But no. After more confusion, arguing, and genuine frustration, I was accused of theft for holding onto that mac and cheese. They called me a thief.
In the middle of all this, the employee insisted I ordered a full sandwich when I had only asked for a half. Every time I corrected her, I felt more unheard, more invisible. And after three tries, when they finally handed me my sandwich… it had chicken in it. Again. After clearly saying no chicken. After saying I was allergic.
If I hadn’t checked, I could’ve ended up in the hospital—or worse. That’s not dramatic. That’s reality. They refused to remake it unless I paid again. They refused to believe me. They labeled me a thief, ignored my allergy, and dismissed my identity.
And in the end? I left hungry. After all that, I walked out with nothing, on my way to volunteer at a hospital to help people, while I myself felt broken and starving.
Panera, you didn’t just mess up my order. You messed up me.
Would give zero stars if I could.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Pauline Kung
For the most part, I’ve never had a problem with the College Ave Panera until recently. I actually really enjoyed hanging out here, usually in the morning. One day, I got coffee at 6pm on a Monday and the staff was rude and dismissive when I nicely informed her that there was no more milk in the pitchers. I brought it to the counter to ask for it to be filled and she had AirPods in said to me, why would you bring it here, put it back. I love the morning staff and this is my first impression of other staff members and it’s quite the contrary. Hopefully other people had better service experiences than me.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Alexis Calhoun
Ordered on on Uber Eats and received molded bread
Michel “Michi” Bonaldi
When was the last time you went to a spotless public rest room? Thanks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
XK M-A
Great place, the lady at the front desk already knew my name when I got there, 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Claudia Lamberts
honestly staff can be way nicer, especially this one woman, she's always so rude like quit if u hate working there so much bruh
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Iliana Okum
This is my favorite place to grab a sandwich and salad when I'm out shopping. The food is always fresh, and the baked goods are yummy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Edward G
Conveniently located. I usually order ahead and get my orders right. I notice it does get crowded sometimes so I'd suggest ordering ahead during peak hours (lunch/dinner time)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jane Guo
The old bald man made racist comments
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Otis Tellez
Always kept tidy and workers are amazing! Shedrick was so helpful, 100/10 customer service
The slowest Panera I’ve ever been to, and they weren’t even busy. I would understand if they were. People I ordered before got their food before me. My wait was over 20 minutes for 2 half sandwiches. The sandwich was good tho
Saeed Sarkhot
The old, bald man made rude remarks towards me. I’m suprised he still has a job there, haha.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Rebecca K
the customer service here is horrendous and management seriously needs to change. i had the most humiliating and worst experience at this panera today because of one of the workers who was an old man. not only was he rude and disrespectful, he was racist and immediately discriminated against me when all i wanted to do was buy a drink cup. i asked if i can buy a drink cup and he snarkily responded that they do not give free drinks. I asked to BUY a drink cup, but he automatically assumed that I was just trying to fet something for free? I told him "Yes, I know I just wanted to buy a drink" and i inputted my rewards number as i was purchasing the item. Suddenly, he started yelling at me in front of all the customers saying, "I dont know what you are trying to pull but we do not give free drinks." I was inputting my rewards number and I clarified SEVERAL times that I was just trying to buy a drink! I even had my credit card out the whole time. I tried to explain I was just buying a drink like I did from the start and he then proceeded to say, "why didn't you say so." All I was trying to do was purchase a drink, and he embarrassed me in front of all the people by accusing me of trying to get a free drink. Was it because I was asian? Either way, I was mortified by the sudden accusation and felt so unfair. I honestly cant believe Panera would keep someone like that as a worker, and it is my regret that I didnt get his name to report him to higher authority. On a side note, they packaged my order so badly and the juice from my sandwich leaked through my shirt and stained it. As a restaurant near a college campus, you would think they'd be more friendly but this was truly the worst experience I had and will never be coming back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Rebecca Kim
the customer service here is horrendous and management seriously needs to change. i had the most humiliating and worst experience at this panera today because of one of the workers who was an old man. not only was he rude and disrespectful, he was racist and immediately discriminated against me when all i wanted to do was buy a drink cup. i asked if i can buy a drink cup and he snarkily responded that they do not give free drinks. I asked to BUY a drink cup, but he automatically assumed that I was just trying to fet something for free? I told him "Yes, I know I just wanted to buy a drink" and i inputted my rewards number as i was purchasing the item. Suddenly, he started yelling at me in front of all the customers saying, "I dont know what you are trying to pull but we do not give free drinks." I was inputting my rewards number and I clarified SEVERAL times that I was just trying to buy a drink! I even had my credit card out the whole time. I tried to explain I was just buying a drink like I did from the start and he then proceeded to say, "why didn't you say so." All I was trying to do was purchase a drink, and he embarrassed me in front of all the people by accusing me of trying to get a free drink. Was it because I was asian? Either way, I was mortified by the sudden accusation and felt so unfair. I honestly cant believe Panera would keep someone like that as a worker, and it is my regret that I didnt get his name to report him to higher authority. On a side note, they packaged my order so badly and the juice from my sandwich leaked through my shirt and stained it. As a restaurant near a college campus, you would think they'd be more friendly but this was truly the worst experience I had and will never be coming back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jenting Hsu
The only Panera in the area that I know of with PLASTIC straws. Enough said.
I don’t even know where to begin. Today, Panera didn’t just ruin my meal—they ruined my day, my trust, and almost my life. I ordered a Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, without chicken, because I’m vegetarian and, more importantly, severely allergic to chicken. Seems simple, right? Apparently not.
The first time, they gave it to me with chicken. I tried to be understanding—mistakes happen. I politely gave it back. But instead of fixing it, they gave me an entirely different sandwich, some cilantro monstrosity with someone else’s mac and cheese on the side. They confused me for a completely different person, Sammy, just because we’re both Indian. I guess to Panera, all Indians are interchangeable. That moment hurt more than I can explain.
Trying to stay calm, I took a bite before realizing it wasn’t mine and returned it. I held onto the mac and cheese, thinking maybe it was a small apology gift for the mistake. But no. After more confusion, arguing, and genuine frustration, I was accused of theft for holding onto that mac and cheese. They called me a thief.
In the middle of all this, the employee insisted I ordered a full sandwich when I had only asked for a half. Every time I corrected her, I felt more unheard, more invisible. And after three tries, when they finally handed me my sandwich… it had chicken in it. Again. After clearly saying no chicken. After saying I was allergic.
If I hadn’t checked, I could’ve ended up in the hospital—or worse. That’s not dramatic. That’s reality. They refused to remake it unless I paid again. They refused to believe me. They labeled me a thief, ignored my allergy, and dismissed my identity.
And in the end? I left hungry. After all that, I walked out with nothing, on my way to volunteer at a hospital to help people, while I myself felt broken and starving.
Panera, you didn’t just mess up my order. You messed up me.
Would give zero stars if I could.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
For the most part, I’ve never had a problem with the College Ave Panera until recently. I actually really enjoyed hanging out here, usually in the morning. One day, I got coffee at 6pm on a Monday and the staff was rude and dismissive when I nicely informed her that there was no more milk in the pitchers. I brought it to the counter to ask for it to be filled and she had AirPods in said to me, why would you bring it here, put it back. I love the morning staff and this is my first impression of other staff members and it’s quite the contrary. Hopefully other people had better service experiences than me.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Ordered on on Uber Eats and received molded bread
When was the last time you went to a spotless public rest room? Thanks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place, the lady at the front desk already knew my name when I got there, 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
honestly staff can be way nicer, especially this one woman, she's always so rude like quit if u hate working there so much bruh
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
This is my favorite place to grab a sandwich and salad when I'm out shopping. The food is always fresh, and the baked goods are yummy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Conveniently located. I usually order ahead and get my orders right. I notice it does get crowded sometimes so I'd suggest ordering ahead during peak hours (lunch/dinner time)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The old bald man made racist comments
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Always kept tidy and workers are amazing! Shedrick was so helpful, 100/10 customer service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The slowest Panera I’ve ever been to, and they weren’t even busy. I would understand if they were. People I ordered before got their food before me. My wait was over 20 minutes for 2 half sandwiches. The sandwich was good tho
The old, bald man made rude remarks towards me. I’m suprised he still has a job there, haha.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
the customer service here is horrendous and management seriously needs to change. i had the most humiliating and worst experience at this panera today because of one of the workers who was an old man. not only was he rude and disrespectful, he was racist and immediately discriminated against me when all i wanted to do was buy a drink cup. i asked if i can buy a drink cup and he snarkily responded that they do not give free drinks. I asked to BUY a drink cup, but he automatically assumed that I was just trying to fet something for free? I told him "Yes, I know I just wanted to buy a drink" and i inputted my rewards number as i was purchasing the item. Suddenly, he started yelling at me in front of all the customers saying, "I dont know what you are trying to pull but we do not give free drinks." I was inputting my rewards number and I clarified SEVERAL times that I was just trying to buy a drink! I even had my credit card out the whole time. I tried to explain I was just buying a drink like I did from the start and he then proceeded to say, "why didn't you say so." All I was trying to do was purchase a drink, and he embarrassed me in front of all the people by accusing me of trying to get a free drink. Was it because I was asian? Either way, I was mortified by the sudden accusation and felt so unfair. I honestly cant believe Panera would keep someone like that as a worker, and it is my regret that I didnt get his name to report him to higher authority. On a side note, they packaged my order so badly and the juice from my sandwich leaked through my shirt and stained it. As a restaurant near a college campus, you would think they'd be more friendly but this was truly the worst experience I had and will never be coming back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
the customer service here is horrendous and management seriously needs to change. i had the most humiliating and worst experience at this panera today because of one of the workers who was an old man. not only was he rude and disrespectful, he was racist and immediately discriminated against me when all i wanted to do was buy a drink cup. i asked if i can buy a drink cup and he snarkily responded that they do not give free drinks. I asked to BUY a drink cup, but he automatically assumed that I was just trying to fet something for free? I told him "Yes, I know I just wanted to buy a drink" and i inputted my rewards number as i was purchasing the item. Suddenly, he started yelling at me in front of all the customers saying, "I dont know what you are trying to pull but we do not give free drinks." I was inputting my rewards number and I clarified SEVERAL times that I was just trying to buy a drink! I even had my credit card out the whole time. I tried to explain I was just buying a drink like I did from the start and he then proceeded to say, "why didn't you say so." All I was trying to do was purchase a drink, and he embarrassed me in front of all the people by accusing me of trying to get a free drink. Was it because I was asian? Either way, I was mortified by the sudden accusation and felt so unfair. I honestly cant believe Panera would keep someone like that as a worker, and it is my regret that I didnt get his name to report him to higher authority. On a side note, they packaged my order so badly and the juice from my sandwich leaked through my shirt and stained it. As a restaurant near a college campus, you would think they'd be more friendly but this was truly the worst experience I had and will never be coming back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The only Panera in the area that I know of with PLASTIC straws. Enough said.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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