Panera Bread

Much has been written here at Epinions about Panera. There are currently 145 reviews, and I don't intend to read all the other ones. I would like to share my own anecdotal experiences at Panera, as well as taking the opportunity to point out some positive aspects of Panera that aren't about the food. I will start, of course, with the food. When I first visited Panera, I wasn't really sure how to order. The sandwich menu offered many interesting choices, but the soups looked really good. This first experience was in Indiana several years ago. Then, as now, Panera offered a half sandwich with your choice of soup or salad. This gives you the opportunity to have a fresh delicious sandwich, while enjoying a bowl of their good-as-homemade soup. (Okay, sometimes I opt for the salad instead...the salads are also exceptional). The soups rotate, but I can normally order my favorite, Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice. The Asiago Roast Beef sandwich is also a favorite. If you order a specialty sandwich, it costs slightly more than advertised. You also are given a choice of fresh bread, an apple or chips. After moving to South Carolina, Panera built a restaurant right down the street from my house. I quickly became a Saturday morning Panera junkie. With sleep still in my eyes, I'd pop some water in the coffee pot, drive to Panera, order a half dozen bagels (they have a nice variety to choose from) and grab a small tub of their specialty cream cheese. Honey walnut spread on Cinnamon bagels is always a special morning treat...it's like getting to eat candy for breakfast. Aside from bagels, the bake shop is packed with muffins, cookies, souffles, artisan breads, scones, brownies, tarts...I better stop...I may need to run down the street. Read More About Panera Bread