When Panera first opened about 15 years ago, my kids and I lived there. All of their food was fresh and delicious. But in years recent we have shied away from there for several reasons:
The first is their macaroni and cheese. It used to be hot, creamy, rich, thick and delicious. But the last couple of times we ordered it, we had to send it back because it was either too dry, or it just tasted sour, stale and horrible.
The second would be the quality of their tuna. I am not a meat eater, so things like their tuna sandwiches used to be a staple for me, and they were always tasty, fresh and delicious. But the last time I ordered their tuna sandwich I immediately sent it back after only one bite - it literally tasted like cat food.
The third is one of the last times I was there I noticed a female worker walk out of the restroom without washing her hands. This disgusted me, and I did not hesitate to report this to the manager. Whether or not he opted to take action regarding such is beyond me, but he kept doing what he was doing, even after I informed him of such.
The last thing would be my experience with another staff member. One morning I was eating breakfast there, when a customer apparently walked out the door with a bowl of oatmeal - a bowl that was meant for eating inside. A female staff member rushed out from behind the counter and chased the individual into the parking lot, demanding the bowl back. The customer shoved the bowl at her. When the staff member came back inside, I told her that she could have been shot or stabbed or otherwise violently assaulted, and she should have let the customer have the bowl, because nothing was worth her life, and it was dangerous to be approaching people in a confrontational manner like that. I also told her that because she was off of store property, had something happened to her she would not have been covered by Panera's insurance. She got a little nasty with me and told I should my own business, and that she cannot sit back and allow a customer to take store property. That is pretty much the last time I was in that store. I still visit other Panera's like North Babylon and RVC for cappuccino and bagels. read more