It comes as no surprise that the average American has less than $500 saved for a rainy day, especially if they frequent places like Panera, home of the $8 Mac and Cheese which amounts to the size of a small/ medium soup any where else! And it's not even full! 1000% markup is really difficult to justify..... Cashiers should be paid well based on the prices at this place but I hardly think the excessive costs trickle down to the staff. Not that I particularly care about the staff because they aren't nice or accommodating either. The only redeeming thing is that there is a drive thru. read more

We've purchased their Mac & Cheese at Costco and the family wanted to get it for takeout today. This was our first time at the drive-through. I asked for two orders of Mac & Cheese. The wait was long (4 cars before us). When we got home and took out the containers, we were shocked at how small they were. It wouldn't even fill half my morning coffee cup. It was $14 for two containers of mac & cheese that looked like appetizers, and potato chips.....and my teens are still hungry. I checked the online menu when I got home and noticed there are two sizes (small and large), which we were not told or asked about. The order taker did not ask us about sizes when ordering, and she was sullen and unfriendly. Needless to say, we will not be back. And had we ordered the large, it would have been $20 -- for mac & cheese. I can think of many other take-out restaurants where I can get so much more fresh food for that amount. read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

not a big fan. had their Ceasar salad. chix appeared that from frozen cardboard type. no grill marks here folks lol portion of dressing comes in two small containers.. which in total is about 1/3 the amount you need to dress the leaves. This is a little bit of too bad. Have some more respect for the concept of a salad. read more

DO NOT Eat here. Very very disgusting and dirty. They don't clean their Plates, Bowls and utensils. I got my food with old stain of the old food with my Mac and Cheese. My daughter's chicken noodle soup bowl had a yellow old stain from old food too. read more

placed an order for asiago bagels scheduled to be pick up at 1pm, they cancelled the order at 12:58pm (when I arrived to pick up the order!) and they were out of asiago bagels. so don't trust this panera bc they don't understand how online orders work and they don't update what stock they have on their app. read more

This seems to be a problem with many Panera locations and their delivery service THEY DONT DELIVER. Door dash is insane for this. But such a pa read more

Pick 2 is decent enough. Would recommend just getting the French onion soup with sour dough bread to save money instead of also including the Alfredo like I did in the pic as the chicken tasted more like turkey and is not blended in with the sauce. I prefer a fully incorporated Alfredo dish instead of piece together ones or the obviously seen pieced meal. :) But overall experience was positive. The cashier is nice and smiles a lot. The elderly bust boy has been very kind with the trays I brought over. :) read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

I have been going to this location and the location where is was previously (across the street without the drive- thru). I loved the old location and the people who have worked there since the older location, like Crista, Marilyn, and DeLaney. These 3 hard workers are the best thing about the new location. The new location is usually very busy. It has high ceilings which makes it loud. The tables are mostly cafeteria style with uncomfortable chairs. I mainly come for the coffee club, which I love and is a great deal. I love the coffee and I usually get a bagel (which tend to sell out quickly lately) or a french loaf (which also seem to sell out fast). About twice a month I will get a sit down meal with my son. He usually gets a mac n cheese, and I like most of their food. I love the customer service from Crista and DeLaney. They always make a point of saying hello and both of them are always running around keeping the place afloat. I really wish they gave them lunch hours because I often go in the morning for a coffee and also at lunch. Lunch time can be crazy. This week there was a lot of new people and it just seemed more veteran Panera workers were needed during the busy lunch hour. read more

They gave me the butt of the bread and a normal sized slice on the other side. Definitely didn't see the value read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Food was very well made and the decor is so different than the usual Panera. It felt very upscale. If you go to Panera, go to this one! read more

Panera Bread - Onion Soup - Sandwiches Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Ordered a breakfast wrap of scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese wrapped in a whole-wheat wrap. The wrap wasn't filled as expected. Maybe a single egg and a single piece or two small pieces of bacon. It felt and looked like it was frozen and placed in the panini machine to heat up. The edges were crunchy. Also ordered an everything bagel with a side of Panera branded cream cheese. So super salty cream cheese! Salt is the second listed ingredient on the package. Gross! Overall I like Panera for lunch and dinner but I'm disappointed in the less than stellar quality of the breakfast I had. Come on Panera! read more

Came in to ask about the new special offering i had just received in an email. The woman who was at the register didnt know about any specials and then started talking about corp vs franchise? She had asked me for my ph nbr thinking i was talking about a reward which i wasnt. I stepped away to look up the email and it turns out the PANERA DUET is only avail if u order online. Why Panera employees aren't informed about the current specials is beyond me. Prior to Covid I was a frequent customer (not at this location). Not sure i would come back to this location. This is my 2nd time here and its not a friendly vibe. read more

The customer service here is wonderful! Every employee always goes above and beyond. Prices are a little high, but frankly it's worth it. :) read more

The food that they serve off their kid menu is terrible. We ordered food kind of late last night, so not sure if that's why the kids food was prepared so crappy... but regardless, the grilled cheese was burnt & all crust, no actual bread whatsoever and the Mac n cheese was enough for 2 spoonfuls... on top of it, the fact that they're charging such high prices for this subpar kids food is ridiculous. Not interested in returning... go to corner bakery, way more reasonably priced & delicious food read more

I overheard one of the employees educating customers about absentee voting and THAT is the kind of service I am PAYING for! Love.

I was lucky. I walked through the doors a bit after 11AM on a weekday... just barely before the lunch crowd came streaming in. The girl who took my order couldn't have been more pleasant as she'd asked me for my order with a smile and a gleam in her eye. (Too dramatic? Well, she was really cute, so sue me!) Anyway, since I was the only person ordering at the time, I received my Frontega Chicken panini in a flash and had no trouble finding a clean table at which to set up camp. I took my time and savored every bite of that sandwich, right down to the very last morsel. I will, however, say that the bag of chips they include seems to get smaller and smaller every time I stop in here. C'mon Mr & Mrs Panera, you're bleeding me for nearly $10 for lunch every time I stop in to see you... throw me a bone (or at least a few more chips) every now and then, will ya? Now that the cooler weather is just around the corner, it won't be long before I'm ordering the "pick two" (1/2 sandwich & soup). Mmmmm, mmm good! read more

This Panera is a lot better since a few years ago since they did renovations. The iPad ordering stations make it easy and everything about this Panera has been modernized! The furniture, carpet, bathrooms, fixtures, and paint has. Even refreshed and replaced. The food it healthy and Panera continues to develop new flavorful dishes. I got the southwest salad today which had a somewhat spiced chipotle dressing, feta cheese, tortilla chips, quinoa, and avacado! All the salads have a ton of good healthy stuff in them. And, the you pick two is a classic option. If you're hungry- get the Mac & Cheese with your you-pick-two. I would recommend this Panera for an affordable, fast, and healthy lunch in the Downers area. read more

I wish all Panera's were like this; this one on the large size with a very busy drive up. Today was a drive up day; actually, it was a drive home kind of day for a friend from work who (based upon her glassy fish eyes, pale expression, and wheezing cough) needed one thing and one thing only: soup! I even perked up when I saw a special "zuppa" of the day: they had Posole with Green Chilies!!!! Hot tamale, I thought, that will send the toxins fleeing from my coworkers blood stream. And it sounded awesome to me! We left with two of those, as well as an extra chicken noodle for her. We also halved one of their tomato, basil, and mozzarella Panini's too, and I'm always glad for the apple side option, instead of chips. After dropping her off, I couldn't wait to get home and sample my soup. The Posole was awesome, thick, and delicious: more like a stew, for sure! My half Panini was fine, too. The customer service was very efficient despite the after work "rush" and the guy at the cash window couldn't have been nicer! I hope they have the Posole option on a routine basis, because it was great! read more

I haven't been in the newly renovated inside of this Panera, i just go to in the drive-thru in the morning hours before work. However, each time I go the staff is super friendly and gives their opinions and suggestions on some of the menu items. Which is nice because I sometimes don't know what is good and what is not but because an employee gave me a suggestion about what panini is good, i now have a new favorite when I go to Panera read more

The best food! Never overpriced when only buying for yourself. Worth it! Costumer survive is amazing always friendly although lunch rush is real. read more

I love Panera bread but I don't like it as a restaurant. I'm not a fan of the places where you walk up to order, take a look at the confusing menu board and right away they say "may I take your order?" I'm sorry but I'm trying to figure your damn menu board out so give me a minute here. Then, after you order you are handed an annoying light up thingie that summons you when you can walk back up to the counter and pick-up your food. You want water, you have to go to another area to fill up your glass. Either be a fast food restaurant or waiter serviced restaurant but don't try to be both. I also think their prices for sammies, salads and soups are on the high side now. Portions have become smaller while prices have risen. Now they have pasta. Huh? It's mediocre and pricey. I still like their bread though. So why 3 stars and not 1 star after my little rant? BECAUSE THIS PANERA HAS A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW!!!!! Yesiree, I can order at a window, drive a bit more and they hand me my order. I love being able to pick-up a loaf of their sourdough bread without leaving the confines of my car. So three stars for the drive-thru but I'm knocking off two stars for their average food, high prices, and weird ass ordering system. read more

Best place for soup n sammich! Well within 3 miles from my house.... Broc/cheddar is my favorite read more

Chain, so everything is average no matter what location you go to. Very busy during lunch, but it makes it a good option nonetheless. This location is exceptionally busy in cold weather weekday lunch hours, beware the ever ticking lunch hour... read more

The staff is always smiling at this Panera location! I always have a quick turnaround from when my food is ordered to it being ready for me. They never pressure you into ordering something that you never asked for. This location has ample seating and many bakery choices! read more

Terrible customer service with very rude drive thru workers. They close before the Panera website and app say. Worst Panera I've ever been to. Don't go here read more

Wifi didn't work and they got my order wrong. I know this is a chain but come on guys it wasn't a complicated order. I paid too much for them to get this much wrong. Manager gave me a gift card for $ for half of my order. This made things a little better. read more

I ordered two Green Goddess Cobb Salads on 11/12/21 at 5:30pm. I took them to a friend's house. I was embarrassed when I opened them. They did not look like typical Panera salads. Everything looked old especially the lettuce. They were so unappetizing, no one wanted any salad. I was sorry I brought them! I wasted $24. I would have gone back with them but I was not given a receipt. Not sure when I will go back to Panera again. read more

Rude GM who doesn't set a good customer service example for staff. Sad thing is, he thinks he can speak to customers with disregard because of his title. Watch out! If you are not looking for a little ego and attitude with your meal I'd steer clear of this hot tempered establishment. Sad. read more

This place has good food, as most Panera's. I don't know if any Panera are bad...their service is good and their food is good. If you're going to go to a soup and sandwich place, this is the place to go. read more

I have a 30 minute lunch and they always take forever. 15 minutes for a you pick 2 or a toasted bagel?? Panera...get it together. I'm so unsatisfied with the service and how expensive everything is read more

For lunch, all the women go to Panera (OK - and a lot of Senior Citizens too) and all the men to to Famous Dave's. I am a big fan of their salads. I do not like their Panini's or sandwiches however. read more

Wow! What a surprise. Friendly staff that greeted me at the door? And a cashier who not only tolerated a credit card duel between me and my father, but offered a free drink as well? Wow, wow, wow! Having once worked at a Panera, miles and years removed from now, I really appreciate the high caliber of service the staff here embodies. The food is standard Panera fare, but it's a cozy place to meet up over coffee and cookies, or enjoy a bowl of soup before venturing back out into the trials of suburban errand-running. read more

Written on 11/07/13 This review is only for this location. It does not represent how I feel about all Panera Bread locations. I really like Panera but this location did not provide me with the best experience. I love Panera (at other locations), but I have dined at this location before, and though I have had other more positive experiences purchasing beverages, my take-out food purchase from this trip was horrible. I ordered the Fuji apple salad with avocado instead of chicken and there was no issue with my order, BUT when I got back and opened my salad, all of the lettuce was pinkish/brown, which usually indicates lack of freshness. So I basically picked around the lettuce and ate the cheese, tomatoes, chips, and avocado. Needless to say, I was still hungry after. I would not dine at this location again for food as I have heard from others that the quality has gone down. This is an update (11/16): After contacting Panera, they said they were forwarding my comments to the Manager of the restaurant as well as the Regional Director so that they can inspect and make sure the standards of this location are up to par. They gave me a $5 gift card as well, which was very nice. I will probably check this Panera out again in a few months to see if things have changed. read more

Seriously, get someone at the drive thru that can actually reach out the window to give you your order! I mine as well come inside! Also fix the pothole that is a foot deep too. The food is good though. I'll just go to a different Panera.... read more

Have been going to this Panera for years and so disappointed with the service now. The food is not good and the customer service horrible. The cashier who took the order was very rude and impatient. Horrible experience!!! read more

Super nice place. Online ordering, drive-thru. Comfortable chairs. Clean modern design. Highly recommended. read more

Panera Bread - Very nice remodeling. I love this place. It always been good, never hand any problems. - Sandwiches Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

My family and I used to be big fans of Panera Bread. We'd eat there on a regular weekly basis for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We loved the fresh baked breads and shortbread cookies (which no longer exists even though they were very popular). Since Panera's renovations have improved the look of the restaurant it has declined in its menu. My daughters and I were there today, 7/3/19 at 12:15 p.m. for lunch and I had ordered an asiago bagel with vegetable cream cheese. Nope, they were all out of both. Then I wanted to order just a plain bagel with plain cream cheese. Nope, out of both of those too. They were completely out of ALL of their bagels except three kinds (which were the more breakfast-type bagels like cinnamon). So, what was left was a sandwich, which is fine, that is, if I wanted a sandwich. This isn't the first time we've been there where there weren't ANY bagels. This has happened numerous times throughout the day. Do they do this so that people are forced to order something that costs more than what they were planning on spending for lunch? Is management purposely doing this? This is Panera Bread. So where's the bread? How in the world can you be out of bagels at 12:15 p.m.? Now, I know you can use the excuse that it's the day before the 4th of July, but this happens ALL THE TIME!! I am saying this because I am reading the previous reviews that aren't so great either. Panera management........read your reviews and do something about it! Sincerely, A Former Panera Fan read more

A very nice place with soft and light music. Plenty of seats and clean environment. Very good. read more

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I had a steak and cheese panini, when it arrived it was cold. I sent it back and they gave me a new one. When that came out it was cold. I didn't want to send it back twice. So I moved on to desert. I had a cherry Danish. It was very good, I also had a papaya passion fruit green tea that was good too. I guess the next time I come I'll order a salad or soup. read more

Drive thru took twenty minutes to get my food. This is supposed to be a fast food restaurant and it is far from that. There were several cars in front of me a d behind me. When I arrived at the window to get my food the food was not ready. Employees were laughing and goofy off instead of working. read more