Yesterday was my third visit to this new location, which I discovered is woefully unprepared for Sunday lunch crowds, in terms of both size and service. On our first visit a few weeks ago during close to peak lunchtime, the order was missing an item, which it turned out they didn't have, but the cashier didn't tell us that when we ordered; however, our server readily substituted another item when we asked him about its absence (he informed us the cashier should have known that item wasn't available and quickly fetched us something else). Our second visit a week or two later after peak lunchtime was fine with no problems. Yesterday, at peak lunchtime, the place was packed to standing room only, with annoyed people clogging the inadequate traffic pathways available while they waited for tables to open up. It's obvious that this new facility, which is poorly laid out and much smaller than its original location, was not designed for the number of people you'll encounter during a busy lunch, and the staff here range from clearly stressed but helpful to mildly sullen and apathetic--none of them seem especially happy to be there, which is often a sign of management issues. When the food was brought to our table, the order was missing drink cups, adequate utensils, chips, and the dessert we had ordered (which was the same one they didn't have before--cinnamon crunch scone--so I guess we won't bother ordering it again). The server left immediately, and I elbowed my way through the crowds to track her down and ask if we could get the drink cups and the dessert we ordered, and she pointed me to the drink station, surrounded by a scowling phalanx of waiting customers, and said I'd need to go get in the (lengthy) line to ask about the dessert. Since I was going to have to get in line anyway, I decided not to point out to her that cups aren't available at the drink station (something an employee surely would know if a customer does), and I navigated the human maze to take my place at the end of the queue. (I had ordered from our table through the app specifically to avoid the line, but oh well.) When I finally reached the cashier, I requested my drink cups and missing utensils and the dessert; she gave me the cups and utensils and went to get the dessert, then returned to say they were out. So I had to leave the line, fight my way back through customers pointedly eyeing our table to find out what my fellow diner wanted as a substitute, then fight my way back to the end of the line and wait to ask for the substitute dessert, which I finally got. When I made it back to our table, I remembered the missing chips, but perhaps for obvious reasons I opted out of attempting to rectify that. Panera has always inflated its prices per the conspicuous consumption model, and once upon a time it was worth it, but no longer--at any location, to be honest. And at this location in particular, for $40 (after tax and, as it turned out, an overgenerous tip, which must be paid on good faith, prior to the actual service) for two people for a decent (but not great) lunch consisting of smallish portions of average food in an overcrowded location with poor service, it's not worth the hassle or the expense. Menu tip: avoid the Baja mac and cheese. Although it sounds intriguing, it comes out cold and watery, which, had I thought about it, makes sense when the topping is a cold liquid. read more