I used to really, really love Panera, but lately have not been able to justify the cost of coming here. The menu has changed a lot in the last few years, and the food is still good, but the prices have also increased significantly and I'm not quite sure I can justify spending almost $10 on soup and half a sandwich at a fast casual place. They have a separate line for the bakery area which is nice when all you're picking up is a bagel or one of their delicious cookies or desserts. I do have to give it to them, they make some great baked goods. This particular Panera is nice and spacious with plenty of seating and outlets for you students/nerds/business people. If you go waaay to the back it's almost always got a handful of people working away on a computer. Free WiFI and plenty of outlets will do that, although they do request that people try to avoid table hogging during their rush hours. It's also a decent place to just sit and relax and catch up with friends without being hassled. As a place to talk or study, it's definitely good for that. If you're going for a cheap meal, maybe not so much the place for you. But be sure to check out the bakery! read more

Really good please for healthy tasty breakfast. It's my everyday morning stop and it's always fresh and quick

I love Panera's charged lemonades so towards the end of the summer I signed up for their "Sip Club." After trial and error, I found the right mix of the Yuzu Charged Lemonade and the Blood Orange Splash. I asked one of the cashiers about how to ring that up and she said to just go with the charged lemonade since there is no way to ring up a mixed drink. I'd go in almost daily and get my "Panera fix." The trial period for the Sip Club ran out just before we went out of town for our annual visit home so I cancelled the Sip Club subscription (the nearest Panera to where we were staying was like an hour and a half away) and figured I could rejoin when we got back. I went into Panera to get my lemonade/splash mix. Since I was in a hurry (and it was beginning to get really cold here and I wasn't sure how often I'd actually go get a cold drink from Panera), I didn't rejoin the Sip Club and just hit the icon for my last order which was a large Yuzu Charged Lemonade. First thing I noticed was the price... $4.59! Okay, fine... I usually drink them over a few days anyway so broken down over like 3 days, that isn't bad. So I go to "mix" my drink but they don't have the charged lemonades out at the self-serve kiosk any more. Honestly, when I saw that I should have just cancelled the order. But no, I sat and waited for almost 5 minutes(!) for them to "make" my drink. The lady handed me a medium yuzu lemonade that was honestly more ice than lemonade. I asked if that was a large (since I just hit the icon for my last order which was always a large) and she said it was a medium. I asked, just out of curiosity, if there was a way that, in the future, I could order a splash/lemonade mix and she said no. I have no idea if this is the new way things are just at this Panera (which is the one closest to my house so the one I frequent most often) or if it's a chain-wide thing. But one thing for sure, I see no reason to a) renew my Sip Club membership and b) go to Panera at all, if I can't get the drink I want. And the price for the drinks is ridiculous. read more

Keep it simple and efficient. That's this Panera location for you. They are a very heavy traffic location, especially for lunch. But, let me tell you, they know how to keep people moving in and out. Between their fast lane kiosks, online ordering, and ordering in person, they have all the options available for whatever your needs and wants are. If you are staying for a friendly lunch or meal with someone or getting a snack while working, they also bring your food to your table. I know that more and more Panera's are moving to this. In my opinion, I have never had a bad meal or food preparation issue here. Their food is yummy and prepared consistently. You know what you're going to get. I am a huge fan of the Summer Corn Chowder and their mac and cheese. However, my husband's go to is the turkey or ham sandwich and the chicken noodle soup. The parking in this location is nice. Plenty of options. The service is friendly, but they are trying to keep things moving. read more

Panera Bread - Summer corn chowder...a great addition to their menu when the weather warms up! - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

The Skoke Old Orchard Panera has wonderful food and a wonderful staff. Management is on the ball and always ready to help. My only complaint about Panera is their online ordering app for iPhone. I've been struggling with it for over two years and it's still atrocious! First of all, I challenge anyone to figure out how to redeem a freebie with the app. It's a byzantine procedure that I've yet to crack. You think you're following the steps only to get to the end and see no credit for the so-called freebie. Did they make difficult on purpose? It's an off-putting waste of time. Secondly, the app frequently and erroneously reports items as being out of stock at the Skokie Old Orchard location, which means you cannot order them from the app. Last week the app reported that the store was completely out of bagels. Really??? I tried calling the store, but the call system (another byzantine nightmare of recorded messages and remote support desks) dropped my call after putting me in a queue to speak with a local manager. I then went to the store and saw that the shelves were full of bagels, so I tried ordering again from the in-store kiosk app. Nope! Still no bagels. Didn't Monty Python do a routine like this? If you wanted a bagel that day there was no other option than to go to the counter and order from a live person. And yes, the staff was aware that the app was wrong (again), and no, they didn't know why. When I e-mailed Panera about the issue they responded promptly and apologized and--you guessed it--credited me with another impossible to redeem freebie. read more

The customer service here is exemplary. I have favourite paneras all over the states, but nothing beats the brilliant team here. They genuinely care about their customers and that comes through in everything they do. I've never once had an issue since the new manager took over (and I'm here a lot). Thanks for being so awesome Michelle and the team. read more

Great food but it's filthy inside. Don't look at the floors or table bases while you eat. I also recommend you don't use their bathrooms: overcrowded and if mopped, the mop was already dirty. I hope their kitchen is cleaner than the rest of the place. I am rethinking my future lunch habits. read more

Panera Bread - Filthy floors...everyday - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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i vive them five stars for their food specially for their salads. Their coffees are OK but not near Starbucks, Dunkin, or even McDonald. I guess because they make it in their kitchen and then they use cheep containers to store it for tou to use. I am not sure if the inside is plastic or what. But the coffee is not good. to add to that, I should mention that they do not offer any flavors such as my favorite French Vanilla! My suggestion is do not go there for bakery items after noon. especially, late afternoon of at night! because they only bake in the morning and their cookies are not fresh! I don't understand why they do that! I also admire them for giving away whatever leftovers from the bakery next morning to the charities. read more

Great food and drinks. Have good salads pastries and coffee. Like ordering ahead but sometimes just dining in is best. On this last visit I ordered a large coffee and I got a medium so I went ahead and asked someone at the register to check the size, both the guy at the register and the man that actually did the exchange didn't apologize or said something comforting. The place looks very nice since they remodeled from the last time I was here. So the food and place was good, the service needs a bit of work. read more

I'm so pissed. The last two times I've ordered from Panera I got the incorrect order. Don't order from them, EVER.

I had previously posted a complaint and they told me to get in touch with their customer service...still have heard nothing.

Located across from the main Old Orchard shopping mall complex (in the DSW plaza), this Panera is a favorite for those who have been shopping and/or who are in the area. It is usually super busy, but you can expect your food to be prepared just like at any other Panera locations. The one plus is that this place has a fireplace, so it is nice and toasty to sit around that spot during the winter months (located near the bakery section). While the menu has changed often, a rendition of old favorites still exist. For bagels, I usually stick with a toasted Asiago Cheese Bagel, as it's pretty monstrous and I liked the crispy melted Asiago cheese that's on top. If I'm craving for something sweet, the Cinnamon Crunch Bagel is also good, too, as the crusty and crunchy cinnamon with brown sugar on top really craves the sweet tooth. For the lunch combo, I usually get the Asiago Steak Sandwich as I'm a fan of their Asiago breads; it has medium-rare roast beef, smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and a horseradish sauce - I usually add extra mayo and ground pepper to give it an extra 'umph.' For soup, I usually get the Broccoli Cheddar Soup (creamy with chunks of broccoli throughout). A Cherry Pastry is sometimes bought for dessert, and the filling of the cherries is pretty good and a nice treat at the end. If you have a MyPanera card, you can rack up points and get free desserts, beverages, and sometimes a free meal. There's plenty of parking, but it is a bit of a tight squeeze - just watch out for the cars around the bend! +MyPanera card for rewards +Asiago Cheese Bagel +Asiago Roast Beef sandwich +Broccoli Cheddar Soup read more

This location was just remodeled. I don't care for it. When walking in, it's very sterile. The hard benches & seats in the front - very uncomfortable. No hominess up front anymore. Quick order, not so quick. I ordered my sandwich to go & it came put a total mess. I may need to use a fork to eat it. Very disappointed now. I used to love this place. read more

Panera Bread - Can thos be anymore unappetizing? - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I had lunch 3/6-1:30-2:00 p.m. 1/2 & 1/2 with cream of Broccoli soup. My first sip burnt my tongue and roof of my mouth. Then I realize soup is steamy as I stir with spoon. Took little time to cool down and finished. I've approached a person by kitchen window to disburse food tray and told him quietly that soup was way too hot. It was my intention to just to let them know and leave. But, must be cook..., a person in kitchen behind the opening told me that "soup is supposed to be hot." ........... hmmm... .... ... then tells me its 180+ degree. So, I just told them that it was hot enough to burn my mouth and my entire experience in past have never had that experience. ............ turned and walking towards to drinking fountain when I hear ((screaming)), ((cynical laugh)) by these kitchen staff. Continued for a while so walked back towards to them then.... they scatter around like roaches! .... When I asked for manager, they don't have one during busy hours but night shift manager coming in later. hmmm.... Just what kind of business are these people running here?... then I've noticed the floor, so dirty and napkin/trash on floor....... just too busy for customer's request and neglect to keep place clean!! read more

I have to admit that my wife was right. ! She tried to tell me the other day that Panera boasts a first-class chocolate-chip cookie, and I scoffed. Today she brought one home and walked me through a point-by-point explication of its merits. Then of course I put it to the ultimate test and...well, I confess myself convinced. Impressed, even. This is definitely a top-ten chocolate-chip cookie. read more

For a real nice dine with very good customer service.

As my friend Christine said, their prices are a bit high for what you get. Expect to spend just under $10 for a sandwich or salad, not including a drink. So if you get a meal, drink and dessert, it's easily about $15. They get my business mainly because I don't eat fast food, and for a quick, casual meal, their food is good. I love their french onion soup, or chicken Cobb avocado salad. They also have a Pick Two combo, where you choose a 1/2 sandwich or 1/2 salad, with a cup of soup. Or any other combination. Their bagels and pastries are really good, and I appreciate the separate counter if that's all you want. They also have good breakfast sandwiches and delicious souffles! (Spinach and artichoke or 4-cheese, yum!) Also, pastries are reduced to 99 cents after 4 pm. They have a Rewards program, although I don't believe we get offers often enough for the money we spend. You really don't. (Occasionally we receive a free pastry or $1 off a soup or drink.) Wow. You do get a birthday treat. Corner Bakery's program is much more generous...and frequent! Yet overall, my family likes Panera a lot, so we still come. read more

$7.60 for a tiny scoop of tuna and a piece of bread. I'm still starving! If I had known, I'd be at Chipotle for $2 more satisfied! Just thought ya'll want to know read more

I haven't been to this location in almost two years & the day I come of course management is rude & inconsiderate.

I do enjoy the food here and service is good and quick. The prices are what gets me down. Although they have the best bread, their soup is average. Sandwiches are good. We got the Tuscan chicken sandwich which came on very nice toasted bread. read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Favorite cafe item: They make an excellent iced dirty chai. It's not listed on the menu like that, but it's basically an iced chai with a shot of espresso. The girl taking my order was so sweet and my drink did not have mountains of ice. It was cold, milky, smooth, very earthy and strong. It was the best iced chai I've ever had. Who knew??? While Panera is not my typical kind of cafe...(it's pretty busy and can get really crowded during peak hours) I couldn't help but appreciate and stress on the fact that they give a LOT more of the drink, and a lot LESS of the overboard ice. It will not be a drink that will be gone in about 2 sips and that... is worth the patronage. The left of the store has more of a "cafe feel" to it. It's cozier and is a nice spot to study (free wifi) with some armchairs and smaller tables, while the right side has more of a restaurant setting (booths etc.). I love the balance, and the fact that you can choose which ambiance you're in the mood for. read more

Great place to do work - free wifi, tons of plugs all over the place, comfy seats, great drinks and food (within reason of price and environment). LOVE IT! read more

I bought a $50 gift card for the $10 bonus card. I was given a flyer for a free 'pick two' (quoted $12 value) instead because they ran out of bonus cards. Obviously, they refused to give me a gift card worth $10 or add $10 to my new gift card. The manager recited the fine print on the advertisement that they can do whatever they want when they ran out of bonus cards. Shouldn't you say that before I buy the card? In the end, I ended up getting two meals this morning. In hindsight, I lost cash. And I'm eating two meals right now. Also, in the hassle, the cashier just marked baguette. I went back to the counter to switch that out for chips. They took back the baguette (kinda gross). This is what I get for trying to treat myself. Sigh. However, this is a huge location with plenty of seating. read more

I'm a Panera fan. However, my experience at this location was bizarre. One of my go-to options at Panera is the you pick two; chipotle chicken avocado melt and the chicken noodle soup. On the day I visited this location, my lunch was not up to par. My sandwich was probably about 3 inches, at most, and seemed to be missing chicken, the gouda, peppers, and whatever else was supposed to be in it. I HATE complaining about my food, but my meal was over $10 and my sandwich was lacking everything. So, an employee came over and I expressed how my sandwich had minimal items in it, especially chicken. So, the employee went back and brought me a bowl of chicken. Ummmm....I thought I was going to get a new sandwich. Haha. So, then a manager came out and I explained how I didn't care for my sandwich and the employee just brought me chicken in a bowl. And the manager says; "oh you want a new sandwich?" Haha. Um, yes...it's a panini! What the heck. So, they finally brought a new sandwich, it was still super small. But, I wasn't going to complain again. You think they would've comped me. But at least she offered me a free cookie. I won't be back to this location for a meal. Maybe to pick up a drink or dessert item...that's it. Check out my picture. The sandwich looks bigger than it really was. Check out the bowl of chicken they brought out and the skimpy sandwich. Bummer. read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Poorly managed location, order accuracy nonexistent. Managers completely over her head constantly walking around correcting problems. Everywhere there's people complaining that they have problems with their orders. read more

One of my favorite spots to hit. Their app makes it so much easier to order on the go. I really like this chain for the simple fact that you can customize everything on the menu so easily. And their app is just so simple to use when you are customizing things. It certainly helps you make your meals more healthy. The opposite of healthy is their bakery side which has tons of delicious treats. I try to stay away from that and keep it healthy. Plenty of smoothy options that will keep your sweet tooth at bay. When you order for pickup, they have a specific area with these cubby organizers that they place orders to go. This place has a couple parking spots up front for fast pickup to make things even easier. If you're going to eat in, it's a nice study place. read more

The online ordering was great. Too bad the girl providing our order was condescending and rude. I don't particularly like my breakfast with a side of attitude. read more

This location has been remodeled and is bright and inviting inside. Caveat is that I have never liked their food so the two times I have gone, I have either ordered a beverage or a pastry, bread roll and coffee. The coffee/drink refills are no longer in the middle but towards the back of the restaurant and for older folks, it is a trek to get a refill. Having said that, I have a gift card to use so I will be returning soon. read more

I got the wrong sandwich and took a bite out of it before I realized it. The order manager Miguel was great. I told him, I could eat the other sandwich, I just wanted the price difference back. As I was leaving, he had my change and he made me another sandwich, the right one! Thanks Miguel! read more

Good location, fast service and clean place. For me is very important to have my lunch in very short time and this location satisfied me completely. Highly recommend read more

Vegetarians and vegans - beware! I found a piece of chicken in my salad after specifically ordering a vegan meal and checking with the person who placed the order (and who turned out to be a manager) several times about cheese or dairy in the dressing and eggs in the bread of the sandwich. That same manager who took my order happened to walk by my table when I found the chicken and asked what he could do for me. I said that I didn't know and my friend, who was at my table, said: "You can promise to do some work to ensure that this won't happen again" to which he replied: "I wish I could!" In addition, before even getting the meal, I asked for a splash of almond milk to my coffee, to which the same manager replied: "You should let us know ahead of time if you want "special" milk because it's usually extra. It costs twice as much as regular milk." What? Despite their claims otherwise, Panera doesn't seem to care about the environment or its' customers. read more

I've been coming to this Panera location for years but never had an amazing or sub-par experience to bother reviewing the place but I have to say that today was great. Reviews seem to be all over the place, but I would take some of them with a grain of salt. If you're vegan don't expect a fast casual establishment like this to cater to your every little picky dietary restriction. If it's that much of a deal, eat somewhere else. End rant. On to today's experience. Food was brought to our table hot and fresh, both the sandwich and soup of my You Pick 2 were as expected. I had a free birthday pastry on my rewards card and wanted to pick one out later after eating but the cashier rung it up wrong and charged me 99 cents for a free pastry. As I was walking up to the counter to correct this, one of the managers just asked if she could help me with anything (guess her managerial senses were tingling). I told her what happened and she happily and immediately corrected it for me herself. There was also another gentlemen who cleared our plates for us when we were done and before leaving told us to enjoy the rest of our day. All in all, food standard for Panera, and friendly service (beyond what I would've expected dining at a Panera). Deducted 1 star because I do think they're a bit pricey, but will definitely continue to come here. read more

This particular branch is the one I want to give shouts out for doing excellent service throughout this pandemic especially around the first 3 months. Michelle the branch manager is the BEST!! She kept the positive attitude all throughout the difficult times and Her positive attitude just carries on her wonderful staff. And also it's nice to see regular employees with pleasant faces everyday. Keep on... Thank you ! read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I came in around 10:45 am and asked for a breakfast sandwich. They said they stopped serving breakfast. Lazy !!!

I can count on a consistently good breakfast. Everything is well prepared, fresh, served punctually.

There is something new at Panera, something strange, something that I desire. THAT WOULD BE MAC AND CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a premium item on their menu but DEAR GOD please order this mac with your pick 2. The bowl is just about as big as a soup bowl but there's a little more noodle in there. I originally ordered an extra side with my pick 2 because I figured "Oh God this is going to be so small and disappointing" but a bowl of it with a sandwich or salad is perfectly satisfactory. It's so creamy and delicious and RICH and filling. You all should know by now that I'm the queen of mac and cheese reviews. So take my freaking word for it! This mac is not whack! I don't think I could ever have a bowl of soup from Panera again. read more

I go to Panera allll the time.. their hazelnut is my favorite coffee with some sugar and skim milk. Delish.. love the cinnamon crunch bagel..man n cheese..tuna.. a lot of their breads. There are items on the menu that I truthfully don't care for, but the ones that I like..I would order any day of the week! I also enjoy that I'm able to study here..the staff never once bothered me to get out or move to a smaller table. There were times I stayed for a couple of hours to wait for a friend or just to read my textbooks or whatever. Never had any issues.. free wifi that typically works well..I get as many coffee refills as I like and if I just want like a little snack while studying I can grab a fruit cup or something light which I really enjoy because when you're sitting on your behind studying for hours.. maybe not such a great idea to eat a huge meal. All around ..really yummy. read more

I like this panera. Its very good. The customer service is wonderful. They are very attentive to your need. They are friendly and polite. It can get crowded and hectic during lunch time. As for the food, it is good. They make good salads, pastas, and sandwiches. They freshly bake bread every night and my favorite is the asiago cheese bread. I enjoy drinking the carmel mocha on a mug. Price is moderate. Place is clean and well maintained. I did not find any problems of maintenance in the restrooms. You will find a large parking lot. One thing that strikes me about this panera would be the fireplace and lounge chairs surrounding it. Definitely in the winter time the fireplace gives a relaxing feel when sipping on tea or a mug of latte. They have alot of cookies and sweetrolls. Give my regard to Maria. She works at the counter and a very sweet and kind girl. read more

Once upon a time, I worked at Panera Bread and hated it so much I vowed to never eat there again. It's been like 9 years but I finally broke down and had Panera breakfast. I ordered a soufflé from this location and the second I took a bite I knew something was wrong. The soufflé was extremely runny but I was starving so it took about 4 bites for my brain to acknowledge the fact that the eggs were extremely undercooked and it wasn't getting any better. It's been about 2 days and I never got sick but the fact that this was even a possibility is not cool. Soufflés are supposed to be well cooked, think scrambled eggs consistency, but they're baked in an oven. A soufflé isn't worth possible salmonella. I walked to a manager who was in the process of taking plates to a table and told her that the soufflé was very runny and undercooked. She just said thanks for letting me know and continued on her way. Yeah, thanks for the "great customer service." I threw the rest of the soufflé away and I'm back to never wanting to go to Panera bread again. read more

Panera is one of my sisters favorite spots. It's a pretty safe choice because everything is pretty good. I love the Broccoli cheddar soup, it's amazing. I usually do the pick 2 half sandwich and soup. Full sandwiches are a little pricey for the size but I guess it's the price you pay for fresh pretty healthy food. This location is great, everyone here is so polite! read more

Panera Bread - That broccoli cheddar soup! - Sandwiches Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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