I've visited Panera Bread in Tenleytown many a time over the past couple of years. I'm always a fan of the food - it's always fresh and tasty. The service has been hit or miss here - sometimes the servers are friendly and other times, the service is mediocre or worse. Overall, though, Panera Bread is great - good food, nice and clean restaurant, and plenty of options. The chicken caesar salad is to die for! read more

Panera Bread - Chicken Caesar Salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I used to eat here a few times a week. Now it seems like something always goes wrong with my order and/or I have to deal with awful customer service just to get my overpriced food out the door. Because of this, I have vowed not to spend another dollar here and have been telling all my coworkers in the neighborhood about why they should do the same. One night after walking to panera in the pouring rain and having my sandwich missing most ingredients, I finally got my order that was supposed to be right. I walked up to the pick up counter to get my food and check the sandwich. Right after I walked up to the counter and started checking my food, I was asked to move by an associated on the floor. I figured she needed to just get around me, so I got even closer to the counter so she could move around me (there wasn't anything or anyone behind me). She just kept staring at me and then asked me again to move because she needed the entire counter for who knows what. What?!?!?!? It's more than 4 feet long....why can't I use a small portion of that to double check the accuracy of my previously messed up order?!?! There wasn't even anything else on the counter besides my sandwich. Whenever I've asked to talk to a manager about the experiences I've had, it often takes 15+ minutes for an associate to find one to talk to me. They've been just dandy at addressing the situations or refunding my money, but waiting 15+ minutes over a situation I'm already mad about really doesn't help the situation. The final straw was another time when my sandwich was really messed up and I asked for it to be redone. An associated named Tanya began derogatorily talking about me with profanity behind the counter - loudly enough that I could hear it word for word. Not once did she actually talk TO me or offer to help remedy the situation, she just decided to talk about me to the entire store. Bye Panera!! It was somewhat nice while it lasted! read more

Very impressed with the customer service here. They bring the food to your table via a tracker they hand you with your order. They have self check kiosk as well. They even picked up my plates when I was done and everyone seamed happy. Best Panera I have been to. read more

Popped in here one morning before work! It worked! I love their breakfast sandwiches! They are always flavorful! I got a sausage, egg white and cheese on croissant! It was just plain delicious! I could eat Panera any day! I did find it odd though that you had to put a code in off your receipt to use the restroom. But this is DC, so... read more

This is a great place to go if you're looking for a cashier who will just go ahead and order what she wants you to have, rather than what you actually ordered. I asked for a turkey sandwich on wheat baguette sans mayo and cheese. The girl tapped some things in on the computer screen, looking annoyed, and when she was done she asked if I needed anything else; I double checked on the wheat baguette thing and asked if I could get mustard and some veggies. The girl then tappped around some more and asked if I wanted a pastry, to which I responded, "no." My order came and it was on white bread, I let the lady know that I wanted wheat baguette, but apparently this is an abnormal request so it took a lot of work to make it clear that yes, I wanted my sandwich- the turkey and veggies- on a wheat baguette. Once I got my sandwich it was good, but it was a lot of work. I overheard another customer complain about his order and he commented that he was very clear with the cashier, but I guess she just didn't hear him either. read more

Yeah, yeah--it's a chain. However, I love Panera always and forever, and this location is no exception. I work at AU and this is such a convenient location for AU staff and students (right by the shuttle stop), as well as anyone commuting to/from the Tenleytown Metro. The manager was helping out on the cash register and took our order. I always appreciate when management is willing to "do the dirty work" and get out on the front lines along with the employees that they manage. She was very pleasant and helpful. Plus, she gave me a full-sized cup for water when I probably should've just gotten one of those dinky little free water cups. My friend and I grabbed a table outside, and the staff promptly brought our food right to us (I assumed we'd have to go in and get it once the pager went off), so that was a nice surprise. Great service and food. BACON TURKEY BRAVO 4 EVA! read more

The menu changes with the seasons and I have always had fresh sandwiches and salads. This particular location has a friendly staff who notice when customers are waiting too long and correct the problem. I have experienced several managers going out of their way to make customers happy. The new order app and ordering kiosks are brilliant. Makes for very easy and quick pickup. I have never had a mistake on any order. read more

Healthy, fresh options for food. Tons of outlets & no shortage of seating except around super-busy lunchtimes. Friendly staff. If they take too long to get your order done or mess something up they'll give you a free pastry! Manager comes around to check up on how customers are doing. Wouldn't recommend going around 2:30-4ish on weekdays as that's when local schools get out and can get very noisy, very quickly with the students. read more

This is a petty post for a petty charge. I was charged $0.40 for a splash of almond milk to top off my coffee. Clearly this isn't about the amount, it's the principle involved. I brought this to the attention of a mature crew member who positioned himself as a person of authority and he defended this policy. I wonder if the negative review is worth the $0.40. Panera has let me down with their lack of plant based options. This policy is a smack in the face and is a reason why I will never be back. Scott is the guy I spoke with. read more

Panera used to serve decent portions of good quality dishes. Today I ate what must be the most expensive sandwich. Labeled as grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and bacon, it was mostly tomato, on one half there was barely any cheese, and the bacon, well it was only technically present, but had to search for it. Any condiments, spices or flavoring were notably absent. The whole thing looked like it had been assembled by a five year old. Not sure why I should go back. read more

Never thought that I would see people coming to blows for a table at Panera but that is how much this opening was anticipated. There isn't much around for a quick bite that is close to where I work so I was really happy when Panera finally opened on November 4th. Right now they are offering something from the bakery for 99 cents with the purchase of a meal. I tried out their new Turkey and Artichoke panini, it was good but I feel like it needed something to give it a little more oomph. Mac & cheese was delicious as always. This panera works differently than others I have been to. You order and then sit down and your food is brought to you when it is ready. This location also hasn't been open for very long so they still need to work out a few kinks. I have been 3 times now and 2 out of 3 there was something wrong with my order, but third time's the charm! read more

Great product; great service (deliver to the table); free soft drink refills; decent price. Free WiFi. Can be extremely busy and packed during peak hours; don't expect to host a book club meeting here. Good stuff. read more

This is a great, healthy place for lunch. Love the Thai chicken salad (which has a lot more spice than I'd expect--so good!) and the fact that there is healthy, fresh food that is not only sandwiches. My kids also love it, and the price is right--win win! Excellent customer service, too. Really, they go beyond, and it is appreciated. read more

MGMT here is amazing and you don't have to worry about high school kiddos loitering and taking all the seats, they keep that under control. Food is always great and they are super nice about making changes if you aren't in love with what you got (even on busy days). The guy who clears dishes can be awkward/in your face at times. But overall he's a nice guy! read more

This is for the manager who was working at 4 on Sunday. I could hear you directing your staff and wanted to say that I really admire your leadership style - setting a high standard while being kind and encouraging. In addition to the food being great, the positive environment you created made me enjoy my meal even more. Thank you! read more

I love this Panera! Service is quick, you can order on a tablet (add and customize how you want), and the staff are super friendly! It also has rapid pickup where you can order from your phone, and lots of space to sit with friends inside and outside, or places to work. read more

I love Panera Bread, but this location has Extremely Loud Music most all the time. And, as you walk through the restaurant most every Sandwich is severely burned. I ordered a toasted bagel and received a charred smoking disc. Do yourself a favor, go the extra few minutes to the one in Friendly Village. The Friendly Village location is like most of the Paneras around the country. The food is of good quality. The music level is reasonable. Much classier than this location. read more

i just want to share my dissatisfaction. I ordered broccoli cheddar soup and croissant. when I received it, i saw 2 long hairs on the bread. Anyway, I didn't wanna make a big deal out if it, decided to just removed the hairs and continue eating. However, when lifted the bread, I saw a group of small which looks a bit like nose hairs. i just lost my appetite after that. I complained to the manager and the dish. Then he came back telling me that he was going to return my cash back. Somehow after a very long wait, no came to give the cash back. I ended up leaving with no cash back very unhappy and upset. I lost my appetite the whole day and didn't feel like eating. I'm just sharing to you all so that you're aware of what I've experienced. Don't just eat the food served, make sure to check it first. read more

Went in at 7:30 pm to order something to go. 1 person in front of use in line. Didn't end up leaving till 8:15 pm. So much for "Fast" Casual food! They were clearly struggling to handle the relatively small amount of orders. Behind the counter was a mess, food and stuff all over the place. Organizationally no better, one guy in front of us had been waiting for over 30 minutes, while a ton of people who ordered after him all got their food. The best part about that was when he complained to what we assume was a manager, the only thing she could manage to say was "sorry, but we are just going in order from the computer"; like seriously? You can't do better than that? It seemed like only 1 person was actually working, out of the 5 people who were milling about at a snails pace. When we finally got our food I stopped to check they had everything, as I was certain that something was going to be wrong. Sure enough, one thing I ordered wasn't secure and started spilling out all into the paper bag. The women wiped our stuff off with napkins and put it all back in the container, this time with a bit more care. Overall, probably the worst experience I have had at a Panera. I would say get your stuff together, but I doubt I will ever come back to this location. Would rather drive farther to get a better experience, then waste my time and money at this location. read more

My love for Panera bread will never die. Whether it's just a small mid day snack, lunch, or a full blown dinner plate, Panera has never disappointed me. My son loves pasta so much and for some reason, he wouldn't eat my recipe as much as he would Panera's. That right there is a testament! read more

This panera has awesome customer service! Every time I've come here, the employees have been very nice and friendly, always serving with a smile. The place is clean and the food is great. read more

We went for a quick breakfast. We were greeted by Rebecca who helped us use the Kiosk order system. The soufles and Steak and egg were just delicious! Rebecca came by after our meals were brought out and inquired what we thought about the food. What a great manager! She was so nice, a big smile and delightful person!!!!! read more

This is a pretty standard Panera. Usually pretty crowded, especially on weekday afternoons when the local high school kids are done for the day. read more

This Panera bread is getting better by the day I can't believe it does delivery that's amazing they will deliver to the university or to your work or to your house it doesn't matter where you are!!! And you can actually order right from the table instead of waiting in line that's unbelievable you can use your phone to order right from the table anything you want!!! read more

Best Panera I've been to... the food is as good as any other place, but this is the only Panera I've been to where the staff will bring your food to your table which is a very unique detail, it's no fun standing there waiting for your food. I think this detail sets them apart from an other Panera. read more

THIS IS THE WORST PANERA LOCATION! If you can avoid coming to this Panera, I would. The people working at the register have a serious listening problem and have gotten my order wrong EVERY SINGLE TIME I have been here. If I order a small, they give me a large. If I say no cheese on my salad, they give me cheese and no dressing. I do not understand what is so difficult. I also had a cashier tell me that she couldn't put my bagel in a bread slicer because it would catch fire....how would that even happen. Mind you I have had every other Panera location do that without issue. read more

It's a typical Panera, which means good healthy food (barring the dang tasty but unhealthy danish and deserts...lol) at fair prices and served in a clean restaurant. This one is situated on the corner and right off the metro stop of Tenleytown making it a big plus. read more

Today I had the worst and most generic breakfast sandwich not from a convenience store that I've ever had. The brioche bun tasted like it was placed on the day-old shelf at Giant and forgotten, and the egg and sausage had that lovely warming tray sogginess. And the cheese, of the cheese. What an abomination. It was like a sad Dollar Store imitation of good cheese. read more

That dark roast is too good right now! They ran out in the front, but they poured me some from the batch they were brewing in the back so I wouldn't have to wait. read more

I have been coming to the Panera in Tenleytown for several years. I love their food and on top of that, their amazing customer service. However, tonight I was waiting to get my meal at the pickup area when this man, who appeared to be homeless, came and tried to grab a few take home containers. Than a very rude employee basically harassed him for simply taking a few containers. I thought that was pretty petty and questions my trust in Panera being a "community partner." read more

Food: My favorite....Broccoli and Cheese soup! That's my staple! Service: Quick call in/pick up for lunch. Annoying at times when I'm at the pickup section and no one comes to check me out. It happens ALL the time!!!! I ALWAYS have to ask for assistance! So the 4 stars is basically for the soup. Not for their prompt (lack of) checkout service. Price: $6-7; not bad. read more

The food here is typical Panera fare, which is to say (at least in my opinion) very good. Free wifi is nice and the decor is also standard Panera. The employees usually are friendly, perhaps slightly moreso than at your average Panera. They are especially helpful when I want take-out in ensuring everything is easy for be to carry, getting me bigger bags etc without my needing to ask. However, while it feels slightly wrong to be dinging a place because it is too popular, the popularity of this Panera truly does diminish the overall dining experience, prtly due to the customer service when it's crowded. More than once, there has literally been nowhere for me to sit (and not only at 'peak' lunch and dinner times). More than once I have been forced to carry my food out because there was nowhere to sit with an employee telling me there were no seats so I had to carry out, which I found to be incredibly rude and impractical (especially because, all 3 times this has happened, there was a seat by the time my food was ready and I had to awkwardly take my takeout to the seat, and one time it happened I had friends already sitting and saving me a seat and the employee would not listen to me explain this and put me for take-out anyway). The line can be long and when it is they don't move you through it quickly- many times I've been in a long line with only one cashier actually open even though other employees were there. If it is all the same to you and you don't live right by this Panera, I'd recommend making the extra hike to Friendship Heights for a less crowded, more laid back experience. read more

Good spot for a quick and healthy bite. There is plenty of seating and great for studying or reading a book. Coffee and teas are good. I usually get a Pick 2 meal (Greek salad & soup). It usually comes out to about $10 or so. Greek salad is good and they let you choose a side (Apple, bread, or chips), and I usually choose bread. Tonight's bread portion was smaller than usual, but it was good. I will continue going to Panera because they offer consistently good and healthy food options. read more

Same as pretty much every Panera there is... great food! Make sure to get yours TO GO, as their seating area sits MAYBE 30 people, and is always packed full of AU students using the free WiFi and people who feel the need to spread out over three tables. In all seriousness, though, if you go anytime between 11-3, you likely won't get a seat. Twice now I have chanced it assuming a seat would open up, and have been stuck holding my food waiting for a table for 5-10 minutes. read more

This is the worst Panera Bread I have ever been to. The customer service is terrible. I went up to the counter to ask for the bag of chip I was missing from my order and one of the employees, Joshua, threw the bag of chips at me. I asked if it was possible for the bread that came with the large soup to be sliced into smaller pieces and instead I was asked if I couldn't just cut the bread myself at the table. Horrible customer service; they have no manners. read more

The Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Salad is quite possibly the tastiest salad I've had all year. Just enough of everything. Crunchy, tangy, sweet, nutty. Just perfect. read more

AU kids are losing their collective shit over this place! For real, y'all, it's just soup and sandwiches... okay, with that said, I am stoked too. Everything's super fresh, they bring the food to your table, they're pretty upfront and knowledgeable about nutritional information, and the Mediterranean veggie sandwich uses some of the best hummus I've ever had. Maybe it's the fact that this location is brand new and they're trying to prove themselves/they haven't burnt out, but they're on their game (even though it's like hell trying somewhere to sit on a busy day). Oh, and the rewards... my loyalty can totally be bought with a free smoothie. I could eat every meal here until I die and still be happy. read more

Severely understaffed extremely long wait time for new carafes to be brought out. Would not recommend coming to this location of at all possible. read more

Would give 0 stars if I could. The only available bathroom for both guests and staff did not HAVE SOAP. When this was brought to the manager by myself, one of the staff members mentioned that she noticed that "this morning". We came in the afternoon, so why was it not fixed? This is a serious health violation!!!!! This is the main problem with my review but the staff member that took my family's order also seemed unintelligent, forgetting to ask any of us what sides we would like with our meals until we told her. She forgot that we ordered 3 cups for drink, only giving us two and refusing to give us a third until she double-checked the order. Not a big deal, but it's just a coffee... Anyway, I go to Panera all the time but will forever avoid this location. read more

This place is awful! Customer service doesn't exist here. I have had a couple of incidents that I just gave up on this place. 1) they served my soup half empty 2) I customized my sandwich so it wouldn't include onions, well, it included everything I asked not to be included. 3) I found a hair in my sandwich All of these happened in different occasions, but I finally gave up on this place. read more