Panera Bread in Montclair is now open for business. Wahoo! I came here for a very quick lunch yesterday. I usually do drive-thru, but this time, I decided to walk-in. So glad I did. It has quite an open space with lots of seating inside and some limited patio seating outside. Tables were clean with the exception of a few with crumbs. Their trash bin area has 3 compartments. I get confused on which bin to place what in. The labels need to be clear as to what the items are... most of the time, they are not because they use the formal names like organics, mixed recyclables, waste and not the simple names like plates, utensils, napkins, food LOL. They had 3 self-ordering kiosks and one or two registers at the counter. Fountain and other drinks station is equipped with a variety of choices such as soda, juices, tea, and coffee. Sip Happy! Rapid pick-up and delivery pick-up are along the wall at the back corner. Utensils are readily available near the counter pick-up area. They have it all figured out. Great job! I ordered via the kiosk. I got their Caesar Salad & Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup for $8+. But I only paid $1+ because I had a $7 discount in my Panera rewards account (thanks!). Cool, Happy Birthday to me! LOL Portion was perfect! Not too much and not too little. Salad was good, but wished there was more salad and less croutons LOL. Caesar salad dressing was well balanced in flavor. Soup was delicious... got good strips of chicken and good amount of noodles. Glad I got more solids than liquids. Well done! I'll definitely return here for more good eats in the future. They have a screen that shows all the current orders so you can track your order. Nice! I didn't have any interaction with the staff whatsoever. Just order, wait, pick-up, sit down, eat, and leave. Sweet! What I love about Panera most is their great selections of pastries, bagels, and other baked goods. What's even more amazing is that they donate unsold baked goods to feed their neighbors in need. How cool is that! Thank you Panera for your love and support of your community! read more