Panera Bread: Great For Controlling Your Weight Yet Still Enjoying Your Meal
Written: Sep 25 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: good selection of foods, clean & friendly atmosphere, food is pretty good
Cons: a bit overpriced, not enough locations
The Bottom Line: I would recommend Panera Bread because it's high-quality food at a fast speed.
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: Panera Bread |
This summer, one of our vacationing locations was Newport, Rhode Island. We had never been there before, and we decided we would eat at the best places and wouldn’t worry about the prices. We had never heard of Panera Bread before going to Newport, but once we went, that was what everyone was talking about. People were saying how it’s great for fast-food but also is great for delicious food at the same time.
We don’t have a Panera Bread here in Rochester, and I’m sure there aren’t any in Western New York. The closest one to my house in in Erie, PA. It’s not like McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s - certainly not. It’s actually a bit upper class like a Starbuck’s. It’s actually just like Starbuck’s. The only difference is that in Panera Bread you can order meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Panera Bread has a very unique atmosphere. First of all, it was air conditioned, and it was a scorcher outside! The restaurant was spotless - nothing on the floor except for the tiles and carpet. There was adequate seating space and I didn’t feel cramped at all. We had the decision of sitting at the booth or in chairs. There is an equal number of each.
The restaurant doesn’t provide menus. Instead, there are wooden posters on the wall with all the different menu items - kind of like Bruegger’s Bagels’ menu is set up. The colors of the restaurant are based around brown, yellow and orange. There are lights on top of each table which are covered in colorful covers. When we went, there were sample bread pieces and small bowls or soup to taste.
It’s free-seating. This is because there is no hostess to seat you. We went to wait in line, ordered our meals, and then took an order number. We were told to take the order number and place it on a holder standing on our table. About seven minutes after we ordered our food, a worker delivered it to us. So this is fast-food, but you don’t have to get the food yourself! Also, you don’t have to throw away the food. Tips aren’t necessary but they are polite.
Dining
The menu for breakfast is mostly revolved around low-calorie products. There are no eggs, bacon, and other fatty foods like that. There are croissants, danish, (mini) bundt cakes, pastries (including the new cinnamon roll), bagels of different types (including blueberry, French toast, sesame), spreads and bagel trios. These are high-quality dishes that are prepared freshly. They are also a bit on the expensive side.
For lunch and dinner entreés, there are soups. Soups are only served on a daily basis - you can’t get anyone you’d like on any day of the week. This is called the “Soup of the Day.” There are also salads including Greek Salad and Asian Sesame Salad. There are also hot pannini sandwiches which have no substitutes. I tried to get one without onions, but I was told it couldn’t be done. There are also Panera Bread’s Signature Sandwiches.
I had the brocolli cheddar soup in a cup. One can get a soup in a bowl for $2 more. The soup was delicious, and I sampled it before ordering. It came with tiny chunks of brocolli and melted cheddar cheese. The soup was very well cooked and served in a teacup. It wasn’t too thick like some may guess (as melted cheese is thick), and it was of a good portion for the price.
For my main course, I had the “Bacon Turkey Bravo” which is basically a club sandwich. It was served on Panera Bread’s signature bread: tomato basil bread, and was cut down the center diagonally. The bread was toasted yet it wasn’t too warm. It was also served with the dressing which wasn’t that tasty. The sandwich also came with smoked gouda. It was served in a basket with a bag of potato chips. The sandwich was around $6 which was a bit overpriced.
Conclusion
Overall, I would recommend Panera Bread again and would eat there again. I like how it has high-quality fast food, and there is always service with a smile. The menu items are a bit pricey, but you basically get what you pay for in this case. That includes the contemporary and clean atmosphere. Instead of hitting a fat-filled restaurant like McDonald’s or Wendy’s, try Panera Bread next time.
I should warn you that Panera Bread isn’t good for kids. There are no kid items like chicken nuggets, burgers, fries, or any of that stuff. Your kid may refer to these foods as “healthy stuff” and may not eat it. The food does have taste, but I’m sure kids would not enjoy it. Panera Bread would be good before setting out for a flight early in the morning, or for a quick bite - but without the kids.
If you would like more information on Panera Bread, don’t forget to visit www.panerabread.com.
Recommended:
Yes
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