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Glad you enjoyed it, OP! I'll say that I've only tried Panera once, which--based on what I got--was enough for me. I got a soup and a sandwich, both of which were far too salty for me (and I like salt!).
I will go to Panera for black bean soup when it's in season, or for an iced tea if I'm out shopping. Sadly, I feel that today's Paneras are sad in comparison to how they used to be, when they were stand-alone restaurants with a large eating area. The newer places around here are cramped small structures, not very clean, and seem to focus mostly on their take-out business. Neither DH nor I care for their breads. We feel there's an aftertaste.
One of my favorite places. Not because the food is spectacular (it's good, but no better/worse than other cafe's), but the ambiance seems much more relaxing to just get some work done out of the house (pre-pandemic).
I don't know about being pricey.... I feel like it's comparable to other places like Corner Bakers, Cosi, La Madeleine, etc. Sort of a fast-casual place.
I'm a big croissant fan. And found out that they don't cut the croissant. So if you get a half-sandwich, it comes on a full croissant. Order a full, you get two croissants. While I'm normally low carb... Croissants are my Achilles heel... Their chicken salad is my goto. Otherwise, it's the Green Godess Cobb.
Like macroy, I enjoy the ambiance for having a quiet conversation over coffee and a pastry. I'm not a fan of their food and don't consider most of it particularly worth the money or healthy for that matter.
I think they originally started in St. Louis and most went by the name St. Louis Bread Co. When we moved to Columbia, Missouri in 2001, the Panera by our house was in the process of changing their name over to Panera. Even for several years thereafter, many of the locations in St. Louis were still called St. Louis Bread, not Panera, though I'm sure that's probably no longer the case.
No, they're still called St. Louis Bread Co. in the St Louis area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by don6170
Obviously, but why have 1/3 of the options be bread, when you are already getting a lot of bread in your sandwich?
They serve more than just sandwiches. Some people like a side of bread with their soup or salad. Last time I went, they were out of bread as a side. I was disappointed to not be able to get bread with my soup.
How is Panera "Uppity"? That's kind of ridiculous IMO.
Upscale type place...soccer moms, old people, white collar, etc..people who would not be caught dead in an Arbys
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