Let's not beat around the bush: Panera Bread has had a rough time of it lately. Even one-time loyal customers will probably agree that there are some things that you should just avoid ordering when you do go to Panera, and honestly, it's a surprisingly long list. That's not a great look for any restaurant, but it wasn't always this way.
If that sounds like luscious interplay (as we had hoped), don't be deceived. Quoth our taste-tester, "the hot chocolate was watery rather than rich and milky, and it left an odd, almost alcoholic aftertaste that may have been the result of artificial syrup." As for that caramel drizzle, it "might as well have been forgotten since we couldn't detect any caramel notes in the drink at all."
When determining the ranking of these Panera goods, I paid attention to flavor, texture, and whether the soup lived up to what it was supposed to be or tasted like. Did the lobster bisque actually taste like lobster? Was the creamy tomato actually creamy and tomato-y? Was there plenty of tortellini to be found in the Tuscan-style tortellini soup? These were all questions I asked myself (and found the answer to) when trying and ranking these soups.
When tomato soup is made well, whether at home or in a restaurant, it has a richness that balances freshness with just the right amount of acidity. Whether you like it creamy and smooth or rustic and chunky, it almost always tastes better when you dip it in a grilled cheese sandwich. But Panera's version doesn't quite deliver. It's not awful - you won't spit it out - but you're also not left with that satisfied feeling after finishing your cup.
A good tuna sandwich has to taste bright, fresh, and tangy and have a good balance of ingredients and textures. It should never taste old, mushy, or under-seasoned. Unfortunately, the Panera tuna salad is mostly just plain boring. According to the website, the standard tuna sandwich is made from tuna salad on country rustic sourdough bread with mixed greens, sliced tomatoes, and salt and pepper. We found it to be uninspiring and forgettable.
Our seatbelts are (literally and proverbially) buckled for fairly low-quality food, but an experience that's more about low-cost and high-pleasure. At Panera Bread, however, comparatively higher price tags (think $10-$15 for a salad) suggest closer attention to "the little things." You get what you pay for...or, reason might suggest you should. In reality, a wave of apparent Panera employees is flooding Reddit to voice their dissatisfaction with one ingredient from the chain's kitchen - the chicken.
Quite frankly, few lunches are as satisfying (or as fun to eat) as a favorite sandwich dunked into soup. Consequently, Panera is heeding the call of its loyal fan base by offering a pair of menu items specifically designed to be dipped and dunked. And while the new Ciabatta Dippers may sound a bit familiar, there's a little something new this time around.
Panera Bread requires developers to commit to opening approximately 15 cafés in six years, reflecting an aggressive schedule demanding substantial financial and operational commitment.
The Croque Monsieur Croissant Toast is a decadent combination of flavors, featuring melty cheese and ham, all enveloped in the enticing flaky croissant toast.
