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Panera Bread
Rating Details »
Categories: Bakeries, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River East635 N Fairbanks Ct
(between Erie St & Ontario St)
Chicago, IL 60611
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- None
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"What is going on over here? Ten five star reviews in a row? For that sandwich place on Lincoln, you know the one by the Paulina brown line…" read more »
20 reviews for Panera Bread
This Panera is close to where I live and a great place to study. I was here for more than 6 hours today. Yes, I'm one of those people. (Sorry.)
The food is good (I mean, Panera is a chain so you know what to expect), and I heart the free refills on coffee/soda.
Bathrooms are clean, and the background noise is pretty easy to tune out.
Probably my favorite place to bring out the books at. You know any place open all day with free wi-fi and located next to a medical school will be a student haunt. Panera does a good job making it a comfortable one.
The chai tea is especially good here! Remember to carry something really warm though because it's quite chilly in here as their air ducts are located overhead and blast air quite strongly!
1 star for free wifi and for pleasant cashier and guy cleaning the tables
1 star for the yummy soup and sandwich. But 0 stars due to dirty spoons and for my cousin's sandwich that looked like someone took a bite out of it.
I usually like Panera but this place wasn't great. Oh well, can't have everything.
Panera holds a special place in my heart. The free wifi (unlimited except during peak lunch hours), refill-able coffee if you're dining in, and free pastries around closing time means I'm often plopped there for hours at a time.
But... I ordered food to-go for the first time today, and WTF? The salad is no more than 1/3 the size of what you get if you're dining in! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE/ACCEPTABLE?!?!
The good:
- the lovely cashier who helped me with the menu, since I don't think I've eaten at a Panera since I lived in St. Louis (where it's called St. Louis Bread Co. aka Bread Co.)
- food was ready quickly - by the time I got my drink
- the outdoor seating
The bad:
- $9 for 1/2 a sandwich and a cup of soup? Really?
- tables weren't clean. There seemed to be some confusion as to whether people leave their dishes or place them somewhere. I came in right after the lunch rush, so finding a dish-free table was a challenge. I finally settled on one that desperately needed to be wiped down.
- sure, the Wi-Fi is free, but not before you click through a page warning you not to linger! Funny, since their radio commercials advertise how it's a nice place to stop in and relax with your laptop... riiiiggght....
The ugly:
- my soup was so greasy it was pretty disgusting. The sandwich wasn't all that either. So for $9 I didn't even leave satisfied.
- that dirty table I settled on was on the other side of the half-wall separating the tables from the counter. Every 3 seconds someone's buzzer would go off when their food was ready. Perhaps the most annoying sound ever.
Hey Panera/Bread Co. - thanks for reminding me why I haven't eaten there in over 8 years.
This place was alright, I've seen better. Not as big but it was right next to the hotel I was staying at. There was wireless, but only for a limited amount of time (I think 30 min), what's up with that? You know some of us with slow laptops, it takes 10 minutes just to start the computer up. And uploading anything onto facebook, for instance? Forgetaboutit.
Oh, that didn't bug me much since I was on vacation anyways. But usually I do like going to Panera and getting my work done while I'm eating my broccoli cheddar soup (my favorite since I was a kid and eating that at Big Boys....now who ate that back in the day??) in a bread bowl with half the sierra turkey sandwich. ALTHOUGH, I just read in last month's magazine (I believe it was "Self") that that sandwich appears to be healthy and beneficial, but is in fact 960 calories. Now, I'm no calorie countin' chick, but I heard through the grapevine that that in itself is half the amount of calories you ought to consume in a given day. Either way, that's okay, it's not like I eat there every day right? And given that this is a 3 star rating and thousands of miles away from me, I guess I never will :P
Moving on, when I went to NY I saw that the menu now listed calories next to Starbucks drinks. What if we had that for all our meals, especially for what we eat in restaurants (getting more in depth than those rare menus that say "for the healthy-conscious folks"). Or for alcoholic beverages. I wonder if that would sway any of us. Wisdom versus ignorance? One can make you live longer, one can make you live it up. Or both.
Hands down the worst sandwich I have ever paid money for. Note to Panera Bread: a panini needs to be grilled somehow, you cannot put in it the mircrowave until the cheese is melted into a rubbery rock and call it a panini!
I didn't want to eat here, but it was near our hotel and we needed something quick, so I gave in. At least it came with potato chips.
Good at what they do, except for the attitude.
I don't usually review fast food places. But this Panera is a great breakfast alternative in this neighborhood. Sinful pastries, like the old-style pecan rolls completely covered with pecan halves. Good coffee. They've researched everything, as you expect from a fast food chain, and know what sells and what doesn't. They try different exotic bagels, some of which work and some of which don't. Their standards, from sesame to cinnamon crunch, are always good. And prices are very reasonable.
But don't break their rhythm. They expect you to know what you want as soon as you get to the register, and YOU are suppose to understand what the fast slur of poorly enunciated English is that they throw at you. Helping customers is not their mandate - getting you in and out is. So decide on what you want, how you want it, what side items you want, whether its for eat in or carryout, what size coffee you want, etc, before you approach the ever-changing staff behind the counter.
4 stars just for reminding me how great smoked gouda is...
I have a theory about Panera Bread.
They are trying to make me fat and poor. Their sandwiches and soups and chips and desserts and even their PICKLES are so delicious and tasty. And it has become their mission to see me penniless and obese by spiking their food with crack so that I need a fix almost everyday.
Stop! I love your food but you have my love and loyalty for life! Please let me work on my figure and pay rent!
Panera, you are my tummy's savior. And my wallet's foe.
Luckily for you, I listen to the former much more often than the latter. See you soon!!
I just moved in across the street from this panera. I've been going there a lot recently because it's quick and easy and I'm familiar with their food. The food is typical and I'm a fan of their french onion soup. One thing that gets me with this place is if you order bread they look at you like your crazy. I tried to order a sourdough baguette today and it took me almost 5 full minutes to explain to the girl what I wanted
"I want the long one that says sourdough baguette under it"
(girl points to a whole grain loaf)
"no."
I'm not asking for these people to be culinary experts but it's a freaking bread company why is it so hard to order bread!?
i like panera, it's fast as long as you're not going at lunch time because the line is crazy but the food is good. a little overpriced but it's still good..this one is way too small for this area considering it's got 3 NW grad schools and the hospitals within walking distance but otherwise i was happy to see it open last year. Free wifi and coffee refills give it 4 stars!
Panera I am mad at you and am no longer interested in hanging out with you. This goes for the entire Panera family, a case of guilt by association. You serve fatty salads that masquerade as healthy lunch options. Shame on you!
Panera now offers only 1 salad with a light dressing, the Grilled Salmon Salad. I think that drowning a salad in dressing that contains, on average 150 calories and 8 - 24 fat grams, defeats the purpose of trying to eat healthy (at Panera). I found out today that the Asian salad has been changed and no longer has the reduced sugar dressing. That dressing was still loaded with calories and fat, but it was the only light dressing that I was made aware.
Aside from all my rantings, this location is pretty similar to most other Panera locations. Good luck finding a table around lunch time, unless the patio is open. If you try to eat in for lunch you will become frustrated with all of the freeloaders who are only there to use wifi and take up tables. I made my own table today using an armchair and an end table! I had to be resourceful.
Oh, Panera. Or should I say "St. Louis Bread Co."
See, this was one of my favorite things about living in St. Louis. Every single Bread Co. that you go to is delicious. They've really got their act together. I think the only thing bad I have to say about them is that they should have a bouncer at the door kicking all of those people with a laptop hogging a whole booth to the curb.
Obviously not as healthy as it looks... but decently priced for the quality of food that you're getting.
Liz thinks to herself "Where should I sit. It's awfully crowded."
Just then, a spot opens up and Liz slides down. She looks at her cup of Broccoli Cheddar soup, creamy and inviting. She thinks "oh, hot, mother of God...burning roof of mouth".
In an effort to cool her tongue, she takes a sip of her refillable Diet Coke.
"Sweet relief" she thinks, biting into her half Frontega Chicken sandwich, made from organic chicken and fresh greens on toasted focaccia. Chewing thoughtfully, she realizes that she is boring as whale poop, not having a thought about anything but her lunch.
She smiles. Knowing that this lunch, while a little pricey, will keep her full all afternoon. And that her diet coke cup will always runneth over.
Stop into Panera Bread for a delicious meal and a conversation...with yourself.
This Panera is a great option in the area. I feel like it is a lot better than the Corner Bakery down the street. I mean, Corner Bakery is okay, but Panera is good! The only thing that is bad about this location is that sometimes they seem to be a bit overwhelmed with all of the orders in the prep area and it can take a while (during rushes). Also, a lot of people like to sit in here and use their free wi-fi for hours on end. Some of us would like a place to eat our tasty food!
I have to agree with Jenny D - the wait times in this place can get crazy.
Its fresh and tasty, the staff is above average for similar lunch spots in the area, and its close.
However, there is rarely seating, and the waits are bad so I nearly always call ahead and take it to go.
This place is my gourmet lunch escape...Free Wi Fi Mouth watering soups and sandwiches and their Green Tea is soooo refreshing! Always a good spot to eat or just chill out after work.
Oh Panera, you're here!!! After waiting all of spring and half of summer, you have finally arrived :)
Three stars only because it's INSANELY packed during lunch. I understand it's the new kid on the block, but seriously?!?!?!? Waiting in a 20+ person line to order a $7 sandwich then waiting 15 minutes to pick up said sandwich only to have nowhere to sit? UNBELIEVABLE. The place itself is typical Panera, yummy breads and soups, soothing decor with free wi-fi (yay!) But I'm telling you, lunch time at your own risk.
I came in here last week to pick up some bagels for myself and a few other teachers I work with. The workers were very friendly and very fast in getting me my bagel. I have never been here when it was crowded so I am not sure what its like when under pressure, but this place has some of the top notch workers I have ever met. Bagels were great and I hear their other food is also. Will update if I ever eat anything else.
