Ode to Panera... (I'm a big Panera fan boy so take this entire review with a grain of Himalayasian salt.) First...reviews of chain restaurants are typically boring and unnecessary and you may find this one just that. However, if you love and appreciate good food, Panera is not easily dismissed. So...this particular Panera location? It is kind of unique in that it's in a shared older building and it also has expansive outdoor deck seating. Service here is very courteous and the food is also slightly above average relative to other Paneras. (Try the value duet which can included a Mediterranean Veggie sandwich and a cup of tomato soup - a genuine bargain in today's world for $6.99.) Now, on to my actual review...which is for Panera corporate in general. Let's face it: Panera has no competition in the "fast but healthy food" scene. Not to mention the "New American fast but healthy food" scene. Yes, there are chain sandwich shops galore with some relatively healthy choices but you simply cannot find a breakfast and lunch resturant chain like Panera that offers a innovative, healthy menu. Yes, Panera doesn't really fit in at dinner time but otherwise it's a solid choice for truly unique and fairly-priced breakfast and lunch options. I say...if you are a beginning foodie... start at Panera. Start at Panera and then branch out to the many boutique privately owned local resturants reviewed here on Yelp. Forget Starbucks...breakfast at Panera can be outstanding (the strawberry steel cut oatmeal is simply amazing) and Panera coffees are typically outstanding and at least the equal of Starbucks not to mention free refills. Panera baked goods are generally made on site early every morning. The lunch options are extensive and their sandwiches (Caprese garden a personal fav of mine) are in reality New American innovative cuisine. Yes, I said that! Panera was sold a few years back and kudos to the new management for basically keeping Panera as Panera. It will be a sad day for foodies should Panera ever fail or radically change their business model. read more

Panera Bread - Mediterranean Veggie sandwhich - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

This must be one of the most picturesque Panera locations around. It shares a building with Tacos el Norte. It's too bad the outside dining was blocked off because that would be a really nice place to sit and eat lunch. Typical Panera menu. We had pick two lunches which I think has good portions. Our meal was fine. The staff is awesome: the customer in front of us (older gent wanting to know the price/size/ingredients/value of what I presume was a free dessert/pastry item and the extreme patience with which the staff member dealt with him - kudos) really took a very long time to place order/conclude business. They opened up another line for us and smoothly took our order. I also hit a free pastry/cookie. Panera -- While the nice weather continues, please open up the outdoor dining. read more

Panera Bread - Very picturesque - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

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The food was acceptable. For Panera. Soup is their best item. The lack of salad option with your sandwich is a real issue for me. They push the bread and chips or an apple. The lunch price for wife and I was $38. Cleanliness is a real issue here and seems to be an issue at many Panera locations. read more

Have not been to a Panera in years. Love the outdoor patio at this location. Enjoyed the hazelnut coffee, crossoisnt ham & cheese, scone, unlimited coffee refills. read more

Something should have clued us in when only 3 customers were in the restaurant. The bakery selection was very limited. We saw a self service computer as you approach, which we hate. Of course, we had trouble with it and had to locate someone to assist. One of the seven humans working there could actually wait on customers, but they don't. They give you a paper cup and you have to figure out where to get coffee. Not near the ordering or soda stations, but at the front door. They were out of cream, again had to find someone to refill the container. What do the seven people do? The manager person was looking at a computer screen and her phone most of our time there. This is the fault of corporate. No personal connection, lousy assortment of food and they probably wonder why no one comes in. read more

This place has gotten terrible. The kiosks don't work. It took 15' just to place an order of an egg sandwich, 2 drinks and a bear claw. The front desk staff doesn't help Then the food which wasn't much, took 20' to come out and no one is in the place. Now you can't get your drink cup until your food comes out. I guess they don't want sipping before the meal as you may drink too much product. This place should close like the one In Bannockburn. It is not good. read more

Ordered a frontega chicken sandwich. I picked an apple as a side. Although the sandwich was filled with a lot of chicken unlike other panera places, I got a rotten apple. read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

I've been avoiding my local McHenry Panera Bread for the past year because there seems to be a new 'fast food' business model where the selection is much more limited, decor has changed to "fast food" and there general ambience is "please, eat and leave". So it was against my objections that I went with a friend to the Lake Bluff Panera Bread. What a delightful surprise that to discover that the Lake Bluff Panera Bread is the 'vintage' Panera Bread, where there's lots of selection (the old menu that I recognize), the table buzzers, lots of bagels (other Paneras seem to be out of bagels by 10AM by design) and cheery service. My turkey avocado BLT had lots of chicken, a generous amount of avocado and was what the McHenry Panera used to serve and apparently still does in Lake Bluff. Next time I visit, I'll insist on lunching at the Lake Bluff Panera Bread because it's the quality and service I used to get in the McHenry Panera Bread before the new business model came about. read more

Man fuck this place and this over priced food. Spent $57 for me and my girl. We didn't even get full. It should be illegal charging what you guys are charging for the quantity of food. Seems like you have to order double portions to get "full" I guess employees can't control this I suppose. read more

I went there after a lapse of going to Panera. I guess they switched to humanless ordering. I tried to order what I usually used to order and after a few minutes of trying to navigate the screen, I gave up. The employees which used to help were too busy on their phones. Panera has decided that the value of the employees' time is greater than the value of the customers' time. Bad decision in the lake forest/lake bluff area. And yes, the floor tile is still filthy from years of winter traffic. read more

It's an average Panera nothing special about it other than the outside is very strange it looks like you are entering someone's house. It is located in a strip mall parking lot with a grocery store. I find this location to be not as well taken care of as other Panera's because the tables are always dirty so that's annoying. Another downside is that I find their menu to not be labeled well so it makes it hard to find what your looking for. But the staff is very friendly and the service is quick. read more

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Ok this is just a Panera but for being a Panera it's a really great place to eat at any time. Staff was pretty good at being quick and as far as I know they used real ingredients in my bbq chicken flat bread. I would come again to this specific Panera read more

Worst Experience!!! I asked for Chipotle Chicken Avocado Sandwich and I got my sandwich without Avocado!!! They fixed it when I told them but didn't even offer any free treat which os even mentioned on their receipt which I saw after I came home !!! Don't know how they are running this place !!! read more

Panera Bread - See Note: we will fix it and give you treat for mistake. - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

I love panera but lately I've only been disappointed. On my latest visit, I got a turkey sandwich on the worlds smallest piece of sourdough bread. I was actually speechless when I opened it. You can see from the photo, the sandwich was smaller than my hand. You can see how much the turkey sticks out. When you pay $9 for a sandwich, you expect a normal size piece of bread. I am hoping the manager sees my post so they don't rip other people off like this. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because it tasted great. Just a massive disappointment on the size, after a series of disappointments on my latest visits. This sandwich would only be suitable for a child. read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

Having waited an appropriate amount of time (http://www.yelp.com/biz/grille-43-lake-bluff#hrid:ErXxANkkB2XTdlrhzMBzNw), Panera appeared on my scope... Since retiring, all I do these days is surf, travel, eat and read*. I drink some too, but it was reading that brought me to Panera Bread and I'm happy I finally got into the place after Jim Cramer of Mad Money has been pushing their company as a "Buy! Buy! Buy!" for eons it seems. I was confused, at first, the lunch crowd forming into multiple lines to select their choices that had left me a bit addled on where to start. But we did, my lover an' me, and split salads, sandwiches and a panani all in an organized, clean and efficient process. Everything we saw and sampled was good quality, fresh and prepared in clean, tidy work stations. All prices were affordable for what you were getting and, by the looks of clientele, that really wasn't an issue anyway. If this is the business model across all Panera restaurants, then they're sure winners. I'll second Mr "Booya!" Cramer's "Buy! Buy! Buy!" *Of course, that's not ALL... read more

Panera Bread - It's a lunch thang - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

Ordered a salad. I'm not sure why it came in a to-go box. It seems like a smaller portion? I asked for a metal fork because the plastic feels so cheap. Ladies called me a b*%^ when I turned around. Do you hate your life or simply hate your job? read more

Still love Panera but there seems to be a real difference between eating in and taking out. The soups and salads are much smaller if you take out :( Turkey chili is my new favorite soup now that the summer corn chowder is gone. The Chipotle chicken panini is also a super yummy sandwich choice. The Asian Sesame Chicken Salad is at most a 3/5 if not 2/5. Barely got a few pieces of chicken in my order and in general it was extremely plain. The same cannot be said for the Fuji apple chicken salad which comes with THE BEST dressing ever - a white balsamic apple vinaigrette. I am absolutely in love with this dressing! I would eat here if there's time because taking out is not worth it at all. Don't forget to get a Panera card if you're a frequent visitor because you can easily rack up free items or discounts off orders which is nice especially because it's getting more expensive to dine here! Breakfast items seem to have more reasonable prices in my opinion. Oh, lastly, triple berry scone: super delicious. read more

After multiple disappointing experiences with this location, I am writing this review. Yesterday, we had a group order. 3 sandwiches exactly the same, plus 3 other entrees. The 3 tuna sandwiches were smashed and almost impossible to eat. Our guests turkey sandwich looked like it had been assembled by the inhabitants in the primate house at Brookfield Zoo. C'mon folks. Who cares about "clean ingredients" when you're turning out products that look like somebody threw them in the trash first? The use more care at McDonalds than at this very expensive establishment. I won't be suggesting it again. read more

This Panera location is literally 1 mile from my place, I would have been a really good customer if I was treated better, food was prepared correctly, staff was attentive and dining area clean. 1. Dirty mens bathroom, smells really bad. 2. I saw the staff slapping each others butts and behaving inappropriately. 3. The gal who took my order was complaining to the manager that it was slow and that she wanted to leave. She didn't listen and I had t repeat myself 3 times. 4. Cashier was reluctant to look up my Panera rewards card with my phone number. 5. Lots of dirty tables, while customers buss their own tables, its still imperative that the tables are wiped down. Nobobdy wants to sit down to a dirty table. The gal who was complaining about it being slow and wanting to leave should know that the place is probably slow because of rude people like her. This Panera is at a premium location on the north shore, it really has potential but is slipping downward. The Libertyville location is much better than Lake Bluff. read more

Hey, I get it. It's just a Panera Bread. I agree. But it's pretty okay for a Panera. I don't mind coming here with colleagues for lunch, and the prices are pretty reasonable. I like that they have a few healthy options, and as far as I can tell they use real ingredients in the sandwiches. There really isn't too much to say about this place. The staff is okay, they're efficient, and they handle a lunch rush pretty well. TL;DR: They give you what you're looking for at an okay price. read more

I am a frequent customer of this location because of its location. This morning large pieces of dust were falling from the vents in the ceiling. Other customers complained and moved. The manager then got on a ladder and hand picked dust out from several other vents while WE WERE EATING. He came to a vent directly next to us and was about to clean it out, I asked him to wait until we finished eating. He proceeded to clean the vent as dust flew everywhere. Disgusting!!! This is store 4011 in Lake Bluff Illinois. read more

Panera Bread - Sandwiches Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

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I always enjoy the food. The service is hit or miss. I do and occasionally rapid pickup but have left with all of my food. I've learned to check first. This location has my favorite fountain drink, Lipton raspberry ice tea. Not all locations have the same fountain drink sections. The parking here is ample. read more

This Panera is in a great location with great parking. Space inside is very spacious with plenty of tables and about 10 booths in the back. Never really too busy. The only downside here is the staff. Like others have said, they behave unprofessionally or have sidebar conversations while they ring you up. If you can get past the few seconds you interact with the staff it's a good place to eat Panera. Food is always great. read more

Too expensive for a half sandwich and salad over $15.00 a meal for drive thru. Good fresh food but a rip off.

The food is standard Panera so no complaints there. The staff is rude as hell, especially the short dark haired girl with glasses that works the register at night. I will go out of my way to a different Panera because of this from now on. read more

I've always been a fan of panera and their food very healthy and fresh selections although they really need to make more dishes vegan

The panera looks like its closed since there is a for rent sign right outside for the shop next door. Overall, decent panera, with a lot of seating. They were quick to get out my bacon turkey bravo and the thai chicken salad. I took it to go, and was able to enjoy a good meal after work when I didnt want to cook! read more

As a fan of Panera this location was a disappointment. One of the "managers" had a loud aggressive tone and had an attitude when taking our order. Doesn't even bother handing us our change but just throws it on the counter, Then loudly yells at my HISPANIC father that his coffee was ready in front of other customers. Best believe I confronted HER as to why we got an attitude and the customer after us (white) got a lovely tone once I asked her if she had a race problem her voice miraculously had no attitude any longer, shocker !! it's 2021 Karen's watch your f***** back because newsflash, Latinos have education AND more CLASS than you ! #latinosMAKEamericaGreat read more

I am really concerned about the food safety standards and this particular Panera. On Friday I watched as a cashier handled my money and then turned around to prepare the lemonade I ordered. She used her bare hands to pick out lemon slices from the canister and put them into my lemonade. She didn't wash her hands, wear gloves, or use tongs. I asked her to remake mine without the lemons slices. She did it but did not seem to understand the issue. I notified the manager on the phone today. Granted it was after-the-fact, she didn't seem overly concerned with the issue either. She did tell me she would provide me a replacement meal, but I'm not really sure she understood the health risks associated with what happened. If this is what happens in the front of the house I'm scared to think of what happens in the kitchen. read more

My dad and I got a bowl of soup and a coke and it costed 18$. And the bowl of soup is Hal filled and they don't bake the French onion soup in the broiler. What's the point. Panera. I am done and will never recommend anybody ever going there read more

Dear Panera Bread, or should I say, Panera No Bread. I recently decided to visit your establishment. All day I was dreaming about the delicious broccoli cheddar soup BREAD bowl I would devour later that evening. To my surprise, when I went to order my food, I was informed that they were all out of bread bowls. I was so flabbergasted that I had to leave the restaurant and go to Potbelly's instead. My Potbelly sandwich was delicious, and it had bread. I could not say the same for Panera No Bread. I am outraged, and I hope that an incident like this will never occur again. December 21 2015 will surely be a day remembered in infamy. read more

This place awesome i try it coffee I don't really know coffee is great so much having light coffee witch is i like starbuck have too strong coffee read more

This is one of my favorite go-to places for catering business meetings. They're really nice and even have taken my larger orders an hour or two before lunch. I love the fact that they deliver. You'd think more places in the area would catch on and deliver too; but they don't. If you're going there for lunch on a weekday, be prepared for a pretty long line, although it moves quickly. They also have a nice seating area outside but it has always been infested with bees when I've tried to sit outside. I love their options and their service. read more

I really like this Panera Bread location. Its very homey and warm which is wonderful on a cold Chicago winter day. The food at Panera Bread is always changing and they are exploring great things. I appreciate that I can find something tasty, but low in calories and fat. I also appreciate the Cal/Fat posting next to each item so I can make the best decision. Keep on rocking Panera Bread!! read more

Even with the lunch rush (especially with the corporate folks including myself), service is pretty quick and there's always a place to sit. This location's a bit special because it's in its own building separate from the strip mall with which it shares a parking lot. read more

Who doesn't love Panera. They have a friendly staff which makes it a joy to go to this location. I will continue to go here.

The Lake Bluff Panera employees are always helpful and courteous. It is a great place to go for a snack or lunch.

This Panera is so clean and it's just 5 minutes away from my house so it's very convenient to go too. They now have order ahead for rapid pick up and it is my all time favorite thing! I don't even have to wait in line anymore. Perfect for lunch time rushes! Love love love my Panera! read more

The Lake Bluff Panera lives up to standards of other Paneras. I do enjoy their tuna salad, which isn't drowning in mayo. In addition, they have Gulden's mustard packets in the condiment area. read more

I love this place. Only thing that would make it better would be a drive thru!!! I really need them to deliver to me.