I have eaten here several times in the past and have always been content, but recently had an unpleasant experience. I bought some dinner for my girlfriend and I and discovered that an item was missing. I was about twenty minutes away from the store at this point, but figured I would drive back and get what I payed for. Since I made the drive back, I asked if they could remake my order since the food would not be as hot as I would have liked after 40+ minutes in the car. The person at the counter was very nice and helpful, but the cook she asked refused to remake my order, and suggested that I " heat up the soup". Sorry, but I thought the point of paying somebody to cook your food was that you don't have to do it yourself. After a few words, he offered to replace only one of my items. Being tired and hungry, I accepted. While nobody was openly rude toward me, I did not appreciate this employee's unwillingness to help a paying customer. read more

The food is good! I had half of a big kid's grilled chesse sandwich which is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever had! and a bowl of cheddar broccoli soup which was also delicious! It came with a side of chips and I also ordered a pumpkin muffin- YUM! The service was relatively quick but I don't like how you cannot use more than one coupon at a time. We had a $6 off coupon and a free danish from our rewards card and you could not use those together. The girl at the register offered to re-ring everything again and do it spearately but by this time there was a huge line so we said forget it. read more

Extremely rude staff. Also, charged me $2 bucks for extra dressing and told me after I paid. I only asked for extra dressing because the previous time I went to this location they gave me one dressing that was half full for a whole salad. I ate a dry salad. Love panera, but will never be returning to this location. Unbelievably disappointed time and time again. read more

Complaining about a chain restaurant without coming across as overly critical is a fine line. However, it is just that, a chain. The emphasis on fresh ingredients does make a difference. I typically get a salad with a baguette side. Come in expecting your meal to be of decent quality and the bread/baked goods to be enjoyable and fresh read more

The drive thru was incredibly slow and the girl taking my order seemed very distracted while talking to me like she was talking with coworkers while trying to take my order. The only reason I gave two stars is because the macaroni is bomb, but they did give me an extremely small scoop of it. Worst Panera I've been to but I was craving and it hit the spot... minus the wait. read more

I don't have the exact address for either Panera Bread. But one is just South of the toll road in Lakeland on South Florida Ave. The North location is just beyond 1-4 in the Target Shopping center on 98. I have been to both Panera Breads many times and Panera Bread in other states. I have always enjoyed eating at Panera. Of course, it helps that I love bread. I like their coffee, as it is not too bitter. The wifi access is great when you are traveling. I have never had anything at Panera that I did not like. It is my favorite place to stop when I just want a bite of something. Most Panera Bread locations get very busy at lunchtime. read more

A regular place I eat and a family favorite! Everything I have tried I have not been disappointed with! I had 1/2 soup cheddar and broccoli soup and 1/2 a frontera chicken panini. Also green tea is amazing also. read more

My soup was cold and every empty table in the restaurant was dirty( it was 11:30) well before the lunch crowd. My bowl of soup was about halfway empty. In no way did the food quality, small portions, cold soup, dirty tables justify the $13 I was charged for lunch. read more

I usually have the Frontega chicken sandwich, french onion soup and carrot cake muffin. The sandwich is delicious. However, the last few times the basil was missing. I'm not sure if this is an adjustment to their recipe, but this took the sandwich to a different level. The french onion soup is delicious. The carrot cake muffin is hit or miss. I've had some that were dry, some that were soggy and others that were fantastic! read more

zero stars is too much for this location,tried over and over to give them a chance to do anything right,this was my last visit ever and sure they wont be here for too much longer ,with toojays and kekes in town now,why suffer here anymore,everything was horrible this time,like usual they were out of just about everything they should always have and although it was 54 degrees outside they still managed to be even colder inside,management here is non existent!! read more

I don't usually write too many reviews but had a great experience today while ordering at the drive thru. Courtney was assisting me and she was very enthusiastic and professional. Sure wish I would see more employees with such a great attitude! read more

Went through the drive they, which took forever. Ordered a breakfast sandwich and oatmeal, very basic stuff. They totally whiffed on the sandwich and forgot a spoon for the to go oatmeal. Didn't think something so simple could be made so difficult. read more

If you're looking for small portions, overpriced food and an incorrectly filled order this is your place. Horrible! Will not be back.....ever! read more

I went through the drive through at Panera Bread in South Lakeland and ordered a fuji apple salad, no chicken, and a quinoa lentil bowl with cage free egg. When I got home the salad was full of chicken, there was no egg in the quinoa lentil bowl, and it was full of chicken. I paid over 20 dollars for this order, and because my daughter and I are both vegetarian, we could not eat any of it. I called and asked to speak to the manager, who cross examined me about what specifically I ordered, and then took my name and said "the next time you come in, we'll make the food over again for you." This is not my idea of a refund. Not only do we not always want the same food, but we don't usually order together, and even if we wanted the same food and they made it for us again, I was charged on both dishes for chicken, and I was not offered a refund. They also gave us baguettes instead of chips, which is a small matter, but the point is - what do you have to do at Panera's to get the correct order? This has happened to me several times. With all the people who are allergic to particular foods, or have religious restrictions or dietary restrictions on what they can eat, Panera's should be a little more vigilant about what they put out. And when they make major mistakes as they did tonight with our order, they should offer a full refund. read more

Go to this Panera Bread all the time, have only had a problem on two occasions. The first time they ran out of the dough to make my flat bread pizza so it was thin and kind of lacking. The second time my sandwich barely had any meat at all, when I took it up front, the manager apologized and quickly made me a new sandwich without hesitation. Everything else I have tried or gotten has been great, from soup, sandwiches, to the muffins, bagels etc. We go several times a month. read more

This was my first time at Panera bread because I had a gift card. I won't be going back. I went in at 11:15, the very start of lunch time and everything I wanted was "sold out". I desperately wanted to try the new Soba bowls because I have had it before in another country. I then went down the list of things that looked good for lunch, again-4 items I listed were "sold out". I finally asked what they did have available and my option was soup or salads. I finally settled on a half salad that was pretty good but while I waited for my to-go order, I was able to catch up on all of the latest baby shower happenings of the food preppers :D read more

Terrible location. Strange very congested parking lot. Restaurant is way to small, same mess as the parking lot, Crowded uninviting atmosphere. Food is hit or miss. At this location they have the employees, yell out your name when your order is ready. Most Panera locations give out those beepers when its ready. Do not sit in front of the pick up counter. Your eardrums will ache from all the yelling. It is quite unprofessional. Not impressed with the location, but the employees do their job. It's not their doing I give this location a poor rating, it is the corporate I give it to. Though I'm not sure if Panera has franchises and this is one. They need to do some changes here on S Florida. Quite frankly I was surprised Lakeland has 2 locations. It doesn't seem like the sort of community that would even have one. Since it seems like the BBQ, fat fast food chain restaurant kind of town. read more