Known for their fresh breads made daily, delicious soup and salad deals and one-of a kind sandwiches, Panera Bread is a unique cafe that has a variety of different options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Located just by Chick-Fil-A and Target off of Auto Parkway, Panera Bread has a quiet, coffee shop vibe which also includes free wifi, and is convenient walking or driving distance for students looking for somewhere to hang out after school.

Walking into Panera, you are almost always immediately greeted by a nearby employee and see shelves full of pastries, bagels, and breads freshly baked each day. The aroma of French bread fills the air as you walk through the dining area. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh food?

There is plenty of seating inside, including various booths and tables located near the back, which are secluded and allow more productivity. Though there is much room inside, due to the fact that this particular Panera Bread location shares the same parking lot with places such as Yogurtland, Starbucks and Chipotle, the parking can be a bit of a hassle if you go at the wrong time.

Panera usually works pretty quickly  to serve the guests and to get the line to die down. You can order to stay in or get the food to go, both typically take up to 10 minutes after you’ve ordered, depending on how busy they are.

Food options at Panera Bread range from various bagels and pastries, soups, sandwiches, salads, and pastas. They also offer smoothies, espresso drinks and their signature iced green tea and lemonade. The prices at Panera aren’t too bad. A mere $10.00 for a salad sounds pricy, but the salad itself is quite large and often leaves me asking for a box to take the leftovers home. As for the soups and sandwiches, the prices seem reasonable for the amount and quality of food you receive.

As an employee at Panera, I have been able to get a closer look at the work that goes into providing the best experience for guests. I also have been able to explore a new passion for prepping food and seeing the effort that actually goes into making and serving the food.

I can honestly say that I would rate Panera an “A” and will continue to eat there beyond just my work experience. It has a very friendly and homey environment, free wifi, employees that will make sure your experience is up to par, and delicious food options that range from breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would recommend visiting Panera Bread to anyone that wants a place to study, hang out or even just to grab a quick bite to eat.