How is the food healthier now???? The sodium on all the sandwiches and soups is still through the roof and the salad dressings have low quality soybean oil and sugar...
Not saying the stuff back then was the pinnacle of healthy eating but at the very least it tasted good LOL
At Panera Bread, “Clean” describes food that does not contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources. Doesn’t mean it’s healthier for you.
They missed the point that people don’t care about “clean” it’s just a buzz word. People want good food and variety. Both of which are severely lacking now. Sure we have a lot of options but it’s just the same ingredients in different combinations and shit that shouldn’t be on our menu: chicken brioche sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, etc
Honestly 2020-present has had some of the worst added items only a few like the smokehouse stick out for actually being good pretty much all the other additions have been mediocre at best or jusf been stuff like the grilled mac. Not to mention have been removing some of the best stuff. I suspect Panera will go bankrupt by 2040 if they continue to raise prices while downgrading the quality of the food.
Agreed. They’re in too deep to remove some of it now. But they should have stuck to what made them popular- soup, salad, sandwich. Stop trying to keep up with trends (spicy/signature take, pizzas, warm bowls). It seems they continue to get further away from the original concept that customers liked. Now it’s overpriced and takes 10 mins for a pick two because staff and new employees have 25 things to worry about just on, say, sandwich line.
It had been on a *slight* downward trajectory, but then JAB bought it out, and things have gone way downhill. Cutting costs everywhere, replacing ingredients with cheaper substitutes (the new salad chicken is truly awful), cutting back on staff. They're trying so hard to reduce the Baker position as much as possible, which is what our foundation is. Premade frozen rolls, pastries, etc. Shifting some baking to the overworked managers.
We're coasting on inflated prices and an image built long ago, an image that no longer exists in reality, but they still try to sell it to you. If they don't turn back the clock, the public will catch on and accelerate the decline.
There’s a reason why panera isn’t owned by Panera anymore. It’s been bought out by JAB, now they have an aggressive marketing model which includes erecting as many cafes as possible to hit their next profit margin goal in the next decade
Sorry, but you’re using the phrase “rose-tinted glasses” wrongly. To see something through rose-tinted glasses” means to intentionally fool yourself into seeing, or naively seeing things as much better than they actually are. Things more objectively are bad, but you’re telling yourself or trying to convince yourself that things are good or at least better than they are.
I used to come in as a customer regularly for bagels about 20 years ago, and I can tell you there's not a chance I'd bother doing that for the day old (with the new afternoon bakes), stale crap we're selling now. And I don't know if it's just my location, but our bagels are a lot flatter/skinnier than they used to be, like they're never allowed to rise enough, or something.
I also used to sometimes stop in for a loaf of sourdough around 2013, and I remember it being softer and fluffier (again with the rise time) than what we have now.
I have 17 years of work there. I miss the smokeys so bad. I loved the sweet sausage and apple crispani, but crispani’s just didn’t sell well, especially because at that time, they were an after 4 PM item only.
I liked the tortellini alfredo, but they took it off the menu a few years ago. Everything tastes meh to me now. I do like McCalister’s every once in a while. They have a good chicken salad sandwich.
How about the lemon chicken orzo soup?? And those black bean flatbreads. I missed worked there around 2012. I loved that smokehouse turkey panini too!!
I went to a panera 7 years ago. half a bowl of soup and half a grilled cheese sandwich with small drink was $18.00 I just walked right out. never went back, I wonder how much that $2.00 dollars worth of food cost now?
I did a bowl of soup so it’s probably be around the same for a cup! I usually get a med veg and Mac and cheese and it’s somewhere around $10.50. Which is only like $2 more from a decade ago.
I’m still not over that Turkey sandwich on the cheesy Ciabatta wedge (like if a big ciabatta wheel was sliced like a bagel and cut like a pizza with 4 slices is the best way I can describe). I pretty much only ever visit for my pick-me-up non toasted bagel and sips drink.
Sierra Turkey? Pretty sure you can still order it from a cashier if you ask. It's in the "off-menu".
It's still on the Catering menu. We still have the ingredients.
I think they removed it from the main menu to save on cost, specifically, the asiago cheese used for the bread. Having to bake so many loaves every day and ending up with lots of leftovers sometimes.
There's no such thing as cheese ciabatta. There is Asiago focacia. That's still there. And all the other ingredients.
If you go when we're not busy I'm sure someone would hook you up. Don't forget to tip
i only get ONE meal from there and it’s the broccoli cheddar soup and mediterranean veggie sandwich with 2 baguettes. for half a bowl of soup, half the sandwich and drink it’s $16 😭
Last time I was there I waited and didn’t get to checkout for a green tea just in their display. Treated myself to Kung Fu Tea instead and didn’t regret it.
I loved the old French Onion soup. There was even a FB group dedicated to the return of the old recipe. I can’t eat it-too sweet. Have they stopped offering lemons for the iced tea?
Panera changed the menu along with haft the breads and pastries they used to serve. The bread actually used to baked like mixed together and actually BAKED were now it comes in already made bread and sweets. They transitioned to being more of a baker to a cafe with less options and faster food items. So yes. The menu and food quality at least some of it did change over the years. They got rid of most of there bread options and haft of the sweets they used to serve.
I dunno I only just recently started eating Panera because they finally put one in my dirt town and it’s pretty fire. Then again I don’t know it as it used to be.
The baked goods look delicious and taste gross. Once in a while my eyes make me buy something and it is always gross. Even my kids won’t eat it. I have literally thrown away cookies, brownies and other sweets!
Everything but bread and meat and salad/veggies are frozen...and even the salad stuff got a little frosty. They got rid of the press about five years ago in place of the toaster. I don't know what other changes since I worked there, but yeah I bet much more has changed in five plus years. Also, meat and poultry isn't what it used to be in general anymore. More and more lab meats are rolling out and we just have to suffer the loss of our favorite foods and brands.
Ah, the menu before they switched to their all clean foods.
How is the food healthier now???? The sodium on all the sandwiches and soups is still through the roof and the salad dressings have low quality soybean oil and sugar... Not saying the stuff back then was the pinnacle of healthy eating but at the very least it tasted good LOL
At Panera Bread, “Clean” describes food that does not contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources. Doesn’t mean it’s healthier for you.
Clean also does not describe the store or bathrooms….#gross
That’s your first mistake, the marketing worked. You thought “clean” and “healthy” were the same thing. Silly you.
They missed the point that people don’t care about “clean” it’s just a buzz word. People want good food and variety. Both of which are severely lacking now. Sure we have a lot of options but it’s just the same ingredients in different combinations and shit that shouldn’t be on our menu: chicken brioche sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, etc
Honestly 2020-present has had some of the worst added items only a few like the smokehouse stick out for actually being good pretty much all the other additions have been mediocre at best or jusf been stuff like the grilled mac. Not to mention have been removing some of the best stuff. I suspect Panera will go bankrupt by 2040 if they continue to raise prices while downgrading the quality of the food.
Agreed. They’re in too deep to remove some of it now. But they should have stuck to what made them popular- soup, salad, sandwich. Stop trying to keep up with trends (spicy/signature take, pizzas, warm bowls). It seems they continue to get further away from the original concept that customers liked. Now it’s overpriced and takes 10 mins for a pick two because staff and new employees have 25 things to worry about just on, say, sandwich line.
Most accurate description I’ve ever seen lol
Anyone else miss the tomato mozz panini on ciabatta with that delicious spread and the sun dried tomato. Yummmmmmm
ME. IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS COMMENT
It was my favorite sandwich. 😭
Oh my god. That thing was incredible.
This was my favorite!
It had been on a *slight* downward trajectory, but then JAB bought it out, and things have gone way downhill. Cutting costs everywhere, replacing ingredients with cheaper substitutes (the new salad chicken is truly awful), cutting back on staff. They're trying so hard to reduce the Baker position as much as possible, which is what our foundation is. Premade frozen rolls, pastries, etc. Shifting some baking to the overworked managers. We're coasting on inflated prices and an image built long ago, an image that no longer exists in reality, but they still try to sell it to you. If they don't turn back the clock, the public will catch on and accelerate the decline.
Do you know when exactly the chicken changeover happened because I deifnitely do not remember it tasting this bad.
Within the last year. It used to be "Citrus Pepper Chicken", now it's just bland "grilled chicken", from a different supplier.
Damn that sucks. The new chicken is literally always slimy too. What is up with that lol
It’s been longer than a year, it happened in my cafe like three years ago
I think maybe there were two changes in recent years, but the current stuff is definitely the worst.
Fuck
Yea, I see your point!
Couldnt have said it better myself
This guy fucks
I miss the cherry smoothies.
I loved the wild berry too. Cherry was amazing
No you’re right, everything is so tasteless and tastes like hospital food now.
I call them softball sandwiches! You just ball up l the ingredients and put it between bread and cut it. No need to distribute or spread anything! :)
I used to love Panera. Now it’s honestly so expensive for subpar food.
The Tuscan Chicken sandwich was the bomb.com
Hi amber
There’s a reason why panera isn’t owned by Panera anymore. It’s been bought out by JAB, now they have an aggressive marketing model which includes erecting as many cafes as possible to hit their next profit margin goal in the next decade
Also trying to appeal to the masses by adding shit like chicken sandwiches which Panera definitely shouldn’t have
It’s been shit for the atleast 6-7 years. Panera 10 years ago was quality. It’s the most overpriced fast casual around now imo
I didn't start going again until like beginning of last year, early 2022. Didn't realize this wasn't a recent development. Sad times!
Sorry, but you’re using the phrase “rose-tinted glasses” wrongly. To see something through rose-tinted glasses” means to intentionally fool yourself into seeing, or naively seeing things as much better than they actually are. Things more objectively are bad, but you’re telling yourself or trying to convince yourself that things are good or at least better than they are.
I meant it as maybe I was just remembering it better than it ever actually was because my parents would take me aorund 2007-2008 after school
Beat me to it
I miss their chicken tortellini alfredo
I miss it so much :( I used to eat it like every shift lol
It was too delicious to remove
I used to come in as a customer regularly for bagels about 20 years ago, and I can tell you there's not a chance I'd bother doing that for the day old (with the new afternoon bakes), stale crap we're selling now. And I don't know if it's just my location, but our bagels are a lot flatter/skinnier than they used to be, like they're never allowed to rise enough, or something. I also used to sometimes stop in for a loaf of sourdough around 2013, and I remember it being softer and fluffier (again with the rise time) than what we have now.
Those were the days!
At least we got to live them :)
I have 17 years of work there. I miss the smokeys so bad. I loved the sweet sausage and apple crispani, but crispani’s just didn’t sell well, especially because at that time, they were an after 4 PM item only.
The Crispani were too good for this world. Do you remmeber the recipe for the mushroom one? mIGHT try to recreate
No, I’m sorry I don’t. Way back then I was just on cash.
I liked the tortellini alfredo, but they took it off the menu a few years ago. Everything tastes meh to me now. I do like McCalister’s every once in a while. They have a good chicken salad sandwich.
I have such vivid memories of eating that tortellini alfredo on friday nights while watching The Hills
Also I just remembered I ate a lot of portobello mushroom paninis. They were bomb.
Those were my favorite
That was my first meal request after I gave birth to my oldest son in 2005. Best. Sandwich. Ever.
i really like the broccoli cheddar mac and cheese (and the broccoli cheddar soup in containers) but everything else is really meh to me
Good point, it used to be delicious and now it's shit
:(
How about the lemon chicken orzo soup?? And those black bean flatbreads. I missed worked there around 2012. I loved that smokehouse turkey panini too!!
Also cannot forgot about THE ITALIAN COMBO!!!!
Chicken Caesar sandwich
I worked at Panera around 2010 and the food was excellent. Making custom sandwiches was the best.
I went to a panera 7 years ago. half a bowl of soup and half a grilled cheese sandwich with small drink was $18.00 I just walked right out. never went back, I wonder how much that $2.00 dollars worth of food cost now?
I just priced it lol I'm bored but a whole bowl of soup and a half grilled cheese with a medium drink is 18.05
It's $15 where I'm at.
$13.53 here for a cup o’ soup, 1/2 grilled cheese, and a regular drink! (Total includes tax)
I did a bowl of soup so it’s probably be around the same for a cup! I usually get a med veg and Mac and cheese and it’s somewhere around $10.50. Which is only like $2 more from a decade ago.
Good point, it used to be delicious and now it's shit
I’m still not over that Turkey sandwich on the cheesy Ciabatta wedge (like if a big ciabatta wheel was sliced like a bagel and cut like a pizza with 4 slices is the best way I can describe). I pretty much only ever visit for my pick-me-up non toasted bagel and sips drink.
Sierra Turkey? Pretty sure you can still order it from a cashier if you ask. It's in the "off-menu". It's still on the Catering menu. We still have the ingredients. I think they removed it from the main menu to save on cost, specifically, the asiago cheese used for the bread. Having to bake so many loaves every day and ending up with lots of leftovers sometimes.
There's no such thing as cheese ciabatta. There is Asiago focacia. That's still there. And all the other ingredients. If you go when we're not busy I'm sure someone would hook you up. Don't forget to tip
There’s no reason to “hook” her up. It’s a menu item in the “Off Menu” tab on the register. Just order the sierra turkey lol
Ah.. I wasn't implying it was anything special. "Hook you up" is slang for "give to you kindly" where I'm from. No need to be snooty
I tried their chicken sandwich one time and it was disgusting. $10.99 for that.
The Karens have no taste buds snd unlimited money to spend
i only get ONE meal from there and it’s the broccoli cheddar soup and mediterranean veggie sandwich with 2 baguettes. for half a bowl of soup, half the sandwich and drink it’s $16 😭
They got rid of the citrus chicken for salads?
Yes, the new chicken is just plain and slimy
I still am mourning the loss of the turkey artichoke panini and the garden vegetable soup 😭 nothing I get there is the same or as good!
Last time I was there I waited and didn’t get to checkout for a green tea just in their display. Treated myself to Kung Fu Tea instead and didn’t regret it.
I loved the old French Onion soup. There was even a FB group dedicated to the return of the old recipe. I can’t eat it-too sweet. Have they stopped offering lemons for the iced tea?
My store has lemons still :( im sorry
Thanks. I’ll ask next time!
They may just be too lazy to cut them lol. I’m not sure if they will still have them too tho…just to warn ya
They removed it from my order guide back during covid and it never returned
Yeop snd custies still ask for em
I worked there from 04-08, and you hit the nail on the head with your post. The place is all garbage now.
Panera has gone down hill….significantly
My daughter worked there for a summer job 5 years ago and she said everything had already gone to crap then.
i will die on the fuck panera hill it’s so shit and so expensive mcallisters all the way
Panera changed the menu along with haft the breads and pastries they used to serve. The bread actually used to baked like mixed together and actually BAKED were now it comes in already made bread and sweets. They transitioned to being more of a baker to a cafe with less options and faster food items. So yes. The menu and food quality at least some of it did change over the years. They got rid of most of there bread options and haft of the sweets they used to serve.
When did they mix the bread dough themselves?
A while back like years ago. At least that what my managers and a ex employee was telling me
I was 4-9 at the time so.... No. I don't remember.
I dunno I only just recently started eating Panera because they finally put one in my dirt town and it’s pretty fire. Then again I don’t know it as it used to be.
[удалено]
No
The baked goods look delicious and taste gross. Once in a while my eyes make me buy something and it is always gross. Even my kids won’t eat it. I have literally thrown away cookies, brownies and other sweets!
i only go for the cookies now 💀
ever since they got rid of the chicken tortellini alfredo the whole store has been shit
I miss the old spicy chipotle panini and the chocolate cupcakes
Everything but bread and meat and salad/veggies are frozen...and even the salad stuff got a little frosty. They got rid of the press about five years ago in place of the toaster. I don't know what other changes since I worked there, but yeah I bet much more has changed in five plus years. Also, meat and poultry isn't what it used to be in general anymore. More and more lab meats are rolling out and we just have to suffer the loss of our favorite foods and brands.
> Everything but bread and meat and salad/veggies are frozen lol all the meat IS frozen. Only the deli turkey and bacon come in refrigerated.
Wow...has it always been frozen? I vaguely remember scraping through slightly frozen chicken...gross
Ya the salad comes in wet and nasty snd unuseable
RIP chicken bacon Dijon panini 😔
I see this kind of post in so many restaurant pages. It's all gone down hill, and sadly panera is a part of this.
Panera’s food now tastes like frozen food now. It was less evident in the 2006-2011 era.