everyone loved the sandwiches - I didn't appreciate being charged 3 times. I'm furious at their refusal to make good on it.
Placed order online for Sun. delivery. Only they don't deliver on Sun. They called and we agreed to pick up. Instead of processing the original order and merely refunding the $15 delivery fee, they canceled the order to ring it all over again. Now I have the first charge pending against my account, and that's money I can't use.
They assured us we wouldn't be charged a second time until we came to pick up the order. I showed up and opted to use a different card, as money on first card was still held (no cancellation 3 days later). "No problem," they say. But yes, there was a problem, as _they had already charged the first card again!_ The manager, who I spoke to, neglected to tell me he had already charged me as he proceeded to charge me yet again on another card.
Again, I got assurances that the hold would come off the next day, but here it is the next day and I currently have three (3!) charges pending from Panera in excess of $450.
In contrast, a week prior we had ordered from the West Orange location, online, and everything showed up on time with no hassle at all.
This Panera location was a godsend during a lengthy blackout in October 2011. The place was filled with people working. It has free wi-fi and lots of electrical outlets. It is comfortable and the friendly staff offered no pressure whatsoever to turn the tables. I essentially lived there for a week and had several meals, out of obligation.
That said I think I've been back once in the last 15 months, for a meeting. Except for providing a comfortable and inviting space, the food is bland or salty, designed not to offend. I have been to 3 or 4 Panera locations and all are identical. The coffee is better than average, that's about it.