Panini's is a favorite of my boyfriends and we came during a recent visit back to Cleveland. It was Labor Day so it was quiet, the hostess was somewhat distant but greeted us and advised us to just sit wherever. She also was the first to greet us at the table, but it seems several people were helping around the restaurant, so we saw many faces throughout lunch. This makes for a slightly disconnected feel, but not a huge deal. The service is casual but remains attentive.
My boyfriend got the turkey overstuffed like he likes to do, and he enjoyed it as he always does! Though this is a classic and iconic item for Panini's, it is a bit too much for me. I do enjoy that they have several black bean options available for vegetarians. For this visit I enjoyed the Fiesta Black Bean Salad. It is a large portion of salad with some of my favorite salad toppings. The only thing I noticed is that the black bean burger was slightly overcooked, it had developed that (little too) charred on the grill taste. It was still alright, so I was able finish the salad.
No major complaints about the restaurant. It is clean and provides several beer and food options. Staff is present but you have to be ready for just a chill environment when you go. I will say this, it might be nice to have just a little bit of a friendlier interaction with staff in the future. This remains to be a great scene for some drinks and especially late night eats.