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| - So by now friends probably know I'm a total Panera addict. I spend a lot of time running around the city and on the road, and it's nice to know I can get a you-pick-two combo at Panera that isn't calorie laden and still tastes good. Of course, if I want to splurge, Panera is good for that, too!
It's kind of funny being in Oakland because there are two Panera's within a mile or so of each other - one's right on Forbes Ave., and then there's this one. So which is better?
I guess it depends on what you want. The major pros here are the parking lot and the massive number of tables in here. I couldn't turn a corner without finding another table, even during the dinner rush. Also, this may depend on who is working when, but often I'll get massive pieces of bread as my side here, which I love - extra bread is always good in my book!
Unfortunately, the parking lot fills up SUPER quickly here so that pro is a moot point sometimes. Then there's the fact that I never know what to expect behind the counter when I come here. Some days there's couple people taking orders, and a handful more preparing the food - like you see in any Panera. That said, it's not uncommon to see just one person manning the registers when the line has about 15 people waiting for food - but then instead of having extra hands help with food prep or taking orders, they have someone bring the food to the tables. I find this is ridiculous, for two reasons. One, it's Panera. You have pagers. We have no problem coming to get our food - help move that long line along by taking orders! Two, I hate this idea of someone bringing your order to you in a Panera. They don't take your order and put it in, they're just given the food on a tray and told to take it to you by other staff. How do they even know where you're sitting? At this point I've never been given a number or anything to put on my table so I honestly don't know. I always stand by the counter waiting for my food rather than risk having an issue and having to wait even longer when this set-up is in place.
Fortunately these problems are not regular issues; I've met with a friend here on weekends and we've had no complaints on those days ordering wise. And sometimes when I stop in the staff DO use the pagers to let you know that you can go to the counter and get your food. It's very strange that they don't always do this to me, though.
As for the lines, well, the weekday meal rushes are just bad in ANY Oakland eatery since, well, it's Oakland - filled with students, residents, AND Pitt staff, plus local businesses and regular residents. It happens. So, despite the weird operations system that is implemented half the time here, I think this Panera's just fine. Not great, not amazing, but if you want Panera, it's fine.
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