It's never fun having to write reviews like this one but I felt I needed to share a few things. Hopefully management makes a few changes because I really want this place to do well!
Before I list my feedback I do want to call out that this place just opened, and it's their first location in Phoenix so they may just need to work out some of these kinks.
- Ordering/pick up process is terrible. just terrible. The layout of the restaurant is confusing, unorganized and downright uncomfortable. It's hard to explain but once you order your food you have to wait in this tight, long hallway next to the kitchen where servers run into you to grab food and bring it to some of the tables. At one point the line was so long to wait for food some of the people I was next to had to step outside because it was hot and making them claustrophobic. Honestly I didn't blame them. I snapped a quick photo after they had just stepped away which doesn't quite show how tight it was but it will give you an idea of the space I'm talking about.
- Quality of my food was less than epic. I ordered a pick 2 (soup and half sammy). The most disappointing part was my "French onion" soup. Normally FO soup comes topped with cheesey goodness and some crunchy bread. I literally got watery brown broth with onion strips. Nothing else. Either they forgot how to make it or ran out of ingredients? I was in a huge hurry after having to wait so long for my food that I didn't have time to hunt someone down to correct it.
- Napa chicken salad sandwich was dry :( Not even sure how a chicken salad sandwich could be dry but this one was. Bummer.
- Chocolate chip cookie was good! I have lots of faith in their bakery section. Will definitely try more next time.
- Server who took my order was very pleasant!
Oh, Panera. I want to love you so badly. I'll be back sometime to give you another shot, and I hope to update this review for the better :)