So my friend had told me about Cafe Zupas because of the Lobster Bisque soup. I checked it out at the Lake Mead location and the food options and pricing immediately made me think of Panera Bread. The soup was good but not better than my beloved Broccoli Cheddar soup in a Sourdough bread bowl at Panera. For that reason alone I was likely to choose Panera Bread if given the choice in the future.
However upon visiting this new location I think Zupas now has the edge. The food options are great. Just ordered a Try 2 combo and was able to get a whole Turkey Spinach Artichoke sandwich and a half salad of Glazed Chicken Chipotle. It came with a side of bread and a chocolate covered strawberry. The strawberry is a wonderful little addon that Panera does not do. Also this Rainbow location has House Made Drink Infusions that are lightly sweetened with Raw Honey and a much healthier alternative to soda or sweet tea. I'm inspired to recreate these at home and drop soda out of my diet.
This place gets bonus points for all the fresh produce, local dairy, and overall healthy ingredients. Menu is way easier to navigate than Panera as well. New favorite cafe and I will be spreading the word.