Restaurant Review: Panera Bread in Springfield

Restaurant:

Address: 950 Baltimore Pike

Rating: ★★★★

Style: Casual

Food: Bread, Baked goods, Salads, Soups, Sandwiches, Panini

Atmosphere: Bright, busy, a bit noisy

Parking: Free spaces out front

Service: Fast

Price Range: Moderate

Unique Features: Serves as a bakery and a café (eat-in or take-out) and offers catering services. There's free Wifi and a MyPanera rewards card. and a 2012 Zaget Rating for ‘Best Salads and Atmosphere.’

Review:

Walk into Panera Bread at lunchtime, and you’re likely to notice that there’s a bit of bustle and the line’s a little long. Many of the booths and tiny tables are full, but there are plenty of places to sit. A group of teenagers are studying for over smoothies and colorful laptops; some workers are on lunch break, grabbing soup and Panini’s and a few friends are out on a lunch date.

The space is so large, there’s so much going on, and there’s so much on the menu to choose from, that it’s easy to forget that Panera is a bakery.

One reason I like Panera is because it provides me with plenty of healthy options for a quick and delicious lunch. (It’s also open for breakfast and dinner.) As I stand in line, waiting for my turn to order, I take a few moments to review the menu on the walls behind the counter. (Many items can be ordered with a choice of either an apple, a small hunk of bread, or a bag of Panera kettle chips.) I have a few favorites in mind already, so it’s not a difficult task to decide what I’d like. I order and pay $11.77 for a Cobblestone sweet roll ($2.45) and a Strawberry Poppyseed and Chicken Salad ($8.77). I receive a receipt, then wait at the back counter for a minute or two for my food.

The Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad, with a side of sourdough bread or kettle cooked chips, is one of my favorite things to order at Panera. The serving of salad is generous, whether eaten at Panera, on a large dish, or to go, in a container. Together, the fruit and lettuce are refreshing, great for the summer, and the salad is so tasty, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually good for you.

A great addition to a salad is a Panini or soup—or both, for the extra-hungry customer. I really like the Tomato & Mozarella Panini. The sun dried tomatoes and basil add a real bite to the simple tomato and cheese combination, and the bread is crispy on the outside, complete with infamous grill marks, and soft on the inside. The Broccoli Cheddar soup—chopped broccoli in a thick, rich cheddar sauce—is always hot, cheesy and satisfying.

One of my favorite baked goods from Panera is the Cobblestone sweet roll, which is served like a muffin. The Cobblestone has a dense, bready texture and a nice crunchy top. Like many other Panera breads and pastries (the Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Muffin, etc.), the Cobblestone is very rich and is great for sharing, due to its generous size.

Overall, Panera Bread is a fun and casual place to eat, offering plenty of food options for any time of the day. Whether visiting early morning for coffee and a pastry, or later in the evening for a meal or late snack, customers will be sure to enjoy their experience at Panera and likely be back soon for more.