Panera Bread - Belton

I noticed that there are many new employees in the kitchen, and I’m not sure if they’re getting enough training. Today's lunch service was quite chaotic, with a... read more I noticed that there are many new employees in the kitchen, and I’m not sure if they’re getting enough training. Today's lunch service was quite chaotic, with a 42-minute wait just for a couple of sandwiches. I do appreciate that they got my order right, especially since my success rate has been only about 50% over the last three months. Unfortunately, this location has been on a steady decline. The drive-thru seems to be closed almost every time I drive by, probably to reduce the pressure on the kitchen staff, but this just creates congestion at the pickup counter. I’m sorry, Panera, but I think I’ll need to look for a different spot for lunch and dinner for now.

**Review for Panera by Kaci** Date of service: October 25, 2022 First and foremost, we absolutely love Panera and have never had a negative experience with th... read more **Review for Panera by Kaci** Date of service: October 25, 2022 First and foremost, we absolutely love Panera and have never had a negative experience with their food or service. One might start to take this for granted until they demonstrate just how high they set the bar in terms of food quality and customer service. Unfortunately, our order was completely wrong, but we didn’t realize it until we got home (that was our oversight). I called back to explain the situation, and although Kacey, the Manager on Duty (MOD), didn’t answer immediately, she took time out from training a new and inexperienced team member—despite being short on drivers—to hear me out and find a solution. Our order was promptly remade, complete with some extra items and a compensation voucher, all without me having to ask and without any hesitation on her part. In today's world, it often feels like customer service has been sidelined for convenience, so it’s refreshing to see a company where team members take pride in their work. Other establishments, like Wingstop in Belton, could learn a lot from respected places like Panera if they were willing to pay attention. We truly appreciate Panera's commitment to excellence, even with the occasional inexperienced staff member—they hardly miss a beat. Thank you!

The food is somewhat inconsistent. The prices are quite high, but the menu offers a variety of options that you don't typically find at other fast food places,... read more The food is somewhat inconsistent. The prices are quite high, but the menu offers a variety of options that you don't typically find at other fast food places, which is a definite advantage. Brittany is fantastic; she's frequently there and is always working hard.

If I could give this restaurant zero stars, I would. I placed an online order and several items were missing. The receipt had a "checked by" section, but it was... read more If I could give this restaurant zero stars, I would. I placed an online order and several items were missing. The receipt had a "checked by" section, but it was left blank. When I called the store, I spoke with Stacey and told her about the missing items. Before I could finish, she interrupted me and insisted she had personally handed out the drink, implying I was lying. I corrected her and listed the items we never received. After waiting over 30 minutes, I had to call again before the missing items were finally delivered. While I appreciated the extra chips and cookies, they didn’t make up for the complete lack of professionalism and empathy from the person responsible for the order. I strongly recommend better training for your staff and management to handle mistakes respectfully and promptly. Stacey especially needs direct coaching—it’s never okay to interrupt a customer or suggest they’re being dishonest. I will not be ordering from here again.

Wow, that was an expensive meal! My sister-in-law treated me to lunch, and it came to $40 for just the two of us. We both chose the "pick two" option with a sma... read more Wow, that was an expensive meal! My sister-in-law treated me to lunch, and it came to $40 for just the two of us. We both chose the "pick two" option with a small salad and a small sandwich. I tried their new chicken sandwich, which was supposed to include fried pickles, but there were only a few tiny pieces on it. The food tasted good, but the portion sizes didn’t seem worth the price.