Panera Bread - Columbus

I hardly visit Panera anymore because it just seems too expensive for sandwiches and soup or maybe I'm cheap.... haha. Anyway, I happened to be in the Olentangy Plaza on Bethel road after a hair appointment at Aveda and I was hungry. I stopped by Panera on a Friday evening to grab dinner. INSIDE The fireplace creates an inviting atmosphere. I love the cozy feeling inside and I heard plenty of students come here to study. GRAIN BOWLS I ordered the Mediterranean Grain Bowl with Chicken $9.49). It comes with a side of fruit or chips. I got a packet of chips as my side. The bowl comes with brown rice, quinoa, grape tomatoes, arugula, cucumbers, and lemon tahini dressing. I loved that I could modify my order so I got it without olives and feta cheese. I got the hummus on the side too. The grain bowl was so rich and delicious. I hadn't eaten all day so having a protein packed meal for dinner definitely did the trick. The Baja grain bowl is another option which comes with the same items as the mediterranean bowl but is a Mexican inspired bowl with additions such as bean corn salsa and avocado. I definitely recommend the grain bowls for lunch or dinner. You can make it vegetarian by not adding chicken. It is very satisfying, tasty, and worth the price. 142 total reviews in 2019 351 total overall Yelp reviews Reviewed on 30 November 2019

I've been going here for awhile but lately service has been just slow even when it's not busy. Took about 10min for just a hot chocolate. The clerk kept taking orders which I understand needs to be done but grab someone from the back when it starts getting busy to help.

This is what I got today. No coffee at all. Coffees were empty. Burnt bagel and they don't seem to care. I'll go to a different Panera next time. Told mngr and showed him. He said he'd address it but I never saw him speak to anyone. He went back in his office. There is a picture posted.

It seems that this location is permanently closed. I attempted to visit this morning, July 19, 2021, but found the sign gone and the doors locked. There was a notice on the window, but I didn't feel like getting out of my car to read it. When I got home, I canceled my coffee subscription, which was costing me $9.44 a month. The Clintonville location had already closed some time ago, so I figured there was no point in continuing with that expense. In the past, I thought Panera was great, but now I find it overpriced and the portion sizes don't compare to what other places offer for less money.

Absolutely! Just walk in and place your lunch order. You might spend a little extra, but the service is exceptional. I had a salad and mac and cheese, and a staff member kindly offered to take my plates away, which was a lovely touch. The mac and cheese is incredibly delicious! I always get a large green tea and make sure to refill it before I leave.