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Panera Bread great experience

May 28, 2008|Isaiah Surbrook

One of the first restaurants to open at Brannon Crossing was Panera Bread. Walking in, you are greeted by the warm mustard-colored walls and a basket full of the free sample of the day. Behind a small glass barrier sits mountains of delectable treats and a wall full of bread and bagels. Everyone behind the counter is quick to greet you and take your order. For this day I took my 2-year-old son out for an early lunch.

For his meal my son wanted the grilled cheese, which was served on white whole grain bread for $3.69. The sandwich was typical for a grilled cheese. His favorite part of the meal was the squeezable yogurt, and the apple juice, both of which were organic.

For my meal I tried one of the new breakfast sandwiches at $3.49. I had my choice between egg and cheese with the addition of apple wood bacon or sausage. I chose the bacon, egg, and cheese. The sandwich was served on grilled ciabatta bread with white cheddar. I found the cheddar to be overpowering and the sandwich a bit dry. I would consider this sandwich only if you are looking for a hot breakfast item you can eat on the run.

Alongside my sandwich I tried a cinnamon crunch bagel for $1.25, toasted and topped with honey walnut cream cheese for $1.20. The general manager recommended this combination to me, and it was a great choice. Not only is the bagel and cream cheese a meal unto itself but also the flavors of the cinnamon combined with the walnut were great.

For dessert my son and I shared the "Chocolate Chipper" cookie. It was loaded with semisweet chocolate chips and baked to the point of where the edges were a bit crunchy and the center soft and gooey. The price is a bit steep at $1.49 but well worth it.

The choices are numerous at Panera Bread, yet for the store at Brannon Crossing, hot sandwiches are the most popular item. They vary from hot smokehouse turkey Panini to tuna salad. In addition, they serve salads, hot soups and specialty coffee and tea drinks. A popular lunch or dinner combination is the "Pick two," which is a choice of - sandwich, cup of soup, or - salad served with one side item (apple, baguette, or chips) for $6.19. This combination allows the patron to experience a wide variety of what Panera has to offer. The mood of the restaurant is calm and relaxing. With free wi-fi, many of the patrons had a laptop propped open and seemed to have settled in for the afternoon. The one thing that surprised me the most was that the restaurant was little over half full and yet the noise level was extremely low.

Panera Bread is open Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with breakfast being served until 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. All the bread is made fresh each night with the leftovers being donated to various non-profit organizations. Panera Bread offers catering in the form of business-style box lunches Panera is located at 101 Cynthia Drive. I give them 6 out of seven stars for a great environment and wonderful baked goods.

Editor's note: Isaiah Surbrook is a food critic for The Jessamine Journal. However, his opinion does not reflect that of The Journal or its staff.

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