Great Meals and Conversation – Panera Bread

Disclosure:  I was financially compensated for this post.  The thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

Last night I was able to go out without the kids and have a great friend join me for dinner.  We went to Elk River and visited Panera Bread.  

It’s been a while since I’ve been to a Panera Bread due to often eating out with just the kids who frequently dictate a meal containing French fires and needing to eat on the go.  I did not realize Panera Bread had the option to do a “Rapid Pick Up” where ordered items can be ready in as little as 10 minutes after completing an online order.  They do have a kid’s menu available.

Upon entering Panera Bread, my friend and I stood back from the counter to view the array of menu items and to discuss what we would like to try.  There is an assortment of breads, bagels, soups, salads, pasta, paninis, sandwiches, flatbreads, pastries, and sweets available to select from.  The server was helpful and provided some personal feedback on a soup one of us had questioned ordering.  

We placed our order and paid for our items.  The server then asked for a first name to put the order under and we selected a place to sit.  We were later called back up when our order was ready.  I didn’t time it, but I think it took about 10 minutes for our items to be ready.  

My camera would not zoom out far enough, but there are tables and padded chairs or booths offered for seating.  The chairs were very comfy.  The lighting used was soft and toned down a bit.  There was modern artwork on display and even a four-sided fireplace to enjoy.  The fireplace was not in operation since it was 81 degrees last night, but it would be cozy to enjoy the fire later in the year.  Instrumental music was playing softly in the background.

We sampled the smoothies first.  My girlfriend sampled the low-fat strawberry smoothie with ginseng (280 calories) and I tried the low-fat mango smoothie (270 calories).  The smoothies are made with a mix of fruit puree and fruit juices.  They also contain Stonyfield Farm® organic, low-fat vanilla yogurt.  The smoothies were creamy, refreshing, and not too sweet.  

Our meals were delicious. 🙂  We requested the You Pick Two®, which allows you to pick two of the following:  Half Pasta, Cup of Soup, Half Sandwich, Half Salad, and One Flatbread.

We also got a pastry for $0.99 each.  Our total for the smoothies, meals, and desserts were a little over $28.As the evening set on, the lighting created a warm glow to enjoy.

Panera Bread has a wonderful selection of menu items and a pleasant, casual atmosphere.  My girlfriend and I were amazed that the store hours go until 10:00 p.m.!  This makes it great to grab a bite and just chat with a significant other or a friend.  If you need to do a little work, free Wi-Fi is also available.

To learn more about Panera Bread, please visit their website.  Check out how they are paying it forward in the communities they serve and also learn about their charitable arm, Panera Cares.  A rewards program called “MyPanera“ is offered for patrons too.  

You can find Panera Bread on social media with the following links:

Panera Bread on Facebook

Panera Bread on Twitter

Panera Bread on Pinterest

Panera Bread on YouTube