Panera is one of those places that I feel like I could go to
any time, so I hardly ever end up eating there.
I really need to change that.
There’s nothing not to like about Panera. They have free WiFi. They have great food. They’re everywhere. Their prices are reasonable.
This past Sunday, my husband and I met some friends for
lunch at the Panera in Studio City. This
is the Panera that I’ve eaten at most often.
When my husband and I were dating, we met at this Panera a couple
times. My usual was always soup in a
bread bowl. I love their bread.
On Sunday, it was a beautiful day, so we grabbed a table on
the back patio. It was such a pleasant
place to sit and relax. It was also
pretty quiet and tranquil outside.
Inside was a little bit louder and more hectic.
One of our friends held onto the table while the rest of us
went inside to order. Everyone except me
got a You Pick Two combo. You get to pick two of
the following: a cup of soup, a half pasta, a half salad, or a half
sandwich. Of the three people that
ordered the You Pick Two combos, none of them got the same thing. That’s the beauty of it.
My husband ordered a You Pick Two combo that consisted of a cup of
Broccoli Cheddar Soup and half of a Chipotle Chicken Panini. The soup is described on the menu as "chopped broccoli, shredded carrots and select seasonings simmered in a velvety smooth cheese sauce." This particular soup is served daily, but they have some soups that are only served one day a week. The Chipotle Chicken Panini is described on the menu as “all-natural,
antibiotic-free chicken, applewood-smoked bacon, smoked cheddar, tomatoes and
ancho-chipotle spread all grilled on our freshly baked French Bread.” He also got to pick a side. The options were an apple, a bag of chips, or
bread. He chose chips. I’ve had the Broccoli Cheese Soup before, so
I know it’s good. I didn’t taste the
Panini, but I was surprised that it looked more like sliced chicken. I was expecting something thicker, like a
chicken breast. My husband really liked it and would definitely order it again.
Trying to make a healthier choice than
soup in a bread bowl, I ordered the Chicken Cobb with Avocado Salad, which is
described on the menu as “all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine
lettuce, tomatoes, applewood-smoked bacon, Gorgonzola and hard-boiled egg are
all tossed with herb vinaigrette then topped with fresh avocado.” I asked for the dressing on the side, and I
also asked for the avocado on the side.
I don’t really like avocado, but my husband does, so I gave it to
him. I also got to choose a side, and I
chose bread.
The salad was nice and big. I love salads, and this one didn’t
disappoint. I really loved everything
about it and would probably order the exact same thing again next time. Or, maybe I’d do a Pick 2 combo and get a
half order of this salad and a cup of soup or half a sandwich. Who knows.
There are too many options!
Panera knows how to do the bakery/deli/café
thing right. We didn’t order drinks or
dessert this visit, but we have in the past.
It’s all good. I also love that
they have free WiFi. It’s particularly
nice if you’re trying to get some work done and don’t want to go to
Starbucks.
Panera, I’ll be back!
Happy eating!
Wow! You’ve certainly done a great job by posting this bit of information for the benefit of us viewers. It’s so great to know that the Internet is not a dumb place after all.
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