Panera Bread - Dublin, California

Kitkat

The drive-through at this location used to be super slow. It's now regular wait times and really great upbeat staff! Dealing with the public can drain you. The young woman who helped me today 1/13/2025 was absolutely above and beyond. If her boss reads this, she has facial piercings around her mouth and dark hair. Please give her an 'atta girl' for great service and human interaction. I think people forget to smile at each other and just say hello.

It's M.

See vid added

Employee helped us with our order to remove allergens, which we appreciated. The multi grain bowl had very little grain in it. Last time it was a more generous portion, which is what we were expecting. Love the citrus green tea mixed with unsweetened black tea. Can't get enough of the baguettes! We like the staff here, they're consistently helpful & polite.

Update: 01.29.24 We would like to see vegan options for the Value Duet! There are currently no vegan soups on the menu. Surely Panera's chefs could come up with a potato/lentil or garden veggie soup? Side Salad without cheese, eggs, or meat would be so easy to add to the menu! Greek Salad without cheese works for a Duet, but it's not offered currently. For Pick 2, ordering a Mediterranean bowl without cheese and half a Mediterranean salad or Greek salad is just way too expensive. Panera caters to healthy, fresh foods, but we would think that vegan recipes would be more in the spotlight than a vegetarian salad or sandwich that guests have to customize as a vegan.

Food quality/freshness. & serving size much improved and appreciated on our weekend visit (01-28-24). Bread was really fresh, lettuce/cucumbers were very crisp, tomatoes were meh as large, tasteless tomatoes were subbed for grape tomatoes which are so much better. Hummus was still very sparse in Mediterranean sandwich. Since we don't get cheese, we don't feel like we should have to pay extra for more hummus. We ordered extra produce in sandwich pictured. Guests can select 5 free customizations from "none" to "extra," but additional charges apply for proteins, cheese, hummus & other spreads. Greek Salad with extra kalamata olives and Panera's Greek Dressing was also very fresh & delicious. Baguette included with sandwich and salad was fresh, other sides available.

Downside was that floor by soda & lemonade counter had puddles from a leak in equipment! A rug was placed in front of soda machine & an air blower, but it wasn't sufficient. Water was everywhere, very dangerous, got my shoes wet. Assuming repair person unavailable over the weekend, so hope they'll get this resolved immediately Monday. Several tables had soiled dishes, napkins, and weren't wiped clean, as they hadn't been cleared. Apparently guests don't always do their part in bringing dishes to the dishpans provided on top of waste containers. We did not want to sit closely by others as some people were coughing, so it made it difficult to eat in when so many tables were not cleared. Went outside, but it was too windy, so we came back indoors. For reasons we don't understand, it was extremely cold inside on Sunday, Jan. 28th. We honestly think someone flipped the switch to air conditioning from heat by mistake because fans were running, as cold air was blowing. Many people still had their coats on, like us. Too bad because the meal itself was great, but the ambience was not at all up to par this time. Looks like they were having a bad day with the soda machine leaking and perhaps an issue with HAC system. Hope things are better for them (and therefore for the guests) soon. These things happen, we want to be patient & support local businesses.
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This location usually has decaf even in the evenings, but if they don't, then just ask, as they are happy to make some fresh. We love that they have almond milk available on the condiments counter, along with cinnamon, especially on these recent cold days. Love having a microwave available for bread or to reheat coffee or hot tea. Not their fault that arugula has been discontinued from sandwiches & salads, but that was one reason we went to Panera. Wish they had vegan options besides hummous. A company that touts healthy, fresh food ought to have something for everyone. A vegan protein source, even tofu would do, would be welcomed, as well as at least a couple vegan pastry options! Dining room here is spacious, clean, with a calm, relaxed vibe. Free WiFi for those who are working or studying. Cashier was very pleasant, polite, and welcoming.

Amritpal B.

Title: Delightful Dine-in & Convenient Drive-Thru at Panera Bread Dublin

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

I had an exceptional dining experience at the Panera Bread in Dublin, California. What was intended to be a casual meal turned out to be a feast that left a lasting impression.

The atmosphere was remarkably calm and soothing. The layout was spacious, with comfortable and clean seating. I appreciated the prompt service from the friendly staff who made the ordering process smooth and enjoyable.

I opted for two Value Duet Deals – an excellent option that provided both variety and value for money. The first combination was Tomato Soup with a BBQ Chicken Sandwich. The soup was creamy, packed with the perfect tangy tomato flavor, and had a velvety texture that was a treat to the palate. The BBQ Chicken Sandwich was a perfect companion – the chicken was tender and smoky, complemented excellently by a mildly sweet BBQ sauce and served in their signature, fresh-baked bread.

The second duet was Wild Rice Soup paired with a Cold Chicken Sandwich. The soup was hearty and wholesome, with a satisfying blend of flavors from the wild rice, chicken, and vegetables. The cold chicken sandwich was fresh and flavorful, with every bite delivering a perfect mix of crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, succulent chicken, and a delicious spread, all bundled up in their soft bread.

The standout feature of this location, however, was their drive-thru option. While I dined in, I noticed the efficiently run drive-thru service, which could be a game-changer for people seeking a good meal on the go. The speed and convenience of this service, without compromising the quality of food, is indeed impressive.

In conclusion, my visit to Panera Bread in Dublin, California, was filled with delightful surprises. From the top-notch food to the fantastic service and the convenience of the drive-thru, everything exceeded my expectations. I am already looking forward to my next visit and recommend this place to anyone in Dublin or passing through.

Ally L.

Our pick-up order was ready within minutes. The toasted Italiano sandwich was skimpy on the ingredients. I definitely recommend the ciabatta cheesesteak; the sweet red peppers are 👌👌👌

The salad was decent but wish they wouldn't put the dressing cups in the take-out salad bowl itself. The drinks are consistent with the other Paneras; I remember they were really chill during the pandemic shutdown and put the drink cups out for anyone to take.

They do have a drive-through, but I didn't try it because I saw the cars moved pretty slowly in line.

Shahmeer

BLT has almost no bacon and when I asked for butter for the tiny piece of soup bread, they scoffed at me. They really skimp on everything at this place, not that you'd know from the price.

If you can look past that, try ignoring the wet dog smell of the restaurant itself. The company clearly doesn't care to keep it clean, use good ingredients or even be around to take your order.

Plenty of better places nearby.

Himanshu K.

Coffee means Panera bread. The everything bagel with butter is the best breakfast. The music is always good here. The staff members are very helpful especially the elderly lady

Lily M.

Just had the best experience at this Panera! There was a kind cashier working the front (I wish I got her name), when I asked for a particular order that isn’t commonly found she asked a colleague how to get there on the menu. She went out of her way to get me what I wanted and I really appreciated it! Also while waiting another really nice associate made sure I was comfortable and was very sweet to talk to. I frequent Panera’s quite a bit, and this was the best experience I’ve had at once just from the customer service alone.

SONIA F.

I like the food but the service at the Dublin location was horrible, the drive thru was not open at the time that it was supposed to be open (this happened twice) and when I called them, the "manager" told me I should have gone inside instead! If I'm going to the drive thru is because I don't want to go inside...hello! Well, I went back and went inside, only to get very bad service, the lady taking my order didn't even know the menu!and the "manager"? Well...she was outside smoking a cigarette...When i finally got my food, what a disappointment...wrong items and old parfait...never going back to that location again...