This review is really for Panera in general not necessarily the CL location. The food here is average. I tried the soba noodle bowl and if you like salt - then order up. I wasn't thrilled. I think my blood pressure started to rise immediately, although it might have been the atmosphere. I think my view of Panera changed drastically after going to Noodles. Let me explain... Upon walking into Panera you are funneled into the registers to place your order. Then you are given a pager device and then you can go get your drink and find a table. The goal is find the cleanest table available. Not easy. The pager will go off at the exact moment you forget you have a pager and it will invariably scare the crap out of you. You must then go fetch your food from the food counter. You then bring your food awkwardly back to your table because whoever designed the trays must like watching people balance their plate/bowl on a slippery tray. After you eat - you bus your own table. I really resent the fact you bus your own table. Half the time you leave the table dirty for the next person, even if it is only a few crumbs and drink rings, not a good feeling. You rarely see Panera staff cleaning tables. Once you get to the marginally clean bus station you must sort all the stuff out without getting your food scraps or worse someone else's food on your work clothing. The customer experience at Panera for the price of their food pretty much sucks. It is stressful. Buzzing pagers. Dirty tables. Icky bus stations... At Noodles you go to the resister, pay, get a number-plate for your table, get your drink at sit down at a clean table that has been cleaned by staff. They are very good at busing tables and cleaning them. Your food is brought to you. You leave your dirty dishes at your table and you get up and leave. You need not worry about getting dirty at a bus station or leaving a table dirty. They bus and wipe the tables. This is the way it should be. Panera please get a clue.
(2)
Dominique M.
It's a Panera, so no one expects gourmet food, but the food is consistently good and the staff is friendly. What more can you ask for?
(4)
Nathan S.
Hey it's an easy quick lunch. Tasts like any other place by the same name. However for some odd reason the building is always uncomfortably hot.
(3)
Harat H.
Delicious every time! No matter what time of day we visit here we are satisfied! Their staff is great, always smiling, and very fast! Love coming here to grab some bread or a quick bite!!
(5)
Shelby A.
I always come to this Panera and I never have any complaints aside from previous customers leaving the tables a mess, but that's not Panera's fault, of course. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming and the food is usually fast and delicious! I usually order the Broccoli Cheddar Soup with a side of bread, which is, in my opinion, the best soup ever. I will order different sandwiches occasionally too but their soups and breads are to die for! Oh, and I love when they have their apple danish in, which is rare. But it's SO good! :)
(4)
Henry T.
I've been to countless Panera bread in my life, but this one was something different. Just kidding this one is totally the same. Except the service is fantastic. Everyone is polite and all the workers are always there for you. For example, Kaitlin, the person who rang me up said she can turn my meal into a pick two and save me some money. I was completely unaware of this deal so I would have ended up spending $14 instead of $10! Crazy, since today's economy is brutal with their food prices. I even ended up signing up for a Panera rewards card because I was inspired to save more. Anyway the food was amazing and came out really quick and the service is spectacular! Will be returning here whenever I'm feeling Panera in Crystal Lake.
(5)
Gary B.
I visit here often. Mostly for coffee and breakfast, but occasionally for lunch. They have a large assortment of different types of bagels and various cream cheeses. For breakfast, I think the power sandwich is fantastic. Coffee is also very good here, however, they could do a better job making sure the pots aren't empty and the condiments are full. Many times you need to go to the counter and let them know they are out of things. Lunch is also very good here, but the place does get very crowded. The pick 2 combo is a great option allowing you to mix soup, sandwich, salad, etc. Parking is a challenge at this location.
(4)
Franklin D.
Meh. Yet another Panera...now with WiFi Hotspot! My kids like the breakfast menu.
(3)
Jennifer B.
Danny is awesome! Always very helpful and much more organized then some other locations I have visited. Thanks!!!
(5)
Sharon H.
Everytime I come home I have to stop by and get some broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl and a turkey sandwich on sourdough!! I used to go there all the time and sit and do homework. The coffee is pretty good and you can get free refills and use the free wifi. Its always cleaned up and the product is always very fresh and tasty. I've never seen someone sent something back unless it was just the completely wrong order! :)
(4)
Eve A.
Pros: good, fresh food at nice low prices, as at all locations I've visited. Cons: We got the weirdest vibe in here. All the other customers seemed to be staring at us - and it's not like we came in wearing full drag or eyelid rings or anything. I caught a pair of teenage girls glancing and giggling at my boyfriend, and two older ladies dining together stared at us the entire time we ate. I didn't know Cary was so...Mayfair. Update: Their baked potato soup contains ham. WTF. Overall: Perhaps best to try in the off hours, unless you like feeling like a creature at the zoo.
(3)
Grant C.
This is the best restaurant I've gone to with free WiFi and a conference room. The service is excellent, the atmosphere is peaceful, the interior design is commendable for comfort and style, and the food is fresh and very good -- whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner!
(5)
MJ D.
I like not love Panera Bread. The place was clean & the people were friendly. I have tried a few of the sandwich's and think they're just ok. In my opinion the soups are very good.
(3)
Sylvia R.
I don't think you can really go wrong with Panera. I've always found the staff at this location to be quick and efficient- and the food is always so good- though slightly on the smaller side for those paninis! I will agree with the other commenter that upon walking in, you do feel a little sized up by just about everyone in the restaurant. Picture being back in the high school cafeteria, walking around with your tray looking for somewhere to sit. Got it? Enjoy Panera! :)
(4)
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Address :6000 Northwest Highway
Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Laura A.
This review is really for Panera in general not necessarily the CL location. The food here is average. I tried the soba noodle bowl and if you like salt - then order up. I wasn't thrilled. I think my blood pressure started to rise immediately, although it might have been the atmosphere. I think my view of Panera changed drastically after going to Noodles. Let me explain... Upon walking into Panera you are funneled into the registers to place your order. Then you are given a pager device and then you can go get your drink and find a table. The goal is find the cleanest table available. Not easy. The pager will go off at the exact moment you forget you have a pager and it will invariably scare the crap out of you. You must then go fetch your food from the food counter. You then bring your food awkwardly back to your table because whoever designed the trays must like watching people balance their plate/bowl on a slippery tray. After you eat - you bus your own table. I really resent the fact you bus your own table. Half the time you leave the table dirty for the next person, even if it is only a few crumbs and drink rings, not a good feeling. You rarely see Panera staff cleaning tables. Once you get to the marginally clean bus station you must sort all the stuff out without getting your food scraps or worse someone else's food on your work clothing. The customer experience at Panera for the price of their food pretty much sucks. It is stressful. Buzzing pagers. Dirty tables. Icky bus stations... At Noodles you go to the resister, pay, get a number-plate for your table, get your drink at sit down at a clean table that has been cleaned by staff. They are very good at busing tables and cleaning them. Your food is brought to you. You leave your dirty dishes at your table and you get up and leave. You need not worry about getting dirty at a bus station or leaving a table dirty. They bus and wipe the tables. This is the way it should be. Panera please get a clue.
(2)Dominique M.
It's a Panera, so no one expects gourmet food, but the food is consistently good and the staff is friendly. What more can you ask for?
(4)Nathan S.
Hey it's an easy quick lunch. Tasts like any other place by the same name. However for some odd reason the building is always uncomfortably hot.
(3)Harat H.
Delicious every time! No matter what time of day we visit here we are satisfied! Their staff is great, always smiling, and very fast! Love coming here to grab some bread or a quick bite!!
(5)Shelby A.
I always come to this Panera and I never have any complaints aside from previous customers leaving the tables a mess, but that's not Panera's fault, of course. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming and the food is usually fast and delicious! I usually order the Broccoli Cheddar Soup with a side of bread, which is, in my opinion, the best soup ever. I will order different sandwiches occasionally too but their soups and breads are to die for! Oh, and I love when they have their apple danish in, which is rare. But it's SO good! :)
(4)Henry T.
I've been to countless Panera bread in my life, but this one was something different. Just kidding this one is totally the same. Except the service is fantastic. Everyone is polite and all the workers are always there for you. For example, Kaitlin, the person who rang me up said she can turn my meal into a pick two and save me some money. I was completely unaware of this deal so I would have ended up spending $14 instead of $10! Crazy, since today's economy is brutal with their food prices. I even ended up signing up for a Panera rewards card because I was inspired to save more. Anyway the food was amazing and came out really quick and the service is spectacular! Will be returning here whenever I'm feeling Panera in Crystal Lake.
(5)Gary B.
I visit here often. Mostly for coffee and breakfast, but occasionally for lunch. They have a large assortment of different types of bagels and various cream cheeses. For breakfast, I think the power sandwich is fantastic. Coffee is also very good here, however, they could do a better job making sure the pots aren't empty and the condiments are full. Many times you need to go to the counter and let them know they are out of things. Lunch is also very good here, but the place does get very crowded. The pick 2 combo is a great option allowing you to mix soup, sandwich, salad, etc. Parking is a challenge at this location.
(4)Franklin D.
Meh. Yet another Panera...now with WiFi Hotspot! My kids like the breakfast menu.
(3)Jennifer B.
Danny is awesome! Always very helpful and much more organized then some other locations I have visited. Thanks!!!
(5)Sharon H.
Everytime I come home I have to stop by and get some broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl and a turkey sandwich on sourdough!! I used to go there all the time and sit and do homework. The coffee is pretty good and you can get free refills and use the free wifi. Its always cleaned up and the product is always very fresh and tasty. I've never seen someone sent something back unless it was just the completely wrong order! :)
(4)Eve A.
Pros: good, fresh food at nice low prices, as at all locations I've visited. Cons: We got the weirdest vibe in here. All the other customers seemed to be staring at us - and it's not like we came in wearing full drag or eyelid rings or anything. I caught a pair of teenage girls glancing and giggling at my boyfriend, and two older ladies dining together stared at us the entire time we ate. I didn't know Cary was so...Mayfair. Update: Their baked potato soup contains ham. WTF. Overall: Perhaps best to try in the off hours, unless you like feeling like a creature at the zoo.
(3)Grant C.
This is the best restaurant I've gone to with free WiFi and a conference room. The service is excellent, the atmosphere is peaceful, the interior design is commendable for comfort and style, and the food is fresh and very good -- whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner!
(5)MJ D.
I like not love Panera Bread. The place was clean & the people were friendly. I have tried a few of the sandwich's and think they're just ok. In my opinion the soups are very good.
(3)Sylvia R.
I don't think you can really go wrong with Panera. I've always found the staff at this location to be quick and efficient- and the food is always so good- though slightly on the smaller side for those paninis! I will agree with the other commenter that upon walking in, you do feel a little sized up by just about everyone in the restaurant. Picture being back in the high school cafeteria, walking around with your tray looking for somewhere to sit. Got it? Enjoy Panera! :)
(4)