This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Panera Bread: A Step Up from the Typical Chain

This week food writer Clara Park reviews Panera Bread in Wynnewood.

A radio spot for speaks to the restaurant's priority on fresh, seasonal food. Strawberries, for example, are only in season in the spring and summer in the U.S.—no need to compromise the flavor of a menu item by using strawberries grown in Israel, Mexico or Chile. As a large national chain, Panera has tremendous buying power and influence on how and what we eat. I went in for a quick lunch thinking about these things.

The menu is vast and you are inundated by the sight of all sorts of delicious baked goods when you step up to place your order. I decided on the 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 salad combo with a cup of tomato soup. I splurged on a lobster roll (about $7 or $8 extra) and chose the classic salad. Instead of chips, I chose an apple and skipped the bread offered with the soup entirely.

The tomato soup was tasty—hot and well seasoned, with a strong and pleasant tomato flavor.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

The basic garden salad was iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions, tossed with a reduced fat balsamic vinaigrette (not as tasty as full-fat versions I've had). The "signature" salads at Panera are great though, and I would advise one to order them instead of the "classic salad" that I had. Chopped chicken Cobb, BBQ chicken salad and even the Greek salad are much better.

I eagerly bit into my lobster roll and assumed (because of the hefty up-charge) that it would be delicious. It was OK. Having had my share of lobster rolls in Maine and other locales, I would say I'm pretty picky when it comes to this sublime summertime sandwich.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Was I expecting a great lobster roll? Yes, I was. Was it wise to expect a great lobster roll from a chain? Probably not. A great roll has succulent chunks of sweet lobster and a generous amount of rich and creamy mayonnaise. The lobster here was on the chewier side and not so sweet, and not as much mayonnaise as I would have liked. I'm impressed that a national chain like Panera would offer such a seasonal summer item, but a bit disappointed in the outcome.

I washed it all down with a refreshing iced tea and lemon. The coffee drinks here are good too, and you can grab a sweet treat for dessert. I'm a sucker for the cinnamon crumb cake and brownies here.

The counter service is friendly and efficient. The space is clean and there is plenty of seating. Panera Bread truly shines with its baked goods. In offering seasonal and healthier items, Panera is a national chain that does it all a little bit better than its competitors.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?