by Taylor Fernandes ‘14

With the help of its neighboring grocery store Harris Teeter, Olney’s new Panera Bread has been a success in more ways than one. Panera has found a way to satisfy lengthy lines of customers and keep them healthy at the same time.

Surrounded by other new restaurants and stores, Panera Bread gets a lot of business. A short time after its opening, Panera seems to already have a devoted local following. Its location near a popular fountain in Fair Hill Plaza must also help.

Upon entering Panera Bread, there is a display of bakery choices ranging from muffin tops to bread of any kind. The menu itself offers salads, soups and sandwiches. What is most striking about the menu is that not a single item jumps out as unhealthy. For example, a Chicken Caesar Salad has only 20 calories from fat, where as McDonalds Chicken Caesar Salad has 67 calories from fat.

Not only does Panera offer great service and a variety of choices, but the quality of food is outstanding. The salads are fresh and clean, and the soups are hot and flavorful. The sandwiches are almost cut perfectly, and just the right size. With a sandwich comes a choice of either a fresh baguette, which is served crispy and warm, or a bag of Panera Bread beaked chips. The beverages range from coffee to soda, and are served to the customers liking.  The sodas are outstanding compared to the other fast food restaurants in Olney, since they are fizzy and sweet, as opposed to flat and tasteless. The Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad offers a delicious Caesar dressing, with chicken grilled to perfection. If a customer would like the taste of a Caesar Salad but isn’t quite in the mood for the greens, the Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwich packs all the taste of a salad in between two pieces of freshly cut bread.

The line takes some time to get through, but it gives customers just enough time to figure out what they would like to eat. Once in the front of the line, the cashier greets the customer with a smiling face, and gives a receipt with an order number on it. The next part of the process is a little longer. With time and patience, the order numbers are eventually called and each plate is set on the counter with a beautiful arrangement of food.

Now since these offerings are healthy and made with quality ingredients, one may think they’re expensive and unaffordable, but the prices throughout the whole menu range from $5.00-$10.00 for a complete meal. Panera is an overall satisfying destination, and the atmosphere of it makes customers want to keep coming back for more.