Panera Bread - Santa Monica

Bread was….. what…..? Anyway, for a chain restaurant, I kinda dig this place. The good: Never all that crowded, even during lunch time Free wi fi (but not between 12 2) Nice outdoor seating Good menu selection Huge and fun bread selection, although I’ve never really explored their depths The bad: The food isn’t “bad” exactly, but it’s not remarkable. For the price, I guess it’s satisfactory. The service can be hit or miss. One time, I placed a phone order for a breakfast sandwich, letting them know I’d be there in ten minutes to pick up my order. When I arrived about ten minutes later, they hadn’t even STARTED to make my sandwich, and the place was virtually empty. In all fairness, the sandwich guy apologized sheepishly, but still. The lack of electrical outlets in the main indoor dining room is annoying for those, like me, who like to bring a laptop and work while nibbling. But weirdly, there seem to be more outlets outdoors! All in all, a good place to grab a bite to eat and hang out for a while.