Just say no to all white creamy salad dressings. They are totally nasty. Why would you cover up the taste of wings with anything? Enjoy the real food, without the extra junk on it!

<hates almost every white sauce on the planet.. why? no idea, they are nasty>

Give me Panera's French Onion Soup in a bread bowl and I am happy. I like some of their pastries. You can have the rest...

The image of pudgy suburbanites pouring Hidden Valley Ranch on iceberg lettuce made me sick to my stomach!

Since going out to eat isn't, in my opinion, something that should be done all the time, I don't mind wasting calories every now and then on one of those warm delicious bagels! (from a personal stand point...now once I open a restaurant I want people to go out to eat for every meal at my restaurant! $$$ :D)
We have discussed this in various classes (I'm a hotel, restaurant & institutional management major) and because for a majority of people, going out to eat is a special treat, you're not going to limit your calories on that one special night.

There's a lot of research to support the fact that almost nothing changes when you post calories.
I go to Panera for my potato soup in a bread bowl with a baguette on the side or my french toast bagel with fatty delicious cream cheese or mac n cheese and when the calories get posted in my Panera, I'm still going to want those things and most likely still going to buy those things.

Is there evidence that posting calories does change what people buy? Yes.
There is a complete toss-up right now on whether it will help or not.
Some people will buy into this, others will just get what they always get.

It still comes down to the same personal decision that you always make. Big Macs are high in calories but they still sell like crazy offered next to a salad.

I'm with you. I can eat small healthy meals at home, but when I'm spending a lot of money I want something GOOD. And that means taking the calorie hit.

For people who have little time and need to eat on the go though, posting calories could be a huge help.

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Haha I freaking love this thread! Yay yummy food!

Not me. I eat horribly when I go out, but it's so so good...I love things with lots of salt and fat. Kinda wish I just liked sweets and could eat some low fat brownies to be happy, but nope. I just try to do a better job at home...and it's mostly Lean Cuisines because I hate cooking, but at least that keeps the calories down and keeps me eating veggies. Once I have a bigger kitchen with a working dishwasher that will be different. But I know if I were on having to eat on the run day-to-day I would very much appreciate having those calories up there.

I agree with you that those issues have a lot to do with the lack of information on what is and isn't healthy.

I've missed you! XOXO:D

At the Renaissance Festival a couple weeks ago, they have chili in a CORNbread bowl. ZOMG...awesomesauce.

Panera - I'm going with whatever the featured low-cal salad is and a Mediterranean Veggie You Pick Two. However, I'm very tempted to try their chili and cornbread...has anyone had it?

FYI-they did a very slow roll out of the cards in my area. Apparently Cincinnati and Dayton had them months ago, and they became available in Columbus in the last month or so.

I'm also addicted to Panera's iced green tea. So wish I could replicate it at home.

In keeping with the paean to Panera's:

NPR: Panera Opens Second "Pay What You Can" Shop

According to The Detroit News, Panera learned from the Clayton [MO] shop that "20 percent of patrons give more than the suggested donation, 60 percent give about the same amount and 20 percent leave less." There are no cash registers; just donation boxes.

^^^That's interesting.

Needless to say, breadbowls are heaven... HOWEVER - I can't believe so many of you like Panera Mac and Cheese! I didn't think it was bad, but it was just okay for me. I'll stick with soups and sandwiches!

That's not too far from me! Very cool concept.