Panera or ABC?
 

I went to Panera yesterday and Atlanta Bread Co. today. Panera's food was good but the service completely sucked. ABC's food today was ok but the service was WAY better... I think I shall go back tomorrow to try ABC's tomato soup since Panera's is so good but I don't like them right now.

And BTW, Panera is across the street from ABC.

Votes?

most definitely Panera.

ABC hasn't made it up to the greater Boston area yet, but I'd heard such great things about that I was excited to see it at the Atlanta airport. Probably not the best place to try it out... I'd still go back to Panera if I had the choice.

Panera's service is really spotty, agreed. But when they have any variation of mushroom soup on special... mmmmm!

Panera gets my vote.
 

I am totally addicted to the Asian Chicken Salad at Panera. It is fabulous. I'm not much of a salad person, so this is very high praise from me!


Asian Sesame Chicken Salad

All-natural citrus-herb chicken, romaine lettuce, fresh cilantro, sliced almonds, sesame seeds, crispy wonton strips & our reduced-sugar Asian sesame vinaigrette.

ABC for sure. Panera does crazy things to my stomach. I get all crampy and nauseous whenever I eat it. It happens to a few of my friends as well.

ABC definitely, but I find their soups a bit (okay, a lot!) on the salty side.

Panera is popping up on every major road here in Lexington. There is only one ABC left (and service and food there is hit or miss as is the cleanliness).

I'd love to try ABC - I've heard great things about it. In the meantime, summer finds me at Panera fairly often, if only because they have outside tables where the puppy lovers can eat!

I've only been to ABC once, none around here, but I <3 Panera aka St. Louis Bread Co.

I heart Panera's tomato soup with the asiago cheese croutons, really, I do. BUT when your soda machine continues to pour out Pepsi long after I released the button and your people making the food behind the counter mock the way I said "excuse me" to alert someone that it was broken and soda was going everywhere, (as I'm standing in front of them. And yes, my momma did raise me right, biatch!) then, I'm sorry, I'll take my biznass elsewhere.

This is the incident that happened to me yesterday at Panera, sparking this thread today after I ate at ABC and had a much better experience. And the girls at Panera conveniently forgot my asiago cheese croutons. Bitches.

ABC, love the French onion soup and half albacore tuna.

I love ABC's Asian Sesame Dressing on anything, their soups and their chicken salad. But, I love everything else at Panera. I agree, Panera needs better service

I pretty much lived off of Panera during the college years!!!! This was mostly because the family and friends fueled me with gift cards, and there just happened to be one across the street from the school!

I honestly have only been to ABC once or twice, there are not that many around either Jacksonville or Tampa. The few times I have been there I thought the food and the service sucked! Also I thought it was way to pricey!

I absolutely love Panera! I am addicted to their Broccoli and Cheddar soup!!! I have noticed that Panera service varies on the store and the time!

I love the fact that the local Panera happens to be right next door to a Starbucks!!!

There's no Atlanta Bread Company nearby. :( I do like Panera though. I always get the turkey artichoke panini.

At first, I thought this was going to be a parody thread...like "Panera is the most top-tier sandwich place on my campus. Let's name all the campuses with Panera and see how it ranks at other campuses...like how does Panera rank against ABC sandwich shop or against XYZ sandwich shop."

So I was thinking: Does anybody else hate the new focacia ? I honestly think it tastes like stale, salt encrusted, hard tack, but that is just me! :)

I've never been to an ABC before, but judging from the website, there are some in the DFW area. I may have to try them out sometime.

I'm a HUGE Corner Bakery Cafe fan. Their sandwiches rock my world.

I like the breads at Panera, but overall, I'm not a huge fan.

Panera only arrived here in Seattle a few years ago, and now they're popping up all over. I've never been to one, though.

And I'd never heard of Atlanta Bread Company until this thread.

I love Panera and go there often. I like the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich and the Black Bean Soup. And of course, a lot of their bagels. And their iced green tea is the best.

Have not really tried Atlanta Bread Company- unless someone has brought their bagels to an event and I tasted them, which I do not specifically recall.

I've never been to either, but Spokane seems to get more chain/franchise eateries than my cowtown.

Yum! i love Panera

The "mother ship" of Panera (St. Louis Bread Company) is usually very good. There's also an excellent one in the Arlington/Alexandria area of VA. But the two biggest reasons I go there are (as I said earlier) you can eat outside, and also, we have our Alumnae Association meetings at one!

Thetagirl218, I hate the new focacia, too. Something in it turns my stomach completely inside out. blech.

I love Panera! When I first graduated from college and was barely squeaking by on $250 a week, their chicken soup/bread bowl and bakery sweets were a huge once-in-a-while treat for me! But I'm with everybody on the new foccacia--kinda reminds me of a hockey puck. Bring back the old recipe.

At first I thought this was about Panera bread vs. the ABC stores (as in the stores all over Hawai'i and a few in Vegas) and it was ABC, hands down. More variety.

Then I remember about Atlanta Bread Co. I think they are both pretty much the same thing. But I like Paradise Bakery better than both of them. But now I'm mixing my east coast and west coast, I think.

We have both ABC and Panera, and they're pretty equal in terms of quality and service here. Jason's Deli is currently my #1 pick for soup/salads/sandwiches.

I am so bummed. After reading this thread, I got to craving Atlanta Bread, so a friend and I went there for lunch. They closed down!!!

We went across the street to Panera. They said ABC closed on Sunday.

No ABC's in my town, but there's a Panera just about every where I turn. I like Panera quite a bit and probably grab lunch there at least 2-3x month. I'm a big fan of their soups. And I like those muffies as a nice little snack without being a mammoth of a muffin. Seriously, I don't need a muffin for three people. I've never had a problem with their service. Jason's Deli on the other hand, is another story.

You should try both so you can make a fair and balanced judgement:)

I like ABC, but I like Pandra way more. I love their salads, soups and bread. :)

Fawn, FH keeps telling me how awesome Jason's Deli is - do they have soups? Are they good?

BTW, had Panera tomato soup again tonight and it was sooo yummy. Service was a little better tonight too, so I guess it's breakfast and lunch at ABC and dinner at Panera from now on, lol.

I've been to Panera. Never to ABC. Actually like Quiznos better than Panera.

In-laws LOVE Jason's Deli.

Co-sign. Mmm, toasted subs.

Jason's Deli just opened here and it is fabulous. (much better than the other 2). From 10:15am - 2pm there is a huge long line of all the ppl trying to order; it's that good. I had to meet my friend at 10am there for lunch just to get thru quicker.

Yes but Quiznos serves subs, whereas Panera and ABC don't. They're different types of food IMO. That would be the Quiznos vs Subway vs Firehouse Subs thread...

I always get the 2 Sammies meal when I go to Quiznos. I like Quiznos better than Subway. I've never heard of Firehouse...we don't have any around here.

ETA: We don't have Jason's Deli either. :(

Ummm, I don't know what your Panera serves. But, ours serves sandwiches and soups and salads. Quiznos serves sandwiches and soups and salads. So, how can you say they serve totally different types of food? The both serve two pieces of bread holding something in the middle. They both serve soup and some sort of salad. Panera offers a few more things like bagels and breads. But, they are the same type of food.

I've already I can't compare it to ABC because I have never been. RIF.

Call them subs or sandwiches on artisan bread, the Paneras here are just haughty-taughty sandwich shops. So, don't tell me it's not a good comparison.

Whoa, sister, slow your roll. First of all, I never said "totally" different, just different. A toasted sub is different than a panini. You're correct that they both serve sandwiches, soups, salads. BUT, I don't go to Quiznos when I feel like a caesar salad, I go to ABC. When I want a toasted turkey sub, I don't go to Panera, I go to Quiznos or Firehouse. They are different restaurants, like it or lump it. Similar, but not the same. AND, the thread wasn't about Quiznos. It was a Panera vs ABC thread since these two are almost idential in menu choices - AND they offer coffees and pastries and the like. Quiznos, Subway, etc do not. Yet another difference you failed to mention. And I will tell you, it's not a good comparison for the reasons I just stated. Agree to disagree...

This happens to me too. Every time I've eaten there, I've gotten weirdly sick. We don't have ABC here.

Edit: And, I'll agree with texas*princess...huge Corner Bakery fan, too.

OMG, I totally forgot about Corner Bakery since we don't have them here. They would be lumped in with ABC and Panera too I think, and yes, they rock. I miss them... I'm just still amused that in my town, ABC is literally across the street from Panera. Though ABC was there long before Panera. Yet Paneras seem to be sprouting up everywhere and appear to be gaining popularity over ABC. It remains to be seen if this is a novelty...

SthrnZeta, have you been to New Moon Cafe downtown? They have AMAZING crab bisque. As for the poll, I'd pick Atlanta Bread every time. French onion soup = love.

I've walked by a dozen times and I've always gone to Blue Sky or Bees Knees (I heart Bees Knees... ::drool::) BUT I have wanted to try New Moon. I'm a big fan of lobster bisque and I like crab but never had crab bisque. Sounds yummy though so thanks for the tip!!! :D