Panera or ABC?

[Army Wife'79]

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

[Thetagirl218]

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!!!

[Benzgirl]

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

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

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."

[Thetagirl218]

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!

[texas*princess]

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.

[PeppyGPhiB]

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.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

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

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

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.

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

[Scandia]

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.

Yum! i love Panera

[honeychile]

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.

[Xidelt]

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.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

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.

[Fawn Liebowitz]

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.