Panera Bread

4.0
553 reviews
Toasted Italiano & Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains

About

CafeSalad ShopSandwich RestaurantBreakfast RestaurantSoup RestaurantTake Out RestaurantCoffee ShopBakeryRestaurant Delivery ServiceCaterer
From focusing on quality ingredients to serving our food to you in a warm and welcoming environment, Panera Bread is committed to being an ally to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. You don’t have to compromise to eat well. Whether you want to come in and enjoy a coffee and our complimentary Wi-Fi, or order online using Rapid Pick-Up so you can grab something quickly, Panera Bread Santa Maria is here with warmth and welcome. Panera Bread. Food as it should be.

Details

  • Dine-inAvailable
  • DeliveryAvailable
  • TakeoutAvailable
  • Curbside pickupNot available

Location

Panera Bread
540 East Betteravia Road, Santa Maria, CA
93454, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.0
553 reviews
5 stars
269
4 stars
154
3 stars
59
2 stars
29
1 star
42

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Food Quality

Mixed reviews on food quality; some customers enjoyed the pastries and salads, while others found the sandwiches bland and overpriced.

Service Issues

Frequent complaints about poor customer service, including indifferent staff and long wait times.

Cleanliness

Many customers noted that the restaurant was unclean, with dirty tables and overflowing trash cans.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is generally described as pleasant, with some locations being good for studying, but there are calls for updates to the decor.

Pricing Concerns

Customers expressed that prices are high for the portion sizes and quality, leading to dissatisfaction.
  • RK
    R Kay
    Nov 11, 2025
    1.0
    Food was subpar, the restaurant was dirty, service was slow... 45 minutes to get our food. A bad experience all around.
  • KH
    Kim H
    Sep 22, 2025
    1.0
    I heard good things about Panera, so I chose it over Starbucks across the parking lot. I ordered a coffee and pain au chocolat/chocolate croissant to go, thinking it would be superior to SB's frozen buns. It was kind of stale...looked beautiful, but was soft and tough at the same time, like it had been microwaved and left to sit and dry out. No shattering, flaky, buttery goodness. Not even as flaky as a Costco croissant. So disappointing. Dare I say that SB's frozen chocolate croissant is better; at least, they offer to heat it up for you. Coffee was mild. Service was indifferent, shoved the bun in a bag, and pushed an empty cup at me. Apparently, after checking, Panera does not freshly bake these daily...my mistake.
  • AC
    Adam Cards
    Sep 22, 2025
    2.0
    Sandwich was mediocre at best, cash registers were not working, and the staff was doing the minimum required to keep the doors open. First time, and only time visiting Panera.
  • SS
    Sara Sinclair
    Sep 21, 2025
    2.0
    September 21 2025 , this place was full of people, but not enough of servers. I guess Santa Maria doesn’t have a lot of kids who wanna work in retail or restaurants anymore. Small towns are dying. The mentality of the younger groups are disgusting. They want everything for free and don’t wanna work so now Panera is gone kiosk, no more live person to talk to. I think this will be my last time coming here.
  • TB
    Terry Brennan
    Aug 3, 2025
    4.0
    It's Panera. Just like every other Panera. What could I possibly say that you don't already know.

Frequently Asked Questions About Panera Bread

Does Panera Bread Santa Maria accept reservations?

No, Panera Bread Santa Maria does not accept reservations.

What are the operating hours of Panera Bread Santa Maria?

Panera Bread Santa Maria is open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekends.