Saturday morning was beautiful. I suggested that we go out for breakfast. I have gotten to the point where I can almost split an English Muffin without cutting the bandages and cast on my hand. Buttering it single-handed is bit more of a challenge. I really don't want to wear butter for the next few weeks. (I tried to make some of our dinner last night. I don't think my shirt will ever get clean...I have all kinds of food stuffs smeared across the front!)
The Mister has been very good about meal prep, but a break would be nice, and he was agreeable. Off we went to one of the local breakfast spots. There were a few people sitting outside - the Mister just kept on driving. He was hungry and didn't want to wait.
I recalled that there was a Panera just down the road. We commented that we hadn't been in a Panera for years.
It wasn't crowded...there were 2 other parties, and a third came in after us.
It looks like a shrunken version of the Panera we recalled from days of yore.
However, here's something different. As you enter there were a few computer stations for ordering!
(Yes, there was a nice counter person who would also take orders.)
Here's a new one for me; place your order for a beverage, get a cup at the counter and go fill your drink.
Oh, and while you are there, grab a buzzer/light thingie (in the box) and when it buzzes and the light flashes, you can come up to the counter to get your order! How handy!
We ordered at the counter: a pastry, a breakfast sandwich, and two Crème Brûlée lattes.
What? You don't have any whipped cream?
Can't you go next door and buy a can?
Oh, you aren't allowed to do that.
We should get a discount. (Didn't happen!)
We paid.
Took the buzzer/light thingie proffered to us,
and proceeded to one of the empty tables - no problem there!
Our buzzer/light thingie went off.
We proceeded to the pick-up counter.
The breakfast sandwich was there.
The lattes would be another minute or so.
Why, thought I?
They didn't need to allot time for the unavailable whipped cream!
Oh...and the pastry?
With a barely discernible eye-roll and eyes "cutting" to the counter gal,
this girl stepped from behind the food prep area to go get the pastry and slap it on a plate.
Was that a sotto voce 'harumph' I detected?
I inquired as to whether it could be heated.
A nod of the head pointed me towards the microwave.
They aren't allowed to heat the pastries, I was told,
because it would be their fault if a customer was burned.
I may have rolled my eyes at that point.
I proceeded to the area where said microwave was to be found, and operated by me.
Do you see it?
I didn't.
I had to ask if they meant that I should take it home to heat it in my microwave?
(OK, I was being a little snarky.)
No, it's over there...
(It is obvious, by their reactions, that I am being a PITA.)
Oh, there it is.
IN the cabinet.
OK - it is labeled indicating it is a microwave shelf.
Looks like a cabinet to me.
My bad!
I guess I'm not in the habit of opening cabinets at eateries.
So, now I have a heated pastry.
It didn't get hot enough to burn me because they use melamine plates.
Melamine isn't supposed to be used in a microwave.
The plate heats to a higher temperature than the item on the plate.
So, I could burn my hand instead of my mouth?
Putting melamine in a microwave can cause the melamine to overheat and leach chemicals into the food.
So, you don't want me to blame you if I get burned,
but ingesting chemicals is OK?
Had you been there you might have heard a deep sigh, or noticed a shake of my head.
But, I have a slightly warm pastry.
It's sticky.
I could use a knife, oh, and butter would be welcome.
Back to the counter.
Another head nod.
Over there:
Do you see it?
Ahem, where did you say to look?
Oh, there they are!
The plastic cutlery is in clearly marked (not at all)
containers tucked on the shelves.
Oh, and might I ask about butter?
Oh, it's up on the left (perhaps out of the range of the picture).
I was shown the butter packets that were in a stainless steel bin.
Should I have known to help myself?
Maybe next time I go I should walk behind the counter,
put the pastry I want on a plate,
grab a knife,
and some butter,
(now that I know where they are)
oh, and grab my cup,
and go heat the pastry and fill my own beverage.
I'm so glad I went out for breakfast.
I really didn't feel like making it.
AND...a tip screen pops up when your order is rung up!
For what?????
I wasn't really irritated or disappointed with Panera or my food.
Some of my attitude was brought on by the staff's lack of recognition of their role in helping customers.
Maybe I was just hungry? (hangry?)
Perhaps my hand was the irritant.
Perhaps clear expectations for service have not been communicated by management.
Maybe it's the sad fact that our food service industry historically has not paid workers a decent wage, and tipping is simply part of what we are expected to pay...regardless of the level of service.
I was somewhat amused by the suggestion that a tip was expected for minimum effort.
