I have to share this. Really. Disillusionment and all.

So, I had a snack attack. I usually don't get hungry until much later, but I couldn't control it and I didn't want my usual snack of carrots. Bread and Company has always had cheese toast that was really delicious and the price is right.

Well, that's the first snag. I order my cheese toast ($2.95 plus tax) and the total is $4.3something. Granted, my math skills aren't all that great in the morning, but I know there's not THAT much tax on food. I ask the clerk why and she says the mozzarella is $1. Well, then, which cheeses are included in the price? She looks at her register for a little while and tells me that cheese is $1 extra. Ok, but this is cheese toast, right? Well, she points out to me on the menu that there's a note that they add $1 for...cranberry bread (I wish the written word could appropriately display the shift in her tone as she finished reading that sentence). she goes to a manager. It's easily solved--and it turns out it's a feature in the computer register system (I'm guessing there's no way to put in the system which cheese you want, so it adds it on). Meanwhile, I notice the cashier next to her is wearing an "I'm Training" button. I've seen a lot of cashiers wearing this button lately--I guess turnover is high.

After this, I get to the section of the store where the breakfast items are made (if you're not familiar with Bread and Co, in this particular location you go to different parts of the store depending on what you're after. The breakfast counter later becomes the sandwich counter, and even later becomes the pasta counter). I see the lady using a microwave, and think how interesting, because I hate microwaves and wonder what she's up to because the restaurant isn't busy and I ordered toast. Well, she takes the item out of the microwave, does some things out of my sight, and hands me a styro container. I check the container first to make sure it's indeed mine and right. The first thing I notice is one of those napkin/condiment/cutlery kits sitting RIGHT ON TOP OF THE CHEESE. I grab it before it sticks.

I get to my office and sit down with my cheese toast. it's scantier than I remember, but hopefully still delicious. Nope, even that's a disappointment. It's clear that she didn't even toast the bread before microwaving it. Honestly, I could've made this myself in the office. They have one of those crazy toasters that runs the bread on a belt and drops it below and I know that logically, you can't make cheese toast with one of those. Still, I didn't go for soggy, microwaved bread with too much cheap mozzarella on it making it gooey (in a bad way).

I think Bread and Co has really gone downhill. The portions have shrank, the prices have risen, and the quality isn't the same. I used to love their pasta made-to-order but it's gotten too expensive to justify. The sandwiches are ridiculous. The chicken noodle soup is still wonderful (and now offered every day!), but the container has changed and I can't tell if I'm getting less soup. Probably not, but given the change in their other items I would not be surprised.

I tell a coworker about this and she says she's glad Panera is down the road and you can still get good stuff there. I'm fine with Panera, but I'd like for a local business to succeed without compromising everything.

Labels: drama, nashville