Louis, MO ( ) Iconic menu favorites Mac & Cheese and Grilled Cheese have come together to create the ultimate fall collaboration, thanks to Panera Bread. There, you’re sure to satisfy your craving.For a Limited Time, Panera is Celebrating by Offering Fashion-Forward Fans the Chance to Win Nostalgic Noodle Necklaces

So, if you’re in the mood for good mac and cheese, instead of going to Panera at the corner of the 29th Street mall, venture down half a mile to Noodles and Company. I’d much rather go to another restaurant where you get good, fresh food for the same or even lower price. People still love Panera, even though their food is mediocre and overpriced. The overcooked, crunchy bread cuts the top of your mouth as you eat it, while the sparse bits of cheese hint towards having flavor. The name implies that cheese should be involved, but the majority of the sandwich is bread. On multiple occasions, I’ve been disappointed by the overhyped grilled cheese at Panera. Now for the star of the show: their grilled cheese. With the price difference and the significantly better taste, why is Panera’s mac and cheese so popular? The answer is: it shouldn’t be. The Noodles and Company mac and cheese is always creamy, always warm and makes you want to have more. You can get the mac and cheese for $9.09, compared to Noodles & Company’s mac and cheese being $5.89 for the regular size. The cheese sticks to your mouth and leaves a filmy texture, making the whole experience even less enjoyable. You take one bite and you instantly get tired of the chemical taste. To me, the mac and chee se has an overly viscous sauce with overcooked noodles. They say how their mac and cheese is the best in the area and how they could never make their own grilled cheese as good as theirs. So often in high school, you talk to a person that loves Panera. Panera has 2,161 locations across the United States since 1987.

Panera mac and cheese noodles