05/09/09

Working at B & C

by coffeefan909

My life at B & C has had many ups and downs, the most part of the downs is the big 15% paycut that came to the whole company and now I make about 7.25 an hour when it use to be 9. I started working here due to the good pay that they gave but now here I am in the big cut and so far no hope yet.

I still work here and get along well with the customers and other employees but I sure wish I would have another job by now. It really is not bad to work for and they do let you grow in the company. Some of the people there grow to be managers although not all the managers are not for their own job and complain quite a bit.

A job is a job and you can make it what it is, if you always think it to be bad it will be but sometimes I see good in it to no matter all the flaws.

• Pros: Cookies
• Cons: 15 % pay cut

04/11/09

Yummy food, but not worth the price

by kolodny

Have you ever noticed that the banner that says, "Now Hiring" hasn't been taken down in six years? There is a reason. Mostly out of curiosity, I applied and was accepted to be a general minion for Bread and Company. They took the $15 out of my paycheck for the apron, fed me a bunch of food so that I knew what I was talking about, and put me in front of a register. At first, I couldn't understand why they were always hiring. But then I was having to stay hours after my shift was supposed to end, I was yelled at and thrown food on by the omlette guy for filling out a breakfast form incorrectly, and finally had to spend some time in the back. I speak spanish pretty well, and you could understand both by inflection and attitude that the manager was cruel to non-pasty white employees. I became competent pretty quickly, but they kept dragging us in for more 'training,' telling us we weren't supposed to compliment or chat with customers because it could be taken the wrong way. Finally I quit, and since I gave one-week instead of two-week notice, that paycheck was reduced to minimum wage; not that it was too far different than $6/hr anyway.

Their food is ok, but I have a personal preference for Picnic fruit tea over their super sugary version. Most of their food can be found in some variation at Provence, which has employees that aren't 'getting it from the man' every five seconds. The only thing I can't find anymore is the sesame dressing available at B&C. Corner Market used to have it; ironically B&C took over their location years ago.

Oh, and there was an article in the paper the other day that they had reduced a few of their prices. Though tempted, I won't go back.

• Pros: the chicken tarragon salad is pretty decent
• Cons: poor ownership, way overpriced, parking

04/10/09

One Hot Mess

by dawgfan1982

I'm going to assume, from this cluster-f*** of a set-up, that the operators of these restaurants are ADHD high-school dropouts. There are about 511 different places to order food. There are no signs or directions to help guide newcomers figure out where the F they are supposed to go. I don't think I've ever actually seen a menu either. They probably have one, I just missed it because they stuffed it in a random, useless nook somewhere in their jungle of chaos. But I digress.

If you don't anything behind the glass case, you pretty much have to start guessing things and hope they have it. And after battling the soccer moms to get into one of their 4 available parking spaces and trying to avoid their ill-behaved little devil children, you are in no mood to play 20 questions with the cashier.

So, after I go through this disorganized hot mess, they end up charging me $9.63 for one sandwich. Don't get me wrong, it was a good sandwich, but not THAT good. I suggest the ready-made sandwiches if you must try this establishment.

• Pros: Decent Food
• Cons: Over-priced, bad help, too many children

02/12/09

GOODBYE - DO NOT VISIT - PLANTED CITY SEARCH INFO - used to eat AND work there

by DoYourCulinaryHomework

This company has gone downhill faster than a greased toboggan on Mt. Everest! Consider: Why is there still not a website after two years of "coming soon". Why are there fewer employees and higher prices? Why won't the owner answer any customers complaints, etc?

This company PLANTS REVIEWS on citysearch!!! I witnessed it although it was supposed to be a "secret at administration" but we heard about it and I witnessed it. Look around November 2006 through early 2007!!!! For ALL locations. Who are the one-time or few-time reviewers with the 5-star ratings in the middle of all the other negative feedback??? INSIDERS. Hiding the fact that the owner is off fishing all over the world with YOUR $$$ rather than caring about your purchases. Or enjoying one of two Belle Meade houses. If you are employee that won't be abused or who has morals - find a job somewhere else!!!! Mommy really screwed up giving sweet sonny this business - it was great before he took it!

Don't support the mentioned and unmentionable "habits" - Jersey Mikes and others will treat you right and have owners who care!!!!

01/01/09

Food is delicious, white clerk attendants are racists.

by leviehud

As a daily customer I can't deny the quality of their products, but as foreigner I must say that discrimanation against foreigners is quite common by clerk attendants, mainly white ones who delibetately make you go as fast as possible to leave the place even there is no one waiting for pay or occupying the tables. I hope Bread and Co. can give better trainning to its employees, once a large foreign community from Vanderbit University is eating there every day. As Americans are approached well in our nations, we hope they can be respectful to foreigners and consumers. It's quite minimal. Sincerely, A Brazilian customer.

• Pros: Excellent meal
• Cons: Horrible clerk attendants

12/29/08

Saying GOODBYE to Bread and Company

by MercieMe

My family has been eating at Bread and Company for years. Yes it is pricey, but the sandwiches are out of this world. Recently learned that our "13th is free" cards were no longer valid as they had transitioned to a swipe card as opposed to a hole-punch card. It was all fine and dandy until they informed us that they would not credit the swipe cards with the current hole punches we had for all of the other dozen sandwiches we had purchases over time. Screw it, I'm done with the overpriced sandwiches and $3 cookies. Jersey Mike's is so much better.

• Pros: Food isnt bad
• Cons: Pricing, lack of parking in most locations, screwing customers out of the 1 free sandwich a year

11/29/08

Eat the Truth - through a little research

by EattheTruch

Poorly run overpriced eatery. Problems start at the top and roll downhill ? owner will NOT interact with unhappy customers.

I travel quite a bit, and learned through time looking at CitySearch that many companies seem to ?plant? their own reviews to increase their scores after being disappointed. Now, anytime I look at a set of reviews with the differences of opinion like the ones posted here (5 5-star ratings, 0 4-star ratings, and 5 1-star ratings) I get suspicious and do my homework. YOU can do this too. I have done this several times and it has proven reliable, as it has with B&C.

So, with 5 5-star ratings and 5 1-star ratings I started trying to figure out what was happening by clicking on the usernames of each citysearch member who posted a 5-star review. Guess what? THREE of the five ?5-star-raters? (Candac99, wilderman, and nashvillerockstar) have only ever posted 1 citysearch review ? the one for B&C. A 4th (tnlizzy) has posted 3 reviews, but 2 of those were 5-star ratings for Bread & Company. The only legitimate-appearing 5-star review seems to be from ?juiceplusdivas?, who has posted 10 citysearch reviews. Her Bread & Company review is over 2 years old. So, I view 4 of the 5 of these 5-star reviews as questionable or suspicious.

It has been proven that consumers are much more likely to complain than to praise. When I see 1-star postings from reviewers with 1 or only a few postings, like we have here as I found by clicking on those users, that lends legitimacy in my eyes as I doubt they are complaining ?just to complain? but were likely SO upset over their service that they took the time to register with citysearch to lodge their complaints. 5 1-star reviews combined with 5 suspicious 5-star reviews (and 0 4-stars) makes me think that the true score for this eatery should be down around 2 stars. I would agree with that rating.

Like the name says ? Eat the Truth.

10/28/08

Food was good but I felt uncomfortable the whole time

by ginnyjuice

When I entered the store for the first time, I was so confused about what to do, I stood around and waited for someone to notice me at the cash register. I wanted a sandwich so they directed me to the sandwich place. There were two workers there, having a conversation and I was ignored for a few minutes until one guy decided to help me. After getting soup I went back to the same place where my sandwich was still being made. The guy finished, and put it on the other side and didn't even let me know it was ready. He obviously knew it was my order but didn't bring it 5 feet to where I was standing. He put it at the end of the counter and stood there, not saying a word. Weird. Then, I was absolutely shocked when my half sandwich and small chili came up to be 8 dollars. The assistant manager was running around, doing some weird things with the cups and condiments. He never looked at me, never said a word of welcome. People are cold, stuck in their own world.

The internet isn't very good, the lighting is bad, at least when I went in the afternoon, and I wouldn't go back unless I was starving.

Did anyone notice the lack of diversity in that place?

• Pros: cheese, meat
• Cons: service, price, manager with bad attitude, people standing around ignoring customers, confusing system

06/11/08

Decent food

by glitterx

ok, the food is good. price is a little high. around lunch time its insane. its very confusing on where to go to order and pay. the west end location changes their hours depending on if vanderbilt is in session. very annoying. and so i usually go to the green hills location instead, because they close at 8 everyday. limited parking at most locations. they have very good sweet tea and most of the staff are good.

i do not like how early they close, i wish places like this stayed open later!

02/20/08

What are they thinking!?!?!

by TheBankerLife

Ever hear the saying, "The difference between pigs and hogs is greed"? Well, Bread and Company has turned into hogs. I work in the building and have been eating lunch , on average three times a week, for well over a year. When I first began going I found the prices very high. Then, I discovered the combos and enjoyed that for a while. I have become a huge fan of the build-your-own salad.... until the last 30-45 days. In that time, Bread and Company has:

* increased pricing

* stopped offering to toss the salad

* decreased quantity of toppings, for example, they now only use 1/4 an avocado instead of 1/2

* implemented using a form to order.... even more impersonal service

* no more choice of romaine lettuce... now you have to have "mixed" to get romaine

Besides my complaints about the salad going south, they no longer offer the quesadilla and burritos. In addition, most of the staff are nice, some are very nice, but there is one that works the front register.... I forgot her name, but she has a star tattooed on her hand... she's got to be the most rude! Why on earth is she working with the customers and not kept behind the scenes?

I emailed the company with my complaints and received no response... If more than these reviews, that speaks volumes.

• Pros: Good salads, though costly
• Cons: Getting cheap and forgot the value of a customer. Parking is a nightmare unless you work in the building.