text: Someone asked me if Atlanta Bread Company and Panera Bread are the same I guess the comparison cannot be helped as they are both soup and sandwich chains but my answer absolutely not I harbor a special love for Panera in my heart that Atlanta will never compete with no matter how many tries I give it My visit today pretty much confirmed thatnnA fistsized portion of bread is served with most meals In the past I have always been turned off by their bread which is usually pale and underbaked I do not have much faith in a place that claims to be a bread company but serves such sorry bread On my most recent visit the baguette was not disturbingly discolored and it had a nice crunch to the crust I also noticed a subtle hint of olive oil in the breads recipe Maybe they are making a few improvementsnnLike most lunch chains I am sure the soup comes packaged and is heated instore I ordered the chicken and wild rice soup today Highlights the soup had conspicuous specks of pepper and bright green chives Unfortunately it also had the color and consistency of glue I suspect that the grain had broken down and congealed into a thick paste that was not appetizingnnAtlanta also separates itself from Panera by serving a few additional items on their menu including pastas My vegan lunch buddy tells me that Atlanta is a little more generous to those with dietary restrictions though I do not have any special recommendations to vegetariansvegans out there