5 New Panera Bread Summer Menu Items, Ranked & Reviewed by a Food Editor

• What It Is: mini chocolate fudge brownie topped with chocolate cheesecake, chocolate chips and brownie crumbles
• Price (three-pack): $3­

Think Little Bites brownies stuffed with chocolate frosting. They’re tasty and a decadent way to end a meal, but other than the texture of the filling (which is luscious and creamy), these don’t give cheesecake. I didn’t sense any tang, and the brownie exterior and sweet toppings would likely overpower it if it were present anyway. It’d need to be very acidic and cream cheese-y to hold its own. These were fine, but not what I was hoping.

• What It Is: marinated steak, fresh mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, arugula, salt and pepper, Italian dressing and garlic aioli drizzle on black pepper focaccia
• Price (half): $9

The main con here was that the sandwich was excessively salty; I’m not sure if it was overly seasoned or if it was the combination of the meat marinade and condiments. I also think the dressing, aioli and tomato combo made for a soggy sandwich after a few minutes, so scarf it down as soon as you receive it. That said, the bread was as soft and delicious as ever, the steak was tender and flavorful, and the arugula was in great shape. As for the mozz, it was mild and soft, but overall unremarkable.

• What It Is: mixed greens and arugula tossed in Italian dressing, topped with soppressata, shredded Asiago cheese, fresh basil, chickpeas and black pepper-sea salt croutons
• Price (half): $8

I loved the salty, aged edge of the Asiago, although I wouldn’t have minded more of it. The croutons were crisp and hearty; I feel like I could taste the freshness of the black pepper and a hint of olive oil. The soppressata was savory, zesty and herbaceous. The chickpeas seemed a touch out of place (as opposed to, say, tomatoes or pepperoncini), but I won’t say no to more protein and fiber. I also appreciated that it was heavy on the meaty, carby, starchy toppings instead of being just a mélange of produce. The main con? Most of the basil was very black and wilted.

• What It Is: mixed greens, crisp romaine and lettuce blend, tossed in ranch dressing and topped with grape tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, shaved Parmesan, black pepper-sea salt croutons and green goddess dressing
• Price (half): $7

The green goddess dressing was surprisingly sweet, making a tasty foil for the salty bacon, cheese and ranch dressing. (Double dressing? Go off, Panera.) The bacon was very crispy this time around, which wasn’t the case for me at past tastings. Maybe it was the sandwich-inspired ingredients, but this one had major picnic energy. I’d love to try it with chicken.

• What It Is: agave lemonade with strawberry purée fruit blend, infused with fresh strawberries and basil
• Price: $4

This was genuinely scrumptious. Sweet-tart, citrusy, lush with what felt like real fruit purée and slightly earthy and herbaceous, it tasted like an alfresco lunch with the girls. This Panera Bread summer menu item’s flavor was very intense; even melted ice didn’t take away from its deliciousness or potency. I also liked that it was still notably sour, even with the addition of berries and agave. The lemonade really shone.