There are two undeniable truths about fall. The first is that stores already have full-on Halloween vignettes in their windows. The second is that every restaurant, bakery, and coffee shop loves to debut new menu items to accompany the autumn energy. Panera fits into all three categories and it’s impressive. Between Panera’s divine bakery section, full food menu, and specialty coffees and other beverages, fall is in full effect. What the summer months gives us in light and fresh flavors, fall delivers richer, more comforting options and that’s certainly the case with Panera’s seasonal items.
The sheer breadth of Panera’s fall food is excellent and it’s not all pumpkin spice. Is Panera considered fast food, it casual dining, or another category? Nobody knows, but I can tell you that the 2026 fall menu includes creamy aromatic soups that throw notes of squash, potatoes, and even lasagna into the air. Baked goods all put cinnamon and other essential autumn stars in the spotlight. Sandwiches and salads look and feel more substantial and hefty. Eight Panera items that check all of the fall boxes are now available in stores and I tried them all to give you the inside scoop.
Methodology
I ordered all eight fall menu items from Panera. I started the tasting with hot dishes, like the sandwich and soups, to get the most out of the experiences. If any item had multiple components, like a sandwich with bread, protein, condiments, and toppings, I tasted them all independently also. I tried the baked goods as is and also slightly warmed because they beg for it. My review is based on quality, flavor, texture, seasoning, and more.
Taste test: 3-Cheese Lasagna Soup
Let’s dive right into the soups. First up is Panera’s brand new Three-Cheese Lasagna Soup. Right off the bat I didn’t love it. The consistency feels less like soup and more noodle heavy with a splash of tomato soup. It’s already thick and the addition of noodles makes it even thicker. It tastes slightly like lasagna but mine did not have cheese on top and the bits of sausage are chewy and off-putting. The flavor itself isn’t bad. It’s savory, zesty, and tastes lasagna adjacent. The best way to describe it is to call it a lazy lasagna that doesn’t feel like it’s trying.
Besides the flavor, I don’t really have a ton of accolades. Lasagna is a national treasure and Panera’s take is not up to standard. The noodles are fine and the hard sausage bits floating in the soup are not great. The bite I liked the most was actually dipping Panera’s crusty baguette into the soup sauce. The inclusion of a classic Italian comfort dish to ring in fall is appreciated. Unfortunately, it’s a fall fail for me overall. Don’t tell nonna.
Taste test: Rustic Baked Potato Soup
Panera’s Rustic Baked Potato Soup is a perfect example of a soup that is meant to be thick. I’m talking stick to your ribs thick. The kind that feels good in your soul and leaves a cozy feeling in your chest. This potato soup deserves every bit of praise for pulling off a homey and toothsome consistency. Panera did not hold back on the potatoes here. It’s impossible to take a single bite without the treat of perfectly soft potato chunks. My one complaint with this Panera soup is similar to the protein texture in the lasagna soup. The pieces of bacon in the soup are too chewy for my liking, but they do add a nice smoky layer of flavor…