The business model of Panera Bread is extremely well thought out and it shows in their excellent food and quick service. There are two Paneras in Columbia--one in the Mall and the other in south Columbia, just off Providence Street, a major north-south street.
We live close to the south location and eat lunch there a couple of times a month. It is a favorite place for the many University of Missouri students who live within a a few blocks of the restaurant. It has Wi-Fi and many students hang out there to complete assignments on their laptops. The lunch menu consists of salads, soups and sandwiches and all of the food is excellent. There is no table service so there is no service tipping. The tables tend to be rather close together so it is not a place to have a quiet and private business lunch. I have eaten there with my adult family at least twice a month for many years and can't recall ever having anything but really good food. It is certainly a lunch restaurant I recommend.