Panera, the ultimate spot for a warm cup of soup when you’re feeling sick, or a quick sandwich amid a busy day of work. Wawa, a place we stop to refill gas and grab a soda. Which would you rather?

Although Wawa has a nice selection of sandwiches and snacks to choose from, there’s one simple fact you can’t deny; it’s still gas station food. Great for a case of the munchies at 12 a.m. on a Saturday, but should this be your first choice for dinner? Absolutely not.

When I was younger, going inside the gas station was snack heaven. Walking through the isles full of chips and candy was a luxury that my parents didn’t award my sisters and me often. Now, as I’ve matured, Wawa would be my very last choice for dinner.

Why settle for gas station food when you can eat at a welcoming, well-priced restaurant? Panera offers a variety of lunches and dinners including sandwiches, soups, and flatbreads. And unlike Wawa, it was created to sell food, not gas.

Not to mention the fact that the quality of the two establishments isn’t even comparable. Panera is neat, clean, and full of friendly employees. Wawa is most of the time dirty, and a trip inside will most likely be accompanied by dirty looks from strangers.

One of the main deciding factors in the argument of Wawa vs. Panera is, of course, the food. I recently took a trip to both and ordered a sandwich and a side.

My Panera Chipotle chicken avocado sandwich was my personal piece of heaven. Perfectly warmed, perfectly seasoned and perfectly assembled.  It comes with a bag of chips that you can put in your sandwich for extra crunch or save for a snack later.

For my Wawa experience, I sadly cannot say the same. While my turkey sandwich with lettuce and avocado was refreshing and light, my side greatly let me down. I ordered a “fresh” pretzel from the bakery and was given a pretzel hard as a rock with salt that tasted like clay. Unpleasant to say the least.

Although Wawa and Panera both have characteristics that make them enjoyable in different ways, there is no comparison. Panera will always come out with the victory.