All right, all right.

By now I swear that I've heard it a million and a half times. OK, maybe more like just a million. And I don't think that I'll stop hearing it anytime soon.

College students are cheap.

I'm not talking cheap like you-pay-for-the-student- discounted-ticket-at-the-movie-theater cheap; I'm talking cheap. Like, I-ran-out-of-money-so-I-didn't-have- any-to-spend-on-my-girlfriend-for-Christmas cheap.

So, this being the case, there is no way that any normal student is going to spend $6 on a sandwich when they could have two large cheese pizzas for that price, right? Of course not. So if you're one of those hesitant, thrifty types, this review isn't for you. I can sum up why in just two simple words: Panera Bread.

Yes, believe it or not, we do indeed have one of those located at 148 S. Allen St. And yes, it is open to the public -- not just sorority members who are counting carbs.

While certainly Panera has a reputation for being health-conscious, it has an even bigger one for being slightly overpriced. I'm not here to put an end to that myth -- because it really isn't one in the first place -- but I am here to simply describe all the positives that come out of stepping into the upscale sandwich shop.

Now, don't get me wrong, Panera isn't all sandwiches. It offers soups, salads and combinations of the two, as well as bagels, pastries and breads. But I just can't stop thinking about my Bacon Turkey Bravo. The aforementioned sandwich is a delectable giant (with nearly a full pound of turkey smashed between tomato basil bread, is there any other way to describe it?) that will satisfy an eater just as well as any pizza pie could. The only drawback is that, most likely, you won't have any leftover slices.

You can further eliminate your appetite -- not to mention your carbs -- by taking down a bag of Baked Lays and a pickle slice on the side.

Now, getting back to the cheapness factor, those who attend Panera often enough can reap the rewards of the free sandwich or pick-two card that is handed to you upon check out. Of course, that would require the purchase of seven costly meals first.

After finishing my own costly sandwich in record time, I looked around the eatery to see what other dining pleasures I could see.

I noticed two of the most enticing elements of Panera were right below my bottom and inside my ears. With several cozy booths to settle into and some decent elevator music ringing about, I asked myself, what isn't comfortable about this eating atmosphere?

As if that weren't enough, I checked out some of the desserts on the bakery side of the café. Let's just say that if I hadn't spent my last bones on the Bacon Turkey Bravo, I probably would've anted up for a Cinnamon Crunch Bagel or a Very Chocolate Brownie. I think I may have left a bit of saliva on the glass or something. Yuck.

Overall, I hope the picture I'm painting for you is a good one and that it will be just enough to open up your eyes to the wonders of Panera. But there is only so much that I, myself, can do.

Unless I come to Canyon Pizza and yank the dollar slice from your paw, nothing is going to change. You're going to have to take that first step toward experiencing something new.

So go ahead, scrounge up the loose change that you've got left and take it over to Panera right away. At least then you'll have tried it. My recommendation is to do it fast. After all, the holidays are right around the corner and if you wait too long, your last bit of cash may not be enough at Panera.