It's okay. Not the greatest Starbucks, but not bad. I'd give it 3.5 *s. If you like Starbucks, this one is very serviceable.
Pros:
* Quite a bit of space; medium-to-large for a Starbucks.
* Not very busy; can nearly always get a seat, and usually any kind you like (comfortable couch or squishy chair, window desk, table, etc.).
* Convenient: Waiting for your order is better here than rival cafes in the area, since they call out the order. So you can go do something else while you wait. (Unlike Caffè Nero or other places, where you have to wait at the till.)
* Tidy. Empty cups get tidied away fairly quickly, so you're not having to skip a bunch of tables to find a clear one.
Cons:
* The layout is long and deep -- can only get good window light near the front.
* A couple years ago, they replaced this awesome sleek comfortable study desk with a sucky, chunky, too-high dining table thing. Much less comfortable to type at it. Feels old in a clumsy way.
* Seating generally feels 'low'. I'm not sure if it's a high ceiling or if a lot of the chairs are actually low, but it has a weird atmosphere. (This might be subjective.)
* Little bit on the 'cramped' side: you need to navigate chairs and tables a little in some areas.
* I've found it's surprisingly well-patronaged by people with strollers and babies/small children. They're not super obnoxious, but can be loud and take up space.
* Food is bland. Rival cafes do way better.
Other notes:
Staff are efficient and nice enough, but the high and crowded till makes there a gulf between you and them, which makes them feel more like vending machines and less like people you could chat to.
Pro: professional, convenient.
Con: less 'fun' for people-persons, harder for regulars to build a friendly relationship.
For comparison: Caffè Nero has a close, open, well-lit till; Cafe Bonjour has a very attentive and friendly manager; and in Coco Noir they have very good and personalised customer service, putting thought into it as well as being friendly. read more