My candid review is based on multiple visits to this Starbucks location over the last 2 years.
This Starbucks is a stand alone location and does participate in Starbucks Rewards. It is located on 17th street and can be very dangerous to get to. It's parking lot design, entry and exit create difficulty when driving past on 17th or entering from 17th. Traffic will often cut across the double solid line into oncoming traffic to enter the packing lot, instead of using the green arrow, 50ft ahead to turn onto Jenny Lee and then into the parking lot. Likewise, those exiting onto 17th directly from the parking lot will make an illegal left crossing the double line and turning lane to make their left turn.
The facility is a newer location and tends to be clean, but the cleanliness is hit or miss. When visiting with a client on a recent Sunday, empty tables were dirty and the bar was filthy with spilt drinks and splashes from the Baristas. I cleaned a section of a family style table for my client and myself to sit at.
The Starbucks in this area, all of them, prove to be consistently, inconsistent, in their barista capabilities and the rudeness shines most bright. There are very few who are wonderfully nice and accommodating, even if their skills are subpar, but there a several who smile and carry out poor quality service, then get very defensive upon any sign of dissatisfaction by a patron and must be handled with "kitten mittens", or they become highly upset. For this review, because of the poor service the last 3 times in a row, I am leaving a more specific review. This incident is my most recent.
I placed a mobile order, in the evening of a slow weekday, and picked it up through the drive through. The greeting was friendly and I was told "See you at the window!" Upon arriving at the window, I watched the Barista make my order and repeatedly check the order and stumble around, perhaps new to the job, perhaps not. I felt she was missing custom items and then she proceeded to take the drink and dump off the whipped topping and other toppings along with about 2 inches of the beverage, dump the drink back into the blender, add other items and re-blend the drink (thus making it double blended). She completed the drink and gave it to me, with chocolate pouring down the side. I asked her to wipe the chocolate off and she did with a rag from the sink. While she was wiping the drink cup, I noticed it was much more liquidly than it typically is from other locations (it was a repeat order, lite ice Frappuccino with extra syrup, so it is not expected to be very thick). I told her it looks more liquid than usual and she proceeded with it is lite ice so it is going to be that way. I again made my statement and she offered to remake it. I just wanted to get home so I accepted it as is and said, "That's okay, Thank you!" in a nice tone, then repeated "Thank you" again as I was leaving, only to be told, "Yeah" and have the window shut.
I stopped, sat there for a few moments looking at her, to let her know I changed my mind and did want a remake, due to the attitude, but she just kept looking at me with a scowl, not asking if I needed anything else.
I drove around, parked and entered the building. There was an employee sitting at the bar, who looked at me with a look of "ughh really?" After waiting a few moments, the barista who made my drink and another employee who were standing right in-front of me and did not notice I was there, turned and saw me. The barista, who was not the original, asked if he could help me. I stated, "As discussed at the window, I would like my drink remade. And, when someone says, "Thank-You" the appropriate response is, "Your welcome, not "Yeah" and the window slammed in my face." The Barista who originally made my drink then turned around and said, "I offered to remake it and you said no." I then responded that I said, "No, Thank You and then Thanked you again and you said Yeah." She burst out loudly with, "I didn't hear you! I can't hear well! I just had ear surgery and I would appreciate if you respect that!" So, she used her supposed surgery as an escape goat, but her reply of "Yeah" to my "Thank You" clearly showed she heard me thank her, or she would have not replied at all or asked me to repeat myself. This barista who supposedly could not hear well, was working the drive thru with a headset on, so I can only determine that her hearing was working well enough. The barista who remade my drink did a better job, but he chose to not say anything to me and ignore anything said. In conclusion, I also said, "Thank You" to him and he said nothing; I repeated it, and he still had no reply, just went back to talking on his headset.
Given this last event, I can't give this location more than a one star rating. Because of this hit or miss service, I wish a patron could tip a specific barista, like the wonderful girl with very long hair at this location, who is always a great example of service! read more