Starbucks — Restaurant in Barrie

It's Starbucks, and ticks all the boxes you'd expect. This store is good, with the main negatives being out of staff's control. Friendly staff and good products can't make me ignore the geographical reality that it'll take 20-25 minutes of my lunch hour to get in the parking lot, get my order, and leave the parking lot. If you're patient and not on limited time, by all means add a star.

My only real knock on the service is that they're usually quick to open the second register to try to get the line down, but there are still only 1 or 2 people making drinks. It's not uncommon for paying to be fairly quick, while actually waiting for your drink takes 5-10 minutes. The staff are great, but the store process there is killing service. If more than 1 person is waiting to receive their drink, you need baristas not cashiers.

There's no drive-through, which feeds the "long lines" issue. The plaza is also difficult to get in and out of. You have to go through the narrow, winding, busy parking lot to enter/exit via Essa. From Veterans you're either (southbound) turning left across three lanes of oncoming traffic, or (northbound) waiting behind a huge line of people waiting to turn right onto Essa, praying that more than 2 of them get through the light so you can get into the shopping centre and wait in line for coffee.

If you're exiting onto Veterans you can only turn right, and the traffic is often bad enough that you can work on composing your memoirs while hoping that those same 2 people might get through the light so you can take their spot at Kafka's Intersection and help block the next customer trying to turn in from Veterans.

Not...

🌟 Five Stars Isn’t Enough! 🌟

I’ve been coming to this Starbucks location for over 7 years, and honestly, the only reason this review is so delayed is because I truly thought I had already written one!

The entire team here is fantastic, but I absolutely have to shout out Maggie and Trevor — they are the heart and soul of this store. Every time I visit, they go above and beyond, making each customer feel valued and welcome. Not once have they ever made me feel like an inconvenience, no matter how busy it gets.

A perfect example: there's a newer barista (likely still in training), and a few of the drinks haven’t been quite right. For the first time ever, I’ve had to bring a drink back — and every single time, Maggie or Trevor has remade it quickly, kindly, and with no fuss, making sure I get the drink I know and love.

Trevor, in particular, has incredible people-reading skills. He somehow knows exactly when to chat and brighten your day — even while multitasking — and when to give you space until you’ve had that first sip of caffeine (which, let’s be honest, is a superpower).

And Maggie... there aren’t enough words for how genuinely sweet and kind she is. She has such a warm, calming presence and truly makes your day better just by being herself. Starbucks is lucky to have someone like her lighting up the store.

If you’re in the area — this is the...

Starbucks has always been my go-to for quality coffee and a cozy atmosphere, but their latest Mocha Frappe takes the experience to a whole new level. This isn’t just your average Frappuccino; it’s a well-crafted blend of rich chocolate and robust coffee that perfectly balances flavor and texture.

The first sip immediately hits you with the rich, velvety mocha flavor, followed by a satisfying coffee kick that’s not too overwhelming. It’s like they’ve found the golden ratio of chocolate to coffee, and let’s not forget the whipped cream on top that adds a delightful, creamy finish.

Beyond the drink, the customer service is consistently top-notch. The overall ambiance of the café, with its comfortable seating and relaxing playlist, only enhances the experience.

However, as with most specialty drinks at Starbucks, the Mocha Frappe does come with a slightly premium price tag. But for the taste and the overall experience, I find it to be well worth it.

If you’re a fan of mocha or Frappuccinos, do yourself a favor and try Starbucks’ latest Mocha Frappe. It’s a luxurious treat that feels like an indulgence, but is oh...