Starbucks — Restaurant in Alexandria

I've had my fair share of understandable issues at this location, but one that really can't go unmentioned is that NO ONE here knows anything about coffee/tea/food. I'm not talking about snobby coffee facts or tea growing season, I'm talking basic health/safety concerns. No one at the counter can tell you what is/is not gluten free and no one can reliably tell you what does/does not have caffeine in it. Some people need to avoid these things for their health and not being able to articulate the menu to help someone out when you're out of an item they ordered is just not okay. I was told a bunch of things that are full of caffeine were caffeine free today and given an attitude for being unable to eat gluten/caffeine, like it was my choice to have dietary restrictions or something. It may not seem like a big deal to most people but genuinely, if you can't learn common allergens in the menu where you work, Do Not Work There.

Update: They also routinely do not put in the add-ins, even on basic menu items. My roommate got a peppermint mocha with no peppermint. Sometimes they also add the wrong flavor? Like a peppermint mocha, but they made it with...

I just moved to the area but back home I am an avid Starbucks goer. I like a dirty chai with vanilla. I always order an iced blonde vanilla latte add chai. The first time I ordered it, the color looked wrong so I asked does this have espresso in it and I was assured that it did. He asked why, is it too sweet for you? I said it’s not that but the color is much lighter than it usually is. So you’re sure that there is espresso in the drink? He assures me so I left then it ended up just being milk with syrup, no chai. You think I wouldn’t go back after being gaslit but I figured I’ll just go back when someone else is working. I order the same thing I usually do once again a week later. Everyone was really nice. I got my drink. It looked darker than the first one so I left before taking a sip. I did not feel confident, but I was too embarrassed to go back with my tail between my legs. This time they did put the chai in it, which I think is why it was darker but again there was no espresso. I was very disappointed. I can’t say I will be returning...

This is by far the worst, and slowest Starbucks in the area. I live a block away and it is often faster to walk a mile away to another coffee shop than wait on the staff here to sloowwwllly make your drink. They will have a line out the door, huge groups of people waiting for mobile orders, and you'll see staff move as slow as molasses and gossiping with one another instead of working. If they say 10 min for your drink on the app, expect 20-25 min at the least. I've cancelled orders before after waiting over 30 minutes and staff constantly blame it on staffing issues, or who knows what. I'll see staff standing around, while drinks pile up by the bar, and no one brings them to the pickup spot. It's just horrible. Last Sunday I walked out after waiting 30 minutes for an iced coffee. If they can't keep up with orders, corporate needs to extend the wait time on the app, pause mobile orders until they can keep up, pay more so they can get better, more qualified staff, or SOMETHING. Because right now, this coffee...