Starbucks — Restaurant in Barstow

I went into this Starbucks in Barstow, California at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 1st, 2024. I was concerned about the negative reviews about the restroom, so I went to the restroom first and it did not have combination locks, so it was unlocked and I did not have to ask for a combination, which by the way irks when I have to ask for the combination, but I understand that some establishments have problems with non-customers coming in trashing their restrooms. The men's restroom this morning was clean and amply stocked with one partial roll of toilet paper being the only thing that I saw that may need attention after probably 5 or so more uses. There was nothing that I saw that was disgusting or would turn my stomach as the negative reviews suggested. I am a stickler for clean restrooms and refuse to spend my money where the restrooms are not kept clean. That rule applies across the board, especially at gas stations and eating and drinking establishments. So I decided to order a grande pumpkin spice latte and a doppio. My order came out very fast within 2 to 3 minutes of ordering it. So I was in and out of the store in about 5 minutes. The store was clean. There were two Highway Patrol officers sitting having coffee and about three other customers sitting at separate tables who appeared to be of Asian and Caucasian descent. I am a black man, and I found nothing to complain about. There was even a young black female barista behind the bar making coffee, which is always nice to see a black person working in an establishment. I would recommend this place based on my experience. And I hope others have the same positive experience that I had. It would appear to be a nice rest stop as it is strategically located within one or two blocks of Interstate I-15 and Interstate I-40, respectively. Thank you for a nice Sunday morning experience, and I enjoyed my drink. — [UPDATE] WEDNESDAY 12/11/2024 – I STOPPED INTO THIS STARBUCKS AGAIN THIS MORNING. MY RECEIPT NOTED IT WAS 8:13 a.m. AND AGAIN I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE RESTROOM. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND THE RESTROOM ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS AS IF SOMEONE HAD JUST SERVICED IT. I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF THAT I WISH I HAD BROUGHT MY PHONE WITH ME SO I COULD TAKE PHOTOS BECAUSE I WAS ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY. I'M SORRY, BUT CLEAN OR AT LEAST PRESENTABLE RESTROOMS IS ONE OF MY STICKLERS, AN ABSOLUTE DEAL BREAKER — "NO CLEAN RESTROOM, NO SPEND MY MONEY" — WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE RESTROOM AND WAS WAITING IN LINE, I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT HEAR ANY MUSIC PLAYING, SO I LISTENED MORE CLOSELY AND PURPOSELY AND REALIZED IT MUST BE THE FIRST TIME EVER GOING INTO A STARBUCKS WHERE THE MUSIC WASN'T _WAY TOO LOUD. I COULDN'T EVEN HEAR IT THIS MORNING. I REMEMBER WALKING PAST THIS STARBUCKS APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO AND I COULD HEAR THE MUSIC PLAYING FROM THE SIDEWALK AND DECIDED NOT TO GO IN. I QUIT GOING TO STARBUCKS MANY YEARS AGO, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE MUSIC WAS ALWAYS _WAY TOO LOUD AND MANAGEMENT WOULD NEVER HONOR A REQUEST TO LOWER THE VOLUME. I GO INTO A COFFEE SHOP FOR THE OTHER "C" WORD AND IT'S NOT "CONCERT", IT'S CALLED "COFFEE". SO THANK YOU STARBUCKS FOR TWO PLEASANT SURPRISES IN ONE VISIT — RESTROOMS AND MUSIC — THE YOUNG MAN WHO TOOK MY ORDER WAS NOTICEABLY VERY PLEASANT AND COURTEOUS, AND HE EVEN BROUGHT MY COFFEE OUT TO MY TABLE AND SMILED AS HE SET IT DOWN AND SAID ENJOY. HE SEEMED TO BE RATHER NEW ON THE JOB, AS ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WENT OVER TO HIS REGISTER TO ASSIST HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES. HE SEEMS LIKE A GREAT HIRE AND I HOPE STARBUCKS CAN KEEP IT UP. THEY MIGHT WIN ME BACK, ALTHOUGH I DOUBT IT, AS THIS WAS PROBABLY JUST...

I have been to this location in Barstow before. It's close to the off ramp and on ramp to Interstate 15 that connects Las Vegas to Los Angeles.it's a typical Starbucks location but it can be very busy or very quiet in a matter of a few minutes.the staff doesn't always connect with each other very well and so some of the service can be delayed. Cleanliness is a bit below par. I should mention a consistent sore point of mine. When ordering a breakfast sandwich I typically receive a disheveled mess when taking it out of the bag they serve it in. For example the "sausage egg and cheddar" and the "double smoked bacon" both invariably arrive with the cheese way off and partly stuck to the inside of the bag, and the whole sandwich so blazing hot you need tongs to pick it up. I have asked them not to make it so hot I can't even hold it but it's always the same when I get it. This was as true at the Barstow California location as it was true at locations in Las Vegas Nevada where I live.

However at the location on Ventura Blvd. at Vantage Avenue. in Studio City California it's a different story. I didn't bother trying to instruct them on these issues and was pleasantly surprised with a sausage egg and cheddar sandwich that was neatly placed with components all properly stacked and no loss of cheese as a result and warm enough to eat but cool enough to do so. It just goes to show....

I know this is a long-winded review but I can't be the only one who looses half the sandwich to the inside of the bag. And just so you know this has nothing to do with how busy they are. This location in Studio City is one of the busiest I've ever been in and one I have frequented many times. I think the others...

Very disappointed and really surprised that they let a person work there that was clearly under the influence of something. My wife ordered a drink in the store and when she got in the car I decided I wanted one too so we just pulled into the drive thru. Repeating myself several times at the speaker because the employee was acting weird, I tried to order a drink that my wife had just walked out of the store with 5 minutes before and was told that they were out of the ingredients and had been out for a long time, my wife had just got the same drink with all the ingredients 5 minutes earlier! I decided on a different drink and drove up to the window. I asked the girl if she could double check if the ingredients were available, she asked what I ordered because she didn’t take my order and I was the first customer she was dealing with because she just got to work. I literally was watching her serve the 3 cars in front of me before I pulled up! When I asked her to double check, she just turned around and said “No, we’re out and probably won’t have them for years.” I thought she was joking but the look in her eyes told me a different story. She was under the influence! I tried to see her name tag but I didn’t see one. She almost dropped my drink into my car and just laughed. I drove off not upset but just amazed that someone who was clearly intoxicated in some way would be working...