Starbucks — Restaurant in Poway

This Starbucks has amazing partners. Sophia is a wonderfully smart girl with a great attitude. Mateen is cute. Devin has swag. Garrett opened the door for me when I didn't have hands. China might be the best barista to ever exist. Jess runs a store like Nick Saban runs a winning college football team. Jax is a shining light in the store. Chelsea's management skills could be compared to that of Pep Guardiola. All the partners are great honestly and make this store my favorite. But there is one barista who I adore the most. His name is Marcel & I would let him marry my daughter. I refuse to let my wife order coffee when he is at the register in fear of losing her to such a handsome young African man. Despite being abnormally beautiful, Marcel seems to treat every customers as if they are his family and friends telling jokes with them and creating a great experience for me and my family. One day I will tell my grandchildren of the legendary encounters at had with such a person. Starbucks did a great job hiring a team like the one they have at 12245...

Update: The friend who got the gift card called back to the store and spoke with a manager after an unproductive/frustrating call to corporate. The manager has made it right. But caution still applies.....there is card skimming going on. Upping my review from 1* to 3* for making it right. But the whole situation should not have happened. We don't buy gift cards at grocery stores due to the skimming happening there. Never thought it would happen at a Starbucks store.

A cautionary warning - if you buy a Starbucks gift card from this store, keep your receipt. Our elderly mother bought a gift card for a friend paying cash. Sadly, she didn't keep the receipt. Friend went to use the card and was told it had no value citing a purchase date earlier than we purchased it along with usage prior to giving it to our friend. The store was no help. Starbucks Corporate refuses to assist with being sold a skimmed card. Very sad. Lessoned learned. Not returning to Starbucks...

I like the environment and setup... but that's pretty much it.

The service my first time coming here was just god awful. I arrive around 7:30 AM for a grande caramel brule latte, and it takes 45 minutes just to wait for a simple order. Apparently my purchase UPFRONT at the cash register didn't even register to the employees cause as I was waiting, everyone else's orders were coming through. I even had to show my digital receipt that I PAID for my drink.

Like... what?? I was here earlier than a lotta other guests! Not to mention the employees were asking if my order was mobile.

...it wasn't. It's almost like mobile orders get priority and the upfront orders are second-rate citizens or ignored...

Next time I come here I'm just not gonna tip until the employees get their...