Starbucks — Restaurant in Tampa

First let me say I find it ironic that this location is rated just under 3/5 stars at the time of writing this. Meanwhile, every time I go there (even on what should be off hours 2-4pm) the place is absolutely packed full of people. It's very rare to find less than 2/3 of the parking spaces unused and the drive-thru almost always has a line, during the times I've been, out to the order area (6 or so car lengths back from the drive-thru window).

I've been to this particular location countless times over the past 2 or more years so this review is long overdue.

This location is packed into the corner of what is a larger Publix parking lot making the access to and from less than ideal but still not as bad as I've experienced at other locations where you end up with your back bumper in the main thoroughfare waiting to turn because there's no other way in.

Pros: Coffee; I've never been disappointed here. Usually I'll get one of their hot latte's and go light on the syrup flavor.

Hot breakfast items like the Spinach & Feta wrap and Bacon Gouda sandwich have always been pretty good. Also, they're some of the best hot breakfast items on the menu in terms of health/nutrition. The worst part being the salt content. The diet I'm on limits me to about 1,500mgs (instead of FDA max 2,300mgs) salt a day. Also these items are under 500 cals. Considering a latte can easily hit 200 cal mark, that could put you at 700 cals just for breakfast alone and that's conservative. And people wonder...

Aesthetics: The location looks nice on both the outside and inside. Don't expect anything over the top but it's modern and clean looking.

Cons: PARKING: Be careful parking here. In many cases it will require a nice person to let you out of your space who's waiting at the drive-thru line. Otherwise you could wait 5 or more minutes to leave your parking space.

Wait Times: It is a valid argument that wait times here tend to be long. However, that also doesn't seem to stop the dozens of people lined up at their drive-thru I see every time I'm there, nor those parked in the lot. Sometimes with an above average experience comes an above average wait. As is obvious each time I'm there, plenty of people are willing to endure the wait because no one else does coffee around here (on the fly) like Starbucks does. No, not even Dunkin Donuts. There's a reason all their stuff is cheaper. Before Starbucks I went to Dunkin Donuts exclusively for a long time, mainly due to convenience (location) and also value (cheap). One day I decided to try Starbucks instead because I was getting fed up with Dunkin Donuts (Gandy Blvd.) and it's no exaggeration to say I completely ditched Dunkin Donuts for Starbucks.

Interior: This location has a small interior but also has sufficient exterior seating available on those nice FL days.

Dunkin Donuts (Gandy Blvd.) vs. Starbucks (Gandy Blvd.)

I went to Dunkin Donuts for a few years almost exclusively due to the convenience (location) and value (cheap everything). I got tired of the terrible audio communication at the order box, constantly. Either they couldn't understand you or you couldn't understand them, sometimes both. FIX YOUR ELECTRONICS! Often times this would also lead to misconceptions and miscommunications resulting in an improper order. Too many times I received something I didn't want or something I wanted wasn't altered to my requested specifications (coffee). Further the employees who work at this location always seemed angry and frustrated with their lives and their work. I can't blame them! I simply need to ask myself, would I mind working there? Umm, I'd never want to work there. They treat their employees piss poor compared to Starbucks and you can see it every time you visit either location. There's a visible difference in attitude and mental health that is obvious if you pay attention. It got to the point where I felt guilty spending money at Dunkin Donuts.

Wow I'm out of characters for this review... Point is, Starbucks is superior! Wait times are almost...

I've been to this location on numerous Vuitton I am permanent disabled and it is very inconvenient for me to get out my car to Park using a disabled parking space the customers do not let you in with the disabled parking spaces are there at the block it so you can't come in I have one inside and talk to the manager last week and this week about this ongoing situation where I can't get in to use the disabled parking space now you're not I am permanent disabled I have a disabled parking space on my tag I also have Grandma seizures at any given moment and I have reached out to the manager at Starbucks she told me that was nothing she can really do about it I also called the district manager and left him a message and I have yet to hear no response back from them like I said it is very inconvenient for me to have to park far distance and walk up to Starbucks all because I can't use a disabled parking space something really needs to be done about this because the parking spaces are there for disabled people and you can't use it I'm very displeased with this and I don't know if anybody else has disabled going through the same thing but how can you have disabled parking space and your disabled and you can't even use it the customer rather block the space and not let you when or if you do get in they were the block it so you can't get out all because they're trying to use the drive-thru at this point I'm very fed up with this situation I look forward to right into the news and letting him know my concerns and my actions being that no one has took any actions towards this about a disabled parking space I'm sick and fed...

Honestly, I wasn’t going to say anything because I’m not the type to complain, but I am just so bothered by my experience at the gandy location this morning. I placed my order before leaving my house (about 13 min away) knowing this location gets busy and wait times can be long so when I pulled up to the drive-through after waiting in a long line, I was surprised to be told by the girl at the window that “I need to start placing my order earlier rather than when I’m in the parking lot”. Both of the girls were rather rude about it stating that they recognize me and they are having an issue with everyone placing their orders when they pull in. I was so shocked I couldn’t really even respond with anything but “oh ok”. They also forgot to put the cold foam on both drinks (which I paid extra for) and seemed to be very annoyed that I politely asked for it to be added on top. What confused me is that I always place it 10-15 min before I get there and I’ve never been treated that way over a coffee order before and told they forgot my cold foam because my order was placed last minute. They proceeded to dump coffee out of my cups and then dump cold foam on top which made it just so frustrating for me. Just a super bad vibe and start to my morning for someone that supports that location almost on a daily basis. Customer service is so important even when you’re frustrated and busy - I get it because I also work in that field. Please do better, girls! I won’t...