Starbucks — Restaurant in Virginia

Go to any other starbucks on your route. Long wait when empty, ineffective staff, abhorrent food handling practices, and incorrect drink ratios/preparation.

Ordered for pickup consisting of two iced coffee drinks. They both had cold foam, so I didn't mind waiting a few extra minutes. There was no one in line, nearly empty cafe, and only a couple cars in the drive-through with three batistas plying their trade. On my way in, I see a mom and daughter leaving with their drinks. I stand and wait until 10 mins past the time the order was anticipated to be ready. I'm not in a rush, so it's whatever. The girl from earlier comes back in, gets (guessing?) the manager's attention, and hands the drink she was carrying back. The manager sets it to the side near the pickup drinks. She starts chatting with a different customer, takes her drip coffee order, hands it to her, chats more, and 10 more minutes later acknowledges me and asks if I need anything. I said I was waiting for the other half of my order. At this point, one drink has been sitting there for over 20 mins, ice nearly melted, cold foam separating and mixing. I tell her my name, she reads that label, looks at the drink the girl had brought back in (which looked like it had been at least tasted), and then said here it is. She actually gave me the drink someone walked out with, had for at least 10 mins, and brought back in. Now I don't think the girl did anything nefarious to it and mistakes happen. But in food service you NEVER give someone an open item that's already left the store with someone else! I told her that I was pretty sure that was the drink that had been brought back in, she looked at me, sighed, and then asked if I'd like her to remake it. You betcha I do! I should have asked for the other to be remade too, but I don't like to be a bother and just wanted to leave. I was planning to buy a cute tumbler, but with the nearly 30 total minute wait as other drinks were being made and folks chatted, didn't want to patron the place any more than I already had. Rescinded the $5 tip too. On top of all that, the drink that had been sitting for near 30 mins was also made incorrectly. There was classic/sweetener clearly added when it was ordered (and printed on the sticker) to have...

I don't usually review things if they are bad, and I'm honestly not trying to be nasty but this Starbucks is so disappointing. I only stop because it is so convenient, but they can't get my order right. Most of the 5 stars are for the inside, which is great! But the drive thru is just not good. I can only order a refresher to ensure my order is correct. I have had numerous issues with this location, and in the morning rush or pouring rain I don't have time to sit and correct it or park and go in and ask for them to fix it. I get they are training new staff but during BoGo when I'm charged for two and told "it'll just pop up on your card" and I have to stop, go in, ask for a refund, it makes the drive thru pointless. Another issue is normally when I get to my office I open the lid and let it cool off, but when I do so it's not even a full cup (when it's a specialty beverage with no whip not a plain coffee with room that would warrant this). I have gotten to work, not drinking it before-hand and been able to pour it in my reusable grande cup when it's supposedly a venti. I've visited both in the mornings around 7, and in the afternoon around 3 or 4 and it's worse in the morning; maybe because in the afternoon I have enough time to park and take it back. The morning staff used to be my favorite, I would order a citrus defense almost every day and they got it correct (they made the yummiest citrus defense) and remembered me, but lately whoever is working morning has just consistently sold me short or made the wrong tea/a different thing altogether and it's beyond frustrating. Same with the afternoon, when you ask for a frapp with no whip and you get an iced with whip...it's time to fix something. I wish they would pay more attention, and I have story upon story of all the times they just haven't made the correct order. I've given this place many, many chances but I will not be returning, and I sincerely hope no one else has such a negative experience here because it has such potential. Something...

I typically don't go to Starbucks since I roast my own coffee beans and make my own lattes and espressos at home. But since I was traveling I had to have some type of coffee source. Starbucks was the closest to my hotel so I gave them a shot knowing that previous experiences have often been less than desirable. So long story short I ordered the typical venti cafe latte hot quad. For those of you who don't know a quad means four shots of espresso and venti is their extra large size.

Some of you are probably wondering why the heck do I need four shots of espresso. Quite frankly I'm wondering the same thing. When I'm at home I make a hot latte with two shots of espresso and it's strong.

Starbucks uses one shot of espresso for their small size and two shots of espresso for the grande or large size, and they also use two shots of espresso for the venti or extra large size. Isn't that weird you pay more for a venti and you get more milk but you get the same amount of espresso as you would in a large, meaning the flavor would be watered down or less.

Anyway I ordered my venti Cafe latte got it back to my room and lo and behold it literally tastes like milk with a little coffee flavor. A venti should be shockingly strong not weak like milk with coffee flavor. Especially since you are paying much more for it, over $8.

I tried it at a different Starbucks location and it was basically the same result. I literally give up on Starbucks and will avoid them at all costs. Maybe I'll simply order expresso's next time if they are my...