Starbucks

I only drink Starbucks coffee I give the highest rating to the coffee but to this Starbucks store they are the worst I have ever been

This Starbucks consistently has about 4 – 5 employees supposedly working, but there is always only one person doing everything. It is the worst! The line is always horrendously long as a result, the service is just so slow!!!

The staff is lacking manners and friendliness. There Rude and seems like they’re over their jobs!

I should be clear in saying that I am not a Starbucks fan, and think that the brand is completely over hyped. I dislike it so much that when this location opened in Riverdale years ago I would even turn down getting free drinks from people I was having meetings with who chose this place since there were no other coffee places around in the immediate area open so late, let alone decent ones. I have had a few coffee drinks here reluctantly just to confirm my dislike of their coffee, and found them poorly made. The baristas didn’t seem to know what they were doing, took forever to serve me, and had an attitude to boot. The coffee is bad and over roasted and smells bad too, so I’ve avoided this place for at least two years since I had no need to go there, but this location is an anchor here in Riverdale, so it’s always relatively busy.
To my surprise, I recently received a Starbucks gift card from a person who swears by them, and I know that they’ve supposedly been making some changes, so I’ve decided (albeit reluctantly) to use the gift card around at a few Starbucks to see if anything has changed. This location was my first pit stop last night. It took quite a while before I was acknowledged by anyone, even though there were two people working. One barista was making a drink, and the other one was chit chatting with someone else. Nevertheless, I waited patiently, and the person that was making a drink finally acknowledged me once they finished. I’m not really sure what the other worker was doing, but she seemed rather useless and just chatted the entire time. I almost thought that they were closing even though it was barely after 8pm at night given how laid back both workers were.
Anywho, I got a sandwich, a pastry and a bottle of water, and made my way out. The sandwich was almost $ 6.00, and there is barely anything in it. I’m never one to complain about prices because I eat at high-​end places, but this sandwich was more like a snack, and a very light one at that. The pastry I got (a blueberry muffin) was actually decent, but aside from that the experience was just blah. I also don’t like how secretive they are about what’s in their products. They try to use these «clever» marketing schemes about how they use «real ingredients» in their products (whatever that means), and my sandwich noted that there were no preservatives, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup, but I’m sure that they are using GMOs in their food, as some of the other ingredients seem fairly questionable. If I knew of someone else who would use this gift card, I would give it to them because so far I have not been impressed with any of the Starbucks that I’ve visited (two as I write this review), especially the food. I actually tried a few other things at another Starbucks this morning in Midtown that has me feeling under the weather, likely because of the crap that they put in the products, as I try eat organic and GMO free food as much as possible.

Line going out the door during rush hour on Saturday morning and after a 20 minute wait they don’t have any cold brew iced coffee. One star for you.

Understand that the occasional jaunt to Starbucks is a great way to escape from the house. This one on the corner of Johnson is not the most comfortable area given its size. There are no couch areas or massive tables to plug your laptop into, but it does okay for the size.
Besides I have the Keurig at home with a comfy couch that looks out into a sleepy deadend street. That’s not again the point, Starbucks isn’t even your local funky coffee artisan shop that might sell books and locally made pastries from the woman who never outgrew artificial wildflowers in her hair. And you know, good for her. Let the freak flag fly babe!
Starbucks is a constant in our universe now, like gravity or taxes. You can count on it being there when you want something tasty, or honestly when you need a bathroom quickly.

Standard starbucks material. Hardworking, lively staff.

Well decorated, calming, friendly Starbucks with a host of baby carriages, chess players and locals. The food consistently good and located on a busy corner, great for people watching

This is a VERY clean, perfectly functional Starbucks. Everything is normal. So here’s my one negative: I wish the employees here knew how to make a proper latte/​cappuccino. A lot of times it’s just sort of «muddy.» They need to be willing (able able) to properly steam the milk. Most don’t focus at it. It needs to be thick and creamy. It’s a simple but fine art. Whoever runs this place, please review the exact technique with EVERY employee here. It would make a huge difference.
One other suggestion: This place should consider staying open until 10:30pm or 11pm during the week. Or at least Thursday and Sundays (Fri and Sat it’s open until 11pm).
Anyway, I wish South Riverdale/​Johnson Ave had an actual «coffeehouse.» With serious coffee. The real stuff. But we don’t, and therefore I’m glad this Starbucks is there.

I love the Starbucks and the sitting situation is getting better. People are becoming more aware of sharing. So when I visit here it is a pleasure to sit down and relax.

Who doesn’t wish Starbucks were a little cheaper? However, you get what you pay for.
This location has the nicest staff I’ve encountered at a Starbucks, they work quickly, and they make great PSL and SCM. It’s worth the price.

Staff is friendly and always pleasant. The seating arraignment is rooming and there is always someplace to sit, relax and chill. My fraps are always on point.

Staff is great… so friendly & fast. Seating can be trying, but depends on time of day. I choose to sit outside in the summer anyway at this location.

I spend most of my time here studying… Love this Starbucks. The staff is so friendly and they make great drinks. My lattes are always on point! Baristas, Amanda and Jeremiah are awesome.

Honestly the worst Starbucks I have ever been to, the staff is just not managed we’ll or beyond repair I’m not sure! Very disappointing because I was super happy when I heard they were opening on Johnson ave.

During the day, this Starbucks is great. Most of the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The drinks vary from good to bad depending on who makes them, so I always watch out for who’s working.
I do have an issue with how things are run in the evenings. Half of the chairs are always turned up around 7 pm as if the place is closing (it doesn’t close until 10), there is no music, the lights are turned down, the bathrooms are sometimes even locked, and they are BLASTING the cold air. It almost feels like they are trying to make everyone leave so that they can close early. When I asked them to turn down the cold air (everyone in the Starbucks is wearing a coat bc of it), the employees tell me that it’s impossible. I had to actually ask for a manager, who was actually very nice. She finally turned down the air and turned on some heat (it’s a very cold Fall day already!).

The worst incompetent service ever, 15 minutes to get coffee are you kidding? Stop flirting with the customers and stop texting and you might get it straight, or better yet go back to school and get educated if you can’t do a minimum wage job correctly

Such a slow Starbucks but a welcome to this ‘hood. A decent amount of seating — which will be mostly occupied on a weekend. Lots of families, older people, yuppies… some decent people watching, actually!
No outdoor seating, which is a shame. I think it would do them some good and obviously also offer more seating options.

Drinks at Starbucks are drinks at Starbucks. Any review of a Starbucks should likely be within the context of compromising of coffee personality for coffee consistency. It is with that disclaimer that I offer this review.
The staff is beyond the normal qualities of a friendly Starbucks staff. There persists in their jokes and drink advice a register of humanity that would in a lesser staff be erased by a morning rush of demanding Riverdalers. When I first moved to Riverdale (about 6 months ago) the staff was a mixed bag, but the people working there now bring energy, honesty, and playfulness to their work.

As I sit in this Starbucks right now, I find myself SHOCKED by some of the other reviews. I live in the neighborhood and have to disagree with most of the bad reviews. I come here consistently and have never experienced some of these problems.
Sure, it can be busy, but guys! It’s a Starbucks! I have found every barista to be exceptionally friendly and helpful (with the exception of one, but she usually just mops the floor, I hardly ever see her behind the counter). Many of them know my order. They recognize me and go out of their way to say hi in the mornings.
The manager can be a little pushy, but I think she has to be. I’ve seen her go and make room for people who are waiting for tables. If you’re one person sitting at the large square table, you don’t need to take up the whole thing! She’s asked me to share a small circular table before and I didn’t mind in the least! The person she sat with me and I wound up having an excellent conversation in fact!
They have never messed up my order, not once. Please don’t let some of these other reviews prevent you from trying out this location. And if you see me when you visit (I’m the one writing Unilocal reviews or absorbed in a book), come say hi!