Starbucks - Charlottesville

This Starbucks is a standard location that is easy to access. The staff were friendly and accommodating. There's a nice parking lot and a pleasant outdoor seating area, though I couldn't take advantage of it due to the weather during my visit. One downside is that leaving the parking lot can be a bit tricky, as you can only turn right, while the interstate is to the left.

The line was pretty long due to it being red cup day, but the staff managed it like professionals. I was in and out in about 10 minutes, leaving with my two drinks and red cup! I was really impressed by how efficiently they handled the lines, both inside and outside, while also staying on top of mobile orders. The place was clean, and they did an excellent job of keeping all the orders organized.

I had the worst experience at Starbucks, particularly at the 5th Street location. The drive-thru attendant, who had purple hair, made us wait while he finished texting, even though there was a line of cars behind us. He claimed he was messaging his manager as we watched our drinks get watered down and our hot food go cold. The proper way to handle that situation would have been to hand us our food, which we had already paid for, and then send the message to his boss afterward. His lack of attentiveness was really frustrating. I’d rather drive to the 29 location than spend any more money at this Starbucks. It’s disappointing to see how little effort some people are willing to put into their work these days.

The cold brew here is watered down. I just spent $12 on what tasted like coffee-flavored water. It's outrageous! I don't recommend this Starbucks. You might find a decent drink once in a while, but that's more of an exception than the norm.

I recommend arriving early in the day, as you might end up waiting over 20 minutes for your order. When I politely inquired about my simple meal, the staff member's response was short and clearly annoyed: "Yeah. What's up??" A senior staff member walked by without providing any information, simply saying, "The food will be out down there..." It was frustrating to see how the rush affected the level of courtesy, especially during my visit at 9 AM. The drive-thru had a long line of cars, and there were many orders to handle in the lobby as well. I believe that better customer service training would be very beneficial in these situations. Being busy doesn’t justify rudeness; there should always be a standard of courtesy. After a 25-minute wait, my order was finally ready, though it seemed to be completed in a hurry, accompanied by an apology from another staff member.