Starbucks

Note: This review is for the Kiosk style Starbucks that is located in the center of Woodfield Mall. It seems a bit confusing looking at these reviews. Several reviews have mentioned a drive-​thru. Somehow Unilocal is confusing folks. This kiosk is usually swamped with customers. The line can be quite long. I’ve been underwhelmed in the past with the service given here. The baristas seem to be slower than at many other stores. They are also less accurate. Given the stress level of working here, I’m sure that the good employees leave soon for another location. The noise level is loud, the space is chaotic, and it would probably drive a lot of folks straight to the loony bin to have to care for the average customer here… jonesing for their Frappuccino fix. (There is ANOTHER Starbucks in this mall, down on the lower level and right around the corner. I always choose that one, now, for superior service and much shorter lines. The secret is now out!)

It’s a tiny place and when I visited on Saturday they only had one staff member on. But she was doing a super efficient job and very friendly too.

There were two employees hanging at the end of the bar. Cashier line was long, all I wanted was a cup of water. Looks me dead in the eye and asks me to line up. Then goes back to chatting…

Maybe it’s how busy they are, but it’s no excuse! Not once did the cashier look at me, much less smile. He said the routine stuff like, «Would you like a receipt?» and «Have a nice day.» I just don’t know who he was saying it to, because he kept looking elsewhere but in front.
One star for poor customer service!

A typical mall Starbucks location. It is actually inside Woodfield mall. The service isn’t fast or slow. The orders are normally correct. Last time I went their restroom was out of order and they didn’t have any shopping bags. Boo.

I don’t usually have awful experiences while ordering drinks/​food at Starbucks. At this location the drinks we ordered were fine, but the baristas were very rude to us while taking our order. They made us uncomfortable and I couldn’t help but feel that it had something to do with our race.

Never fear! Going into the drive through will always fail.
No cream.
Too much cream.
Way too f… uh… (you know) king much cream.
I have been going here for years and though management says they’re concerned, the fact remains that out of 30 visits to the drive through, 30 were wrong. Most of them so severe I’d have to go back in for a remake.
They say that the height of insanity is going to the same Starbucks over and over expecting them to get your order correct in the drive through each time.
Simple fix: worry less about your (the employees) personal shit and worry more about making the coffee they way it was ordered.
Been ordering the same quad espresso for twenty years. How hard is it to get right? Really. REALLY? REALLY!

I’ve been going here for over 5 years and I’m sad to leave this 2 star review.
The previous store manager, Briana, was personable and warm, and connected to the regular customers (comprised of mainly mall employees).
When she discontinued stocking my favorite scone, the cinnamon chip, she gave me a package of 5 as a parting gift!
The current leader is dry and focused on policy and procedure, which made me dread going in when she was there. She doesn’t know my name and doesn’t care to either.
The baristas are still the best in the mall, and they still remember my favorites when I stop by, but with Dunkin Donuts across the hall, I rarely stop in now.
If you want your Starbucks drink and you’re not a regular, this location will do just fine. If you’re looking to feel like your business is appreciated, and you want to be recognized, check out Dunkin instead! They already say my order before I can step up o the register!

Restaurant review
Wow how can this place be so dysfunctional. It was all great when they take your order quickly, but it quickly went downhill from there. I don’t understand why starbucks don’t all use the name idea to identify drinks. Instead we ending up standing there waiting for drinks. Somehow there was 7 drinks on the table that no one claimed. One smart girl actually took a few for herself as they had been sitting there for 5 minutes without anyone claiming them. I know starbucks drinkers have the money, but no one ever buys a drink and walks out. They proceeded to pour out the remaining left behind beverages. It took quite a while to get our order, but somehow my brother’s peppermint frape turned into a peppermint hot drink… Oh boy someone should be fired
Pros: It is a starbucks with the wonderful menu of fraps and hot coffee
Cons: Poorly coordinated baristas, likely the most dysfunctional I have seen based on my one visit
Hidden deals:
Use the starbucks card for your drinks to earn stars. After you reach gold status, 30 stars you can get a free drink after 12 stars.
Look for emails with special promos when you have a registered starbucks gift card
Free drink on your birthday, anyway you like it with all the add-​ons

Each time I have gone there the people were very friendly however the drinks were never done right.

Pumpkin lattes are the best

Very fast, friendly and thoughtful baristas. I bought 3 drinks and didn’t have to ask for a cup holder. This location is secret menu friendly. I asked for a cotton-​candy frap and there was no question or attitude for this drink order. Location is smaller compared to most, but other than that, overall pleasant experience!

In all the years that I’ve [not really] shopped at Woodfield, I never thought to get Starbucks. I come to the mall to find something, not sit and drink. Yet, I was here today and it actually wasn’t that bad.
Strangely, this Starbucks kiosk is a few steps away from a store location. I don’t understand the proximity to each other, but I’d rather order from the kiosk than the store. Sure, the lines are ridiculously long in an overwhelmingly crowded store, but it moves fast and the employees are pleasant. My drink was made quicker than expected with no complaints and I didn’t mind chatting with my friend and people-​watching from our seats in the middle of the mall. It is what it is.
I can see myself plopping down at a table here with a drink and notebook during the holiday season, watching everyone rush around the zoo that is Woodfield.

Well, it’s a kiosk. You can’t really expect the world of it. I’ve never had exceptionally good or bad service, just «A-​OK» average. The line can get long, but drinks get made reasonably quickly. The pastry case does look a little bare compared to most other locations, though.
What puzzles me most is that there is an actual Starbucks store a stone’s throw away. Literally.

Always busy!!!

What a godforsaken Starbucks this is. The location itself is not bad, but the disorganized employees really bring it down. Collectively, they seem to have a weird form of ADHD. You place your order at the register then have to repeat your order to the person making your drink… if you want to receive your drink, that is. I have never experienced this at any other Starbucks. The employees here seemed surprised that someone was standing there, waiting for their drink. I wasn’t too thrilled with the cheap rendition of the drink I ordered either. Maybe I was just in a bad mood. Or maybe the drink just wasn’t good at all.

Fast and never had any problems in this location.

This is by far my favorite starbucks… and how weird. it’s in the mall?! Well I am biased (i worked at the mall for good portion of my college years). I would get to starbucks early before I opened my store and they would know exactly what I want to order. I would get there on my lunch and my drink waited for me right as I was paying for it… sometimes I even got it for free. I love the people that work at this particular location. They are funny and quirky, very easy to talk to. The only thing I truly hate… the lines. God have mercy for all the coffee drinkers… there is a long wait during the weekend.

For this review, I am unsure which location I should write about. I’ve decided to break it down so you can see my two reviews for both locations.
Store/​Café:
Pros:
You’re away from the mall crowds of people
You won’t need to scream your order over the counter
You would not feel rushed
There are fewer chances that your order would be «wrong» in any fashion
Cons:
It’s a small café to begin with
There is usually one person ringing up orders, one person making drinks, and one person grabbing the edible products.
Kiosk/​Café:
Pros:
It’s close to the middle of the mall so you won’t miss it.
There is usually a couple people that takes orders and ring up drinks.
Service is usually fast yet quality could be lacking.
Cons:
The line is usually endless
You definitely are rushed through so they can recycle and try to reach the «end» of the line.
The food assortment is usually limited.=
Their seating isn’t private, it’s share with the rest of the mall crowd.
Overall, both places seem to be «ok» for being mall joints. You can’t or shouldn’t complain too much since you’re at the mall looking for coffee. It’s not a designated place for coffee period. YOu’re there to walk around and shop, coffee is just a convenience for you.
I’m not a big fan of Starbucks only because I don’t think it tastes «premium» but more-​so tastes like «hyped up coffee».