worst starbucks in the vast starbucks empire. on two recent visits they were out of the item i wanted. i offered to purchase the one i was looking at and they said it was for display only. so i bought a donut instead. it came out of a plastic wrapper and was sub-entenman’s quality. what’s happened to their commitment to quality? service is surly and slow at best.
Maria G.
Place rating: 5 Arlington, VA
Amazing team! This store has really become my favorite Starbucks. They now have really friendly staff and though it always seems busy, they get you in and out quick. Impressive!
Zach L.
Place rating: 2 Washington, DC
Had to wait for several minutes for them to start making drink as baristas were nowhere to be found — apparently socializing in the back of the store
Daniel S.
Place rating: 3 Henderson, NV
Sometimes it’s the little things that are big. A little thing that is big with me is taking time out to enjoy a good cup of coffee — Starbuck’s coffee. Whether it is a busy day working, a long day of hiking, or exploring the Georgetown Waterfront for that matter, a time out at Starbuck’s hits the spot. My family and I(dad and brother) had just walked from Thomas Circle to the Georgetown Waterfront and stopped at this very Starbuck’s for some time off our feet. This is the Starbuck’s we walked into. It is a stone throw from the Potomac River on the upper level of the Washington Harbor. The views from the chairs outside overlook the Potomac River south toward the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge. This upper level vista also overlooks the fountains that change to the largest ice skating rink in Washington DC from November to March. I can imagine all the egg nog lattes that the ice skaters purchase during December. However, we didn’t get to enjoy our Starbuck’s beverages overlooking the Potomac River. As soon as we reached the stairs of the Washington Harbor it turned into a downpour. Forget about spending time in the fresh air enjoying the scenery of the Potomac River; the downpour brought a river into Starbuck’s. It rained so ferocious that it flooded part of the lobby where we were sitting. It was entertaining watching the Starbuck’s batistas and a security guard with Washington Harbor sweep the water out of the coffee shop. It was more entertaining enjoying the Starbuck’s coffee with my family in a coffee shop that looks similar to locations that I have patronized in Las Vegas and throughout the country. The thing about Starbuck’s is that the place itself is as good as the coffee. It is an environment where we got to sit on comfortable seats and engage in conversation. If it wasn’t conversation, it is a relaxing environment to engage in reading and other relaxing activities. I enjoyed my low calorie Starbuck’s beverage of choice: a Café Americana. It also gave me the fuel to stay wide awake and continue exploring Georgetown. The time out concluded at the exact time time that the storm gave out. After leaving this Starbuck’s for the Waterfront of Georgetown, I’d have several more time outs at Starbuck’s Coffee Shops. Drinking Starbuck’s coffee is a little thing that continues to be big with me.
Robert M.
Place rating: 1 Rockville, MD
Most dirty and disgusting bathroom ever. I will never get a drink here. Obviously the employees don’t give a damn. And neither does Starbucks.
C W.
Place rating: 1 Richmond, VA
I have never really felt the need to write a review on bad service until I had to frequent this starbucks location. It is AWFUL. The employees they’ve allowed to work at this location are really ruining the starbucks atmosphere that all locations are built upon. The staff is rude, lazy, and loud. I have been yelled at, forgotten about, given the wrong orders several times, and not apologized to all in a few visits. I used to work as a barista. I understand that things happen and sometimes things get out of your control, or sometimes you have a bad day. But I find it absolutely crazy that every single time I visit, it is a disaster. The attitude that all the customers receive in this store is out of context, unnecessary, and ridiculous. If you want to receive what you paid for, and have a less stressful experience, I recommend the Starbucks on M Street or other local coffee shops. Chances are you’ll get treated like a human being and not garbage if you visit ANYWHERE other than this location.
Takiva P.
Place rating: 4 Washington, DC
The employees are friendly and the music is great! One of my favorite Starbucks in DC.
Hai H.
Place rating: 1 U Street Corridor, Washington, DC
This is by far the worst Starbucks I have ever been to. Please avoid this place like a plague. The employees are rude, lazy, and slow. It’s unfortunate b/c the waterfront gets very busy and crowded.
Mark K.
Place rating: 1 Washington, DC
Worst Starbucks I’ve been to. Terrible customer service, nasty coffee, and always out of everything. Weeeeeee!
Isabella W.
Place rating: 1 Washington, DC
The service is horrible; baristas are rude and always out of everything– from the food to the teas
Amy D.
Place rating: 1 McLean, VA
This is the first time I’ve been motivated to negatively review an establishment, but after months of bad attitude and service this staff has earned it. I’m in there practically every week with a group and this staff has routinely offered mediocre to bad service. Never a smile, lukewarm, watered down coffee and other drinks which are meant to be hot, and general rudeness mark each interaction. We’ve given this staff plenty of time to show a different side. We’re taking our weekly business elsewhere.
Jerry B.
Place rating: 1 Falls Church, VA
The worst possible experience imaginable. Every staff member is surly, unpleasant and completely uninterested in anything related to serving the customer. I recommend that you avoid this location at all costs. I only wish Unilocal would allow me to give zero stars.
Alex P.
Place rating: 2 Washington, DC
This Starbucks is literally out of everything, always. If you’re in Georgetown and want Starbucks, visit the M Street location instead. one day they were out of bacon, butter, bagels, literally everything I asked for and it was 8:30am. How does this happen? Service is slow and the baristas can be rude. I once waited 10+ for a drink they forgot to make and the barista rolled her eyes at me when I inquired about my drink. Again, if you have the option check out the M Street location instead.
S P.
Place rating: 1 Washington, DC
I have worked across the street from this Starbucks for five years and have gotten dragged there about once a month since then. The service is almost hilariously bad. The baristas seem to be in competition with each other to be the surliest and slowest. They ignore customers, chat with each other, whip out their phone and start texting, simply walk away… you name it. Over the years I have noticed new employees start out helpful and nice, only to get acculturated by their coworkers into the Washington Harbour Starbucks way of doing things. The manager probably couldn’t care less because the location is perfectly placed next to a bunch of white shoe law firms, where partners send their minions down to get their drinks for them. I’m surprised Starbucks corporate has let it go on for as long as it has, though. Lesson: Don’t be «that person» in a nearby business who has to get Starbucks for your boss.
Alex R.
Place rating: 1 Washington, DC
Good location and that’s about it. The staff here have to be retrained or better fired. I normally avoid this place even though I work across the street. Well, this morning at 9:40am I was walking by, and decided to get in… Big Mistake! I was the only customer at that time. I greeted the female worker at the register with a «good morning», after which she completely ignored me for a long time while texting on her phone. After taking a break from texting, she glanced at me, turned away, and started a personal LOUD conversation with her coworkers in the back room, while demonstratively ignoring me. I turned around and left. In a spirit of Thanksgiving, I thank you Starbucks, and your RUDEANDUNPROFESSIONALEMPOYEES for saving me a few bucks! Happy Holidays!
Rob D.
Place rating: 1 Arlington, VA
As a connoisseur of not just coffee but Starbucks specifically, this is by far the worst store in the DC region. The baristas I’ve encountered here are abrupt and less than friendly. On more than one occasion I watched my drink made incorrectly and was told«no, that’s how it’s made.» This must be that rugged individual store striving to be different. I’ll keep going here because of convenience and look forward to the day that my drink tastes correct. Fingers crossed.
Marisa B.
Place rating: 3 Dayton, OH
I’ve only been here once and did not experience any of the horror stories mentioned in previous Unilocal reviews which have seemed to add up to a pretty mediocre rating for this Starbucks. I was the only person in line when I ordered my coffee though, so it came out relatively quickly. I like the location right at the Harbour and can’t dream of a more beautiful place to grab a coffee and sip leisurely while strolling around the area.
Dan H.
Place rating: 1 Washington, DC
Wow, absolutely terrible. I simply ask how many calories are in a drink(as the Starbucks web site directed me to do so for drinks not on the board) and«Vee» said she didn’t have time. I simply ask does anyone know, which she said no one has to respond. A bit taken back, I ask for the manager and she says she is the manager! When I then asked for the general manager she refused saying they«don’t have one» and TOLDMETOLEAVETHESTORE! Gladly I did so and I will never come back to this place. I’m going to formally complain to Starbucks, this is absolutely the worst I’ve ever been treated anywhere and it is totally uncalled for. Shame on Starbucks for hiring people like this that hurt their brand so much… This woman should not work in a customer facing role. Period.
Jordan G.
Place rating: 1 Arlington, VA
I have never met a ruder staff. As the lady talks to a friend and my friend buys a drink I try to use the rest room, in the rudest voice she says«this restroom is out of service» I will never be caught dead in such a low class rude establishment. This has tarnished the Starbucks brand for me and I hope a Starbucks employee reaches out to me.
Natalie M.
Place rating: 1 Washington, DC
I was appalled at the poor customer service that I received at this Starbucks location today! I walked in, greeted the barista with a smile and asked her how she was doing. She curtly replied«fine, what can I get for you?» I ordered a tall coffee and egg sandwich with turkey bacon. The barista keyed in the order on the cash register; however, instead of taking my payment, she promptly returned to the coffee station leaving me standing at the register. As I stood there waiting another gentleman appeared from the back room and approached the register. I asked him if he could ring me up, but he said he was new and could not ring me up. After a few more minutes, another girl came out of the back room and took my payment. She then proceeded to take the next customer’s order while I was still standing in front of the register waiting for my receipt. After collecting my receipt, I moved down to the area where you collect your coffee. The barista asked me if I had gotten my coffee. I was lost as to why she didn’t know that I was still waiting for my coffee when a) I placed the order with her; b) she was the one pouring the coffee; c) the store was empty(only myself and another customer), so she should not have had any difficulty keeping track of my order. The barista finally poured my coffee into the cup and asked the other girl to get me a turkey bacon sandwich. After a few more minutes, I finally got the items I ordered. While adding cream to my coffee, I pointed out to the employees that there were no napkins in the dispenser. I then had to wait a few more minutes while the male employee grabbed a stack of napkins from the back and refilled the holders. All in all, it took me about fifteen minutes to get a tall coffee and a microwaveable sandwich — an order that would have been ready in two minutes at a more competent Starbucks. This location has a number of drawbacks which have turned me off from ever frequenting this establishment again: 1) Unfriendly staff 2) Painstakingly slow time between the time you place your order and the time you pick it up. 3) No employees monitoring the supplies in the store. How do you run out of napkins at 10am on a Sunday morning and no employee notices even though the napkin dispenser is directly across from the cash register and the store is empty? I am NEVER coming here again!