I went to Starbucks last week. I hadn't been in a while. I ordered a Skinny Latte. I waited and waited. Everybody was getting their drinks. I go to inquire about my skinny latte and she says oh here is your skim latte. I wish that I would have know that a skim and Skinny latte were the same thing.... I didn't expect it to take so long to get a coffee. Not interested in going back anytime soon.
(2)
Elliott C.
Standard Starbucks but with super slow wifi.....my 2G run faster that whatever speed they have...super crowed with lingering "guess" go figure.
(2)
L T.
Always slow even when not crowded. Like the one on Madison better
(3)
Brie S.
Staff is very nice, patient, and on top of everything. Even when they are crowded (which they almost always are), the drinks are promptly made. Only downside is that it is VERY crowded. I've been at all different times of the day on all different days, and it is best if you are planning on picking up a coffee and not working there.
(4)
Derrick L.
I have been to this Starbucks many times. It is right by the Harlem and lake greenline stop that I frequent quite often. I always get a white chocolate mocha and they have not made a bad one yet.
(5)
Vee C.
I really like this Starbucks because the staff is pleasant, it's near transit and parking is accessible. It can get a bit crowded at times, but with my laptop or a book, I tune out all the noise. Love Soy Chai Tea:)
(4)
Ben H.
Okay, this is Starbucks. The great thing about Starbucks is that they have good quality standards. They may not have the BEST coffee in town, but you are guaranteed to get a good coffee and not a dud. Drinking Starbucks reminds me of Andy Warhol's quote about Coca-cola: "What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coke, Liz Taylor drinks Coke, and just think, you can drink Coke, too. A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it." This particular Starbucks is a great location right next to Whole Foods. Plenty of parking, and for our family, a very convenient morning coffee stop before I get on the Green Line to downtown. THE STAFF HERE IS AMAZING.
(4)
Marek C.
I love Starbucks ! But I do have special sentiment to this location ! I always stop here on my way to work ;) I must say this place is amazing ! And I'm not talking about place as a building what makes this place amazing... people that are working here ! Always happy always with big smile on their faces ! Very professional , super helpful ! I must compliment the store manager Jackie she does great job ! Very nice lady with original personality ! I can say this much she runs this place really good ! Guys thank you for putting smile on my face every time I'm here ! Sure will be coming back every time I need coffee
(4)
Cher M.
Staff is way friendly here, and they have the new Lime Refresher (which has caffeine!!) it's a small store, but there is plenty of seating outside and you're a short walk to the blue line. Parking can be an issue, so do yourself a favor and walk/bike here instead!
(5)
Emily J.
I'm not a huge fan of Starbucks in general. Although, where do you go on a day off when you need to get some work done, want to dress down in a manner similar to a college kid in sweats, that's close to home? Starbucks - because you know what you're getting and no dress up required - it's decision and hassle-free. That's what I wanted today to just pound a few tasks out. Pros: The barista's are quick and friendly. There is constantly a long line, but it moved fast. (Don't try waiting the line out like I did - you will never win). There's a lot of seating though it's constantly full. I suppose this could be a 'con' but the other patrons are usually friendly and will share their tables! (I got rid of a business card today by sharing my table and met some friendly older ladies - YES)! Con: The men's bathroom. It was an emergency situation after a large coffee and a large chai. It was a semi-traumatic experience as the toilet was dirty and had something on the seat which I didn't care to identify. Can you say major HOVERING action! Men - just suck it up and use the women's restroom. The one designated to you is not only unsanitary - it's inhumane.
(3)
Matt M.
The FP one is waaaaaay better. You can never find a seat and its not at all comfortable. I guess the only upshot is location, location, location.
(2)
Hans S.
With all the competition in this area I expected a much better product then what I received. The guy making my Frappuccino was obviously new and continuously made mistakes making my drink. Instead of remaking the drink they continued pouring it back into the blender. The end result was a drink that did not taste like what I expected it to with a texture which was wrong. My advice is to either drive/walk and go up to the Starbucks on Madison Street or if that is to far just go to McDonalds as this was a lower quality product then theres.
(1)
Cora C.
There's lots of space to meet people or study. Lots of free parking outside. Friendly baristas, but very slow service.
(3)
Johanna A.
This is one of the biggest locations I've been too. Lots of parking, but do obey time limit parking (3 hours) as they do tow cars. I came today for an afternoon pick me upper. I came in to get a chai tea latte and my barista saw me yawning and suggested a 'dirty chai latte'. Never heard of it! It's your regular drink with a shot of espresso. Just what I needed. Friendly staff!
(4)
David C.
The area is great!! Very clean location, great customer services. The people are laid and patient with you if you're undecided. Great, big and spacious.
(5)
Diane W.
This is THE MOST inefficient starbucks i've ever been to. There are 6 (SIX) people working and drinks are coming out at an average of one per 60 seconds. The cashier refused to pour my iced coffee, as the INCREDIBLY SLOW barista told him 'the ticket would come through the system'. It's like pouring a drip coffee! I've now been waiting for an iced coffee for TEN MINUTES. Never coming here again.
(1)
Andre M.
Great place for a quick coffee break with friends. Staff are always efficient with the orders. Plus there is free wifi. It's awesome
(5)
Deena H.
Here is what you should know: 1. Busy location in a plaza 2. There is no drive thru 3. You can't make a left from Harlem into this plaza 4. The location is fairly busy 5. The bathroom is average in terms of cleanliness 6. Service is fine 7. Drinks are served fine 8. It's gets very busy on weekends and you can't find a table 9. There are outside and inside tables 10. Parking can be limited depending on how busy the area is. There is a whole foods in the same plaza so be careful walking in this parking lot!!
(3)
Thomas C.
Bad service. Unstocked toilets. No half & half. AGAIN. It's Starbucks. That's why it gets the second star - you know that the coffee isn't going to be watery. Just expect it burnt. I normally come here on Fridays to relax a little after work. In the past few weeks, I've unfortunately got used to the cream/sugar station being empty, and the restroom being out of paper - or worse. Once is forgivable, twice is understandable, but now I'm the fool for going back there. The staff seem more interested on whose break is next, or how good they are at making a certain drink, than looking at the world outside of the counter. They belong in a drive-thru with that attitude. The only reason that I am yelping them is because there is no email address or website on the receipt. I don't want to call the store - their coffee is bad enough without any spit in there. Know what? I'm taking the second star away, just because they don't have that contact # on their receipt.
(1)
Emily Z.
Brutal service. I need to just never come to this location. SUPER slow, seem confused over simple orders, several mistakes, in my experience. For such a prominent and busy location you'd think they'd have their act together. Someone needs to get in here and manage this mess.
(2)
Dave M.
I went there yesterday Oct 31st while waiting for my girlfriend. I ordered the large pumpkin spice late (cold and blended). over all everything was good, the service drink and atmosphere was great. the only downside is the bathrooms could use a bit more attention. this location is very close to the green line and you wouldn't know it till you set foot in those washrooms (train wreck).
(4)
Mohamed B.
Came here to meet a business partner of mine and honestly this is a great place to do business. There's great happy energy here. People here are in work, study, hangout, focused modes. Ofcourse great coffee Carmel iced latte mmmm.
(4)
J N.
As far as I'm concerned, large Starbucks outlets sell two things: Caffeine, and wifi bandwidth. Now, I can overlook the burnt coffee. Apparently, enough people like it that way to make Starbucks billions of dollars a year. I can't overlook the wifi, though. It's never been great at this location, but the last time I was here it was so overloaded as to be basically non-existent. I informed the staff, and they informed me it had been like that for a long time and they expected it to remain so due to corporate red tape. It is basically impossible to get work done, there.
(1)
Dan O.
Great staff and great area for work/study. Only big negative is the parking - if you're one minute past 3 hours you can look forward to finding your car at the pound. Spent $150 for a coffee about a year ago - expensive even for Starbucks!
(4)
Tina M.
I like this local Starbucks over the gazillion others located in the area. It's a much larger building with comfortable seating and quick service. What's great-it's nearest to the CTA green line, so it's a good hang out for those who wanna meet up.
(4)
Michael W.
Beep! Beep! Beep! That's not the sound of coffee ready to be put in a cup (and finally my hand). Nor is it the symphony of microwaves heating up breakfast sandwiches to warm my tummy. No, it's a security alarm that a manager put on and left to thoroughly annoy every daytime SB employee. But the thing is, nobody really seemed to mind. The baristas kept on pouring, mixing, and smiling, & getting drink orders right despite the... Beep! Beep! Beep! People kept eating up their laptops as if there's no... Beep! Beep! Beep! The NYTimes readers didn't miss a beat straight through the... Beep! Beep! Beep! There is something about the atmosphere that is very relaxing, welcoming and soothing. The cavernous layout of this Starbucks takes you to another world that's slower and friendlier than could possibly be so close to an EL. Definitely a place to be.
(5)
Rachel B.
I was here a few weeks ago and it will probably be the last time I come here. I've been here before and liked it, but this last visit left me never wanting to return. When my friend and I went to order the young woman at the cash register was on the phone talking instead of taking our orders. My friend gave her his order and said to add mine to it, but because she wasn't paying attention she didn't bother to take my order. He told her again to add whatever I wanted to his order. She still couldn't be bothered to hang up the phone and was giggling the entire time. Finally we got our orders and when I went to mix sugar and half and half there wasn't any. The sugar was empty and so was the half and half. The trash was overflowing and the counter was dirty. This was at around 12:30 pm on a Sunday and the store was only half full so there was plenty of time for them to actually stock the counter and clean it! I actually offered to fill the sugar bins up for them, but the woman behind the counter insisted she would do it. Good god - how difficult is it to be polite and keep things stocked and clean. The economy sucks so if you don't want to work then step aside and let someone have your job who cares. Fortunately a couple new coffee shops opened up in Oak Park so I'm going to give them a try. Maybe they will actually hang up the phone when taking my order.
(1)
Tina H.
I always get great service at "Bucks" Friendly servers and quick service!
(5)
Zanette B.
I am bitterly disappointed by the quality of service of Harlem and Lake Starbucks. I have been there this morning 8.15ish and still rmember it due to the pain they have served me. I asked if they have gluten free coffee. Not that I had such a craving. I am alergic to it. They ignored my question, were suprised that I asked about such a thing and almost laughed me as the woman behind me interrupted and commented that it's not wheat... Finally,m they came to the conclusion that there's no gluten. Then they started discussing that as if I was not there. Nobody helped me, nobody checked that for me, nobody even bothered. That's not what I expected...
(1)
Rahshonda K.
I really like the lay out of this Starbucks! The cozy chairs, lots of tables, lots of counter space. Service was a bit disappointing but whatever I came for the coffee.
(3)
Lisa B.
Though I'm not a big Starbuck's fan, I wandered in here last week for its free coffee promotion. I was surprised by the cozy decor. I could definitely see curling up here with a steaming cup of caffeine and a good book or friend. Conveniently located in the River Forest Town Centre, so you can pick up a few things at Whole Foods or Walgreens while you are there.
(4)
Rossie R.
Plenty of tables to get work done. The baristas are usually friendly and the coffee, well it's Starbucks, so you should know what that's like. I mostly come here to take care of a looming deadline. On a good day I leave with a ton off my plate. On a bad day not even my headphones could drown out the sound of conversations that are so important that everyone needs to be able to hear. Ah, to be a teenager and the center of the universe.
(3)
Kymberly J.
Bestest and friendliest coffee house employees ever. This one has all sorts of seating in which to relax - inside and out. I don't even like Starbucks coffee. I've only been here to get a frozen drink or two over time and but gift cards but each scatter experience has been super pleasant.
(4)
Yvonne B.
Clean, friendly, accurate order fulfillment. This place delivers all of that! Additionally, this SB is HUGE and has many places to sit for groups as well as individuals with computers. What's more, parking is easy-breezy in their large parking lot.
(4)
Marilyn M.
Great staff at this location. They are consistently helpful and polite. There's plenty of seating here.
Patrick J.
coffeeee
(4)diann v.
I went to Starbucks last week. I hadn't been in a while. I ordered a Skinny Latte. I waited and waited. Everybody was getting their drinks. I go to inquire about my skinny latte and she says oh here is your skim latte. I wish that I would have know that a skim and Skinny latte were the same thing.... I didn't expect it to take so long to get a coffee. Not interested in going back anytime soon.
(2)Elliott C.
Standard Starbucks but with super slow wifi.....my 2G run faster that whatever speed they have...super crowed with lingering "guess" go figure.
(2)L T.
Always slow even when not crowded. Like the one on Madison better
(3)Brie S.
Staff is very nice, patient, and on top of everything. Even when they are crowded (which they almost always are), the drinks are promptly made. Only downside is that it is VERY crowded. I've been at all different times of the day on all different days, and it is best if you are planning on picking up a coffee and not working there.
(4)Derrick L.
I have been to this Starbucks many times. It is right by the Harlem and lake greenline stop that I frequent quite often. I always get a white chocolate mocha and they have not made a bad one yet.
(5)Vee C.
I really like this Starbucks because the staff is pleasant, it's near transit and parking is accessible. It can get a bit crowded at times, but with my laptop or a book, I tune out all the noise. Love Soy Chai Tea:)
(4)Ben H.
Okay, this is Starbucks. The great thing about Starbucks is that they have good quality standards. They may not have the BEST coffee in town, but you are guaranteed to get a good coffee and not a dud. Drinking Starbucks reminds me of Andy Warhol's quote about Coca-cola: "What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coke, Liz Taylor drinks Coke, and just think, you can drink Coke, too. A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it." This particular Starbucks is a great location right next to Whole Foods. Plenty of parking, and for our family, a very convenient morning coffee stop before I get on the Green Line to downtown. THE STAFF HERE IS AMAZING.
(4)Marek C.
I love Starbucks ! But I do have special sentiment to this location ! I always stop here on my way to work ;) I must say this place is amazing ! And I'm not talking about place as a building what makes this place amazing... people that are working here ! Always happy always with big smile on their faces ! Very professional , super helpful ! I must compliment the store manager Jackie she does great job ! Very nice lady with original personality ! I can say this much she runs this place really good ! Guys thank you for putting smile on my face every time I'm here ! Sure will be coming back every time I need coffee
(4)Cher M.
Staff is way friendly here, and they have the new Lime Refresher (which has caffeine!!) it's a small store, but there is plenty of seating outside and you're a short walk to the blue line. Parking can be an issue, so do yourself a favor and walk/bike here instead!
(5)Emily J.
I'm not a huge fan of Starbucks in general. Although, where do you go on a day off when you need to get some work done, want to dress down in a manner similar to a college kid in sweats, that's close to home? Starbucks - because you know what you're getting and no dress up required - it's decision and hassle-free. That's what I wanted today to just pound a few tasks out. Pros: The barista's are quick and friendly. There is constantly a long line, but it moved fast. (Don't try waiting the line out like I did - you will never win). There's a lot of seating though it's constantly full. I suppose this could be a 'con' but the other patrons are usually friendly and will share their tables! (I got rid of a business card today by sharing my table and met some friendly older ladies - YES)! Con: The men's bathroom. It was an emergency situation after a large coffee and a large chai. It was a semi-traumatic experience as the toilet was dirty and had something on the seat which I didn't care to identify. Can you say major HOVERING action! Men - just suck it up and use the women's restroom. The one designated to you is not only unsanitary - it's inhumane.
(3)Matt M.
The FP one is waaaaaay better. You can never find a seat and its not at all comfortable. I guess the only upshot is location, location, location.
(2)Hans S.
With all the competition in this area I expected a much better product then what I received. The guy making my Frappuccino was obviously new and continuously made mistakes making my drink. Instead of remaking the drink they continued pouring it back into the blender. The end result was a drink that did not taste like what I expected it to with a texture which was wrong. My advice is to either drive/walk and go up to the Starbucks on Madison Street or if that is to far just go to McDonalds as this was a lower quality product then theres.
(1)Cora C.
There's lots of space to meet people or study. Lots of free parking outside. Friendly baristas, but very slow service.
(3)Johanna A.
This is one of the biggest locations I've been too. Lots of parking, but do obey time limit parking (3 hours) as they do tow cars. I came today for an afternoon pick me upper. I came in to get a chai tea latte and my barista saw me yawning and suggested a 'dirty chai latte'. Never heard of it! It's your regular drink with a shot of espresso. Just what I needed. Friendly staff!
(4)David C.
The area is great!! Very clean location, great customer services. The people are laid and patient with you if you're undecided. Great, big and spacious.
(5)Diane W.
This is THE MOST inefficient starbucks i've ever been to. There are 6 (SIX) people working and drinks are coming out at an average of one per 60 seconds. The cashier refused to pour my iced coffee, as the INCREDIBLY SLOW barista told him 'the ticket would come through the system'. It's like pouring a drip coffee! I've now been waiting for an iced coffee for TEN MINUTES. Never coming here again.
(1)Andre M.
Great place for a quick coffee break with friends. Staff are always efficient with the orders. Plus there is free wifi. It's awesome
(5)Deena H.
Here is what you should know: 1. Busy location in a plaza 2. There is no drive thru 3. You can't make a left from Harlem into this plaza 4. The location is fairly busy 5. The bathroom is average in terms of cleanliness 6. Service is fine 7. Drinks are served fine 8. It's gets very busy on weekends and you can't find a table 9. There are outside and inside tables 10. Parking can be limited depending on how busy the area is. There is a whole foods in the same plaza so be careful walking in this parking lot!!
(3)Thomas C.
Bad service. Unstocked toilets. No half & half. AGAIN. It's Starbucks. That's why it gets the second star - you know that the coffee isn't going to be watery. Just expect it burnt. I normally come here on Fridays to relax a little after work. In the past few weeks, I've unfortunately got used to the cream/sugar station being empty, and the restroom being out of paper - or worse. Once is forgivable, twice is understandable, but now I'm the fool for going back there. The staff seem more interested on whose break is next, or how good they are at making a certain drink, than looking at the world outside of the counter. They belong in a drive-thru with that attitude. The only reason that I am yelping them is because there is no email address or website on the receipt. I don't want to call the store - their coffee is bad enough without any spit in there. Know what? I'm taking the second star away, just because they don't have that contact # on their receipt.
(1)Emily Z.
Brutal service. I need to just never come to this location. SUPER slow, seem confused over simple orders, several mistakes, in my experience. For such a prominent and busy location you'd think they'd have their act together. Someone needs to get in here and manage this mess.
(2)Dave M.
I went there yesterday Oct 31st while waiting for my girlfriend. I ordered the large pumpkin spice late (cold and blended). over all everything was good, the service drink and atmosphere was great. the only downside is the bathrooms could use a bit more attention. this location is very close to the green line and you wouldn't know it till you set foot in those washrooms (train wreck).
(4)Mohamed B.
Came here to meet a business partner of mine and honestly this is a great place to do business. There's great happy energy here. People here are in work, study, hangout, focused modes. Ofcourse great coffee Carmel iced latte mmmm.
(4)J N.
As far as I'm concerned, large Starbucks outlets sell two things: Caffeine, and wifi bandwidth. Now, I can overlook the burnt coffee. Apparently, enough people like it that way to make Starbucks billions of dollars a year. I can't overlook the wifi, though. It's never been great at this location, but the last time I was here it was so overloaded as to be basically non-existent. I informed the staff, and they informed me it had been like that for a long time and they expected it to remain so due to corporate red tape. It is basically impossible to get work done, there.
(1)Dan O.
Great staff and great area for work/study. Only big negative is the parking - if you're one minute past 3 hours you can look forward to finding your car at the pound. Spent $150 for a coffee about a year ago - expensive even for Starbucks!
(4)Tina M.
I like this local Starbucks over the gazillion others located in the area. It's a much larger building with comfortable seating and quick service. What's great-it's nearest to the CTA green line, so it's a good hang out for those who wanna meet up.
(4)Michael W.
Beep! Beep! Beep! That's not the sound of coffee ready to be put in a cup (and finally my hand). Nor is it the symphony of microwaves heating up breakfast sandwiches to warm my tummy. No, it's a security alarm that a manager put on and left to thoroughly annoy every daytime SB employee. But the thing is, nobody really seemed to mind. The baristas kept on pouring, mixing, and smiling, & getting drink orders right despite the... Beep! Beep! Beep! People kept eating up their laptops as if there's no... Beep! Beep! Beep! The NYTimes readers didn't miss a beat straight through the... Beep! Beep! Beep! There is something about the atmosphere that is very relaxing, welcoming and soothing. The cavernous layout of this Starbucks takes you to another world that's slower and friendlier than could possibly be so close to an EL. Definitely a place to be.
(5)Rachel B.
I was here a few weeks ago and it will probably be the last time I come here. I've been here before and liked it, but this last visit left me never wanting to return. When my friend and I went to order the young woman at the cash register was on the phone talking instead of taking our orders. My friend gave her his order and said to add mine to it, but because she wasn't paying attention she didn't bother to take my order. He told her again to add whatever I wanted to his order. She still couldn't be bothered to hang up the phone and was giggling the entire time. Finally we got our orders and when I went to mix sugar and half and half there wasn't any. The sugar was empty and so was the half and half. The trash was overflowing and the counter was dirty. This was at around 12:30 pm on a Sunday and the store was only half full so there was plenty of time for them to actually stock the counter and clean it! I actually offered to fill the sugar bins up for them, but the woman behind the counter insisted she would do it. Good god - how difficult is it to be polite and keep things stocked and clean. The economy sucks so if you don't want to work then step aside and let someone have your job who cares. Fortunately a couple new coffee shops opened up in Oak Park so I'm going to give them a try. Maybe they will actually hang up the phone when taking my order.
(1)Tina H.
I always get great service at "Bucks" Friendly servers and quick service!
(5)Zanette B.
I am bitterly disappointed by the quality of service of Harlem and Lake Starbucks. I have been there this morning 8.15ish and still rmember it due to the pain they have served me. I asked if they have gluten free coffee. Not that I had such a craving. I am alergic to it. They ignored my question, were suprised that I asked about such a thing and almost laughed me as the woman behind me interrupted and commented that it's not wheat... Finally,m they came to the conclusion that there's no gluten. Then they started discussing that as if I was not there. Nobody helped me, nobody checked that for me, nobody even bothered. That's not what I expected...
(1)Rahshonda K.
I really like the lay out of this Starbucks! The cozy chairs, lots of tables, lots of counter space. Service was a bit disappointing but whatever I came for the coffee.
(3)Lisa B.
Though I'm not a big Starbuck's fan, I wandered in here last week for its free coffee promotion. I was surprised by the cozy decor. I could definitely see curling up here with a steaming cup of caffeine and a good book or friend. Conveniently located in the River Forest Town Centre, so you can pick up a few things at Whole Foods or Walgreens while you are there.
(4)Rossie R.
Plenty of tables to get work done. The baristas are usually friendly and the coffee, well it's Starbucks, so you should know what that's like. I mostly come here to take care of a looming deadline. On a good day I leave with a ton off my plate. On a bad day not even my headphones could drown out the sound of conversations that are so important that everyone needs to be able to hear. Ah, to be a teenager and the center of the universe.
(3)Kymberly J.
Bestest and friendliest coffee house employees ever. This one has all sorts of seating in which to relax - inside and out. I don't even like Starbucks coffee. I've only been here to get a frozen drink or two over time and but gift cards but each scatter experience has been super pleasant.
(4)Yvonne B.
Clean, friendly, accurate order fulfillment. This place delivers all of that! Additionally, this SB is HUGE and has many places to sit for groups as well as individuals with computers. What's more, parking is easy-breezy in their large parking lot.
(4)Marilyn M.
Great staff at this location. They are consistently helpful and polite. There's plenty of seating here.
(5)