Today I’m drinking a tall iced coffee at the Midtown Starbucks on 35th & 5th Avenue. I can’t remember the last time I’ve ordered anything smaller than a grande. Then the other day I realized something; I hardly ever finish my drinks. If I get a venti I drink three-fourths of it. If I order a grande, I only drink most of it. So what difference does 4 ounces make? About 44 cents.
This Starbucks is one of those railroad stores — long and narrow. In fact, it’s so long it almost looks like a hallway. Even the tables and barista bar are pushed off to the side to make room for the through-traffic — which there is a lot of. Want to guess what’s at the end of the hall? That’s right, the single restroom.
At least it’s big enough to handle the massive crowd the comes through it, and being just one block north of all the 34th street retail shops, most guests come with 2-3 enormous shopping bags swinging at their sides. It’s enough to make most New Yorkers run the other way.
The Good:
The Location… In the center of Midtown and just outside Herald Square and the B/D/F/M and N/Q/R trains.
The Size… It’s really really long. I’m on one end and can barely make out the wall decor on the opposite wall — it’s the Chrysler Building, btw.
The Bad:
The Crowd… Packed NYC style. The crowd in here rivals the Time Square crowd.
The Restroom… Just the one.
Barista Friendliness:
Drink of Choice:
Tall Iced Coffee.
Overall Starbucks Rating:
A Midtown Starbucks that closely resembles a hallway.
Starbucks and the City 
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