Ever wished you could get a glass of wine and some truffle popcorn at Starbucks at night? Personally, I can’t say that I’m especially jazzed about anything other than getting a post-6p.m. caffeine fix, but Starbucks’ new “Evenings” has quietly started up in a few markets, including Northern California. Hint: That means us.
Starting Sept. 25 (we hear), the Coddingtown Starbucks will serve beer, wine and a small plate selection that includes (according to their sample menu) things like spinach artichoke dip with pita chips, truffle mac and cheese, flatbreads, a cheese plate, bacon-wrapped dates and truffle popcorn, along with a selection of wines (Ferrari-Carano chardonnay is on the list) along with various craft beers.
In the midst of so much locally made charcuterie, cheese, bread and beer, it seems pretty beside the point to be going to Starbucks for your fix. Not to mention the whole Boulange fiasco (bring my dang scones back). But then again, Starbucks is like an old friend — a little boring, but approachable and non-judgmental. Especially when you get that venti Frap with double caramel and whip. We get it.
Here’s a note from Starbucks on their new concept:
We’ve always been your neighborhood morning stop—a place to help you start your day. Now we’re bringing a little delight to your evenings too.
Our Starbucks Evenings menu features a thoughtful selection of wine and craft beer alongside the signature coffee and tea beverages you know and love. Enjoy one of our savory small plates – whether it’s our creamy Truffle Mac & Cheese or a delicious flatbread.
So take a moment to unwind, meet up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine and a delicious little something—with us.
For the “clean and sober” community, going to a tea house to meet friends, going to Denny’s after a meeting for pie and coffee, and meeting up at Starbucks for a safe place to talk and socialize has been standard fare. How sad that Starbucks needs to jump on the beer and wine bandwagon in order to compete with the upswing in alcohol sales. I, for one, will not continue to give my business to Starbucks if I need to smell alcohol in what used to be one of the few neutral zones in my neighborhood. Being sober in a drinking world isn’t a big deal., but who would have thought that Starbucks would want a piece of the alcohol action.
I tried the Starbucks evening food at an LA location. The so-called flatbread was a frozen item zapped in a microwave. And it tasted as such. Starbucks has had a lot of missteps lately as they try to contend with declining coffee sales in most of their US stores. With so many locally owned coffee shops popping up that serve great coffee drinks with fancy latte art it beats me why anyone still goes to Starbucks. Of course if you are stuck driving down Interstate 5 to LA then the Starbucks in Kettleman City is your only choice. Starbucks paid one hundred million for La Boulange in SF and now they are closing them all down because they cannot figure out how to manage a quality operation. Yes, Starbucks is the McDonalds of coffee and they will continue to prosper but lets not confuse them with a place where you want to hang out and drink craft beer and eat so-called small plates of fake artisan food.