I go to the Southern California College of Optometry next to Cal state Fullerton.
University Eye Center at Fullerton
The students (seniors, always girls, every time I've been there) do the actual exams, and then the doctor comes after them and check to see how they did.
So to summarize:
Attractive, friendly, professional college coeds looking deep into your eyes.
High quality exam, very thorough and complete, no rush through this thing like we've done it a gozillion times.
Afterward they have a large selection of glasses and lenses and junior students usually show you the choices if you want to buy glasses there.
I have VSP insurance, so it's all FREE!
So where's the downside?