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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Comedy Clubs, Music Venues
14523 Big Basin WayMon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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i judge coffee shops by their cappuccinos and macchiatos...
Blue Rock Shoot gets 5 stars for their cappuccinos...
but 3 stars for their macchiatos...
nice outdoor seating and there is reliable wi-fi...
Originally came here a couple years ago with my sister to meet with someone, and remember the salad I ate being pretty darn good. All the food here seems pretty wholesome and the prices aren't too high in comparison with other places in town.
The coffee is obviously the highlight here though, with a good selection of signature brews that give a definite independent coffee house feel. Although it does seem that quite a number of customers are always ordering food here than just coffee.
The construction of the place is truly one-of-a-kind, with it's entirely exposed wood construction and inclined hill out back. They even serve beers here and have some interesting outdoor seating. Overall, the place gives you a very old-town feeling that you won't get anywhere else... and it even has free WI-FI.
I grew up in Saratoga so I have always been a fan of Blue Rock Shoot. I used to go in so much I started to get to know one of the workers there. I think he was a cook or something, then he ended up buying the place. It makes me like it that much more because I proud to see him take it over.
Anyways, its a small privately owned cafe (which we all love) with outdoor patios in the front and back. They have a great menu with bagels, salads, pizzas, pastries, gelato, coffee, icees. I love this place. And although I've never been, they do have live entertainment including I think an open mic night and bands that come in and play!
My favorite is the chicken pesto bagel. I think it's about $7 or $8 dollars. It taste like nothing I've ever had.
If you've never been, you must try it. Jewel of Downtown Saratoga!
I came here today with a friend and ordered a turkey sandwich, with no mayo & extra tomatoes... Since they have a $10 minimum for credit cards, I also got a Diet Snapple and one of the Heart Thrive bars.
Diet Snapple, well... Can't go wrong there.
The Heart Thrive bars are scarily terrible, but it was expensive so I ate all of it anyway.
Turkey sandwich... They gave me a tuna one instead, so they had to remake it. My remade one had one slice of tomato, and like... was the lightest sandwich of my life. Boo.
And the internet had poor connection.
And there were SO many flies and bugs.
:(
It was a beautiful day, the birds were chirping (I think) the sun was shining (it was hot) and I felt like a drive up highway 9 was in order. As I passed through Saratoga I spotted Blue Rock Shoot and though it would be a good start before the drive...I was wrong.
I walked in, stepped up to the counter and the person standing behind it was doing something with the register and didn't acknowledge me for almost a minute. I was looking straight at him and he wouldn't even make eye contact. Just a "Hey, one minute" would suffice, instead of making me feeling like I'm interrupting something.
When I was finally able to order a cappuccino, it couldn't have been more disappointing. It was way too hot and had absolutely no flavor at all. In fact I'm sure, in some small way, it killed a piece of my inner child.
I'm usually able to find at least one good thing about a coffee shop, except this time there was nothing. Maybe I just wasn't hugged enough as a child. ;o)
My friend and Chelsea and I went here earlier today. I told my friend to choose where she wanted to go to lunch, and Blue Rock Shoot was it. I had never been here before. We got our food quickly after we ordered. I ordered a chicken pesto sandwich. Usually when I get a sandwhich somewhere, I only eat half and then eat the other half later. Well, I ate the whole damn sandwhich it was soooooo good! My friend got a Mozerella Pesto sandwich and she really liked it. I like the atmosphere of this place. Its pretty chill, and there werent that many people there. THere is also a really cool little park right next to Blue Rock Shoot. I will definatley be coming back here again! Great food!
I would give the jazz 4 stars, but we didn't even know they were there before we went in. Otherwise, 1 star, as that is all you can leave with a review (or a warning).
Only wanted to have a beer/wine after coming back from a hike in the Redwoods, so we stopped here. Given it was 102* outside, but that is no reason not to install some ceiling fans. We walked around the whole place, and felt like we were in a youth hostel. For such a cool location, it has potential...but this place looks like a wreck. There were tables with cigarette butts on them for f's sake.
I would rather brown bag the next beer on the way home then stop in here again...but the jazz was pretty nice.
My buddy and I want and got a sandwich a few blocks down from this place. It was a deli/tailor place. Weird combo for a business. My buddy and I are always looking for hole-in-the-wall places to eat. When we found out that there was one in Saratoga we had to go. Well, we paid $14 for two sandwiches that could have been easily made at home. They looked pretty gross too. So we drove down the street looking for another place to eat and we found Blue Rock Shoot.
With this place it's all about the atmosphere and the entertainment. The sandwhiches we got weren't the greatest, but still pretty good. We paid about $16 for 2 quality sandwiches and two drinks......a much better deal in my opinion. Oh, and I hear that their coffee is quite good.
Moral of the story: Don't eat at a deli that buys their dusty kitchen appliances at garage sales. Did I mention that they also sell lottery tickets? I need to find the name of that place and write a review.
Went here after so many years today. Not that much different. I like the fact that this place is unique and not cookie cutter like Starbucks. It has 3 levels and outdoor seating and a waterfall (sort of) in the back. They also have a room where they have comedy and music shows. They serve sandwiches, bagels, coffee and beer. This place would be awesome if the food and coffee was better.
There is a great vibe here with the seating, menu, and staff. But there is this sense of entitlement from some of the customers who call all-time-dibs on seats.
"That is my spot. I always sit there. Can you please move?" Um... no.
Love the spot, but sometimes just isn't worth the snooty comments from regulars when you are in their spot. Excuuuuuuse me....
I had heard so much about BRS over the years, but had never been there. It always seemed busy, so I thought it would be great. It was not to be. My wife, daughter, and I dropped in on our way to Hakone Gardens one Sunday afternoon. The place was shabby and unkempt. There was a huge line and a long wait just to order. Then, it took 45 MINUTES to get our three sandwiches, which came out one at a time, and were made with low-quality sliced bread (a-la Wonder Bread) and meats that seemed like they came out of the cheapest package of cold-cuts available at a grocery store... rubbery and salty. They were like those triangular sandwiches you used to get out of the vending machine in high school... remember those? Too bad, as this place has loads of potential.
The lovely J and I came here after the Plumed Horse event to grab a bite to eat. (Yes. We read that there were nibbles served and did not expect to be fed... besides, after a few tramples by a few hungry heifer-y vultures we had enough of the place! Seriously!! There were these skinny girls that would throw out their sharp elbows and double fist just to get a smidgen of food! It's insane!)
Anyway, I got a toasted bagel toasted with butter and it tasted like margarine. Oh well... J got a veggie sandwich that was filled with cucumbers, sprouts, tomatoes, and random bits of rabbit food... but no cheese and no avocado... Avocado is what makes a veggie sandwich a veggie sandwich. :( Minus another star...
OH yeah the bathroom light randomly turns off in mid-pee so I was there sitting on the toilet waving my hands around hoping that the sensor would get the light back on...
I absolutely love the atmosphere and ambiance of this place. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT. It's is such a great place to sip coffee and have an afternoon chat with a friend. The place is unique - it is perched on this hill sort of thing and overlooks a lovely part. They have outdoor seating, indoor seating and then seating on the balcony. Some of the chairs are made of...branches? Cool! It's a little hard to describe, but the actual building and furnishings of this place are pretty cool.
As for the food and drink, I have no complaints. I haven't been there in a while, but I remember really liking my sandwich and had no qualms with my coffee.
The downside of this place, as other people said, is that they seem to close a lot earlier than their posted hours. I don't mean 5 or 10 minutes. I mean like half an hour, maybe more! It's a little frustrating if you've come a long distance (as I do) to meet someone there if it is closed.
Also, the staff is not particularly friendly or helpful.
i've been going to blue rock for nearly 10 years now, and in the last 3-4 years, it's gone so downhill, i rarely stop in.
pros:
-- great location
-- tons of potential (as other yelpers have stated)
-- great concept
-- great history
cons:
-- the staff is functionally retarded. no, seriously. they get my order right about 60% of the time, and even then, it seems to be a struggle for them. especially making coffee drinks correctly. and it's not like mine's complicated (soy latte).
-- service is SO SLOW and so lacking in any kind of interest or care
-- the place has gotten really dirty of late. dirty floors, dirty tables, dirty behind the coffee bar area, which sketches me out....
-- food quality is seriously lacking. the "turkey" appears to actually be ham, nothing is house-made (all baked goods are ordered out, everything else is shipped in and slopped together), and about 50% of the time the bread and baked goods are stale.
it really is sad to see a place like this so underdeveloped and poorly cared for.
I find it quite bizarre that the hours posted here on Yelp are so late... at 8:10 pm on Saturday night I was all but refused service because they apparently now close at 8:30. Weird right?
The woman behind the counter could barely be effed to help my party, let alone smile and be friendly... not to mention that she spoke about as much English as a toddler does. We stood for about 5 minutes saying "hello?" and "excuse me?" before she appeared from the back looking annoyed. She then almost REFUSED to serve us pointing at the clock, which read 8:10, saying they were closing very soon. Is this place for real? Were it not for our instance that there was plenty of time for us to enjoy our beverages we would have left empty handed! We basically had to twist her arm to take our money!!
The surly worker then stomped out on the patio where we were sitting and "cleaned the tables" and by "cleaned the tables", I mean, "shifted and slammed the chairs around in an attempt to ignore the family that had walked in after us". Seriously, what the hell?
I was excited by the looks of this place and happy they have such a diverse beverage menu, but it just sucks. Everything is dirty or old, or a combination thereof. It was disappointing and only made worse by the crap service. Ugh, I'd take Starbucks over this craphole any day. This place is filthy and sticky, the service is absolute crap... you would have to pay me to come back here. I can't imagine how it stays in business.
nice place to grab a coffee and do a bit of reading. The opportunity to switch to beer after the coffee wears off is always appreciated and the small selection on tap is tasty. Haven't been to any of the comedy or music performances...
Stopped in briefly for some coffee on the way down to San Jose and discovered some great live jazz in the back on a Sunday afternoon. Apparently they have jazz jam sessions every Sunday from 4-6:30pm. The mocha blast we ordered was fantastic -- it really hit the spot on a hot afternoon!
I'm a little disappointed that there wasn't much room to sit in the room with the jazz, but I'd definitely hit it up again if I were in the area. I suspect we'll want to get there a bit earlier if we want a good seat.
Nice funky coffee house in Saratoga Village. Food? just OK - Decent coffee drinks, but the best thing about the Blue Rock are all the musical performances in the back room. Lot's of folk acts and a great Sunday afternoon jazz jam with musicians of all ages.
Sitting with a good cup of coffee, listening to live music for free in a funky, rustic setting... what's not to like!
On a recent trip to the BRS, the food seemed noticeably better! Put it up one star!
This place is awesome. The decor is amazing! It looks like it totally belongs within the community of downtown Saratoga Village. Not only is the food and coffee rgeat, but they serve beer and wine. Also, they have live music on Thursday thru Sunday. They host an Open Mic on Thursday. It looks like they host a showcase on Friday with some key people that have all met from playin the open mics on Thursday. I love going to this place and it has become a second home to me.
I wanted to love this place more then anything
that would be my dream job as of now
a small coffee shop where people would actually appriciate the beverage I make for them.
in a nice calm setting with free wifi for customers and art encouraged
I wish i owned this place...
but id fire everyone there the day I went.
shit this isnt downtown SJ learn english! or atleast some basic word like coffee or muffin...
i hate to sound racist but i had to point and i couldnt help but think wow... i could actually provide some legendary service and breathe some life into this place...
but ive only gone once. and i will give it another shot despite how angry i might sound. i will go in with a good mood and low expectations.
id go again just because i loved the patio and piano it was so relaxing
I come here for consistently good Java, go to back of building for scenic outdoor seating, and the barristers do not have attitudes. Food is hit or miss, BUT the gelato is decent, Dolce is still my Fav.
Good place to hang out with people, especially when there's nice weather outside. Gets busy Sunday late mornings and kids from the nearby high school often stop by afterschool on the weekdays. Food is nothing special, service was average, and prices are a little steep.
Free wireless but not many electrical outlets, if any, outside.
Alone on a Sunday afternoon, many years ago, I found myself at Blue Rock..... I mean, I actually did get myself there it wasn't a strange awakening or sleep walking experience. I clearly remember ordering a glass of chardonnay which I thought was cool because it didn't seem like the log cabin kind of place that would offer a decent wine selection. I also ordered a huge salad of sorts which was delicious. As my first time I felt obligated to taste test all the various dessert options. They have giant cookies that look more appetizing then they taste but I did love the oatmeal raisin, the blueberry scone was a bit dry but I still get it every visit, the sorbet was just right.
I have continued to come back and visit again and again. I love the coziness, the chunky wood furniture, the live music and poetry I've been lucky enough to stumble upon, the back patio next to the fountain for reading. All the employees have always been delightful.
I'm not a big coffee drinker but this is really meant to be a coffee shop and looks like a great scene in the mornings to hang out with your dog or kids and a cup o joe.
Returning from our afternoon outing to Hakone Garden, my wife mentioned that she was a bit thirsty, by which she *really* meant that "since we are going thru Saratoga, I wanna stop and tarry a little while at the Blue Rock Shoot."
"Of course my dear..(meh..)" Lord help me.. but ever since my addiction to kara*ke bars has gone full blossom.. all places that strike me as the antithesis of kara*ke bars (such as this place... or what's that place in Big Sur? *Nepenthe*.. yeah..) those type places make my face drop.. and my eyes glaze over .. especially since I know Susie is gonna wanna stop at them for sure.
But somehow on *this* hot and lazy Sunday, Blue Rock Shoot was *just* right. The Sunday afternoon jazz band was enough *unlike* Kenny G.. to make it interesting to listen to.. and the hot sunny lazy day was perfect for killing some time lounging out on the big benches and tables out front..
So OK Blue Rock Shoot .. we met again on just the right day.. lucky for you..
Let me accompany my 2-star rating with a strong affirmation: I love the BRS! But it's terrible to see such squandered potential!!
I loved it when Mr. Maverick of Saratoga (Mitch Cutler) opened it 13 years ago - it was the most exciting thing to happen in "The Village" since... I don't know, maybe the "Does "Saratoga" Really Mean "Scum on the water" or Does It Really Translate As "Place Of Swift Waters" Scandal." (Note: See the relevant document posted on the interior front wall of BRS)
The building is still gorgeous, unique, atmosperic... destination worthy... The back porches on a nice day, overlooking the creek and Wildwood park... wow! Charming and peaceful retreat much!
The open mic night is actually a rare creature - a warm, community event with lots of regulars of all ages, sharing music they love, supportive, encouraging, and fun. Say what you will about the music or how dorky it is to participate in something that's not based on irony or cynicism, but for an event of this kind it's really lovely.
BRS has a history at this point. A history of ups and downs and twists and turns of ownership and menu and events and so forth and so on. Sadly, as most of the reviews have noted, the current management is a low point for the cafe.
Sad but true: the place just looks like no one cares about it anymore. The sweet little waterfall in the back - it even has a name! (Turtle Falls) - is dry and littered with actual garbage. Who leaves cigarette butts and old napkins lying on the ground in their restaurant? WTF! Its not only sad but also somewhat angering (is that a word?) that whoever is in charge of this place obviously does not put the love and care into it that it deserves. As you've read, the food is overpriced "food-like substance" and the service is indifferent at best. The staff who I've spoken to over the last few years don't know anything about the place (e.g. for a while there was going to be a renovation, which no one knew anything about, and which never happened) and seem to be there just to get a paycheck. Not to mention the broken furniture and ridiculous corporate advertisements hung all over the counter room.
SO MUCH SQUANDERED POTENTIAL!!!! This place has an amazing location, an amazing building, 13 years of establishment in Saratoga, and a potentially loyal customer base, if only they would put some effort or love into it! BRS just screams out for a new owner, someone who would be there every day and make it feel like the cozy home-town cafe that Saratoga needs!
I hope for BRS, Saratoga, and all of us, that either the current management has some big revelations, or that new management comes in to help this place rise from the ashes and reclaim its rightful glory!!
Note: despite the drama & complaints, this is still a nice place to go for coffee on a sunny day. Diverse clientele, good people watching, and easy parking!
So I didn't spend that much time here. The place is a coffee shop that has alcohol, but what is most important is the stage through the back. I were here for my friend's show that he performs every Friday from 7:30-10:30PM. A fun and intimate setting for a "quiet" Friday evening. It's not that quiet and the people are all really fun.
I recommend checking it out.
Let's jet back to the far-flung year of 1993. I was a High School Senior, my pals were all underclassmen and the coffee thing was gripping Santa Clara High like a Twinkie in the stubby little fingers of the fat kid on the block. It was then that were would head over to the Blue Rock Shoot, order Mochas and lattes and smoke cigars out on the wooden furniture they had down at teh bottom of those endless stairs.
Flash forward to 1997. I'm out of college and to celebrate we head up to the Blue Rock, smoke cigars and enjoy cappacinos and mochas. It was quite lovely.
I recently returned and it had changed noticably. It wasn't the comfy, homesy place i remembered it as. The service was the same, not quite great but it'll due, the prices were higher than I remember them being, but the place just felt, I dunno, changed. I had a lovely cup of coffee out on the porch and we got into a debate about the state of Israel where I was NOT the most raving Zionist speaking! It was bizarre for that to happen in Saratoga, but what are you gonna do?
Be there on Friday nights ! This is a coffee shop that serves beer as well. I landed up here for a friends show and have been here since then quite a few times. I like the pizzas here actually - its unlike the usual.
Its worth a checkout esp Friday nights. I'd rate it high based on that actually.
The show we watch was torture and they had nothing special to serve.
A not so bad place if you want a quick sandwich for lunch...don't get too excited, but not so bad. I had the greek veggie sandwich on sourdough which was pretty good.
The building is unique and a fun place to hang around in. We ate outside, which was really nice.
A great location and quite a quaint setup inside. But the german chocolate cake was old and dry and the cider we had was just heated apple juice - the stick of cinnamon lent no flavor to it, and was mushy - have no idea how old it must've been.
There was a band setting up in the back and I guess a coffee shop serving alcohol is nice, but the only thing I might go back for is the music, and I wouldn't have anything they make in house again.
I find it very strange that right when you walk into this place, the stairs are in front of you. If that area gets crowded, you could easily fall to your death when all you intended for was a bite to eat or a sip to drink! Regardless, it feels like a log cabin in here.
I had the Black & White Mocha and it was not bad. Neither the dark chocolate or white chocolate was overpowering. And it wasn't too sweet either. They also have about 8 favors of ice cream which include the almond amaretto - yummy! I definitely want to try the food here.
This place rocks! We literally invaded this place for a week for work. They have a great room downstairs that opens up to an outdoor patio. We ate and drank a variety of food and drinks here. All was great! All food was fresh and the coffee hit the spot every morning.
The staff were very welcoming and friendly. I will definitely frequent this place in the future. Next time I will order a beer with my sandwich when I'm not on the work clock. I'm looking forward to that!
What can i say about this place. Went there a couple of years back, after a nice hike...it was good to grab a sandwich and sit back...Recently went back for some live music and a beer.
Now the best part of this place - the stairs that invite you as soon as you enter. If you walk in without looking forward, you are bound to roll down. So watch out!
The music was good, and it looked to be local bands and local people. Perfect match for a quaint downtown.
The only reason i am giving this place 4 stars is the live music they have on Sunday afternoons. Stopped here for a sip of coffee to cool off our heels and stumbled upon the live band playing in the back. The latte was ok, the biscotti was bleh-
Husband got the pinot which was decent but what kept us glued was the live band playing. They were phenomenal. Just seemed like a great way to spend sunday afternoon. Will surely go back just for the music!
Are you famished, crabby, covered in dirt and soaked with perspiration? Blue Rock Shoot is your kind of place!!
For nine dollars, you can have a bowl of "Greek" salad with potato salad (it was hidden under my greens), old mushrooms, chopped pizza toppings, artichokes, cucumber and feta cheese: http://www.yelp.com/bi... Yum.
Not your cup of tea? How about an over-priced, undersized, "large pizza" reminiscent of the stuff they used to serve you in your high school cafeteria?: http://www.yelp.com/bi... . Still not doing it for you, huh? They have the most randomly composed menu ever, so I'm sure you'll find something to not quite satisfy you (like the house green salad: http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) while you stew in the sun on their outdoor porch.
NOTE: This is a counter place. They will take your order at the counter. They will ask your name at said counter when you order. They will say your name loudly ONE time when your order comes up to said counter. This is a very spacious place, so you WILL have to check the aforementioned counter periodically for your order because no one is going to come chasing after your tired ass to serve it to you.
The almond amaretto ice cream was sooo good!
The coffee tasted pretty good but I'm not a big coffee drinker so I couldn't tell how good it was. But I do know that it's better than Starbucks.
Wow, this place is absolutely incredible. I have no idea how it even stays in business. I'm as baffled by this phenomenon as I am by the inner-workings of a 45nm microprocessor.
I wanted SO BADLY to like this place. A quiet place to get a cup of coffee in sleepy old Saratoga on the weekend? Heck yeah! What a novel concept!
Wrong.
Grumpy staff, foul tasting sandwiches, rickety, uncomfortable tables and chairs in the front patio area, disgusting fountain in the Kubrick's Shining-esque downstairs/outside region, lukewarm, flavorless beverages passed flatly from the staff to the patrons... I could go on and on. You know what? I will.
This place has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Like a fool, I went back repeatedly, hoping that my previous experience was just a fluke. Maybe my impression was unfairly influenced by a lack of caffeine in my bloodstream up to the point of receiving my coffee beverage. Maybe the drive up the sometimes congested Saratoga Ave. put me in a bad mood. Nope. It's not me, Mr. Rock Shoot. It's YOU! I point the finger at YOU!
Gross.
On old co-worker introduced me to this place a while back as he spent a lot of his spare time just hanging out in the back admiring the view. I've been a few times briefly generally just getting some thing to go. Looking for a soda while strolling the Saratoga street festival we found it hotter inside than outside, with the fan just pushing around hot air. Cool rustic interior space, multi level and view, but only really good on the nice days. 3.5 stars
I like this rustic, wooded and deceptively large cafe nestled in the Saratoga forest. For those with a little time on your hands, grab a latte and settle down under the big windows in back.
They also offer live music and comedy several nights a week.
Saratoga, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Saratoga, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Los Altos, CA
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Saratoga, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Saratoga, CA
Category: Dive Bars
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