Ate here yesterday. Â My wife and I each ordered a sandwich. Â Tasty and filling. Â Cost was $18.75 for two sandwiches and two drinks (one Snapple and one diet coke). Â Sandwich menu does not have a lot of selections. Rooms for eating were inside on both the street level and downstairs, and they were both dark and unappealing with no charm whatsoever, so we ate at one of the tables outside, which was nice. Had there been no outside seating, I would have given only 2 stars due to the unappealing atmosphere in the inside eating rooms..
Review Source:I like chilling in the patio at this cafe. The day I went, there was an Easter egg hunt going on at the park nearby, so it was really loud outside (little kids yelling, music such as the hanky panky, a car alarm that kept going off over and over again, etc)... so I want to come back here again one morning when it is calm haha. I got the red eye, and it definitely woke me up.
Review Source:For some delicious local coffee, Blue Rock Shoot is my favorite cafe in Saratoga. I like ordering the black and white mocha when I'm in the mood for something hot. Their iced blended coffee drinks are tasty as well.
Chicken pesto bagel sandwiches here are delicious! I love coming here with some friends to catch up during our college breaks. Blue Rock Shoot has a bit of a ski lodge/cabin feel to it that makes it unique and stand out among the other cafes in downtown Saratoga.
I dropped in on Saturday Feb 23rd and happened upon a some live music! Â Ends up there was an acoustic showcase featuring Stephen Dukeheart, Chinese Melodrama and Andrew Paz. Â The musicians were set up in the back room that is very small and intimate (it can maybe fit 20 or so people). Â Steve Dukeheart really blow me away. Â He definitely came off as an amazing singer songer/writer! Â
I was very happy to find out that Blue Rock Shoot has live music on the weekends and I will definitely be back!
BTW, I didn't order anything so can not comment on the food.
I always come here after hiking at big basin redwoods state park. I like to get iced tea or ice cream and relax outside. Â It's got this cabin in the forest atmosphere. Once I came and there was a jazz open mike thing going on which was fun to watch. It's a cute little cafe in Saratoga. And there's this giant wooden chair outside of the front entrance. perfect place to take a break. if the weather is good, have your drink or snack outside. parking lot in the backside of the establishment.
Review Source:This used to be my favorite place to get bagels in the morning but now it has disgusting food. The last time I went here since the new management I took one bit of my bagel sandwich and threw it away cause it tasted so terrible. The bagel was stale. The meat tasted rotten.
BAD!
BAD!
BAD!
One star for the crazy cool design of the three-story café and for the convenient private parking lot out back. However, I have been here three times, and each time it has gotten worse. Yesterday, my friend and I stopped here for some good hot coffee and a snack while we rested up from a long drive over Hecker Pass. Although the bohemian ambiance persists a bit in the treehouse design, log railings, and intimate jazz band, most everything else has "jumped the shark."
The coffee was so bad that my friend had to add sugar and milk to provide any hint of flavor. He eventually dumped the cup. Given that good coffee was the reason for our stop in Saratoga, that was Strike #1.
For a snack, I opted for the only gluten-free choice: those little "Heart Healthy" oat bars in a package--I'd eaten these before at another coffee shop and they were good--these were not! Dry and crumbly--and, reading some of these other posts, I now realize they were probably just stale. Strike #2.
Lastly, whatever brought me to this place in the past is GONE. The waterfall (the Blue Rock "Shoot") that runs the length of the stair railing outside is filled with dirty water and sadly neglected. The middle floor (I seem to remember sofas and little tables scattered about--am I mistaken?) is now bathed in fluorescent light, is cold and dank, with horrible Denny's type benches and pink upholstered restaurant chairs. UGLY is too good of a word for the atmosphere now. Somebody with no idea of taste or charm has taken over this formerly cute spot--this place has no business being in Saratoga at the beginning of beautiful Big Basin Road.
And that, folks, is Strike #3. I'm OUT of here, never to return. Next time, we'll be trying the Big Basin Café down the street.
Blue Rock Shoot is a 4-star business in my opinion; but it also holds a lot of personal nostalgia for me (I've been coming here since I was in high school!).
The drinks are good, they sell a variety of food dishes, and service has always been fast and friendly.
What really sets Blue Rock Shoot apart from other coffeehouses are the following:
1) It feels like you're in a treehouse - cool! The rustic wooden floors and old timey feel add a unique charm to the place. There's an outdoor patio that overlooks the woods in the back...very cool.
2) Live jazz! Seriously very cool. It's always something easy to listen to and there's a small seating area for those who want to watch the musicians (it's loud in there). If you sit in the other room or on the patio, you'll still be able to hear the music, but also be able to carry on a conversation over coffee.
3) It's not Starbucks. And while I do love me some corporate-coffee-a-la-Sbux, I also love how not-Sbux this place is. Ya dig?
Overall, great spot for date night or for catching up with an old friend. This place is so special and I hope it sticks around forever! :)
What a dive. Â So the owner used to be the bus boy and send his money to Mexico. Â Now he runs the joint -- it shows. Â The mexican woman at the counter barely speaks a lick of English and she is beyond rude; that is when she is flirting with the mexican busboy in the back. Â The sofa and lounge in the back looks like they had about 10,000 quenceanera's to break it in. Â The coffee was sour and stale. Â This place has such potential being in downtown Saratoga and the building could be charming. Â Maybe someone could buy this place and turn it to some place welcoming and enjoyable.
Review Source:Gross. Got the mocha blast. How can you go wrong with coffee, ice cream and chocolate syrup? Apparently this place has discovered the secret on how to screw it up! I went back after one sip and asked if she put ice cream in it. She said she did. What?! Maybe a teaspoon of ice cream. It was gross and bitter and not at all rich and creamy. When I told her it was very bitter and not sweet she shrugged her shoulders at me. Here's a thought...try saying "I'm sorry about that. Let me put some more ice cream in there for you and see if that helps." Clearly good service is as much of a pipe dream as good coffee in this dive.
Review Source:Salad was topped with that fakey-tasting chicken-flavor-injected chicken. Sandwiches were mediocre-$6.50 for two pieces of bread and a couple pieces of cheap lunch-meat turkey in between. No air conditioning in the whole place so we all sweltered. We made the mistake of ordering three desserts-all were stale and tasted like they had been sitting in the case for a week or longer.
Review Source:Stopped here for lunch on a weekend after a morning hike. Ordered a chicken sandwich with avocado on toasted wheat. The sandwich was good but nothing too special. The piece of chicken was rather thin, I would have expected a bit more for the price.
Its a pretty cool place to hang out, there's a nice balcony in the back with a view. Free wifi and plenty of outlets if you're trying to get some work done, although the lighting is pretty depressing downstairs. I'll probably be back to try to catch one of the live music performances.
Friend: So where do you want to eat today?
Me: I'm not sure. I still haven't been to blue rock shoot yet..
Friend: WHAT??
-and so we set about fixing this issue-
On a Saturday afternoon, it was fairly empty and we ordered quickly. I got the special of the day, the BBQ pork sandwich, along with a smoothie. This ended up being over 10 dollars, which seemed a bit pricey.
The food was well flavored, not too salty or anything, but the pork was rather dry and I would have been doomed without the smoothie. The smoothie, on the other hand, was rather juice-like and despite my constant stirring, the texture refused to even up, and stayed a mixture of globby and liquid fruit.
Some people like the laid-back atmosphere and the very casual rough-wood decor, but personally, sitting on a duct-taped booth was not my cup of tea. Large groups generally migrate downstairs because it seats more people, but the lighting is horrible and it just seems very dim and unclean.
In general-- just another hyped up downtown toga food destination.
i like the feel, but i don't like the food.
All their muffins and pastry stuff looked terribly stale, but whatever, I gave it a shot.
So I got a croissant (ordinary taste) and chocolate croissant (very stale).
Also, my friend gets a bagel sandwich. $5.75 for literally:
a bagel with lettuce, a tomato, a slice of cheese, and maybe 1 more condiment.
ru srs. this place is pricey for the quality of YESTERDAY. seriously, the more I ate that croissant, the more I wondered how many days ago it was made.
I'm disappointed, this place could be so much better if they get their food right.
Pros:
--Location - It's right on the main drag in downtown Saratoga which means after a good motorcycle ride down the 9 you end up right in front of this place! Perfect! No need to wait until I get back to San Jose to relax with a cup of coffee and take this hot leather jacket off!
--Fast and Free internet - no problem with download speeds in case you need it for work
--Cool log cabin appearance
--Beer!
Cons:
--Worst cappuccino I have tasted in recent memory. Â The espresso is always bitter.
--Sandwiches are average at best. No real special items or unique sandwiches to speak of, just like ordering at a deli with a list of meats and toppings.  Haven't tried the  Pizza yet...
So if you really can't tell the difference between a good or a bad coffee and just want to enjoy some live music this would be a great choice. Â They can't screw up the beer!
This place is a total DUMP. From the minute you walk in you notice that it is dirty, and if you can see dirt and grime when you first walk in, imagine what the back room looks like where they store the food. My mother, aunt, and I all had the pleasure of getting horrific FOOD POISONING from eating a turkey sandwich. I have never been so sick in my entire life.
You have a better chance of getting salmonella than getting good service here. The employees are all incompetent. They do everything as slow as possible, along with a bad attitude. The only reason this place stays in business is because they are one of the only cafes/restaurants open all day in tired old downtown Saratoga.
This place could do very well if they got their act together, but clearly they are lazy and have no desire to improve. Friends of mine told me that they changed owners and that is when it went to hell. I would avoid this place at all costs. So gross.
This review is for the food only. I have heard lovely things about the Sunday afternoon Jazz sessions, and I am determined to make it down to one, but alas, so far  I have not been.
It's nice that there's a pretty casual cafe-esque place in downtown Saratoga that serves food-- it offers a nice contrast to all the fancy schmancy expensive places around there. That being said, I wasn't all that impressed by the food here. Don't get me wrong, the chicken pesto sandwich is yummy (any sandwich place that automatically includes alfalfa sprouts in their sandwiches already gets bonus points from me), but my main problem with most places is always this: is it worth the price? More often than not, the answer unfortunately, is no. The sandwiches here are yums, but not mind blowingly awesome. Same thing goes for the coffee. I tried the banana split smoothie, and though the color was really weird and slightly unappetizing, the flavor was nice (bit too much unblended ice though.)
Random: The beer menu really amused me and my friends the first time we came here. They have "Margarita" and "Pina Colada" listed under the "Beer" heading, and even though we figured it was just a labeling error or just Blue Rock Shoot classifying all their alcohols under "beer," we thought it would be interesting if they actually served margarita or pina colada flavored beer. Alas, no such luck.
tl;dr: Nice location with good sandwiches if you're willing to pay the price. It's a pretty nice place to sit and catch up with friends. There always seem to be people hanging out around it, making it seem really popular.
Stopped by to grab some lunch. There's limited street parking, not so sure where else you can park. On a lovely Saturday the place wasn't too crowded. There was a line to order. I can see why - they write everything down then take the order to the kitchen. It's a slow process and only 1 person making drinks. Their menu is slightly limited - a few sandwiches, bagels, pastries, and coffee.
I opted for a tuna melt sandwich on sour dough and a small white mocha. The coffee was pretty good. They actually messed up my order. When I went to sit down and start eating, I noticed my sandwiched look weird. I opened it up and there was no meat. Just veggies and this red sauce. Seems they gave me a veggie sandwich. I went back and they gladly fixed the error. Although I'm pretty sure they didn't make me a new sandwich from scratch. Just scrapped off the sauce and some lettuce, then slapped on some tuna from a giant tub. Gross to see how my food was made. Oh well, I still ate my sandwich.
I'm just not satisfied with my food and the service for the money I paid.
My brother and his band play here every other Friday so I've been here three times so far. The performance area in the back is very intimate and holds ~30-40 people comfortably.
In the front of the shop, they serve up pizzas, sandwiches, and salads, along with beer & wine. Pricing is a little steep and the food is by no means award-winning, but with free live music, I can't complain.
Walk by this place, saw a lot of people sitting on the outside patio (thinking, must be a good place for lunch!). WRONG! Â Wow, was I totally wrong! Food here was super expensive, gross and waited crazy long in-line to order and pick up. What's wrong with these people? Is it me? The food isn't good, the place definitely looks old and out-dated. And the bread for the sandwich are very questionable?!?! Lunch for two; salad + sandwich + (1) smoothie = $24....Really expensive!
Won't recommend, or come back! For your wallet and stomach safety, stay away!
This based solely on a visit for lunch on the weekend. I realize they have entertainment and events but this is based solely on food.
The sandwiches we had were mediocre at best and nothing special. Ingredients were average and the portion of meat on the bread was skimpy.
Won't be back for food as there appear to be better food options on Big Basin to try.
I usually get take-out only because I don't have a lot of time to eat here or I'm ordering for someone else.
The food I always get here? BOMB! Veggie sandwich with toasted Asiago bagel. NEVER ceases to fail me. I request usually without mustard (cos I dun likee) but it's still amazingly good, and fairly cheap!
Love it! (:
There weren't many places open on the 4th so we decided to stop by Blue Rock Shoot as it looked like a nice casual spot. Â The area to order was pretty tight and it was a little confusing on how to actually order. Â We got a sandwich and it was ok...nothing to write home about. Â The spicy mustard they had on it was very good though.
It looks like they have musicians perform in the back room which would be fun to see as it was a cool little space there.
I hate to give this place 2 stars because with a little professionalism from the owners, this could be a 5 star cafe; but it is obvious to me, after several visits within the last 4 months, that the new management just doesn't really care about the quality of their establishment.
First, let me say what's good about this place:
1. Live music a couple nights a week--always a plus when they support local musicians, especially jazz musicians.
2. This place offers one of the best views of any coffee shop in all of Saratoga, Los Gatos, and San Jose. The two tiered balconies look out onto beautiful trees and the nearby creek.
3. Sufficient parking
4. Free-wifi
5. Plenty of seating
6. They offer more than just coffee and tea, including pastries, sandwiches, pizza, beer and wine.
Here's the bad:
1. The customer service is totally average; furthermore, the workers are doing the role of baristas without the skills of well-trained baristas. So, the quality of the drinks and food suffers for it.
2. Its namesake, the actual blue rock shoot on the side of the building, is not the attractive water fountain that it's supposed to be; rather, it repository of flotsam and jetsam. Seriously, it's just full of trash, cigarette butts, and little pools of filthy rain water.
3. The building is very log-cabinish, which is rustic, but they don't pull off any ambiance with it since it all looks decrepit and in disrepair.
4. The lighting throughout--there are three tiers--is pretty bad, especially in the lower levels where they have annoying and depressing fluorescent lighting.
5. The chairs and upholstery benches are beat up, ripped, and often loose from their foundations--just run down.
6. At the back of the building--where the great view is--at the bottom entrance there are old broken chairs and tables that have just been thrown out. They've been there for months and are just randomly laying about.
7. Just in general, there is garbage strewn all about outside and all over the premises--it's kinda nasty.
8. The downstairs tier--the area most plagued by the florescent lighting--is cold and gloomy. Again, the lighting is terrible.
9. Everything is a bit over-priced, for the quality of the product. We tolerate high prices at Philz Coffee because Philz is awesome. Blue Rock Shoot is no Philz so you'll be paying alot for inferior quality and service.
10. More often than not, when there is no live music, the music they play thru the cafe speakers is Mexican pop music or mariachi music--that might be cool for a taqueria but not for a downtown Saratoga cafe.
All and all, this place is not living up to its awesome potential. Why the owners and management tolerate a trash strewn, run-down, establishment is beyond me. This place is on its last leg unless they get with the program and find new owners.
Blue Rock Shoot is my all-time favorite coffee shop, restaurant, and deli. It's like an English pub in that it's a great third place (not home, not work). They offer a little bit of everything so you can satisfy pretty much any craving: coffee, brownies, pizza, smoothies, ice cream, cookies, and more. A rustic feel perfect for Saratoga, with Wi-Fi as well as a free book-swap shelf, and a dog-friendly outdoor eating area -- it's no wonder it's a local favorite. Â
Some of the reviews I see have criticized the service. The owner of BRS -- Memo -- used to be a busboy there; when the place went out of business in 2004, he pooled his resources and rescued it. He works long hours and does whatever needs to be done, all with a smile and kind word for customers.
I don't mind a few hitches with service if the place is overall so unique and special.
Don't forget to check out the mural in the loo.
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)
I would give the jazz 4 stars, but we didn't even know they were there before we went in. Â 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. Â
I would rather brown bag the next beer on the way home then stop in here again...but the jazz was pretty nice.
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 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
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. Â 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. Â As my first time I felt obligated to taste test all the various dessert options. Â 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. Â 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.
I find it very strange that right when you walk into this place, the stairs are in front of you. Â 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! Â Regardless, it feels like a log cabin in here.
I had the Black & White Mocha and it was not bad. Â Neither the dark chocolate or white chocolate was overpowering. Â And it wasn't too sweet either. Â They also have about 8 favors of ice cream which include the almond amaretto - yummy! Â I definitely want to try the food here.
Wow, this place is absolutely incredible. Â I have no idea how it even stays in business. Â 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. Â A quiet place to get a cup of coffee in sleepy old Saratoga on the weekend? Â Heck yeah! Â What a novel concept!
Wrong. Â
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... Â I could go on and on. Â You know what? Â I will.
This place has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Â Like a fool, I went back repeatedly, hoping that my previous experience was just a fluke. Â Maybe my impression was unfairly influenced by a lack of caffeine in my bloodstream up to the point of receiving my coffee beverage. Â Maybe the drive up the sometimes congested Saratoga Ave. put me in a bad mood. Â Nope. Â It's not me, Mr. Rock Shoot. Â It's YOU! Â I point the finger at YOU!
Gross.
Are you famished, crabby, covered in dirt and soaked with perspiration? Blue Rock Shoot is your kind of place!! Â
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: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EEULtDBX9qRmFPo2cxwk3A?select=XvuN6ChiZUXdb4Bk6hpTTA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>  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?: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EEULtDBX9qRmFPo2cxwk3A?select=1pmuUiiyyslqFRS6jk-GzQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a> . 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: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/EEULtDBX9qRmFPo2cxwk3A?select=vNDY-r5iMgIdD8rob5_nbA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a> ) while you stew in the sun on their outdoor porch.
NOTE: This is a counter place. Â They will take your order at the counter. Â They will ask your name at said counter when you order. Â They will say your name loudly ONE time when your order comes up to said counter. Â 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.
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