It is a busy coffee shop in Saratoga. Seems good atmosphere. Ordered Americano but it was so light like water.

A special cafe vibe of homemade fruit pies and all kinds of coffee concoctions. Yes, this is your neighborhood java jive joint. Oh, I like this cafe. Not all the chairs match and there is an array of evolving art on the walls. There is controlled beguiling common chaos here that you often find at well loved independent cafes. My previous favorite cafe on the strip was down the street. However it lost something in its bid to be more efficient. This place, on the other hand has maintained its special funky character. Also, the big floor to ceiling window hugging the sidewalk allows for all kinds of people watching. One of my favorite pastimes while enjoying a cup of coffee and a book is to look up every once in a while and see the masses make their way to and from shops, work, schools, restaurants and errands galore. read more

Big Basin Cafe - Berry pie ala mode - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

I used to drive by this place whenever we went hiking at Castle rock. It never crossed my mind to stop and walk around to explore all the stores/shops until recently. Very cute. It was my first time here so I looked on their Yelp page for some order inspirations. Saw "Blueberry Lavender Latte" and I was very interested. Ordered it and was super excited while I wait because I'm such a sucker for coffee, especially served in a mug with some latte art. Outside was very my scene. Plants all around, cute round tables, and just everything, it was very me. The scenery was nice eye candies. I especially love all the dogs that came by and I got to pet. Finally after a petting a few dogs, looking at Bikers ride by on their motorbikes, and people watching, I got my drink. I was so disappointed. It wasn't anything like the photo I saw. When I took a sip out of it, it didn't taste anything I expected it to taste like. I don't think I even got what I ordered. It looked and tasted like a completely different drink. It wasn't bad though, I finished it with my very basic bagel. I'll have to come back and check out this area some more. If I'm in a coffee mood, of course I'd come back. Coffee shops are like home to me. They make me happy and give me a sense of peace. This place did that for me. read more

Nice stop after a hike in Montalvo. I had the mocha zebra and my husband the caramel latte. We also ordered the olallieberry pie, it was very good. The staff was very friendly and the coffees came fast. read more

Big Basin Cafe - Bar in a jar. So cute! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

There was hair in my meal which was a huge disappointment. I wonder if they're wearing safety gear like nets in the kitchen? They offered to make me a new one but I had lost my appetite. My friend liked her breakfast burrito. Nice location. Pretty pricey. read more

Stopped in here on vacation and was wonderfully delighted by the menu selection and service! Thank you for being so kind with my grandparents, they really enjoyed the cafe! read more

I love this place for a good coffee! The thing is some of their drinks are sweet so make sure you check with them beforehand. I love their iced vanilla latte and they also have a lot of baked goods to choose from. The coconut vanilla latte is also really yummy. read more

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Walked in during the mad rush of people, do to the show that was goin on. The place was packed like a sardine can yet wifey and I was able to walk up to the counter where we were greeted by young lady with a beautiful smile. She took her time to answer our questions about the different gelato flavors they had. 2 minuets after we placed our order we had our gelato in a cup in our hands. 5 stars just is not enough! Now for the best part, the gelato, best I've had outside of Italy " no joke" this is some top notch stuff. Again 5 Stars. If you ever find yourself in Saratoga, stop buy and treat yourself to one of there wonderful gelato's read more

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Food was okay, but asked for muffins heated, they said okay, asked to have them cut and with butter, told us NO!!! Ordered avocado toast, nit a problem. We ordered 1 Cappuccino, 2 Lattes, got them wrong. But, the heated muffins w Butter came out about 10 minutes or so later, Cappuccino and Lattes 30 minutes later ! I know it's on the new ownership. And there's a break-in. But this is not the first time this has happened with the new owner. Fortunately, some of the older employees are still there, but I think we really need to look at how we're serving the customers and how we bring food out so it comes out together. It's a great place to go to a lot of people from town hang out there, it's just a great place. But if you're going to treat customers like second fiddle, and just expect people to come back, and then to get chastised because I wanted to pay cash, a small order like that do you wanna put it on a credit card? Anyway, the interior cleanup and painting and a little bit of redecorating. it looks nice. The place needed some freshening up. And they did a nice job. The bathroom is nice. And the atmosphere is great, I just think the newer counter people, and maybe even the owner or manager Are just a little bit cold. I do honestly wish them luck in this new endeavor. But I think it's more important to please. The customer then please the management. read more

Quite possibly one of the most mediocre sandwiches I have ever had. I could and do make way better sandwiches. I got the turkey, Swiss, and avocado...and there was no avocado on it. All the ingredients were hanging out of the bread, that was covered in mustard, which I asked not to have. The person who made it clearly did not change their gloves and tracked mustard all over the top of the bread because it was not actually on the sandwich. Pretty disappointing overall. Turkey also tastes like it came from a prepackaged bag you bought from the grocery store. read more

Big Basin Cafe - Turkey, avocado, and Swiss sandwich missing the avocado and with none of the ingredients fitting on the bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

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I've tried to give this place a chance, but the last 3 times I've been here I've waited over 30 min for one item orders. Staffing issue. Either they need more people or the people they have are not capable. I'm a patient person. I don't expect Starbucks speed. It's a calm neighborhood where you're expected to slow down and relax, but they are taking advantage of their customers patience at this point. The food and drinks are good. Not worth the wait at all. read more

We come here after our hike for the breakfast sandwiches! I wish the bacon was crispier and the bread was toasted a little more (maybe I can ask for that next time). Their mocha is also delicious! Lots of seats outside and the service isn't bad for how busy they get sometimes! read more

We Love love love this special spot! Amazing coffee and tasty food and treats! Happy to visit and enjoy whenever we can make it by. Highly recommend! read more

Had a nice double shot macchiato in a cute cup and plate. Atmosphere is good and they serve free water read more

Big Basin Cafe - Double shot macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

Best coffee and blue berry pie ever. We ordered warmed up blue berry pie with vanilla gelato, it was super delicious! The mocha coffee was really smooth and tasty. Love the place. It was a nice treat after a long hike read more

Big Basin Cafe - Blue berry pie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

This rating and review is for their vegan options. I stopped through Downtown Saratoga around 2:30 pm after an event at a local winery and wanted to find something to eat. This cafe had some vegan options mentioned in their reviews so we stopped here. I have a lot of food restrictions outside veganism due to some gut issues and asked the cashier what was in the vegan tamale pie. He brought out the ingredient binder and listed off every ingredient! He also pointed out some of their other options that were fully vegan (like the sweet empanada). There were also build-your-own sandwiches and salads that I'm sure could be easily vegan. I ended up ordering the tamale pie and a bourbon (or something) latte. The tamale pie was great! There was a savory tofu mix as the base that was like a cross between sofritas and chili. On top of the base was thick corn bread (yum!!) The coffee was okay, maybe I just didn't order the right flavored latte, but it was a bit too sweet tasting and I didn't finish it. If you're in the area and you need a convenient place to stop, this cafe will have nice options for you! read more

I've visited this place only once, and I loved it. The service is prompt, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. The selection of pastries and goodies is extensive. I ordered latte, and it was excellent. read more

Best coffee mocha and Halloween cookies! Love the orange cat and vibe of this place. Berry pie with vanilla gelato was a huge hit with our party. Going back soon to try the sandwiches. read more

Love this cafe - the ambience is chill and relaxed. We got lunches and coffee there on multiple occasions, and it seems like there is always a space for another group of people. Coffee cups are gigantic and the artwork inside is very cute. I really recommend the empanadas and alfajores (last time we were there the alfajores were discontinued, but I really hope they bring them back). read more

Big Basin Cafe - Blueberry lavender latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

I had high standards for Big Basin, but I should have considered the Yelp reviews beforehand. A rare mistake. We were looking for a coffee place of solace. You know the type - cozy feeling where you can sunbathe, curl up with a book, or chat with friends. This is NOT it. First, the flies. So many flies - indoors. The seating is cramped inside. Too many tables close together. The furniture is ripped and old. The tables end up uncleared. The menu is overwhelming. Both for the customers and staff. There are so many menu items that it seems the management has not trained the staff on how to make everything, which has caused shockingly long wait times for simple sandwiches (we finished our meal and people who ordered three minutes after didn't get their food until we had finished). You should have seen how that lady was drooling over the bagel. They do have some unique items here which is what drew us in to begin with. The vegan tamale pie is their specialty. We got a blueberry lavender latte which was very yummy if a bit too sweet. We also got a citrus honey tea (which they can prepare hot, cold, or sparkling). Also, this place is pretty pricey at teas for $3 or $4. Overall, Saratoga tries to be the Tahoe-esque, yet high income area of the bay. But, Big Basin is not that. Please learn your menu, expedite your service, and fix the rips in the chairs and flies. The only reason I would come back is because the menu is so unique (and expansive) - whether it serves them well or not. read more

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I ordered a Latte and a Belgian Liege waffle, Latte was great but waffle smelled a lot like the freezer, so I ended up eating a little bit. read more

Big Basin Cafe - I ordered a Belgian Liege waffle, but it smelled a lot like the freezer, so I ended up eating a little bit. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

As you enter this cute and cozy cafe, you wonder - "Why the heck is this place so crowded?". But then once you try their Gelato and that killer Spicy California Chicken Sandwich - Well, you kind of know the answer. In short, this is a great breakfast joint with some interesting homemade desserts and decent coffee. We stopped by for Sunday brunch and place was fairly crowded. We tried the following: Spicy California chicken sandwich - Truly spicy and oh-so-great croissant sandwich. The spicy sauce in there is more or less responsible for the greatness of the sandwich. Tres Leches Cake - Soft and Moist and served with blueberries. Kind of make a nice Instagram worthy picture. Tiramisu - Great tones of Coffee flavors and mascarpone cheese and definitely tastes homemade. South west chicken salad - I love Freshly cut avocados in my salad. Pretty good. Chicken empanadas - Flaky and biscuit like. Decent but filling inside was kind of dry. Can be skipped. Worth a one time try for BRUNCH! read more

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the hybrid chai tea was the only thing that was good. the customer service was so horrible. Before we got a chance to order the young employee made a mistake on the couples order before us. As it was my turn, I had to greet him and ask him How he was doing, instead of the other way around. Any and All businesses need to acknowledge the customers as they walk in or at least when it is their time to order. He laughed at me wow, instead of "sorry how are you doing?" so I brushed it off. He took the order it was fine, until we only got half of what we ordered. When my friend mentioned that he didn't get his order no one offered to help or even acknowledge it. I had to find the employee who originally took the order and he was sitting on a break, on his cell phone when there was a line of customers. his name is Kuen , or i couldn't pronounce it and he didn't want to give me his name. Employees should wear name tags. The employee claimed we didn't get charged for the coffee, so he charged us again and then came back to tell us that he made a mistake and charged us twice and said "well I guess you can keep it" The customers next to us apparently were also experiencing problems. They waited over 25 mins to get her Matcha latte. When she asked about it they said they didn't know how to make it, but they never thought to communicate that with her, or apologize. Then they brought it out cold and she had to ask for it to be hot. When the employee Kuen went to figure out how to get the refund back to us, he was walking around with boiling hot water, which could have spilled over on the customers. The proper thing to do would apologize and ask the customer for a moment so he can place down such a hazard. The hot water I witnessed him pour into the ice water fountain which melted all the ice and left nothing but gross melted water. I took a picture of how many customers waited in line while the two employees nonchalantly ignored it. When we asked what the wifi is Kuen had no idea. I asked what type of tea was Masala, and he had no idea. The employees should know all the items on the menu, WiFi etc. I witnessed 3 other clients during my visit that didn't get an answer about the quiche, there was a drink that a customer was forgotten about again, and an unhappy customer coming out of the restroom. I was next going to the restroom and it was not stocked with toilet paper or paper towels. The two young employees one with glasses kuen and the other in the ponytail took phone calls while other employees in the back took care of customers. What a shame, this Big Basin Cafe use to be a respectful and sweet place you could go to study, work remote, and enjoy a nice coffee and danish. Unfortunately its being ran down by young adults with no work ethic. To the Owner, find a manager someone who can make sure that the store is operating at a professional level, that way customers leave happy. Going to a cafe should be easy, no fuss, you order, you get your drink & you chill. This was not the case here. Also here's a tip, add some cafe music. I posted pictures of everything I mentioned, the employees not working, the line of unhappy customers, and the bathroom. read more

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A fun place to write and enjoy coffee. The people who work here are very friendly. Highly recommended! read more

Big Basin Cafe - A little holiday cheer! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

If you're a cafe, you should be able to make a basic cappuccino. They can't. This one was basically undrinkable. It's was like a bad Americano with dodgy foam. read more

They have great coffee and I would love to try their food but I haven't yet. They have a vegan and gluten free options. It's a really cute little spot with some good seating. It can get really crowded though so either go when they open or expect to wait a bit but it's worth it. read more

Such a delicious, healthy, and fresh meal! The Big Basin Cafe is quaintly situated in the middle of downtown Saratoga with outdoor and indoor seating. I recommend sitting outside in their nice outdoor seating area. I enjoyed the turkey, avocado and Swiss sandwich with their veggie salad with avocado cilantro dressing (AMAZING) and their vegan soup of the day. While you're waiting for your food take in the beautiful patio with one of their delightful cappuccinos or other coffee drinks. read more

Big Basin Cafe - Turkey avocado and Swiss sandwich with veggie salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

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Walked through the Saratoga downtown and came across this cafe . We had good vegetarian options , outdoor seating was comfortable, free Wi-Fi and quick service . The one star taken off if for the plastic cutlery . read more

Big Basin Cafe - Veg lasagna warmed and given . - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

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This is my friends and I favorite coffee shop ever! We tried the lattes, matcha and chai. All so delicious, but I recommend the iced chai with oat milk with one of their warmed muffins:-) great place to sit and read outside at too! read more

Big Basin Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

Big Basin Cafe is a cute little quaint cafe on the strip of downtown Saratoga. The strip is a great place to walk down and window shop and Yelp the local businesses. They have a stellar blueberry lavender latte with assorted goodies. The blueberry lavender latte wasn't too sweet and had hints of lavender and blueberry in it that weren't overpowering. I actually never thought I'd enjoy a fruity touch to a latte. I tried the veggie and cheese empanada, and it was just alright. I would definitely commend this cafe for the drinks slightly over the food, but I would love to come back and try more of the menu. read more

Great food, the atmosphere is fantastic. The pies and bake goods is amazing. The staff are great people. Enjoy after a hike going over to the cafe and reflecting and getting centered read more

Great drinks and food! Staff provides excellent customer service!! Great outdoor seating too

Sorry we haven't been there in years. They were very helpful arranging a gift certificate for our adult children to go there for their anniversary. read more

Good location. Overpriced food that is not good at all. The new ownership has messed it all up. All the art is also gone. Service is flaky too read more

I ordered the matcha latte and half of the turkey avocado sandwich. Even though there were little customers, I waited a bit longer than expected for the sandwich but the sandwich itself was decent. I was reading the previous negative comments on sandwiches, but I think the cafe improved their sandwich game because mine was packed with avocado, onions, chicken, pickles, jalapeño, sprouts, and mustard. The matcha was a bit sweet. The cafe had outdoor seating where I was able to get some work done. Overall, it's not bad. I would return if I'm in the area. read more

An extremely rare and unfortunate situation happened on my first visit here, making a return hard to consider. A mysterious chocolate chip in my gelato with a different texture from the others turned out to be a human fingernail. Holy F* I wish it was a hair or something else slightly less gross than a fingernail. I had just come from a long hike at Castle Rock and was craving icecream on a warm day. Yelp helped me discover that Big Basin offers gelato amongst their cafe options, and I was stoked-- I love gelato! I went with the Mocha Chip and was actually enjoying the hell out of it, until halfway through, I noticed one of the chocolate chips had a much harder texture than the others and wasn't easy to bite through. I decided to pull it out of my mouth to see what was up with this stubborn chocolate chip. NOT a chocolate chip. I showed my hiking partner my discovery, and he confirmed it was definitely a human fingernail. Shook to my core and unsure of what to do next, I decided to take it up with a manager. She refunded my $3 and all I can say is that I wish that this situation never happened because chewing on an unknown person's fingernail hidden in your icecream is not at all worth $3. Maybe I'll take my refunded $3 and buy a scratcher with it and win big with that kind of miraculous luck I have. read more

Very cozy cafe, perfect for grabbing a small bite and that much needed coffee. Came around closing time and there was still quite a lot of people sitting around chatting or getting some work done. Came after dinner and needed a quick fix of some caffeine for the drive back home and found this place to be still open. We were served very quickly by a nice lady who also made our drinks really fast as well. I enjoyed my iced hazelnut latte! I really loved the cozy, homey atmosphere of the cafe. Something you don't see as often anymore. Definitely a nice spot! read more

This place is a memorable cafe during my high school. I love coming back here after...20 something years. The service can be a bit slow but if you are not in rush, you can just chill and hang out outside. Sandwich is $4.25 half size! You don't get that anywhere with that price anywhere specially in Silicon Valley! Workers are nice too. read more

Big Basin Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saratoga, California

I ordered two of their sandwiches and they were both horrible. How hard is it to make a decent sandwich! It was so wide that it would be impossible for a human mouth to take a bite. Not to forget the huge tomato slices that were added in there and the stale bread. Their lemon meringue pastry was so old and stale. What a waste of money and time read more

I got a breakfast burrito, which was ok but at least 80% egg, which is great. Usually burritos are padded with tons of potatoes or whatever, but this really was a good source of protein for breakfast. Didn't get to try any on this visit but the croissants and quiches looked really good, and my friend raved about his pastry. read more