Bongo Billy’s Buena Vista Cafe

We were so excited to stop at Bongo Billy’s for lunch on our drive from Denver and we were quite disappointed that they have changed to Brown Dog Café. The food was not near as good and the service was mediocre (being nice there). I paid to have tomato added to my order and got 1 slice of the end of a tomato. (Not a big slice, the end small slice and only 1). Their quality does not match their prices and we won’t stop there again.

Okay, I lied. We have been back. Against our better judgement we stopped in last weekend — hoping by now, something must have changed in order for them to stay in business. Nope. Same dysfunctional ordering system, same four or more people behind the counter of which only one is producing an actual food item… one… at… a… time.

This is now named BROWN DOG COFFEE COMPANY and they roast their own beans — roaster is right in the shop.

Great baked goods. Fantastic coffee and wonderful atmosphere!

Two stars because coffee can cure headaches. The place is not good. Period.

My husband and I had a quality coffee here back in June; however, we have definitely experienced better. It was our first visit here and we really wanted a nice light breakfast. But a few snags kept me from giving this place more stars.
It was around 8:00 a.m. when we came here with my younger brother. The service was rather curt for us too as Nicole K. explained in her post. Not to mention slow.
My brother ordered a breakfast burrito, but their options were very limited. He took a bite and said it tasted weird and too greasy. I wasn’t even about to try it because the tortilla was saturated with grease. I’ve read lots of reviews, though, that liked their baked goods — scones, namely.
The place itself is charming, but it is more narrow than it is wide. The seating area was a little crammed and it’s awkward to pick up your drink if other people are ordering in line.
My husband told me that we’re never going there again. He said the Evergreen Café (pretty much just across the street) was way more better because they offered more options with much better service. I couldn’t agree more.
It looks like a cool place to stop and have a cup of coffee at, but a lack of friendliness and options for a breakfast burrito is super lame.
TIP: I’d go elsewhere for breakfast. But if you want a good coffee or espresso and to enjoy their free indoor/​outdoor WI-​FI then this is your place.
Review #107

woke up early needed the go juice to help me get going. Bongo Billy did the job. I had the dark roast coffee and a coffee cake and read the paper. Friendly staff steered me to the coffee cake. They also have sandwiches that I’ve had in the past that were tasty. Everything is fresh and with cool staff. Stop by if you need coffee and a quick snack for your belly!

I have visited this local coffee shop several times during the past several years, and was always impressed by the quality of their drinks. However, my boyfriend and I stopped in this past weekend and weren’t even greeted with a «hello» but rather a curt «what would you like?» I explained that I needed a minute to decide, and moved aside in case there was a line forming behind me, but found no one. The drinks we wound up ordering — a white mocha & iced tea — tasted great but I will be very hesitant to come back based on the lack of customer service. I know there aren’t a ton of options for coffee houses in Buena Vista, but a little bit of friendliness can go a long way in keeping me as a customer.

My wife and I stopped in at Bongo Billy’s for a pit stop while on a road trip to Salida. It doesn’t look like much from the road, but don’t let that put you off. The service was friendly, the coffee was good, and I ate the best chicken salad sandwich I’ve ever had.

Stopped in on our way out of town to get a caffeine kick for the drive back to Boulder.
It was a LONG wait for three iced coffees but it was well worth it! Great flavor, not over roasted, just really good coffee!

In the two years since I left Salt Lake City, I had forgotten how enchanting I find the outdoorsy coffee shops of the West. Bongo Billy’s has the Mountain West atmosphere of people who care about their coffee, and it has the coffee to match. Mine was dark, bitter, strong, and tasty.
Maybe you wouldn’t think that would be worth reviewing from two time zones away, but maybe you’ve never woken up in your campsite on a ridge in the beautiful Colorado summer with a serious coffee craving. (Not to mention your wife’s even-​stronger craving.)
]They had a huge array of surprisingly-​good-​looking gluten-​free pastries, too, but I was too focused on coffee to try any.]

Billy’s is one of those local stops, or a must-​stop if you are making a trek into the mountains. It has the basic gourmet capuccino/​coffee shop plus lunch plus pastry fare and some of the sandwiches are quite good. My only dislike is that it’s akward to get from the order spot to the pickup spot as the place is long and narrow, and when it’s crowded service can be a bit slow.
They have exceptionally nice bathrooms and an exceptionally nice view.

This is a very cute place. It has a certain charm about it. I found this place to be very clean. Even the bathrooms were in great shape. That’s always nice, right? Oh, and the view. The view is absolutely gorgeous from their sitting area.
They have a very large menu of all kinds of hot drinks and food as well. My husband didn’t care for their breakfast burrito, but I didn’t get a chance to taste it myself. My chai was great.
I would certainly stop in again if driving through Buena Vista.