Rose Market meets halfway

Something I would like to accomplish as a foodie is being able to say that I have eaten in all the restaurants, cafes or stores pertaining to food in downtown Saratoga. 

To get a little closer to completing this goal, I decided to try out the Rose Int’l Market right across from the Wells Fargo Bank, well known for being a quaint eatery and marketplace for Middle Eastern food. The market is filled with rare goods that you would never find at ordinary grocery stores, like the hot food section filled with Persian delicacies that caught my attention.

Customer service is a large factor when I decide if I like a restaurant or not. Sadly, I was faced with average to below average service. When I came up to order, the man behind the counter was impatient and unhelpful in helping me choose a dish. I felt rushed and unwelcome but hoped the food would make up for the poor service.

And it somewhat did. I ordered the koobideh (ground beef kebab with ground onions and parsley), which came with a generous portion of rice and a grilled tomato. I sprinkled a little sumac on top and brought it out to their shaded patio to eat. To be honest, the food looked better than it tasted, but considering the convenience of ordering it in a market, I was still very impressed. My entire meal was about $15, which I thought was reasonable for the amount of food I ordered. 

There is plenty of indoor seating, although the interior is more of a market than a restaurant, so I decided to eat outside. There is heavy foot traffic on the street by the patio so grab a drink, some food and enjoy the people watching. 

If you are a fan of cozy, little stores with unique foods, I would highly recommend visiting the Rose Market. It’s a definite a hole-in-the-wall eatery; however, if you are like me, who came for the dining experience, I would say skip it.