The 25 best cake shops and cake bakeries in Durham

Delicious croissants. Great central and spacious space for meeting people. Fair prices. Tasty salads with homemade dressing. Free parking for cars and ample bike rack. Good deal for the day old stuff. My 2 wishes would be that they opened before 8. Kinda late open for a bakery if you ask me. I'd even be pleased with 730am, I'd certainly frequent more. And I wish they served Counter Culture coffee.

I ordered the hot roast beef sandwich. It was excellent. Perfect balance of meat peppers, cheese and siracha mayo. The roll it was in was also excellent. I wish this place was closer to my house. The side of coleslaw was refreshing and I was happy to find that they didn't add a bunch of sugar. I will be back!

I had a fantastic lunch at Ninth Street Bakery—the turkey sandwich was absolutely delicious, with all the ingredients tasting super fresh and flavorful. The portion was so generous that I had enough for a second meal! Highly recommend this spot for anyone craving a tasty and satisfying bite. Looking forward to trying their bakery goods!

FIVE-STARS! We love the high quality of Ninth Street Bakery products, especially the 7-Grain loaf, muffins, and more... Although we have visited their bakery and store in downtown Durham, most of the time we will pick up their products at the South Durham Farmers Market and Whole Foods in Raleigh.

You gotta love the vibe that is Durham NC and all the genuinely "on point" eateries. Ninth St. Bakery is one of those that strongly contributes to this vibe. I have only been here once so I can't say too much about the many offerings. I did have the "Spicy" pulled chicken sandwich and that's the reason for the missing star.. it was not "Spicy", it was bland. Everything else looked yummy but the chicken is all I tried.

Delicious sandwich. Got the club on 7 grain. Wow. And the coleslaw was great. No sugar. What a great lunch.

Fantastic counter service and a damn good, and generously sized, potion for $12. The double chocolate chip cookie was as big as my sandwich and quite possibly my favorite part of the meal. The cheese and veggie sandwich was great, I'll try the hummus and veggie next!

Best bakery I’ve found while living in Durham. Creative flavor and texture combinations of nuts, molasses, ginger, fruits, and cocoa are a refreshing substitute for the bludgeoning sweetness I have come to expect from desserts. Always fresh baked each morning with new selections. Pricing is all over the map so I tend to frequent the cookies—usually around a dollar. Every time I go I love the simplicity of pick, pay, walk away, but be aware that there is no seating in the bakery. I recommend sitting by the Carolina theatre.

Odes should be written about Loaf’s devotion to butter. As a Montreal, Canada expat, Loaf has been my French bakery oasis for the past 11 years. Everything they make is perfection and—no exaggeration intended, only serious facts here—my croissant-shaped heart and 2nd belly roll (a tribute to Loaf’s pain aux raisins) would wither without them!

Recently moved to the area and stumbled on this bakery. The man who assisted us knew all about the bread and let me explain the meal I was making and helped me pick the perfect loaf. It was delicious, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I have been going back every week. Please support them so I can keep eating these heavenly loafs.

Nanaimo Bars in Durham, NC?!! Who could ask for more? If you have never tried these, run, drive, pull up in your car, bring a friend or buy some to share. John (pictured here) and the other members of the team were so nice, helpful and welcoming. If you ever made these Canadian treats, you know that it is labor intensive but worth it. My friend had the almond croissant and it was delicious. I highly recommend this local Durham bakery. Thank you Loaf, you made our day!

Amazing pastries with a great vibe. The shop has a limit of 3 people in the store at a time. All the things i brought tasted fresh and so good. While you shop you can catch a glimpse of people making fresh breads in the back which was so cool. They have a wide selection and i will definitely go again!

Loaf Bakery is one of the few places in RTP that sells excellent butter and chocolate croissants. The almond croissants are good as well, though they aren’t made with the traditional French recipe. The experience, however, comes at a price. At $4+, the cost feels steep—but it’s not the bakery’s fault; it’s simply the going rate in the U.S. Unfortunately, this pricing makes what is considered a daily staple in France feel like a luxury treat here. For context, a butter croissant in France costs about €1—yes, just one euro... Pastries are also too expensive, but I guess locals are ok with it. As a conclusion, I also noticed that the size of the chocolate croissant has significantly decreased... Bread is also worth the drive.

Unbelievable bakery. The highlight of our two days spent in Durham. Staff was so friendly, the croissants were delectable, but the showstopper was the olive bread with the European butter they sell in the refrigerated case. We'd go out of our way to visit next time we are in the area.

Great place with great food. Very interesting how this restaurant is arranged. For me that is more like a cafe style. You can order food at the window with a cash register or from girls nearby with a device and pay for your order right there. Your order will be brought to you by a waiter and just like in a cafe, you choose the place where you want to sit. I like it very much! We didn't have to wait long for our food and coffee, even though the restaurant looked crowded. I really love croissants and I have to say that almond croissant was surprisingly exactly what a croissant should be - soft inside and crispy outside. The coffee was also very tasty. Kippered Salmon was amazing! I will definitely come back to this place for dinner.

Very popular breakfast choice we got there before they’re opened and I was already a line. There is no table service for ordering food. You must stand in a line and order your food and it’s hard to get a refill of coffee. I found the food to be quite tasty and yummy with a slight German influence at least on the breakfast menu many of the seats are outside. There’s a small inside area. The outside has a lovely garden with cool weird statues. There’s a separate line for the bakery so you might wanna get in that line 1st get a snack while you wait over a half hour to put in your order.

We came here for breakfast — just like the hundreds of other people standing in line that morning. Right away, I’ll say this: you’ve got to come early. Expect to wait at least 30 minutes, sometimes more. We waited about 40 minutes before getting in. Honestly, they could make the line process a bit smoother. While we were waiting, I noticed a bunch of empty tables, but the line was still barely moving. It also wasn’t super clear at the end where exactly you’re supposed to go — like whether to walk up to the counter or wait to be seated. It would really help if they had more printed menus outside, so people could decide what they want ahead of time instead of taking forever at the counter. Best move? Check out the menu online before you go. Now, about the food. We ordered a strawberry cheese danish, which was really good. For our daughter, we got pancakes. My wife had the lamb gyro (or something similar), and I ordered a tuna sandwich on sourdough. Though technically, it was more like a tuna spread than a sandwich — but it was delicious. Not super filling, but really tasty. My wife liked her gyro too, though she said it was a bit awkward to eat — maybe they could plate it differently. Our daughter loved her pancakes and the cherry cheese danish — both were excellent. So for food, we’d give it 5/5. Atmosphere-wise, it’s a fun spot — lively and busy, especially in the morning. I’d love to come back during Oktoberfest to really feel the vibe. Definitely another 5/5 for atmosphere. Now for service — that part I wasn’t thrilled about. You have to get your own water, utensils, and napkins, though they do bring the coffee to your table. I just don’t really get why they ask for 18–25% tips at the counter when you’re basically doing half the work yourself. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it did feel a bit off. Still, it didn’t ruin the experience — just something they could improve on.

Wow is an understatement, outstanding bakery, and food great menu. We enjoyed it so much. We are returning for breakfast before we fly out on Sunday morning. It was so good. I had to tell my cousin’s wife who is German about it so they can visit when they are up in this area. This is definitely on a go to list now every time we come up to visit our granddaughter at Duke.

Every dish was generous in portion, high quality, and also, rather fairly priced for what I would call a pretty bougie setting. Lots of parking and service is quick. Outdoor seating is very nice and scenic, but there’s limited indoor options. The hot chocolate is very good and doesn’t just taste like Swiss miss!

I absolutely loved this place! It definitely gives that German/European vibe with the way you order cafeteria style! The food was amazing and I got their Turmeric Latte which didn’t disappoint! This is the top of my brunch places to go now!

I actually really enjoyed my time here! Although you have to line up to order your food, the line does move relatively quickly and the staff is super nice. You would hope for a really good day so that you can sit outside. I think that's better than sitting inside, but there is inside seating as well. Also, if there are multiple people in your party, you can take turns and go get snacks from the bakery to eat while you're waiting in line to order your food. I would definitely recommend brunch. * parking was surprisingly not a total nightmare. It's almost like as you're coming someone is leaving so they're legit was always a spot and they have a parking lot in the back. I couldn't tell you how to get there, but there is one.

Great gf blondie and gf breakfast potatoes! Also pictured is a chocolate chip scone, oatmeal, matcha latte, and Jamaican Me Crazy smoothie- no complaints from the table! Staff was very friendly and approachable and answered my questions very kindly and was helpful. Atmosphere is a 10/10, lots of natural lighting with indoor and outdoor seating. They also have serve your own water which is something I enjoy.

Mad Hatter’s can absolutely serve great coffee and baked goods. Their particular strength is the chocolate chip scone, brownies, and the sugar cookies. Croissants are also an excellent choice. I would recommend skipping their food menu items. It takes forever to get your food. I waited over 30 minutes today and it wasn’t the first time either —It always seems they have 1-2 highly overwhelmed people working the food stations but tons of staff on the counter and pastry sections. I ordered toasted avocado toast and it was stale, with barely a hint of avocado and an actual mountain of dry arugula. If you want hot breakfast just go get something across the parking lot but don’t miss the coffee or pastries!

I recently visited Mad Hatter (not the first time, but first time reviewing) which serves as a café, bakery, and restaurant all in one, and it was fantastic as usual! The food quality is outstanding, with fresh, flavorful dishes that left a lasting impression. Their baked goods were delicious, perfectly crafted and full of flavor. The coffee was rich and expertly brewed, complementing the overall dining experience. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, whether you’re there for a quick coffee or a full meal. The service was exceptional, very friendly, attentive, and fast. A perfect spot for any time of day!

It was my first time ordering here and I would do it again. The food here is amazing and freshly made, the staff are also really friendly, I dint need to wait long for my sandwich and white hot chocolate.

They have a small parking lot, you might have to park at the next business and walk here. I ordered the small Vietnamese coffee and it’s not strong and not worth it, just go to a real Vietnamese restaurant to order one it will be so much better. They have many pastry options here, and lots of chairs inside and outside.

This cafe made my stay at Duke University Hospital so much better. The service goes above and beyond; they make you feel welcome. The apple and raisin cake is delicious. Reina, thank you for your attention and warmth; you're the best.

Great food and coffee here but unfortunately it is very busy here. I can't say if that'd the case all the time, but for sure while I was there. Great and unique coffee, absolutely loved the Mexican white chocolate. The spicy chicken quesadilla and fries were also delicious. Took a little while for the food to come out but I'd say the price is worth it and it tasted great. Overall, solid place.

This is a very unique place! The bakery is the highlight, their pastries and cakes are amazing. I especially loved the cinnamon carrot cake cheesecake and the passion fruit tres leches. I wasn’t as impressed with the savory foods here. The spring rolls were mostly filled with rice noodles, and the sandwich was good but overpriced and lacked structural integrity. Menu and baked goods seem to be constantly changing so it’s hard to know what you’ll get when you go, which is hard if you find a favorite dish that then disappears or prefer planning your meal, or it can be good if you like a surprise and variation and adventure. Staff are super nice.

I have seen this place from the outside but never thought about going in. OMG, it was good. Food made fresh and full of flavor. This is going in my regular visit list.

Found this place while visiting Durham. There were no bad bites. Every bite was delicious. The food is good I would eat it again. I would recommend this spot to others. The desserts are an absolute must have.

Absolutely masterful. I don't know what these low reviews are about. I've been about three times now since April and each time has been amazing. Appetizers, spot on. Main course, delicious. The pulled noodles are just beautiful. I don't know about their sandwiches.... I always get the noodles. Pork were the best so far. Desserts... I can't really put into words how good. It can often be very busy so a reservation is probably required and even then we often have to wait ten minutes. But for a deliciously spicy and unique meal this is the place. And the pieces are amazing for the food you get. We just buy so much of it that it's way too much for a standard meal

This place is a little weird. To start off, almost everything has pork, so you already know that limits the menu to less than a handful of options to choose from as someone who doesn’t eat pork. Secondly, a little overpriced for a semi self serve restaurant. My noodle bowl was $18. Thirdly, if I hadn’t paid attention, I wouldn’t have realized that they charge you 4% MANDATORY hidden fee to cover THEIR vacations, and THEIR 401k, and THEIR insurance. Let me help myself before helping others! When I asked what this automatic charge is, the cashier pointed at the little sign on the counter explaining why. Pretty disgusting if you ask me. This should not be a mandatory fee whatsoever, but an optional one. While the veggies noodles (one of the only thinks I can get on their menu) was okay, because of hidden behavior like this, I won’t be returning back.

Rose's Noodles is a cute place on the outskirts of downtown Durham that offers its own twist on a ramen shop. When visiting around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. The restaurant had a couple people sitting outside with a few tables full and an open counter on the inside. The atmosphere is very cute. Having a open kitchen with areas dedicated to making their own homemade sweets. It seemed promising but outside initial expectations things deviated. My partner and I both ordered one of the steamed buns which looked just as they do in any of the other photos that you find, but while tasteful, did not feel fresh made and was actually not hot at all. All. The insides were warmed but it's hard for me to confirm if these were "freshly steamed". I ordered the tonkotsu ramen and my partner ordered the The pork option belt noodles. The tonkotsu ramen was delicious and had savory flavors with tender meat, and well cooked noodles. For my partner, her belt noodles were good but it was hard to acknowledge and enjoy The taste of the ingredients due to them being doused and chili sauce. To the point where it was inedible. This is a shame because the noodles were definitely homemade and quite delicious but could not be enjoyed. This would have not been as bad if our service would have made up for it and provided adequate water for us to accompany the burn of the noodles. After being sat and given the initial bottle of water to share at the table, the only way I was able to get service from there on was to flag down our server. At one point another table got up and went outside with their water bottle to refill it at the water tank that is provided for the people that are sitting outside. The food was delivered by one of the chefs, at no point did our waiter check on us to see how we were doing and we also had to flag them down when you were ready for the check after having not eaten a bite of food for over 5 to 10 minutes. The server seemed more occupied with folding menus and stamping takeout boxes than tending to their tables. The last thing to comment on was that even though it was a very cute restaurant, it looks like that wiping down surface area is not a priority. As The ledge that the flowers were sitting on had not been wiped for a couple days the dust that had accumulated around it was not a pleasant sight. Please see image. In summary, it could have just been an off day + maybe our expectations of the food were not correctly aligned, but I accomplished two trips in one visit being my first and my last. If tempted to go back it may be due to trying the sweets as I have heard good things but this will be a takeout experience rather than a dine in.

Cozy environment, very delicious, quality food. They have an extensive dessert bar which we enjoyed too. Waiting staff is very accommodating and nice. Menu is very straightforward which I really liked too. 10/10 would go again 🤗

We went for my mom's birthday. Everyone was very nice but our server was not overly attentive just average. I had the blackened salmon salad and the salad was very good but the salmon was just so-so. My husband had the prime rib and he said it was just ok. The rice pilaf looked like unfried fried rice you would get from a Chinese restaurant. My daughter had the turkey cranberry bog and said it was good. Mom had the fried shrimp and said they were good. Other plated at our table were hamburgers (just ok) and ribeye(said it was good). The nachos and cake were winners and the crab dip tasted fishy. They did honor mom's birthday with a 1/2 slice of cake.

Ordered carryout from Nantucket Grill during my break at work not long ago. This was my first time ordering food from this restaurant. I have had their strawberry shortcake a couple times and it is absolutely delicious! I decided to try their Jambalaya Pasta and Unbirthday Cake. The pasta was good but the cake okay. It was a little dry on this day. I will return for the strawberry shortcake when I need something sweet!

We ordered the crab dip, but it had a very fishy taste. The manager was understanding and removed it from the ticket, and we replaced it with the spinach dip. Unfortunately, we didn’t enjoy that dish either. When we asked about removing it, the manager said only one item could be taken off, which was disappointing and didn’t make much sense. The seafood pasta also wasn’t enjoyable, as it had far too many tomatoes. The one highlight was the steak, which was cooked well. The strawberry cake was yummy ! Overall, the experience was not satisfying, and I would not return.

The Nantucket Grill in Durham offers a dining experience steeped in New England tradition, featuring a sprawling menu of seafood, steaks, and classic American dishes. However, what truly defines a visit here isn't the entree—it's the infamous, sky-high, multi-layer cakes displayed prominently upon entry. ​The Atmosphere and Service ​Nantucket Grill leans into a classic, established ambiance, which some may find charmingly old-school, while others might view it as slightly dated. The setting is generally comfortable, with outdoor seating often available. ​The menu is extensive, offering everything from Filet Mignon and Cajun Ribeye to New England staples like the Maine Lobster Roll, Crab Cakes, and various stuffed seafood preparations (like the Nantucket Island Stuffed Tilapia). Popular savory choices include the Atlantic Grilled Salmon and the Jambalaya Pasta, which is described as a flavorful, zesty Creole dish. For lunch, the French Dip sandwich and the Blackened Salmon Salad are reliable options. ​If there is one non-negotiable reason to visit Nantucket Grill, it is for the bakery case. The restaurant is universally known for its massive, multi-layered cakes—truly impressive feats of pastry engineering. The favorites are consistently the Strawberry Shortcake (often cited as the best) and the Coconut Vanilla Cake (Coconut Cloud). ​The cakes are decadent, moist, and enormous; a single slice is often substantial enough to serve two or three people. Many regulars opt for sandwiches or salads for their meal just to save room for this signature dessert, or simply stop by for a slice to take home. ​Nantucket Grill is an institution that successfully serves a niche. It is the perfect choice for family dinners, those craving classic New England comfort food, or anyone who values a spectacular dessert above all else. Just make sure you save room for it!

If I could give a million stars I would!!! Hats off to the baker, chefs kiss and all of the above lol I requested a custom photo cake for my daughter’s college graduation from NCCU!!! 👩🏾‍🎓 When I say they put did themselves, they EXCEEDED anything I could have ask for is this short amount of time. Thank you for making my daughter’s day extra sweet lol everyone that ate the cake said it was soooooo good and moist and just amazing!!!!

We only stopped in to buy some cake to go. The service wasn't the most friendly. But the cake is the best. We drive out of our way to stop and pick some up.

My wife ordered the Filet Mignon and I the Surf and Turf. The filets were among the best we've ever had. We ordered dessert, too, and the portions were huge! And mine was a half slice of cake. (Not sure who is eating a whole slice!) Desserts were excellent too. The noise level was a little too high for me, being "hearing-challenged". But overall, it was an enjoyable meal. We will definitely return.

Was excited to try this place off a friends recommendation, but I waited 15 minutes for a cold brew with a splash of milk and maple flavoring, which ended up being an insanely thick layer at the bottom. I had asked for cold foam on top but it definitely wasn't present when I got the drink. The coffee tasted fine, albeit sickly sweet, but I am unlikely to return.

One of my favorite coffee shops in the area. It has both indoor and outdoor seating, with the indoor space divided into three comfortable sections that feel open and welcoming. The café is spacious, perfect for relaxing or working. The menu offers a wide variety of food and drinks, all consistently delicious.

Definitely a great place to have some coffee and relax or work. The vibe here is great, people at the counter and baristas were kind and generous. And it seemed like everybody here was happy lol… I had a yogurt bowl and a cappuccino. Loved the music too…

Wonderful locally owned coffee shop! Great treats and coffee! The waffle I had was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely be back.

This cafe is low-key amazing. 5 starts aren't even enough for the service I receive. Nearly every barista there knows me by name and memorized my drink order. You just don't get service like this anywhere anymore. The coffee is fantastic, with a variety of flavored drinks and highly superior traditional coffee and espresso. If Dawson is working, don't miss this kids espresso. Smooth, complex, and just the right amount of bitter. The day dreaming dirty Hippie is my favorite sweetened coffee drink available anywhere!

Coffee has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. In fact it all comes back to when I was at home and my mom made me a cup. Now I like to come here and think back on those times, and I think other people do too. Let's all keep moving forward and continue being best friends and going to Bean traders. It's a good place with calm relaxing vibes, only thing is that the people can be a little scary. It really brings in a young crowd and you know how those types can be. I just like to sit down at the store with my cup of coffee and pray that no one approaches me because young people are so scary. Thank you for your service to the community and making a friendly place for us to get coffee and chit chat with trusted friends. I hope we can continue being in business with you for a long long time to come

Love the cold brew! I come here often for coffee, and this time I picked up some beans to try at home!

This year at Mother's Day lunch, we had two guys celebrating their birthday. Mom asked me about getting a cake or cupcakes. As soon as I landed in Raleigh at the airport, I googled cupcakes to see what locations popped up and there was Gigi's. I was hungry and wanted lunch, but wanted to make sure I got my cupcakes before they were slim pickings. I got 6 red velvet and 6 salted caramel for lunch. Everyone lived them! I got myself a cheesecake cupcake for dessert that night and for lunch a peanut butter. Oh my goodness, were they so rich and delicious! They put them in nice boxes with plastic inserts that hold the cupcakes good. They even heald them for me in the fridge while I went for food. I do love the idea of each person having their own serving, it's just hard to figure out what to get cause there are so many delicious options to choose from. The price per seems high, but if you were going to have a nice cake made, it would run about the same. Great place for gourmet cupcakes.

Picked up some gluten-free cupcakes tonight and my strawberry gluten-free cupcake wasn't even cooked in the middle! Very poor quality. The chocolate cupcakes I purchased barely had any icing on them. I will not be going there again. Very poor quality indeed.

Gigi’s Cupcakes at Brier Creek in Raleigh is hands down the best cupcake spot I’ve ever been to! The cupcakes were absolutely incredible—moist, flavorful, and beautifully decorated. Every bite was perfect. The service was excellent too. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, especially the young man at the register—he was very polite, professional, and made the experience even better. I’ll definitely be coming back for more!

This was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had at a Gigi’s. When I went in to pick up a couple of cupcakes for a friend’s birthday. The young man working the counter the day I visited could not be bothered to share any information about cupcake flavors. He said he didn’t eat anything there and couldn’t talk about the cupcakes. He had a very nonchalant attitude - borderline rude and dismissive. It was a very disappointing experience. Gigi’s had been one of my favorite places to go for a treat. Unfortunately, the service I received was so poor, I will not be back to the Brier Creek location. Try your luck at one of the local bakeries instead of this Gigi’s. In my experience, the cupcakes are good - but not good enough to tolerate poor customer service. EDIT: After receiving a very prompt response from the business, I’m removing the identifying information about the employee who served us. I only included it in the initial post because I wanted to make sure if the issue is addressed, they talked to the correct employee. Now that I know they’ve seen it, it’s best to remove that information. I hope they’ll take the appropriate action to stress the importance of customer service, so no one else has a disappointing experience. I thank them very much for their reply and hope to try the business again sometime in the future. If I decide to visit again and there’s improvement, I will share that update with all of you.

This is such a cute little cupcake shop and the cupcakes are delicious. Today I tried the birthday cake flavor and it did not disappoint. Perfect snack for a cheat day. 👌🏾 😆 😋 🧁 🩷

I’m not from North Carolina I was visiting from Los Angeles California. My partner wanted to go and get some cupcakes and I said sure. The shop was very cute though the atmosphere wasn’t too inviting. We picked out four cupcakes and they were pretty good. There was a nice variety available. The icing was perfect. The cupcakes were a little dry but was okay. He ate both of his so it’s safe to say that he enjoyed them. He actually wanted the birthday surprise but the lady who checked us out gave him cotton candy by accident. After reading the reviews I wonder what were the cupcakes like before? Needless to say I wouldn’t mind coming back.

I have visited this store several times now, and I must say that my experience has been consistently pleasant. Their cupcakes are fresh, moist, and delicious. Today, I actually stopped in to grab one I tried on my first visit a while back, and they had one left in the display. However, when I mentioned buying it, the woman who was there suggested that I do not get it since it did not look freshly baked and seemed dry. The fact that she even said that versus allowing me to go with it spoke volumes for me. That moment communicated to me that, for her, it was about the product being well and not just taking my money. I have seen this woman before, and I get the impression that she may be the owner or manager. She is consistently pleasant and obviously takes pride in her baked goods. If you want a dessert for a special event or just because, try them out. Delicious products and great customer service ❤️

An unassuming bakery that specializes in delightful pastries - more of a bakery than a coffee shop - as the staff seemed unfamiliar with what a red-eye is. I love the variety of unique pie and pastry flavors available, and they also offer a limited selection of sandwiches made with their freshly baked breads, which are available for purchase.

This place is a gem. The breads are to die for the cranberry pecan is one of my favorites. They have coffees and pastries. You can’t go wrong with anything you choose. The Ladies are wonderful and so sweet! The atmosphere and vibes are great, the tables are old sowing tables. The strawberry croissant was so refreshing. 10/10 you should definitely come here!

Excellent apple turnover and a great latte. The pastry was so light and fluffy, you almost needed to tie it down to keep it from floating away. Nice peaceful respite on a hot Sunday afternoon. Server was great, polite and welcoming. And how often can you eat your pastry seated at a treadle sewing machine.

I am from the New York-New Jersey area, and I can tell you that this is a high quality bakery!! You can tell by the way the croissant flakes off, its the highest quality and freshest ingredients possible. All of the pastries that I had were very, very good, my wife had a ham and cheese and pesto sandwich on a croissant, she said it was extremely good because the ingredients were high quality and very fresh. That’s what made it taste so delicious. Though the owner (a French baker) retired, the staff continued his high quality and continues to uses his French recipes. A very friendly staff made the whole experience a delight!! We will definitely be back again. Though, I do wish that they put more chocolate in the chocolate croissants. I’m a bit of a chocoholic!! UPDATE 2/08/2024 My wife and I have been here 4x now. Great bakery, best in Durham!!! It never disappoints!! UPDATE 11/8/2024 This is our favorite place for coffee and bakery items!! Consistently top notch- great everything!! Even the service by Norma and Kevin is ALWAYS friendly, upbeat and welcoming!! They are a big reason why we love this place and want to return.

I placed a catering order for a baby shower and WOW, everyone loved the food! The sandwhiches may be one of the best I’ve ever had. And all the desserts were absolutely delicious. Not to mention the staff was incredibly nice and professional. I can’t wait to come in the bakery and try more!!

Adorable quaint little shop that smells so good once you walk in (especially after being in the aquarium shop in the same complex). Got an iced vanilla latte that was that great combo of strong espresso, sweet, and creamy. And the ham and cheese croissant was so damn good. Absolutely will go back!

Got some great pastries there while on a visit to Durham. Very friendly people running the store and a very nice atmosphere. We tried eclairs,danish and brought some more goodies for my son and daughter-in-law to try. All were excellent.

Excellent place to find a handcrafted artisan gift. I ordered macaron, Bon bon, and petite tarte. The peach tarts had an excellent filling - the tart shell was undercooked. The pear tarts were traditional in flavor but lacking in texture as well. The macaron had excellent flavor and was perfect size and color. You can tell they are especially good at bonbon, chocolate truffles, and macaron. The woman who runs the place is an excellent conversationalist and creates a small home feel. I was so looking forward to a French bakery in North Carolina, and I was happy to have found her spot. The chocolates are exceptional and handcrafted, and each one has a unique and pungent flavor. In total, with one box chocolate, one box macaron, and both pies, I spent $75.

This bakery gives you a fairy tale feeling with the sugary aroma. There were so many treats that I went every day of my trip. Take your time; look and ask about their offerings. I had the macarons, and they were phenomenal! The ham and cheese croissant was amazing. My favorite item was the maple bourbon tartlet. I'd recommend getting desert here versus other places in the area.

Hands down the best chocolates and macarons in the area. Every item is hand crafted and packs a punch of flavor. We had a mocha, macarons, and a selection of chocolates. The chocolates were made well and contained so much flavor. They also have a larger selection of vegan truffles too. The macarons were baked to perfection. They were light, chewy, and didn’t have too much filling, which is how those cookies should be. They also serve drinking chocolate and make a variety of hot Chocolate bombs. There’s a couple seats inside but the outdoor garden patio is beautiful and has heaters. We can’t wait to go back. Anytime I’m back in town, this will be the first place I go to.

I was gifted a box of these amazingly beautiful chocolates. These are truly works of art and although what I know about fine chocolate could fit in a thimble I would say these eye-candy chocolates are as delicious as they are beautiful. I had a pineapple shaped one that was as good as anything I have ever had made of chocolate. The salted caramel was amazing too. But honestly they were all great.

Hands down the best macaron I've had in US.. My kind of macarons.. where are the filling is just as amazing as the crust.. Also enjoyed the yuzu drink.. refreshing for a sunny afternoon And loved the freshly baked spinach and artichoke danish and sticky bun for breakfast

I made the mistake of ordering ice cream while someone picked out chocolates for a gift. The flavor and texture made it clear it had been sitting in that freezer for a LONG time, at least a year or more. That degree of freezer burn doesn't happen overnight. For me of all people to throw away ice cream you know it must be really bad! Maybe there just isn't much demand, but in that case don't put it on the menu. It makes me worry about how much else on display is way past its prime and kept for appearances only.

If I was basing this review off first impressions, I'd give it 5 stars. Unfortunately, our experience didn't end as well as it began. When we arrived, we thought 'Oh, this is cute. It reminds us of the nice coffee shops in San Francisco.' We got inside, was impressed with the macaron selection, the chocolates and even the chocolate Millennium Falcon. The espresso selections were fairly basic but seemed reasonably priced compared to local competitors. So we ordered 3 macarons, 2 pieces of chocolate and a white chocolate mocha, which cost about $21 total. The macarons were tasty, with our favorite being the rose, much to our surprise. The chocolates were okay. The key lime was mostly caramel filling with a sudden burst of key lime. The caramel itself was tasty though, but we weren't expecting any caramel in a chocolate labeled key lime. The ginger chocolate had no hint of ginger unless it was the mild spice I would get every few bites, which was disappointing. The mocha espresso was great, so much so, we went back in and ordered a 2nd one to take with us on our drive around town. This is where things went bad and what led to only 3 stars. I don't know what happened, but our 2nd drink was pretty much just an *expensive* white chocolate milk. There was no hint of espresso at all. Even looking at it later, I guess I should have noticed right away that it was a very pale light beige color, much lighter than our first drink (pictured). We couldn't even drink it because of how sweet it was and ended up tossing it. It almost tasted like it had caramel in it too, not at all what we asked for. Unfortunately, we didn't discover this until we were miles away and it was too late to return then. I don't know if the worker (who was at least very kind) was distracted because of another customer waiting or what, I just know there was no espresso added the 2nd time. So that was another $5 wasted on an undrinkable coffee. I may give them another chance, but the end of our visit definitey left a bad taste, pun intended, in our mouth.

Great local balery with delicious cupcakes! Also very cool interior space if you want to hang out and eat!

Purchased 3 cakes and a cupcake. The carrot cake was moist and good. The Strawberry cake was absolutely terrible. Dry and tasted like too much extract was used because had a strong taste and smell. The vanilla cake with chocolate icing was dry but icing was good. The crumb cupcake was ok. But for $9 a slice I expected more.

I'm particular about red velvet cake, and theirs is awesome!! Moist and the frosting is good too! I'm usually a cupcake person, so I've tried all flavors over the years. Other than the parking being tight sometimes, this is my recommended cake spot in the area.

Delicious! Tried the red velvet, lemonade, and love/romance cake(strawberry and red velvet). Clean and professional.

My family and I visited this dessert shop on multiple occasions, and we were disappointed by the lack of customer service. Despite spending a significant amount of money, the owner never acknowledged us or thanked us for our business, even when we were leaving. We also found the prices to be quite high, with one slice of cake costing $9. We didn't spend a little bit of money, it was a hefty amount! The owner claimed this was due to the high cost of eggs, but this doesn't seem to align with the current market. Given the shop's location, it seems to have little competition, which might be a factor in its business practices. We believe that true success comes from appreciating your customers. This is the result of supporting a black owned business!

I see why they was fully stocked when I entered because these desserts is horrible! The pound cake was overly flavored (very nasty) Also the red velvet cupcakes was hard & dry.. Will not be returning.

Great Red Velvet Cupcakes. Great marketing on Instagram they have funny videos. My last visit got me an encounter with one of the guys in the Instagram videos was a cool guy and friendly. I am definitely going to recommend and return for more baked goods.

A lovely small bakery where macaroons are the star. I don't live in Durham, so I searched online for a downtown bakery. I was impressed with the photos and reviews. Our party had carrot cake (tasty with crushed pineapple between the layers), lemon lavender cake (a pretty molded presentation was heavier on custard/curd than cake with a delicate lemon bite and only a hint of sweetness), pistachio ??? (it wasn't cake, it was bread...like a croissant...and it didn't pair well with the pistachio filling which was like a pistachio cream cheese-like mound. Pretty to look at but disappointing on taste), opera cake (lacked rich chocolate flavor and sweetness but suitable as a complement to coffee), birthday macaroons (delicious). Only a few tables for indoor dining. A lovely floral photo/selfie backdrop.

We have always loved Shayda's desserts, especially her macarons and carrot cake! When it came time to pick a bakery for our wedding, we knew exactly where to go! Shayda was so sweet and listened to everything we were looking for on the big day! We asked if she could make a specialty dessert from a family recipe and she made it happen! Everything tasted amazing and we couldn't have gone to a better bakery for our wedding day!

Just unbelievably great cakes! Plus ice cream and espresso! I split a piece of carrot cake and opera cake with my son-in-law. Dreamy…

Sweets by Shayda is the BEST. Not only are the sweet treats absolutely gorgeous AND delicious, Shayda and her team are a breeze to work with. My husband ordered an anniversary cake with a few loose ideas and Shayda made the most beautiful cake (I actually shed a few tears over it because it was so incredible). Shayda greeted us and wished us a happy anniversary as soon as we walked into the shop to pick up the cake, which was so sweet. If you need anything specially made or just in the mood for a treat, Shayda's is the place to go. :)

I recently heard of this local woman-owned bakery, and stopped by to get one of her vaunted croissants and a piece of cake. The carrot cake with cheesecake filling was so good that I ordered a 6" whole cake for a friend's surprise birthday party. It was beautiful and delicious, dense and moist. A hit indeed for which I received lots of compliments! I was a bit concerned about the size, as there were 10 guests -- but when I opened the box, I discovered it was so TALL that there was plenty and the guest of honor even took some home! The almond croissants are out-of-this-world, and Shayda's Viennese Opera cake is one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. We're lucky to have 'Sweets By Shayda' in Durham because its less expensive than a trip to Manhattan or Paris. 💚

I stumbled across this place recently and it's a hidden gem. Ever since I had traditional butter croissants in France, I've been on a quest to find bakeries in the US that are comparable. Until now, I was disappointed. Sweets by Shayda makes the best authentic French style croissants I have ever had in the US, and honestly might be just as good or better than the ones I had in France. Dozens of layers, super flaky on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside. They're truly amazing. If you view US croissants as fake crescent shaped loaf bread like I do, you'll truly appreciate this place. They also have a great selection of macarons, cakes, and coffee. The staff are very friendly and everything I've had has been awesome. I will be back... many times.

Everything I got from Shayda Cafe was superb in both quality and taste! The French macarons were so good! They were everything you expect from a perfectly made macaron: smooth and thin outer crust, soft and pillowy almond cookies and deliciously flavored buttercream filling. The "champagne pop" macaron, which had a fantastic buttercream filling with tiny "popped" bits of chocolate in it, was a real standout. The large butter croissants were also perfect, very flaky and buttery. The pastries were also wonderful. The mango one looked like a real mango and had delicious mango cream and pieces of fresh mango fruit inside. The individually sized Princess Cake was even better: delicate sponge layers, whipped cream + pastry cream, fresh raspberry jam and not too sweet marzipan on top. Absolutely the best princess cake I've ever had! No, this is not an inexpensive bakery, but it is absolutely worth every penny!!!

Best pastries in Durham, a hidden gem. I was transported back to France. It's like French fusion with Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flare. Both savory and sweet were amazing. Chill atmosphere, will be back.

Great tucked away spot for coffee and pastries. We tried some of their savory and sweet pastries and they were all delicious. We tried their chocolate and pistachio bar, as we're wrapped up in the "Dubai Chocolate" fad, and this was one of the best spin offs that we've tried. Seating can get tight but we made it work for a group of 6. I ordered their Valentine's Day "Lover's Box" which they do seasonally and recommend that as well - mark your calendar now!

I recently ordered from La Recette Patisserie’s catering menu for my baby shower, and I couldn’t be more impressed! They were incredibly accommodating and patient with my requests, making the process seamless. The cake pops, mini cupcakes, and strawberries were absolutely delicious—seriously a huge hit with all the guests! Not only did they taste amazing, but they were also beautifully curated and crafted with such attention to detail. I received so many compliments and had to sneak a few for myself before they were all gone! I’m so grateful to have worked with them on such a special day. Highly recommend their bakery for any occasion and to stop by and have a treat, tea or coffee!

Ordered a full dessert spread for a big anniversary/reunion bash at a local farm. Djamila worked with us to figure out the right menu for our event, factoring in everything from guest preferences to location and weather, and it all turned out so lovely! Would def recommend.

Talk about a hidden gem. It is located on an inconspicuous plaza and on the back of the building, that no one would drive around unless you knew it. The pastries and sweets are super well thought, balanced and somewhat with a unique taste profile, Mediterranean perhaps? They are delicious! The owners are so sweet, super attentive and kind. I had a cardamom latte and was worried of the cardamom taste being too strong, but it was well balanced and I enjoyed the whole experience. Our area has so many good bakery/pastries/coffee shops, but this one totally worth the visit! I will be back!

Beautiful family owned establishment Maa shaa Allah. We went after the Eid prayer. Everything was amazing. We tried a variety of things and nothing disappointed! Even the coffee was good. If you are in the area please check them out.

So excited to have made this find! Very hidden location but delicious pastries (good selection of savory as well as sweet), nice drinks, good service, lovely atmosphere, and reasonable price. Will be back soon!

Fantastic ice cream! The sea salt chocolate chip cookie dough is one of my favorite flavors to get. The rotating menu of flavors is always interesting and has something good on it all the time. The waffle cones are made in house and are pretty great. The service is always from the end nice. Definitely recommend coming here!

I had a wonderful experience here at Two Roosters Ice cream & I am so grateful for the thoughtful, warm workers!!! The ice cream was absolutely fantastic—perfect texture, dreamy unique flavors, and so satisfying. Thank you to yesterday’s team for making my whole day. Much love!

The number of times we’ve sat as a family watching the sunset over golden belt while eating delicious ice cream is too many to count. Ice cream is delicious and flavors are varied, service is fast and friendly. Indoor space is fine but being able to have an ice cream cone in the courtyard is the dream.

This was yummy ice cream! We got some fun seasonal flavors and they were delicious. This entire area is very cute- a pizzeria, brewery, and then the ice cream place are all connected by a really nice grassy/outdoor area. There is extra seating upstairs but there’s so many places to chill all around so I wouldn’t be worried about that. The menu was unique and the space was super neat and charming.

All of my visits to the Durham location of Two Roosters have been good. Service is quick and the employees are friendly and polite to me regardless of how busy it can be. Don't let the prices deter you from going there; you get a lot for what you pay for. A kids' size will satisfy my craving. The outdoor area is a plus during the summer (there's a fire pit during the winter). There's patio seating on the second floor if you want something more laid back. Hands down one of my favorite ice cream shops.

I’m incredibly disappointed with the experience I had with this vendor. I arranged to have them provide ice cream at my wedding — they were actually the very first vendor I booked — and they were a complete no-show on the day of the event. I communicated clearly and consistently throughout the planning process, and my wedding planner even followed up with them leading up to the big day to confirm details. They were listed on the dinner menu and were supposed to be a highlight for our guests — a special touch to end the night. Not only did they fail to show up, but there was also no phone call or urgent attempt to make things right — just a brief email apology. No offer of compensation or genuine effort to rectify the situation. For an event as important and memorable as a wedding, this level of service is completely unacceptable. My husband and I are extremely disappointed.

I can’t even believe the amazing flavors that two roosters has! Literally amazing They theme them & if you get a medium or bigger you can get more than one flavor - Highly suggest the cookie dough flavors! This location had an indoor upstairs and an outdoor loft space upstairs with 4 tables! Oh and the smell inside is amazing 🤩

Super tasty! I had an iced vanilla latte with macadamia milk and it was unlike any latte I've ever had. So very tasty! And the barista taking my order was super nice and helpful, he let me try some of the macadamia milk before committing. These people care about their craft🫶

I stumble across this shop mid-Saturday. I was greeted by the most pleasant clerk that I’ve seen in awhile. He maintained a smile and patience while I made up my mind. I think coming earlier will present more options. I chose a cinnamon bun that was tough and dry on the outer ring. But the inside was softer. It was really big and a good value. I ate half there and ate the rest later. It was then that I discovered that it taste better warmed up. There is limited seating inside;however there is cozy, quiet seating outside—perfect for relaxing or reading a book.

Quiet little bakery and coffee shop the coffee is absolutely delicious the bakery items as well. The customer service was top notch we will definitely be back. The prices are reasonable.

I had a superbly crafted flat white here. I'm from New Zealand and we are fussy about our flat whites. Thank you!! Also had a pecan cinnamon scroll that was massive but somehow I managed to consume it entirely. The pastry items all looked well turned out. Not a huge range. There is a fair amount of covered outside seating. Inside, a little too cozy. I learned more about two other people talking over coffee than I needed to know.

We’ve been buying from Whisk & Rye since they had pop-ups. The baked goods have just been getting better. They have great vegan and non-vegan options, and the coffee menu and specials are always tasty. Their customer service is great; we feel appreciated and always welcome. It’s a bonus that they offer a punch card.

My favorite little coffee spot. Super friendly staff creates a community vibe. The coffee is roasted in-house and is easily the best in the area. The baked goods are always delicious, and I appreciate that they have a few GF and vegan options daily.

I’m curious if the owner expects baristas to greet customers upon entering — especially when there are fewer than two customers at the counter and two employees present (one of whom made eye contact with me) but no one said a word. I’ve supported this business several times since it first opened, and for the most part, the customer service has been decent (about a year ago). However, this recent experience left me feeling unnoticed. A simple greeting can really make a difference in creating a welcoming atmosphere. I would have purchased an item even if the customer service was a bit lacking, but most of the items seemed a bit dense from viewing the case (muffins, sugar like cookies and etc). This post is not to discourage anyone from visiting but to remind the baristas to greet, even with just a smile goes along ways! ❤️✨🌹

It was a little dark walking inside , but the cupcakes speak for them , they are delicious and dogs loved their cupcakes !

Smallcakes made a delicious and beautiful 4-tier almond cake for our August wedding. The guests were blown away by the design and taste of the cake. People kept coming up to us afterward commenting on the cake. We did an at-home cake tasting and phone consultation beforehand. The cakes were delicious, and everyone was super professional. Highly recommended for wedding cakes! You won’t be disappointed.

I ordered a basic two-tier chocolate cake with buttercream frosting online for my wedding by sending them a reference image. Though the correspondence via email was somewhat lacking, they really delivered on the cake! Also, dspite my wedding being on the hottest day of the summer, the wedding cake withstood the heat and I received complements all around! Very pleased!

I LOVE cupcakes and this shop's cupcakes do not disappoint! I've been there a few times and have tried 4 of their 12 flavors- Pink Vanilla, Pink Chocolate, Salted Caramel, and Birthday Cake. Every one of them was SO good! The cake is a delicious, dense cake and the buttercream frosting is a thick sugary delight! Birthday Cake is my favorite because it is just like the cupcakes my mom used to make for me. Love the rainbow sprinkles! I've also had their cake pops and highly recommend those as well!

I loved the atmosphere and customer service was good. I got the lemon drop and rum raisin cupcakes. I was a little disappointed that the icing on the lemon drop cupcake didn’t have any lemon flavor. Not saying the icing was bad…just expected more lemon flavor. The cupcake itself was really moist. The rum raisin cupcake was really good. I will go back and try more flavors.

I've purchased from here 3 times and I've yet to be disappointed! Two times were on DoorDash, and this most recent time was in person. They offer fresh/ready to serve cupcakes in many flavors, but not so many that it's overwhelming to choose. I also purchased some cake pops. The decor is really speaking appealing too!

I love Smallcakes. Even though they are a chain, I enjoy the weekly features. With over 200 flavors I always find something new to try. The Durham location had Mudslide, a devils food cake with coffee cream cheese filling, chocolate frosting, and topped with a few chocolate chips. I had to try it! When we arrived Emylia greeted us and was very friendly. But then she broke my heart and said they were all out of the Mudslide cupcakes. After finding out that I was visiting the area and drove over to get this one cupcake… she made me one. Thank you Emylia! It was so good. I’m a chocoholic and am always looking for a new way to enjoy it. It was moist, decadent, and worth my begging and sob story. The shop is super cute with a chandelier and happy bright decor. They have plenty of options and they all looked yummy. Emylia told us their sister store is right around the corner from Charlotte in Huntersville, NC. Smallcakes didn’t disappoint in this flavor. The only thing that could have made it better would be an adult version. Stop in if you are looking for a sugar fix, need dessert options to celebrate your special occasion, or want to surprise your coworkers, friends or family with a sweet treat. They are sure to have something to please everyone.

I’ve ordered literally hundreds of cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes in several different states. This is my first time to order in NC. I was so excited to share the bundlets with my daughter and her family. The red velvet is my favorite so I bought 5 of them along with a couple other flavors. I’m so disappointed in the red velvet. It’s missing the cocoa and buttermilk. The cake tasted like any regular white cake with red food coloring. There was absolutely NO cocoa powder in these cakes. It’s very unfortunate that this was suppose to be a special surprise for my granddaughter’s choir concert.

i have been coming here since at least 2021. or even earlier. i love your desserts so much. and yesterday i wanted to give a shout out to one of your new employees. i never met him before in all the time coming. his name was nicholas which was ironic since it’s my name too. he gave amazing customer service and his personality uplifted my somewhat so so morning. i got a s’mores and then my favorite white chocolate raspberry. the only con of the entire experience is my key lime cake was only there for like one week and now i have to wait another whole year lol. ugh lol but truly seriously he made my morning and so did the cakes. thank you.

Absolutely amazing cakes. For a few bucks you can escape into a blissful mini cake of your choice and experience what it feels like to have what I can only imagine is a euphoric religious experience.

Friday afternoon we stopped by and picked up 4 of the $5 size cakes for my daughters birthday. On Saturday when we opened the bag we discovered one of the four was not correct. Unfortunately it was mine so I got to watch the others eat cake without me as I don't eat carrot cake, which is what we got instead of the confetti cake I ordered. Check your order before you leave because apparently they pick out 4 cakes correctly.

I went here today with my dad to get some birthday bundtlet rewards. Nico was so friendly and awesome! He was really personable and gave us some good recommendations. Really appreciated his customer service and would love to come back!!! Also, the bundt cakes are incredible!!!

Nico with Nothing Bundt Cakes went above and beyond this week to help with a gender reveal Bundt cake. He was professional, considerate, and so joyful when helping! It was just an exciting time and he made it even that much better!!

Nico rox!!!!! He’s super friendly and sweet, just like the bundt cakes. Me and my boyfriend came in to collect his birthday reward. He was so friendly and excited for us. Everyone should be like Nico!!

OMG where do i even begin with barb, her team, the treats and classes. I have taken 2 cake classes with barb, enjoyed MANY treats from the case and ordered several custom orders, and never ever have i been unsatisfied. my custom cakes always turn out so beautiful and are the center of my party every year, any get eaten down to the last crumb they’re always so delicious. cake classes at the food hall are so fun and you actually learn something! i hosted a private one earlier this year and barb and her team were so easy to work with and coordinate and all my girlfriends da LOVED the cake class and the cake was delicious. as far as dropping in for random goodies i always feel safe trying something new as i know barb and her team knock it out of the park. LBB is a staple in durham and an instant classic in this community. couldn’t imagine a perfect durham afternoon without stopping by to see one of the many smiling faces in her little corner. 10/10

Choosing what to order at Little Barb's is always a tough decision. Their dishes are my absolute favorites. I regret not reviewing their pumpkin cheesecake in time to capture a photo – it was divine! Barb and her team are incredibly friendly and welcoming, enhancing the overall Durham Food Hall experience

Buyer beware. I ordered a strawberry crunch cake for a special occasion and I was excited to try it because Barb's bakery and this cake in particular was highly recommended. I am very sad to say that it was not good. The cake was a gluey disgusting mess. We served it to our party and the bulk of them refused to eat it. When I discussed it with the owner she did not accept that there was an issue, that we just didn't understand her kind of cake. So I spent $95 on a cake that was inedible and when I brought it to the owner's attention she had only excuses and refused to offer even a partial refund. Do not buy from this business. They do not take ownership of their mistakes and make no effort to correctt hem. I have never spent so much for such a disgusting poorly made cake.

Absolutely loved my experience with Little Barb’s Bakery! I ordered a cake for a special occasion, and not only was it adorable—seriously, the cutest cake I’ve ever seen—it was also unbelievably delicious. It was almost too pretty to eat… almost. Highly recommend!

We had a great experience at Little Barb’s! Our wedding cake tasting was very sweet. Barbara was a great host and the gluten free cakes, frostings and toppings were delicious. We are so excited for our wedding cake!

Made our wedding cake. We started with the sampler and made it a date. We found the right cake that was perfect for us and Barb was great in making sure everything was delivered and ready to go. Enjoyed it so much we got the same cake for the smaller local family two weeks later. I don’t like these one star reviews and felt it was important to share my extremely positive experience.

Barb’s is simply the best. She makes my birthday cake every year and it always impresses!! If you want something special, delicious, and beautiful— go to Barb’s.

When I saw Katelyn’s work for wedding cakes, I prayed that she would be available for our wedding because WOW–her work is just stunning. The cake she made for us was exactly what we were hoping for and more. She got everything from the color to the texture to the taste just right. I cannot even begin to describe how delicious her cake tasted. We also ordered gluten free and vegan cupcake options–I could have just had those at our wedding and been happy; they were delicious. I cannot recommend Capital Cakes enough–Katelyn is a master at her craft!

Working with Katelyn was great! She responds to emails quickly and was able to make our cake with a quick turnaround. Also, the most important part, our cake was AMAZING! My wife has a gluten allergy so the cake was gluten free but you couldn't tell, it was the best cake (gluten free or gluten full) that I've ever had!

We used capital cakes for our daughter’s aviation themed birthday this past weekend. All I can say is WOW, we got soooo many compliments on the cakes on how beautiful and delicious they were. She worked with our color scheme and sketches and worked her magic to create these beautiful cakes. You pay for the quality you get. Absolutely amazing, I couldn’t recommend more! Pickup was easy and cakes were secure the whole drive home.

We used Capital Cakes for our wedding. Katelyn did an absolutely amazing job with our cake and cupcakes! She helped us get the design just right and was so easy to work with, and the cake was gorgeous. The cake and the cupcakes were delicious, and our guests raved about the desserts. We couldn't be happier with her work, and we will definitely order from Capital Cakes again in the future.

Katelyn was so helpful to us when our initial baker backed out after we had to postpone our wedding for the 4th time. With only 3 months to our wedding day, Katelyn swiftly embraced the design from our initial baker and arranged several tastings for us. We couldn’t have been happier with the end result. It was absolutely stunning and tasted even better! Thank you so much Katelyn!

Katelyn was such a pleasure to work with. I had to drastically change our wedding plans due to Covid. Katelyn was there to help with no hesitation! She was so sweet and so helpful during such a stressful time. On top of her professionalism and flexibility, our cake and cupcakes were AMAZING! Everyone raved about them! I highly recommend booking Capital Cakes, you will not regret it!

Katelyn was amazing!! We went to her office to try different types of cakes, and SO YUMMY! She helped take my non-creative mind and bring my perfect cake to life! When a previous bride didn't return the cake stand we initially wanted, she checked in with us and sent us a variety of other options. Everyone loved the cake, and it looked beautiful! Thanks for helping make our wedding cake!!

We truly underestimated how delicious our cake would be. My now husband and I go to weddings and usually avoid the cake like the plague. We assumed everyone thought the same way we did so we got a modest 2 layer "naked" cake. Well right after we cut the cake and had our traditional bite we turned around the that cake was completely gone and people were asking for 2nds! Thank you Simply Cakes for blowing our guests away!

Thank you Sabrina for this amazing cake! It was beautifully decorated and I loved the almond/raspberry cake! It was a great surprise to my party. Thanks again -The Booker Family

Working with Simply Cakes was so easy. I went into the tasting completely unsure of what I wanted for my wedding cake, and came out feeling really good about it. All the flavors of cakes we tasted were so delicious and had a hard time choosing, so we went with cake and cupcakes too! I do not have a sweet tooth at all, but this is some of the best cake I have ever eaten. All the guests I have talked to after the wedding, have mentioned how great the cake was as well! I wanted a simplistic but elegant design and they made me just that! I was even able to use fresh flowers from my decorations on the cake for a nice touch. I literally loved everything about the cake! I would definitely recommend Simply Cakes to anyone and everyone!

We just got married and Simply Cakes made our cake. We absolutely loved it! Simply Cakes was very easy to work with. The whole planning process went very smoothly. The cake was beautiful and it tasted amazing! Best wedding cake I've ever eaten. They were very well organized in getting the cake to the venue, which made it very low stress for us! We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a cake!

Sabrina is an amazing baker. We tasted at 5 different places and the winner was so clear. Her cakes are moist and delicious, her icing is perfect, and the ratio is excellent. We had a 5-tier 3-flavored wedding cake and guests raved about it. The value of Simply Cakes is excellent, too. For a comparable cake from some of the other bakeries, we were looking at 10-20% more cost. The cake was gorgeous and exactly what we asked for. Sabrina even worked with our florist to get some fresh flowers that she placed on the cake herself when she delivered it to our venue. Highly recommend using Simply Cakes for whatever you need.

Simply Cakes made the most perfect wedding cake and cupcakes that were as delicious as they were beautiful! I couldn’t decide on just one flavor so Sabrina helped me pick out 4 amazing flavors! My parents and I enjoyed the tasting so much and we knew right away this was our place! Everything from the initial tasting, emailing details, and the final product on the big day went perfectly! Thank you for making my big day that much sweeter!

Delicious cakes! Sabrina is a talented baker, and she offers an impressive range of flavors for wedding cakes. Everything I tried was tasty (even the flavors that I normally don't go for), and the buttercream she uses to cover the cakes was great. My wedding cake last year was lovely, delivery was easy, and everyone enjoyed the 3 flavors we chose. The frosting bowed out a bit over time, but I think that has more to do with the hot day than anything the bakery could have done. And we just picked up our anniversary cake--the fig, rum, and honey cake was just as we remembered!

My fridge works perfectly fine But when I bought this yesterday I place it in the fridge. Now that I take it out it looks like this? Mind you this cost $5! As you can see there is mold.

I placed an order online. After checking it over, I discovered that I failed to order the birthday cake which was the original purpose of my online order. On the morning of the pickup, I called the bakery and prayed that I could ordered a birthday cake too. Thankfully, they had the perfect cake available. It was beautifully decorated and inscribed for me. I love how Guglhupf went “above and beyond” to help me. The cake and pastries were excellent. I look forward to coming back again and again.

So rare to find real, old-school baked goods! And I know, I am old and worked in a bakery when I was young. This is it. Real ingredients and as amazing to look at, as they are yummy. I wish I lived closer. Every time I visit my kids I have to stop by for a schnecke or the butter cookies or elephant ears. Oh! And a scone! And how about this cake?

I needed to order some assorted pastries for a Mother’s Day’s brunch. Find what I wanted and ordered on line Thursday. Picked them up boxed and ready to go Sunday. They were delicious and the hit of the brunch! So easy!!

Yummy bakery. Choc croissant, horn and bretzel were super yummy.

We love Gugelhupf, and getting our wedding cake from them was a breeze! Simply delicious cake, and it looked amazing, too!

Always the best! Bread is great and affordable, sweets are more expensive but awesome. Plenty of vegan options

I just wanted to say this place is amazing and dedicated and kind and sweet. My brother is in the Duke hospital and a friend of ours ordered him a surprise cake in celebration of getting healthy/healed enough again to have his heart pump removed, and from what I heard they had difficulties with the delivery the first day the second day a Mrs shea I'm told took the time to deliver it to the hospital herself. My brother when the nurse brought it to him he sent me a message and he was so surprised and he had a slice and said it was very good, red velvet with cream cheese frosting. The fact that she took the time was super kind and dedicated.

You have got to try desserts from The Lunchbox Bakery. I ordered a cake for my daughter’s birthday a few years ago, put the number in my phone but forgot the bakery name. One day I just happened to be going thru my phone to delete some numbers and stumbled across Lunchbox Bakery, I was happy! My mom never baked box cakes so I was accustomed to scratch cakes. This bakery is just like home (sorry mama it’s better than yours 🤣). If I could give The Lunchbox Bakery 20 stars I would, they bake the best cake I have EVER purchased from a bakery. It’s a true SCRATCH cake with a taste that you will NEVER forget!!!

The cupcakes were beautiful and very tasty. The peanut butter frosting is amazing! I will definitely use Lunchbox Bakery again.

I’ve been using Lunchbox Bakery for years now and every single time I do so it makes me wanna come back even more then I did before! I really mean it when I say this, your really missing out if you haven’t gave Lunchbox Bakery a try. Trust it’s worth it.

This place is where it’s at the women went out of her way to make the customer happy when she didn’t have too. I recommend to everyone who has a sweet tooth. Best place in Raleigh

I ordered strawberry covered chocolates and they were amazing. Highly professional and great service.

Delicious baked goods and treats!! So So goood!!!

Giving a one-star due to the poor service received, specifically from the manager, Olivia. She was very apathetic towards us. When we ordered, we went ahead and placed a to-go order for my brother so that it would be ready by the time we finished our food. To specify, I placed an order of Chicken Alfredo for dine-in as well as a to-go order of Chicken Alfredo. Before we received our food for dine-in, we received the to-go order which wasn’t an issue, we just placed it to the side. A minute later, another server comes out saying that she has our to-go order, leaving us confused as we had already received the order so we sent the extra order back. After that specific server left, a few minutes later, she returned with our food we had ordered for dine-in. Once I stirred my pasta, I noticed that the standard dinner portion that I have previously consistently experienced, especially in regards to my last two visits this past month, was a lot smaller, resembling their lunch portion. As shown in my photo, this was the portion I received before the singular bite I took. I cannot speak for surety if they just put a little bit of the second mistaken to-go order on my plate and pushed it out but I can definitely speak on Olivia’s poor attitude and management skills. Initially, I requested to receive a small amount of noodles to at least fill my plate up to somewhat of the dinner portion - to which our server said that her manager said it would be an up charge. At first I took it on the chin, as I did not want to pay extra for noodles that were supposed to be in this specific portion. I was very discontent with this as I have ordered this exact meal several times before, frequenting this exact establishment. At this point, I didn’t even want the extra noodles, so in my request to the manager, I just requested that my meal be adjusted to the pricing of their lunch serving - as that was what I received. While speaking with Olivia, she was very apathetic - appearing bored with the conversation. Her facial expressions, tone, and body language gave off that she already had her mind set on not giving me any accommodations on my meal as she continuously cut in with excuses and responses as soon as she thought I was done speaking. Her reasoning for me receiving such a small portion was that it 1) was the standard dinner size and 2) they had weighed it before it went out and 3) that my plate had actually weighed more than it was supposed to (this was definitely a lie as the to-go order weighed more than my plate). She continued to argue to this reasoning even after I pointed out that my mother’s portion was bigger than what I received despite her taking several bites of her meal and that the portion size of the same exact meal that we had ordered to-go weighed heavier. She did not care at all when I attempted to reason with her - pointing out that she could check the cameras and it would showcase that I did not do anything to my food to warrant it fill up less than half of the plate and that in my experiences these past few months, this exact meal was more than I had received. Her lack of consideration and attempt to rectify the situation was distasteful. I have never received such service from Durham’s Cheesecake Factory as I have tonight. I wasn’t asking for a meal compensation, just a rectification that remedied the meal that I received. Even an apologetic attitude or response would have remedied the situation even if she didn’t honor any of my requests. Her attitude made the experience much worse, it is clear that she did not care for our patronage. In hindsight, I now I am thinking that I should have just been dishonest and taken that extra to-go order. I am severely disappointed in the service I received tonight and management’s response. I have no plans on returning or recommending this location to others anytime sooner. Please note, my mother’s food was this size after taking several bites of her food. The picture of my food, the chicken Alfredo, was what I had received from the kitchen.

I truly don’t understand how this place has 4.2 stars. I would give 0 star if possible. Bad attitude of the waitress. Dirty silverware. Below average food. 1️⃣We noticed the utensils are dirty so we called the waitress to replace it, very politely, but she seemed impatient, didn’t say a word, grabbed the utensils very loudly, left and never came back… Later we had to ask another waiter to bring us new utensils. 2️⃣We ordered 2 pastas and some appetizers. No comment, just eatble. 2-3 stars at most. I def expected better food for we spent over 60 dollars per person.

Poor service and disappointing food quality. I rarely leave reviews, but felt I should this time. Visited on a Tuesday dinner for two. Ordered the California omelette and a tenderloin dish. The portions were the smallest I’ve ever had at any Cheesecake Factory. My $28 tenderloin plate was especially underwhelming(few pieces of meats but huge amount of rice), and the omelette was also smaller than expected. The server seemed more focused on pushing cheesecake than providing good service. Even after I politely declined dessert, the check was dropped without eye contact or a proper farewell when we left. I ordered a Stella, but they didn’t have it and replaced it with a Modelo that wasn’t even cold. I had to ask twice for bread, and each time the server’s reaction was unpleasant. Overall, not worth the price. I would choose another restaurant next time.

At this location I decided to visit them during their happy hour in the bar area. The woman, who ran the bar, was kind enough to let me sit at a table instead of the counter. She was alone at the time and had no support from her colleagues. I ordered Factory Nachos to eat. The taste was very good, but some of the nachos were burnt a bit too much for my taste buds. The portion was huge and the price was quite reasonable with $10,95. And what I noticed immediately when I sat down, and what I have noticed before in other branches, is that the cutlery is covered with ugly limescale stains. This problem should definitely be improved finally! Nevertheless, I would eat the nachos again.

Party of 2 for a reservation at 4:45 pm. We were sat at our reserved time with no delays. Waiter was good and very kind. Upon sitting down we immediately noticed dirty cutlery and plates. Asked waiter for new plates and cutlery but unfortunately he forgot. We ordered the crispy crab bites as an appetizer. They were very obviously pre-frozen and thawed because the outside was very dark and almost burnt, while the inside was lukewarm. Upon further inspection of the booth and table, it appeared to be VERY dirty and grimy. There was also extreme dust buildup on the light fixture above the booth. The men’s restroom was disgusting. The floor under all of the urinals was soaked with urine and the floor was slick. We ordered the chicken parm pizza style and the fettuccine Alfredo. Took about an hour for the food to come out. The manager made peace with a free slice of cheesecake due to the wait. The chicken parm was good with no complaints. Unfortunately, the fettuccini Alfredo was extremely under-seasoned. I attempted to use the salt shaker provided at the table, but it was so packed with moisture-ridden salt that it was unusable. Upon inspection of the salt shaker, it was very rusty and gross. I do not recommend this location.

Always busy! Get ready to wait. However, their text messaging service may allow you to enjoy nearby retailers while waiting to be seated. Food is good and plentiful. Seems like staffing is adversely impacting service. Seating both indoors and outdoors. Plenty of parking around mall. Recommended

I have never had a bad meal ever at The Cheesecake Factory and tonight was no different. The Crispy Chicken Costoletta is always amazing but the small bites menu has an item that was out of this world delicious and it was the New Orleans Cajun Shrimp but I warn you, order 2 (sorry no pic of that because I ate it too fast 😋).

Like most people I became familiar with Dolce cafe because of TikTok. Although the cafe isn’t extremely large, and the line for the pastries was so long it was blocking the door customers and the cafe staff were kind. I went with my sister and we both were happy at the speed of which the line was moving. We ordered our food to-go and weren’t there for more than 15-20 minutes (start to finish). I HIGHLY recommend going to try their viral pastries and their other foods as well. They have high quality food items that are a great price and the portions look filling (from what I could see). Overall 10/10 experience. I will definitely be back.

Last time I was in Raleigh I came by right after they went viral (unexpectedly but understandably!). I was able to try the Fun Guy only since the case was cleared out at that time of day and I was hooked. Came back in town this weekend and knew it had to be our first stop. We got there about 9:00am and it was a much better time to go. The cases were stocked and we had our picks! The cashier taking our order was so sweet and very helpful! We didn’t try one thing we didn’t like - including the gluten free chocolate raspberry cake! I have to say my favorite was the peach followed closely by the pear and the apple. We were SO impressed by the realism! From the last time I went, I could tell the staff was more prepared for the influx of people coming to enjoy their creations. :)

We loved the Dulce Cafe !!! I highly recommend the murano cake, it was absolutely delicious!! The fruit deserts were so impressive and all tasted very fresh and colorful. The service was amazing, all of the staff was very kind and extremely helpful!! I would love to come back next time and try a coffee, but the deserts are beautiful and much better than I expected. They weren’t waxy or covered in fondant which was a worry of mine they were all light and very flavorful!! I highly recommend this place and whatever the owners and staff are doing they should keep it up!!

I’m running off 3 hours of sleep and pushing deadlines at work. After dropping my son at school I came to Dulce this morning, and it did not disappoint. Besides the staff, that always makes me feel welcomed, Dulce serves more than delicious food and amazing coffee. They are serving care and beauty. It’s something to look down at a meal and truly feel cared for. Truth is, that’s not something you can buy. And the only place I’ve experienced that is at my mother’s house or during Friend’s Giving every November. I rarely post reviews for my favorite places in Durham because I don’t want too many people knowing. But TikTok made Dulce famous. The world knows them, what’s amazing is that they haven’t let that compromise anything. So next time you stop by Dulce, remember they don’t have to make the pastry or granola you ordered beautiful. They do it because they care. It’s a love language quickly running out. Let’s take care of the businesses that love us.

While the food takes a little while to come to the table, the experience was very unique. Of their cakes are made there and they are so adorable. The chocolates are definitely made there! We had a coffee and Cafe LA and they were just perfect. It wasn't too crowded when we went which was very nice and we got to get the full experience. We each had a cheese and egg sandwich. My partner had a croissant and it was light and fluffy. I had white toast and it was very crunchy but I enjoyed every mouthful.

came here with friends and place is very cute!! i got the mushroom and lemon because they sounded the best, my friends got peach and pear, they said it was good! when i tried the mushroom it was very good! not too sweet which is nice, i hate overly sweet desserts. when it comes to desserts i am a wimp because i get headaches easily from sweets!? sadly this place gave me a headache but thats okay! our server was so insanely sweet, i had bought one of the sweets for my grandmother, sadly we had a lemon that had broken off the green cake. once i told our server she gave us another one FREE of charge!!! thank you! i rate this place a 9/10!!! super yummy!

Came here after my sister in law saw it on TikTok and it was amazing! The food was delicious and desserts were so much fun and tasted wonderful (If you're a mango lover, you just have to try their mango cake!) Everyone was so friendly too and it really made the experience great. Parking can be a little tricky and with it going viral there is a wait but it's absolutely worth it. We look forward to coming back again soon

Great cupcakes! Ordered it home several times. Went dine-in today, its a cute place. The only thing I felt the cupcakes were less dryer when I ordered it home

Smallcakes catered my wedding and all the desserts were delicious. Cupcakes and cake were very moist and flavorful. All other items brownies and cookies were freshly made. Worth every penny and the staff was amazing.

Ella was absolutely amazing! She gave her personal opinion and ensured we had the best experience! The boxes are well-designed to ensure the cupcakes don’t move in transit. We were so happy when we got home and the cupcakes looked just as they did in pictures and at the store. The carrot cake cupcake was for me and it was PERFECT! Not too sweet. Not too carrot-y, if you know what I mean. Definitely coming back, and hopefully, it’ll be a night Ella’s working!

Dropped in on a whim. It was hard to pick one, so I got 4, and even that was hard. So many yummy flavors to choose from. They even have gluten free and vegan cupcakes and a special "pupcake" for your favorite fur baby. Not to mention how deliciously moist they are. The shop is a little tight, but the is my only complaint. The staff was great. Show yourself some love and drop in for a treat. You can thank me later. 😉

I ordered a smash cake for my daughter’s first birthday as well as 40 cupcakes. The smash cake was excellent and looked amazing and the baker worked with me to get the design I wanted. The cupcakes were absolutely delicious, clearly made extremely fresh. Everyone at the party commented on how good the cupcakes were. We will definitely order from here again when we need treats!

This establishment is everything !!!! Brought our 3 year old here to pick out some Cupcakes for his birthday and he loved it and so did we . It was super Cute, Cozy & Clean we ate outside underneath the patio section, the staff was very pleasant and professional and fast. The Cupcakes were AMAZING sooo freaking Delicious. They flavors of the day were perfect because there was a Birthday Cake Cupcake whoopey 🎊🎉. I highly recommend this location trust me you won’t be disappointed with the Treats nor the service. I’m so glad we stopped in so go ahead and Treat yourself 😊😋

I'm pretty sure it's not possible to bake a better cake than Smallcakes. They have a huge variety if classic and creative flavors. Some of the flavors rotate so there's always something new to try. The cakes are beautiful and delicious. While they are big enough for two, you won't want to share. If you're looking for dessert on a date, after dinner, or for an event, you can't beat Smallcakes.