Good bakery?

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for a good bakery to make our DD's birthday cake. We don't want something super expensive, but I'm not much of a baker to do it at home and I'm not a huge fan of the grocery or Costco cakes.

We're not talking huge either...something to feed 20 people. Any local suggestions that do a good job but don't cost a fortune?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Where are you?

[Anonymous]

Downtown DC...willing to go to close by VA or MD though...

[Anonymous]

Le Caprice on 14th Street in Columbia Heights has a pastry chef who does amazing stuff. I live around the corner, and they have a big window to the kitchen, so I've stood on the sidewalk and watched him work. Also, they're just really nice and friendly, family owned, so I try to steer business to them whenever I can. I haven't actually eaten any of their cakes, but their other stuff is all good.

[Anonymous]

http://bakedandwired.com/offerings/cakes/
in Georgetown....

[Anonymous]

How about Heller's in Mt. Pleasant?

Or Classic Bakery in Gaithersburg? (Next to Great Beginnings)

We love Just Cakes in Bethesda, but they're pricey.

[Anonymous]

Also -- Whole Foods cakes are quite good. Have never bought a birthday cake there, but their cheesecake and fruit tarts are very good (based on purchases from the Tenleytown location).

[Anonymous]

I know you said no to grocery cakes, but have you tried Wegmans? They are my favorite. Love the buttercream icing and custard filling with marble cake.

[Anonymous]

In Arlington on Lee Highway there is a great German bakery: http://www.heidelbergbakery.com/

They make wonderful bread and cakes, pastries etc.

[Anonymous]

Whole Foods!

[Anonymous]

Crumbs has delicious cakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Le Caprice on 14th Street in Columbia Heights has a pastry chef who does amazing stuff. I live around the corner, and they have a big window to the kitchen, so I've stood on the sidewalk and watched him work. Also, they're just really nice and friendly, family owned, so I try to steer business to them whenever I can. I haven't actually eaten any of their cakes, but their other stuff is all good.

I'll second Le Caprice. It's so good! But as to the PP who recommended Heller's, hell no! It's been a long time since their cakes were edible, much less good. If you have a few minutes and a strong stomach, go check out Prince of Petworth and search for their post on the moldy Heller's cake. Bleh.

[Anonymous]

Pastries by Randolph in Arlington. They do great cakes. My favorite is the marble mousse -to die for.

http://www.pastriesbyrandolph.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also -- Whole Foods cakes are quite good. Have never bought a birthday cake there, but their cheesecake and fruit tarts are very good (based on purchases from the Tenleytown location).

Blech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crumbs has delicious cakes

Really? Because their cupcakes are not good.