Category: | Bakery |
Address: | 112 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA |
Phone: | +1 212-242-5858 |
Site: | empirecake.com |
Rating: | 4.5 |
Working: | 8AM–10PM 8AM–10PM 8AM–10PM 8AM–11PM 8AM–12AM 10AM–12AM 11AM–10PM |
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Lanaette Colon
I was able to meet the owner herself and what a sweetheart! She took the time to speak with my bf and I about exactly what is was we wanted. Now, if youre going to go in there to order coffee and have individual sweet-treats, this is the right place. But dont just grab a coffee and go - you have to sweeten it up yourself! So the owner herself was great and extremely knowledgeable. On the contrary, I am rather confused and frustrated as to why a certain female assistant works there. First off, I made it very clear that I wanted my coffee light, meaning lots of milk. This thing was as dark as sin. I decided not to complain, but made sure to it that when I had also ordered my daughters Student of the Month treat, she did not receive a cake, but a cupcake instead. If Im going to do something personalized or custom made, I figured starting with something small to test this place out first was the safest way to go. This same female assistant (who cannot even make a light coffee) tried to reason with me why I should not change a frosting on a carrot cupcake from cream cheese to vanilla buttercream. Now, granted, everyone who knows sweets knows that nothing goes better with carrot cake than cream cheese frosting does. But if I had made it VERY CLEAR that my daughter DOES NOT LIKE cream cheese frosting no matter how much I try to get her to like it at home, respect it, right?! WRONG! I picked up my order two days later - and low and behold - cream cheese frosting, even though I CLEARLY ordered it with vanilla buttercream and could not have exaggerated anymore than I already had how important that was. I thank my instinct on not purchasing a large cake and buying the custom cupcake for $15 instead. BEWARE CUSTOMERS: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ORDERING SOMETHING CUSTOM, PREPARE TO BE ARGUED OUT OF WHAT YOU WANT AND BE TOLD WHY WHAT YOURE ORDERING IS WRONG RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE OWNER WHO IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT, TOPPED WITH A "YOU GET WHATEVER I MADE, NOT WHAT YOU ORDERED" CHERRY ON TOP. I will continue to come here for individual treats or cakes already made. I will NEVER try to have something custom and/or personalized ever again. It is unfortunate that my daughter could not enjoy her first honorary treat as Student of the Month because of someones selfishness, laziness, and arrogance, as she cringed when she licked at the frosting and AUTOMATICALLY knew it was cream cheese. Way to go, guys! They made a very special moment for my daughter one that I will never forget, and all for the wrong reasons. UPDATE: I FORGOT A VERY IMPORTANT FACT.. I TOLD THEM MY DAUGHTER WAS ALLERGIC TO WALNUTS... THEY ADDED WALNUTS RIGHT ON TOP OF THE CENTER OF THE CUPCAKE, UNDER THE FROSTING. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN I TOOK OFF THE FROSTING.
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Emily Rellis
Im very confident to say the Empire Cake is my favorite bakery on the West side of Manhattan! Im pretty sure they put fairy dust or some sort of addictive additive into every delectable dish because once I have one, I want one hundred. Now - their cupcakes and cookies, but the real shining stars to me are their snack cakes and mini black & white cookies. Each snack cake is like the perfect combination of cupcake and cookie, as each cake if filled with an appropriate cream and then covered in chocolate. Like a Hostess cupcake but 100x better. Go for the chocolate-covered and the red-velvet and i promise you wont be disappointed. The black and white minis are dangerous. Theyre worse than potato chips because I promise you, you can pop about 25 down your pie hole and still want more. I work in an office and whenever I hear of a birthday coming up, I mention them because they are perfect for group gatherings - you can order so many, and yet they all will disappear. Buy yourself at least 2 of each flavor (original black and white & red velvet and white) and a cup of coffee and I promise your afternoon will be all unicorns and kisses for the rest of the day. A perfect first date spot - with their delectable goodies and clean eating space, I recommend Empire for any occasion!
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Dragana Bozic
Empire is an awesome new addition to the area. Not only does it serve Stumptown coffee (my personal favorite), it also has great baked goods. There are so many sweet options that it is hard for me to pick a favorite. Definitely get a black and white cookie - its one of the best Ive ever had. The cupcakes here are also very good - the cake is a little dense, but not too much, and although the frosting is really sugary, it is also very light, so it isnt overwhelming (ahem, Magnolia). Stop by if youre in the area, you wont regret it. If youre like me, it will be the start of a beautiful friendship (or a troublesome addiction, if youre concerned about your sugar intake).
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Katie Elsworth
DELICIOUS! This is my go-to bakery whenever Im in charge of getting the cake (seems to always be me?), and I am always so happy with the results. The red velvet, coconut, and the salted caramel are particular favorites, and my friends always end up asking where I got the cake. Its also a great neighborhood spot to stop in for a coffee, muffin or cookie--and I love supporting a local biz that gives Chelsea some character (adorable window displays!), rather than the mega-chains that are taking over NYC these days. Oh, try the snack cakes and yodels too!
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Cheryl Atwood
What a perfect little bakery--my favorite in New York! I make a point to stop by here whenever Im in the city, and I am always delighted with whatever I try--so far Ive been wowed by the black and white cookie, the salted caramel cupcake, the pistachio cupcake, the walnut puddle cookies, the coconut cake, and the tricolor cookies, and I plan to be adding to the list! Service is always friendly (everyone is so nice that I sometimes wonder if Im still in NYC!), and the shop itself is adorable. Cant wait for my next visit!
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L Sweetwater129
I was very disappointed with the $35 strawberry fields cake I purchased. The cake was not moist. The flavor was bland & dry. There was nothing special about the cakes, cupcakes or pastries they sold. Very small spot & no privacy - two counters & about 6-8 stools. & I guess this place is good enough for people that like that sweet cornbread type of flavor and sour cream/buttercream icing. But I will never return. It was a waste of my time & $.
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Andrew Duchi
Probably my favorite cupcakes in New York. I find most cupcakes to be too rich or too sweet, but Empire Cakes somehow manages to get them just right. These cakes are rich yet reasonably light. Even if Im not buying anything, I often like to stop by and just see the cakes they put in the window to demonstrate their fantastic skills with cake and frosting. Their last one -- a Minion from "Despicable Me" was especially cute and impressive.
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Orlando Ferrand
This place is an absolutely exquisite treat to all your senses. The pastry is beyond exceptional and the postcards they sell are unique artworks that greatly surpass the tacky aesthetics of hallmark designs. The cakes for special occasions and the cupcakes are my favorite but watch out for those calories! Hopefully, you have a membership to the NYSC and wont feel guilty after binging on these deliciously eatable masterpieces.