Hollin Hall Pastry Shop

Category:	Bakery
Address:	7920 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308, USA
Phone:	+1 703-768-9643
Site:	hollinhallpastry.com
Rating:	3.7
Working:	7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7:30AM–6PM 8AM–2PM

Location

Photos 84

Reviews 6

Stacey H

I ordered and prepaid for a custom cake for my daughters birthday party 2 weeks before the event. When I went in to pick it up - they couldnt find it. I asked to speak to a manager and was told he wasnt there. The place was being run by what appeared to be 2 teenagers. They had to call a manager to ask how to give me a refund. While the manager was on the phone, I asked the employee if I could speak to him - he refused to let me talk to him - I think the manager was telling him - "Dont put her on the phone." I simply wanted to know if the cake was made and if it could have been placed somewhere these kids werent looking. I asked for my photo back - it was a professional photograph. I mistakenly thought it would be handled with care - that they were just going to scan it. The photo was returned bent and covered with frosting smudged fingerprints. They did let me pick whatever cake I wanted from the poor end-of-the-day selection. My daughter cried, of course. The teenagers were nice and looked sorry - but they werent the ones responsible for the mistake and no one with any responsibility ever contacted me. I ordered my wedding cake from this place about 10 years ago. It was the best place. This is no longer the case. Its become amateur. I used to order all my cakes from here until a few years ago when it started going downhill - less professional staff. I use Sweet Ladies bakery now - and only went back this time at my daughters insistence. She says she will never step foot in there again.

Diana Allen

Terrible experience! I placed an order for my sons birthday cupcakes for school. He wanted Dinosaurs and I went to Party city got the cupcake kit and provided them first off they were expensive $3.50 quoted per cupcake and then I showed them the sample and asked them to have the frosting completely covering the cupcake and for it to be green came back home same day called and a lady answered very rude said we got it and then I specifically told her are you sure the icing needs to be green has that been noted and the icing to be covering the cupcake top she said " oh no she did not write it down I will" 2 days later I go for the pick up just as I had feared the icing was half done .... then the girl at the counter says we can do it for you takes it back and comes back and says my manager says we can give you a store credit I told them no I am not interested in a store credit I just need the frosting to cover the cupcake... then she said ok I will go back and ask him to do it....came back by this time we wasted about 45 minutes in the store with the frosting all over I still took it cause I could not disappoint my 5 year old. I wish I had cause every kid in class including teachers had told my son today how awful the cupcakes tasted... Terrible very disappointed ! Never again! imagine 5 yr Olds telling the cupcakes were not good ! Never again!

A Private User

My wife and I went through them for our wedding cake. Initial impression is what sold us, full slices of sample cake and it was outstanding. We pre-ordered about 4 months in advance and was paid in full weeks before the wedding. Come the day of the wedding they were about 1.5 hours late. On top of that they completely forgot the sheet cake that we paid for AND the cake was oriented wrong (was supposed to be a three tiered square cake with off-centered layers, ended up each layer being the same orientation). It wasnt fun being a groom 15 minutes from walking down the isle having to call to see where the cake was. I believe I spoke to the head chef who was completely rude and dismissive. Fast forward past the wedding, we are told we will be receiving a refund for the sheet cake, delivery and some of the cost of the cake which was fine. My wife and I returned from our honeymoon to find no check in the mail. It took over 5-6 weeks to finally get my refund check and when I finally spoke with the store manager I was fed excuses as to why things went the way they went. Overall, their cakes are great but their customer service is absolutely terrible. I would recommend walk-in purchases but dont put your trust in them for a big event unless you like taking BIG risks.

A Private User

I went by today and the store was closed and the cases empty, Some kind of Virginia back tax notice was on the door. I was upset because I think this is the best bakery in the Alexandria area and one of the best Ive ever gone to. They have the best scones this side of the British Isles. Anything chocolate is also fantastic, as are the cupcakes.Each year, I order a Yule Log for my Christmas party and my guests rave. I hope this closing is only temporary. Update--They got the situation resolved and are open again. I am so glad. They are the best bakery in the Alexandria area. I have never had any of the problems that others report. I have ordered Yule logs at Christmas several years and a cake for my brothers 50th birthday and the orders were always ready on time exactly as I wanted. I requested my brothers favorite flavor of cake frosting (caramel), which they do not usually have, but they made it. I also had to pick it up after normal closing time, but someone stayed so I could get it.

Alex D

Ordered cupcakes for a kids birthday party. PROS: ready on the day/time requested. Cake and fluffy buttercream frosting tasted good. They looked classic (multi-colored sprinkles). CONS: They were expensive for the simplicity ($110 for 40 cupcakes). The packaging was sloppy. They put 36 in an open shallow cardboard box with plastic wrap on top and told me to keep them chilled...then take the plastic wrap off...then let them warm up to room temperature before serving. Who has a fridge big enough for a box of 36 cupcakes? Also made transporting them difficult, as I was worried about the plastic wrap top getting bumped. Then the small box with the other 4 cupcakes was forgotten in the car because it was on the side. I found it this morning and the cupcakes had toppled around/frosting was smeared everywhere. I wish they would have just used 2-3 medium cake boxes with lids that would have kept the cupcakes protected and more manageable to transport/store.

Michele Simms-Burton

I want to preface that this was my favorite pastry shop until I sent a neighbor there to get a cake for her husband’s memorial service, which was held today. My girlfriend ordered a red velvet with buttercream filling from this pastry shop. I anticipated an excellent tasting cake because I have never had a bad pastry from Hollin Hall Pastry Shop. Well, I was very disappointed to consume your red velvet cake. First, despite being beautifully decorated, the cake was dry. It was also unclear if the baker had remembered to use the cocoa powder. Red velvet is a cocoa-based cake. I don’t know; perhaps the baker was not having a good “baking” week. However, I am so disappointed because not only did I highly recommend Hollin Hall Pastry Shop but also my girlfriend is out so much money during a very stressful time in her life. The cake was not good at all. I am so disappointed.