Best Birthday Cakes in N. VA??

[jjnLA]

Not a "restaurant" related question, but important nonetheless. Which bakery makes the best birthday cakes in Tysons/Vienna area?

[kelly10561]

You should try BakeshopDC - www.bakeshopdc.com . It is very small, run by a local baker. He is teamed up with Murky Coffee in Arlington. So delicious, I use them for all cake and cupcake events. I'm a huge advocate of great small bakeries like this one.

[mechzoro]

This is what you're looking for. Best cakes in the area.

http://www.cenansbakery.com

[Steve]

Cenans' is a real treasure. Though I have not had any of their cakes, just the pastries.

[jjnLA]

Thanks....I will check them out...

[Aphioni]

looking forward to hearing who you chose and what you think!

[alexofoakton]

I second the Victoria's Cakery in Fairfax City (http://www.victoriascakeryinc.com/ind...) as having really great cakes for all occasions. We just had one for my daughter's wedding and it was fabulous. My experience with the Amphora's baked goods have been very negative although I haven't had anything from them in a while.

[Aphioni]

not in Tysons or Vienna, but if you are willing to travel to Ashburn for a fabulous European style gourmet cake, Cafe Rumi is amazing.

www.caferumi.biz

they do minis as well- perfect for cocktail/dinner parties!

[jjnLA]

sounds good...will definately check out Cafe Rumi. Thank you.

[Aphioni]

there's a 10% off coupon on www.aphioni.com (does that break the rules to say that?)

[anni]

My daughter just brought over a half-sheet that she had picked up at Wegman's. If you like regular birthday cake, this one was good and the leftovers froze well. She said it was about $25.

[chowser]

In Fairfax City, a little farther out, is my favorite bakery for cakes, Victoria's cakery, and the only place where I think the cakes are worth the calories. But, they have heavy dense cakes which I prefer. While Amphora's (in Vienna) has beautiful cakes, I find them dry and tasteless. My in-laws love it, though, and every cake they get comes from there.

[Dennis S]

For Amphora - it pays to go to the bakery and get it fresh.

[chowser]

The bakery in Herndon? I didn't realize they shipped them out and thought they made them in Vienna. Herndon would be such a hike for us. My in-laws have special ordered cakes (Vienna), too, and once it was dry enough that they called to complain.

[Dennis S]

Well I sit corrected - there's a bakery in Vienna as well. The one in Herndon is in an ugly warehouse, but once inside it's actually quite nice. They host parties and other events there.

http://www.amphorabakery.com/

[chowser]

Is it part of the Amphora Diner? I don't remember seeing the bakery but we stayed in the main diner area and there was a huge selection of baked goods on the way in. What do you recommend from there? Over the years, we've had a huge variety of their cakes (think 20 relatives, all who order from there, most special occasions), and some of the cookies.

I went to the diner recently, on the way back from the airport, on recommendations from here. I hate to pan a place for both baked goods and food but I wasn't that impressed with the food there, either. I had a decent grilled vegetable sandwich but my husband did not care for the pastitsio, moussaka and spinokopita. The pastitsio was dry, as was the moussaka.

[Dennis S]

In Herndon they're two different locations; diner and then the bakery - and at least a mile separates them.

I really am not into sweets. I have a few friends who swear by them, and the few bites I've had of different cakes or pies (or other treats) were good, but I'm really not going to be able to provide the critical view that I could with say, a chorizo taco.

[jjnLA]

Sounds interesting, I will check out Victoria's. My family likes moister, denser, cakes as well.

[Dennis S]

I'm not into sweets too much but the Amphora Bakery in Herndon gets top marks by many.

[kodiakbear]

Pastries by Randolph on Lee Hwy in Arlington (not exactly Tysons/Vienna, but worth the short drive)

[Culocho]

I second this!

[JAC13]

Third! I just got one of these cakes for my birthday and every single person raved. It was an insanely good cake!!

[MizYellowRose]

I agree that Amphora's desserts are overrated. Once we ate at the Herndon location and saw a nice looking cake. We bought a piece, took it home, and it was terrible--stale and tasteless. That said, perhaps getting it fresh from the bakery may make all the difference...

[ktmoomau]

I had this same experience with a pie I ate there, it was a "coconut cream pie" I think the meringue was actually whipped topping because it had gotten hard as a rock I couldn't eat it. But after that I have never had anything straight from the bakery, so I guess it could make a difference.

[chowser]

But my question is why are they selling items that are old enough to be like that? I've had the experience far too often.

[ktmoomau]

I don't know I just don't take my chances.

[MikeR]

Any cake can be a birthday cake. What do you like, how big, and how much are you willing to spend?

[jjnLA]

Mike:

The cake will be for about 15-20 people. Don't want to pay much more than $60-$75. I like moister cakes with interesting flavors...rum fillings, berry fillings, cream fillings. Do not want anything with shortening for frosting, etc.

Thank you for your interest.