I saw a post last month about a Valentine's Day promotion from Sweet Joy's Cakes and Desserts that…read morecould be delivered to JMU. Being the mom of a freshman who is 3hrs away learning how to navigate special days where you can't be present is new and can be a challenge. Of course I sent a care package full of treats, but I wanted her to also have something fresh. I ordered a box that came with six cupcakes, two cookies and half a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. This was a large enough box for her to share with her friends (highly doubt this happened. My girl loves sweets lol) or to keep her satisfied all weekend lol. Ordering was easy and delivery was a breeze. They checked in with me the day before to confirm the delivery time and even snapped a really cute picture of her holding her surprise. I definitely plan on visiting them in person on my next visit to the Burg. If you're looking for a few sweet treats, I'd highly recommend Sweet Joy's.

2 giant thumbs up for Sweet Joy's Cakes and Desserts! I ordered a bday cake for my student at JMU…read more Not only is the cake gorgeous and just as I requested (actually better), but is delicious (according to my kid, cuz I won't get any lol). Their communication with me the customer, and my Duke, the recipient, via email and text, was exceptional. Not only received a confirmation text that she received it, but got a picture of Duke and her surprise cake.

Got donuts here on a Thursday morning at 8am. There is no way they were fresh, donuts tasted at…read moreleast a day old, were very stale and hard. Would not recommend going here for donuts. I'm not a fan of Krispy Kreme, but wish I would have just got them there instead.

Discovered this gem as we toured the town. Arrived as the bread came out of the oven. So delicious!…read moreYou must try them. Mexican sweet bread and sandwich rolls reminded me of my childhood home in East Los Angeles!

Love a classic afternoon tea that won't break the bank? Heritage Cafe is the place. Enjoyed the…read moreFull Tea, which included unlimited tea, 3 savory sandwiches, 3 sweets, and a fresh generously sized scone (today's flavor was lemon and ginger). Seriously, these were some of the best scones I've ever had - crispy sweet outer texture, soft and fluffy on the inside, no crumbly mess like other scones. Wide selection of teas to choose from - I picked the lightly fruity Lady Grey, my husband the warm and toasty Genmaicha. And the savory sandwiches were a step up from the basic white bread standard - roast beef on a pretzel bun, tuna on a croissant, open faced cucumber, chicken with roasted red pepper spread. A lovely way to spend a late morning or early afternoon in downtown Harrisonburg.

Perfect! We got iced coffee and two pastries and everything was amazing! The staff are super…read morefriendly and nice. This is a must visit spot !

Would I drive 7 hours just to pick up a order from this bakery? If you hesitate even a second with…read morehow to answer, we can't be friends. I love-love-love some pastries. Scones, cookies, tarts, doughnuts, just keep the carbs and sugar coming. And upon my last visit to the Burg, I walked up on this place. Upon discovering that you have to place orders ahead of time (for a Friday/Saturday pickup), I immediately added a reminder note to place a order before returning. Thus my first interaction with the team here. Due to other commitments on Friday, and leaving early on Saturday, I knew if a Thursday pickup wasn't a option then I would not be enjoying anything. I sent a email and within 24 hours Alicia responded and graciously said they could make it work. Then, I just started clicking. 2 of this, 1 of that, wait what flavors are those? I might of been a touch hungry while ordering, but honestly that wouldn't have made a difference. Knowing the two doing the baking (take a moment to read the "About Us" page) and what they offered (e.g. butterscotch bourbon oatmeal cream pie, cinnamon streusel coffee cake, gooey butter cookies, sugar cookies-with sprinkles, strawberry lemon scones...wait, this was my order I picked up!), I came with a high level of anticipation. I walked up to the window, rang the bell, and held my breath. What if they had forgotten me? What if my order had somehow disappeared between Augusta and the Burg? What if...almost immediately Alicia opened the service window. My order was boxed and ready to go. No disrespect to the photos they share on social media handles, but that is just not enough to fully prepare one for the sight awaiting in that clear top on the box. The multi colors of the sugar cookie, the thickness and weight of the oatmeal cream pies (yes, I ordered 2), and of course the heavenly aroma of it all as one deeply inhales. To save myself the embarrassment of shamelessly eating everything like Cookie Monster in the Nabisco factory, I waited till I was alone to open this treasure trove of goodness. The butterscotch and bourbon, they go together like the final couple of a dating series finale. I am soooo glad I didn't eat a meal before this. That alone almost took me out for the afternoon. Again, the heftiness of the pie is a baking wonder. But oh the moistness (no, I am not afraid to use that word) of the pie and the creme. You don't need milk or coffee to wash it down. But I do suggest a cup of something on hand as you might choke inhaling it with such a swiftness. Then the cookie samples began. My compliment? Everything; flavor, texture, airness. My complaint? Not purchasing more. There should be a nudge that pops up on anything you only order one of that reads, "Are you sure you only want one?" But I digress. And also take a nap. Can't wait for my next order in March. I will add that they do walk up items that do not require pre order. They also have a far more extensive list of pastries (sweet and savory), breads, and custom cakes that you can order. If you are anywhere near Harrisonburg (home or passing through), treat yourself!

We are so glad we chose Bittersweet Bakery to make our wedding cake! From the start, the experience…read morewas amazing. We loved the tasting beforehand and were so impressed by how many delicious flavors there were to choose from. It made it hard to pick just a few. The baker was so easy to work with and recreated exactly the idea we had in mind for our cake. It turned out beautifully and was perfect for our wedding day. Bittersweet Bakery is such a gem in Harrisonburg, and we're so thankful they were part of our celebration.

We stopped by Cinnamon Bear on a road trip and I'm so glad we found it!…read more It is a cute local cafe right next to the college campus. The have a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, bowls, and baked goods, and plenty of tables to sit at. We ordered sandwiches (sun-dried ham panini, breakfast sandwich), coffee and shared a cinnamon roll as a treat- it was wonderful! I would definitely recommend cinnamon bear for a yummy lunch or for a baked treat with coffee!

The Peppermint mocha was YUM!!!!! Perfect balance with the syrup to make you feel Christmas season…read morein the air. The sandwich was "ok". For the high price, you should definitely get another egg.

What a lovely experience! I can easily see why there is a long wait here. We added our name to the…read morelist and were told it would be a 45 minute wait. Conveniently, there is a coffee shop, bookstore, and flower and gift shop across the street in a really new and cute warehouse to pass the time. We probably could've spent even longer in that cozy bookshop! Our meal consisted of strawberry tahini waffles, green poutine filled with fresh herbs, and a few made in house baked goods from their bakery. We also thoroughly enjoyed our mocktail (they offer a fun variety with fresh juices). The space is light and airy and looks into the bakery. They also have a wrap around diner style counter thats fun. Overall, a fabulous experience from start to finish!

I bounced back and forth about this review for the better part of a week. I was never going below…read morethree but ultimately decided on four stars. This place is just cool! The vibes are amazing. One the day I was there it was an all female staff and possibly female owned but I can't confirm that. It was vibrant, bright, and welcoming. The food is very niche' so if your looking for a traditional southern breakfast, this isn't it. What we had was pretty good though, the strawberry french toast, and the chorizo bowl WITHOUT AVACADO (this is important) and the freshly pressed OJ was the thing dreams are made of. So why the debate on stars? What's the the avocado?? Here's the thing, I don't like avocado, never have and never will. Not saying it's bad, it's just not for me. So when I ordered my chorizo bowl I specifically asked for no avocado, this annoyed my server somehow and she committed the service sin of trying to convince a guest that they want something they don't. After I said no twice, she walked away and said I'll just put it on the side. Like seriously lady WTF are you paid by the avocado people? No means NO!!! Other than being annoyed by service, it was a good time.

Unique artisan bread selection! We tried a cranberry nut bread that I believe had some dried…read moreapricots and walnuts and pistachios. We all enjoyed it! I will try out more of their breads next year when I visit again.

Fabulous multi-grain baguettes that they sell at the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. They…read morefreeze well, too. Delicious!

The cupcake company, is our doggies go to cupcake place and well ours too :) The service is always…read morenice and friendly. Before visiting, I would suggest calling to see if they have what you want and are open. They have select cupcakes during certain days of the week. There is few parking spaces in front, but typically you can grab one. The business itself has urban chic feel to it.

I always like the variety they have here. They even had a gluten-free strawberry shortcake and a…read morecoconut cream pie cup. The shortcake was light and fluffy. The coconut cream pie cup was simply divine with the toasted coconut on top. The red velvet was moist and the Swiss roll was so yummy I forget to take a picture :-) The staff was helpful in answering questions, which I appreciate.

Every time we visit JMU, we stop at Bella Gelato. Flavors are exceptional. Some of the best coffees…read moreand gelatos we've had anywhere. Coffee flavors are "balanced", not artificially sugary and not bitter, they're subtly sweet. Great caffeine hit after dinners and lunches across the street. Service has been friendly and welcoming every+single+time.

Very pleasant and friendly service. Not a ton of selections but very tasty gelato for sure. Small…read moreseating area and chill vibe.