Great place. Strong wifi, lots of comfy places to sit. A few wine and beer options when you are ready to switch from your caffeine buzz to your alcohol buzz. Haha. See what I did there? Maybe they planned that.... Oh, and did I mention the cookies and cupcakes?!?!?!??!!!! read more

We came for a late night, sweet snack. It was just what we were looking for!! Their Buzz Cupcake was amazing!

This is a great place to hang out and enjoy a nice dessert and a drink. It's got a comfy lounge and nice atmosphere, perfect place to bring your laptop. I'm not a big cupcake eater, so went I went here I opted for other desserts. The creme brulee is amazing. They also have some fun non-alcoholic and alcoholic- options if you drop by for a drink. read more

So I've been holding off on writing my 100th review because I wanted to make my 100th one a good review! And I just haven't eaten anywhere that I felt like can fill my 100th spot =P. So when I walked into Buzz bakery, I was like, "yep, this is it... my 100th review." First off, the atmosphere is great! Very colorful and very entertaining and a friendly staff. I came with my sister in laws and two kids and the girl behind the counter took time to actually talk to my 7 year old niece, which is always a good sign that the staff is friendly =). And what better way to do my review on a bakery because helllooo, cupcakes are kind of my thing. =) So at the recommendation of a very knowledgeable manager, I got the boston cream pie cupcake and of course the red velvet cupcake. I also tried the red velvet cheesecake. So the boston cream pie I think is a vanilla cupcake with chocolate icing and in the middle of the chocolate icing is this fudge center which is also inside the cupcake. D-lish! The cupcake was moist it definitely hits the spot when it comes to a sweet tooth. I brought the red velvet cupcake and cheesecake home to the hubs. We both liked the cupcake. The cheesecake was ok. The cupcake had an awesome cream cheese frosting (not as great as georgetown cupcake icing, but still pretty good!), and just like the boston cream cupcake, it was also moist. Anyways, I will definitely come back here if I'm ever in this area again. Go here! It's pretty awesome! =) read more

Buzz cafe established itself as a bougie, white yuppie hotspot long before it even opened. I remember the press it garnered after only open for a few weeks, and I remember the intense jubilation I felt at finding a cupcakery. When I went the first few times the staff was cordial, somewhat knowledgeable, but the delicious baked goods made up for what they lacked in experience. The internet was free all the time, the seating was comfortable, and the decor was delightful. Buzz, however, has changed a lot over the past two years, and not necessarily for the better. I feel that the evolution of the place was unintended yet inevitable for the restaurant group that owns Buzz. I've been in a few times since, and while the coffee is palatable, there isn't the knowledge and joy of a true barista'd experience like one would get at Murky Coffee or Lost Dog (in Shepherdstown, WV). The baked goods are good, but they're all rich and buttery (which is no good for a dairy free person like me); I feel like a diverse selection of diary-filled and dairy-free baked goods would be beneficial to their market. The sandwiches are often squished and unappetizing, the fancy bottled beverages overpriced, and the ambiance created by the loud children and tinny buzz of yuppie iPods annoying. I was so disinterested one day that I bought my lunch at the smoothie place next door and just used Buzz for their patio seating for my friend-date. I give Buzz three stars because I know their baked good are divine, even though I've recently discovered a dairy allergy. I give them three stars because the coffee is palatable, but not served in a manner in which Illy deserves to be served. I love the decor, but I can't deal with the patrons. And I love the diversity of the menu, but can't stand to wait for it or deal with in the inconsistency in quality. All in all, Buzz is hit or miss. read more

On the spectrum of coffeehouses I was expecting something a little more bohemian and less bourgeois. They're located in a fairly new development just up the road from the projects, so while while they've done a good job of decorating the space, a slight whiff of gentrification lingers. The decorator certainly had artistic sensibilities, but they're on the cutesy side. For instance, they have dangling bumble bees behind the counter. Also, they have a children's section, which due to space constraints, we had to endure. And as much as I enjoyed sitting at the miniature table, avoiding the collateral as a toddler demolished his cupcake, I'm not sure how healthy it is that we're raising coffee and cupcake consuming kiddos. As long as I'm on seating, I'll say that I was a little turned off by the sign prohibiting laptop use at a certain table. But I digress. My coffee (illy) was good as was my chocolate chip cookie, though their flat, square chocolate chips look more interesting than they taste. read more

Buzz Bakeshop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Alexandria, VA an it's almost too much. The couches are comfortable. The coffee and cupcakes are good. The music is an eclectic mix of indie/ electronic and jazz vocal. The colors are bright just as is the soft lighting. The fixtures shine and the chalkboard menus are fun. People here are having conversations or reading or working. Kids with their non-working parent are well-behaved and thoughtful. Can this place be real? Where is the darkness? Where's the ennui? Maybe it's too early in the morning and these people are happy to not be at work. The absence of darkness may indicate for others a greater darkness implied by the light of this place but the optimist I am, I'm seeing it as someone's vision materialized to perfection. read more

I've finally ditched Starbucks and now I head here on my way to work, for coffee... but just try walking inside and only ordering coffee! Their spread of freshly made pastries is both delicious and interesting. I've tried a few items now, my favorite being a creation called a maple sausage biscuit, or something like that. It's not a breakfast sandwich, nor are there obvious chunks of sauage within it. It's a true southern buttermilk biscuit with a savory/sweet sausage/syrup flavor infusion. Just try it. They'll even warm it up for you. A note on coffee... I found the coffee to be a little on the weak side, but I'm someone who will happily drink Starbucks French Roast black. The iced coffee, however, is yummy and does the trick. read more

Just ridiculously good. I moved to the area two weeks ago and my new neighbor brought me a red velvet cupcake to welcome me to the building. It was ridiculously good so yesterday I headed over to check out Buzz myself. Three bucks for a cupcake sounds like a lot but it was worth every bite. (I had red velvet the second time too. I thought I might try a different kind but red velvet was calling my name.) The guy next to me had some kind of mini apple pie and it looked wonderful, too. I resisted bringing cupcakes home with me because they're not exactly diet-friendly. I've got to save them for a special treat. (Somebody here on Yelp posted a picture of a ridiculously delicious looking bacon cupcake. They didn't have those when I stopped in. Too bad.) I had a cup of ginger mango peach tea, too, and it was good. To me, though, tea is tea. The cupcakes are what's special. Oh, there's free wi-fi here, though on weekends when they're busy they ask that you not hog the tables with laptops for more than two hours. That kind of sucks but after I saw how busy they were I thought it was pretty reasonable. Some other reviewers complained about parking but I was able to find a spot in the lot and saw that there was another spot or two open on the street. I didn't have a problem (on a Saturday evening) but I can see that it could get tough to find a spot. I knew I shouldn't have written this review because now my mouth is watering and I'm craving cupcakes. read more

I've been coming here for a couple years now for their red velvet cupcakes. It's a great place to unwind after work. However, every time I go here, their level of service gets worse. The service is slow and sloppy. Today, the white overweight barista accused a girl in front of me of ordering something she did not order (I was there when she ordered). The barista in the back confirmed the girl's order and instead of apologizing to the poor girl, the female barista gave her a death look. Flustered, she fumbled through my order and I had to repeat it several times. This female barista has poor customer service skills and needs to be let go. read more

Coffee isn't bad. But service isn't great. Worst is that a majority of tables don't allow tablets and laptops. So it's more like a take out joint as a result. When I asked why, the waitress wasn't helpful, just said that's the policy. I left while there were at least 7 open tables and went somewhere else. read more

The service here is about the best you will find in the area. The employees are polite, pleasant, and even helpful. I give the coffee a solid B, which for this area is better than just about any place else. The hours get an A+++ since most coffee joints here open too late and close too early. The food is good and I like being able to get a cocktail when I am tired of drinking coffee. read more

I was a huge fan after my first visit, but was very unimpressed by what I saw yesterday. If you've been there you know they have a NO LAPTOPS! policy all weekend at 80% of the indoor seating - every table and couch except one rectangular "group table" that seats about 8. Yesterday I witnessed a couple buy their drinks and sit down at one of the two person tables, the husband reading the paper and the wife wanting to work on her laptop. She dutifully asked the staff if she could use her laptop while sitting with her husband who was reading (mind you, the "laptop table" was completely full, but there were other open seats at other NO LAPTOP tables. The manager's reply? NO - You can sit there but NO LAPTOP! So, explain to me why it's ok for another patron to sit alone at a table and read, relax, listen to an ipod, etc.. for a few hours, but two people can't sit at a table for two for 30 minutes while one of them uses a laptop? I witnessed the staff castigate another person sitting alone one of the sofas (allowing room for another person to share if needed - which it wasn't), because this person was, GASP! using a laptop. I get that you want to have "balance" in your cafe and you want people to be able to get a seat. BUT - I was there almost all afternoon on a rainy Saturday and never once did I see people come in and be forced to leave because they couldn't get a seat. Ok, maybe a group of 4 came in and left at one point - but guess what, most of the tables at Buzz are for 2-3 max anyway. I had an open seat at my table all afternoon which I would have shared had anyone needed it - as did other tables around me, and I never saw a second person join a solo patron at one of the many 2 person tables. So - while Buzz is one of the very few decent, non-chain cafes around the area, their stock went way down with me yesterday I'm anxious for some competition to open up. With this ridiculous anti-laptop policy I wonder what's next - No iPhones, No iPods, no blackberry's!!?? Am I the only one who feels this way? read more

We are working with the Buzz for our wedding cupcakes, and they have been nothing less than professional, helpful, and we're having a wonderful time! We've been in for two cupcake tastings, and both times we were greeted with a reserved table and complimentary beverages, and of course a plate of delicious cupcakes to taste! They have a new pastry chef, who makes cupcakes just a little taller than the average cupcake, which ended up being just the look we were going for. I give the Buzz my highest recommendation! read more

Something is off with this place. I'm pretty sure it's the decor that I hate. Coffee and baked goods are just ok, and I could never imagine sitting in this place. The premade sandwiches were overpriced and absolutely horrible. Way to bright and tacky for my tastes. I was looking forward to this place opening in the severely underserved Ballston neighborhood, but I'm very disappointed. read more

I'm actually really surprised of all the great recent reviews. I've been going to Buzz for years and I'm assuming there is a new pastry Chef and I'm not pleased. Buzz used to have more than half of the pastries they currently offer. The coffee is great but the pastry selection is terrible and the quality and taste is nothing compared to what it used to be. It all looks much prettier than it tastes. I'm assuming they're putting more time and energy into their new store. Also, they've hired a lot of new people and they're not as friendly as most of the previous staff. I really hope they get their stuff together because I really miss the old Buzz! read more

Okay - like other posters, I also wanted to like this place. I went a few weeks ago with my sister for a lazy Sunday afternoon. My sister got a slice of cake, Vanilla/Vanilla, and I got a red velvet mini. Sigh. The cake (which was 5.00 a slice) was disappointing to say the least. It was quite eggy and flavorless, the frosting was greasy, and flavorless as well.( I think they use Crisco for their frosting) My cupcake was dry in addition to having the same qualities as the cake. When we were leaving the clerk said "Do you want me to wrap this up to go? " Our answer was "No!" She said did you not like it? We explained to her the issue, and she said they had recently gotten a new assistant baker, and there has been some miscommunication, with how to make the recipes . (They better tell that person to beat the bricks ASAP!) She did offer us something else out of the case, we got the donkey tail which was quite tasty. I might give them another chance - we will see. I must have just come on an "off" day. read more

I am a fan of Buzz Bakery. I used them for my wedding day cupcakes. Their stand is perfect and their cupcakes are "to die for." They delivered them and set them up. Their cupcakes tasted wonderful -- Everyone was talking about them. I highly recommend them for your wedding day cupcakes. read more

Since when did this place start selling thawed cupcakes? At over $4 a piece, my 9:30 cupcake should be fresh, not stored in the freezer overnight. The interior is so bland now - painted all in muted neutral tones - that I almost fell asleep in line. It def caters to the young, white, urban parent crowd in Del Ray w/the toddler toys out in the front and the faux gourmet vibe. Two stars because the iced latte was good. Maybe the one in Ballston hasn't gone terrible? read more

Overpriced mediocre coffee. I ordered, paid w/ debit card and signed the slip. The barrista was nice and began making the order. Barrista #2 comes over and grabs the slip and rings it in. When I asked for my receipt I noticed she had added a tip. I point out the error and she looks at it and ask barrista 1 to fix it, who dutifully does. read more

Cool atmosphere and well merchandised food displays. Premium price for cup of coffee. I had a dirty table and went to the attendant and told him about it. He handed me a rag. WTF? First keep your place clean and second don't be premium priced when McDonalds does a better job of keeping place clean. read more

I have been here before when we were waiting on a table at Bluejacket. On our previous visit, we all shared a very yummy brownie and that's about it. On this recent visit (just myself) I bought a gluten free cupcake (meh), and an iced soy latte (too sweet). I would have probably enjoyed a cookie or a brownie more, but wanted to try something new. I usually love coffee drinks and iced ones when the weather is lovely, but this one was WAY too sweet, which made me a touch sad. I will definitely come back, and hopefully my coffee won't punch me in the mouth. I did purchase a little "everything" sweet bar. It had graham cracker, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit and coconut. It was good, but didn't blow my mind. I think I will stick to the cookies and brownies from now on. read more

Very tasty sweets - have tried the cream cheese brownie, the bumblebee cupcake and the red velvet. The bumblebee is by far my fav with the cream cheese brownie a close second. The red velvet is good - but I have had better. Mochas are delicious here. Great interior and ample outside seating. Would highly recommend. They also serve alcoholic bevs. If you like hipster with sweets - this is the place for you. read more

Buzz is right, bro. The bumblebee logo is a decoy - the caffeine and sugar buzz makes "Let's bounce!" the only way back out the front door of this place. ("Let's roll" is for the alcohol and sugar buzz. I'll get to that in a minute.) I'm probably a target customer for Buzz - I like coffee and pastry at my leisure instead of after a big meal. Cappuccino and espresso here might be stronger than you're accustomed. They hit the right temperature, although the house coffee was tepid when I was there. The selection is limited but excellent. My chocolate banana peanut butter cupcake was banana cake filled with a luscious peanut butter mousse topped with dark chocolate frosting. Oh yes. There are no frozen beverages here, but at night hello cocktails! I can't speak personally but I heard tell novelty drinks like chocolate martinis are wildly popular. We went to Buzz for coffee twice in our three day visit to Alexandria and will go again next time. Good times. read more

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I've been to Buzz's multiple times and tried several pastries. Exactly none have been good and I really tried hard to like them but not one of them was even semi fresh. Here's the thing - I love sweets!!! This place wouldn't have to try very hard to keep me coming back occasionally. But I won't. And trust me when I say that that speaks volumes. read more

I went here on a Sunday in hopes of getting a cup of coffee and a cupcake while studying. The interior itself is quite comfortable with pops of color and community style seating. It was very crowded for a Sunday and was difficult to find seating. The mocha wasn't anything exceptional and the red velvet cupcake was slightly on the drier side. I probably would not recommend only because there are better cupcake and coffee shops in the area. read more

Coffee is crap (espresso always tastes burnt or old?) but they are open until midnight! Midnight! With a lack of options in Old Town, that makes it pretty high on the late-night snack/coffee list. If you're into the whole cupcake rage thing, their cupcakes are pretty good (if a bit dry) but nothing to write home about (cheaper and better than overrated Cake Love, not better than a freshly homemade one though). I like the vibe here, it's pretty relaxed and not too yuppish. Your dogs can hang out on the patio, now. read more

I started coming here to study for finals and I absolutely love it. I keep forgetting that they're a bakery first, so each baked good I've ordered seems to be better than the last. The raspberry buttermilk muffin and the ginger snap cookie is fantastic. Paninis are also delish! They serve illy coffee which is amazing, never burned, never too bitter. The barista even remembered the amount of milk I like in my coffee and left extra room in the cup so I wouldn't spill any on my walk back to my seat. There are several seating areas which don't allow laptops which is really nice if you're not there to study, and I haven't had a problem getting a seat which is laptop-friendly. My one complaint is the laptop seating. The hard chairs aren't that comfortable and the couch is a little too worn-in. I'm about avergae height for a female and my knees bend before the edge of the couch, so that's why I can't give it 5 stars. I don't have kids or dogs but the bakery is very kid and pet (outside the store) friendly. They even have a small kids play area (removed from the general seating area) so mom can enjoy her coffee while the kids play. read more

I have tried several pastries, and wasn't a fan of any of them. They tend to be bland and dry. The coffee is decent, but nothing special. The best parts of Buzz Bakery: they are open crazy hours, from early morning until 11 p.m. during the week. They also have a nice outdoor seating area. read more

Summary: The Buzz about Buzz: Skip It If I could give this place zero stars I would. In short, the staff is unfriendly and extremely unhelpful. The flexibility of management is non-existent and as such this place should be avoided at all costs. Case in point: My boyfriend and I swung by Buzz to grab a sandwich, coffee, and desert. Estimated cost: $30 not including tip. I tend to tip big, so let's say $40. He had homework to do, and I had a screenplay revision to work on. The laptop table (they have one small table that seats six) was full save one seat. The rest of the place was sparsely populated, so I asked if we could take one of the "no laptop" tables. After all, we are a couple, and we wanted to sit together. We were told on no uncertain terms "no", though we were welcome to go outside where it was freezing. Thanks but no thanks. I should disclose that I've been to this coffee house before, and did enjoy the coffee and a desert but since the no laptop tables have sprung up it's been harder and harder to get a seat. I can understand a business wanting to keep loitering down (the rest of their seats have a 2-hour maximum), but if you have a customer that wants to spend quite a bit of money in your establishment, you might want to work with them so that they'll become a repeat customer. The coffee-house industry was built on writers and their laptops, this place seems to have lost sight of that. If you're an artisan looking for a fun place to eat/work/write look elsewhere. If you're looking for pretentiousness, baby-bumps, and strollers then by all means, stop in. Buzz has lost this customer for good. I hope they enjoy bankruptcy. Places that are laptop/writer friendly: Misha's Perks Starbucks Any coffee house/bakery with common sense. read more

4.5 to 5 stars. Warning - mild soapboxing below I'm three glasses of wine deep as I start writing this review, and I'm not sure why, frankly - I should be focusing on the wine! That said, I read a few less-than stellar reviews and just wanted to throw up a small defense of the wonderful establishment that is Buzz, an establishment I have patroned probably 100 times. /commence rant/ I have to take exception with some of these 1- and 2-star reviews, and my comments are generally in response to certain types of Yelp reviewers. The majority of you know to discount a 1-star rating due to one dimension of experience (e.g. parking, service) anyway. OK, Buzz is not located walking distance from most areas of Old Town or Del Ray, and yes, there may not be parking immediately adjacent to the business, but there is an *enormous* amount of street parking in the townhouse community just off Slaters Lane and if you go there you will ALWAYS find parking. So you have to walk 3-4 minutes instead of 30 seconds. As far as service goes, 9 times out of 10 it is very good at Buzz. If you have to wait more than a few minutes for an order, chances are they probably overlooked your order since they are often quite popular. A quick "excuse me, errrr... any update on that panini?" will get your order on track immediately. This delay has only happened to me once, but if you suspect your order was lost in the shuffle due to a lon line of customers, just ask them. You will get it no longer than you would anywhere else. Look, Buzz is an 'A' establishment in virtually all aspects. In fact, I would argue it is a business home to a multitude of 'A' ratings to other businesses' singular 'A-plusses,' and this versatility earns it high marks in my book. In terms of the food, breakfast options are outstanding - the breakfast brioche, breakfast croissant sandwich; ham, cheddar, and scallion scone, croissants, and muffins are top notch. I will admit that while I like the new muffins, I am not as big a fan as I was of the old muffins; I LOVED the old blueberry muffins in particular. For lunch or a snack later in the day, Buzz carries several varieties of panini and these rival or best some of the competition in Old Town and Del Ray. The fresh Birch & Barley turkey and havarti or basil, mozzarella, and pesto panini ($6), for example, are outstanding. Come evening, beer, wine, and other treats are available. OK, are Lavender Moon cupcakes the best in Old Town? Yes - they are the A+ to Buzz's A, or an A to Buzz's A-, etc. After dozens of visits to each, both have off days and if you look at the tally over time, the difference is really negligible. Buzz cakes are some of the finest around as well, and the atmosphere inside and out is laid back and inviting. You can go and work on your novel (invoke Stewie's voice here), read the paper, or socialize. There are small spaces for any inclination. Where can I stop for a last-minute cake for a colleague's birthday party? Where can I get a great breakfast sandwich? A panini? A solid coffee or cupcake *slightly* lower quality than Lavender Moon but with easier parking, or grab a drink in the evening if I wanted ? Where can I go to work on my term paper or just relax and read the paper? Answer = Buzz. /end rant/ read more

OMG! Yumm! I love it. Clean friendly and delicious. Everything is good here the only problem is I'm going to have to start doing extra workouts! Definitely give this place a try you will be in for a pleasant surprise! Top personal recommendations are their "heart of darkness " and "Mississippi mud pie"! read more

This place has changed a lot from when they first opened. The coffee tastes bitter and burnt oftentimes. The smallest cup of yogurt costs me something like $6 (with taxes) which makes me very sad. Come on guys! It doesn't have to be that pricey! The deserts are delicious, and the staff is pretty friendly. The place used to have a better atmosphere and design than it does now. read more

GREAT customer service. First time at Buzz, my debit card is declined for insufficient funds. I was completely embarrassed, and pulled out three wrinkled $1 bills to cover the espresso and told the barista I'd get the cupcake next time. Nonsense, he said, and pushed the cupcake my direction even though I was almost $2 short. Not many places are that generous, even though it's not a huge monetary loss. It took away much of my embarrassment. Big tip next time! Oh yeah, the Buzz cupcake is great! Espresso is better than most places, but not as good as Peregrine (near Eastern Market in D.C.). Comfy atmosphere; it's 5pm on a Tuesday, and there's open seating. Plenty of outlets thanks to multiple power strips. Also, much quieter than nearby St. Elmo's or Caboose coffee shops. Next time I have a paper to write, this is where I'll be! read more

I work around the corner, and I find the service to be incredibly friendly and efficient when grabbing my morning cup of coffee. The cupcakes are good, but can be hit or miss. I have definitely had the odd dry one now and then. Most times they are just right -- with moist, slightly dense cake and just the right amount of creamy, sweet frosting. Great atmosphere, and all around cute place! read more

All of the reviews about the downfall of this place in recent years are absolutely true. I've lived in the neighborhood for 5 years and am so disappointed in what's it's become since 2010. Here's what's changed: -Staff: used to be awesome, friendly, knowledgeable, took pride in their work. Now...not one of the former staff remains. -Portions: used to have cookies and quiche slices the size of my face. My kids could actually split a quiche slice! Now...portions are SO much smaller, but prices are -- of course -- the same. Kudos to Buzz for improving their profit margins on that one. - coffee: used to be delicious (Illy, I think?)..now, it's not. tip: go to Slaters Market next door for Illy coffee!! - ambiance: the outdoor area is the best thing about this place. No change there. In summary - I used to happily recommend Buzz as my neighborhood coffee/snack shop. Now, it's just makes me kind of wistful for its "good old days." read more

Poor customer service. Does not reply and charges you for things you didn't buy. Watch out , check your bank account

I guess people can disagree on what makes a good cupcake. I think these are dry and made with average quality ingredients at best. Not surprising since I think all of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group ventures are very overrated. That's my opinion. But here's a fact - on my visit today this place was disgustingly dirty. Like my old frat house on a Sunday morning. I can't begin to describe the condition of the carpet - more stains than you can count and covered with crumbs. As was the tile floor. The tables were littered with debris and trash and the two different ones that I sat at were both gross and sticky. A quick peak back into the kitchen revealed a similar situation - a very dirty floor. It wasn't that busy and there were three people on duty so I have to assume this is their standard. read more

Because I work near Buzz bakery, people often bring their cupcakes to office celebrations. I've now had 4 different types of cupcakes from Buzz and I just don't see what all the fuss is. Perhaps their cupcakes are aimed at kids rather than adults. They eschew the quality and simplicity of say, a Red Velvet Cupcakery cupcake for an array of sweet fillings and brightly colored frostings. The portions are pretty massive, no doubt to compensate for the steep price tag ($4+ for a cupcake?). I don't recall the names of the cupcakes I had, but here are the descriptions: Hostess cupcake wannabe - a sweet, soft sweet chocolate ganache on top of a noticeably sweet, but nicely flavored moist chocolate cake with a super sweet line of white frosting in the inside. Buzz indeed. Cookie cupcake - bland and didn't taste like cookies as far as I could tell - bland dense cake with a very buttery bland European butter cream, topped with an odd flavored little sandwich cookie and filled with soft bland chocolate chip cookie dough that lacked the signature brown sugar/molasses flavor of normal chocolate chip cookies Vanilla cupcake with blue and green flower frosting - dry vanilla cake with sweeeeet frosting -the nicely chocolaty ganache in the inside was a good counter balance to the crazy sweetness of the frosting, but the overall impression was dryness and excessive sweetness Chocolate with chocolate buttercream - pretty unmemorable - the cake seemed less chocolaty than the cake in the Hostess-esque one and less moist, but maybe that was just because the chocolate butter cream is much less chocolaty than the ganache. Fine, but not remarkable. Overall, I was left with an impression of bland and over-sweet. And I like my sweet. Baked and Wired's super sweet pumpkin spice bread and assorted brownies are a favorite. But those treats have flavor to back up the sweet. Buzz seems to use sugar to mask lack of inspiration. If you're in Alexandria and need a place with wifi or are having a real sugar jones, this place is a fine option, but with so many better bakeries out there, I probably won't be going there myself. read more

Lattes, cupcakes, quiches, and cocktails: what else do you need in life? Buzz cupcakes are as good as anything around, and make an incredible sweet treat. I occasionally have one for breakfast, and they are surprisingly filling (if people can have cheese danish for breakfast, surely I can have a cupcake). The buttercream icing is divine, and, a rare admission from me, the cake is just as good. Their lattes are excellent. Their other baked goods are a bit hit-or-miss. Some are strange, and most are great. Today I got an unusual cookie made with cornmeal, lime, and a spice I couldn't quite identify, but perhaps cardamom. It was an odd combination that ended up harmonizing into a uniquely delicious cookie. A different time I got something called a White Rabbit cupcake made with turnip instead of carrot, and that definitely did not work. I do like the option between choosing my staple, the vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing, and something more exotic and experimental. Quiche is one of my favorite dishes, and they do it well. I especially love the sun dried tomato quiche and the broccoli bacon quiche. The quiches can be a bit salty, but never overwhelmingly so. It's been a while since I had it, but the mac and cheese also made a great lunch. I've gotten several birthday cakes from here. They were moderately priced for the excellent turnout. Ordering the cake was easy in the store. I got exactly what I asked for. The cake was fresh, dense, and moist, and the chocolate frosting was so rich and good it could have been rolled into a ball and sold as a chocolate truffle. The icing application was smooth, precise, and professional. The simple decorations were done artfully. They clearly had an trained baker prepare this cake, not some kid they hired. Ordering cakes is always a bit of a gamble, so I'm relieved to have found a place that delivers perfectly, every time. read more