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    Darnel’s Cakes

    4.4 (16 reviews)
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    Top Tier Breakfast Sandwich!
    Cameron B.

    I was very confused when I 1st walked in what looked like an office building only to find Darnel's tucked away in the corner. What a pleasant surprise this place was. I came across them after they were on Good Morning America in a national competition for best breakfast sandwich. That's all I needed to hear to try it and I definitely wasn't disappointed. As you can see I couldn't even wait to bite into it before taking a pic! They even give you the option to order biscuits separately which I've don't on many occasions. MUST TRY!

    a pink neon sign in front of a bar
    Cherie C.

    The entrance is set back from the street due to the parking lot. Darnel's is a counter inside the lobby. But do plan to eat in. There are tables throughout the lobby where you can enjoy your meal. There's ping pong, some sofas, and what I describe as "Colorado hipster" decor. I even took a photo and sent it to my Colorado friend (who works in commercial interior design) and they agreed. Oddly, I still haven't had a cake. But the breakfast sandwiches are good, as are the lemon bars. I'm very excited to try the lunch options--and cake.

    Exterior of building
    Megan Z.

    This is a welcome addition to our mini neighborhood between Callowhill and Spring Garden and I am always happy to support a black owned business with a social conscience. I preordered for Sunday pickup during the soft opening. The bakery is in the lobby of the building. A small issue was that the front door of the building was not opening properly, and I encountered some people who seemed to be "locked out" for a little bit. Inside the lobby is spacious and great for social distancing. The pickup counter is striking in design and everyone seemed very friendly. I preordered online, which was straightforward. I appreciated how the website noted nut allergens, and when I emailed for clarification, they were quick to respond. Now for the food, ranked from best to worst - wild mushroom quiche- WOW get this!! The pastry was so flaky and the filling was so creamy, full of mushroom flavor. This alone is reason enough for me to come back - oatmeal raisin cookie- this is generously sized (~5" diameter) with a warm touch of cinnamon. This is a soft cookie but it still has crispy moments. - bitter greens salad with sweet honey poppy seed dressing- this was the perfect pairing with the rich creamy quiche. The sweet dressing was bright and light. The greens were crisp and not too bitter. I hope they consider selling the dressing separately! - butter cake bar - they really know how to do good pastry here. The gooey topping is decadent. The bars were all around 3" x 3" in size - fudge brownie - moist and not too sweet, but I wish it had more chocolate flavor since it has "fudge" in the name - daiquiri bar - great pastry with bold lime flavor. This is well made, but ranked lower just because I'm not the biggest fan of citrus desserts. Note that this was the most expensive of the desserts, at $5. Still happy I tried it! - roasted potatoes - they were a good texture but tasted bland - lemon pepper wings - I found the chicken to be dry Even with some of the misses, I still count this as a solid outing for a soft opening. I was very impressed by their savory offerings and look forward to what else they'll come up with.

    Pound cake
    Fran H.

    We went to this location on opening day. We ordered on line fearful that it would sell out. The location is obscure and Within a large building. The concept is very cute and the baked goods looked nice. We ordered biscuits , two different pound cakes. The first pound cake was the stout chocolate cake. You could definitely taste the stout which was expected but the cake Itself was on the stale side . The frosting was hardened. We also ordered the lemon poppy pound cake. The white frosting was also hardened this cake was more Palatable but still a bit stale. I am giving them a pass since this was grand opening and they probably baked in advance. The cookies chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin were good and fresh. I am not rushing back 22.00 is a very steep price for stale cake. Take a few more exits Down and head to stocks for great always fresh pound cake. The profit share to hiv aids is very admirable. The service was very friendly and the atmosphere is nice.

    Red velvet cake, lemon poppy cake

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    The Sweet Life Bakeshop

    The Sweet Life Bakeshop

    4.8
    (416 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I thought I'd written a review about this place before but to my shock I had not…read more I have been coming here since the day they opened, infrequently beacuse I am diabetic but when I want to spoil my body with delicious sugar, honey, this is *IT*. Now I could tell you all about how perfectly tasty everything is. From the classic banana puddings (I prefer the caramel version myself,) to the cookies, to the pineapple upside-down mini cakes. Yes, I could tell you that. But I want to speak to something deeper. I want to speak to belonging and community; and to fairness. As a biracial person with a brown sister, I feel the pull to support black and brown businesses. It's not a secret. And sometimes you do it, and sometimes you privately think "Damn. I wanna be supportive but this place is a mess." Then there's Sweet Life. NOT that. FILLED with good product at a great price, delivered by owners and staff who actually give a damn about being loving and supportive to all different types of people. And did I mention the sweets are POPPIN'? And to that statement of fairness. Today I came in to place an order, and when the price came up, for a moment I thought "Damn. That is a lot higher than I remembered, but I am not about to question them. They set the price and that price is what they deserve." So I paid. But then I noticed there was more in my bag that I'd asked for, and that there had been a miscommunication. When I tell you that this miscommunication was corrected with swiftness *AND* a smile. No shade. No drama. Just an "Ooops, oh well, here's your refund on the balance." I know this seems very basic but we all know it isn't. We have all been in that awkward situation where as a customer we have to point out an error, and the vendor turns it into a Shakespearan tragedy. Not Sweet Life. "Oops. Sorry! Fixed. Love you." So, to recap: Stunningly delicious sweets. Prices fair as hell. Communicative, inclusive staff doing the right thing. You need to take those money dollers and haul your ass over here TODAY. Now...where did I put my insulin pen?

    You would pass by it if you are moving too quickly. Don't pass though! Small shop inside. The space…read moreis truly for baking these fine delights. I ate way more than this pic shows because each flavor is its own unique flavor. The No Nana banana pudding (not shown) is the truth!! If you struggle with dairy and miss banana pudding--- get it. It was my favorite delight. I got my wife the pineapple upside down cake. She loved it! Sweet, slightly gooey and perfectly portioned. The people there are great. That make you feel like you're picking a wedding ring. Giving personal recommendations and the extra sophistication you wouldn't expect at a cupcake place on south street. They have it all and i will go back for more and i highly recommend them, especially the no-nana pudding (not pictured).

    Photos
    Exterior
    Exterior
    The Sweet Life Bakeshop
    Original Banana Pudding

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    Original Banana Pudding
    Matcha Panda Cafe

    Matcha Panda Cafe

    4.4
    (259 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    This is my second time visiting a Matcha Panda location, and I'm happy to say the quality is just…read moreas good as the Chestnut Street one. They definitely seem consistent, which I really appreciate. I came with a couple of friends on a Saturday afternoon, and wow... this place was packed. Even with the crowd, the staff stayed friendly and worked quickly, so we didn't have to wait too long for our drinks. One thing I still love is the seating. They have giant plushies sitting in the booths, so if you're by yourself, you're not just awkwardly staring at an empty seat across from you. Maybe I'm the only one who appreciates that, but I think it's a cute touch. The matcha here is the real deal. It's bright green, fragrant, and has that rich, earthy flavor with just enough natural bitterness that you know they're using quality matcha. A lot of places advertise matcha, but this one actually delivers. I ordered one of their matcha desserts with ice cream, and it was creamy, refreshing, and let the matcha flavor shine instead of burying it under sugar. My only complaint is that it was pretty warm inside. It was a hot summer day, and I honestly couldn't tell if the air conditioning was running or if it was just fans. Either way, it wasn't very cool inside. Thankfully I had ice cream, so it didn't bother me too much, but it's something to keep in mind if you're stopping by on a really hot day. Overall, another great visit. Friendly staff, consistently high-quality matcha, and a fun atmosphere. If you're a matcha lover, this is still one of my favorite spots in Chinatown.

    I came in from California and immediately started searching for a matcha spot. I was in the area…read moreand came across it. They offer samples of their soft serve flavors! I personally thought the matcha one was the best. The service was quick and informative. And I loved the little booths they had, it was adorable. That aside, I do think the drinks are mediocre. I ordered their most popular, Mango Matcha and their Hojicha Latte. Sadly I was disappointed, the mango matcha was VERY sweet, but the texture was creamy. I just couldn't get over the overpowering sweetness of the mango puree, but that's my personal preference. The mango flavor itself wasn't bad! Maybe half sweet would be the way to go, Im not sure if they do adjustments. If you love yuzu, I don't recommend their yuzu soft serve HOWEVER their matcha soft serve is pretty yummy Their Hojicha was watery...I really hoped it would be better. I don't recommend it. No further comments.

    Photos
    Matcha ice cream ($7)
    Matcha ice cream ($7)
    Panda Snack Cup Series w/ Roasted Green Tea Gelato. Fresh Red Bean, Jasmine Tea Jello, Boba pearls, and Crispy flakes
    Panda Snack Cup Series w/ Roasted Green Tea Gelato. Fresh Red Bean, Jasmine Tea Jello, Boba pearls, and Crispy flakes
    Yuzu Cream Puff

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    Yuzu Cream Puff
    J'aime French Bakery

    J'aime French Bakery

    4.6
    (471 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    When I walked in, the ladies behind the counter welcomed me in and let me know that they'd be right…read morewith me when I was ready to order. I definitely appreciate when people notice you as you walk in. The prices are very reasonable. There were too many items to select from yet I ended up with a simple chocolate croissant that day. It was nice and flaky! I always enjoy a touch of chocolate. The place inside is cute. I like that it's dimly lit. I will be back to try the other amazing looking baked goods.

    Very quaint bakery We were quite disappointed in their…read moreversion of a napoleon which claiming to be a French bakery was very disappointing. Any true French bakery would not put the name "Napoleon" on a 2 small overdone pastry in the shape of a heart with small amount of cream in the middle. Nothing like the napoleon which my friend is and always has been a French classic. A three layered pastry fluffy with silky cream between each layer with a beautiful fondant icing which they called Mille - feuille. No it is not an Italian version it is French through and through. While as a French bakery you can make those cutesy heart pastry puffs please do not insult the french baker by calling it a napoleon. I unfortunately made the very foolish mistake of ordering this heart puff napoleon over the phone- thinking I would be getting , yes, you guessed it a napoleon.

    Photos
    GÂTEAU À L'HUILE D'OLIVE
    GÂTEAU À L'HUILE D'OLIVE
    Apple tart in the foreground, but the highlight is the merveilleux!
    Apple tart in the foreground, but the highlight is the merveilleux!
    J'aime French Bakery

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    Darnel’s Cakes - bakeries - Updated August 2026

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