Kari's Rating 9.9/10…read more TLDR: -Seriously my favorite bakery ever and I'm a bakery connoisseur -The flakiest most delicious pastries -Handcrafted sweets and made to order cakes This is my absolute favorite bakery to go to when I am home in Barrington. I've been coming to ambrosia for at least 20 years since my childhood, and this bakery never disappoints. The only reason it didn't get a 10 out of 10 was because sometimes they're closed on days when I need them open, and I find myself to be extremely disappointed I forgot to read the website! Of course error on my side! I remember coming here before I was tall enough to peep over the pastry case, and I've always been so fascinated by the little show window where they have cake decorating or someone demonstrating how to roll pastries-what an art! My number one pastry that I come here for is the ham and cheese croissant. Ambrosia's ham and cheese croissant is the flakiest most savory ham and cheese croissant I've ever had. They don't add any mustard or gimmicks and yet it is so flaky and savory that it doesn't need an extra dash of flavor. I know for a while they were making them smaller, but this time I came, I realized that the ham and cheese croissants are bigger than ever-which probably makes me think they've gone up in price, but I will happily pay the up charge for a little more. Now that I am older, and I have adult money, I find myself going in and trying one new item to add to my repertoire of treats. Today's new addition was the almond Bear-claw which I already had extremely high hopes for because I do love a good almond croissant, but I was a little worried what bear-claw meant. Truthfully, it just meant the shape of the pastry as it still had the classic buttery flaky crust, as well as a sweet almond interior. I was not disappointed! I did end up bringing home four ham and cheese croissants, an ambrosia roll for my dad, the almond Bear-claw, and two freshly made baguettes. I come home relatively frequently, but every time this bakery is added to my morning agenda, I realize I have such few moments left with my family, and I want to cherish them all and I love that ambrosia has been that tradition for us. I feel like most bakeries I go into in the city are mass produced and everyone is just trying to place orders and then rushing to get out the door, but ambrosia the workers really try to make you feel seen and have a way to uplifting conversation with you. Through all of the order, placing chaos, they're willing to explain what's in everything, what's new on the menu or what flavor profile would go with which handcrafted drink. There's a certain side of human conversation to this bakery that makes this visit extra special for me. I can sense everything is made overnight and then baked in the morning, so as soon as you walk in, you can smell an overwhelming bakery scent, which only makes your mouth water more, which I'm starting to think is actually a really strategic sales tactic! Haha! I would never miss a chance coming back here and spending time my parents and picking up a few surprise treat for them. I will keep the tradition of picking up a few extra treats as I would love for this bakery to continue being something my whole family can look forward to whenever I come home

I've been wanting to try this place forever, so was happy to find out my husband ordered a birthday…read morecake for me from here. The Chocolate Bavarian Torte is amazing. I love that it is light, rich, but not overly sweet. I am a huge fan of chocolate mousse in cake and they have perfected it. And to top it off with the chocolate ganache... YUM! I told my husband it's probably the best birthday cake I've had and I hope he remembers that for next year. We also picked up some almond croissants and chocolate croissants and both were delish... to me they were a bit on the smaller side though. The cafe is really cute and clean with a sitting area. We came an hour before closing, so options were limited but they do have a big display case and would love to go back and check out what else they have to offer. I am a fan of flourless cake- so hoping to get to try a slice the next visit.

The absolute hands down the finest bakery I have been to…read more Fantastic staff Great coffee

This is a lovely bakery/coffee shop. Went with a friend and we both enjoyed delicious iced teas,…read morehers a berry one and mine a mint, brought to our table, hand steeped, iced and sweetened to our preferences. We enjoyed macaroons, ginger molasses cookie and an éclair that rivals the ones I enjoyed in Paris. The bakery cases are filled with pastries and sweets to seriously tempt you. Parking lot access from behind the shop with a door leading into the shop and next door florist. The shop is beautifully decorated, pristinely clean with happy, helpful staff. So impressed, a real gem!

Quaint downtown location. I can imagine coming here during Christmas time in the snow to buy…read morechocolate for people. TBE candied apples, taffy apples, etc. I had em at some place in Crystal Lake and am still to make the pilgrimage to Richmond BUFU to the OG Anderson's, but this Barrington location has been there since before covid. Long live chocolate. Expensive AF, but worth it. Life changing really like the first cathode ray TV, MP3s, 4D movies, or being with me. Once you do it, your life is changed. No more taffy apples anywhere else but from here. Hand made. THEY ONLY HAVE THEM APPLES DURING FALL THO. Chocolate covered, taffy, etc.

Anderson's Candy Shop was the perfect quick stop for an anniversary gift -- honestly felt like…read morewalking into chocolate heaven. The young gentleman helping me was incredibly personable and friendly, even sharing the history of the store with such pride and enthusiasm. You can truly tell he loves where he works and values the family/business behind it. I was amazed by the variety and quality of chocolates -- definitely not your average commercial candy shop. Everything felt unique, thoughtful, and special. To top it off, he beautifully wrapped the gift in a box with a ribbon, which made it feel even more personal and meaningful. Definitely returning again -- both for gifts and for myself!

Peterson's Bakery came as a recommendation to me for their amazing donuts. I stopped in on a…read moreSaturday mid morning and they were still fully stocked with donuts, cookies, danishes, breads, and other sweet treats. They also had premade holiday cookie platters, cakes, gingerbread houses and more. I got a bavarian cream filled donut and cinnamon sugar twist. Both were so soft, fresh, and delicious! I loved the thicker bavarian cream filling and their chocolate frosting. The two donuts were just over $4 which was a steal! The woman who helped us was very sweet and made me smile.

Excellent everything. A family favorite and I have never had anything that wasn't wonderfully…read morefresh and tasted amazing. My grandfather was a Danish baker so my standards are high and Petersons is the best.

The best part about spunky dunkers is that' it's open 24 hrs and I must say the midnight donuts …read more. I'd say a 3.5 to 4. They were delicious but we knew we weren't getting the best of the batch and also noticed people in the back making tons of donuts. So we decided to return for a 7 am donut run....... PERFECTION! The donuts were sooooo fresh and sweet and there were soooooo many flavors - the huge apple fritter was moist and our new favorite was the payday with vanilla, caramel icing and peanuts. But I think what really stood out was how long the donuts taste good after you buy them and Spunky Dunkers didn't disappoint. Get them home and in a ziploc bag or Tupperware and they tasted just as good 2 days later This place isn't a secret either and I see why. There were at least 10 people crowded around the cashier counter first thing in the morning for a fresh batch.

I would love to give 5 stars for just the donuts themselves but not for the service…read more I was introduced to the donuts by a coworker who brought them in to work and I fell in love with them so I decided to go out of my way and drive here to get some for my family. As soon as I came in through the door and said HELLO , the woman in front didn't reply or even look my way at all and the whole time I'm picking out donuts, she acted so impatient and unfriendly. Her actions made me feel anxious and angry and I just wanted to be done with the order and leave asap. No matter how good the donuts are, I would never be back after that kind of interaction. It's too bad that they sell such sweet wonderful donuts but have such a sour person as your first person to take care of you.

We've gone to MOTW a few times now and each time the service and the coffee was delightful. We…read moreenjoy ordering and sitting in their cafe enjoying the surroundings while we drink our crafted beverages. This is my new favorite coffee shop.

Great inside Great sweets and desserts…read moreGreat drinks Like that they have kids menu for drinks Good service Inside is amazing

I have never purchased a Nothing Bundt cake before. When I received a buy one, get one free coupon…read moreI thought I would go to the location that was nearby. When I walked in, it's definitely a cute store. Very clean, bright and had a great display case with different sized Bundt cakes. The different cakes were arranged nicely in the case. The woman who was the cashier and I don't remember her name, she had short hair and glasses was very helpful. She showed me the different flavors and about the newly released s'more flavor. I brought the cakes home and took a bite of each and couldn't believe how moist and dense the cakes were. And how delicious the frosting was. I am a baker, so I'm particular about buying baked goods. These were definitely a winner. I purchased a carrot cake, which was quite good. I don't believe it had any nuts in it. And the red velvet cake was great and also had some chocolate chips in the cake. Highly recommend!

This location always has the friendliest service. Stopped in to use a BOGO coupon for the new…read mores'mores pop up flavor. It was divine! S'mores can be a hard flavor to nail, but the marshmallow and chocolate combo in the cake paired perfectly with the graham crunch. Highly recommended while it's still in stock!

I ordered 2 mini birthday cakes and they were both so delicious. I had them custom made and they…read morewere so accommodating and friendly! I had to change the writing on one cake at the last minute and they switched it to another name and it looked so great! I'll definitely go back there

Some of the best sweets around! I specifically come in to…read moreget an assorted tray of cookies for parties, because they truly are the best. I always secretly hope the host sends cookies back home with me, but there's almost never any left. ( I really should just buy a second tray, shouldn't I?) Each time I've been here the people behind the counter have been so helpful and happy to chat, even when it's super early in the morning. The prices are pretty good compared to other bakeries in the area as well. I wish I had more special events, because the cakes here always look so beautiful.

On social media, people are gushing over mochi donuts. It's only sparked my curiosity, and I'm…read morethrilled I found one near me. It's a charming tiny donut bakery with essential design. There is plenty of seating for you to enjoy your sweets. Apart from mochi donuts, they also provide Korean-style corn dogs and captivating beverages. I chose the strawberry mochi donut because it was the only flavor I liked. The donuts have an unusual form, like a beaded bracelet. The exterior is brittle, and the texture is quite chewy. I got the mango all the way with a tapioca add-on to accompany my donut. I'd never had a mango smoothie served in this manner before. It's rich and creamy, and I presume they incorporate it with condensed milk to achieve this thick texture. Mochi donuts are my favorite, even more so than conventional donuts. Because of the texture, I'll definitely get a dozen the next time I visit.

Cute cafe with mochi donuts, smoothies, corn dogs and milk and fruit tea…read more I enjoyed my Rose Milk Tea with added Sea foam. We tried chocolate and matcha mochi donuts. The donuts were fresh and chewy, with a light glaze frosting, not cakey or overly sweet. This is a sweet space, pastel pink, with an ivy-decorated wall and about six small tables. I wanted to try pudding on my tea (they were sold out) so I will have to come back and try it along with some other mochi donuts. Lots of interesting flavors and add-on options!

authentic polish food and very delicious. Unlike some other polish cuisine places, they do not…read moreoverload every dish with fried cabbage.

My husband and his dad went here for lunch recently and they both won't stop raving about it. They…read moresplit the BBQ Pulled Pork Pierogis, The Boss and Beef Au Vino, with this last one being their favorite. They were impressed with the flavor and large portions, as well as the helpful staff and decent prices. This is a local deli/bakery with tons of sandwiches, salads and baked goods, along with frozen pierogis, ice cream and other takeaway items in a little market. Unfortunately this isn't really a place I can find a pescatarian, gluten free meal, so unlikely I'll be able to try it myself. Hope you can! It sounds awesome.