Had a lovely dinner at the Cake Bake Shop tonight! The bloggers will post plenty of pictures better than mine so I’ll leave that to them. I just wanted to give my impressions based on my actual experience.
First of all, make no mistake, Cake Bake is in the signature restaurant category despite also offering of breakfast and luncheon fare. The inside is gorgeous, just as upscale as Citricos or Flying Fish, but in its own way. I was expecting it to be in-your-face feminine, but the style is actually more classy and elegant than flowery, with lots of sparkling crystal details. The menus are in large leather-bound covers and the table settings are classy and elegant. No corners are being cut here, the details and ambience are impeccable. This place is appropriate for a nice date night, a special brunch or dinner with friends, or just bit of special personal indulgence.
The service was very attentive and also on par with a signature. My meal courses were perfectly timed and my glass was always full. I ordered an arugula salad and the roasted salmon entree, and everything was well prepared and delicious. If anyone was wondering, the entree came complete with a side of asparagus and some smashed and sautéed fingerling potatoes with delightful crispy edges. It was a good amount of food and a full meal.
I also tried two of the cocktails, the Sazerac and the Cosmo, which were both well-made and on par with a signature restaurant, or even better. I think people will find favorites here and come back for them. I really enjoyed mine.
Despite the price, I did try some cake. Because: Cake Bake Shop. Disclaimer - I normally don’t eat cake because most cakes are way too sweet for me. All I can taste is sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and gobs of sugary frosting, ugh. (Looking at you Disney cupcakes.) However, based on recommendations from my Indy people, I ordered the Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake.
The slice was huge and dense, and could easily be split into three regular-sized servings by Disney standards - one layer per person would be about right.
Sorry, I did not have a measuring tape to give exact dimensions. The cake and buttercream were (thankfully) less sweet but more flavorful than typical retail cake or the usual Disney cupcakes/cakes. I could actually taste the premium chocolate, vanilla, butter, and other ingredients, which was a pleasant surprise. IMO it was quite excellent, for cake. YMMV. Good thing I liked it because I have 2/3 of it left in my mini-fridge right now. But it was a fun experience, so I’m glad I tried it.
Some posters further up the thread have questioned the inclusion of gumbo and crab cakes on the menu, as well as the French spellings of some menu items. My server told me that the owner is originally from New Orleans, and that she has brought many New Orleans and French influences to her menu and her food, hence the menu items and spellings.
Anyway, I had a delicious and enjoyable dinner in a beautiful restaurant. Its cost including dessert was similar to other Disney restaurants in the same category. I hope Cake Bake is a success, because it adds life to the Boardwalk. And I can’t wait to see it all decked out for Christmas!
In truth though, I'm more likely to pop in for a piece of fudge or a truffle if they're said to be good!
