The interior of this kitschy shop makes you feel as though you're walking through a giant teacup, with its floral textiles and pale yellow walls. Three round tables, topped with photos of Sweety Pie's intricately designed and decorated cakes, seat about 15, and a vintage sofa pushed to the side makes room for a few more. A nearby coffee table is stacked with foodie magazines, but these glossy, hunger-inducing images don't even come close to the goods stacked in the bakery's showcases.
Sweety Pies Bakery is known for its special-occasion cakes, but this sweet shop also carries a handful of other goods worth noting. The cannolis stuffed with white chocolate and pistachio are among the best of these, and the apple fritters are a house favorite. These fried fruit treats sell out quickly, so get up early or miss out.
A Coke cooler full of organic milk, mint water, Izze sodas, Honestea and Dr. Pepper provides refreshment for non-coffee drinkers, and a cabinet near the door showcases day-old pastries with slashed prices. The bakery's chalkboard menu crammed full of sugar-rich stuff even manages to make room for a small list of sandwiches and soups. But it's hard to focus with so many tempting choices. Free cookie samples up at the counter might help you choose from the dozens of decadent pastries or perhaps curb your craving for something a little more savory. Sweety Pies also offers daily specials, which usually include a pastry and coffee for around $4. Not a bad deal when you factor in the inviting staff, tantalizing smells and free wi-fi.
Centerstage Reviewer: Stacy Warden