Cakes on Walnut
Remember way back last September, when I reported that a cupcake bar would be opening soon in downtown Champaign? Well, it's finally happened. Here are my impressions.Things they're doing right:
Cozy patio seating, featuring barstools at a pretty wooden railing that faces the street so you can flirt with whoever is walking by and throw cupcakes at passing cars.
The usual high tin ceilings, exposed brick walls, and wood floors of those wonderful old downtown buildings.
Sleekly modern minimalist white tables & chairs in the indoor dining area, and
a bar. Lots of natural light from the large front windows.
Pretty-as-a-picture, scrumptious cupcakes. Two sizes ($2.75/small, $3.25/large). 
Tender, fresh cakey part. Not cloyingly sweet. Luscious, fairy-light icing. 
Drizzles of raspberry jam, or something like it, on my Green Tea cupcake meant I got a surprising and intense "pop" of berry with most bites.
Interesting selection of teas. We smelled the coconut green tea and were sold on it, and the teas are reasonably priced. Other varieties included strawberry white tea, Earl Gray, a fruit tea, and cream-caramel flavored Rooibush.
Big glass partition, so you can look right into the kitchen and watch the cooks/bakers at work. (This is classified as a minus by the cooks/bakers—or it would be, if I were the cook/baker in question; however, it allows you to see for yourself that everything is made from scratch.)
You can stumble over from the Esquire Lounge, because it's right next door!Things I'm not sure about:
The nook with the magazine racks and chairs, but no tables. It struck me that they weren't sure what to do with this space, but I don't think magazines is it. I might eat a cupcake and look at a magazine, I guess, but I don't see sitting in a chair in that nook and reading a magazine without a table nearby on which I could set the food or drink I presume they hope people will be enjoying.
The sandwiches. Served wrapped in plastic, as they'd been made ahead and stored in the fridge (you'd think they'd want to try to disguise that fact by unwrapping them before plating). Mine: Thin layer of a tasty white bean spread with good Parmesan, made in house. I mean, a really thin layer. Served on Swiss bread with a drizzle of balsamic dressing plus lettuce and tomato.
My companion's: Ham & cheese on baguette, European style, meaning hardly any ham or cheese. Both sandwiches were very good, and fresh, high-quality ingredients were used, but my guess is that most people will want more inside, especially for 7 bucks with only Sun Chips on the side.
The high-end DRY brand sodas. They sound just delicious, if you go in for that sort of thing, with names like Kumquat, Lavender, Lemongrass, and Rhubarb—but, at $5 each, I wonder if they'll be a hit. One of the owners told me that a woman developed the sodas while she was pregnant and wanted a flavorful, fun, fizzy cocktail substitute. I can see that; possibly people stopping in of an evening, people who don't drink alcoholic beverages (?!) or who just aren't drinking on that particular evening, will find the sodas a great alternative and will be willing to pay cocktail prices for them.The wine, sparkling wine/Champagne, and the beer. The sparkling wines, especially, are a fun idea, as is the Cocoa Loco Chocolate Stout. And I love port. I'm just not sure about these beverages in combination with cupcakes (not that a person would have to consume them together, and yet . . . ). Also, I would balk at paying $8 for a (5-oz) glass of Prosecco when I can buy an entire bottle for between $8 and $12.
The boxed cereals. I don't see people in Champaign paying $3.50 for a bowl of Fruit Loops or $5.00 for a bowl of Special K with sliced fruit on top (or, let's see, $5.50 for Special K and soy milk with fruit on top).
But don't worry about the nook, or the sandwich or soda prices, or the boxed cereals. All you need to remember from this post is cupcakes. The red velvet ones pictured above are topped with a cream-cheese frosting and a sprinkle of bitter cocoa nibs. If they carried cupcakes alone, they would justify their existence and make Champaign a prettier and happier place.I hasten to add that we visited on their first day in operation. It will be interesting to see how the place evolves. I was kind of sorry to see that they changed their minds on what to call the shop; last fall, they said it was to be Cream & Flutter; I loved that first, whimsical name. But I understand that from a marketing standpoint, Cakes on Walnut is probably better.
Cakes on Walnut
114 North Walnut St. (one door north of the Esquire Lounge)
Champaign, IL
Hours: 7 a.m. to 12 midnight Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Labels: restaurants
posted by Lisa at 5:45 AM
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88 Comments:
Great post! Loved the pictures and having a close-up of the menu without having to go in and stare. :)
I was slightly disappointed: I thought the cupcakes were a little dry. But it was the first day; hopefully it's just a kink they'll work out, and I'll for sure be back there plenty of times to find out.
I thought the cupcakes were pretty delicious, especially the strawberry balsamic. I had the same questions as you, though. Who pays that amount for a bowl of cereal? And what's the deal with that weird little nook?
Still, I'll definitely be stopping by for more cupcakes.
Thanks, Lisa. The cupcakes do look quite good. Perhaps in the next couple of weeks I can get over there.
The sandwiches seem pricey. And cereal for $3.50? Wow.
I too thought my cupcake was very dry and not worth $3. I hope it was a one time thing and I may be willing to give them another chance. I want them to do well.
You know I'm not much of a cupcake fan. I like them but I find at places like this they dont live up to the hype and price. But the concept is very nice. I need to visit Champaign one day.Its long overdue.
I always enjoy reading your reviews, and this time is no difference. You really do a great job and cover all the important elements. The cupcakes look really nice.
Those cupcakes sure look good! A little pricy, but good!
This post makes me wanna come to Champaign
You're always quick!!!
Yay, I went and had cupcakes! The strawberry balsamic was fantastic: the cake was just what I would've expected: tender, fluffy, fresh. The top was slightly crusty and very buttery...excellent. The strawberry icing with vinegar drizzle was a great combination. Only disappointment was that the cake was plain; I was expecting a strawberry cake.
Also tried green tea and was wholly disappointed. The cake was green-tea flavored but dry and crumbly. The strawberry frosting was excellent, but the green tea frosting put the green tea element over the top.
Also had coffee and wasn't impressed that they don't serve espresso.
The friendly but apathetic person behind the bar wasn't always busy and I half expected her to ask, "what did you think?" when she cleared our plates...but didn't.
I think they'd be a lot more efficient if they'd make one size of cupcake and make more flavors. Won't people get bored after they've tried all seven flavors?
Also, a short description of the cupcakes would be helpful. It'd probably help them sell more, too.
It was a fun place to be on a warm Wednesday night but I'd have a hard time finding a reason to go back unless they come out with some new flavors or menu items...
Sounds like they could use you as a consultant.
Good luck to them in their new business.
Wow - they're priced very similar to Sprinkles in Beverly Hills. I hope the cupcakes themselves are worth it!
I stopped in this morning around 10:00am. Day old cupcakes were half-price, making them much more affordable (plus I tend to like my cupcakes on the firm side). I had a green tea cupcake and thought it was very good. The staff were also very friendly and helpful. I will certainly go back.
Thanks, Carmel!
Kfan: A few people are mentioning dryness; that wasn't my experience (but admittedly, I'm no cake expert).
Ms. Molly, I wanted to try the strawberry balsamic one. Next time.
Melissa: Yeah. I think they're just going to try different combinations of things till they hit on what works.
Keri: Again with the "dry" factor! I'm surprised people are saying this, because my cupcake wasn't dry at all, and I had the green tea one. Huh.
Glamah: You must have so many of these cupcake shops up in the Big City! I'm not a cake fan, either, generally, but I thought my little (OK, big) cupcake was great.
Thanks, Simona, for the good word on the reviews!
PIC: They are rather pricey. When you think about, like, $38 for a dozen, it seems even more so! But I think that even around here in our smallish town, people will pay for sweets, if they're good.
Cynthia, next time you are here, we'll get a cupcake.
Thanks, Lek. One tries! So many new places open all the time that it's hard to keep up.
C, thanks for your impressions. Strange about the green tea cake; mine wasn't dry at all, but several people have said that. We must have had different batches. I think you have a good idea there about them doing one size and more varieties.
Lori Lynn: Well, I don't know what will work and what won't. It's very mysterious, this food biz, isn't it? I also wish them well. The two sisters who own the place are very friendly and fun to talk to.
Anon: Beverly Hills, eh? Hey, we're uptown now!
Lolly: Good to know about the day-olds. And I agree that the owners and the other staff were very nice.
I've not been yet but I wish they would have kept the old name, stayed away from breakfast & lunch. As well as maybe open later (5pm- 2am) to catch the afterwork, dinner and a movie, out down town crowd. I'd also like to see more options as far as flavors, and some cookies, brownies, gelato, and dare I say RUBENS chocolates...I'd be in love.
No...not the Sun Chips! Looks to me like they are doing everything 100%. It's the first time in years I've missed Chicago.
I got a half-dozen for the office and we sliced 'em up and taste-tested. (They were out of the red velvet, which was okay by me because I'm weirded out by the stuff.)
I found the cake crumbly to cut, but I wouldn't say it was dry, really. I think the cake was fine but not particularly remarkable, overall (I'm still not sure which was the chocolate and which was the caramel, though they were both perfectly nice); for comparison, that's about how I rate most of Sweet Indulgence's cakes as well, as I think their actual batters aren't much above nice.
However, I'd say they've put the serious attention into the frostings, which I was very impressed by--nicely intense flavors, good buttery mouthfeel, none of the chalky supermarket-frosting action. (I particularly liked the strawberry balsamic.) And since that's really the dominant flavor in most bites, I'd say the overall quality is pretty decent. Counter people were lovely when I was there Thursday at lunchtime, though their cupcake-holder cardboard to keep them from getting messed up in the big box doesn't work real well with the small size cupcake.
A friend wonders if they might consider being a bit more child-enticing (I didn't see any kid-level sprinkles, for instance), so as to get the parent-kid trade during the day. While I realize they're trying to make it a primarily grownup place, that's probably not a bad idea--expanding the appeal for the daytime crowd that's not going to be ordering the port.
Overall, much more interesting than I had expected, and I'll go back.
I bought a half dozen the other day to share with friends. The cake was unremarkable; frostings delicious; but, $1 for a box to carry them in?! Come on...
Amanda, it would be fun if they carried Rubens. And they apparently do have gelato; it's listed on the menu, but only as a combo with a cupcake. I don't know what flavor(s) they have.
Anon: Thanks for the in-depth report. I agree that attracting children is a good idea; have some fun "kid" cupcakes. And I'm with you on the frosting!
Anon: I didn't realized they charged for the carryout box...?
Good review! It's amazing that people can charge 2.75 for a cupcake! But I know that's the going rate for fancy pants cupcakes! But they better be GOOOOOD. Thanks for the reminder about the Esquire. I spent some of my 21st b-day there.
Hey Toni: I forgot that you went to school here. Man, the Esquire has been around for a long time. ;)
I went there on Friday night after dinner to pick up a cupcake and some gelato. They were out of most flavors, which was to be expected because of the Ebertfest/downtown Friday night crowd.
The cupcake was decent enough, but not worth the price. The hot chocolate was really bitter (which my husband loved, but I didn't) and I didn't get any gelato.
When I asked what flavors of gelato were available, I was told that the gelatos were paired with a specific cupcake.
"Fine," I said. "Which gelato is paired with the red velvet cupcake?"
The woman behind the counter didn't know and had to ask. (Why don't they have a list available at the counter?)
Apparently, chocolate malt gelato is the only gelato one can get with one's red velvet cupcake, so I didn't get any gelato, and they lost a sale. I understand and appreciate recommended cupcake-gelato pairings, but still...they're probably going to need to be more flexible to stay in business.
My husband liked his salted caramel cupcake well enough, but it wasn't particularly caramelly, and seemed to have a piece of toffee on top.
We probably won't be back any time soon--we still prefer the mini-cakes from the Cake Artists' Studio, and truthfully, I can make my own cupcakes if I want them that badly.
I went to Cakes on Walnut Friday night with much anticipation as it has been scheduled to open for some months now, and I am a die-hard cupcake eater.
As a cupcake connoisseur I went straight to the Red Velvet cupcake to make my assessment. After my first bite, however, I was severely disappointed. The cupcake tasted like no Red Velvet I had ever tasted, plus (as some other reviewers perceived) the cupcake lacked moistness.
I will say this though - the frosting was spectacular! Also, the Strawberry Balsamic Cupcake, which my friend tried, was delicious (despite too much balsamic on the frosting).
So check it out, but stay away from the Red Velvet!
N.D.: Thanks for your report. I wondered what the story on the gelato was, and now I know (though I still don't know what all of the flavors are). Seems like it would be wise for them to tell a person the list of flavors, then the one that they recommend pairing with whatever cake you've gotten, then leave the final decision up to the customer. I've never tried the Cake Artists Studio cakes; must do that sometime.
Stephanie: Thanks for your report, too. It's unfortunate about the dryness several people have reported. I agree that the frosting is fabulous.
Not a fan at all. I'll start by mentioning that the infamous Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan charges less for their cupcakes, which says a lot given how expensive Manhattan is compared to Champaign. To say that Cakes is overpriced is an understatement. I'm guessing the rent at their location is sky-high and the prices reflect the location more than the product. I suspect this will eventually drive them out of business, as I found the cakes to be not at all worth the price and certainly not good enough for the kind of repeat business necessary to maintain this kind of establishment.
I tried 4 flavors, and threw two of the cupcakes away after one bite because they just weren't worth the calories. The salted caramel had not a trace of salt and the telltale bitterness of burnt caramel. It was nasty. The red velvet (a flavor I usually love) was incredibly bland and also had a bitterness to it that was very unpleasant.
The vanilla was very boring. It had good, real vanila flavor, but lacked the kind of sweetness that one expects when induldging on a cupcake.
The strawberry basalmic was actually pretty good. Some tweaking and it could be great, but I'm still not sold on the idea of forking over $2.75 for a three bite cupcake, even if it is a great cupcake.
All the cupcakes were horribly dry and the cakes themselves had no flavor at all. Any flavor was in the frosting, which was a little heavy and greasy for my taste. Yes, I know it's buttercream, but it had a sliminess to it that was just not right.
I had been really excited at the prospect of a cupcake place in town, and I'm sad to say that Cakes did not live up to my expectations. Next time, I'll save myself the $12 and whip up some Duncan Hines.
As a final thought - this whole business of charging $1 for a box is flat out asinine. I know the establishment has to pay to buy the boxes, but to charge customers for the privilege of bringing your already overpriced product home is a great way to make sure they don't come back.
Lisa, have you ever been to the cupcake shops in NYC? They are notoriously overpriced with very uneven quality results, differing tastes notwithstanding. There is one in particular that has fantastically gorgeous designs, but the staff is fantastically hateful. I don't know that many repeat customers; think their business thrives on tourist trade.
Fun post. Thx for the idea of green tea w/ raspberry. I just might bake today. : )
holy comments batman! I still haven't been, and reading this hasn't made me as gung ho.
I'm curious as to whether anyone with negative comments attempted to speak with the owners? It seems that a little constructive criticism may go a long way to help a new business thrive instead of fail in these hard times.
In response to the other Anon... I did not attempt to talk to the owners because I took my cupcakes to go.
It seems to me though that if they can't figure out that their prices are too high, that charging for a box is a bit insulting, and that some quality control is necessary before selling a signature item, then the business needs more than a little constructive criticism. These are pretty basic things that even a minimally attentive business owner should be able to apply a little common sense to and address without outside assistance.
I would like to try it out and take my daughter.
Here are my thoughts:
Definitely needs to be kid-friendly during the day. That nook should have a play table that would keep kids entertained. Kids books, toys, anything.
They also need a kid-friendly sprinkled cupcake. But nothing too sugary. (My daughter always takes one bite of cake and then moves on to ice cream.) If they were really thinking, they would carry a rich bean vanilla ice cream to serve on the side.
I hope that they did in fact put in changing tables like they had originally planned.
Let's face it, when you have two kids, you have to find kid-friendly places. I would probably take my husband there, but since we rarely get out alone, we're more likely to go and take the kids.
Those sandwiches are over-priced. Now I'm not likely to suggest it as a lunch destination for my coworkers. It will have to be for dessert only.
Paying for a box seems a little ridiculous. I don't think I would pay for a box and would be pretty miffed if we didn't finish our cupcakes on the spot and had to pay for the pleasure of taking them home with us. I've never heard of a restaurant charging for boxes-and I've worked in a lot of restaurants.
And sun chips are gross. I would never pay to eat them in public. I think I've had them once in my life. They could have come up with something better.
I'm looking forward to trying them out. Hopefully the owners read these comments and take them into consideration. Thanks for the review and all the pix!
Anon: Thanks for your comments. It's too bad you didn't have a better experience. Everything I had was good; I thought the price on the sandwich was high for what you got, though—would've liked to see a bit more filling. As for the cost of the cakes: I know, from a friend who works at a bakery, that the cost of the basic ingredients has recently skyrocketed, and since they make everything from scratch, that could definitely be a factor in the pricing.
Susan: I have not been to the shops in NYC, but I've heard that there are many. It's a shame when staff that serves the public in these places is "hateful," as you mentioned. Just the opposite here; the sisters who own our shop are very friendly and nice. Glad the post was inspirational; hope you baked up something yummy involving green tea. ;)
lbotp: You'll have to try it and let me know what you think. It's a very cute place; I hope they find a winning combination of things to offer.
Leeanthro: Thanks for the comments and suggestions for the owners.
Ok. My turn to chime in; a friend ran over and paid $9+ to drag 3 cupcakes back to the Esquire last night, to split between 3 of us. Taste-test night!
Even though I'd read the comments here, I was shocked at how small the cupcakes were. My first question was "oh, did you order small ones?" Nope.
The chocolate fell into a pile of crumbs when it was cut in half. We all agreed that the icing on all of them (chocolate, green tea, and strawberry) was good. Still, the summarizing concensus at our table: "I make better cupcakes than this for my kid's kindergarten class."
Well, I haven't visited COW personally and it's going to take a little to spend that much on one cupcake.. But besides that, I'm wondering why they have a website (http://www.cakesonwalnut.com) that simply points visitors to their Facebook page? If I want to know more about their flavors or something about the owners, or maybe even, dang, a coupon, I just want to point and click, not have to then wade into FB. This seems to reinforce the notion that the shop is catering solely to young professionals. Second, I'm thinking that a generous swabbing of simple syrup might make a world of difference in both moistness and flavor.
Gnightgirl: Ouch! Man, that was a bad experience. I don't know what happened about the size of the cake; my large cupcake was large. I think there was some mistake that went on there. But, again with the "dry"! Oy.
Sweetpea: Thanks; I didn't know they had a Web site. I agree about Facebook; I didn't see much info there, but then I'm not a FB user, so I'm not too familiar with it. Possibly that's an interim thing until they get their site up and running.
Sweetpea: Not only does the webpage point you to the Facebook page, if you look at their Facebook page, all it really does is mention their grand opening last week and point you back to the webpage. Opps!
I'm really hoping they turn things around. I SOOOOOOO wanted this place to be as fantastic it was in my dreams.....
I noticed that if you buy a dozen, you only save $1. So they must be really concerned about having enough cupcakes or else I would think "by the dozen" is the way to go in order to really make a big sale. If they offered a buy 11 get 1 free or even buy 5 get 1 free, I think that would help soften the blow of high prices. Also...coupons, coupons, coupons. What about buy fancy tea and get a cupcake 1/2 off. And what about Mini-cupcakes for $1...I think that would be awesome.
Hi Everyone!
It's Amanda from Cakes on Walnut. Thanks for visiting our space and thanks for your constructive feedback.
Just a few comments:
-We have been working with our brand new kitchen staff on quality control. We are ensuring that they don't accidentally overbake your cupcakes, making them dry.
-Some people have commented that the chocolate cake was too crumbly (and may also have perceived that as dryness). We agreed and changed our recipe this week.
-We have removed the box price but will still be offering bags as the primary option for small orders. The boxes are expensive for us to buy, but more importantly, they create a lot of extra waste for just one or two cupcakes. In the interest of the environment, we would be happy to refill your old boxes.
-We will be rotating our flavors periodically, so check back for new ones soon. We are currently working on a confetti cupcake that appeals to kids.
-The page attached to our domain (www.cakesonwalnut.com) is simply a placeholder for now. Please be patient with us as we get some professional pictures of the space and our product, as well as a finalized menu.
-Our gelato is now on our suggested pairing menu, but can be mixed and matched (or ordered separately) as requested. It's an excellent product from a company called CapoGiro out of Philadelphia. They use tons of fresh, local PA ingredients and it's super creamy and full of flavor.
-We love having your kids in our store! We still need to install a changing station or table in our women's restroom, but would also welcome other suggestions that make it easier for you to bring your children into our space.
These are just a few of things that we have heard or noticed and are improving. Thanks again for your patience as we continue to make Cakes on Walnut better and better. We appreciate your feedback and your business! :)
Lavender: Some good ideas there about special offers and so on. Thanks!
Amanda: Thanks for responding to many of the comments. The confetti cupcake for kids sounds great. As does the gelato; I'll have to try it. Hope you can list the available gelato flavors on one of the boards. And new varieties of cupcakes coming soon—good deal!
Follow up...
After my terrible experience last week (see above comment @ 2:10 p.m.), I read Amanda's comments about changes and decided to give it a second try.
It was like going into a completely different place. Cupcakes were fantastic this time, not dry at all, perfectly sweetened and delicious. The green tee frosting did kind of push the green tea flavor over the top as someone else mentioned, but that may be a personal taste thing. Regardless, once I scooped that dab of green frosting off, the cupcake was perfect.
I was a little disappointed in the gelato. The white chocolate tasted kind of like soft serve vanilla from DQ, the portions were very small. and it was very melted. I wanted to try the chocolate malt, but was told that it was too soft to serve. In my opinion, the white chocolate was as well.
In addition to ditching the box charge, I didn't see that cereal was on the menu any longer. They also unwrapped the sandwiches before serving them, and they seemed to have a decent amount of filling. Improvements are noticeable and have done a world of good!
My only suggestions would be to be a little more generous with the gelato and also to maybe let people pick and choose a little on the frosting. My husband loved his chocolate cupcake (note to Amanda: new recipe kicks a**!), but didn't like the chocolate frosting. There was nothing wrong with it, he just doesn't care for chocolate frosting generally. He said it would have been great with the vanilla frosting, which had me thinking that it would be even more fabulous with one of the berry frostings, and so on. This would also allow for a much larger selection of flavors without actually adding anything to the menu. Just a thought.
Overall, for those of you who had a bad first experience like I did, go back. I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised! I have done a complete 180 and Cakes has become my new favorite place to indulge my sweet tooth.
Anon: Thanks for the update. Sounds like QC has kicked in and they've made several other appealing adjustments as well. Interesting idea about the frosting.
Complete disapointment and a waste of money. Anyone who has been to another cupcake bar/cafe (since they are pretty popular right now) will come in here, see the minimal flavors, taste the bland cake and think, really?
The idea is great, the location/store front are both great, the cakes, not so great. Salted Caramel was just a chocolate cake with frosting that had too much shortning and definitly not caramel.
If it's still there in 6 months I will try it for now, but from here on out I will make my own.
I went in after they had been open a week and I had a strawberry balsamic cupcake. I was VERY disappointed. The cake was dry and stale and VANILLA!! I thought I ordered a strawberry cupcake??? The frosting was good, but it tasted vanilla also. It was pink so that it looked strawberry though. I would assume that if you open a cupcake bar you would be really good at making cupcakes. I didn't realize that someone could actually screw up a cupcake but now I know you can.
The environment was cute and so were the cupcakes. Maybe they are still perfecting their recipe. I would have thought they would have done that since September when they first started advertising. I would rather had Betty Crocker cupcakes that are good than be able to see them making not good homemade cupcakes.
Jana & Anon: Thanks for your takes on the place. I agree that it's a very cute space; it's too bad you didn't think more of your cupcakes.
I ate the salted caramel... very disappointed... And the cheery and chocolate one was also equally dry. Plus it was sooo pricey for the quality and size. But the frosting wasn't bad. I guess i payed for the frosting...
Anon, thanks for the report. It's too about about the cupcakes being dry. I don't know what is going on there, because mine wasn't dry, it was just right. And the frosting was great. But so many people have mentioned "dry." I hope they can start turning out consistently yummy cakes soon...
I wonder if the dryness problem is an issue of storage. Cupcakes tend to dry out really quickly. I'd be willing to bet that the people that had trouble with dryness were there when it was slow and had cupcakes that had been sitting out for a few hours, and the people that loved the cupcakes were there during a busier time and got fresh cupcakes.
It's an easy enough problem to fix: airtight storage. Put some nice glass domes over the display pedestals and the cupcakes stay moist and delicious.
Now if only they would make a sweeter frosting...
Anon, that really might be the problem, re: the dryness. Good idea about the domes.
Hi Lisa! My friends and I went to Cakes on Friday night for a Girls Night Out. What a great place for us to end our evening! We loved the vibe of the place, although there weren't quite enough tables, so we had to sit at the bar. And there were actually people who left due to the lack of seating.
We all had a cupcake and a glass of Moscato di Asti. My cupcake was phenomenal...the Salted Caramel. The frosting was a perfect consistency and had a great caramel flavor with just a hint of salt. Almost everyone else had the chocolate cupcakes...they enjoyed them.
The prices are high, and I really worried that will kill the place after the novelty wears off. The glasses of wine were $8! That's pricey by anyone's standards. And the small cupcakes should be closer to an even $2.
I was a bit disappointed at the limited selection on a Friday night (vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel, and confetti...I wanted to try green tea!).
The only other problem we had was when we were actually handed our cupcakes. One of the owners (I'm guessing due to being so busy!) actually handed 3 of us cupcakes on a napkin, and then ran off. I immediately asked for a plate from someone else, and was apologized to profusely. The plates were adorable, btw, and added to the whole experience.
All in all, I think if they can work out the rest of the kinks and adjust their prices down, they should be successful!
Mindy, thanks for your report. Finally, someone else who really liked her cupcake! ;) It sounds like the place has been pretty packed on recent weekend nights (even non-UI graduation weekend nights).
I also loved the vibe in the place; I had fun there (although that was also due to the good company of the friend I was with!). I agree with you that wine prices are too high. As I noted in my review, I'm not going to pay $8 for a glass of Prosecco. I also agree that the small cupcake should cost less (I didn't mind paying the $3.25 for the large, though, myself). And finally, it sounds as if they desperately need to get some more staff in there baking cupcakes so that they consistently have a good selection.
After hearing all the negative things about this place here and on a few other sites I was skeptical about this place but I have to say that the cupcakes that my husband and I had last weekend were actually really good.
Unfortunately, we were really rubbed the wrong way by the woman working the counter. We ordered our cupcakes "to go" and were offered either a bag or a napkin. When we asked if we could have a little to go box so our $3.25 cupcakes didn't get all messed up we were told that that wasn't an option. So we had to settle for the bag...then we watched as the woman shoved our cupcakes into the paper sacks, getting her fingers in our frosting in the process and also managing to get the frosting all over the sides of the bag. When we complained about that she told us we could "lick all the icing off the bags" when we got home. Kind of gross and weird.
I think that at the price they are charging small boxes/containers must be an option. I work at a coffee shop/bakery myself and we always offer small boxes to customers getting cake/pie/messy stuff to go. I have also gotten cupcakes at Sweet Indulgence in the past which cost about the same and they put them in little to-go containers for you. I am hoping that the owners read this and consider it because as good as the cupcakes are I don't really want to spend $3.25 on a cupcake that gets grossly manhandled!
Lauren: I should say not! Thanks for the comment. Definitely still some kinks, which I hope they'll iron out.
Hi Everyone!
It's Amanda again (Cakes on Walnut owner). Thanks for your comments and your continued interest in our business. A lot of the things you are blogging about are issues that keep us up at night.... cupcake moistness, boxes, customer experience, etc. There are a lot of nuances to getting a business open and getting it open right, so we wish there were more hours in the day. But we love every minute of it! :)
As far as the perception of the cupcakes being dry, it's a bit of an education process. Butter cakes by nature are a drier cake. It's not like the cake you are used to eating from a box mix which is made with oil and has emulsifiers in the mix to retain more moisture. But if you tasted them side by side, you will notice that a butter cake has MUCH more flavor. Because butter melts at a higher temperature, you will also notice the cupcake texture start to change a bit in your mouth if you leave it on your tongue for a second. When you eat cupcakes made with oil, you get that "mouth feel" more immediately. That being said, we really want our customers to feel like they are getting a superior, moist product so we are working on our recipes. We really want to find a way to make the cupcakes moist, but not lose that delicious, rich buttery taste that you get from a butter cake.
Okay, so about the boxes. This is a tough one because right now we have so many different boxes and inserts (single, four, six, dozen, small, large, etc.). Also, boxes take a long time to fold so it delays customer service, but we can't prefold them because there is no where to store them where they are accessible. Also, the boxes with inserts are really expensive. But we really want to keep your cupcakes looking nice and get them to you fast! We are currently looking into clamshell containers for 4 and 6 packs, and keeping the boxes for the dozens (orders, gifts, etc.). I think this will improve the process immensely. Not sure what to do about the single cupcakes yet... maybe single clamshells?
The total customer experience is a big one for us. We are limited by the health department on the number of seats we can have in our building (although we would like to have more!) so we are considering lobbying for the outdoor chairs not to count. Also, we are really spending a lot of time right now trying to get the right employees in the right jobs and get them trained. We will be changing to table service this weekend which will hopefully help provide better service.
I genuinely hope this helps explain some of your concerns and makes you feel like we want to get things right (because we do). Again, thanks for your constructive feedback-- it helps us get better.
Hope everyone has a great weekend-- stop by and see us for a cupcake if you are downtown!
I went to Cakes on Walnut yesterday, and I was very happy with the experience. After hearing about so many less than stellar experiences, I wanted to decide for myself. I split a large salted caramel, and my companion and I agreed that the frosting definitely stole the show- it was delicious.
While we were eating, multiple customers came in and every one was offered the option of a plate or a napkin. The staff was very friendly and attentive, even when it got busy with families. I would say that they are overcoming a lot of previous criticism very well.
Also, the cupcake menu has rotated, and I was told that there are 12 more gelato flavors coming in next week.
Amanda, thanks for the updates & info. Interesting that you're adding table service.
Paige: Thanks for the comment. I also liked my cupcake, and I also thought the frosting was divine. Good to know about the new cupcake and gelato flavors.
I love this place but I couldn't believe they charge for a box. They would have put my 3 cupcakes in a bag, can you imagine? Yuck! I've never been charged for a box at a bakery.
Anon, I hear you. They're all done with the charging; hope they figure out the packaging soon.
My sister and I visited Cakes on Walnut this weekend and we ended up trying three cupcakes: salted caramel, vanilla, and coconut.
The salted caramel was fantastic. The chocolate cupcake was not too sweet but quite chocolately. Not dry either and this was in the evening so I think they've resolved the drying-out-of-the cupcakes during the day issue. The frosting was decent. I enjoyed the light crunch of salt.
The vanilla was disappointing. Although the cake was nice and moist and the frosting had a nice texture, the flavor of the cake was underwhelming. For instance, you can smell the vanilla of a Magnolia cupcake before biting into it. And you can smell it as you are chewing it. In this case, nada. We thought that the vanilla would be the lightest in flavor so we ate it first before the caramel and coconut but it didn't help.
The coconut cupcake was pretty good. The texture of it is reminiscent of Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes but lighter (and if you've made or eaten Ina's version, they're quite dense and lighter is an improvement). Definitely moist and coconut-y. The frosting didn't hold up to the flavors of the cupcake quite as well. I think coconut cake is best complimented by seven minute frosting with coconut milk or cream cheese frosting.
They have fixed the "weird nook." It now has high tables and chairs.
Thanks for your review, Anon! I must try a salted caramel cake sometime. The coconut sounds good, too; that's a new flavor they didn't have when I was there. High tables in the nook sound fun—big improvement.
I went back to Cakes on Walnut last weekend, mainly because of the comments on this thread. This time, we tried the chocolate and coconut cupcakes.
The woman at the register was friendly and very knowledgable, and the cupcakes were delicious. My coconut cupcake was very moist and flavorful, and the frosting was tasty. (I'm not much of a frosting person, so I ended up scraping some of it off, but I always do that.)
My only disappointment: they were out of the large pink lemonade cupcakes when I went in. I guess this means I'll be going back soon...
Hi ND, and thanks for the update. The new flavors are tempting! Pink lemonade—yum. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the cakes you got. I want to to back and try a ham & cheese sandwich, myself (but would probably succumb to a cake as well).
My friend and I went to Cakes on Walnut after lunch at Jim Gould's today, and I think that my experience was mixed. My friend really enjoyed her coconut cupcake, and while I enjoyed the icing on the salted caramel cupcake (which is a big deal for me since I'm not usually a frosting kind of person), I have to say that the cupcake was still a little too dry. I ordered a small, and about 1/3 of it was crusty, which I didn't care for.
Another friend of mine, who couldn't stay, bought three cupcakes to take to her mom and for her to eat later. Although the lady behind the counter was careful in putting the cupcakes in the bags, they looked quite unappetizing about 15 minutes apparently, because the icing was squished up against the sides of the bag. I think that a box for small orders should definitely be an option, as mentioned by other commenters - it seems like such a waste to spend 3 bucks on a cupcake and have the take-out option leave the cupcake looking quite unappetizing...
I may go back and try it one more time, since they didn't have green tea cupcakes this time, but I don't think it's a place I would really frequent.
Snowdrop: Sigh. Still with the dryness. And the problems with carryout. I hope they get this stuff figured out!
I wish the cashier would wear gloves when putting cupcakes in the bag or box. The times I've gotten cupcakes, the cashier got frosting on her hands - the same hands that handled money - money that's been God knows where. It just doesn't seem sanitary.
Anon: I am not a big "gloves" person, so that doesn't bother me at all. But I understand that it does worry some people.
After reading this review and all the comments, I tried Cakes on Walnut and also swung by the Cake Artist's Studio.
Cakes on Walnut was ok. The atmosphere was great, the cupcakes looked pretty but didn't taste like much. It's definitly a place to go to for the experience moreso than the cupcakes. A nice way to kick off or cap off an evening in downtown Champaign.
Cake Artist's Studio was the exact opposite. Limited hours, bad location, and doesn't look like a place worth stopping from the outside. However, the cupcake sized individual cakes were really good and they had all sorts of other really yummy looking treats that I'm dying to try. Plus, they gave me my cakes in a lovely little box tied with a beautiful blue bow at no extra charge. ;)
Both places are well worth going to, just for different reasons.
Anon: Interesting take on the two places. I've never been to the Studio; I really must get over there. I did have petit fours from there once that were fantastic.
The only reason this place is doing so well is becuase we haven't had anything like this in champagin yet.not because they are good cupcakes.i've gone to culinary school and i would consider this an embarrassment.Basically cute decor cute girls crappy cupcakes.
Hey, Nikki: Well, that's one take on it! I personally liked my cupcake, and the frosting. I agree that the place and the girls are cute. ;)
Very disappointed by their gelato...
My favorite by far around champaign is Bar Giuliani's. The staff actually makes it on site with all ingredients shipped from Italy!
Anon: I haven't tried the gelato at Cakes yet. I vaguely remember eating a gelato at Guiliani, although the business was called something else then, I think. I don't remember what I thought of the gelato. Sounds good, though, made from scratch and all.
Good Morning Bloggers!
It's Amanda again from CAKES. Just a quick comment on our gelato. We use a supplier out of Philadelphia called Capo Giro. They use all-natural ingredients shipped in from all over the world, including a significant amount of milk and fresh produce from local Pennsylvania (Lancaster) farms. Flavors are always based on the season so the ingredients are super fresh. We think they have an amazing, creamy, full-flavored product, so I would encourage you to give the gelato another chance... perhaps a different flavor next time?
I also just wanted to let everyone know about our new flavors this week:
--Mocha Kahlua
--Strawberry Balsamic (with strawberry cake this time!)
--Lemon Blueberry
--Pistachio
Oh, and we still have the Rhubarb cupcake for a few days while rhubarb is still in season. That one has been very popular.
We also just started carrying the "Starter Kit for Change" totes. You can check them out online or in the July issue of Seventeen magazine. All of the bags promote change and environmental sustainability and they are all unique! Very affordable too, so stop by and see if we have one in your style.
Last but not least, it's great to still see so many comments and suggestions. We work on improving our recipes and our customer experience every day and your feedback is an important part of that process for us. If you get a chance, I would love to know:
(1)The one thing we are doing really well and
(2)The one thing we should improve as soon as possible.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone!
Amanda
I had a strawberry balsamic cupcake today, and it was perfection. Truly delicious. This was my second cupcake from Cakes on Walnut. I first tried them on their second day in business, and my chocolate cupcake was--you guessed it--rather dry and crumbly. I was so glad that today's experience was positive. I really want them to be successful.
Amanda: Thanks for continuing to update us on what you're up to. I'd like to try the gelato sometime, and your new cake flavors sound great. The totes are a fun idea, as well.
Angie: Thanks for the report. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your cupcake. I also had the strawberry balsamic one, and I thought it was very good.
I had more cupcakes this week! The strawberry balsamic is AMAZINGLY better--less vinegar (bad bc I liked the vinegar but I could see why ppl wouldn't). the crumb is much better and the cake is actually strawberry! so that is good.
also had the vanilla--was not at all impressed with the frosting. blegh.
good to hear about the gelato, though! downtown really needs some ice cream--the cart in front of bacaro really doesn't cut it!
Hi Carmel: Thanks for the update. Glad to hear about the strawberry cake; I'll have to try that. Unfortunate about the blah vanilla. I would also like to try the gelato (I haven't even been to the cart!).
Perfect place for a date. The employees were very friendly and the decorations were fabulous. My friend and I tried the pistachio and chocolate cupcakes along with a cup of coffee and they were delicious! Great ambiance!
OK, Norma—now I want a pistachio cupcake! Thanks for the report. I've actually been meaning to get back in there for a sandwich; possibly the white-bean-spread one I had before. I really enjoyed that even though it was a bit light on the filling.
I've tried most of the flavors and my favorite one is the Black & White. Unfortunately, this flavor has been discontinued. I also wish they made their coffee stronger (as strong as the coffee at Bacaro's). I will definitely hang out there more often if the coffee is stronger ;-)
Anon: I never saw the Black & White, but I like the name. It will probably go back into the rotation at some point. I know you're hoping the owners take your very subtle hint about the coffee!
I went to Cakes on Walnut around the beginning of September, after reading the comments posted here. I must say, my experience was delightful. I had a chocolate-covered cherry cupcake and a chocolate cupcake. Sure, I was disappointed that there weren't more flavors to choose from, but really, if you want them fresh, I guess they can't make that many. The service I received was spectacular, down to the convenient cupcake boxes I received without asking. My only concern is that the place was absolutely empty. I did go on a Sunday afternoon, though, so that might have something to do with it. I definitely recommend this place, and had no problems that people previously described. The cakes were not dry, and the frosting was delightful. I am not a fan of buttercream, but the frosting was so light and melted in my mouth. It was almost as if it were a whipped cream frosting. And the flavor of the frosting...definitely my favorite part. If you haven't gone yet, you should. And if you went earlier and were disappointed, give the place another try!
Anon, thanks for the report. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the cakes. I also loved loved loved the frosting, and I'm not even a big fan of frosting in general.
I went on Saturday and it was great. Red velvet and vanilla were very good and moist. I love the idea as I can go eat at Seven Saints and then have desert!
Anon: Good to hear, thanks. I agree it's great that all these places are near each other downtown!
Stopped by yesterday. The carrot cake w/ cream cheese frosting was amazing!! My 2 year old son definitely ejoyed the chocolate! I don't feel like the prices are overly expensive. If you go out to dinner and order a slice of pie or dessert you'll pay anywhere from $3-$6, so a homemade cupcake for $3ish doesn't seem bad!
Anon, glad to hear you (and your son) enjoyed it. I've never tried the carrot, must do that sometime...
I stoped by Cakes on Walnut this Saturday and bought half dozen diferent cupcakes just to see what all the buzz was about. Wow, I was sooooooo disapointed. I felt none of them had flavor that makes me want another. They were all dry, flavorless and not enjoyable at all. After taking a bite of 2 of them, I was almost reluctant to take a bite of the other ones I bought, I sure won't be going back there any time, Period.....
I recomend trying a cupcake from a small place in Mattoon, called Heavenly Delight Cakes. They are on the main drag, Route 16 next door to a sandwich shop. The cupcake I bought there was absolutley the best I have ever Had. You ought to try it, it's worth the trip.
Anon, thanks for the tip on the place in Mattoon. I'll have to check that out.
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