Woodlea Bakery — Restaurant in Baltimore

I previously gave Woodlea a 5 star review because I've never had an issue here. I've ordered quite a few cakes in the last several years and they've always looked exactly how I wanted them to and tasted delicious. Unfortunately, today I had a terrible experience.

I ordered and paid for a cake for my sons graduation party on May 18. The party is today, June 26. I ordered the cake over the phone, so I made a point of going into the store on June 6 to discuss in person exactly what I wanted. I had to email images that I wanted on his cake which I did on June 9. Immediately after I sent the email, I called the store to confirm they had received the images and to again make sure they knew exactly what I wanted. They informed me that the images would be an extra $20, which I happily paid. I received a phone call today at 8:16am that they had never received my email and needed the images. I informed that I had sent them and discussed the cake with a gentleman named Charlie. The girl apologized and said she would get the images when Charlie came in and my cake would still be ready for pickup at 10am. My morning plans took a little longer than I expected so I did not pick the cake up at 10am as originally planned. I received another call at 10:24am from Charlie stating that he couldn't find the email or the images and asking me to resend them, which I did as soon as I hung up the phone. He told me my cake would be ready for pickup at 11am. I was annoyed, but didn't want the cake rushed so I arrived a little after 12 to pick up my cake. It was nothing like I had described it. I asked for 3 super hero symbols on either side of the cake with graduation caps on each symbol. Instead I got 2 symbols on either side of the cake, one on top and one on bottom and a plastic graduation cap decoration on the top of the cake.

To say I'm disappointed in such an understatement. To make matters worse, there were 3 staff members present. They all acted annoyed that I was annoyed the cake was wrong. None of the employees apologized. One employee offered to take the cake to the decorator to be fixed but there was no way to fix it. When I told them that I didn't understand how none of them even acted like they cared that my cake was incorrect when I had gone to such lengths to make sure that it was perfect, one employee actually said to me, "Ma'am, do you want me to cry for you?".

To say that I'm absolutely disgusted by the behavior of these employees moreso than I am annoyed by the fact this came is wrong, would be a gross understatement.

I had 4 cakes preordered and paid for for a party I'm hosting in August. I asked for a refund and canceled the order because I was so bothered by these employees callous response to what was ultimately the bakerys mistake.

If this review was based solely on today's experience, it would be a 1-star review but because this place has always been amazing, it's a 3.

EDIT: I spoke to the owner, Charlie, a few days after my cake issue. He was very apologetic and offered to reimburse me for the cake (which I refused). He also stated that he would talk to the employees that were present about their poor attitudes and that he hoped, especially given our history of positive business that I would give them another chance. I did sit on that decision for a few weeks, but this past Saturday, July 17, I went in to order some donuts and give them another cake order for August (the order I had originally had them cancel and refund). I could tell that the employee working remembered me, but also it was clear that they had honestly had a conversation about their behavior. The young lady smiled, was polite, and patient as I reordered 3 birthday cakes and helped me make decisions about size and flavors, etc. Given the 10+ years of perfect cakes and positive, helpful employees, I am hopeful that there won't be anymore issues, and so, I am again making this a 5 star review. You still cannot find a better tasting cake anywhere and theirndonuts are...

My family and I have gone to Woodlea Bakery for years but over the years especially within the last two we have all noticed a change in not only the ingredients but the customer service as well. My brother preordered a birthday cake for his wife to be picked up the next day. When I went to pick the cake up I immediately noticed the icing was cracking all over. I went back into the bakery to explain that the cake looked old and the older clerk who assisted me made me feel as though I did something wrong. I have gotten numerous cakes from this bakery and none of them have EVER looked like what I picked up yesterday. The clerk insisted the cake was fresh and said the icing cracked because it was probably moved around in the box. This still doesn’t make sense to me and I had only had the cake in my possession for less than five minutes, I didn’t even make it to my car as you can see the picture attached is me standing outside of their bakery. The only time I’ve noticed icing cracking or chipping is if the cake has sat for some days and harden. Buttercream icing shouldn’t crack if it’s fresh. I felt like a lot of time was wasted on deciding how to resolve the issue when the prime solution should have been to either remake a fresh cake or provide me with something similar the moment I brought the cake back into the bakery. The clerk who assisted me also stated the cake I was picking up was the same cake my brother picked out. All of the icing on the other similar birthday cakes in their display case looked soft and fresh, why was the icing on the cake that I was picking up appearing hardened and cracked? Why would you pass off product that is subpar? If I were running a bakery that very cake would have NEVER crossed my counter and into a customers hands. I went to pick this cake up on my lunch break and because of this situation I was late getting back to work. In the end I was given a different cake which looked much more fresh and the icing was not cracking all over which I am grateful for. However, Woodlea Bakery will not EVER get my business again or my families business who have been coming there for over 20 years. I typically don’t write reviews unless I feel like I have to and in this case it was needed. This experience has left a bad taste in my mouth just like the pastries I bought from them not too long ago which is sad because they used to be very delicious. You can tell that their ingredients have changed in their pastries and other baked goods. The good quality in their desserts is no longer there. Please save your money and support a different stand alone bakeries or grocery...

We hired Woodlea Bakery based on reputation. We took our only daughter in 3 weeks prior to our event to design her cake. We talked to the family and felt really safe knowing that cake would be perfect. So yesterday I called the bakery around 2pm to verify that the cake would be delivered at 5pm one hour before the party and was told that everything was set. I set up a dessert table with lights, tulle, candles, flowers and in the center would be her beautiful cake. I had to wait for the cake to add the fresh ferns so that it could circle the cake. By 5:30 no cake. I called the bakery and was told the driver just left. I indicated he had to reach us before 6pm and she said based on our location he should make it. As anyone knows guest always arrive early so at 5:45 the family began to show up and head toward the bar where our dessert table was and reference the fact that there was not a cake. At 6pm my husband called the bakery again to find out where the cake was because most of our guest were already there. Finally 6:05 the cake arrives. Everyone took notice that this man is walking past them with our cake that my daughter chose the day she worked on the design and color scheme with the owners. People were shocked that the cake had arrived late, they all stated the cake always arrives before the guest. When they asked who were the bakers I told them. Oh and the fresh ferns that I wanted to decorate with put away as people were arriving because we didn't want to have a box laying about so in the hustle I forgot about them. When my daughter came over to the table to blow out her candles she asked where was the greenery like in the picture she saw online???

This was a formal event, we had the best and used the best services so it wasn't a low end party. We expected the best but from the bakery we did not receive the best. I was disappointed. So if you order a cake from them go get it yourself. I should have!

I called this morning to speak to Charles and was informed that he would not be back in until Tuesday and I would have to speak with her. This is the same person who confirmed my cake would arrive on time last night so she is the last person that i want to speak to right now-and she had the nerve to catch an attitude with me. ...