Bollo's Cafe & Bakery — Restaurant in Blacksburg

I ordered a 9 x 13 sheet cake; marble cake with vanilla butter cream icing. It was for my 9 yr old Granddaughter and my 90 yr old Mother. Asked for their names and ages to be printed and then some pretty violet and purple flowers with yellow centers. Told them to make it very Spring and Easter looking with the colors. I paid for it on the phone when ordered. When I picked it up, I was very disappointed in the decoration. Aside from the names and ages, there was two or three very small dark purple flowers with green centers. I didn't have much time before the BD dinner, so I took it hoping it would at least taste good. But I felt somewhat ripped off because I could have made and decorated a cake to look as good as this one did. After dinner, I brought out the cake and was more disappointed. The crumbs fell like saw dust when it was cut. Instead of looking like yellow cake with chocolate swirls running through it, it was just a light tan color throughout with a little streak of yellow cake every now and then. It was so dry, it just crumbled on the plates. Everyone tried to pretend to eat it, but it was so bad no one ate more than one or two bites. It was the worst cake I have eaten in over 60 years; and I paid $50.00 for it. I was very sad and disappointed that it was such a negative ending to what should have been a happy celebration. The next day I called and asked for the manager. I was told she wasn't there, but I was speaking to the kitchen manager and she could help me. I told her of my very negative experience and that I had paid $50.00 for a cake that no one could eat, and she said she was sorry. And that was it. I don't know what I was expecting, but that certainly wasn't it. I will not be returning to Bollo's Cafe & Bakery - ever. I only gave it one star because it wouldn't let me post my comments with out...

Bollo's is great, especially if you're a Starbucks junkie looking for better food or cheaper prices (like me). Tuesdays and Saturdays they offer several gluten free pastries and sandwich bread (sat only). They have a large selection of tea and coffee, which are less than two dollars for a large mug with a free refill. The atmosphere is laid back and easy for working or focusing on a project. Never empty nor overcrowded it offers comfortable seating and everything you need. It's so within walking distance of Virginia Tech's campus, making it very convenient for students I need of study space away from their every day environment. The pastries, bread, and snacks have been delicious every time I've tried something and the staff has always been incredibly polite and friendly. If you're coming here for tea get the congo bongo black tea if for no other reason than how good it smells. Food wise try anything--trust me...

When I think of Blacksburg, I think of Bollos. It embodies what I love best about this town: chill, grassroots, and focused on the community as much as their craft (which is incredible). Cheap mug coffee and wifi so you can just so and study of read the newspaper or simply play a board game (of which they have many). I have seen "hipster" coffee joints, and this isn't pandering to that crowd; it's rough around the edges in the best possible way. The energy wasted at Blue Bottle or the like at making a sleek clinical environment is put into the people, the business, the town, and—of course—the coffee (or tea or smoothies or whatever beverage you desire to get you moving). I love Bollos so much and I don't think you could replicate it anywhere if you tried. Because trying to be like Bollos would be the antithesis of Bollos: unapologeticaly itself, proud of it, and an inspiration to its town and patrons to...