Carlo’s Bakery — Restaurant in Bloomington

Today I bought three cupcakes (chocolate fudge, salted caramel and vanilla), two french cream canollies, a lobster tail and chocolate chip cookies.

The customer service was great and the two stars does not reflect the smiling faces and the genuine interest of my business. They answered all of my questions and were very welcoming.

Unfortunately this two-star is for the product. I don't live in Minnesota and made a two hour drive to have fun at the Mall of America, this place was on my list to try out. Since I have not tried their products before I'm not sure if they were going for that store bought flavor with the cupcakes. If that is their goal, they nailed it. I expected more because of their popularity and selling pitch that they are an authentic Italian Bakery. The carmel filling in the salted caramel was real and rich caramel and not a weak drizzle so that was a nice surprise but if you are going to be descriptive in your titles, I'm expecting more (i.g. the chocolate fudge was just a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. I'm expecting some type of fudge quality).

This was my first time trying a canolli and a lobster tail. I really don't have a clue on what expectation I should have, but I feel I shouldn't have had the experience I did. When I bit into the canolli I got a mouth full of cream, and my first thought was that I was eating frosting. The shell reminded me of a gingerbread cookie. I like frosting and gingerbread cookies, but I'm going to have to go with a thumbs down because it's not the experience I should have had.

The lobster tail was crunchy, and as a pastry shell I don't feel the crunch factor should be included, but; what I was expecting was a flakey soft (maybe buttery?) pastry shell with a rich cream cheese filling. This product did not meet my expectations, but the cream filling was not bad.

I didn't get the chocolate chip cookies for myself, but the recipient said it tasted like a home made cookie and they enjoyed it.

My two cents for my two star review? They are still a new location. I did expect more, but I didn't expect perfection this early in their new location. Would I try this place again? Maybe! I hope they find consistency that the brand has built up to be in other locations. If I continue to see poor reviews, at this point in their Bloomington location journey I can get better product at my local bakery or get the same quality at a grocery store (also local to me (; ). I will definitely be trying canollies and lobster tails at my local bakery to get a comparison but based of previous review, at this point, you should save your money or try it out and see if they have improved! (But I'm leaning towards save...

So disappointed. Save your money on the cakes at least. First tried the cake in Vegas for a family member’s Bday. Thought it was the best, freshest phenomenal cake I had ever had. Was so excited to get again. Had the order delivered to my hotel. Ordered 2 cakes, a chocolate and confetti. Pumpkin doughnut and s’mores cannoli. They did not have the donut or cannoli. Only realized this after ordered was delivered. No one from the bakery called to see if I wanted anything else instead. Nor, was there any note on the order saying the items were not available and I would be getting a refund for the unavailable items. It wasn’t until I called the bakery to inquire. Very poor customer service if you ask me. They should’ve totally called me and asked me if I wanted to replace the unavailable items with something that they had. Next, for such a so called popular bakery could not believe the package. I was bringing the cakes home. The card board piece that the cake sits on should be extending enough over the edge of the cake, so when the cake shifts in the box while being carried, it Does NOT hit the side of the box. Usually, A larger cardboard piece that the cake would be sitting on would stop that from happening. Well, not in this case. Which I find unacceptable for the price that you pay for these cakes that they didn’t have it sitting on a cardboard piece, big enough to stop it from hitting the side of the box. Thus the frosting coming off. Then silly me, I guess I thought I was going to be getting fresh cakes, they were not. I could tell they were pulled out of the freezer because there was still condensation on the top of one. Lastly, the taste test, I didn’t think this was any different than any other cake. If I could’ve, I would have brought them back for a refund. Total waste of money. I was so unimpressed, I cut the remaining pieces up of the cakes and...

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE IVE EVER EXPERIENCED dark haired female working by herself at 8:30 PM on 11/24/18 at the mall of America location. Firstly, she said we cut in line (when that is nearly impossible as the line is set with ropes creating a single-file structure) and helped the people BEHIND us before helping us after we had waited our turn behind two other people! Second, they were out of cannolis. Which was good, because I was going to ask to get cannoli filling and shells separate so I could make them at home (this avoids the cannoli getting soggy and is a common request. While I’ve never asked Carlos Bake Shop to do so, I assumed a bakery of their reputation would be more than understanding and willing to fulfill this request) instead, she, in an irritated manner, tells me that they are out and it would take her too long to make more cannolis as there is a small line and she is there by herself. After trying two more times to explain this (very simple request) to her, it begins to sound like an argument. After the final time of myself explaining this request and reiterating the fact that she wouldn’t make the cannolis, I would at home, she then tells me “that would take too long and I have other customers in line” this was the worst answer I have ever heard in any aspect of customer service. If these are the types of people Carlos Bake Shop hires, I will never go...