Knotty Pine Bakery — Restaurant in Brainerd

I came in awhile week back to order a cake for an occasion. I waited at the counter about 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged me. They kept looking at me but couldn't even simply say "someone will be with you, shortly." The looks felt very unwelcoming, too.. Poor attitude, low selection of every day items which look better than they taste, and high prices for quality. I love pastries and bakery and was very excited to check this place out. They were my first choice for a cake. Way overpriced and terrible customer service. Like someone said in another review "they need to cheer up." I ended up getting a cake a Walmart for $80 and was quite impressed with their quality, filling options, presentation, availability and price. Going forward I don't ever think a "high end" cake designer will be ever worth the money after an experience like this.

Note: I came in twice because I thought maybe my first impression was a fluke and I caught them on an off day or just got unlucky with one employee. The second time I came in to inquire, I had the same exact treatment and vibe from a different employee. Still received the same unwelcoming looks and had a long wait before being acknowledged as a customer. Very disappointing, because I love contributing to local businesses and am more than willing to pay a higher price as long as the quality or service...

👎👎👎👎👎If I could give zero stars I would. I ordered and paid in full $154 for a small 6” red cake with gold beads two weeks in advance and numerous emails detailing my request for my birthday photoshoot. On the day of pick up, a day before my photoshoot, the owner, Marie tells me that my reference photo of a red cake with gold beads DOES NOT guarantee anything. She offered no solution, very blankly shuts the box and pushes it forward and proceeds to step away. Even though I’ve asked if the cake could be fixed she still insists NO, there’s nothing she can do, she doesn’t see anything wrong with the colour or the clearly biege beads and that they are fully booked. I ask if it could be sprayed black, still no. She instead, a day, a phone call and 2 more emails later, suggested that I pay an ADDITIONAL $30 to have it fixed. Ridiculous! So now after having to cancel my photoshoot, cancel and find another makeup artist, change dinner reservations, I’m left with this orange psychedelic coloured cake. I don’t even think I will be able to eat it because of how upset I am about the...

I am excited for this new business! Excellent potential! One star deduction from rating for 2 reasons:

1. The chocolate chip cookies had walnuts in them, but were not labeled as "with nuts". Since it was more a preference than an allergy, there was no crisis. I gave feedback, and they added it to the label.
2. At 10am the stock of things was very minimal and they had run out of many things.

These are obviously part of the growing pains of a new business, and I look forward to returning and revising my rating, hopefully to 5 stars.

Suggestions: butter available (for rolls, muffins, etc.), a microwave to warm muffins and rolls (this is a cold climate, and having warm offerings will make the difference for us between going vs. Not going in cool months). Chocolate things aside from chocolate chip cookies, and if chocolate chip cookies are to remain, please offer with and without nuts,...