Yia Yia's Bakery — Restaurant in Rossville

We used this bakery for an April 2016 wedding because a cake from this bakery was included in the contract with the wedding venue. Later, after all the problems arose, we were informed that the product from this bakery was the ONLY cake that would be allowed by the venue. As a fair disclosure, I will reveal that I am a very advanced amateur baker, and have won at least a "champion" (purple) ribbon for every wedding cake that I have entered in the county fair. I decided not to produce the cake myself because I, as mother of the groom, had a lot of other things to do the week before the wedding. The mother of the bride, the bride, the groom, and I arrived for our assigned tasting appointment, and were met by a young saleswoman. We had a good idea of the design we would like for the cake. We were quickly informed that the voucher from the wedding venue only entitled us to a plain, stacked (not separate tiers), white iced ("buttercream") cake. Anything else was an extra charge. There were a variety of cake flavors presented for tasting; NONE were in any way flavorful. The fillings were equally flavorless, and the "flavored" ones tended to be gritty - I suspect the grittiness was due to the flavor additive. The saleswoman tried to give the impression that the cakes were fresh, and the icings and fillings "housemade". Under my persistent questioning, she revealed that the cakes were frozen (a usual practice for commercial bakeries), and the icings/fillings were obtained from their supplier in large tubs (also a usual practice for commercial bakeries), then the flavor added. When it came time to discuss decoration, we were told that their recommendation was to use sprays of plastic flowers from their vendor. I offered to produce the flowers for the cake, and the filling for between the layers, and provide them. The saleswoman sharply asked what I would make the flowers out of, and I answered, "buttercream or fondant". She sharply replied that "We don't use buttercream for decorations anymore. Buttercream is only used for Bozo children's birthday cakes. You obviously don't know what you are talking about. I have been selling wedding cakes for 4 years, and I have never had a bride request buttercream flowers." She may have been selling cakes for 4 years, but I have been MAKING award winning cakes for over 30 years. It was obvious that she did not know anything about cake construction or decorating since every request was met with "I've never heard of that", "I'll have to ask my decorator if that is possible", and "I have to ask the manager". She was trained to stick to her sales script, and was trained to use intimidation to make sure the cake fit the bakery's standard. The tasting/sales session quickly fell apart, and we left.

We looked into providing our own cake, but the venue would not allow it. We looked into having this bakery provide a plain white iced cake that I could decorate, but that was not allowed either. It was explained by others (not associated with the venue or bakery) that the venue and bakery were dealing with health department regulations.

So the cake from this bakery was delivered to the venue shortly before the reception, decorated with a plain ribbon border and plastic flowers. The back of the cake (which they did not think anyone would look at) was very unprofessional, with the ribbons not attached properly. Even though the weather was cloudy and temperature was cool, the cake began to lean and slide, which led me to believe that it was not constructed with the proper supports. Much of the cake remained uneaten by the guests. I wish I could post photos in this review.

I have been told their other products are quite good, and have heard of other wedding cakes from this bakery that were quite well done, but none of these were "contract" or "voucher" cakes produced under an agreement with a venue.

Overall a very unpleasant and...

I would like to share my last experience with Yia Yia's bakery in an attempt to save you the hassle and you're just better off going elsewhere.

We have been going to this bakery for 7 years! Every birthday, every special occassion, every holiday, just random stop ins. It is very conveniently located for our house. We have been very loyal despite minor issues in the past and this new issue was the last straw.

In the past, I have had employees stare at me without asking to assist me, have employees who do not know the ingredients in their display cakes, employees that didn't understand the possibility with custom cakes and would not bother asking their cake decorator, and paying for a custom cake to only see some shortcuts taken with printing edible paper designs instead of actual drawing them when that is not what I paid for.

This last time, I was inquiring if they had any other flavors, since after 7 years...just wanted a change. I emailed them. Nothing. Did the online request form. Got a response. I like things in writing bc usually that means you cannot go back on their word. So, they didn't have anything different. As stated in email, they knew the date I needed the cake and what I wanted. A simple 8 inch cake with a deaign my son came up with. Just an outline of a "T" drawn on the cake and 2 little turtles inside of that. They said to order ASAP and that a week in advance order for simple cakes is the normal. I went next day with more then a week. They had a sign no more cake orders till 07/30. However, I had the email stating my date was ok.

Since we were third in line for cake orders. I asked a girl at the counter. Told her I had the email. She said they probably cannot do it and she would check with a supervisor in the back. She said the supervisor was not there and they could not do it. So, I said with this email you still can't do it. Then all the sudden she says the cake guy is hee supervisor and I need to speak with him.

We speak with him. Show him the email and he sighs. He says he will go to the back and see what they can do. He comes back and says he needs my email addresa so she can pull up the email in the back. He just read the email so kind of annoying, but fine. He comes back out and says they can't do it. All their cake decorators are booked solid.

So, the 5 minutes or less to slap on an outline T and 2 little turtles on a round cake from their display case is somehow too taxing. I ask who responded to this email then. He said the general manager. So, I said I want to speak with her. Of course, he says she is not there. I ask him so you are not going to honor this email in writing from the general manager. He gives the BS excuse that all the decorators are busy again. So, I say I guess you're not making any display cakes till the 30th too then? No answer. I said if you can make those cakes, theb you can spend the few extra minutes to put that stuff on the top. He said they can't do it. I said it is apalling how you are treating me as a customer when I have in writing that this order is ok by the...

Cake was very good in taste. However the pricing and pick up not so much. My wedding cake was the same cost at another bakery and was bigger and fed more. It also had more design to it. Almost $300 for a two tier cake and we brought our own snowflakes for them to put on because it was gonna cost $50+ for them to buy them. Got them on our own for $20.

Pick up was supposed to be at 1pm for a 2pm baby shower. My husband and I got there and had to stand around for a half hour for them to “finish it”. None of the snowflakes were put on it. We even had to bring the snowflakes in a whole week prior, which we did. The girls apologized but we weren’t offered any money off or anything. Just felt unacceptable to me for the price we paid. Won’t be using yia yias for any other future events.

EDIT IN RESPONSE TO YOUR RESPONSE: your response only makes it sound worse. If there were any issues with the snowflakes provided we should have been informed and we were NOT. We were told “we’re not sure why it wasn’t done but we apologize”. And the snowflakes we brought were ALL the ones on the cake and none appear to be missing OR look “melted” so these “extra” you’re talking about makes no sense and you’re covering yourself for your own error rather than just apologizing for your own bakeries mistakes. It doesn’t look good on you as a business. You can clearly see in the photo that they don’t look melted??? And yes we okayed the cake and left because we had to get to the event. We asked for the cake to be done at 1 to ensure it would be done. Knowing we wouldn’t actually get there till 1:30 on the way to the event. We played it safe and there was still issues.

I also still have both receipts from payment and we were NOT charged $221. Between both payments we paid close to $270. So not sure if we’re were overcharged or what and not based on the order you have. But I have our receipts and bank receipts of proof. You should really work on your customer service and apologizing to customers who are spending a lot of money on...