Deerfields Bakery — Restaurant in Deerfield

I was a loyal customer of Deerfields Bakery for years and never once had a complaint. A while back I noticed a distinct change there. The cakes looked the same and I actually though that the donuts were better. I felt that the services had become a little indifferent but it certainly wasn't to the level of being a deal breaker (until my most recent visit). I showed up very early last Saturday morning to pick up a cake for a very important occasion. Admittedly, I had not pre-ordered but on the flip side I had been on the website and decided I wanted to see the cakes in person, it's a popular item and it wasn't as if I was walking in right before closing. Anyhow, I let the counter help know which cake I was going with and they ran in back to get it. They came back out a few minutes later and said that they only had the next larger size and that they only had what was in the case in stock. There wasn't a very nice selection of smaller cakes in stock, the bigger cakes are $17.00 more and they're way too big for my family size. I was very clearly disappointed but the clerk offered no solutions other than that I could come back Tuesday but she couldn't guarantee that they would have the cake then either. I left empty handed and started to look for other bakeries. I realized that they have another location and tried to call but no one answered so I drove back to talk to the manager. When I walked in the other clerk who was there gave me major attitude but then begrudgingly got the manager for me. I explained to the manager that I was willing to drive down to Buffalo Grove for the cake and didn't think it was an unreasonable expectation for a customer to see if they have what I want in stock. Alternatively, I asked if she could meet me somewhere in the middle on the price difference if they didn't have it. The manager put up a big fight that they "don't talk to Buffalo Grove" but finally called. Buffalo Grove didn't have the cake either, the manager wouldn't budge on the price difference and offered no other solution. I ended up buying a beautiful cake that was the right size at Whole Foods. But, we have several occasions that call for cake over the next month and Deerfields has been our go-to for years so I sent them a detailed email to try to salvage our business. Although not rude, the outcome was "sorry-too bad, we hope you come back someday". Whelp, no. There are other bakeries that are just as nice in the area and I like to be treated with value. I wasn't asking for anything excessive and it was just waste of time to reach out to them to try to maintain my business with them. That's not the customer's...

I researched this bakery online and saw great reviews so I decided to give it a try. My significant other and I flew into Chicago to celebrate our birthdays, I placed a telephone order for a heart cake with a simple top and bottom border in Dallas Cowboys colors. I placed the order on 7/25 for pick up on 7/30. The order was smooth and pick up was a breeze. I was greeted right away upon entering the bakery and provided with my cake which I had already paid for. The cake was pretty, the colors matched exactly what I wanted. The issue started when we cut the cake. We both thought something was different about the cake because there was spots throughout the blue icing but we thought it was because the cake was cooling. I'm not sure what was used to make the color blue but whatever was used I don't believe it was supposed to be used. The blue dye used in the cake stained everything....we washed our hands at least 20 times and even used chlorine and they dye was still on our hands....the dye even turned our poop blue....I have never in my life eaten a cake where this has happened. Needless to say we did not continue to eat the cake and I was very disappointed and frustrated. We attempted to speak with the manager at the bakery but never received a call back. Can't say that we would recommend or try them again when we return.

So I received a response from the bakery and it's a very classic response....so because of the color I chose it created the issue.....sounds like y'all need a little more training/education on how to make colors with buttercream. Like I stated before we have never had that issue before with any other bakery regardless of the color that is chosen (purple, red, black, green) I've had them all in buttercream...

I had an unexpected experience at Deerfields Bakery. Up until about 7 years ago, I had ordered all my kids' birthday cakes from Deerfield because their decorations are so beautiful. I ordered my son's graduation cake about 2 weeks in advance of his party. I got an email from customer service asking for a copy of the image I wanted (I had already provided it to the girl who took my order but that's ok. I didn't mind sending it again.) The customer service rep said that this image would be used for a "portrait" decoration on the cake. I was like, wait, what's portrait mean? She explained that a photographic image would be placed on top of the cake. I told her that was not what I wanted. I wanted the university logo to be done with icing. She said that 90% of college cakes are done with a portrait image so the girl who took my order probably assumed that's what I wanted (she never gave me the option.) So I asked the customer service rep to please change the order for the cake to be decorated with icing and she said she couldn't because changes are not allowed in the five days leading up to pick up. So it appears that Deerfield has a central ordering and service system that does not allow for much flexibility. So why 4 stars? Overall, the cake and sugar cookies I ordered were very good. But truthfully, I could have gotten a portrait cake from Jewel for less than $75. It just wasn't special like Deerfield cakes used to be and their new system is so inflexible. Especially since the mistake was made by the employee who took the order. I'm attaching images. You can see that the cake is nicely done - just not what I...