Layered. — Restaurant in Fairfax

I've noticed that a lot of the one star reviews have been left as a result of poor planning on the customer's part, as well as unrealistic expectations. The desserts being sold at Layered are currently trending globally. They are also one of the only bakeries to sell such desserts in the DMV. They have also only been open for a week, so it makes sense that they're selling out as quickly as they are, and that there are LINES.

It is important to note that this is a small business that was probably not expecting to be hit with such demand so early on. The fruit shaped desserts are handmade as stated by the owner, the workers are burnt out, and the kitchen has been said to run 20 hours a day. These are human beings, NOT machines, so we as customers need to do better and give more grace because they deserve it. How about, instead of the tanking one star reviews, we say thank you, for bringing an otherwise unattainable dessert to our area.

Before you take a lengthy drive to this bakery, it is up to you to do the research and understand that you may not get what you want. There are plenty of reviews here stating that items have sold out in an hour. That means that if you don't plan accordingly, you will be out of luck. To clarify, planning accordingly does not mean getting there AFTER the drop time. Per another review, people tend to arrive way before that. Whether you still want to make the drive is up to you, but do not blame the bakery if things do not go your way. At some point, responsibility for your own actions and decisions needs to be factored. The tantrums are both uncalled for, and unbecoming of supposed adults.

The overwhelming quantity of one star reviews are embarrassing to read as a customer, and I imagine very hurtful to those employed at Layered. Imagine working your butt off to provide quality products to customers day after day, and still being told it's not enough. We as customers need to do better, and be more appreciative.

If you want to experience Layered, but want to avoid the lines, and potential food outages, wait until the hype dies down. They are still in their soft launch phase, meaning they are still getting their bearings, and figuring out the best ways to serve so many eager/excited patrons. Choosing to not return because you had a bad experience during this time would be a true disservice to yourself. There is no other place like Layered in the DMV, and I am personally excited to see how they flourish and expand.

Signed , A fed up...

Disclaimer: this was a soft opening. Due to popularity through word of mouth and social media, many items will go out of stock quickly, especially the desserts.

Arriving and lining up: I came on Wednesday morning 5 minutes before opening and a line was already forming. By the time I got to the counter, the staff was working so hard to get in orders and get them out in a timely manner. There was even a concern for dessert items to be out of stock before the expected restock around noon.

I was lucky to get two of the desserts, but the staff told the remaining customers that the limit was two dessert items. I saw some people get more than that.

Wait time: Anyways, the wait took about 15-20 minutes while waiting in line until the order got in. After placing the order, it took about 10 minutes. My friend sadly didn't get her order since the stock was low, but the staff who attended her was kind and offered her a full refund for her order.

The desserts: • Yuzu cake with limoncello: I love the shape of the dessert since the aesthetic is based on the realistic appearance of a yuzu fruit. The layers of custard, cake, and limoncello filling was complementary and delicious.

• Matcha cake with strawberry filling: I would recommend this dessert to someone who likes desserts that are not so sweet with a little sour taste from the jam filling. It was delicious as well, but the strawberry filling was unexpectedly less sweet than I anticipated.

The atmosphere: It was a simplistic design with a lot of gray tones with the concrete flooring. There were mostly tables for groups of two, a couple plush chairs, a couch, and a large concrete table with surrounding seats. Due to the popularity, it is a bit crowded, so it does have an impact of the atmosphere of the place.

Overall thoughts: I'm satisfied with my experience, but is it worth coming again? It depends on your patience and understanding of how the café runs. Once again, this is a soft opening and the staff are doing the best they can to provide satisfactory service and cater to the customers' needs. I hope you can take with that...

Wow. Come here if you want to experience originality and innovation — something very difficult to experience in the DMV area. Not only is the menu on a class of its own, the service and environment come with touch of “layered” thoughtfulness. Super impressed and planning on going back again. Easy to do with the early opening and late closing times of 7 to 11!

Update: Whoa, I came back to update my review with additional input and images and am shocked by the low ratings people have left. It doesn’t match my personal experience with Layered. in the slightest, and I’ve been back multiple times to try and catch their desserts! Surprisingly, it seems the complaints are of the cafe being low on the exact items they went viral for..

Maybe it’s because I’m from NYC, but willingness to wait and to be understanding in expectation of a hot commodity is a normal thing. Additionally, anyone has the option to walk up to the counter and choose not to wait on line if there are no pastries left. I scratch my head at those who have decided to wait and then complain — it shows a lack of accountability for participation and choices made as a consumer.

Being relatively new to the area and impressed by the unique quality of this cafe, I would hope it continues to do well, so that it inspires growth in diversity and creativity of small businesses around a pretty boring area. I’m saddened to see some visitors tearing the place down. How about grace instead?

As for my personal update, got to try the cheesecake and raspberry. They were delectable and not too sweet (Asian compliment, iykyk). I was impressed by velvety mouthfeel and texture of the cheesecake, as well as the raspberry compote inside the raspberry dessert. The brightness of the fruit really came through without being overshadowed by sugar. Kudos to the Michelin-starred chef that labors in the back (as I found out via conversation with the kind staff). Can’t wait to try the...