Eileen's Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Fredericksburg

When we booked our wedding desserts with Eileen’s in April of 2024, we were her only wedding for that day (10.05 in Richmond), and after the initial discussion and exchange of basic information about venue, date and time of the celebration, she asked us twice to consider including delivery in our order. In May, when we finalized our order, Eileen again asked us to consider delivery. It was during this time that I ordered a secret cake for my wife in addition to the three other desserts, and I paid a sizable deposit that day, too.

On September 10th, I let Eileen know what our final headcount would be, I asked to switch the secret cake into a single cupcake for logistical reasons, and I asked to set up to delivery for all of our desserts to our venue in Richmond. When she finally responded on September 24th, she told me it would have to be six cupcakes instead of just one, and they couldn’t deliver because of not enough coverage for the store. On September 25th, we asked if they could deliver after the store closed for the day at 2pm, and Eileen said that she only delivered within Fredericksburg proper. She went on to say that she only took our wedding because she knew she wouldn’t have to deliver, directly refuting what she told us three times.

When our wedding day arrived, Eileen personally oversaw the pick-up of every box and bag that was brought to the counter inside the bakery. When it came time for our desserts during our reception, the cupcakes were nowhere to be found. Everyone working confirmed that they never saw any cupcakes. I asked Eileen for an itemized receipt on October 8th and for the pictures that she took of the desserts before they left the bakery. The same day, she said she’d get us the receipts the next day and sent pictures of the three regular desserts, but not the cupcakes. After another request for itemized receipts, one of her employees texted me on the 13th with pictures of non-itemized receipts and the statement, “We’re working on refunding $18 for the cupcakes they forgot to include in the order.”. It took five requests, but we finally got the itemized breakdown and the heads up that we are getting a $42 refund (somehow it jumped from $18 to $42?), and Eileen told us the cupcakes were left behind “on the counter” and that they “ran after the car as it drove off”. It’s difficult to believe her because there was no picture of the cupcakes sent with the pictures of the other desserts, because the text form the employee suggested otherwise, because Eileen personally oversaw the handoff from the back of the bakery to the car, and because there was no call made to let us know that they were left behind.

At no point did we ever get clarification about the “miscommunication” about delivery. No apology for forgetting/not including our agreed upon cupcakes. No effort on Eileen’s behalf to let us know that we were overcharged or that our order was incomplete. No urgency in helping a customer get squared away with a partial refund for an incomplete order. We finally got the desired information and the still hopefully-pending refund because we reached out with specific questions, got rebuffed, and then kept reaching out. That’s not how honest, well-run businesses conduct themselves.

After all is said and done, the desserts that made it to our wedding were delicious – that cannot be denied. But, everything surrounding the process of communicating what was and wasn’t possible, communicating all of the steps of this process, actually getting the desserts to the venue and everything after the wedding, itself, makes me regret using Eileen’s Bakery to make the desserts for our wedding. Armed with the knowledge that we currently have, if we had to make the choice again about which bakery would make desserts for our celebration, we absolutely would not hire Eileen’s Bakery for...

So this was my favorite place until yesterday. I had ordered a surprise birthday cake for my husband….ordered it atleast 5-6 days in advance. The owner was very sweet on the phone and assured it will be taken care of. I bring my husband to the store yesterday - we ordered a couple of drinks and a pastry. Then the surprise part where I ask them for his cake. THEY FORGOT TO MAKE IT. We are all human - mistakes happen. That’s not what frustrated me, what happened next did. The person that was helping us felt pretty horrible and we could tell. I think it was the manager who came to talk to us - how non-chalant she was and also asked us if they could make the cake on Tuesday…..ummmm NO! Again I was polite. I was expecting to be compensated for this inconvenience, which in my mind was we would get our two coffees and one pastry for no charge but she made us pay for it (and yes I asked if we are paying for the coffees). Instead offered my husband to pick a free cookie and added 1 extra cookie for goodluck (WTH) and these cookies were not giant size cookies, it could fit in the palm of my hand…. We left pretty confused. I can’t recall one of the comments she also made - which made other employee cringe but we still didn’t say anything. We left pretty disappointed. It might not affect them but we are sad. If i was in their shoes i would feel horrible and do everything and anything in my power to make up for it and apologize - we didn’t even...

I don't live in Fredericksburg, but I've traveled there many times and I find something new and interesting everytime I go. this time it was Eileen's! I've never felt more at home than with the couser family welcoming service Eileen's gave to me. The menu is loaded with a wide range to choose from pastries, to sandwiches, to breakfast eggs, to cakes, and lattes. The food was great and the coffee bar was fun as me and my friend ate HOME MADE MARSHMELLOWS! Every room in the house has a great view of the old town fredericksburg. I particularly liked the balcony view of the rappahanock river, but eating your lunch while watching everyone in the town center of fredericksburg on Caroline st. made me feel like part of the town. I was lucky enough to get a full tour of the house by the owner Chris who took pride in the history of his property. He told me about the crown molding and how the house was built. He showed me rooms that Thomas Jefferson was said to visit. and if you like the whole spooky side of fredericksburg, Chris told me that some say ghost even live there today. Thank you Eileen's for giving me the best service and for treating me like part of your family. I look forward to my next trip to fredericksburg so I can enjoy Eileen's again; and congratulations on your new baby...