Nana's Lil Sweets — Restaurant in Garner

We’ve stopped here several times. Initially, I was so excited to find this small-batch bakery in the very small Garner downtown area. Unfortunately, the shine has worn off because of several experiences that fall short.

Most recently, I purchased a small bag of small chocolate chip cookies (pictured). For $6.25, I received 10 small cookies, US quarter shown for scale, including several cookies that appear to have A chocolate chip. I guess the label, Chocolate Chip, is literal. @ least 1 has 0 chocolate chips.

On another visit, I arrived 2 or 3 minutes before they opened. Instead of unlocking the door to let me in seconds before their posted hours of operation start, a staff member stood feet away playing around with item positioning on a shelf…. just the other side of the glass…. & left me standing @ the door, unacknowledged, for a few extra minutes, unlocking the door several minutes after posted opening…

On a separate occasion, I stopped by to grab fresh cinnamon roles for an early morning meeting. Pro Tip: their cinnamon roles are frozen; if you want a fresh cinnamon role with your morning coffee, this isn’t your bakery.

Also, they’re still flipping the COVID-19 tip board @ check-out while also having a physical tip jar right there. How are they unable to properly pay their staff @ their prices? These margins aren’t small, but they still expect 18% or more to pass an item across the counter.

Some items have been very good. Others seem to follow more of a ‘kitchen sink’ approach with any & everything thrown into a cookie or pastry. KISS is atypical here.

Some days, they seem customer oriented, others, they don’t mind sending the vibe that you’re a bother. I’ve walked out on more than one occasion without making a purchase. These chocolate chip cookies are the last attempt I give to this small business. I’ll look for another in the area that I can support when I’m in the neighborhood.

I don’t ask to speak to the manager. I do understand that we’re all human beings doing our best & some days are better than others. I like to support small business. YMMV with...

10-2024 updated review!

Attention, 626 fans! 🎉 I just had to share this adorable Disney Stitch cake we got for my daughter's 11th birthday! It’s a chocolate cake adorned with ombré vanilla buttercream, pearl candy accents, and beautiful flowers to honor Lilo. All I added was the cake topper!

The cake was incredibly moist, and the buttercream was perfectly balanced with a silky texture. At just $40, it was an enormous hit at the party! If you’re in the area, Nana's Lil Sweets is a short hop from Downtown Raleigh, nestled in historic Garner.

Don’t miss out on this local gem! Treat yourself and your loved ones—this place is a must-visit!

I’ve gone to this bakery on and off since they opened for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. Last Christmas I ordered a chocolate peppermint cake for my Christmas Eve table that easily matched some of the cakes I’ve had in some of the most touted bakeries in NYC. This last weekend I ordered this cake for my daughter’s 10th bday and the adults were swooning. Not only does Nana’s Lil Sweets have great food- they have quickly been entrusted to partner with the Town of Garner for many community events. This bakery constantly comes up with creative highly family oriented events that pair perfectly with happenings about town. This small shop has been a well kept secret for awhile but now the word is getting out! Make the trip to downtown Garner a short drive from Downtown Raleigh. It’s worth it! Update: 1/2/24! I was able to get her holiday peppermint cake and can I say it was even better than I remembered! I wish my work hours allowed me to visit more often everything she makes is amazing! Update! I asked my husband to order a cake for my 50th. I chose the vanilla cake with berry compote filling and brown butter icing. It was delicious and easily fed 6 adults with hefty portions. The shape was perfection, the icing a cascade of creamy buttery goodness, and the compote made from fresh blueberries! Pro tip eat her cakes at room temperature so you can maximize the moist texture and the...

The products are amazing! It’s the service that ruins this place for me.

Ive been in several times, and the young cashiers are super sweet but everyone seems like they are on thin ice with one older lady who’s there most of the time. I want to say she’s the owner, but she’s never been polite enough to say her name. In addition, this same woman has taken 2 orders from me and told me “she would do it but she’s picking the flavors” or “she’s too busy” and just seems miserable that they have business in general. I had one younger girl lean over the counter and whisper to tell me she’d have to ask if she could take a 2 dozen cupcake order (3 days out, so my fault for coming in last minute) because they were super busy and the older lady didn’t like making certain things unless it’s way in advance; that just caught me off guard and made me feel bad for the girl….

That being said, this is the perfect location for a bakery, the products are super yummy, and we intend to continue to shop here and local in general because we love our community - but I would definitely recommend to management that everyone smile and be friendly and not make your customers feel like they...