Sweet Ali's Gluten Free Bakery - Hinsdale — Restaurant in Hinsdale

DO NOT ORDER CAKES THROUGH ONLINE SYSTEM! As instructed by the online website, allow one week notice for “custom cakes.” I submitted the order and my payment information to which I received a confirmation email. The email stated I would receive a confirmation when my cake was completed and ready for pickup. The day of pickup came and I received 3 separate texts and 2 emails that my cake was ready for pickup. I arrive about an hour later, wait in line, and show the cashier my order number as instructed by the text. She asks for my last name which I provided, walks away, and comes back 30 seconds later asking if I ordered my cake online. I told her “yes,” to which she replied “yeah, we don’t get those orders so we don’t have your cake.” I ask what do you mean, I paid, received the confirmation email and texts this morning saying it was ready at 11:12am. She just said “yeah.. there’s an issue with that system so we don’t get the orders.” I’m sorry, but why have a system on your website if it doesn’t work. I am now without a cake. She asks to see the email and said “yeah and for these cakes we need 2 weeks notice.” Then why does the website say one week? No apologies. No accommodation. Just was informed “well you can just get a cake from the fridge.” Unfortunately they didn’t have the cake flavor I ordered but had cupcakes. I understand that things happen but I won’t be returning to this bakery ever for 2 reasons: if you know there’s an issue with the online ordering system, REMOVE IT FROM YOUR WEBSITE. AND if the issue/problem is from your end, apologize. Having 2 ladies shrug their shoulders and just tell me how they’re aware of the issue haven’t done anything to correct it, that’s just bad business practices. When I asked for the refund, they said I have the contact the online system. What? I don’t care if you have the best gf desserts, correct your mistakes and take care of your customer. This...

I’ve been here dozens of times over the last few years since we’ve lived in Hinsdale. One of our favorites but yesterday I had an unsavory experience. Today I tried to call to talk to the manager instead instead of first posting a review but since the girl I talked to (I think the same girl that was there yesterday) was resisting me talking to her, kept asking what it was about and finally said ‘I’ll TRY to pass the message along’ sounding like she didn’t want to, I’m posting here instead. When I came in, barely halfway through the shop she rushed out from behind and came close to me and said ‘what’s in the bag’ pointing at my tightly sealed bag. I told her it was from Toni’s and she asked what was in it and if it contained gluten. I finally told her while I don’t know for sure if it has gluten, it’s tightly closed. She finally let me walk up and order and when I questioned why she did that, she said something about gluten spreading around. I told her I was a pharmacist and that’s not how allergens spread and that if I was attempting to eat it in her store that was a different story. But to accuse someone of doing something they weren’t planning on doing is wrong. What if the food was in my purse? Would she ask if I was walking in with anything gluten? What if it was in a shopping bag. Do you guys stop everyone and inspect bags? Train your staff. It affects customer service. I’ll be back only because we like the cupcakes, but this review won’t change unless staff is properly trained. *edited to respond to your response: again, cross contamination doesn’t happen from a sealed bag from a customer with no obvious intention of opening and eating it. Questioning bakery bags is not training a staff to prevent cross contamination and...

I went here with hope! A lady i met at jewel referred me here based in that i am gluten free, dairy free , yeast free and sugar free. She told me the story behind sweet Ali's and that she will take requests to make something to suit your needs if you have dietary restrictions or allergies. Anyways I had emailed them the day before and hadn't heard anything so i thought ill just go there and check it out. I went in on a Saturday around 3pm so an hour before they close and there was a line. Which i LOVE to see because it is usually a good sign. I looked around and LOVE that she provides a variety of gluten free items. She even had gluten free vegan pizza frozen that u can take home. Anyways i talked to one of the girls who worked there and she said Ali gets a lot of requests for sugar free but won't do it because she adds more sugar to set off the lack of gluten in the items. I get that sugar is a huge thing in bakeries. I just have to say i was disappointed to hear that there have been many requests but no attempts to try for a sugar alternative like stevia, surcalose, monk fruit, I mean there's so many sugar alternatives now that are healthy and nature why not try?. Needless to say i tried the red velvet cupcake which was by car AMAZING!! i could never have guessed it was gluten free. My boyfriend tried the raspberry lemonade which was dairy free and gluten free. His would of been better if there was like a fruit filling inside. I don't think his cake was as moist and delicious as mine. They are a little pricy i think it was like $10 for 2 cupcakes. All in All BEST GLUTEN FREE BAKERY I HAVE...