We Knead the Dough — Restaurant in Ho-Ho-Kus

OMG... too cute...she was so welcoming & kind... can't wait to see what she did with the cake I ordered for my youngest son's 21st... I'll update this once we get & sample the cake!

UPDATE I really hate to do this, because Lori was really kind. I've been hesitant to update this review since mid July, but these businesses need to know what areas need improving. I went to her, solely based on the great reviews & had very high hopes for what she would be able to create for us. We sat at a table & discussed what I was expecting & I gave her room to create something spectacular. She asked a series of questions, that both my sister & I, answered the best we could, because my son is reserved & very humble. I wanted this amazing cake for him, because he has done, so much financially for our household, at such a young age (not that he has to, but he wants to). I told Lori, that I wanted a 2 tier TROPICAL cake, with greens, blues, oranges, yellows, etc... with each tier being a different flavor, one cookies & cream... the other cannoli. The cake needed to have a crab with a crown & a "cigar" in one of its claws. So, she proceeded to ask us his interests, foods/snacks he liked... etc. She assured us that this cake would be amazing & taste the same. The best thing about the cake was the crab, because she definitely rocked the hell out of that. The design of the cake itself, was lost along the way somewhere & lacked that WOW factor. I expected so much more, since she did ask a bunch of questions. The cake also had an odd taste that none of us could make out, the best that I could describe it, was that it tasted like the fridge (don't know if that makes sense to anyone). The cookies & cream tier was the worst... no one ate it. The cannoli tier didn't taste like any that I've ever had from any other bakery or supermarket. The texture of the cake was oddly dense, crumbly & dryer than it should have been. Due to my son, being as humble as he is, he did not complain & he wouldn't. Mind you, my son is a sweets fanatic, mostly chocolate... he didn't have to say it, but the fact that the cake was still sitting there, untouched, weeks later spoke volumes, so I ended up tossing it out. The 3 things that made the cake worth the money spent was the size of the cake, the crab & my son's reaction to the cake. As for the cake in a whole... it was mediocre. I really thought she was going to incorporate a lot more creativity into that cake... like colorful flowers... or at least, some of the other things we spoke about, like animals, music, chocolate, etc. For many many years I was a customer of INTERNATIONAL BAKERY in Hawthorne & had never been disappointed & had spent a lot more on specialized cakes from them. I've been on a hunt for an amazing BAKER, since finding that Internationals was no longer there a few years ago... I have yet to find someone that I'm completely satisfied with. I hoped that Lori would be the end to my long time search & was looking forward to placing future orders with her, since most of the birthdays in our family are right behind one another, in the fall & winter months. What I want for Lori, is to acknowledge her negative feedback, as she does the positive ones... we all can't be wrong. Lori did reach out to me, about a week later, inquiring about the cake, because I never reached back out to her, but once I expressed my issues to her... she never responded back, to figure out where things were lost in translation, what may have went wrong with the cake or to at least apologize... and this is actually why I decided to update this review. The photos I attached along with this review, for some may seem like a great cake, but it wasn't to me... and the disappointment I felt about it... can't...

The cake looked beautiful, but the taste was just okay… nothing special, kind of like a store-bought cake. The biggest issue for me was the communication. I spoke with Lori on the phone and told her I was between two cake options. I picked one, and during that same conversation, I clearly told her I wanted “Happy Birthday [my name]” written on the cake. She asked me to text her my name too, which I did. So it wasn’t just assumed.. it was discussed directly.

On the day of pickup, I called her multiple times to confirm the address and to ask if the cake was ready. I had people coming over and was in a rush, so everything needed to be smooth. When I arrived, the cake had no writing on it. I told her, and while she did offer a last-minute solution, it was rushed and stressful …not something you want to deal with right before your guests arrive.

What frustrated me even more is that days later, I kept getting automated messages asking me to leave a review and my name was WRONG in those messages. That’s the same name I had texted her myself. When I asked why she had me send it in the first place, she said it was just to know who she was speaking to, which doesn’t really make sense if it wasn’t even used correctly on the cake or in the system.

Also, in the photo of the cake I chose, there were several gold candles. Over the phone, she said she would include them, so I didn’t bother getting any. But when I picked up the cake, she only gave me one candle. After I asked, she came back and gave me two more so three in total, still not what was shown. So i had to go to different stores to find long gold candles which I would order days in advance if she didn’t tell me that she would provide them.

For $130, the cake(small) tasted average, and the whole experience felt more stressful than it needed to be. Definitely...

If you're looking for a bakery that truly understands the art of baking, look no further than We Knead the Dough! I recently had the pleasure of ordering a cake from Lori for my dad's 80th birthday, and I can't express enough how phenomenal the experience was.

From the moment I walked into the bakery, the warm and inviting atmosphere made me feel right at home. Lori, the owner, is not only incredibly talented but also genuinely passionate about her craft. She took the time to discuss my vision for the cake, and her enthusiasm was infectious.

When the cake was finally revealed, it was nothing short of a masterpiece! Beautifully decorated, it captured the essence of the celebration perfectly. And the taste? Absolutely divine! Every bite was moist and flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness. It was evident that Lori uses high-quality ingredients and puts her heart into every creation.

The cake was the highlight of the party, and everyone couldn't stop raving about it. If you're in need of a special treat or a show-stopping cake for an occasion, I highly recommend We Knead the Dough. Lori's dedication to her craft and her ability to create delicious, beautiful baked goods is truly unmatched. Thank you, Lori, for making my dad's birthday so...