Bert's Bakery-Westnedge — Restaurant in Kalamazoo

My mom and I went and looked at some local bakeries in Kalamazoo since I was visiting from Grand Rapids and I am getting married next year. I don't get a chance to come to Kalamazoo very often and it was a bit last minute so all we were really hoping for was a wedding cake price list and to see if she was available for a quick wedding consultation. We were also hoping to purchase a small cake sample so we could try out her cake. So we went into Bert's and asked Amy if she had a second for a quick wedding consultation and it was made very clear that she was MUCH too busy for us (mind you, there was no one in the bakery.) My mom and I were fine that she couldn't do the consultation but asked if she had a price list we could take a look at. She said flustered, "yeah over there on the table somewhere." We walked over to the table and found the only price list she had on the table and it didn't really make a whole lot of sense to us. She then came over with a different price list and said "no, its this one" (which, was not on the table.) My mom and I just sat and looked over her price list. Amy then came back over and was very clearly frustrated continued to reiterate how we needed appointments or she couldn't provide us good customer service. I apologized and continued to explain that I am from Grand Rapids and this was a last minute thing and that we were fine with her not being available for a wedding consultation that day, it was simply if she had time to do one. We really only came in expecting a price list and to purchase a sample. Like i'm sorry but I've worked in retail for years, and the way we were treated there was unacceptable. Amy was just flat out rude and very short with us. Even if you are too busy and cannot do a wedding consultation, you can be POLITE about it. You can say, "i'm very sorry but my consultations are by appointment only." And we would have been 10000% fine with that. It is possible to be polite and busy simultaneously. Its called good customer service and it seriously needs a refresher here. Also, in case you were wondering, the cake was awful. It was really dry and the frosting was gritty. My mom and I both agreed that it tasted like expired frosting out of a can. My mom and I left and I told her there was absolutely no way I would even consider choosing Bert's to do my wedding cake, even if the cake was fantastic because of the horrible experience with Amy. We had been to plenty of bakeries that way with wonderful cake and wonderful people. Take my advice- if you are looking for a wedding cake and just don't go there. I know I never will again and I will tell all of my friends getting married that they should avoid as well, so Bert's not only lost myself as a future client but also my friends as well. They were the most expensive place we looked at that day, with the worst cake and the worst...

I've been meaning to write a review for awhile, but it was not until I tasted the cake at my niece's wedding that really lit the fire to write this review.

First off, this was a free cake she won at some event that showcased businesses for weddings. I believe the prize was a $500 cake. That being disclosed let's get down to the cake.

The cake looked fairly good, but could have been done better in my option. My biggest complaint is the taste and here is the flat out truth:

IT TASTED LIKE IT CAME OUT OF A BOX!!!!

Don't understand what I mean? The cake tasted no better than what you can buy at the dollar store and make yourself with a box of Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, or even a store brand version. I seriously don't think there is any difference between those and what Bert's made.

Next was one of the flavors of the tiers was a vanilla cake with raspberry. This tier had 5 layers of vanilla cake with vanilla frosting between each layer and on top and there was only one small coating of raspberry gel on the top of the third layer. From top to bottom of the tier I would say the cake was 6-8 inches high and the raspberry flavoring was about 1mm, if that. You didn't taste much, if any raspberry.

The other flavor of cake was almond poppy, and while that tasted about right, the almond was too lightly flavored and totally over shadowed by the overall, It Came From A Box Taste.

I have had much better cakes, heck, I just bought a slice of cake from Sawall Heath Foods on Sunday for ~$12, it was 6x4x4, Gluten Free and from come Canadian Bakery in British Columbia, and while not the best I have had, it was leagues better than Bert's.

Additionally, I have been in their store and have bought cookies, cupcakes, and slices of cake. The cupcakes and cake slices are just that same as I have described above and the cookies are, well... Go to subway and you will get a better cookie. Personally, I would just go to Insomnia Cookies, more expensive, but leagues better.

Bert's needs to try to improve their game, they are...

I called and asked if they were able to do a rush order for a birthday cake for my mom. I now wish they would have just straight told me no they couldn't. I called and ordered a red velvet sheet cake with cream cheese frosting. She told me she had it available. Nowhere was it mentioned at all about how they make their cakes. Had I known it was not a true red velvet cake but really chocolate mixed with a little red velvet, I wouldn't have gone there. Their cream cheese frosting is also not really cream cheese, but a flavor that's added to the original white frosting. I was so excited to surprise my mom with this cake for her birthday and the only thing that was right was the raspberry filling. To pay $45 for a chocolate cake is ridiculous. I called the bakery today and spoke to the manager who told me that is how they make their red velvet and there's nothing they can do because it's technically right. My mom called the manager as well and was hung up on, on top of the manager telling her that she shouldn't have to educate her customers on how they make their cakes. I am beyond disgusted with the customer service and how the bakery handled this situation. I will not be recommending this to anyone. If you want a true red velvet cake...