Gina's Piece of Cake — Restaurant in Santa Maria

I am a former pastry chef and I live in the area and have been here a few times. I am not writing based on a single bad experience or whether I've been upset for small reasons like most customers do-but of how underwhelmed I've been each time I give this bakery a try. The quality of service: The quality of service is mild considering its a bunch of teenagers so blatantly on their phones. I always get the impression that they don't really know their products when I ask. However, despite all of that, they are always polite and charming. The actual baked goods: The display case looks beautiful and the decorating is top notch. But when it comes to the taste of the goods displayed in the case that's a different story. I've tasted a variety of things from the case and every single item has been on the dry side, especially the cakes. Most likely because they are a bit on the old side and have been sitting in the case for a while, or possible just overcooked? And dare I say the shell of the eclair I ate in particular, was most DEFINITELY stale. Most of the goods I've tried from there are overhyped and turn to fall flat in flavor and are never anything special. Almost always underfilled or very bland. I never really know what to expect because I will ask one of the attendants what a certain pastry is or what is in it and I get the feeling that they dont know if a filling is a pudding, curd, moose, Bavarian cream, or a custard let alone the difference between all of those.

My overall impression of this place is not a good one as far as flavor or freshness goes. However, I have never custom ordered something from there. So maybe those kind of users have had a better experience, but based on what I've tasted I wouldn't be spending that kind of money for these pastries. I give this place 2 stars. Only for the sole reason that the service is at least polite and the aesthetics of the cakes are actually most exquisite and are very beautiful. But- I still do not think that it tastes good. I probably won't be giving this place any more second chances after...

Great food, terrible location.

This mall is dead and very poorly laid out. Thankfully the spot is right by one of the entrances, unfortunately that's where the homeless people hang out and panhandle.

-The food- Excellently prepared and crafted deserts and pastry Passionate crew, looked like a traditional platoon as well, teaching the old ways to the young hands. Cakes, pastry, muffins, all were divine- when I asked for puff pastry they offered me a sheet- when I asked for something extremely obscure and off the menu, a local tradition of the French, they knew what it was and offered to make it.haha "just testing you"

I'll be back for baguettes and other things eventually, I might come back for dough stock- it was really that good. A gem in a very dark culinary desert. Santa Maria is absolutely running on fumes, gone are the golden days of the pre corporate invasion. This bakery is an absolute gem, protect it, do business there or you'll need to go further away eventually. Only bad thing is the location and the transients, which is quite political and not much the business can do about it....

I paid for a cake that was not made how we discussed and established through calls, texts, cake order form, and paid for. Waited a long time, almost two months for a response and finally talked to the owner. Gina the owner was insulting and did not want to give me a full gift card refund to their bakery let alone a full refund itself. Gina also proceeded to mention stuff that had nothing to do with the cake that was made and I paid for. The cake was beautiful but did not exceed expectation and would have been stunning if not for the errors. A very unfortunate experience for my family and I. Their specialty is cakes and they should have attention to detail especially for the birthday person the cake is for!!!!! Excuse after excuse and error after error. The ONLY miscommunication was between the employees not the customer and employees. If you encounter something like this don't expect anything in return, not even a...