Nadines Bakery — Restaurant in Tucson

Now listen here, I haven't met many Nadine's in my life that I like. Usually Nadine is the one who rats on you for stealing company toilet paper. In high school, Nadine was the one in the hallway who walked REALLY REALLY slow and somehow you couldn't get around her to make it to class on time. Nadine always flatuates and is quick to blame it on others. Not a big fan of Nadines in general. But THIS Nadine changed my mind right quick.

I picked the worst week to give up sugar, because boy-o-boy walking in here was like being a dog walking into a fire hydrant store! Not saying I would pee on everything, just saying it was super exciting. They got everything! Pastries, cookies, bridal cakes, pastries, bridal cakes, cookies and pies and cakes. The smell was making me salivate as I was watching those amazing pastry elves hustle and bustle back there. I'm was perusing the selection of goods while waltzing back on forth on the checker tiled floor just trying to decide which pastry was gonna be my gateway drug back to fattyland after my diet was over.

One of the delightful staff was finally open for query and I gave my real reason for being there. My friend's birthday is coming up and I like to be that one friend in the group who overdoes the gifts and expressions of joy to make all of the other friends feel poor and cheap and boring. It's one of the only highs I have left in this life. So my friend is REALLY into wrestling. Like annoyingly so. He has a tattoo of Macho Man Randy Savage on his butt so everytime he drops trough he goes "OH YEAHHHH". It was funny for the first two times but then became worrisome when we heard him in the bathroom. Anyway, I told the employee my idea of wanting one of those giant cakes but decorated like a wrestling ring on the top with poles and ropes made of twizzlers and maybe around the sides of the cake have a bunch of WWE fans cheering as decoration. Not so crazy. But then the big ask was explaining how I wanted the cake to be hollowed out so it could be opened from the inside like a hatch. I think we've all seen those old movies or cartoons where someone pops out of a cake and it REALLY chaps my hide that i've gone all these years without seeing something like that in real life. Like how have I not seen someone pop out of a cake ONCE? I wanted to change that.

They said that was more of a novelty thing and they would have to ask management depending on the budget I was working with. I lied and said "money is not an issue". It's an issue. A BIG issue. But I figured with WW3 coming up, i'd just max out all my credit cards and live life, ya know? They took down my number and then I had to up the ante a little bit since I had real no knowledge of where to get someone to pop out of the cake. I asked them "hey, do you know of any business that might contract out a midget to pop out of this cake and start running around trying to wrestle everyone?" She corrected me and said "little person" and I felt ashamed. She said it was probably best to try Craigslist or something and I said "well, if you know of any little persons who wouldn't mind dressing like a luchadore, sitting down in a giant cake for an hour with a water bottle only to pop out and yell spanish curse words before jumping out and doing dives, corkscrews, and moonsaults and throwing cake at all my friends for 3 hours, tell em to call that number!" She gave me a sort of weird smile and I awkwardly walked back to my truck.

So now i'm here writing this review AND putting out a craigslist ad for some little fella to make a quick 50 bucks. You'll see me again, Nadine. I can't wait for your call. Great staff, great smells and great...

I bought a cake at Nadines back in November and it was SO good (and inexpensive) that I actually called and told them how pleased I was. They also have really good pastries with apricot filling, "hammer, somethings". Anyway, I ordered a cake for the Mother's Day weekend and it was the worst cake EVER. It had a funny smell and taste and I ended up throwing 3/4's of it away. I asked if they refunded people but not unless I brought the cake back, which isn't cost effective since I don't live in Tucson. I am old and have had MANY MANY MANY white cakes with white frosting, and never ever ever had a problem. It almost had a smell and taste like something bad got in the batter. I was told that they made MANY cakes with that batter, but leave it to my life to get the one that tasted horrid. It also tasted salty. I know you put salt in cake batter, amongst other things since I bake a lot, but it was like the salt wasn't distributed equally and they just poured salt in the cake I received. I'm really disappointed. The manager wouldn't refund me but was going to call me to see what he could do short of me having to go all the way in to Tucson, like 2 hours away, but of course, no one has called me. So, I have to chalk it up to a loss and never go there again, even though those pastries, whatever they are called are wonderful, and the first cake I had was really very very good. There is another bakery I will always go to, who's cakes are wonderful and exceptional, and old fashioned, every time, it's in Oro Valley, next time I'm going across the State for a medical procedure, I'll just go there, they are the best, and believe me, in my years, I have had cakes from Los Angeles to New York and places inbetween. Don't let anyone say you shouldn't have the filling you want. If you KNOW your cakes, don't let anyone tell you anything that you know in your gut...

After looking at 3 other bakeries, I found Nadines Bakery on line. I called and spoke to a friendly voice, indicated what I needed and was told I needed to go in to order. I did go in the following day where I was promptly greeted by a young lady, friendly and referred to someone else who may have been having a stressed morning. I was told I couldn't order my cake because they were booked. (I just needed the cake, no set up). I did let them know that I was told that I could order it and that's why I was there. I was able to order for pick up. This young lady's mood lightened up and the rest of my interaction with her was much more pleasant as we talked. I also purchased one of their cherry 🍒 Danish. The Danish was very very good! PICK UP DAY: the cake was in the refrigerator and it was beautiful. I was anxious to taste it. It was boxed with care with instructions on how to carry it, where not to put it during transport. Went to the venue with the cake. Had dinner, cake was brought out and it was a big hit! The cake was absolutely perfectly delicious 😋. IT'S A BOY 👶🍼👣🫃💙 I would recommend if you need a cake, cookies, turnovers, etc., that's where I'll be going! Not sure on all the prices. I was a little sticker shocked at the price of the cake, but in hindsight, it worked out just great. Thank you Nadines Bakery for a job well done 👏

UPDATE: Ordered a space themed babyshower cake from Nadine's. Marble cake , 3 layers, decorated and it was a big hit at the party. Once again, thank you to the staff at Nadine's!

Added some pictures to show the theme along with the cake (accidentally smudged the balloon 🎈...