Kandi's Cakes & Bake Shop — Restaurant in Waynesville

Our recent visit to Kandi’s Cakes and Bake Shop in Waynesville, NC, was an experience that left us with mixed feelings. The shop was bustling with activity, which often suggests popularity and freshness, and indeed, the place had a vibrant atmosphere. The young lady serving us was a highlight of our visit; her friendly demeanor added a personal touch that made us feel welcome and appreciated.

However, when it came to the core of any bakery—its baked goods—the experience was somewhat lackluster. The display cases were filled with an array of pastries and cakes that all looked freshly baked. There was an assortment of items, each tempting with its appearance, promising a delightful taste.

We decided to try several different items to get a good sense of what Kandi’s had to offer. Unfortunately, our taste buds were met with a one-note symphony of sweetness. Each item, from the cannoli to the Danish pastries, seemed to be crafted with an excess of sugar. Particularly, anything that included filling or frosting was just overwhelmingly sweet, to the point where other flavors were almost entirely obscured. The richness of butter (hopefully they use butter and not shortening/margarine), the zest of fruits, or the warmth of spices were lost, drowned out by the sheer quantity of sugar.

The taste experience was disappointing because a good dessert should be a harmony of flavors, not just a sugar overload. There's an art to creating baked goods where sweetness enhances rather than overpowers, and this balance was missing here.

While the service and the environment deserve praise, the baked goods could benefit from a revisit in the kitchen. Introducing a more balanced flavor profile would allow the inherent tastes of the ingredients to come through, offering patrons a more enjoyable and memorable eating experience. Here's hoping Kandi’s considers tweaking their recipes to bring out the symphony of flavors their ingredients could offer, rather than letting sugar...

I traveled a little bit to get to the bakery store because I had gone by before and it looks so beautiful. I decided that I would show my gratitude for my doctor's office and I ordered a dozen chocolate eclairs and a dozentballs. Upon arrival there were a dozen mocha eclairs that were ready. I did not order mocha I ordered chocolate. The box was messy, held together with with a tiny piece of tape. I had to ask the girl to tape it properly well there was no logo on the box or card, and no ribbon so I had to ask for these things, I wanted ribbon. As a customer I feel as though I should not have to ask and ask and ask for things. I trusted that you would have what I want and in return you will be reimbursed with money. I would give it a three out of 10. I would not recommend going out of your way for it. A to-go order given the day before should have...

Only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Kandi's Cakes is a must visit any time we're in town. We generally fill a box with treats and enjoy them over the weekend. They're friendly, helpful, and make the best baked goods within at least a three hour drive (yes, I'm including Charlotte).

My personal favorites are the almond bear claws. My kids love the cookies and cake pops.

And they seem to always make the most fun treats for every holiday so you just have to keep going in to see what's new. We adore this place so much and hope it stays around forever!

Note that parking is a bit difficult sometimes due to traffic. There's a few spots in the lot just before the Inn, otherwise there's a bunch of spots on the main road going south. This will never stop us...