I saw a post last month about a Valentine's Day promotion from Sweet Joy's Cakes and Desserts that…read morecould be delivered to JMU. Being the mom of a freshman who is 3hrs away learning how to navigate special days where you can't be present is new and can be a challenge. Of course I sent a care package full of treats, but I wanted her to also have something fresh. I ordered a box that came with six cupcakes, two cookies and half a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. This was a large enough box for her to share with her friends (highly doubt this happened. My girl loves sweets lol) or to keep her satisfied all weekend lol. Ordering was easy and delivery was a breeze. They checked in with me the day before to confirm the delivery time and even snapped a really cute picture of her holding her surprise. I definitely plan on visiting them in person on my next visit to the Burg. If you're looking for a few sweet treats, I'd highly recommend Sweet Joy's.

2 giant thumbs up for Sweet Joy's Cakes and Desserts! I ordered a bday cake for my student at JMU…read more Not only is the cake gorgeous and just as I requested (actually better), but is delicious (according to my kid, cuz I won't get any lol). Their communication with me the customer, and my Duke, the recipient, via email and text, was exceptional. Not only received a confirmation text that she received it, but got a picture of Duke and her surprise cake.

Got donuts here on a Thursday morning at 8am. There is no way they were fresh, donuts tasted at…read moreleast a day old, were very stale and hard. Would not recommend going here for donuts. I'm not a fan of Krispy Kreme, but wish I would have just got them there instead.

Discovered this gem as we toured the town. Arrived as the bread came out of the oven. So delicious!…read moreYou must try them. Mexican sweet bread and sandwich rolls reminded me of my childhood home in East Los Angeles!

Love a classic afternoon tea that won't break the bank? Heritage Cafe is the place. Enjoyed the…read moreFull Tea, which included unlimited tea, 3 savory sandwiches, 3 sweets, and a fresh generously sized scone (today's flavor was lemon and ginger). Seriously, these were some of the best scones I've ever had - crispy sweet outer texture, soft and fluffy on the inside, no crumbly mess like other scones. Wide selection of teas to choose from - I picked the lightly fruity Lady Grey, my husband the warm and toasty Genmaicha. And the savory sandwiches were a step up from the basic white bread standard - roast beef on a pretzel bun, tuna on a croissant, open faced cucumber, chicken with roasted red pepper spread. A lovely way to spend a late morning or early afternoon in downtown Harrisonburg.

Perfect! We got iced coffee and two pastries and everything was amazing! The staff are super…read morefriendly and nice. This is a must visit spot !

Would I drive 7 hours just to pick up a order from this bakery? If you hesitate even a second with…read morehow to answer, we can't be friends. I love-love-love some pastries. Scones, cookies, tarts, doughnuts, just keep the carbs and sugar coming. And upon my last visit to the Burg, I walked up on this place. Upon discovering that you have to place orders ahead of time (for a Friday/Saturday pickup), I immediately added a reminder note to place a order before returning. Thus my first interaction with the team here. Due to other commitments on Friday, and leaving early on Saturday, I knew if a Thursday pickup wasn't a option then I would not be enjoying anything. I sent a email and within 24 hours Alicia responded and graciously said they could make it work. Then, I just started clicking. 2 of this, 1 of that, wait what flavors are those? I might of been a touch hungry while ordering, but honestly that wouldn't have made a difference. Knowing the two doing the baking (take a moment to read the "About Us" page) and what they offered (e.g. butterscotch bourbon oatmeal cream pie, cinnamon streusel coffee cake, gooey butter cookies, sugar cookies-with sprinkles, strawberry lemon scones...wait, this was my order I picked up!), I came with a high level of anticipation. I walked up to the window, rang the bell, and held my breath. What if they had forgotten me? What if my order had somehow disappeared between Augusta and the Burg? What if...almost immediately Alicia opened the service window. My order was boxed and ready to go. No disrespect to the photos they share on social media handles, but that is just not enough to fully prepare one for the sight awaiting in that clear top on the box. The multi colors of the sugar cookie, the thickness and weight of the oatmeal cream pies (yes, I ordered 2), and of course the heavenly aroma of it all as one deeply inhales. To save myself the embarrassment of shamelessly eating everything like Cookie Monster in the Nabisco factory, I waited till I was alone to open this treasure trove of goodness. The butterscotch and bourbon, they go together like the final couple of a dating series finale. I am soooo glad I didn't eat a meal before this. That alone almost took me out for the afternoon. Again, the heftiness of the pie is a baking wonder. But oh the moistness (no, I am not afraid to use that word) of the pie and the creme. You don't need milk or coffee to wash it down. But I do suggest a cup of something on hand as you might choke inhaling it with such a swiftness. Then the cookie samples began. My compliment? Everything; flavor, texture, airness. My complaint? Not purchasing more. There should be a nudge that pops up on anything you only order one of that reads, "Are you sure you only want one?" But I digress. And also take a nap. Can't wait for my next order in March. I will add that they do walk up items that do not require pre order. They also have a far more extensive list of pastries (sweet and savory), breads, and custom cakes that you can order. If you are anywhere near Harrisonburg (home or passing through), treat yourself!

We are so glad we chose Bittersweet Bakery to make our wedding cake! From the start, the experience…read morewas amazing. We loved the tasting beforehand and were so impressed by how many delicious flavors there were to choose from. It made it hard to pick just a few. The baker was so easy to work with and recreated exactly the idea we had in mind for our cake. It turned out beautifully and was perfect for our wedding day. Bittersweet Bakery is such a gem in Harrisonburg, and we're so thankful they were part of our celebration.

We stopped by Cinnamon Bear on a road trip and I'm so glad we found it!…read more It is a cute local cafe right next to the college campus. The have a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, bowls, and baked goods, and plenty of tables to sit at. We ordered sandwiches (sun-dried ham panini, breakfast sandwich), coffee and shared a cinnamon roll as a treat- it was wonderful! I would definitely recommend cinnamon bear for a yummy lunch or for a baked treat with coffee!

The Peppermint mocha was YUM!!!!! Perfect balance with the syrup to make you feel Christmas season…read morein the air. The sandwich was "ok". For the high price, you should definitely get another egg.

Absolutely 1 of 2 best breakfast spots in Harrisonburg. Our other favorite is Heritage bakery…read more.. the theme of bakery lets you know that both places make all their bread and baked goods fresh! They don't gave thousands of dishes but every dish is thoughtful and each ingredient necessary to pull off the perfect bite. I think the fig pig tartine might be one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. The fig jam on freshly baked sourdough with fresh prosciutto and white cheddar, nutty arugula and the perfect sprinkle of lemon jest completes the dance in your palate. It's a must get. If you want something hearty... the sweet and hot breakfast biscuit will hit the spot. The jalapeño mixed with pear jam on a freshly baked biscuit... and the gooey white cheddar... so so good! Everything is fresh and delicious! A lot of breakfast places serve burnt industrial coffee... but they serve the coffee from Chestnut Ridge which is just across the street in the basement... but it's amazing! Fresh squeezed orange juice is pricey but delicious and the decor is beautiful! Get here before the doors open and wait in line or you'll have to wait a bit. But you can get on the waitlist and go to the stores across the street.

The Plus: Lovely bright dining space, friendly servers, and delightful food options, some with a…read moreSouthern spin. I appreciated that they were able to give me half/half on the greens and roasted potatoes as sides for the frittata. The Okay: service fell a bit short at times. They forgot about my partner's coffee. But I'll chalk this up to them being really busy. My partner wasn't too crazy about his breakfast sandwich, stating that the bread used was a bit too fluffy. All in all, would definitely give them another try.

Unique artisan bread selection! We tried a cranberry nut bread that I believe had some dried…read moreapricots and walnuts and pistachios. We all enjoyed it! I will try out more of their breads next year when I visit again.

Fabulous multi-grain baguettes that they sell at the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. They…read morefreeze well, too. Delicious!

The cupcake company, is our doggies go to cupcake place and well ours too :) The service is always…read morenice and friendly. Before visiting, I would suggest calling to see if they have what you want and are open. They have select cupcakes during certain days of the week. There is few parking spaces in front, but typically you can grab one. The business itself has urban chic feel to it.

I always like the variety they have here. They even had a gluten-free strawberry shortcake and a…read morecoconut cream pie cup. The shortcake was light and fluffy. The coconut cream pie cup was simply divine with the toasted coconut on top. The red velvet was moist and the Swiss roll was so yummy I forget to take a picture :-) The staff was helpful in answering questions, which I appreciate.

Every time we visit JMU, we stop at Bella Gelato. Flavors are exceptional. Some of the best coffees…read moreand gelatos we've had anywhere. Coffee flavors are "balanced", not artificially sugary and not bitter, they're subtly sweet. Great caffeine hit after dinners and lunches across the street. Service has been friendly and welcoming every+single+time.

Very pleasant and friendly service. Not a ton of selections but very tasty gelato for sure. Small…read moreseating area and chill vibe.