Great place to get yummy cupcakes! Lots of variety to choose from. Red velvet is really good. Very moist. Get the mini if you want to try different flavors or get the regular size and be satisfied! read more

Dots Cafe - Inside cupcake case - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Decent cupcakes. They had one nondairy cupcake (carrot) when I visited and it was only dairy free if I scraped the frosting off. The space was inviting and I'm slightly curious to try their menu items as they serve food as well as cupcakes. The person who assisted me knew her menu which was helpful. read more

FOOD: I've been a loyal fan of Dots Cupcakes for almost a decade now, so it breaks my heart to write this review. - I haven't visited this spot in a while, and the quality of the cakes have significantly decreased. I got a half dozen for $23.10, and most of the flavors ended up being disappointing. - I tried all four of the Monday/Tuesday speciality flavors, and the only ones we thought were decent were Carmelita and Black Forest. Both of them had light chocolate cakes, but they lacked the caramel center and a cherry compote listed. The cream cheese and cherry icings both weren't too sweet, but the cherry icing didn't have much flavor. Meyer Lemon and Hazelnut Crunch are not worth trying. As someone who actually likes some cakes that are more dense, these cakes were so dense to the point they were like a wet sponge and stuck to the roofs of our mouths. My goodness, the icing of the Meyer Lemon was so sweet my jaw hurt. Hazelnut Crunch also lacked the filling it said it would have. - Strawberry Shortcake was also so dense and again with the overly sweet icing. Red Velvet was okay, kind of dry but at least it wasn't excruciatingly dense. SERVICE/AMBIANCE: The girl that helped me the day I went was very sweet, but the experiences that my mom has had in the past were always a gamble. A few were kind, but a large majority of them were rude and dismissive. There's a small parking lot that can get full during busier hours of the day. OVERALL: I'm honestly so disappointed with my experience this time, and I probably won't be coming back. Despite the previous rude service we encountered, my family and I would keep coming back because we loved the cupcakes. However, this was certainly not the case this time. I'm not sure if the owners have changed, but all of the white cakes we got this time had the spongey wet texture, while the chocolate ones were a bit better. I hope that the quality control and service can be adjusted based on the comments that I have seen all over Yelp as well. read more

Dots Cafe - Left to Right/Top to Bottom: Carmelita, Strawberry Shortcake, Red Velvet, Hazelnut Crunch, Black Forest, Meyer Lemon - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

Visited this restaurant 2 weeks ago with my family. And begrudgingly gave them our business because we had driven so far for it. Disappointed. Walked in to the nearly empty cafe and went unacknowledged by the girl working in the front and what appeared to be the owner of the restaurant. It was not until we said "hello" while standing at the register did one of them decide to ask to take our order. Rude and short was our experience. Utensils dirty. And food meh. No wonder it was empty. And if you're thinking about driving a distance to come here I'd save yourself the trip and the disappointment of poor customer service and decent food. read more

Long overdue review. During covid, I survived on their delicious family meals. I followed their Instagram page religiously, always wanting to try their new foods. Not only are their foods delicious, but also their desserts! They also give away free goodies from time to time. Some of my favorites include the any of beef dishes and chicken Parmesan. I can safely say this is the one thing I miss since moving out of LA. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Super adorable cafe with a great selection of cupcakes. I got a dozen mini cupcakes for $22 and you can pick any combination of flavors. The cupcakes aren't overall sweet and it was packaged nicely. read more

Dots Cafe - Assorted dozen mini cupcakes - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

2 stars only for the environment & cupcake. I understand this is not a full restaurant so don't expect anything on the service, and most employees aren't attentive which is totally fine. But we do not deserve attitude... An female employee first came out with our sandwich but completely ignored us, and brought it to the wrong people (later we found out). Then another female came out delivering the rest of our food tried to cover the fact. Much much later, the first employee came back again with another sandwich they made, with a cold, disgruntled face without any apology. We even said thank you, but she just silently dropped down the plate and left in a rushed manner. I was expecting her to say sorry, or at least be a little nice, or at least, be normal? You can see the clear difference she treated us vs other customers. Worst thing is it almost felt like she did sth to our salad, as it was drenched in dressing that it choked me so badly after even just one bite. Maybe it's not her, and maybe this place is just lackluster when it comes to food. But all incidents combined, it just seems like she's especially rude to us. I don't wanna play the race card but we are the same race... I even have a toddler with me... When I tried to voice my concern to the second female employee (unfortunately the first one is on break), she thought I wanted some sort of compensation? No, I just wanted to talk to the manager... Overall for us as a family this was a very unpleasant experience. read more

Dots is a loooong time favorite. Cupcakes are always moist, service is great. Atmosphere at the Cafe in Colorado Blvd seems fun, though I e haven't taken advantage of it yet. read more

I have been a long time customer of dots cupcakes from their locations in Old Town Pasadena to this new location. I enjoy their food but the staff is frankly rude and unprofessional. Long story short, I placed an online order. When arrived I wasn't acknowledged. When asked for an ETA on my order they said they would barely start on it. I asked the employee for her name and she said she felt uncomfortable giving out her name. This employee kept stating how busy they were and interrupting me while I was trying to express my concerns. No acknowledgement, no apology-This is no way to treat your customers. For consumers, please be cautious when ordering online because your concerns will be more than likely be dismissed. Advice for business, don't offer online ordering if the order won't be ready from the ETA that is given online. There is a disconnect from online and in store with the eta. read more

This place is so cute. It's a spring day dream come to life. Walking in, I was in love with the floral wall. Even my husband thought it had nice vibes. We came in for breakfast, to try a different place. We ordered at the front the ultimate breakfast burrito and the breakfast special combo, which is a sandwich and latte. Food came out promptly. The serving sizes were filling, and pricing here is very fair. Great family atmosphere. There were a good number of young families that came through for breakfast and/or cupcakes. Highly recommend and plan on coming again! read more

Price and quality 5/5 We come here weekly for breakfast and I'm surprised it's not busy, and you can always grab an open table during peak breakfast/brunch hours. The Blueberry creamed cheese pancake platter is one of our favorite dishes to order. It generously comes with eggs, and a side of avocado, or bacon, or sausage. The pancakes are generously filled with blueberries, light, fluffy, and pillowy soft. They're my son's favorite. I've arrived 30 mins after the breakfast cutoff, and they've been able to accommodate my breakfast pancake order. For savory dishes, we alternate between the ultimate breakfast burrito, which is huge and amply stuffed, or the breakfast hash. We've been meaning to try out their family meals. read more

4.7 stars for Dots! I love this place!!! This cafe is so posh, with it's brightly lit interior, fresh flowers, floral walls, and tasteful decor. Everything is so aesthetically pleasing! It's the perfect place to study, relax with friends or just kick back with a nice drink and sweet treat. The cupcakes are beautifully frosted and perfectly adorned with style. It makes it hard to decide which flavor to pick so try them all! I came specifically for the raspberry lemon cupcake, but headsup, it's only offered on weekends! But it was no problem because the blueberry cheesecake and strawberry shortcake were delicious too! Small cupcake $2.00 Regular cupcake $3.25 The regular cupcake is definitely the better bang for your buck considering the size of the mini cupcake is maybe 1/4 of the regular. Highly recommend this place, especially if you have a sweet tooth! read more

(+) mint chocolate cupcake (+) food presentation/ambiance I came here on Mother's Day with my mom and we enjoyed breakfast and got a few cupcakes for the rest of our family. Dots cafe sells their famous cupcakes, and also serves breakfast options that are tasty for a reasonable price for the Pasadena area. Located on the east side of Pasadena, the location is perfect and easy to get in and get out without all the traffic that hounds the Pasadena area. Food: I ordered the breakfast bowl with my choice of sausage. The bowl comes with a base of quinoa, and served with a variety of vegetables and an egg. I personally liked this bowl because of its color and bell peppers. The bell peppers gave the bowl a crunchy texture while the potatoes provided the starch. It got me really full and I was surprised I finished the whole thing! Although it was majority vegetables, the flavor was lacking. I felt like some seasoning would've helped. There was hot sauce that I used to fill the void. The food presentation is also something to note. Every dish that was served came out picture perfect and the details were noted. The cupcakes are also my favorite because of the quality and amount of frosting. The frosting is light, yet so tasty. Ambiance: I love the natural lighting that occupies the restaurant. There marble tables and cute chairs give the cafe a comfortable and modern display that is excellent for food photography. Service: The service is great. Once you order, you are given a number and the food is brought to your table. The drinks however, you need to walk over and pick those up yourself. The servers are aware of guests needs and do a great job provided you with whatever you need. Overall, I would recommend dots cafe to anyone who loves cupcakes, or even looking for a new brunch place to try. Make sure to have lots of data space on your phone because you'll be taking a ton of pictures! read more

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Went with my brother. First time eating here. Excellent food and service. My brother is very picky and he loved the place. Also great desserts! Will go back. read more

Great place for brunch. Food is delicious. We always get their Avocado Toast and French Toast. Then get some mini cupcakes to go. read more

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WOW! The Thanksgiving family meal from this year was outstanding! We've ordered from Bristol Farms and Whole Foods in the past, but Dot's turkey, stuffing, beet salad, and everything else, blew them all out of the water. Will definitely re-order next year, and will look into ordering meals from them more regularly. I've come by Dots 6 or 7 times to pick up cupcakes, which are always such a hit at social gatherings. Love that they have the large and small sizes, too. The owner - Hailey - and her mom (Dot!) work so hard, and I'm glad to support a local family-owned business. I've spoken with Hailey a few times, when she slows down near the register...I'm always so impressed when owners make coffee for customers, and bustle around, working just as hard as the staff. She is always so friendly, and I always leave with a smile - and a latte and cupcakes. :) read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

Dots Cafe was so great! Unassuming place on the outside, super cute and adorable on the inside! Went for dessert and the cupcakes were amazing. The lunch menu looked fantastic. Will definitely be returning to have a meal. read more

The food is delicious and generous in portions. I got the bento box thinking I would end up taking half of my meal home, which I did...and it was already packaged so cutely! The service is good, and overall the cafe gives off a happy, cute vibe. There is a small parking lot shared with two other businesses. When I arrived for lunch on Saturday, it was full so we parked in the adjoining neighborhood. However, when we left, there were seven open spaces. I guess timing is everything! read more

Dots offers a Sunday brunch for 4 people which was perfect for when my friends wanted to celebrate my birthday since there would be four of us! My friend CC ordered online by emailing them. They post their weekly menu on their website and also on social media. We got the following: -- Croque Monsieur with Ham, Gruyere Cheese, Dijon Mustard, and Bechemel Sauce: This was really good! Very cheesy and delicious. -- Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon: I hate asparagus so I cannot speak as to how this was. They don't allow substitutions so we weren't able to ask for something else. Two of my friends ate it and thought it was fine. I think they liked that it was wrapped in bacon? -- Coffee Cake: Moist and crumbly and delicious! -- Tater Tots: CC added this to our order for her young son to eat since he was also with us at the brunch picnic. I was able to try some and I liked them. But I mean, how can you go wrong with tater tots? Because the brunch meal came with dessert (coffee cake), I didn't get any of their cupcakes when I picked up my order. But I've had their cupcakes before (years ago) and I think I liked them, so they're definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! And they have a cute shop on Colorado that I wish I had taken photos of. Oh well, next time! read more

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I heart Dots cupcakes and I've been a fan since I've visited their shop in Pasadena. I wasn't a fan of their food or their staff efficiency (still room for improvement). Bottom line, I would come for the cupcakes alone and skip the food. From the moment I stood in line, there was only one cashier and a short line. Even with a short line of 2 people in front of me, I managed to wait over 15 minutes... Perhaps there should be at least two cashiers helping the line of patrons and one less staff standing around at the cupcake displays? Their food (mainly sandwiches and salads) were pricey and subpar. My sandwich was supposed to come with romaine, but because of recent recalls, it came without. It would have been nice to have substituted the romaine for spring mix or at least tell the customer that the sandwich would be without any lettuce. The sandwich and side salad wasn't anything memorable. I had to add a lot of Tabasco for flavoring. So why 3 stars when I've given my constructive feedback? IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CUPCAKES! Their cupcakes alone are worth the price. I could eat more than one of their delicious cupcakes. Overall I would not eat a meal here, but it might still be an ok space for dessert and coffee/tea with friends. Their space is open with plenty of seating. Also, their location is in East Pasadena, which is still better than trekking it out to Old Town Pasadena or surrounding. Parking is also not a problem here. Bonus points for offering fun cupcake accessories, candles, and even cupcakes for dogs! read more

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News flash, Dots serves savory too! I just picked up a 4-person dinner for Chinese New Year, and it was not cupcakes; rather, it was a sophisticated crab noodle meal with bok choi, egg rolls and boba custard pie. The location is clean and festive with Valentine's Day glamour with nice behind the counter folks dishing out the pre-ordered meals in a lovely Valentine's Day bag for carry-out. The meal was a nice change of pace with a Korean flair and something affordable for take-out. Mind you, it's not French or Fusion, but wholesome food for the family. In these days of COVID-19, that's what we gravitate to, without regard to cuisine or big name restaurants. Once COVID is under control, I will still frequent this cafe for breakfast and possibly dinner too! read more

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I love Dots Cafe, I've never set foot in it but my husband picked up food for breakfast so this is a review purely based on food. Can't wait to go post covid though because it sounds adorable. Online ordering was easy and quick. We ordered a breakfast sandwich, a breakfast burrito, cinnamon roll, coffee, and two cookies. We originally tried to get two crinkle cookies but they were out and called me immediately and we switched to chocolate chip and M&M. The breakfast sandwich was great, every element was very well done. The bread was super fresh and toasted perfectly, the scrambled eggs were soft and cooked through and most importantly not over-salted! I think this is the first time in a while where I ate "takeout" food that didn't make me feel like I was going to be bloated all day from excess salt. My husband loved his burrito, said it was well worth the price because it was hefty. The cinnamon roll was also very good, normal sized with tons of cinnamon-y flavor, good pastry and just the right amount of icing. Two cookies were also excellent super crunchy on the outside, chewy/soft on the inside. Lastly we got a small drip coffee and though it was slightly more acidic than I normally prefer it was so fresh it was very enjoyable. I would 100% come back here, my husband said they also had an entire pastry case full of stuff that's not listed online so next time we'll try that! read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

4.2 stars... I've been driving by this place for over a year now. Having been in this area in the mid-80's this used be a blighted and unpopular area EXCEPT for the The Original Tops which is diagonally across from the Dots Cafe. From the outside it felt out of place because the decor and the store design felt like it belonged at a westside or a SilverLake type of community. So credit goes to the owner(s) for willing to put a flagship store like this following their success in Old Town Pasadena. Having read the fellow Yelpers' reviews, my wife and I went straight to the cupcakes. Carrot cake, caramelita, and mint chocolates were some of the favorites so we chose the mint chocolate for our first try. The sweetness, the texture and the moisture were right on. The coffee was strong too but the hot chocolate was not rich enough for my taste buds. Although the design and the decor were great, the one negative was furnitures were too hard and cold. Something softer and comfy would go a long way to draw a crowd. Look forward to returning for their hot foods. read more

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I stopped by Dots today and picked up a few cupcakes for myself as well as a few for my pup. I was so excited to try Dots for the first time and unfortunately, it was a little underwhelming... Their cakes are moist, but it lacked flavor. The cake was bland, but the frosting was sweet. The batter tasted watered down. The carrot cake was also so overly moist that it was sticky. I don't think I would come back unless I were in the area. read more

Dots Cafe - Double chocolate - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Cute bakery and the most delicious cupcakes. Regular are 3.25 and mini are 2 dollars. They also do specials on different days. The strawberry cheesecake one was so good! Right behind the little plaza there are the cutest murals! Also check out the cute nail shop as well as the gift shop in the plaza! Just a little bit of happiness all around! read more

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Note, this review is for their service. This place has 2 sides of the counter- left for picking out cupcakes, and right for all other food menu items. Came in today, there was one person currently picking out cupcakes. Another worker asked if we were ready to order (from their regular food menu side), we replied we were waiting on the cupcakes. We waited patiently behind the person picking cupcakes. As they finished her order, 2 other women came in and started loudly ordering while standing beside us. The cupcake worker ignored us and started packing up the cupcakes for those women. Didn't acknowledge that we were there. It was so obviously rude, we just left. read more

Nice variety of cupcakes and cute cafe! Individually boxed cupcakes were perfect Mother's Day gifts. I always get a couple of the Fleur de Sel for myself! Will definitely try their cafe menu and family meals during future visits. read more

Super cute ! Nice place love it! Will definitely come again! I'm here for the dulce de leche cup!

Presentation: Average Flavors: Good Service: Quick and responsive Portions: Just Right Price: Very Reasonable for this area Walked in to a quiet and brightly beautified interior. Bright floral colors and clean restaurant. Cupcakes in the glass case immediately take your attention and so does the floral wallpaper. Great place for a quick bite to eat which was what we were looking for. I ordered the Turkey BLAT sandwich and my wife ordered the linguine with meat sauce. My sandwich was topped with the expected bacon, lettuce and tomato with turkey and avocado. Sandwich was quite large and I was only able to eat half in that sitting. It came with choice of fries or salad, I chose the fries which were delicious. Lightly seasoned with garlic, crisp, and light. I also ordered a green ice tea which was refreshing. Meal was about 12 dollars for the sandwich. Linguine dish was a good sized portion, more than enough for a quick lunch. Came with a ricotta cheese and side of bread. My wife enjoyed it although for me the pasta seemed overcooked and a bit mushy. Only had one bite so perhaps my opinion doesnt count. Linguine was a 10 dollar dish. Overall great quiet, quick, cafe style cleanup after yourself kinda place. No complaints with the food. Would definitely visit again. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

One of the best breakfast sandwiches I have had! A must try! The eggs were perfectly cooked, plenty of cheese, and all the perfect toppings for the sandwich and burrito. Also-this place is so cute! They were ready for Valentine's Day read more

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Came here for the first time with my girlfriend to grab some brunch and pick up cupcakes! We split the Avocado Mash Toast and the Veggie Delight Quinoa Bowl (added sausage for an extra $2.50). For a drink, she ordered a Vanilla Iced Latte (which she enjoyed). I really liked the Avocado Mash Toast - it had a good flavor profile with the avocado, seeds, seasoning and roasted cherry tomatoes (and I'm not a huge fan of cherry tomatoes). I thought that the Veggie Delight Quinoa Bowl was just okay (don't think that I would order it again). Overall it lacked flavor and seasoning even with the sausage and fried egg. Once we finished eating, the employees were extremely helpful and kind as we picked out various cupcakes to take home. No issues finding parking even though it's a small lot (we came around 10:30 am on a Saturday and it wasn't super busy/crowded). read more

Dots Cafe - Avocado Mash Toast - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I just had breakfast here. The cupcakes I'm still not sold on, the food is good, actually, quite good, but the service is lacking. Here's why... 1. coffee cup chipped, asked for a new cup and replaced 2. cream is left in fridge and you have to ask for it. needed it as the coffee was brackish. 3. order wrong we asked for quinoa bowls with avocado; received bowls with bacon. they gave us avocado on the side after we mentioned it. 4. another chipped plate. Space is bright, fresh flowers, and good food, but the negatives pulled it down from a solid 4 edging towards 5. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I came here on a Monday around 1pm. There were plenty of parking. This is such a cute and spacious place! The decorations are so ig-friendly. However, I think the cupcakes were overpriced and just so-so! I ordered three mini cupcakes which is $2 each. I had the special rose flavor, I didn't really like it since it tasted like the rose water hand lotion that I have. The red velvet was the standard red velvet, not great not bad. Lastly, the hazelnut was the one I liked the most among three. Will I come back? May be! read more

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Been trying to call for the past hour for a phone order on a Sunday. It seems like they're understaffed.

I'm updating this for the food since last time I hadn't tried it. Ordered avocado toast and veggie quinoa bowl (I swear I'm not a millennial hipster!) Both were delicious! Vegetarians welcome. Vegans beware that there is a fried egg on top of the quinoa bowl! read more

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Food and vibes were great but I am severely disappointed that they call themselves a cafe when they don't offer WiFi to use contrary to such a welcoming studious environment . The three stars are because staff were excellent and provided great customer service. read more

Amazing cupcakes so delicious and fresh. Their cinnamon buns is another topic though. Seriously terrible. So dry and stale, definitely not it. Stick to the cupcakes read more

We really like the takeout family meals for $44. You get enough food for four people and it includes a dessert too. The menu for the week comes out on Sunday afternoon and you can preorder on their website or call in too. We like how the menu changes weekly so there is usually something new to try and won't get sick of eating the same dishes. They also have breakfast and sandwiches, but I haven't tried those so I can't comment. Cupcakes and desserts are yummy too. read more

Typically love Dots Cafe, but they were understaffed on Saturday when we went to pick up our pre-ordered cupcakes (ordered online at 8 am). My dad went to pick them up at 9:30 am for my son's birthday party that started at 10 am. He waited by the pickup counter but wasn't helped for 30 minutes. Since they were understaffed, they served the people waiting in line to order first, when all he needed to do was pick up the cupcakes. We had set the pickup time for 9:30 am, but he didn't get them until 10 am. Please make sure you have enough staff for the weekends. Another small note is that they did not remove their inventory from the online order so we did not have all the cupcake flavors we choose. read more

Came here for the first time. Clean, cute place with delicious cupcakes. We had the carrot cake cupcake and a huge slice of banana walnut bread. So yummy. And their coffee is super great. Got a latte with 4 shots. Great prices too! They even have breakfast and lunch items but we couldn't try them this time around. Will be back! read more