I've loved Dots for a long time, but boy has time changed things for Dots. My cupcakes that I purchased today feels and tastes like it may have been made the day before. The "muffin top" of my cupcake is super dry and hard, not moist or fluffy at all. Looking into their dessert bar wasn't great because everything just looked stale. My sister also had a bad experience with dots the last time we went and when my sister emailed the owners, they didn't seem apologetic or really care about welcoming her back. I'm sad that Dots has lost its spark. I'd much rather go to Nothing Bundt Cakes now, especially after eating my cupcake today. Mm.. yuck. read more

Dots Cafe - Look at the dents my nail is able to make into the hard and dry "muffin top" - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

So... my dog turned 2 recently, and I was in search of a doggy cupcake and delivery ASAP. As you can imagine, doggy cupcake delivery is not really a high-in-demand business, but what do you know? Dot's cafe to the rescue! They had a doggy cupcake on their Postmates menu so I ordered it, but you can't just order ONE teeny cupcake for delivery, right? So I also ordered a bunch of cupcakes for myself and a bunch of their coffee drinks. Their cupcakes are of course, delicious. But I was also pleasantly surprised by how good their coffee drinks were! We got a vietnamese iced coffee, a dalgona iced whipped coffee, and a vanilla latte. All were excellent and definitely were needed after the sugar crash I'd have after eating a bunch of cupcakes. As for my dog, he really enjoyed the little cupcake that started this whole adventure! read more

Dots Cafe - Doggy cupcake. Small but actually the perfect size for my pup. Did not come with the birthday sign! - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

We have been wanting to try this place out. We always pass by the location next to a freeway and seen the long lines. Anyway, finally made it and had breakfast. I had the Breakfast Plate & my wife had the Waffle Combo. We also were mesmerized by the presentation of the cupcakes; it was very inviting and looked interesting. Of course my wife ordered our selected go to sweet flavor. To our surprise, the taste were below average. The waffle was hard, the milk tea was bland, the hash-brown tasted like it's soaked with butter, the sausage was dry, & the infamous cupcakes all tasted the same (though had several different flavors). What made it different was the icing and occasional filling. However, I give it above average in presentation and ambiance. But you can't get full with presentation and ambiance. You go to the restaurant more for the flavors, service, & selections. The service was phenomenal though; however, none of the server wore gloves (though they were wearing masks). A couple of the server and preparer were wearing a cap, but the other two were not and both have hair flaunting around. To our disappointment, we found a string of hair... after we were done. read more

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Dots, once a beloved cupcake shop for my wife and I, but now just tasting stale. The shop was nice and offered a wider selection of food stuffs, but the appeal is the cupcakes when it comes to Dots. Unfortunately, it is nothing like how it originally was back on Dayton. read more

I had to pick up cupcakes for an event for work. At first I was about to go to the other location in Pasadena but they didn't have an earlier pick up time. The suggested that I order from this location instead. They open at 8am which is so convenient. There is a small parking lot so you can't miss it. Originally I ordered via email and they called me to confirm and pay over the phone. I came in and my order was ready. I got 2 dozen minis and the flavors are random. I did asked if they can tell me what they are and they said to look at the flavor menu. For work event, I already know people would ask. I just printed a flavor menu page and highlight the flavor they gave me myself. I also asked for an itemized receipt during pick up but they forgot to include in my bag. Later I had to call back for it via email which they were able to send. Overall I can see people hosting an event here but since parking lot is small maybe you might need to park on the street. The cupcakes here are sweet and soft. Cute design too. I would keep this place in mind for future events. read more

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I absolutely love the cupcakes from here. I have been getting them for years upon years from the different locations. Now this did the location closest to my home so I have been stopping here. These cupcakes are delicious. I usually get the minis so we have variety. The service is great and they are fast and attentive. The decor is always so cute with balloons or other photo frames available. This place is perfect for a birthday , anniversary or just because . read more

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We came for breakfast and ordered the Thanksgiving sandwich and Ultimate breakfast sandwich, along with a cappuccino and Vietnamese coffee. For the Thanksgiving sandwich, as you can see in the pictures, the focaccia is extremely thick. It was dry and hard to chew and lacked any flavor -- it tasted like I was eating plain baked dough. The turkey was also extremely dry, making the sandwich even drier than it already was. I ordered the sandwich mainly for the "herb aioli" that it claimed it included on the menu, but it was nothing like aioli -- it tasted like a bland mayonnaise. The ultimate breakfast sandwich was far from "ultimate" and not even as good as a basic sandwich. It was just as bland as the Thanksgiving sandwich. The bread was extra oily and made the sandwich feel very heavy. Overall, the sandwich was mushy and, after a few bites, it just tasted disgusting. I specifically asked for the Vietnamese coffee to be less sweet, but they made it the normal sweetness, which was extremely sweet. They remade it, but this time, the entire cup was ice and, after removing the ice, only 1/3 of the cup was a watered-down coffee. The coffee was acidic and bitter in a very gross, medicine-y way. They separated the condensed milk, but because the coffee was iced, there was no way to mix it in thoroughly. I tried mixing it with a plastic knife, and even then, it remained separate. This was one of the worst breakfast experiences I've had this past year. read more

Dots Cafe - Mushy, oily "ultimate" breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Ordered mini cupcakes to take to an event. They were delicious, beautiful and incredibly well received

I've recently came to Dots for some cupcakes for my daughter. Since indoor dining is closed, we walked in to order. I like to see what flavors are displayed and just look around. As I walked in, the male asked if I was ordering cupcakes or food. I said cupcakes and looked over at the female, she didn't look very friendly or inviting. She did not smile or said a peep. I just browsed and ordered assuming she is helping me. Which she did. But I expected a little smile, a pep talk or just something. Especially a time like this, I'm coming in to buy some cupcakes for you to have a job and get paid. And being in the customer service and food industry, I expected more than just a stand there behind the cupcakes stare. Anyway, I got half a dozen of mini cupcakes, and browsed around but just didn't feel a nice vibe. So i paid and left. A few tasted a bit dry like it wasn't freshly baked that day. Mind you, I went on a weekday afternoon. I've also been to Dots Cafe pre covid, maybe over a year ago and the service was better. I've had breakfast but don't remember but I'm sure I posted a photo then. read more

Dots Cafe - half dozen minis $12 - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came in today to pick up some cupcakes for a client so she could give a friend for her birthday. I called ahead of time and spoke with Kim she was so kind and professional over the phone. I requested 6 mini cupcakes wrapped in a birthday box. It was wrapped so lovely and my client was very happy with her purchase. The shop is so lovely and cheerful inside. The variety of cupcakes is plentiful and they also offer nut free options. Parking is easy even though it is a small parking lot. If you're looking for some yummy cupcakes check out Dots!! read more

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Quality has gone down down down over the years. Also I get the flowers theme but recently every time we go in there Nats, flies bugs are in the cup cake case. Even the staff see it and just try to wave them off. Sick of seeing that happen every single time occur. Get a netting for goodness sake. Not taking my kids here any more, it's just too unsanitary and the cup cakes aren't as good as before. read more

Kind service, positive vibes, beautiful decor, large variety of cupcake flavors! I got the 6 mini cupcake box for $13 to mix up flavors! Mint n chip, Dulce de Leche, blueberry cheesecake, chocolate coconut, tiramisu, and specialty of the day! The coffee/lattes come with your choice of flavors, such as hazelnut, vanilla, and honey cinnamon! Best of all, they serve delicious breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and lunch plates! read more

Dots Cafe - Seating area - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food here is very good, although a bit pricier than other places. We have mostly had their food at parties when people served their bento boxes, especially during Covid. The cafe itself is super cute, and they have a little store with cute stuff too. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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

I had no idea Dots cupcakes had a cafe! When Mom said let's have brunch there, at first I was like, what? Then she said she ordered a sandwich last time she was there a few weeks ago. The place we were originally going for brunch had a line out the door right when they opened so we needed to go somewhere else, and quick cause we were hungry. The cafe had lots of cute decorations, and an area with little knick knacks and things for sale. Even for dogs! I ordered the Philly cheesesteak egg burrito. Very big! I usually slam a whole burrito lickety split, but this one I couldn't! Saved half of it for later. I was eyeballing the cupcakes before we left, but ended up not getting any because the stupid pumpkin pie at muffins at home would probably give me a dirty look once I walked through the door with them. But I plan on coming back! I gotta try the one that looks like a Hostess cupcake! Curly Q white frosting on top and cream inside! Can't wait! read more

Dots Cafe - Philly cheesesteak burrito - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

I recently tried this place out for their chocolate cupcake after having a sweet tooth craving. Their chocolate cake was very moist and rich, but not the kind that's overbearing. They have many different flavors including a mint chocolate that I'd like to try out one day. They're serving up coffee and breakfast items and are open during COVID-19. As far as location, they're also located on the Far East side of Pasadena, closer to Arcadia. Be sure to check their IG page for takeout specials! read more

Dots Cafe - Chocolate cupcake - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I had an opportunity to finally try out Dots cafe during quarantine. They offer safe contactless pickup. I have ordered the family meals a few times now and they have not disappointed! For $40, you get a 3 course meal that serves four. The food is delicious and it always comes with a family meal surprise. We got shaved ice with our Hawaiian family meal as a family surprise! The menu changes daily and it is set the Sunday before the week. It's evident that the chefs are passionate about food and every single detail is planned out meticulously. You can conveniently order these family meals online. You will have to try out the cupcakes, they are moist and not too sweet! Their Dalgona coffee is a must try! For only $4, you get a tall glass of delicious coffee. This is definitely one of the top cafes in the Pasadena area for quality food and drinks. read more

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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

This is the cutest place ever! You must come here and have any of their food the chocolate chip pancakes are to die for. The decor is adorable, and the cupcakes are amazing! Two thumbs up, and five stars for dots Café. We will come here again. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Due to COVID safety orders are for takeout. They limit the number of customers in the store. The interior is also quite spacious so I felt safe ordering there. And they also blocked off the inside so you can see the cupcakes thru the glass and there is a blocked off window for paying and picking up. I ordered a dalgona coffee and a cupcake. The special was a toffee chocolate cupcake. OMG!! It was sooo good! It was so moist and just the perfect sweetness. The taste of the dalgona coffee surprised me. So I didn't read the description on their menu thinking you tried one dalgona coffee you've tried them all. On initial sip I thought hmmm this is different...why does it taste like almond milk? So then I pulled up their menu to find that they make theirs with oatmilk. I stirred the coffee part to mix it in more and I was very pleased! It's oatmilk so also makes me feel like I'm being healthier haha. The staff here are also very friendly. read more

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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

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

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

Dots have been great during this quarantine! Their family meals are not only delicious but they change daily so you'll never get bored. For $40 meal for a family of 4 including dessert, that's such a good deal. Best part is they always include a surprise gift. This time, we got scratchers and a bingo game set. I'm so impressed with how they can keep this up every single day for the past 8 weeks! Dots has definitely become my family's goto takeout place during these tough times. read more

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Let me just start by saying I loved the shop itself. It's pink and girly and incredibly cute. But everything else- not so much. I ordered a few different mini cupcakes and I was not a fan. The only real difference between them was the frosting, and I didn't care for the frosting. They didn't taste fresh either. Honestly I think I would prefer Sprinkles cupcakes to these, and I don't particularly love Sprinkles either. My second problem - I also ordered two flavored lattes and the employee forgot about them. I waited almost 20 minutes before going up to the register again to ask about my drinks, and the employee realized they forgot to print my order. And when I finally did get my coffee, the drinks were mediocre and left me wanting. I don't know if it was an off day or what but literally the only thing I enjoyed about this place was the shop itself i.e. the girly decor. read more

Dots Cafe - Pasadena Rose & Honey cinnamon lattes - 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

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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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

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

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

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

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

I was disappointed with my overall experience at Dot's Cafe. The only good thing about the place is the ambience (lots of windows and colorful wall paper). First complaint is that the restaurant doesn't have menus available. There is a digital menu up on the wall behind the cash register. It can't fit both the breakfast and lunch menus on the screen so we had to repeatedly ask that the menu be changed a couple times while we were deciding. Second complaint is the sour attitude of the staff. I requested that a table be cleared because several tables had dishes and trash on them. A female employee in a golden shirt appeared annoyed at this request. My friend ordered first and while I was waiting in line to order, the female employee wearing the golden shirt offered to take the order of the person BEHIND me at the second register. The other person saw I was before her and offered for me to go first. However, the golden shirted employee was so rude that I waited to place my order with the other employee. Third complaint is the mediocre food. I ordered the caprese panini, and it wasn't good. I ate half of it and threw the other half out. It was soggy and had way too much carmelized onion jam on it. It also only had a tiny slice of a tomato on each side. My friend ordered the Waldorf salad and really enjoyed it though. When the golden shirted employee brought our food, she asked if we needed anything else. I asked for ketchup. She responded by telling me I could go get it myself at the counter. I was so surprised by this poor customer service. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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(+) 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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This place is overall pretty solid. The cupcake is pretty moist and fresh. They have a good selection of variety of cupcake. I personally like the mini cupcake. It's a good size for little kids. 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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