Let's start by saying, I would give Denise's 10 stars on the actual cake, but 2 stars for terrible…read morebusiness communications! For such a legacy business, they should really be ashamed of themselves when it comes to customer service. I attempted to call them numerous times to ask about placing a custom cake order. NO ONE EVER ANSWERS THE PHONE!!! It doesn't matter what time you call. I then sent a very detailed email thru their website with my name, number, the custom design request and I referenced one of the cakes on their website. This was the response: Thank you for choosing Denise's Delicacies for your order! Before I can take your order, I have a couple of questions. When do you need this by? How many people are you trying to serve? Do you have a picture of the design you want us to go by? If so, please send a picture. Lastly, do you have a number I can call to place your order? Thank You, Denise's Delicacies In my message to them... I did tell them the due date, I did give the number of people to serve, I did reference a cake from their website and I did provide my phone number. I was absolutely frustrated and confused. After reaching out to a few other bakers and not finding what I needed, I gave up and decided to get up early one Thursday morning and go to Denise's in-person. I got there around 8:45am. It was not crowded. The young lady working behind the counter was kind and helpful. I mentioned about no one answering the phone, she said they were short-staffed. Then, the custom cake I was wanting, she said they did not do (just number cakes on top of a sheet cake.). However, since it was a week before Thanksgiving, they were not taking anymore custom orders at that time. So, I gave up and just got a 'numbers' cake. I placed my order, paid and left. I then returned the next day and requested to go up to the next cake size. When I went back, 2 weeks later to pick up the cake, BAAAAABY!!!, all I could do was laugh at how huge it was. We all got a chuckle, but it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! One of the men who worked there was kind of enough to carry to and place BOTH cake numbers in the back of my truck. Whowever the baker was that worked on my cake, did their THANG!!! I was absolutely pleased with how beautiful it looked. And all our guests raved about the cake. That being said, I would definitely order from them again. I just hope they elevate and work on perfecting their business. It's so sad to hear long time customers talk about how it was 'back in the day' when the actual Denise was there. They've been around too long to be lacking in that department. Because of the cake, I give them 4 stars.

**Visited: 2/22/25** I've been a loyal customer of…read moreDenise's Delicacies for a long time, and over the years, I've learned that visiting means packing my patience. Parking near 22nd Street is tough, and there's almost always a line. Service tends to be slow, but the quality of the baked goods usually makes up for it. That said, what happened during my last visit was unsettling. I came in hoping to buy cupcakes. A young man working the counter -- clearly not properly trained -- carelessly pulled a tray of cupcakes out of the display case, causing 4-5 of them to topple onto the floor. What happened next was the real issue: the older woman working alongside him (possibly a manager) told him to pick them up, *put them back on the same tray, and take them to the back. I stood there shocked, thinking there's a good chance those same cupcakes were sold to other customers later that day. I'm writing this review nearly two months later because every time I consider returning, I remember this incident and change my mind. It's disappointing because Denise's had been improving lately -- after a period of what felt like cheaper ingredients and a decline in quality, the baked goods have definitely gotten better. But this experience made me question the standards behind the scenes. I ended up buying cake slices instead of cupcakes that day, but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth -- and not because of the food. Great desserts... but a serious risk to your health if basic food safety is being ignored like this.

We went to the Manayunk Art Festival today and spotted a sign for pastries and baked goods! Of…read morecourse, I had to see what they were offering. My eyes were immediately drawn to, what appeared to be a 'Hostess Cupcake'....a chocolate cupcake with squiggly white frosting on top! I asked if there was a cream filled center, and there was! I ordered it. It brought back memories of the 'original' cupcake, but this was far superior than the Hostess cake! This cupcake was soft and velvety, with a chocolate richness that was wonderfully complemented with a deep, dark chocolate icing. I took a big bite to make sure I got some of the creamy center! Next up, the Sticky Bun. I love sticky buns and this one was a big reason why. It was covered with a sumptuous layer of walnuts and raisins. The buttery pastry had a delicious layering of brown sugar, nuts and raisins that enveloped and was folded into the bun. It was an exceptional sticky bun! We wanted to try a few doughnuts and asked for recommendations - we were told the Chocolate-Chocolate, Lemon Poppy and Red Velvet (with Cream Cheese frosting) were popular. We ordered all three! I would like to mention, Tiffany's is unique in that they cook the doughnuts in a steam oven instead of frying them! The steaming retains the moisture - resulting in a soft, fluffy texture and a truer flavor that's not influenced by frying in oil. The bakery is a second generation bakery having opened in 1977. The steamed doughnut is a new addition that revolutionized the bakery about 4-5 years ago. It's called the DoYo. Back to the doughnuts! Let's start with my partner's favorite - the Chocolate-Chocolate. We both agreed the steaming of these doughnuts makes a big difference. It was so light and moist - with a chocolate frosting that was a little firmer than the frosting on the cupcake. The Red Velvet DoYo with cream cheese frosting was heavenly - the soft texture reinforced the difference between the steam and oil bake - these cake DoYos were unique. The last DoYo was the Lemon Poppy. The icing and lemon flavor were luxurious! It was a nice finish to a variety of different doughnuts. The Oatmeal Raisin cookie was classic - soft and chewy, with an old fashioned oatmeal taste and texture. It was a good cookie. I saw the salted chocolate pretzels - at first I hesitated, as it's not really a pastry, but figured I'd try one. I'm glad I did! It wasn't your 'average' pretzel - the chocolate coating was as delicious as the icing on the doughnuts and the salt was a great addition. We really were surprised to find such a great bakery at the art show in Manayunk. It's a jewel that you must try out...especially the DoYos!!!

Stopped by for a quick sweet treat. We got the mini cupcakes. Only 2. This was sooooo good. I…read morehonestly would have eaten about 5 of them but we were on a walk and didn't want to carry any food around. If in the area I would recommend and I'd definitely be back to try the cheesecake.

As soon as you walk in, everyone behind the counter makes you feel like family! I stopped in a few…read moreweeks ago and tried a few things, including a slice of their seasonal cheesecake some cannolis, and their cannoli cookies. Everything was absolutely delicious -some of the best cannolis I've had in Philadelphia! I felt like I was in Europe. It's cozy in there, and there are a few tables for you to dine in, but you're more than welcome to take out as well! If you haven't visited, definitely put it on your list!

Some of the best baked goods in the City of Philadelphia from the cannolis to the cookies to the…read morebirthday cakes and all the holiday desserts they do in between definitely 5

This is one of the best non conformist bake shops and cafes that I have been to in fishtown. The…read morepastries are unique and the drinks are well crafted. The staff is very friendly while working urgently and accurately to fulfill orders to a line that is sometimes out the door. The cafe feels like home with unique art and decor. If you are in north Philly this place is a must try and is my go to cafe in the area.

Great add to the neighborhood!…read more Monstero - loved how it was somewhat sweet but savory at the same time, the tomato sauce was perfect and the ratio of eggplant and the mozzarella was a good balance Virgo's Groove - the spiced peach jam accompanied with fresh peach was absolutely crazy in the best way I understand that the items are unique and creative but in general the prices a bit steep. They also ran out of straws for drinks. We got two Americanos which were smooth and not burnt.

This is a neighborhood privilege to grab a stocks poundcake ! It's definitely Port Richmond…read moreproud! The next birthday cake you can buy! And get there early too.. bc everyone knows that they will literally ruin out! What are you doing with your life if you haven't been to Stocks Bakery!? ;)

Stock's Bakery is a must visit if you love traditional baked goods done right. Their pound cake is…read moreincredibly moist, rich, and buttery with that homemade taste that keeps people coming back year after year. The texture is perfect and the flavor is simple in the best way. Everything feels nostalgic and comforting, like the kind of bakery that has been making people happy for generations. You can tell they focus on quality and consistency instead of trends, and that is what makes this place special. If you appreciate classic desserts that never go out of style, Stock's Bakery is definitely worth the visit. A true Philadelphia staple.

My wife and me love their butter burn. We loved it . They have setting area with coffee optionsread more

Very nice place for sweet treats. Only stopped in to pick up things to bring home but the place…read moreseemed clean and well organized. Everything I purchased was delicious and very fresh. Really enjoyed. Worth the stop in. Side note, I didn't get anything to drink but my friend got a peach tea and said she loved it.

I'd heard about Tartes and even walked by it a few times, but never sampled the pastries....until…read moretoday. I walked right up and ordered - you can look through the window at the pastries - and order which ones you would like. I immediately noticed these 'large' cakes (large compared to the pastries) and asked what they were - Pound Cakes - Lemon and Lavender. I opted for the Lavender. This was a 'simple' cake - a little icing on the top, and a very subtle lavender taste. It was moist and rich, but not too dense - perfect texture. It was a very enjoyable piece of cake. I may try the Lemon Pound cake next time. Next, was the Plum Almond Tarte - it looked amazing. The exterior was browned and had a delicious caramelized crunch to it. I could immediately taste the plum topping as I crunched on a few almonds. However, once I got to the interior of the tart, it was soggy - too moist. I don't think it's supposed to be that way - but it made the tart difficult to eat. It was very tasty, but the sogginess really detracted from the texture. There's an attached picture of the middle of the tart. I thought I would get a cookie and they had 4 choices - I chose the Molasses. It has been a LONG time since I had a molasses cookie. This one had a soft homemade texture - it was sprinkled with sugar. The deep taste of molasses came through immediately and left a delightful little 'bite' like fresh ginger or cloves might do. It was a great cookie. I saw some macaroons in the front of the window - plain and chocolate chip - I got the plain. I'm used to the 'store bought' macaroons-with finally chopped coconut and a soft creamy texture. This was NOT the Manishewitz coconut macaroon I grew up with....good thing! This was a 'real' macaroon - the coconut was shredded a longer length and had true texture. The cookie has a crispy exterior and a chewy coconut interior. I also ordered a mini tarte - the Pear Pistachio Tarte. It was covered in a pistachio crumble and a pear topping, with a pistachio custard filling, which had a reasonable consistency, unlike the Plum Almond. I'm a big pistachio lover and this little tart was yummy - the combination of nutty and fruity came out really well. Last, but not least, is the Apricot Financier. This is a very different pastry - moist - with a very subtle almond taste. There's a very small slice of apricot (I wish there would have been more) which added a nice fresh fruity chew to the light cake. While the cake tasted fine, it needed 'something' more. I'll be returning to Tarte - most likely for the pound cakes and a few cookies!

I have tried various tarts here and of those the chocolate cream one was my favorite but if you…read morecould get only 1 item, it has to be the coconut macaroons (with and without the chocolate chips) because they are simply too good! The lady (owner?) was a tad rude until we made the payment after which she was very sweet lol

First time trying this place out. Must pickup from the window as the entrance is closed off. and…read moreeating it seems homemade. The heart cookies were sweet but just missing that certain someone to share them with. One of the macaroons was off kilter appearance wise but food wise- I mean it's TooGoodToGo. The taste is fine. Nothing like when Miel existed or the one off of Race St. if it is still there, probably French exquisite in those places. Staff is friendly. The custard like dessert was flavorful and I have no idea what this mash was besides edible and delicious! A local shop a tourist probably won't hit unless they are using TooGoodToGo or reading this review by chance, then maybe.

Picked up a box of 4 cupcakes- birthday cake, red velvet, chocolate vanilla, and chocolate…read morechocolate. The cake was very moist. Favorite was the red velvet. The chocolate cupcakes were both equally good. Very rich and fudgy. Not a huge fan of the birthday cake. It was the sweetest of the 4 and just didn't stand out as much as the other flavors. Personally, I didn't love the sugar crystal rim. It gave the cupcake too much of a crunch. Texture-wise I would have preferred it without. Overall, I enjoyed these cupcakes and would buy again!