Seremyst
Rucking Around in Moss
Inner Sanctum Nobility
Let me preface this review by saying that I never even intended to drive through this place, but seeing as one of my tires had a slow leak, I figured it was better to stop at an off-ramp small town than to continue onwards and risk a flat in the middle of nowhere.
The name is a bit provocative - Double D's Cake & Goodies - but I've seen worse, and far be it for me to judge a restaurant by the sign above the door. Clean, great curb appeal, and while I didn't see a single car parked out front, the neon pink sign out front read 'Open', so hey - what better way to kill an hour or two while my tire got replaced across the street at the garage?
Boy, was I surprised when this sleepy little village of 400 people held a place like this! Beautiful exterior - The red brick coupled with the treated mahogany trim on the windows and door? Perfection! I might've thought it was a private residence given the heavy wood door and the beautiful, elaborate golden handle and knocker, though. The vintage look was completely preserved!
Dark windows, though, I'd hoped to get a glimpse of the delectable treats this place had to offer before I wandered in, my mouth already watering by the time I stepped foot in the door.
Imagine my surprise when I smelled not baking, but perfume! Delicious, notes of flowers and sugar and some kinda sweetness that definitely had me thinking about dessert. The dining room seemed small - only a couple of tables available with beautiful white lacy tablecloths, and a set of couches arranged for conversation - great date spot!. I think the place is deceptively large - I saw a door at the back of the room with a sign that said "Guests! Please wait to be Escorted" in fancy lettering, so I have to assume that there's more to see. Maybe next trip!
Two young ladies - and you'll excuse an uncouth gentleman for saying so - quite possibly the most beautiful servers I've ever seen in my life sat at a luxurious-looking bar (kind of weird in a dessert shop) at the back of the room, but I was greeted quite promptly by a young lady with long black hair and ruby red lips who introduced herself as Bonnie. I think she might've been new, because when I asked for a table for one, she looked a little confused, but that was fine. The other one - Shelley, I think her name was - tall blonde wearing a white cocktail dress - helped her out. It seemed to keep with the dark, wine-red walls and faux-candle lights on the walls. Very atmospheric. Very posh. Love the theming - I felt like a gangster straight out of one of those mob flicks from the 80s and 90s!
Well, after Bonnie figured out what to do with me (and sat me right down at the table nearest to the big window - really cool how I could see outside - these two-way glass things sure are neat), I asked for a menu as well as a black coffee with three sugars.
This was the biggest hitch of the afternoon, which seemed weird to me. I know the morning rush probably isn't much in a place like this, but I imagine this place has got to pay rent, right? Bonnie looked at me like I'd grown a second nose, and then excused herself to go talk to Shelley at the bar.
I think they looked my way a few times, and I did my best not to listen in. I heard them talking about my order and something about a cop car, so I was hoping there wasn't a problem. There were some tunes playing on a record player in the corner, so I focused on that instead, enjoying the way that sitting by the window in the sun wasn't too bad with the tint on the window. Nice not to squint.
Poor Bonnie, I hope I didn't throw you for a loop! Tell your boss that I think you'll be a swell server one day, just keep at it. She wound up going to the back and Shelley came to the table, and boy did we have a nice conversation. Told her all about my car being in the shop, and a bit about where I was headed - job interview in the capital. Great hostess, that's for sure. Maybe the owner? Sure seemed that way.
Anyway, I asked her about the coffee, as well as what kind of cakes they had today. Only one kind, she said, but it comes in a couple flavours, so better I should pick between dark chocolate and raspberry or vanilla with extra vanilla.
How could I pick? I asked Shelley for her favourite, and let her know I'd probably be hanging around for an hour or so, so maybe I'd wind up trying both. She said that was just fine, then headed into the back.
Well, I probably should have asked for a newspaper to keep me busy, because that was the longest wait for a piece of cake and a coffee that I've ever had to deal with! I'm a nice guy, and I know that country towns operate on country time, but I was hungry!
I won't have it said that I'm not a patient and attentive man, though, and even if the wait - almost 30 minutes! - was long, I even changed the record over when it reached the end and just had myself a good time solo. Sometimes a guy with a lot on his mind needs to just take a few minutes in a nice place to clear his head, and even if the service was slow, at least it was nicer than the front waiting room of that garage. Big, greasy guys with too much hair and not enough manners aren't the best company for me, that's for sure.
Well, just as I was about to get up and go knock at that back door, who appears but Bonnie, holding a mug of coffee and some sugar packets in one hand, and a plate with a big piece of chocolate cake covered in raspberries in the other.
I could have kissed her, I was so happy to see what was probably going to end up as my lunch. Asked about soup or sandwiches - none of that - something to consider, maybe? I can't be the only one who's stopped by looking for something hot to satisfy a hearty appetite, but she just shook her head and said sorry and to maybe come by after dark for something more interesting.
Unfortunately, I couldn't take her up on the offer. Even more unfortunately - the coffee was close to cold - has that pot been off the heat? Tastes like the kind of brew you get from a gas station when the guy's just left it for ten hours straight but you're too tired to care. The cake was pretty good, but someone should talk to the baker. A regular old piece of cake with raspberries dumped all over it like they forgot they should even be in there isn't exactly what I'd call a "goodie", but I was hungry enough I didn't care.
I ate and drank everything, and Bonnie had to go get Shelley to come back out to tell me how much I owed them for the meal. Sheesh. (Again, Bonnie, I know you did your best. Happens to all of us!) Prices couldn't be beat, I paid under ten bucks and was out the door again. Figured I would pass on that vanilla cake seeing as I wasn't sure I had another half hour to spend in there.
Worked out well enough for me, since my car was done early - ironic! - and I was back on the road before noon.
Can't say I'd rate this place's service very highly at all, even if the ladies were very nice. The food was pretty bad, but beggars can't be choosers, right?
Overall, I'd come back if I needed to, but as far as cake places go, this one was the pits, but I'm not convinced the food is why people come here.
2/5*
The name is a bit provocative - Double D's Cake & Goodies - but I've seen worse, and far be it for me to judge a restaurant by the sign above the door. Clean, great curb appeal, and while I didn't see a single car parked out front, the neon pink sign out front read 'Open', so hey - what better way to kill an hour or two while my tire got replaced across the street at the garage?
Boy, was I surprised when this sleepy little village of 400 people held a place like this! Beautiful exterior - The red brick coupled with the treated mahogany trim on the windows and door? Perfection! I might've thought it was a private residence given the heavy wood door and the beautiful, elaborate golden handle and knocker, though. The vintage look was completely preserved!
Dark windows, though, I'd hoped to get a glimpse of the delectable treats this place had to offer before I wandered in, my mouth already watering by the time I stepped foot in the door.
Imagine my surprise when I smelled not baking, but perfume! Delicious, notes of flowers and sugar and some kinda sweetness that definitely had me thinking about dessert. The dining room seemed small - only a couple of tables available with beautiful white lacy tablecloths, and a set of couches arranged for conversation - great date spot!. I think the place is deceptively large - I saw a door at the back of the room with a sign that said "Guests! Please wait to be Escorted" in fancy lettering, so I have to assume that there's more to see. Maybe next trip!
Two young ladies - and you'll excuse an uncouth gentleman for saying so - quite possibly the most beautiful servers I've ever seen in my life sat at a luxurious-looking bar (kind of weird in a dessert shop) at the back of the room, but I was greeted quite promptly by a young lady with long black hair and ruby red lips who introduced herself as Bonnie. I think she might've been new, because when I asked for a table for one, she looked a little confused, but that was fine. The other one - Shelley, I think her name was - tall blonde wearing a white cocktail dress - helped her out. It seemed to keep with the dark, wine-red walls and faux-candle lights on the walls. Very atmospheric. Very posh. Love the theming - I felt like a gangster straight out of one of those mob flicks from the 80s and 90s!
Well, after Bonnie figured out what to do with me (and sat me right down at the table nearest to the big window - really cool how I could see outside - these two-way glass things sure are neat), I asked for a menu as well as a black coffee with three sugars.
This was the biggest hitch of the afternoon, which seemed weird to me. I know the morning rush probably isn't much in a place like this, but I imagine this place has got to pay rent, right? Bonnie looked at me like I'd grown a second nose, and then excused herself to go talk to Shelley at the bar.
I think they looked my way a few times, and I did my best not to listen in. I heard them talking about my order and something about a cop car, so I was hoping there wasn't a problem. There were some tunes playing on a record player in the corner, so I focused on that instead, enjoying the way that sitting by the window in the sun wasn't too bad with the tint on the window. Nice not to squint.
Poor Bonnie, I hope I didn't throw you for a loop! Tell your boss that I think you'll be a swell server one day, just keep at it. She wound up going to the back and Shelley came to the table, and boy did we have a nice conversation. Told her all about my car being in the shop, and a bit about where I was headed - job interview in the capital. Great hostess, that's for sure. Maybe the owner? Sure seemed that way.
Anyway, I asked her about the coffee, as well as what kind of cakes they had today. Only one kind, she said, but it comes in a couple flavours, so better I should pick between dark chocolate and raspberry or vanilla with extra vanilla.
How could I pick? I asked Shelley for her favourite, and let her know I'd probably be hanging around for an hour or so, so maybe I'd wind up trying both. She said that was just fine, then headed into the back.
Well, I probably should have asked for a newspaper to keep me busy, because that was the longest wait for a piece of cake and a coffee that I've ever had to deal with! I'm a nice guy, and I know that country towns operate on country time, but I was hungry!
I won't have it said that I'm not a patient and attentive man, though, and even if the wait - almost 30 minutes! - was long, I even changed the record over when it reached the end and just had myself a good time solo. Sometimes a guy with a lot on his mind needs to just take a few minutes in a nice place to clear his head, and even if the service was slow, at least it was nicer than the front waiting room of that garage. Big, greasy guys with too much hair and not enough manners aren't the best company for me, that's for sure.
Well, just as I was about to get up and go knock at that back door, who appears but Bonnie, holding a mug of coffee and some sugar packets in one hand, and a plate with a big piece of chocolate cake covered in raspberries in the other.
I could have kissed her, I was so happy to see what was probably going to end up as my lunch. Asked about soup or sandwiches - none of that - something to consider, maybe? I can't be the only one who's stopped by looking for something hot to satisfy a hearty appetite, but she just shook her head and said sorry and to maybe come by after dark for something more interesting.
Unfortunately, I couldn't take her up on the offer. Even more unfortunately - the coffee was close to cold - has that pot been off the heat? Tastes like the kind of brew you get from a gas station when the guy's just left it for ten hours straight but you're too tired to care. The cake was pretty good, but someone should talk to the baker. A regular old piece of cake with raspberries dumped all over it like they forgot they should even be in there isn't exactly what I'd call a "goodie", but I was hungry enough I didn't care.
I ate and drank everything, and Bonnie had to go get Shelley to come back out to tell me how much I owed them for the meal. Sheesh. (Again, Bonnie, I know you did your best. Happens to all of us!) Prices couldn't be beat, I paid under ten bucks and was out the door again. Figured I would pass on that vanilla cake seeing as I wasn't sure I had another half hour to spend in there.
Worked out well enough for me, since my car was done early - ironic! - and I was back on the road before noon.
Can't say I'd rate this place's service very highly at all, even if the ladies were very nice. The food was pretty bad, but beggars can't be choosers, right?
Overall, I'd come back if I needed to, but as far as cake places go, this one was the pits, but I'm not convinced the food is why people come here.
2/5*