I'm concerned that the novelty of a cupcake in a coffee shop has gotten my fellow Seattleites all goofy in the head. Yes, cupcakes are fun. Yes, cupcakes are tasty. But building an entire enterprise around selling $1.75 cupcakes cannot be sustained. On two occassions I have had unsatisfactory coffee experiences -- one at the Magnolia location (my coffee has kind of old and kind of cold) and one at the new Ballard location (even though i was clearly staying put for a while, i was served a very substandard $2.00 cappucino in a paper cup -- when there were plenty of clean ceramic cups available -- since it was late and dude didn't want to clean a dirty saucer). Yeah, the cupcakes are kind of cutesy and taste ok - but if you are craving a delightful baked dessert treat, there are numerous other local options: Essential Baking, which is open until 10, has unbelieveable selection of pastries, cookies, treats, and baked goods -- and they all rock. Dahlia Lounge will serve you a heaping slice of their signature coconut cream pie until 11. (Yes, it's more than a cupcake - but it is a graduate school dessert compared to Veritas' middle-school cupcakes). Top Pot Donuts classic chocolate glazed cake donut costs 30% less than a Veritas cupcake at $1.19 per, and you get a far superior cakey sugar treat.
I know some of the ladies out there won't agree with me here.... go ahead, try out the place if you want. It's big and cavernous and all they sell is expensive tiny cakes and non-impressive slightly expensive coffee drinks. It's a cute idea - but on execution they are bested by numerous established players in the coffee-and-dessert/bakery/Zoka category all over town. I suspect that like the baby blue Tiffany's box, Veritas will continue selling many to-go orders of cupcakes in their hot pink cardboard boxes due to the sudden "cachet" that such a purchase has gained here in town. But much like Tiffany's, you're paying more for what's in the box just for the brand name. Don't get my wrong - I love locally owned businesses that are doing well. I just think they can do better.
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