Hoffman's Fine Cakes and Pastries

Pros: Excellent Carrot Cake, Chocolate Wedges, and Good Coffee.Cons: Croissants are average, and I've never seen an almond croissant... more

I've always had great customer service from them so I don't understand the negative reviews here. The cakes we ordered were always great and an order of magnitude better than grocery bakeries. more

I lived in Kirkland for years and enjoyed the great treats from Hoffman's especially Cinnamon Crisps. Having moved away from the area to Florida a couple of weeks ago I missed the Cinnamon Crisps. I gave them a call to see if I could order some and have them shipped. The person who answered the phone was thrilled and said absolutely!! Three days later on a blustery day in Florida I received a beautiful box with Cinnamon Crisps. THEY WERE AWESOME AND SO IS HOFFMAN""S. Thanks for sending a bit of Kirkland to Florida!!!! Pros: Best Cinnamon Crisps in Seattle and sent to Florida more

We ordered a birthday cake for our 32nd birthday party for our son. Our son who is a miracle to be here, after suffering sudden death. He is only one in 1.3 million to make it alive.So when his birthday comes along, it is important to us that he is still here; we celebrate! However, upon cutting the cake, it was extremely ""soaked"" I MEAN WET, SO WET THAT IT COULD NOT BE EATEN. i CALLED AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND WAS FLIPPANTLY TOLD, ""Gosh, I just can't imagine that, oops."" Then I was told I would get a refund but was mailed a gift certificate. I did not want another product there. His birthday was ruined. They did not care. It was much, much better there over the past 20 years and now, it has seemed to go downhill. I have cancer and this may well be my last birthday with my son so they just don't understand nor care how important these holidays are to people. They need their PASSION BACK. THEY NEED TO CARE AGAIN. I don't like to be told ""oops, sorry"" in a flippant attitude and then be told I'd be getting my money back and then NOT get it back. That hurts. I hope they sit down and re-vamp their passion and remember the little things in life that count so much; the customer. Pros: WORST BIRTHDAY CAKE & OFFER TO FIX? Cons: Drawbacks:Not reaching enough people more

I agree with the negative press about how horrible the service is at Hoffman's these days. While the pastries are still one of the best around the Northwest, I've recently observed rude and unpleasant service from behind the counters. The last time I was there (Dec), I left with a bad taste in my mouth (so to speak). I inquired about one of the pastries and pronounced a word incorrectly, and though I realized my mistake and corrected myself, the person behind the counter looked at me with the ugliest look one can imagine, corrected me, and may as well have laughed to my face! It was an air of arrogance I've not seen in other venues. Yes, it was that bad and that embarassing! In fact, I was with an out-of-town guest, which made it all the more disappointing. It's definitely gone downhill from years prior and I think it's a shame that a place that can look so classy from the outside can be so unsophisticated on the inside! Pros: Delicious pastries Cons: very poor customer service; rudeness; small space more

What a wonder experience! Angie at Hoffman's helped me order my wedding cake from Texas via, e-mails and phone conversations. We live in Texas but our family lives in Seattle. Our Wedding was in Bellevue the day after Christmas. Angie took tons of time with me, We worked together until we came up with exactly what I wanted. \r \r The cake was ready as promised and was absolutely stunning! Just as I hoped it would be. We could not believe how delicious it was. I have never tasted a cake that good. The guests were raving about the cake and returned for seconds. I can not tell you how pleased I was with the entire process. I only wished they were in Houston, TX, my home town. My next family visit to Seattle will include a stop at Hoffman's for some more mouth watering cake.\r \r Pros: Great customer service, Beautiful and Scrumptious more

I ordered a Yule log for my holiday gathering. When I got to the bakery to pick up my order the line was long and the store was full of people. \r Although the store was full with customers picking up their holiday purchases, the staff was like a well-oiled machine, prompt, and very helpful. There was even a gal dressed like Santa's elf (pretty cute) As I waited my turn, the store girls brought out little chocolate chip cookies for everyone to sample. When it was my turn, I picked up my Yule log and a coffee and I was off to my next stop. The Yule log was a big hit with my family. Thanks Hoffman’s for a job well done. I will be back next year for my Yule log and families birthday cakes.\r Pros: Great service under the holiday rush Cons: The store area is too small. more

This bakery has some of the same staff that worked with Ed Hoffman and to this day instill the same great work ethic that they were taught. \r I enjoy the one on one consultations I used to have with the chefs themselves. I needed a specialty cake for a great customers 50th Birthday and they guided me to the most wonderful cake I couldn't have created myself. Using creativity, innovativeness and skill they truly constructed a work of art. \r The high standards of the bakery keep it what it is, an awesome place for a decorative cookie, cake, cup of soup or sandwich. Pros: Everything homemade, nothing bought in! Cons: Wish I lived closer to enjoy more often. more

I love Hoffman's cakes, but i have to say that i think their greatest accomplishments are their pastries. It's hard to find a bakery that makes all their own doughs, but Hoffman's does. Danish dough, croissant do, puff pastry, pie dough, you name it, they make it! And it's all made with the good stuff-lots of real butter, fresh eggs, fresh cream. My favorite breakfast item is the strudel-more specifically, the apricot cream cheese strudel. Talk about amazing puff pastry! Flaky, buttery, and balanced perfectly with the creamy cheese and tart, but sweet apricots. I have served it for dessert as well as breakfast, and I always get rave reviews. Another of my favorite pastries are their ham and cheese croissants-if my waistline could afford it, I'd have one everyday! Pros: everything more

Whenever I have an occasion is that calls for cake I never concider going anywhere but Hoffman's, even though other bakeries are closer to my home.\r They have made truely creative cakes for me that featured among other things a compost pile for a gardener. A baby chick hatching from its eggshell for my friend who raises chickens. a ""45 RPM"" record for my brother's 45th birthday. When I needed treats to serve to my bird watching friends, I called Hoffman's and they iced sugar cookies to look like sparrows, tanagers and finches. They were awsome.\r Pros: beautiful cakes Cons: none I can see more

I love Hoffmans, I work as a server at EnJoy Catering. Frequently, I am asked to pick up clients orders at Hoffmans, this is because ""Everyone LOVES Hoffmans""\r \r The custom cakes, cookies, and pastries are always fresh and beautifully decorated. \r \r When I go in to pick up an order, it is like they know me personally. \r And in the summer, their raspberry tarts are sooo good. \r I encourage anyone who is shopping at Kirklands Park Place center to stop in for coffee and a fresh scone; my personal favorite is the date nut. \r Jean Pros: Friendly helpful staff, easy to work with more

What everyone says about them in the terrible reviews are true. My extended family and I have been a patron of this place for over 20 years, practically since they opened...but just for drop-in coffees and pastries and occassional cakes for parties. I always knew I wanted my wedding cake from them because it tastes so good. They screwed up the decorations (even with a picture) and they screwed up COLOR big time. They showed me this lovely soft mint color on the cover of Metropolitan Bride and Groom Magazine and they delivered a hideous bright kelly green. \r \r Even the decorative rim was done like I would do it at home. It's true - like the other reviewers said, the wedding cake looked like it was a kids birthday cake made by a house mom not a professional decorator. And on the day of delivery, some person walks in to the venue to deliver the cake, and as if there is NO ONE else to talk to (200 guests and dozens of hotel attendants), she walks up to me (the bride) in the middle of the reception and says do you know where I am supposed to take the cake?? Unreal. \r \r They not only accept responsibiloity for any of this, they claim I was told about it before (?), they were rude and unprofessional and had me wait an hour to order the $1000 cake, while they waited on customers in the coffee shop!!! They are frequently short staffed and short tempered because of it. \r \r Again, as another reviewer said, not even a cup of coffee is being offered or a MERE APOLOGY! If you go there, just order a cup of coffee and a pastry. Even then, you will just get ok service. \r \r It truly is a wonder how this place has survived...I own a business and bend over backwards to make unhappy customers happy - even if it means losing money out of my own pocket. My reputation is much more important to me. The ownership of this place has a lot to change. Pros: Great tasting cakes and pastries Cons: Everything else!!! more

I have to say that I agree with many of the reviews that the service of years past at Hoffman's has changed. While I have ordered 4 cakes from them this year, all have been on time when I went to pick them up so I can't agree with some of the other reviews. What I do agree with unfortunately is the fact that the service at the bakery is nothing to write home about. Even 2 years ago it was so much better and I am not sure what has changed. Be prepared to not get a lot of feedback from the help on recommendations and know what you want when you go in. This is not a problem for me after so many years of going there but I can see how someone experiencing Hoffman's for the first time could find it unhelpful or rude. The staff is very busy and morale does not seem great. The shop could use an update but what comes out of the kitchen is still to me the best in town! Pros: Excellent Carrot and German Chocolate Cakes Cons: Prices high, muffins dry, and service can be lacking more

I tasted Hoffman's bakery's cake forst on a wedding and I just loved it and it was husband's birthday last week so I asked my friend (on whose wedding I had the cake) from where she had got the cake from and I ordered the same cake but a smaller size offcourse and it was the same delicious cake which is what they call the fruit torte and they use fresh fruits for that. My husband got a pleasant surprise with that cos he also loved the cake. So I would highly recommend the bakery. They are really good and the lady who owns it is also extremely nice. more

Sadly, after ordering from Hoffmans for years (since it's been there), I too noticed a downhill in prices going high, and customer service. A cake I ordered wasn't on time and they had to rush to get it ready. The princess torte is still incredibly delicious. I think the place could use some smiles and some positive outlook. Seems like the employee turnover rate is high there. Pros: Delicious Princess torte Cons: High priced, low availability and poor service more

What an overrated place. I am not sure why people give it 5 stars when there are plenty of good cake places out there that have much better customer service. The people of Hoffman's are really terrible when it comes to customer service. Perhaps it's arrogance because there are lots of people out there who know very little about bakeries that seem to think they are unique. Simply Desserts has superior cakes with none of the arrogance, though they are so busy that you do have to order in advance and don't expect the cake to be ready ahead of time (but for me they have always been on time). more

Ordered an expensive full sheet cake with strawberry/whipped cream filling for my son's graduation party. The cake was not ready when it was supposed to be so had to wait an hour while I should have been home preparing for my 50+ guests. When I got the cake, it was not decorated as it was supposed to be, but after waiting so long for the cake, I took it anyway because I had a million preparations still to make. When we cut the cake, they had forgotten to put the strawberries in the filling. When I called to complain, they said that I would have to return the cake to get any kind of compensation....well....I had to serve the cake because we had a house full of guests. I would have thought that they would have done something to compensate for their error...but was not even offered so much as a discounted cup of coffee...very dissappointing. more

I'm sorry for all of the people who had bad ""wedding cake experiences"", but this is a great place to go for breakfast. It is cozy and warm and the food and hot drinks (specifically the coffee and apple cider!) are wonderful! My fiancee and I loved it and will definitely go back again and again...and again. Pros: Plenty of parking, warm, cozy ambience Cons: Service could be a bit friendlier/knowledgeable. more

Over the years I've seen the customer service suffer, the prices soar and hardly any pasties to sell. Today was a confirmation. The product looked good although not much for @ 10am, but the shop looked horrible. The interior looked old and in no way ""European"", customer service was terrible, the employees looked SO unhappy and prices were outrageous. It screamed ""We're unprofessional!"" I am very disappointed in Hoffman's. I begged my daughter to buy her wedding cake here and the decoration was right, but the cake itself looked like it had been made from a housewife not a professional, the order taker barely knew what she was doing and the delivery woman looked like she had walked off the street. It breaks my old heart to say that I will never go back and now I owe my daughter a thousand apologies. All I can say is please reconsider... Pros: location Cons: customer service, prices, atmosphere more

I have had the great joy of delighting my palate with some of the best pastries I have had out of Europe. The quality and presentation of the Cakes and Desserts was simply awesome. I enjoyed the quiet ambiance and the entrance reminded me of a nice Cafe in Paris. The staff was attentive and I understand a new management that has increased its level of customer service and quality in products. All I can say is that you should come and try the assortment of Palate Sweetening foods at Hoffmans! Pros: Delightful, Fun, Clean more