I had a good experience here and would recommend it for others. I’m a big fan of a well-done pastry - which it’s hard to find a flaky, light, flavorful pastry done right. I had a Napoleon from here and it was very good. The glaze on top was not overpowering, and the pastry itself was flaky and delicious. It was difficult to put your fork through it, but the cream filling was done just right, and very generously. I also got their chocolate croissant which I recommend as well - it was one of the best ones I’ve had in a while ($4.99) (ask for it warmed!)I also got a latte, which could have been improved by getting more of the coffee/espresso flavor in there. It was overpowered by the milk, which is a pet peeve of mine. But they do have unique flavors like amaretto, Irish cream, and classic flavors like caramel and iced coffee. They also have (deliciously creamy) oat milk as a non-dairy option as well.

Our office ordered several sandwiches and salad for a co-workers baby sprinkle luncheon. Delivery was on time. We ordered a selection of Chicken Salad, Turkey-Bacon-Avocado, Caprese, Roast Beef and Ham & Swiss sandwiches and each one was delightful. Everyone loved them. Highly recommended!

Love the cupcakes (chocolate with vanilla) and the coffee. I also enjoy the artworks that they displayed in the store.

I’ve been meaning to try HotCakes for a while and finally made it a priority in my search for the best matcha latte in Charlottesville. Now I’m kicking myself for taking so long to get there. Is this what you’d call a hidden gem or do the locals already know what’s up?! I feel like someone has been keeping this place a secret from me and now I’ll have to make up for all the time I’ve missed going here.It was about 30 minutes before closing when I went in, so I really only planned to get a drink and maybe one sweet treat. I hate making employees prepare food when they’re in the mode to start breaking stuff down and cleaning up. I immediately noticed how clean the space was as soon as I walked through the front door. There were a few people dining in and they were all spaced pretty far apart. They definitely have their Covid practices locked down! I was greeted by both employees right away and even though they were properly masked up, I could feel their smiles behind the masks. Winning, so far.I read online that they offer organic matcha, but I didn’t see it on the menu board. I was ready with a backup plan if they didn’t have it, but luck was on my side and I ordered a large matcha latte with oat milk. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to order a few prepared items from the display case as well; everything looked so daggone good.Here’s what I left with: hot matcha latte with oat milk, marinated fresh mozzarella (single portion), Eloise cupcake, tiramisu and holiday tetrazzini. I highly recommend every single thing I ordered.The matcha is QUALITY. It’s slightly sweetened with vanilla, but not overly so. I might try it unsweetened next time. I’ll definitely be trying it iced as well.I haven’t stopped craving that mozzarella since the minute I took the last bite. I could eat that as a side dish or app every day. It wasn’t overly oily like some marinated mozz can be. The flavor was herbaceous, but light enough to not be overwhelming and the tomatoes were A++!The holiday tetrazzini, chosen by my other half and mostly consumed by him, was pure comfort! They offered to heat it up for us, but we had some errands to run and waited until we got back. I’m sure you could put it in the oven or in a saucepan, but we zapped it in the microwave since we were staying in a hotel room and it was DELICIOUS! Super creamy, cheesy and the meat was very tender and flavorful. He’s been talking about it nonstop since he had it.The Eloise cupcake is so elegant. It was almost too pretty to eat. ALMOST. Gah! It tastes just as amazing as it appears. The cupcake is moist and has a creamy center and the icing is so light. It’s not sickly sweet, which means I ate it ALL. Sometimes there’s a pile of icing leftover when I’m done with a cupcake. Not this time. These would make a lovely gift for someone or great for a party when Covid is over. They’re beautiful and oh-so-tasty!Last, but definitely not least is that tiramisu. If this is one of your favorite desserts like it is mine, run to Hot Cakes Gourmet and get a slice!! OMG. It is everything I want in tiramisu. You can tell the espresso they use for the ladyfingers is quality. That flavor was spot on. The layers should’ve been a hint to me that it’s much bigger than it appears when you start eating it. Two of us shared a piece and there was a tiny smidge leftover for breakfast the next morning. If I hadn’t gobbled up that cupcake first, the tiramisu definitely would’ve been demolished.If you’re like me and you’ve passed by HotCakes, but you haven’t stopped in yet – it’s time to give ‘em a try! You can even order ahead for pickup or delivery through their website.I’ll be going back very soon to try some of those yummy looking sandwiches, salads, and of course more sweet treats.

The fig, apple and brie sandwich was nothing to speak of. The bread was very dry and thick. I did not enjoy it. The service was also not good. There were several people working but no one seemed in a rush. I waited too long for a simple sandwich that didnt even need to be heated.

We ordered our wedding cake from HotCakes for our microwedding this October. I was a little worried about ordering it, since we werent able to taste beforehand and correspond via email only. But I had absolutely nothing to worry about! Lisa works magic, paid close attention to detail, and not only was it beautifully decorated, it tasted AMAZING! We ordered a two chocolate-raspberry and everyone was praising how great it was. You could taste the real raspberries in the filling, and the cake itself was light and decadent. I was thoroughly impressed with how delicious and how beautiful it turned out - better than I had even imagined! Huge thank you to Lisa and her team. 5/5, easy!

Unbelievably great food!!! The people are as sweet as can be! Thank you Lisa and Frankie for making our visit so memorable.

Hot Cakes was able to accomplish the exact cake theme I wanted and it was absooutely delicious to boot! Did I mention that I contracted less than 2 weeks from my wedding? Extremely responsive. Couldnt have asked for a better wedding cake!

Quite disappointed. Arrived at 4:15p. Upon arrival chairs to the left of the counter were flipped. I asked if they were closing and they said they closed at 6pm. I ordered a cold brew, yummy, and a Mexican Chocolate Cupcake, dry and not very amazing and lack of the chipotle spice. I sat down and waited for my order. I received a cupcake in a inverted plastic cup and my cold brew. I guess I was suppose to leave? I sat down in the area not closed down. At 4:30p, the wait staff started to wrap food up in cooler. Several other patrons walk in after me and ordered more than just a treat and a drink. At 4:45p employees started to bring in the outside chairs VERY LOUDLY and sweeping the floors. I have huge distaste for any business stating they are open until 6pm and they start cleaning prior to the closing time stated. It feels rude and rushed. Employees were not overly pleasant. I get it, post COVID, finding employees is hard. But maybe you teach them to wait until customers have completed their items or inform your patrons that you are closing and will be starting clean up. I felt when I entered at 4:15pm, a good hour and fourth five minutes prior to closing I would be able to sit and enjoy my treat. Silly me.

Sloan cheesecake is so light and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Love it!

Expensive but worth it! Clean. Staff very accomodating but a little more to learn. Relaxing. Good variety.

A good, quick stop for lunch on our trips up and down Rt 29. Much better than fast food and nearly as fast.

Awesome service and selection

Today was very hard day for my wife and she wanted to eat chocolate cake. So, I went to Hot Cake hoping that they would not close before my arrival but forgot my wallet. The young women who got my order today (Dec 10 2020 at 5:40 pm) was lovely. Thank you for your kindness. My wife will enjoy this Tiramisu.

Always delicious food. Good service and prices.

I ordered a delightful drink while waiting for a business meeting. The picture is of their drink, the Nutella, a latte with hazelnut and home made chocolate.Oh, and my wife and I got our customized wedding cake here, too. 7/5 Stars

Yummy yummy in my tummy! Everything there is delicious. IBut expensive. But worth it

We love the monthly special cakes! The icing is totally different than other bakery, its not too sweet and has very smooth taste. Highly recommend~

Food and service was amazing

Ordered roasted red pepper soup and turkey, avocado sandwich. Yummy

Great quality. Almost gourmet.

Cupcakes thrown into a box. Would you give these to another person as a present?(Not able to upload my photo but cupcake icing all over the box and not presentable!)

A friend of ours placed an order for cupcakes to be delivered to our home as a surprise. The man who delivered the cupcakes arrived while we were out in the neighborhood walking the dog. I left the front door unlocked as we were just circling the neighborhood. When we arrived back, we found the man walking out of our front door. He walked INTO OUR HOME while no one was there, walked INTO our office and set the cupcakes on top of a laptop computer. When he saw us walk up, he did not explain what he was doing there or what he had done. We had to check the entire floor to make sure nothing was missing or out of place. We are furious to say the least. Not to mention a stranger entered our home without our permission DURING A PANDEMIC.

Stellar experience, as always. Lovely baked goods.

Love the delicious lunches and desserts! We had quiche and Turkey, brie and fig jam sandwiches! Eat in, take out, and catering. They have a few outside tables under shade too.

I used Hot Cakes for catering our company holiday party. They were professional and so easy to work with! I received so many compliments on the food. Really though, the best thing about working with Hot Cakes is that I actually got to enjoy the party knowing that they would take care of all the details. A+, would use again!

The lemon square was very good, Ive had better. The parrot cupcake was phenomenal, the frosting was delicious. The Hyde Park chocolate cake was not very good for a bakery, the cake was not super moist, and the frosting wasnt anything special, it tasted like Entenmanns with canned frosting.

This place is hit or miss. Sometimes the food is delicious and sometimes its like poorly microwaved and dry. The egg, pesto, mozzarella breakfast burrito I just had tasted like rubber. Some of the staff is a little surly but the gentleman who walks around checking to see if anyone needs anything is very pleasant.

Decent sandwiches. I dont like it but my gf does

Great desserts and tasty meals. Good for stop in or dine in or out. Give it a try and then plan your next visit.

It was good but for a bakery... there’s not much in there. Also pricey.

I ordered online for delivery and part of my order was missing. When I called Hot Cakes, I was put on hold for several minutes, then told that everything was in the bag when it left the restaurant, and perhaps the delivery driver had taken it. (Since the food goes out in an open bag, it might well have fallen out somewhere between the restaurant and my house, but I was surprised that they would accuse the driver of stealing it.) I was put on hold again for several minutes longer, supposedly so they could check and see if someone could deliver my missing food. Finally, I was told that Grubhub would call me. I realize that in any business mistakes happen, but I feel that this was handled very unprofessionally. At this point, I am supposed to be getting a refund for the missing food, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Customer for 27 years. Loved so much worked there as well. Continue to support as long as Lisa is the owner. The food is real and the desserts are unsurpassed.

It was a really great first time being here. The staff was really patient with my questions and order. Such a great place! They also have food besides desserts and pastries! Great selection, great prices.

Got my beautiful wedding cake for a fair price. Decorated with mountains and trees! Prompt communication, nice people, accommodated changes to the kitchen cutting cake.

Really, really, nice staff and quite tasty sandwiches (all Ive had). Prices are exactly what you should expect in Barracks Road, but the quality of product is better than most other options around. Unfortunately they seem to run out of baguettes before 5pm quite frequently, so a dinner sandwich is hit or miss.

Dynamic!

For $10 I had a lamb slider with 2 vegetable sides. All good was fresh, high quality and full of flavor.I see posts saying its pricey but I dont agree. I spend more at Panera for chain food and the quality does not compare, let alone the diversity of menu options.Did not try dessert menu but the baked goods have high visual appeal. Lots of care in creating them.

BEWARE: FOOD POISONING!!! Yesterday, I took my mother to HotCakes for her birthday lunch, and innocently ordered their sesame noodles. Within 4 hours, I was vomiting and having diarrhea. I even passed out and hit my head and back, which have left lots of bruises. I called HotCakes this morning, as I started to recover, sure that I had food poisoning and that it would be courteous to let them know so that they could throw out the old batch and start a new one. First, the woman told me it COULD NOT be food poisoning and then got me off the phone abruptly. No apology, and she even said that they are still serving those noodles today!!! The only thing I ate that day after breakfast were the noodles. First, it was definitely the noodles that caused it, and second, Ive had food poisoning before and know what it is. Its unfortunate that HotCakes staff were dismissive, because I called politely starting with Im sorry to bother you, but... and was really just trying to be helpful. I was very offended that they argued with me. Furthermore, as sick as I was, her assertion that not only were the noodles were not infected but that they were serving them still today made it certain that I will never risk going back again. Watch out! There will be no sympathy if they put you in the hospital. Im hoping my face doesnt bruise, but if I have to carry and explain a shiner for the next week, at least it will give me the opportunity to warn others about what happened.

Its awesome. Everything they do is gold!

This place is a wonderful spot to get something delicious to eat, I love being able to do tapas-style multiple dishes at a great price. Also they serve dessert and coffee drinks, so it’s a crowd-pleasing spot. One time my little girl dropped her bowl of food and the staff replaced it free of charge. Customer service like that is simply the best, thank you!!

Excellent food far above any chain. Lots of choices Awesome desserts. Friendly staff. Good service. Nothing like it anywhere in the state of Virginia.

Desserts are wonderful, a bit pricy perhaps. Ive only had the food once and it was alright, but really this is a go-to place for desserts as long as you dont mind paying a bit extra!

Lisa made our wedding cake, and it was the hit of the reception! Simply beautiful, and oh so delicious!

I have enjoyed HotCakes food and coffee for years. This is my favorite little bakery/breakfast/lunch/coffee spot in Cville. Lisa catered my wedding in June and was incredibly professional. Her staff was amazing. She made my wedding look magazine quality with great food and service at an affordable price (for Charlottesville which is very expensive generally for weddings). Seriously great choice for wedding caterer. Everyone loved the drinks, the desserts, and the little attention to details.

One of the best experiences we have ever had! Not only is the food magical, but the owner is a fantastic person. We would recommend this place to absolutely everyone...or keep it our little secret.

No vegan options for baked items

The employees here are very friendly, the service is fast, the prices are reasonable, and the food is great! I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good bakery in Charlottesville.

Enjoyed the dark roast coffee. The environment is really welcoming.

The kindest owners. Lovely staff, perfect food and calm atmosphere. Personally love the salmon sliders and desserts but suggest trying everything. Hot Cakes will continue to have our support for years to come!

I witnessed a staff member attack a woman with a service dog asking if it was a service dog or a “therapy” dog using air quotes with her hands. She went back and forth with the customer loud enough for everyone to hear then went to two individuals sitting alone and very rudely said they needed to move and sit together so that others could have a table. there was no please- only aggression. No hospitality. Terrible environment and an awful image for a coffee shop that seems to be trying to promote its acceptance of university students and employees by offering free coffee for 2 weeks. I’ve never witnessed a more nasty encounter in public. Shocked and horrified.

The staff is friendly and the food is fresh. It can be a bit pricey, but its quaintness makes up for it. Display cases boldly show restuarantgoers the delicious variety of their goods

Best place to grab a meal in town, hands down. Great staff and managers that walk around to keep everything clean and tidy.

Amazing tiramisu.

Always on the mark. Great baked goods. Will satisfy any sweet tooth craving.Nice informal spot to grab a bite to eat.

Their pumpkin muffies are the best! Good food, good atmosphere and I love their new outdoor covered patio.

I enjoy their food most of the time. However one day I came in to make a purchase and one of the boys working their was quite rude. I quietly stood there waiting in line while he and two other young ladies were waiting on people. The young lady asked one of them to help me(neither of them seemed to want to help me either),and he rudely said out loud Well shell just have to wait! I had said nothing the whole time. And because he chose to be so rude for nothing,I dont find the food as enjoyable anymore. If I had said something or been rude they would not have wanted to serve me,so why should I want to receive anything from people that have no respect for me. I will gladly take my money elsewhere and let my friends know as well. The kid with the moustache can be rude to someone else.

Good home cooked food and wonderful desserts. Cookies are buy one get one for the last hour they are open while supplies last. Great holiday take home food (Thanksgiving meals and the like for reasonable prices)

Lunch, coffee, and baked goods are all *chef kiss*

Wow, these are the snottiest bunch of people Ive ever met. They really feel they are better than you and are very lacking in respect. The prices are quite high and food isnt even that good!Ive been twice and had poor experiences both times. My friend asked for a double helping of fruit, which she paid a lot for. It was identical to my single helping. It is like pulling teeth to get them to refill the bottomless coffee. I specifically asked for orange juice from the cooler and they charged me for the $4.00 fresh squeezed stuff. No apologies or concern for the the customer at all.

Amazing people!! Lovely atmosphere and THE BEST desserts around!! A great spot.

The coffee is so good!!!!!!!This is my most favorite coffee in the whole world!!!You should definitely try this place out! You will be so happy that you found this place!!!

Extraordinarily tasty hot and cold meals plus a full service bakery. veggie friendly options.

A delightful lunch spot. Great food, great place.

Above and beyond expectations.So many good qualities about this store.Establishment: extremely clean upkept and a very nice atmosphere.Food: a unique blend between menu items and prepared foods. Everything is made fresh daily with a huge selection of extremely well made and flavorful food!A really cool aspect of their food is the pick and choose style, get 1/3 a pound of this, 2/3 (or any portion size) of this to create your preferred blend of great food.Service: incredible, all the staff was very personable and reached out to ensure you were well cared for. The owner went out and was handed us extra servings of something we were looking at but didnt end up choosing. A nice touch was how much the owner clearly cared about and was proud of the work and food.The food was all amazing and had great flavors! I will be coming back for sure.Bonus: if you are a UVA student ask about free latte (I dont know how long itll last)

Very clean, very delicious, very friendly. Great selection of gourmet foods for sweet and savory lovers fans.

Always fresh fabulous food beautifully presented...for twenty five years a happy patronr!!

Best place to eat, huge part of cville community for decades!

I reached out to Lisa with Hotcakes inquiring about catering for my May wedding which is planned to take place at my fiancés family farm. After a very curt initial communication, Lisa urged me to Please phone at your convenience and perhaps there will be time to talk. A little off putting but I still phoned and after several email exchanges and a lengthy phone conversation discussing wedding details, she promised me a proposal in two weeks or so after the busy season. I got an email today, probably a month or so after speaking with her. Here is an excerpt from her rather unprofessional response: After having completed much of the busy spring season, I’ve learned that I’ve been doing this work long enough that I no longer have the heart for ‘out in a field under a tent’ catering. While I appreciate her honesty and glad I dodged the bullet of working with someone so condescending and rude, I do feel like this information would have been better received a month or two ago in our initial communication. Oh well, so many great vendors out there serving couples planning their weddings - if you want someone polite, professional, and grateful to be of service to you, dont choose Hotcakes, especially if you plan on having a tent reception.

Always a treat - and the desserts are over the top! Free WIFI is the downside; the place has limited seating and there are folks that camp out for free WIFI. Its often hard to find a table. Its worth navigating Barracks Road. YUM

Terrible dry cupcakes with frosting that tastes like youre showing a stick of butter in your mouth. Dirty, loud, and terribly overpriced. Ive had food from the frozen section of the supermarket that tasted better.

Hotcakes is a gem, offers a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, many of which are vegetarian, and amazing desserts. Do not let the non-descript strip-mall location fool you, this cafe is worth your time.

A bit slow getting my order but the coffees strong & good.

If you get anything here, sandwiches are good, and desserts that dont perish easily are good. Staff is rude, and snooty, and theyre not nice at all!I bought a pumpkin cheesecake for my friend for a good luck on exams, and the next day she was throwing up for a whole day. Evidently it contained staph bacteria.I bought a panna cotta today, and the fruit had FUNGUS in it.The smoked salmon cake was disgusting. I dont understand why they have such a high prices but the quality is unbelievably low.

The bread selection is great. They also have a great selection of organic juices to choose from.

So I have been going here since I drove the CTS bus in 2006. So off and on for over 10 years, yes I am a townie but the food is good but if you arent a student then you clearly are NOT treated like a welcomed customer.

Wow! Great food and lots of choices

Terrific spot. Whenever Im in Charlottesville, I visit and am never disappointed.

Great place to eat, have coffee, delicious desserts. Very friendly environment.love it.

Wonderful cakes, all available by the slice. Good tea selection.

Good food.

Dry cakes ok icing tho

I ordered two cupcakes and they were both hard. I ended up throwing them away.

Great place for breakfast.

Delicious chocolate! Love it!

Excellent treats and drinks

There icing is too buttery

Great food!

Sorry, but no longer worth the cost

Simply the best in local Charlottesville, would recommend

Good coffee!

High hat cupcake is awesome!

Gave us moldy strawberries on Valentine’s Day.

Terrible customer service, walked in and they didnt even bother to ask if I needed something, their cakes and food are not even that great after all, I found a place with delicious cakes 🎂 and much better customer service.

Good

Excellent food, good coffee. Good attention, well located.