02/24/09

Overpriced sugar fix

by richardking87

The atmosphere and layout are most annoying Why is the tea on display where the dessert should be? Yea, yea so you can sniff the samples of tea they have out but isn't this place named Extraordinary Desserts? We should be able to see what the dessert selections are for that day while you are waiting in the single file, wannabee line, not tea I'm there for the dessert, show me the dessert. In order to see the dessert you have to leave your space in line and walk past the register and look at the display case. Then you have to try and remember what you want once you have squeezed yourself back in line. The problem is that everyone in line is doing this and it becomes very confusing who is in line and who isn?t or where they were in line. Okay desserts, bad set up. Yes they have some desserts before the register but not all of them. When you make it up to the register you are greeted with a blank stare and an ?I have better things to do? attitude. The problem is there is only one cash register. Does Starbucks have one register? Does Teavana have one register? Well if that's what you are trying to be, but with fancier desserts, than take some lessons in customer service from them. People don't want to pay $10.00 for a glorified Hostess Cupcake with a real flower on top and $4.00 for a double shot of espresso and feel like they are in a "soup kitchen" line. After experiencing what Extraordinary Desserts has to offer four different times in the past two years this is how I would set up someone?s expectations before I brought them here. ? Okay I know this place that has really big desserts, but the only thing though is they over charge and they treat you like crap.?Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Never again.

01/13/09

What a disaster

by Taurusnsd

I took some friends here for what I was hoping to be the end of a pleasant evening. I had been here several times so the line didnt bother me until I realized why there was one. The staff had absolutely no clue how to keep the clientele moving. We stood waiting while at least three tables remained dirty for over 20 minutes. The customers had long gone, yet no one was clearing tables. People finally started sitting down at dirty tables just to get out of the way. I did ask the guy at the cash register to find someone to clear the tables and once he returned to the present from wherever zombies go, he looked at me like I had called him a name. Finally someone did clear the tables and we sat down. Our warm and wilted desserts and lukewarm coffee arrived another 20 minutes later. It you're keeping tally, it was 40 minutes from ordering that some of our order arrived . From the attitude I got from the server (slamming the plates and cups down) I was apparently being punished. I asked to speak to a manager and was curtly told there was no manager on duty. I did email the owner to let her know how horribly we had been treated. She never responded, so one can only assume she only cares about the revenue, not customer service. Bottom line: expensive desserts and the absolute worst service in the history of bad. I'll certainly never go again and will actively warn anyone I know against going. There are many other places to go for great desserts these days, something that the owner may wish to take note of.

• Pros: Delicious desserts
• Cons: Difficult parking, Horrendous service

12/09/08

Awesome desserts

by Delmar19

Extraordinary Desserts is a great place to go on a date especially if you are looking to share something sweet, rich and tastey. I have never had a bad expereince here. Always walk out happy!!!

• Pros: delicious desserts with cool atmosphere
• Cons: none

12/06/08

Wrong birthday cake - Wrong type, and wrong name written on the top

by jparker32000

Unfortunately, Extraordinary Desserts cannot be counted on to prepare a custom cake. My husband and I decided to get to a very special cake for my birthday. He designed a very special cake for me. We arrived to pick up the cake. They had my name mispelled (three letter wrong) on the WRONG cake! They did not offer a refund, they offered to give us a different cake in the back that was still not the kind we ordered. They removed the decoration with my name on it.......they wiped off the wrong letters and attempted to cover it up with new icing.

There was no management available to assist us, only the servers. We were not reimbursed, they said that the new cake they had to give us instead was 2 inches larger and should make up for the wrong cake that they were givng us. It is inexcusable to charge that much for a cake and completely do it wrong. If you need a cake for a special occasion, do NOT count on this place to come through for you - I've had better accuracy at Vons.

11/25/08

Loves It!

by hiphophoney85

My girls and i had a little college reunion in San Diego and after a perfect dinner of sushi we decided to head over to Extraordinary Desserts. MMmmmmm it was a great experience all round! good people, sweet treats and a great atmosphere.

08/28/08

Yummy!

by sopho

This isn't your standard dessert menu or quality- it's top notch! The kind you read and see in gourmet and special events magazines. Highly recommended. Parking is a bit of a pain, but the desserts are well worth the trip and parking pain.

• Pros: Yummy dessert
• Cons: Parking and seating

08/22/08

Desserts (in our case) have been consistently extraordinary

by melovechocolate

I feel for the previous reviewers that had bad experiences, there are 2 locations, and the one on 5th avenue is indeed always packed. We hate to wait, so we know better than to go there on a friday or saturday night! That can make for a frustrating night, definitely! We go to the one on Union instead, and we haven't had any major problems. As my user ID suggests, I love chocolate and desserts!!! This place is THE place for a decadent chocolate fix. Karen Krasne (the chef) makes a chocolate shortbread cookie with chocolate bits that *literally* melts in your mouth (in my case, I melt too!!). The passion fruit torte is absolutely delicious, and the desserts (every time we've been there, which are countless times since she opened her first location) have been consistently good. Her bread puddings, her amazing cakes (we've provided birthday cakes for friends and family and have always had enthusiastic responses!), and home made ice creams really are extraordinary! I've never had a creme brulee with a soft/bad crust, but then again I haven't been to the tiny 5th avenue location on a busy night--I'm telling you, go to the one on Union Street! If you come to San Diego and love desserts, you should not pass this place up!!!!

• Pros: Desserts made at the premises, consistently very good
• Cons: 5th avenue location is always packed on weekends, not good for large groups

05/28/08

Terrible Service

by zumzumn

I understand that we went on a busy weekend, everyone was off, the following day, but I found out that I was overcharged on my credit card. I signed for an amount under $35, but on my bank statement, the restaurant charged me the entire bill, over $100. I had a party of 6, we were charged 18% gratuity, which we didn't mind so we could split the bill. The 2 other couples placed cash for their part of the bill and I was the one who placed the remaining amount on my card. I signed for only $30+ and 3 days later, they took out $100 plus!!! I explained that there was cash and a credit card and someone told us that they will look over the receipts, either way, this was a huge mistake, which I believe the waiter may have pocketed the cash. We will see if I get my money returned. This establishment has been a great disappointment with service.

• Pros: Afternoon service is more accomodating than evenings.
• Cons: Parking is difficult and when you find one, it's usually near a parking lot full of smelly transients.

11/19/07

Incredible creations- especially for those who would not normally eat cake

by ccstewart

The wide variety of offerings here is amazing. Each dessert is made with the finest ingredients available with a beautiful presentation. It has won my heart and stomach over as I usually wouldn't even consider eating any kind of cake. All the cakes are moist with the perfect blend of layers, to stimulate your palette. For the toughest critic, you can also try wonderfully creamy mousse, tiramisu, custards, and fresh fruit. It's pleasing on the eyes and on the tongue and well worth spending between $5 - 8 per slice.

• Pros: great for any occasion
• Cons: parking on the street can sometimes be a challenge

08/24/07

Extraordinary Rip-Off and Horrible Customer Service

by sandiegogirl25

I've been a customer at this establishment for years. Of course, we are used to standing in line and waiting for a seat, but we don't mind that. However, last week, I took 7 of my girlfriends, and it was a horrible experience. Besides the employees having bad attitudes, we seated ourseleves, organized a table on our own, and were forced to pay an extra 18% "gratuity" on top of the premiums we paid for the products. I don't think an extra 18% is warranted when we have no server take our order, bring our desserts, and take care of our needs. All they did was give us a bad attitude and bring our desserts after 30 minutes. I emailed the owner, but due to her non-responsiveness, it seems like she doesn't care. After this experience I went on the web, and it looks like a ton of people share the same complaint. In addition to the joke service and unjust gratuity we were forced to pay, the $10 creme brulee didn't even have a crunchy crust and tasted soggy and repulsive. Needless to say, I won't be returning to this establishment. Neither will any of my family or friends. Pathetic.

• Pros: Stylish cute place
• Cons: Pathetic service, overpriced menu, and long line. Beware of the forced gratuity!!!