Cuppies & Joe

[absonjourney]

metro- wasn't trying to knock you, just the "betty crocker" comment. i'm sure there's a world of difference between these and the ones you talk about from the west coast.

will head to c and j's again this week during the day to try out the wi-fi and the daytime ambience.

[bluedogok]

My wife and I stopped in there early Saturday afternoon, my wife as someone who wants to open up her own bake shop someday always loves to try out new places. Now our only point of reference is the Austin area cupcake shops, so take that for what it's worth.....

They were pretty busy, she ordered vanilla/vanilla one (I don't remember the names) and I had the red velvet, the cake was good and the frostings were very good and the coffee was good. I have just been spoiled by my wife's red velvet ones from a recipe from a bakery in Fredricksburg. We would definitely go back there.

[Okcmonkey]

I love the brown baking cups they use. I wonder where I could get some.

[bandnerd]

Went by today on a whim. Very cute inside, very nice people behind the counter.

I ordered the Vanilla Sky and got Mid a Chocolate Rain (I think those were the names!) and I got a frozen hot chocolate.

I got the drink without whipped cream but the barista missed that. No problem--he scooped it out, the lady behind the counter and I joked with him about his epic fail. I told him I figured it would be rich enough without the cream and he said, yes, but it wouldn't be as delicious.

I had about half the drink and was done--it was SO good, I won't lie. But my lactose intolerant self can only take so much, so I passed the rest onto Mid. If I drank the whole thing I wouldn't be here posting...

The vanilla cupcake was tasty--good vanilla flavor, tender crumb on the cake, and the frosting was a nice buttercream. The little vanilla sugar sprinkles made it sparkly and gave it a nice little crunch. I shouldn't have gone in after still being full from lunch, though. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd had a lighter lunch! The outside of the cake was a little dry, but one has to remember that made from scratch cake is not always as moist as cake-mix cake.

All in all, I'll go back, most likely with a friend to talk with.

[Martin]

frozen. hot. chocolate. ???

i've had this at bodensee and i must say, for lack of a better term, this stuff is crack cocaine. i'll have to give cuppies a try. soon.

-M

[bandnerd]

Yes. Frozen hot chocolate. I'm not a fan of hot drinks....except green tea, and they do have hot tea, but it wasn't what I was looking for today. So the frozen hot chocolate sounded pretty tasty.

Kind of like a milkshake, but not nearly as thick. Very chocolatey. More than I could handle (should have had some lact-aid!) but a normal person could probably handle it!

[Midtowner]

this stuff is crack cocaine.

Interesting that you would use this as a frame of reference.

-- you learn something new about someone every day.

[Martin]

^
well... they are both quite addictive.

in hindsight, i probably shouldn't have used the 'crack cocaine' reference. the phrase is a tautology. 'crack' would have been more succint.

-M

/anyone got a spoon?

[metro]

Well, I finally had a cupcake at C&J worthy of praise. They had a new cupcake they invented yesterday called the "Hawaiian." It was a vanilla bean cupcake with vanilla pudding/cool whip/coconut/ pineapple frosting with actual pieces of fresh cut pineapple. It was very good and not dry like most of their cupcakes. Next time I see this one on the shelf, I will definitely get one.

[alan]

mmmm pineapple

[mecarr]

It was very good and not dry like most of their cupcakes.

Lol, that's a backhanded compliment if I ever saw one.

[Tex]

Well, I finally had a cupcake at C&J worthy of praise. They had a new cupcake they invented yesterday called the "Hawaiian." It was a vanilla bean cupcake with vanilla pudding/cool whip/coconut/ pineapple frosting with actual pieces of fresh cut pineapple. It was very good and not dry like most of their cupcakes. Next time I see this one on the shelf, I will definitely get one.

I stopped by today for the first time too. I picked 2 cupcakes out and while I was there eating one I heard about the new Hawaiian one. It sounds great. The Na Na was awesome.

[JourneyMom]

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

[SavageDigital]

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

Maybe it was just your group ...seriously though, the group of young ladies working there have always been über sweet on the two dozen or so occasions we've been by.

[windowphobe]

I've never met anyone rude at C&J, be it staff or other customers.

[metro]

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

Try Sara Sara or Stella Bakes, if you're just wanting a great cupcake muchhhhhhh better cupcakes. Market C makes some mean ones too. The draw at C&J is mainly the atmosphere (cozy feel, hip college/twentysomething crowd, live music most nights).

[bandnerd]

I've never encountered any rudeness at C&J. And I think their red velvet and carrot cupcakes are amazing. Metro is the only person I know of who likes Sara Sara.

...just sayin'.

[CCOKC]

I too have never met anyone who was rude at C&J but my family and I have been there so often that they know us by name. I was disappointed with Sara Sara. The cupcakes I had there were more muffiny to me.

[jbrown84]

Metro is the only person I know of who likes Sara Sara.

The only one that likes it better, at least.

[Martin]

on every occasion, the staff at c&j have been nothing but pleasant to me... i've never been treated rudely. i felt sara sara acted indifferently to getting my business... they weren't rude, per se, but acted pretty cold in comparison to c&j.

as for interiors, c&j is very cozy and welcoming. sara sara's stark white interior was already looking dingy the last time i went... it's really not wearing well.

as for the cupcakes themselves... apples and oranges, in my opinion. i think they're both good in their own ways, so its hard to pick one over the other.

-M

[Steve]

Metro, when you're determined not to like a place, you certainly stick to your guns. Did the girls at the counter deny you a seventh cupcake when you placed your order?

[SavageDigital]

The draw at C&J is mainly the atmosphere (cozy feel, hip college/twentysomething crowd, live music most nights).

...so really the only reason to go there to C&J's is the great welcoming atmosphere, live music...and the coffee...the cupcakes...the prices...and the excellent staff.

[metro]

Metro, when you're determined not to like a place, you certainly stick to your guns. Did the girls at the counter deny you a seventh cupcake when you placed your order?

No I'm actually friends with one of the owners, I do like some of their cupcakes, but on average, I think Sara Sara, Stella Bakes and Market C beats them hands down, no contest. For people who don't get Sara Sara, they probably haven't visited any of the gourmet cupcake shops out of state. Regardless, this IS a FOOD REVIEW forum, am I not allowed to give my OPINION?

[bandnerd]

Certainly, you're allowed to give your opinion. But almost every time someone says they like C&J, you're on their heels telling them to go elsewhere. I'm just sayin'.

[ImTheDude]

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

I went by on Thursday and talked with Mrs. Dief for a while. She said that for some reason Tuesday night was busier than a normal friday night and they were a little overwhelmed with all of the extra business. So, that would probably explain why someone at the counter came off as rude, they were more than likely just very flustered.