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I had heard sort-of mixed things about Lavender Moon. The main gripe I had heard was that they tend to be dry. I didn't encounter that at all, but I also was there at noon so presumably they're pretty fresh then. I also got the Flourless Chocolate with Almonds and Sea Salt--and I would imagine that it probably stays a bit more moist than those with flour.
I was a bit uncertain as to why they don't keep them in a case--it does seem rather odd to have them sitting on platters in the middle of the room with just a piece of glass in front of them. I guess this probably helps with the texture of the icing, but it does seem like that could dry out the cupcakes a bit faster.
I noticed that someone else bashed the cupcake "to go" containers. I'm not certain if they have since changed them out, but I thought it was the perfect carrier. Plus it's corn-based and compostable, which is nice.
I really liked that the cupcake was flavorful but not cloyingly sweet--I don't like the ones that are too sugary.
I'll have to go back to give some other flavors a try, but I really think that this place does it well. The woman working said that her husband is a chef and tries somewhat unusual combinations and that they always try to make certain that they're not too sweet and that they make all the cupcakes in small batches that are not as mass-produced as others in the area. It definitely is a cute little shop, and $3 even for a cupcake is not bad at all, in my book.
I am not a cupcake expert--I think I've only had Hello Cupcake and Buzz cupcakes in DC, and Magnolia Cupcakes from NY. I think these are about on par with Hello Cupcake for me. I think Magnolia ones are TOTALLY overrated and gross. And Buzz is a bit hit or miss--I have liked some, but also had a terrible one. But again, I think this place is definitely worth a shot for anyone who loves cupcakes, and especially good for people who don't want a totally sugary one.
We came, we drooled, we slobbered, we devoured and then we nearly passed out.
It was a day of indulging in Michele's desires, so after a fulfilling lunch at nearby Ichiban, we headed to LM for dessert. We were delayed because of the Grape + Bean next door and attempted to indulge in a little wine tasting first, but were somewhat unsuccessful and returned to the LM.
Initially I got a weird feeling about the place because the front room is the sitting and enjoying area, and the "rear", if you can call it that, is where the cupcakes are on display and sold. It's the opposite of how I would have pictured it, but whatever, it was just a quick surprise I quickly got over.
My friend and I decided that we would get two and split them both, so we had to agree on what we would be selecting. I inquired about the most popular flavor of the day, and that was the Vanilla Bean Lemon Curd. I ordered one. My friend asked what the next most popular was, and we were told it was the Mexican Chocolate Pudding, so that's what he ordered.
We sat down and proceeded to slice them in half. Upon my first bite of the vanilla, I was in heaven. I'm not normally one to enjoy lemony things (with the exception of Limoncello, of course), but this cupcake was out of this world. My first bite didn't include too much of the lemon curd, but the texture of the cupcake was wonderful. Having done the cupcake crawl recently and having had several cupcakes that day, I at least had a baseline measurement of what a good, basic cupcake *should* taste like and what a really good one should taste like. These were both really good. My second bite had more of the lemon curd and all I can say it WOW. For me, it first had a lemon burst of citrus, but then it was quickly tempered with sweetness. It was tart, but not icky tart. I thought it was tasty.
The real treat for me, though, was the Mexican Chocolate Pudding. I love Mexican chocolate and miss making hot chocolate with it, but this cupcake was divine. Perfectly moist, not crumbly at all when cut, and the taste was delicious.
The frosting on both cupcakes was dreamy creamy and with a place like the Grape + Bean next door, it makes for a perfect moment of self indulgence. According to the folks at the G+B, they saw the LM employees frequently bring cupcakes over for their sinful pleasure. What a nice touch!
If you're strolling around Old Town and would like a place to have a decadent, sweet treat, this is your place!
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I went here yesterday for my weekly pick me up and ordered the chocolate devils food topped with peanut butter and chocolate. This was a damn good cupcake. The cake was moist, the peanut butter was a smooth fluffy consistency, and it's hard to explain unless you've tried it. It tasted like peanut butter, was the color of peanut butter, but the consistency was a bit lighter. Then it had a light chocolate glaze of some sort. It reminded me of a Reese's peanut butter cup. I'd definitely go back. In addition the owner's daughter was there, she must've been around three or four, very cute. I'm not usually into people bringing their kids to work, but she was a fire cracker.
The only negative is the parking was horrid at 2 on a Wednesday, which obviously isn't something the owner can control.
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Wow, worth a trip from far away. I trekked across the city for this one.
This was the second stop on the 2009 Cupcake Crawl. I was blown away by the selection and varieties of both cake and frosting. I enjoy whipped, butter cream, ganache, and cream cheese based frostings and was pleasantly surprised to find them all here.
I tried the Hummingbird which was heavenly. Not to sweet with a perfect balance of spongy to solid cake, the nectar flavors were exotic and fun.
The Smores chocolate cake was good but not very exciting but the whipped marshmallow topping was fantastic. Combined it was a well balanced cupcake that did not through me over the edge of richness.
This was my favorite stop on the crawl. I hope it is as good on my next visit.
People thought this was:
This place is pretty good.
Its easy to find actually. I was expecting it to be seriously tucked away. Inside is small and quiet. If I had more time I would have enjoyed my cakes there.
I didnt know it was a cash or check only venue and felt embarrassed to be short 2 dollars. The clerk assured me that it was ok and that I could come in another time and get him the extra money.
This place was good. I wouldn't say its the best but all things considered I would definitely go back even if my conscience to pay him back wouldnt haunt me.
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I was not impressed at all. I am a big cupcake fan, try them all over, whenever I can but I've had much better elsewhere. I didn't like the flavors or the textures, the day I was there, the cupcakes were rather dry.
I just consumed a mediocre three dollar cupcake.
Yes, a $3 cupcake.
Cupcakes. Oh how I love thee. Of course, in my kitchen, I can whip together concupiscent cupcakes with little more than 6 common ingredients. Cupcakes are not hard science, even moist cupcakes. Just takes a little precision
But, I gave this place a try. Maybe it was because I was fleeing from the sweater-over-the-shoulder crowd at the coffee shop next door, but I was craving a release. And, the girl behind the oh-so-oddly placed pane-glass wall seemed nice, and she explained the cupcakes with such delight.
At first I was skeptical. She placed the seemingly normal looking cupcake, decorated with a swab of chocolate swirl, into a plastic container to go. I felt my taste buds plump, waiting to immerse them into the chocolate bliss. For $3, it had better be better than a godiva chocolate and raspberry bar, right?
I bit in, and the disappointment settled. What is this dryness? What is this average chocolate flavor?
Ugh. At least there's a decent crepe place across the street...
No sign, but cute little picture on the door. Keep your eye out to find this place.
I picked up six different cupcakes for my friend's birthday. I must say that the blood orange dreamsicle cupcake was tasty, even on day two. By the time we devoured all six cupcakes, they all started to taste the same. So I can't say that there were really distinct differences in the flavors.
And the lady that helped me was not all too friendly, guess she just focuses on making cupcakes and not making friends with the patrons.
There wasn't a wide selection when I went, a Thursday at 1 in the afternoon.
But props for the cute seating area, basically the living room of this renovated row home.
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The cupcake I tried was filled with Mexican chocolate pudding and it was very tasty. Prices are pretty normal for cupcakes these days. The space is very cute and they have some gifty items up front. Having the cupcakes only separated from customers by being behind a piece of glass, rather than being in a case, was a bit odd, especially since it was just in the middle of the space. Anyways, that did not detract from the tastiness of the cupcake. Will be back when I visit my folks again.
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May 30th, 2009
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I had actually heard some bad things about Lavender Moon, and thought it wasn't worth going out to Old Town Alexandria to try some. Boy was I wrong. Right across the street from the Farmer's Market, you know they have to have the freshest ingredients possible. In fact, they only make cupcakes that day and close when they sell out of cupcakes.
Though there were many delicious flavors to choose from the printed menu of the day, we went with S'Mores and Blood Orange Dreamsicle. The S'Mores cupcake was absolute heaven-in-the-mouth. I thought it would be too sweet and too heavy, but it was perfect. The icing on top is actually marshmallow, so it condensed perfectly with the chocolate cake and graham cracker crust.
For the Blood Orange Dreamsicle, I was a little scared at first. I had never had blood orange before, but thought that the medium of cupcake would lend itself well to trying flavorsr. The icing was a bit too sweet, but it went well with the cake. I liked that there wasn't too much icing like with many other cupcakes I've tried. The cake itself had a nice pronounced orange flavor that wasn't too subtle yet not too strong. I couldn't really discern orange from blood orange, and I was expecting much bolder flavors or maybe a filling since it was supposed to be similar to the ice cream bar of the same name.
The decor here is slightly barren but well meaning. The service follows in the same thread. The display case doesn't have labels as to what each cupcake is and the cupcake flavors don't have an explaination of ingredients, so I had to ask for clarification for every single cupcake. Instead of going through the display and answering all my questions in one fell swoop, I had to ask the same question over and over again for each cupcake: "What's this one?". The cashier answered me monotonously and curtly, as if she was tired of working at a cupcakery. I then repeated the question over and over, receiving the same flat response. I didn't care since I loved the cupcakes!
Lavender Moon only takes cash and checks, and changes their menu daily to have in-season flavors. Cupcakes are $3, including tax (which is 9%!). The day I went the menu was as follows:
+ Flourless Dark Chocolate, Almonds & Sea Salt
+ Vanilla Bean Lemon Curd
+ Buttermilk Cupcake with Mexican Chocolate Pudding
+ Devils Food Vanilla
+ Cherry White Chocolate
+ Triple Belgian Chocolate
+ Blood Orange Dreamsicle
+ Boston Cream
+ Devils Food Peanut Butter
+ Coconut
+ Coconut Macaroon
+ Smores
I almost got the Mexican Chocolate Pudding and the Boston Cream, but refrained. Though, I did relive my childhood by grabbing a Yoohoo from the refrigerated drinks case for $2. Much sweeter and more concentrated than I remember.
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Cupcakes are truly better than anything else in the world! I can't decide which are my favorites, but the baker obviously uses real butter and the best quality chocalate! I love them all and can't get enough of them! A must have! Owner only takes cash or checks - no credit cards. Cupcakes are $3.00/ a piece but well worth it!
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Best cupcake place I've tried in the DC area, and this coming from a girl who has also tried all the major cupcake places in NYC...Lavender Moon tops all the NYC joints as well.
Lavender Moon is the first cupcakery that I walk in and want to try everything on their menu, and I do mean everything. G'Town cupcakes offer more variety for sure, but I don't care to try at least half of them, so quantity doesn't necessarily mean quality. I still can't say for sure which one is very favorite, as I liked everything I tried, but I think Key Lime Pie is my top choice. Vanilla bean stuffed with lemon curd was amazing too...and the coconut macaroon was great too.
I wish I knew it's a cash only place, but the bank was across the street. $3 for one cupcake, $30 for a dozen. The space is very cute, very old town. I highly recommend you stop by and give it a try if you are in the area. Actually, I would make a special trip just for the cupcakes!
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2.5 stars. Cupcakes themselves were pretty tasty- has the peanut butter and a raspberry choc.
Main piss off is the 'to go' box they put them in. It mangled the cakes, frosting got stuck in the underside of the cupcake holder hole-- in short, they were a MESS to eat. But yummy. Next time I'll have my fix there, the shop is adorable.
I SERIOUSLY CANNOT believe that Lavendar Moon has the same rating as G-town cupcakes aka tasteless dry cakes. Anyway, just to update everyone, there is now a sign hanging outside the place, so it's more apparent.
The first time I went there, I didn't know they didn't accept credit cards, so the owner let me come back to pay my bill! It's crazy that she trusted me, but it was great customer service. I don't know if they take credit card now, because this occured when it was recently opened.
I'm in love with Lavender Moon. If all you are basing the review on is the cupcakes, these are the… Read more »
I'm very fond of Lavender Moon. The hours are a little strange, and the popular flavors can sell out quickly, but I actually think that lends to the quirky nature of the place- still, if you're not local (I live within walking distance and usually make a Lavender Moon cupcake part of whatever errand takes me toward the Alexandria waterfront) and are thinking of making a special trip, you'd be much better off calling ahead.
The cupcakes are small-- muffin cup size-- and not too sweet, two things I really like in a cupcake. I don't want some gigantic pile of sugar; I like the flavors to shine through, and LM's do. They sometimes try out new seasonal flavors, like the lemon thyme-blueberry cupcake I tried in early June, and I like the experimental ones the best. I like the homemade feel of these cupcakes, though it does sometimes mean losing some flavor or texture, and once in a while the cake can be hit and miss. The Vanilla Vanilla is my favorite "regular" cupcake; the chocolate cake can be a little on the dry side, and the chocolate mint doesn't have enough mint in it to make me happy.
Don't go out of your way for a Lavender Moon cupcake, but if you happen to be in Alexandria, or happen to be a cupcake completist, drop by (early if you can) and see if LM's brand of cupcake is right for you.
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Due to a phrase, from Tina R.,
We headed south, thanks to my car
Red Velvet's frosting - tart and sweet
A unique take, words can't complete
Its baked part tasted, buttery
Bought two, but one's enough for me
So rich, it satisfied my gut
My carrot choice, must wait boxed shut
These treats sell quick, gone in a flash
No plastic cards - just checks or cash
Little seating, room to stand
Cozy gem, in Old Town land
Click-happy http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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Love the cupcakes, hate the cupcakery.
My office found these via a Yelp review mere weeks after the place opened. We tried the cupcakes ourselves and found them to be fantastic. The unique, inventive flavor are all delicious and I love the icing texture.
But we won't buy them anymore. Why?
1) The hours are crazy on this place. They used to not be open on Mondays and Tuesdays. We remedied this by going on Wednesdays. But after walking a mile from the office to the store, we learned that they're also closed on Wednesdays. Had they had a phone at that time, perhaps we could have saved the two mile walk from the office to there and back just to find they were closed.
2) The place only takes cash. When we asked them about this, they said it was because they didn't have a phone line yet. They FINALLY have one now, but you still have to pay cash. It's annoying, considering that a dozen cupcakes are 30 bucks. I don't usually carry around that kind of dough.
3) They have crummy hours. I like to drive by a place and pick up my cupcakes in the morning, when they are fresh and I don't have to fight traffic. Unfortunately, LM doesn't open until 10 or 11, so I HAVE to worry about getting ticketed or searching for a spot.
4) All the good cupcakes are gone by the time you get there. They obviously don't make enough cupcakes, because by the time I get there, half the flavors are gone. I understand they are trying to save stock and don't have the means to produce the numbers they need, but they've been open for over six months now. Those kinds of problems should be dealt with by now.
Going there has just become a hassle. And forget it if someone has a birthday Monday through Wednesday. I have found Sister Cakes, which, while their flavors are not as inventive, they will deliver to me, which is awesome. LM needs to figure out that they're not a new store anymore, so they don't get the slack they otherwise would.
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After wanting to try these cupcakes for a while, I finally went. The place was semi hidden because it was so tiny but if you drive by slow enough you'll be able to see. I ordered 5 and I got one for free :)
We got the boston cream, mexican chocolate pudding, vanilla on vanilla, flourless chocolate, sea-salt and pistachio, and 1 other I can't remember. I think we started with the flourless chocolate and that was devine. The cake was so light and the frosting wasn't too sweet.
I took the rest home and I didn't get a chance to try most of them because everyone at them. Lol!
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Pros: Blood Orange Ganache cupcake. Oh man, those are some badass ingredients. The cake is rich and moist and the frosting tastes like a creamsicle dipped in chocolate. It was almost too much, but not quite.
Cons: They close when they run out of cupcakes; sort of endearing but potentially irritating.
Also, the little girl "singing" (as her parents refer to it). Transcribed, it would look a little like this: "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Where I come from in Normaltown, we call that shrieking. But if they like her song and she likes her song, I'm not about to ruin their good times. Kids do kid-stuff, so I can't really rate the place based on a loud (albeit cute) little girl. I just thought I'd make a note.
Keep up the good work with the cupcakes, folks!
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Yes, it has a quirky business model and make-you-guess hours, but I come here for the cupcakes. Yes, I wish the little girl was a bit better behaved, but she's a kid and I don't linger long after buying my cuppies.
They usually have an eclectic mix of cupcakes, from the indulgent to the not-quite-so-guilt-inducing. Every cupcake I've eaten from here has been tasty and fresh.
Usually, I'll buy as many as I can afford and split them with Juan so I can sample as many flavors as possible without filling up so quickly. Except for the Mexican Chocolate. I won't share that with anyone!
I remember being blown away by the assortment on my first visit. Repeated visits have revealed that they seem to bake their favorites. Wish I encountered more surprises.
Given their erratic hours, I wouldn't recommend a special visit, but I always pop in when I'm in Old Town and I haven't been disappointed.
People thought this was:
I love this cupcakery! They are only open W - Sun and I believe was started by the spouse of one of the founders of Chadwick's. The cupcakes are baked twice a day at Chadwicks and the cupcakery is about 3 blocks away. A little steeply priced for the size ($3 each, but $30 for a dozen), but $3 always makes my day shine a little more. My favorites: Blood Orange Dreamsicle, Buttermilk with Mexican Chocolate Pudding, and Lemon/Blackberry/Thyme. I think the vanilla vanilla is....vanilla. Very egh. I just love this place because I think they are as good as Georgetown Cupcake (although not as much variety), without the line out the door and around the block or wait. At this time, they only have cream cheese frostings. I just tried the chocolate/peanut butter one this weekend and the chocolate cupcake was soooo good, and I don't even love chocolate! Savory cocoa flavor. Delicious.
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PROS: The S'Mores cupcake was moist and delicious. The Devil's Food cake vanilla frosting was delicious and very satisfying.
CONS: You can still find better cupcakes near-by, so it's not worth going there.
I agree with the other reviewers who state this: Service is RUDE. The wife was belittling her husband in FRONT of the customers. We all felt put off and uncomfortable by her rudeness and snapping back at him when HE was the one trying to help US. She needs to chill out because her stressed attitude was ruining Valentine's Day for a few people there. Another couple walked in and then walked out. Plus, when a customer tried to tip them, the wife-owner (?) marched over the the table, where the customer was sitting near us, and slammed the dollar bill back down on the table. When the customer said, "oh... it's the tip..." and turned around to explain, the rude lady said, "No! Just keep it." and stormed off. WTH!?!
Also - not all of the selections on the menu were available. It would be better if they just put little labels on the displays instead of pointing out each item to each new customer.
The walls are BRIGHT pink and maroon, so your boyfriend might not want to sit in the tiny litle chairs by the 3 small tables in the "sit-down" area.
I don't know who is posting that this place takes credit card and it's wheel-chair accessable, because it isn't... The cash only is really annoying considering the cons out-weigh the pros.
Final thought: Maybe one day during the summer I'll go back to try a cupcake and hopefully the service will be nicer and they'll take credit cards... maybe...
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I came to Lavender Moon on a Sunday just after its closing time, but I was happy to see that it was still open - their store times sign also states that it closes once all the cupcakes have been sold, which can be both a curse and a blessing. I can imagine that on a good day for them, I'd have been s*** outta luck.
They still had plenty of cupcakes left. I ordered the flourless chocolate cupcake and the one with peanut butter mousse so that I could sample 2 different flavors. I didn't bother to stay there to eat them. From reading other comments on LM, it seems like it's best to just go in, get your cupcakes and leave. The lady attending the shop seemed a bit snappy and eager to finish for the day.
The cupcakes themselves, however, were excellent. I like that LM offers flavors and toppings that are different than Georgetown or Red Velvet or Cakelove. You can't find a cupcake with dollop of peanut butter mousse, covered in chocolate ganache, anywhere else in DC. Peanut butter+chocolate=dessert heaven, in my opinion, but my boyfriend who also tried it wasn't impressed. The flourless chocolate cake was very decadent - it tasted much like a brownie with light chocolate frosting and almonds on top. Might be too much for some people but it was wonderful to me.
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After a long delayed post...here is my review on Lavender Moon!
Lavender Moon Cupcakery is located in Old Towne Alexandria. It's pretty difficult to find since it's nestled in a side street without a sign and we would have spent a lot more time searching for it without a sign on the corner that pointed the way to Lavender Moon.
As we walked in, the place is painted bright pink. The place is very mom and pop shop with one solid counter. There is very limited seating so be prepared to eat outside while standing on the stoop or if you can snag a seat at the place next door. (which is where we went and they didn't seem to mind.) When we arrived, it was about 2 pm on a Sunday so flavors were very limited. They only had 2 flavors left so we both got one each to share. We had Chocolate Peanut Butter - which was very rich and little too much for my taste. A glass of milk was definitely needed. I'm actually not a big fan of chocolate peanut butter simply because for a whole cupcake, the flavors are just way too rich/strong. We also had the Mexican Chocolate Pudding - I really liked this one. Simple butter cake but with a light chocolate pudding frosting. Perfect, not too sweet and fluffy! I look forward to trying out some of the other exotic flavors they have.
Service was good, the cashier answered my question on what the flavors were with no attitude but wasn't exactly over friendly which doesn't bother me too much. (reviews here seem to say that service can be pretty rude.)
Keep in mind, this place only takes cash and each cupcake is $3 flat. They also have a few selection of colas such as root beer, cream soda, water, etc.
This may have been the source of one of the best cupcakes I've ever had.
PHOTOS: http://flickr.com/phot...
I really wanted to get the Caramel Apple cupcake seeing as the frosting was drizzled with caramel (and I LOVE caramel). However, I felt obligated to get the Pumpkin Fennel cupcake. Pumpkin Fennel. Really? FENNEL?...in a cupcake? Call me Miss Skeptical, but after my cash-only $3 purchase, I almost turned around to make an exchange.
My friend and I sat on this stone bench outside. Rather - she sat on the bench and I sat on the sidewalk so I could put my cupcake on the bench and take a few photos. (see above link)
She got the Buttermilk Cupcake with Mexican Chocolate Pudding after being talked into it by the woman in front of us who kept raving about it. I sampled some of her frosting which was pretty tasty and not too sweet.
After sufficiently photographing my pumpkin fennel cupcake, I took a swoop of the frosting with my finger and thought - YUM. I then took a bite and I had to close my eyes and take a minute to collect myself because I had just taken a bite of something incredible. The cake was perfectly moist and the fennel flavor was very subtle. It's the frosting though - the PERFECTLY done cream cheese frosting with a light graham cracker crumble that really completed this cupcake. My tastebuds were so excited they wanted me to run back inside and buy another one. But I was able to restrain myself.
I reserve the last star for when they put some seating inside. There is definitely space...right now just open space...that they hopefully will transform into seating areas for the colder months when more visitors come. Which also is curious - how do people even find this place? My friend and I came specifically looking for Lavender Moon but just about walked by it without realizing. There's no real sign (or noticeable sign) and as Julie H pointed out - no phone number, no website and very little publicity. I'm thinking these things will be worked out in the future - in which case I may up the rating.
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Very good Cupcakes!
I tried grapefruit flavor and lemon curd.
http://www.flickr.com/...
Cupcakes are very moist, more so than georgetown cupcake. I think the cupcakes are a little bigger too!
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I think Lavender Moon Cupcakery wishes it were a secret. How else to explain the lack of publicity, telephone number and website, coupled with the sparse decor, and barely-obvious signage for this Old Town storefront? In fact, were it not for the quiet buzz of a few local bloggers and the Washington Post's cupcake wars, Lavender Moon might have stayed under the radar for a good long while (and not without reason).
Lavender Moon is an expansive storefront - a virtually empty front room gives way to a small counter in the back of the store, with almost a dozen cake plates stacked high with cupcakes. The display is beautiful and would almost forgive the huge space were you not distracted by the bright, colorful walls. Peter Durkin, Lavender Moon's owner and chef, was happy to describe the cupcake flavors on offer to me - twice! - while I picked out half a dozen. He also didn't punch me in the face, as I'm sure he wanted to, when I inquired after the status of their phone number. Cupcakes are $3/each ($2.75+tax) and it is, sadly, cash-only.
I sampled six cupcakes, in no particular order:
Buttermilk Cupcake with Mexican Chocolate Pudding - A dry, spongey cupcake with a strongly cinnamon (and I mean strong) Mexican chocolate pudding filling. I enjoyed the milk chocolate frosting - very rich but not too sugary-sweet.
Devil's Food Peanut Butter - boring chocolate cupcake topped with a generous mound of not-quite-sweet peanut butter meringue frosting and coated with chocolate ganache. Were there less peanut butter and more ganache this cupcake might have been a keeper.
Vanilla Bean Lemon Curd - Put enough lemon curd on anything and I'll love it, even a middling cupcake. The expense of adding vanilla bean to the cupcake didn't save it from being flavorless, and the vanilla bean frosting was distracting because of the cream cheese base. At least the lemon curd filling was generous!
S'mores: This cake was the winner of the bunch. A graham cracker base that added fun texture but no real flavor, a super-moist chocolate cupcake, and toothache-inducing marshmallow meringue frosting. Just like a real s'more!
Roasted Fig and Blood Orange: I can only describe the cupcake as "earthy-flavored" - the fig was totally lost on me. The cake was a little dry and though blood orange is a fantastic flavor the cream cheese killed the frosting flavor.
Pumpkin and Fennel: My tastebuds: "Oh hey, this tastes like pump-FENNEL!" The only cupcake where the cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with graham cracker, really completed the overall cupcake.
While I give Lavender Moon extra credit for having 11 distinct cupcake flavors (ahem, other cupcakeries - it's not 24 flavors if you only have 4 types of cake and 4 different frostings) I won't be making the trek out to Old Town to visit. I'm hoping that these cupcakes are a soft opening to Lavender Moon and that things will improve...maybe once they get a phone number?
People thought this was:
This is the best cupcakery I have ever visited, and I have been to a few in NYC, DC and San Francisco. They have wonderfully exotic flavors and are very inventive with their recipes. The cakes are not over-sugary and the ingredients are all-natural. The interior of the place is baroque hippie meets shabby-chic and it's a fun place to hang out. Could use a little music though-- I suggest dancehall piano jazz or blues to complete a sort of old-fashioned decadence. The male (owner?) was totally nice and laid back and seemed like a patisserie artiste who took the cupcakes very seriously. Monthly specials (like this month's bacon!) keep you coming back for more taste sensations!
Enjoy Your Small, Dry Cupcake on the Stoops of Old Town.
I got the Mexican Chocolate cupcake and was not impressed in terms of texture, flavor and quantity. The cupcake was dry and the frosting was bland with a hint of sweetness. Compared to Georgetown cupcake and Buzz, this cupcake was definitely lacking in the aforementioned qualities. Also, there was no place within the establishment to enjoy your cupcake, not even one table to sit at. Like other patrons, I ate my cupcake on the stoops of Old Town. Even Georgetown cupcake has at least two tables, and Buzz, with many more. Overall, I would take a red velvet at Buzz over LMC.
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"Finally it has happened to me."
-Cece Peniston
Months of underground hype and gossip. Yelp reviews starting up about LM before I had time to get there, raging envy ensues. My first visit: a sign in the door reading "Sorry, no more cupcakes today." Cue me and some other girl outside both whining on our cell phones, "*@!&# they're closed!"
Yesterday I finally scaled this pink-and-brown castle wall and it was totally worth it. I bought a vanilla lemon curd cupcake, a lemon/lime/lavender cupcake and a peanut butter-stuffed chocolate ganache cupcake. All three trumped any I've had in the D.C.-area (though I haven't been to Baked and Wired yet) and even rivaled Crumbs from NYC, but that's a bit like apples and oranges.
LM's offerings are delicate, petite and gorgeous, whereas Crumbs' are huge hunks of burnin' decadence. The lemon curd was my favorite, though the other two were neck-and-neck for second place. You could see vanilla bean in the frosting--which by the way is wonderful: none of that stiff stuff, but more of a dollop of slippery sweetness. There was a little morsel of lemon curd inside the light fluffy and perfectly baked cake. Hayzeus!
The lemon/lime/lavender was delicious, though a bit over-the-top. I personally love ingesting flowery food and drink, but I could see how it might throw someone off. The lavender was quite prominent, yet perfectly balanced with the citrus ingredients, and the sugar factor balanced the whole thing out.
I am a pig. But not even I could eat a whole PB ganache cupcake. Alright, there is no way I could eat two. It was completely decadent and rich, but not sickeningly so. The sugar was toned down enough to let the richness of the cocoa and peanut butter steal the show.
The owner was informative and didn't balk at any questions. She even went into detail about the kitchen, permit issues, and mentioned that they were getting their phone installed within the next hour. Not wanting to appear like a total stalker, I mentioned that I'd read some good reviews on Yelp. "Oh, I used that to find my hairdresser," said she.
These recipes are inventive, well-thought out and well-executed. I am over the moon about Lavender Moon. First and foremost, for making rrrrrockin' cupcakes, and secondly, for making 100 South Royal the girliest block in Old Town now, rounding out a street lined with a creperie, a wine/coffee bar, Treat and the Shoe Hive. Ahhh, it's great to be back.
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On Friday afternoon, I walked a mile for cupcakes.
Not for farm fresh fruits or veggies, not for steak, not for ice cream, but cupcakes. Eesh, what was I thinking? It wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been muggy and I wasn't lugging a textbook and a huge umbrella at the same time.
Lavender Moon Cupcakery opened with very little fanfare. I was picking up dessert for a few people and figured this place would be worth checking out and less crazy than Hello Cupcake.
A stream of consciousness style depiction of the walk:
Kings Street metro - Time to get some dessert!
2 blocks down - Am I going the right direction? I think this is right...
4 blocks down - Where is this place again?
8 blocks down - Am I there yet? Am I there yet? Am I there yet?
9 blocks down - Am I there yet? Am I there...oh the Majestic! I'm going there soon.
10 blocks down - Am I there yet? Am I...hey Eamonn's! I need to go back there.
11 blocks down - If I turn around now, I'll have to go all the way back without anything. Uh oh, I'm going to have to walk all the way back.
14 blocks down - South Royal Street! Finally!
The place is very bare bones at this point. The sign is a little hard to see, but basically it is next to the Grape + Bean. The entry space is pretty empty, but I believe they're planning to add some tables and chairs in the future. There was a table inside with the day's menu of eleven cupcakes. Some flavors sound really interesting (passion fruit pistachio, summer peach and basil)
This place fits in well with the Old Town vibe. The owners (husband and wife) were there with their very cute toddler, and their next door neighbors stopped by while I was there to drop off some flowers. The husband guessed they went through about 200 cupcakes that day, so this is definitely a much smaller operation than Hello Cupcake.
I didn't get there until around 5:30ish, so there were about five of the eleven varieties left. She walked through the remaining flavors with me and they all looked and sounded delicious. I remember she mentioned using Valrhona chocolate, so I'm sure her ingredients are top quality.
I ended up choosing two hummingbird and two peanut butter ganache. I don't know if she could sense the effort I put in to reach this place, or if she's just nice, or if it was because it was almost closing time, but she threw in a free toasted almond cupcake. SWEET!
Hummingbird - Pineapple/banana cake with maple cream cheese frosting, topped with candied pecans. My favorite of the three. Very light, moist cake.
Toasted almond - Cream cheese frosting with almond cake. I'm not a huge fan of marzipan or the cherry-like flavor that almond extract has, but it was still pretty good. This was the densest of the three cakes.
Peanut butter ganache - Chocolate cake topped with a peanut butter mousse, then covered in chocolate ganache. Tasty. I think the peanut butter mousse could be a little sweeter.
Overall, very tasty. The cupcakes tend to be of the soft, fluffy variety, so this probably isn't the place to go for fans of denser, sturdier cake. I really like that the frosting isn't achingly sweet.
At $3 each, $30 for a dozen, they can be a bit steep. But that includes tax, so really they're only $2.86 per cupcake pre-tax if I did my math correctly. I'll probably stick to the more interesting sounding flavors rather than get a regular old cupcake flavor.
If you're already in Old Town or heading that way, this is a good place to stop by and grab dessert. If you're going to be going out of your way to try them, maybe not as much.
I was talking to the wife and she said they expect a land line in very soon. She also said they're planning on being open from Wednesday to Sundays from about 11 - 6, but won't solidify the times until they can secure a babysitter for their daughter. She said weekends will probably be the most reliable in terms of them being open.
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First of all, Lavender Moon may boast the strangest shop layout I have ever seen. We found the store based on a hand-drawn map, but upon arrival it looked closed, and some furtive glancing through the front windows revealed only a dim front room with no people, cupcakes, or anything else in sight. Preparing to leave in disappointment, Jess M. tried the door and, lo and behold, it opened!
So now we knew they were Open... probably. We walked into the Lavender Moon Foyer (I guess?) and were greeted with 1. bright pink walls 2. a table with some half-eaten cupcakes (literally) and 3. some stairs leading... somewhere.
Luckily we heard some voices deeper in the house, or whatever you call this structure (carnival of mystery? den of enigma?), and we ventured through the empty first room into a second room. THIS, of course, was where the cupcake counter, staff, and the entire establishment was... utterly hidden from plain view.
The cupcakes were very good overall. $3 each. We tried four:
1. the double-chocolate flourless one. delicious, tastes like a brownie, very heavy/thick/moist cake and light chocolate frosting. yum.
2. pumpkin... something. very good pumpkin cake with pretty generic cream cheese frosting.
3. peanut butter. crazy peanut-buttery ganache-type icing on a pretty bland cupcake. skip it.
4. AND THE WINNER IS: the apple cinnamon one (wow cinnamon is hard to spell. duly noted, Firefox spell-check.) The cake itself is made with crunchy oats, was very flavorful with great texture, and it had just the right amount of light cream cheese icing. This one can even contend with a Baked and Wired cupcake... which is the highest possible praise I can give to a cupcake and for that matter any *any food item.*
Overall a great place if you enjoy cupcakes and incredibly strange store-design. Who knows what is up those stairs to the right when you enter... cupcake afterlife? secret cupcake factory? THE REALLY GOOD ONES ARE UP THERE? Who knows, Lavender Moon... who knows.
People thought this was:
***3.5 stars***
Cupcakes have finally made their way to Old Town! And they're housed within the brightly painted walls of the first floor of a restored home.
I chose the Triple Callebaut Chocolate cupcake and ate it in the empty room in the front which is awaiting tables and chairs to create a cafe setting. The cupcake itself when I received it was depressed looking and the frosting wasn't holding up. I unwrapped the cupcake and nibbled a bit off the side and the cupcake began to collapse. I had to grab a spoon to eat the rest of it. The cupcake was about half buttercream and it was so rich I couldn't eat all of the buttercream. But an excellent buttercream it was - creamy and no grittiness which is the only way I like it. Lavender Moon's differentiates itself from other cupcakeries as they specialize in filled cupcakes so the one I had was hollowed out and filled with buttercream. There was no actual top and the edges toward the top were overbaked. The cake part was good but there was little to enjoy because it's hollowed out.
Owner Peter Durkin was manning the counter and I chatted with him for a bit. He explained that they have different flavors every day just to see what sells. Yesterday they had gluten free dark chocolate with sea salt and almonds, vanilla lemon curd, mexican chocolate pudding stuffed buttermilk, blood orange creamsicle, peanut butter stuffed devil's food ganache, chocolate lavender, smores and spiced local apple. He emphasized the organic ingredients that are sourced locally and that they will try to always have a gluten-free option. Each cupcake sells for $3.
Lavender has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing what other unique creations they come up with next.
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If Betsey Johnson were to open a cupcakery, she would decorate it just like this place. While I'm not a fan of pink, the fushia and magenta-striped "parlor room" added a youthful yet non-frilly hipness to this Old Town establishment. The only hint of this funky girliness from the outside is the hot-pink cupcake sticker on the front door with the store hours on it.
I have to give this place extra props for their unique flavors. Didn't get to try the chcolate sea salt almond cupcake, but my favorite is the prickly pear pistachio with its tart prickly pear sweetness filling and frosting. The toasted coconut was very flavorful and a refreshing tanginess with its cream cheese frosting (or that's what I think). i also tried the mexican chocolate pudding (yummy), chocolate expresso meringue (meringue too bitter but OK) and the summer peach basil (flavorful but not a fan of sweet-herby mix in my desserts). I definitely can't wait until they're really set up and see what other unque flavors they will offer.
People thought this was:
I went to Lavender Moon this past Saturday afternoon. The shop was fully stacked with cupcakes and I peeked in the back and saw tons more on the carts. Anyway, there was a line, but it wasn't too long, and it was fine since I wanted to look at all the cupcake varieties. The owner (male) went over the flavors again for all of us who were waiting. I have to say, their offerings are different and impressive.
I decided on the vanilla with lemon curd. The cupcake was moist, the lemon curd was tart, and the frosting was tasty. My cupcake got at least a 4 in my book.
A star got taken off for the hubs' cupcake. He got the peppermint cupcake. The chocolate cake was a bit dry and while the icing was good, it sure didn't taste too minty. I'm sure this has something to do with the use of real mint, but still - you expect an obviously minty cupcake. He agreed that mine was WAY better.
So, I work close and hope to visit often to check out the other flavors and report back in. For now, it's a decent place to get a cupcake from a friendly guy, in a cheerful, oddly configured (for a cupcakery) rowhouse.
People thought this was:
This review is based solely on the service I received on Saturday. I arrived at 11:00 to pick up a special order, only to discover a little note on the door stating that the owners were catering a morning party and would not be opening the shop until 11:30.
The shop's hours say that it opens at 10:00!
The owners had promised me that my order would be ready by 10:30!
The day's cupcakes were not on the premises yet!
I did not receive the flavors I ordered!
I waited a half hour for my cupcakes, while they waited on other customers!
Unfortunately, the cupcakes are still delicious. But, if Lavender Moon isn't able to resolve its many business issues in the next month or so, I don't know that I will be giving them any substantial business in the future.
People thought this was:
Vanilla Lemon Curd. Peanut Butter Ganache. Prickly Pear and Pistachio. Peach Basil. Dark Chocolate… Read more »
I work in Old Town, so the minute I heard they were open, I headed right over. The block is already dangerous enough to my wallet with Treat and Shoe Hive and Grape + Bean. (I'm reserving judgment on the creperie.) And now it's upped the ante with Lavender Moon.
As someone else said, it's pretty bare bones right now, but the cupcakes are amazing. (And, also as someone else said, right-sized.)
First was fig basil, which was incredible. I don't use the word sensual to describe food b/c it's weird and kind of cliched - but this was. The icing had just a hint of sugar and a hint of basil and the cake itself was moist (not like crappy crap Cake Love) and light and just perfect.
Next up, Toasted Coconut. Made with real coconut milk, the icing had a really nice touch of subtle sourness. Not as good as the fig basil, but good enough to make me feel as though I'm drinking a fresh made boat drink in a gorgeous tropical locale.
Last, we've got the Vanilla Lemoncurd. By now, I was approaching sugar coma (but they use organic sugar, so that's okay, right?) Garnished with a plump, ripe, red raspberry and a big dollop of icing-ish stuff - this was not my favorite. The curd is in a hollow in the middle, and is actually quite good, but the icing is too creamy and buttery for my taste (though not stiff and nasty like stupid Cake Love). Two bites was enough. But I'll save it for later and surely finish it. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as amazing as the other two.
I also love, love, love the organic iced teas served in mason jars. The original purchase is $3, but if you bring your jar back, your next is only $2. (If I remember what she said correctly - but it's something like that.) I had the lavender and it was great.
Also, they're not yet set up to take credit cards, so bring cash!
People thought this was:
So far this place takes first place. The cupcakes are amazing to look at and there is a good variety to choose from. I got the "Steelers" special cupcake, the vanilla with lemon filling and the chocolate with vanilla bean icing. I love how the vanilla icings are a bit cream cheesy butt not too overwhelming. And the chocolate? Just what you expect it to be - rich but not overly sweet. They are just as good the day after you buy them also.
The price is decent too - $3 flat/cupcake, and the packaging is perfect. It keeps the cupcakes from getting messy on the ride home. The location is great for stopping by after Sunday brunch or during a slow afternoon. There is actually sitting room in the bakery. A nice change to the other small cupcake places around here.
People thought this was:
I am thankful to another Yelper for telling me about this place. I love the coffee at Grape & Bean and to my delight you can get cupcakes next door.
First of all for $3 you have to offer a really good, moist and delicious cupcake because for $3 you can get some Duncan Hines batter and frosting and make a dozen cupcakes (you should do this instead of buying Cake Love... just saying). That said - Lavender Moon can have my $3 anytime they want - and then some!
The decor of this place is sparse, but I hear that they are really just getting started. I love that it's in one of those ultra cute towhomes in Old Town - I am such a fan! The owner is the nicest woman in the world - took time to describe the cupcakes.
OK - the cupcakes. Moist, delicious, little pockets of joy. The flavor was so wonderful and it's not overly commercialized hype. These are the real deal. I had the chocolate - so good. So very good. I don't even like cream cheese frosting and I thought this was really - really good.
Get to Old Town and have a cupcake. It's worth the trip.
People thought this was:
Went back here this morning with my mate since I have been talking it up to him all week and he was sick of hearing me go on bout it.
Well, now that he's literally tasted 'sex in your mouth', which is what I honestly believe they should change their name to, he can't stop talking bout it either. He doesn't have a sweet tooth but decided to humor me. After eating these cupcakes (we each had two), he said the reason he doesn't have a sweet tooth is because it's hard to find bakeries that do sweets as much justice as this place does.
I predict this place is going to be a huge success. Just hope that there will always be enough cupcakes for me to get my hands on before they run out for the day.
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Jennifer,
I went here because of your review. I have been on the search for a perfect cupcake…
Read more »
Alexandria, VA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Alexandria, VA
Category: Desserts
Fairfax, VA
Category: Bakeries
Alexandria, VA
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: Bakeries
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