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they have yummy white chocolate flakes cakes that my family oreders for every birthday. They are DELICIOUS, sweet, but not TOO sweet to the point of pure sugar and tastes great with espresso.
This place is NOT supposed to be for a great place to sit long/chat. I am only giving it 4 stars for the cake you can call in and order and I"m sure the other desserts are good (eclairs and croissaints definitely are) too, but i am discounting the service (nothing spectacular) and decor (of lack of really) b/c it's not really meant to be a place for you to sit, chat with a friend, read a book, or browse the internet. they really meant it to be more so a get in, get out sort of place. Otherwise, for SURE order a cake from this place b/c it's great!
How have I lived 13 years in the DC region and just have gotten around to checking this place out? It's a travesty.
One cinnamon crossiant and a cherry danish later, I am a believer.
I'm already plotting out my next trip to dig into those oft-mentioned cupcakes.
Very friendly, informative staff + great coffeehouse drinks (cappuccino's, latte's, espresso) made with M.E. Swing's beans + a couple melt-in-your mouth pastries= one fabulous Saturday morning. I felt like I was in France.
Go there. NOW.
2.5 out of 5
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This pastry shop is down the street from Heidelberg, and was my personal last-stop on the recent UYE Cupcake Crawl. It lacks the homey-ness that Heidelberg has and doesn't have the great outdoor seating and variety either. I tried the cappuccino and orange cupcakes. cappuccino was just meh, but orange had a nice, bright, and strong orange flavor to it. I scraped the frosting off because it was too much and too sweet.
Sorry, but I've had better pastries at Shilla, Cakes by Happy Eatery, or other French Patisseries in the area. They weren't bad, but they weren't a destination patisserie either.
This bakery does a wide assortment of small desserts. Most of the pastries are delicious, but nothing really stands out as "must revisit" dessert. I prefer their raspberry tarts, above anything else.
4.5 stars. I've only been once to pick up a birthday cake. The cake, vanilla with vanilla buttercream frosting, was spine-tinglingly delicious. Not too sweet, not one bit dry, the frosting was heavenly--in short, PBR has made me fall in love with birthday cake again.
I bought an eclair for the road and this particular eclair was the best one I've ever had. It was so delicious! The pastry was light and a tad crueller-like, but had none of that eggy/rubbery nonsense I despise about cruellers. There was more cream in this baby than even Prince could sing about. The chocolate frosting was the teensiest bit bitter, pleasurably so. There was a small drizzling of caramel on top--and I don't even like caramel.
-.5 star for being in the middle of nowhere. God I hate Arlington.
Excellent, fresh coffee at a reasonable price!
I go here to eat the decidedly French pastries. After spending time living in France this is one of the only patisseries that even come close to the glamour of what I experienced there. In all seriousness these goodies are the real deal, seriously good. Not to mention they also look amazing which is a selling point for me. Eat the red velvet cupcakes and whatever else that strike your fancy. You will not be disappointed.
Might want to avoid the espresso...its just ok.
3.5. i love those half stars. unfortunately, i live within walking distance. luckily i'm lazy. otherwise i'd weigh 500 pounds. i'm a sucker for good pastries.
it was my first visit to pastries by randolph, and i ordered straight out of the case. i had no idea what was what other than the obvious fruit tarts and cupcakes. the lady that helped me was very informative (the owner perhaps?). i decided to try the german chocolate cupcake, a fruit tart, and some kind of chocolate bomba tart. i don't know the actual name of the chocolate thing, but according to the lady, it was as chocolatey as chocolatey can get.
german chocolate cake ($2.75) - cheaper than cake love, but according to the person i got it for, it wasn't the best german chocolate cupcake ever. it looked pretty stinkin good though.
fruit cheesecake tart - my buddy devoured it. i was lucky to get a blueberry and a mandarin orange off the top. he enjoyed it thoroughly. fruit was brightly colored and sweet. good for those that don't have a hardcore sweet tooth, but just need that certain something.
chocolate bomba deliciousness - she wasn't kidding when she said it was chocolatey. best way to describe it was a half sphere of dark chocolate ganache with caramel brittle pieces along the perimeter. inside was a moist chocolate cakey center with hints of espresso sprinkled throughout it. i'm not sure if it was espresso or really dark bitter chocolate. either way, it was really good.
sadly, they did not have any chocolate croissants. not sure if they don't make them or if they were just out. i'll have to return and sample some more so i can give a more accurate review.
2.5
So I returned for the first time in a few years to give this place another chance and I'm still not terribly impressed. The pastries are ok, but the high prices incline me to spend my money more wisely--say Natalia's, Silva's, Wegmans or even Cenans. I tried 7 items, which totaled to $25. That might not sound bad, but thinking that one item was a small roll and another was a cookie..prices were a bit inflated. Below is the rollcall and because I'm such a bakery snob, a detailed description of each.
Strawberry Eclair-choux pastry, strawberry goop on the bottom, followed by custard, then fresh whipped cream, strawberry slices and then the top of the shell. i didn't appreciate the goop because it took away from the freshness of the real strawberries--which, for 4.50, there could have been more of. A tad too much whipped cream for my liking.
Raspberry Cheese Cake--the cake itself is nice and tender. the flavor was a bit tart for me, but it did come with very fresh berries. At 5.25, i don't think I'll be buying it again.
Dark Chocolate Mousse slice--light and airy. one of the best items I got during this trip.
Apple Strudel Slice--the most interesting pastry I got from here. Wrapped in delicate pastry is a later of cake,then custard, and then the apples! While incredibly creative, I'm not sure I appreciated the mix of textures and flavors--too distracting.
Red Velvet Cupcake--just OK.
Raspberry Hamantash--not bad--good texture, good crumb. There was a good amount of jam folded in, but since the dough was already sweetened, I thought it was a bit much. I've also never seen an egg washed hamantash before, and i can't say that I liked it. While it did look pretty, the top part of the cookie seemed a bit rubbery and didn't crumble like it should. It definitely made a weird tearing sound as I bit into it--not what I would expect from a cookie.
Plain Brioche Roll--the texture of this bread was perfect, but the taste a bit salty. Chased by coffee or tea---just right.
After grabbing a quick lunch from the nearby Crisp and Juicy, I decided to give this place a try. I went in there having read the reviews on here, so I was pretty excited to give it a whirl. After perusing the selection that they had, I decided on the simple yet DELICIOUS chocolate eclair. I'd definitely have to go back to this place again to give it a boost in rating or maybe a decline. For this visit, I have to go with 4 stars. Give it a try!
Please note. This review is based ONLY on the Marble Mousse Cake aka Ribbon Mousse Cake. (call it what you will...I call it breakfast-lunch-dinner)
Delicious. Seriously. Gonowforcake. DOIT.
Soo...the marble mousse cake is some of the best cake I've had, overall and hands down.
Not too sugary. Delicate yellow and chocolate sponge cake laced with a bit of grand marnier with alternating layers of dark chocolate mousse & white chocolate mousse and decorated with a gorgeous Dark & White Chocolate ribbon.
I am drooling as I type.
An 8" cake can feed up to 16 if you are good at dividing and cutting--or it can feed just one if you are me.
I can't say anything about their pastries though..haven't tried them.
I turn to Randolph's whenever we need family birthday cakes. They're not cheap, but I've yet to bring home a cake that wasn't a crowd pleaser. I'd also like to say that their eclairs deserve a special mention!
Best croissant in DC, excellent pastries and cakes. I just wish they had a decent baguette and opened at 7am on the weekends...
I decided to come here for my cousin's bridal shower cake after seeing so many positive reviews and now I can see why.
I showed them a picture of the design that I had wanted for our fondant cake and it turned out even better than expected. But the other great thing about this place is how their stuff taste. The cake that I ordered was their yellow cake with mocha cream frosting, delish! I got so many compliments that day for finding a cake that looked and tasted good.
P.S, their fruit tarts were also amazing.
So my birthday was last weekend, and my husband decided to get me a cake here since there were so many good reviews. We decided to try a Shortcake with berries & fruit. It was a beautiful cake covered in whipped cream, large strawberry halves, berries & various fruit. The cake was layered with additional fruit as well...pineapples, kiwi, & pear? The cake itself was moist & delicious. The fruit was fresh as well. The whipped cream however had a funky taste to it. It was almost a slightly chemical after taste. We weren't sure if it was from the actual cream or a dusting of what seemed like powdered sugar. It had a very artificial taste to it. The fruit also didn't seem to go well with the cake. The pears & pineapple were too crunchy. The balance was off. I really didn't enjoy the cake at all.
The pastry case was filled with beautiful cakes & other desserts. The employees were also very nice. However, I was very disappointed with the cake we selected. At $34 for a 8 inch cake, it should have been better.
This is only one cake I wouldn't recommend. We'll definitely be back to try some of their other items and update the review afterwards!
My wife and I have purchased three birthday cakes from here to rave reviews of the party goers. Awsome selections and great service.
*4.5 stars*
After having brunch at Cassatt's several doors down, a friend and I meandered in and out of the various stores on this great little block in Arlington. We came to Pastries by Randolph and I, being an avowed chocoholic and lover of all things sweet, said "We must go in!"
Upon entering this pastry and baked good wonderland, I was taken aback by the strange smell. It did not smell like a bakery, and I can't even tell you what it did smell like - but it was not pleasant. So, I don't recommend eating your pastries here - definitely take them to go.
That's if you can ever decide which pastries to purchase! We quizzed the guy behind the counter about all the different little chocolate cakes and pastries they have. And the things he mentioned were just wonderful...dark chocolate, chocolate meringue, coffee cream, milk chocolate, dense chocolate. After much quizzing and much hemming and hawing, I purchased one chocolate meringue type of dessert and one berry tart.
When we ate them later, we were on Cloud Nine. The berry tart's crust was flaky, yet the middle was moist and the berries fresh. The chocolate thing was -- just heavenly.
Prices are not cheap -- I paid $10 plus change for the two items, and the smell in the store itself was a turn-off, thus the 4.5 stars, but if you need to treat yourself or are looking for a fabulous dessert for a dinner party, this should be your place. I'll definitely be back, even though I live across the river. I can hear that berry tart and that chocolate thing calling my name from the other side of the Potomac!
Raised in Tokyo by a mother with a sweet tooth, I'm picky about sweets. Those cakes with sugary sandy frosting just don't do for me. This place is legit. Their cakes are of good size (i.e. not huge) with the right amount of sugar (i.e. not too sweet). They have a showcase full of over 30 different kinds, and they are all very good-looking.
By the way, their chocolate croissant was good but not the best. It tasted like pure butter but still mysteriously somewhat dry. Go for the cakes! The cinnamon croissant was good though. They do have a few chairs, but it's mostly a take-out spot.
So cute! The pastry case was beautiful, I just wanted to take pictures of it.
I went there for cupcakes, though 6 for $14 dollar is pricier than $12 over at Buzz in Alexandria, these are bigger and better. Their red velvet variety is cream filled and Delicious. It was also nice to see some alternative flavors like lemon and orange.
It was so tempting not to get the beautiful swan creme filled puff pastry item--but it looked to lovely to eat!
I
Mmmm, this is good stuff.
After dinner at Crisp & Juicy on the other end of the block, I walked into Pastries by Randolph for a little dessert. While it's not as large as the Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe about a mile down the road, it's a little more selective in its preparation and freshness.
I tried the Oreo Cheesecake. Very nice. The $5.95 tab wasn't cheap, but it was a decent serving that could have been shared by two. A lot of other desserts are pretty tiny, albeit probably quite tasty. The atmosphere is also a little more upscale than Heidelberg, too.
4 stars - Not incredible, but very good. I think most folks would enjoy sampling the goodies here. Like Heidelberg, I wouldn't cross DC to try this place out, but I would definitely come by if you're in the neighborhood.
Two years ago I came here with my husband for our first time and fell in love. Each time I go I try something new, and not once have i been disappointed. Must say my favorite is a toss up between the kugglehaugh, white chocolate mousse cake, or the chocolate lovers cheesecake. They REALLY know how to get your mouth watering, from the moment you view their showcase you will have a tough time choosing one, they are ALL Sooooooo Delicious looking. Any chance you get stop by and try something. You Will not regret it. Also make sure to try the Mango Mousse....Ridiculously Delicious TRUST ME!!!!!!
To do list:
1) Go here,
2) get Pan au Chocolate,
3) be happy.
They have very good prices and the service is great.
Had a cinammon bun for breakfast a few weeks ago. It wasnt very memorable, but there are so many choices here, going back is a must. The folks behind the counter were helpful and on top of things.
Everything is better with butter. I think that must be the motto here at this European-style bakery tucked away in a strip mall in Arlington (with good company: Arrowine, Crisp & Juicy and Kinderhaus Toys). They've been open for over 15 years and I predict...another 15 more, at least!
Their specialty? Got me. It's ALL good. Although I hear that they are known for their hot cross buns. I used to live across the street and would find myself there frequently on Saturday mornings looking for a Brioche au Sucre and a loaf of cinnamon bread. I have bought many a tart, cake, pastry, muffin and cookie here also. All delicious. All highly caloric. Recently, to cheer up a giflfriend who broke up with her boyfriend I dropped off a chocolate flower pot confection filled with chocolate mousse and an edible flower. She loved it. They are now engaged (but I am quite sure it had nothing to do with it). They do wedding cakes too. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE. The cakes are so good, the wedding cakes must be great. Oh Randolph, will you marry me?
I was getting a little sick of going into Georgetown for pastries from Poupon, and then I remembered Randolph's.
It is off the scale delicious. My friend declared that this was "the best" chocolate croissant (and you may know from my other reviews, that my friend is on a mission to try everyone's cholocate croissant). I had the raisin danish this morning.. out of this world!
I have eaten their Hamentashen during purim, and it is head and shoulders above anyone elses. Get your order in early for Hamentashen 'cause it is seasonal.
Their desert case had me excited too. Wonderful cakes and pies..
Their cookies are rediculously priced, and not really worth is, but everything eles (that I have tried) has been outstanding.
A local institution, best baquettes, pastries, cakes.
My family used to come here daily after school for treats, true beauty is seeing all the decadent desserts glistening behind the glass enclave.
Try it, you will not be disapointed.
Came in and asked the lady at the counter what kind of dessert pastry I could get for a dark-chocolate lover. She pulled out what looked like a mini choc mousse cake and said it was a sure-fire winner. It was shiny and looked plasticky, but I thought 'Hey, she's a pro, who am I to disagree?' It tasted shiny and plasticky. I'm not convinced they make deliciousness their first priority.
i am usually ambivalent when it comes to cakes and pastries. why bog myself down in heavy desserts when a refreshing sorbet will do just fine? one word... birthdays. birthdays are the lone occasion, other than weddings, that absolutely necessitate a cake.
for me, a cake should be good enough that it can stand on its own. it shouldn't require the addition of miscellaneous fruits, icing, sprinkles, nuts, or a side of ice cream. the white chocolate mousse cake is one such cake. it is pure. it is seemingly perfect in every way. it is THE cake for me and apparently the group of my friends lucky enough to have consumed it.
the cake is an exercise in balance. the light, fluffy cake portions are separated by a layer of cream with a hint of white chocolate flavor. the top of the cake is covered in a mound of evenly distributed white chocolate shavings.
i tried to make that sound as sophisticated as possible. at the end of the day, the cake cost like $35 (peanuts) and it was really fucking good. they say it's enough to feed 8 to 10 people, i believe them.
This bakery is so ridiculously tasty. You walk in the door and feast your eyes on the cases filled with pastry, cakes, cookies, and you can't help but start to drool like a teething baby.
Every detail from taste to presentation is thought out carefully and can be made to order. Watch out though - its not particularly cheap either! A cupcake will run you $1.30....icing is the best part of it in my opinion. I really like the mini-pie pastry thing filled w/ raspberry or other flavors depending on the day/waht they have left - not sure wht athe real name of it is, but its really good! They also sell smoothies now, which I really enjoy on a hot summer day.
My mom and dad took me here every weekend when I was younger. My mom has a bit of a sweet tooth. She'd eat cake for breakfast if it's in her fridge. I've never had anything bad from here. I'd always get her to buy me a fruit tart.
I returned here with my now-wife to check out Randolph for our wedding cake. Everything is still the same, de-lish. We ended up not going with Randolph, but only because we got a free cake from the hotel. Of course that cake was not as good as anything we could've gotten here.
Pastries by Randolph is a very appropriate name. The do pastries (and related sweets) very well. Some of the best in Arlington, if not all of DC metro. Cakes, pies, tarts, etc. are all excellent. The red velvet cupcakes are so good, I'm like a Pavlovian dog drooling on my laptop as I write this review and think of them. German chocolate cupcakes come in a close second.
Their other offerings are not quite as good. The bread is surprisingly disappointing, especially the baggettes, which lack flavor and can be hard as a rock. The croissants are ok, but Heidelberg up the street does a better one. Gasp! A German bakery does a better croissant than a French one?!?! I will say the filled croissants at Randolph beat Heidelberg's. So maybe we can call a draw on this one.
Bottom line: go for the sweet stuff. Randolph has saved us many times when we need to bring a dessert to a party. After all, who wants to be the shlub that brought the Entemann's cookies from Safeway for dessert?
My favorite cake at Randolph is the chocolate mousse cake. Creamy, not super sweet, moist, just the way I like it. Comes close to my other favorite place: The Alexandria Pastry Shop. I don't make special trips to Randolph, but when I am at Crisp and Juicy getting a chicken breast sandwich with extra sauce, or Lebanese Taverna getting a Beef Shwarma or La Union Grocery Store getting pupusas (Damn I eat a lot), I always have to stop at Randolph's and get a little snack for my sweet tooth and expanding waistline. That little corner has tons of places to eat and I just named all the good stuff so take an afternoon and hit up all my favorite spots on that corner...(for La Union you may have to drive a few blocks or walk and get some excercise after eating that cake..check out my review of La Union for details)
Who wudda thunk -- a genuine French Patisserie in a strip mall in North Arlington!
Everything from Randolph is fantastic. Cholocolate croissants are especially delicious -- buttery with great dark chocolate inside. (unlike Takaki, I do not find them dry at all -- they are fluffy and yummy) Rum raisin danish are amazing. Fruit tarts and cakes are outstanding. Prices are reasonable too, considering the quality. I have placed many special orders and they are always ready on time and done right.
One small note not covered by others -- they are sticklers for copyright law here. If you ask them to reproduce an image on a cake they will decline if there is any chance it violates the copyright laws.
Sufficed to say, i registered with YELP in order to let others know of my experience with this bakery. Where I've heard fairly good things with regard to the taste of their pastries, I had a very offensive experience with a the woman baker. In planning a baby shower, i decided to serve individual pastries with each table setting. Having advised the woman of that and that it was a baby shower, i politely asked her to help me find a suitable pastry/mini cake. From the beginning she asked for how many I needed, I advised- approx. 20. when she then told me that the minimum for the minis are 24 snidely. I obliged and said that this would be fine, however her attitude persisted with every question that I asked until finally she said "how much are you looking to spend??? Each of my pastries are at LEAST $5." At this point I would have spent $8...to make the baby shower memorable however, I could stand the thought of dealing with the woman anymore and said- "Thanks for your help but I'd prefer go with my original idea. " Apparently just one batch of 24 isn't worth the trouble to this bakery...it's a shame, though. A little customer service and personalized attention could have won this consumer over for a lifetime of parties and additional business!
ALMOND CROISSANT IS THE BEST!!! This is our once a month (OK, twice) special weekend treat to the sweet land~ Happy eating!
We ordered our wedding cake from Pastries by Randolph, since they had a partnership with our reception venue, Clyde's of Tysons Corner. My event manager at Clyde's was involved in the majority of the correspondence with Pastries by Randolph, since I was planning my wedding from the West Coast and was not available for taste-testing and visits. I just sent a few photos as examples and gave a description of what I wanted my wedding cake to look like. My husband and I were a little worried about how it would turn out, since we were not very involved in the process, but we were incredibly impressed with the wedding cake that greeted us on our wedding day. Pastries by Randolph concocted the most perfect cherry blossom three-tiered fondant wedding cake for us, more beautiful than we had imagined! Not only was it aesthetically stunning, but delicious as well. Our guests continue to rave about how great the cake tasted and looked even after the wedding. We are really grateful for a truly lovely wedding cake.
A landmark to me in Arlington. Known to most locals as the best place to pick up desert for any occasion. The Apple tart is to die for.
The prices are high, but OMG is it worth it (as long as you like butter and traditional European style pastries). The place is fabulous and the cakes are to die for. They have amazing cookies that are a serious diet weakness for anyone trying to limit their caloric intake to less than 5,000 calories a day.
I love this little bakery! It makes me feel like I'm back in Europe...well, sort of...nothing compares, but it definitely has the small euro feel :) The cookies arent that great, but their other sweets are divine...it's a splurge caloric wise...but hey, live a little. Oh, and their bread was basically gone, so even if i havent tried it, i'm guessing they're good? Just pay it a visit!
My fav place. I like their short cake. My birthday, I always tell my friend, I want strawberry or mixed fruit short cake from Pastries by Randolph. I also like other stuff, too.
not too sweet just right.
I just move away. Right now, I am not seeing any other pastries that good like this one.
Arlington, VA
Category: Bakeries
Washington, DC
Category: Desserts
Arlington, VA
Category: Desserts
Alexandria, VA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: Bakeries
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