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Kara’s Cupcakes
3249 Scott Street (at Chestnut)
San Francisco, California 94123
P 415 563-CAKE (2253)
www.karascupcakes.com
First things first: the cupcakes are tasty. The cake is moist, the frosting is buttery and in generous proportion. These are better cupcakes than many out there, and you can’t go wrong with the lemon.
If I could just shut off my brain and enjoy them, I totally would. Or if magical cupcake elves dropped them at my door and I never had to step into the shop, I wouldn’t complain. However…
Kara’s was a brand new business back in 2006 (I think…) just around the corner from our apartment. I had been stalking the bright pink storefront for quite some time, just itching for it to open and love me. I had very high expectations, let me tell you. I needed a weekday cupcake fix (Chestnut Bakery only makes cupcakes on the weekend…. WHY?), and Kara’s was sure to solve all my problems.
So, B and I walked over to Blockbuster one fine evening, and while walking back, what did I see? A bright shiny and OPEN Kara’s Cupcakes. Delight! B and I were drooling. We walked in the door, proceeded to the counter, and I (somewhat embarrassingly) started rifling off all of the flavors I wanted to the person behind the counter. I got halfway through “Rasberry Dazz…” when I was cut off. The salesperson, who with the feigned accent of Heidi Montag, pronounced “WE’RE CLOSE FOR A PRIVATE PARRRRTYYYYYY!”
No “So sorry”. No apology whatsoever.
I’ll admit it, I started to get indignant. I am a stickler for customer service, and won’t tolerate being treated badly in a store. I responded, “Oh really? Says who?”
Evil Heidi spawn, “Huh?”
Me: “If you are closed, you should have a sign on the door. No one should have even let us walk through the door.”
She: “Ummmmm… OKAAAAAAAAAAAY”
So, very very dejectedly we left Kara’s cupcakes, and I cursed all the way home.
I will admit that I was lured back to Kara’s once after that (months later, after I regained some of my dignity). The buttercream siren song was just too much to bear. The ‘cakes were good, I’ll admit. But the whole time I was there, I thought of the evil spawn, and it kinda effected the whole experience, you know? Funny follow up: was recently waiting in line at Magnolia Bakery in NYC next to a woman who was going on and on about Kara’s and how fabulous they are. I looked at her, said “Eh, they’re OK. Kara is a bitch”.
Pros:
• Cake’s are good
Cons:
• Service is the worst ever.
• Parking is a nightmare
Bottom Line:
Go here only M-F. If you’re jonesing for a cupcake on the weekend, trek a few blocks down Chestnut street to the Chestnut Bakery and treat yourself to some real honest delicious bakery goodness. The people there are lovely.
