Whether you're looking for a romantic cafe, a place to treat your friends to, or an exquisite birthday cake for a family member, you won't be disappointed in Extraordinary Desserts. This 5th Avenue Bankers Hill bakery was opened by Pastry Chef Karen Krasne in 1988, and has been a local hit ever since. With mouthwatering, hand-crafted, organic and decadent cakes, pastries, danishes, cookies, and ice cream-- plus a full espresso bar to-boot-- Extraordinary Desserts is just the place to feed your sweet tooth. This cozy, quaint little cafe boasts an astonishing 400+ item menu, so every time you visit make sure to try something different as their menu is constantly changing depending on seasonal ingredients, holidays, and new creations. Prepare to say "yum!"
Extraordinary Desserts
For me, this is the only place to "dessert" in San Diego. The owner is a genius with everything sweet - love the ambiance, teas, coffees, espressos, brownies, cookies, citron presse drinks...I only wish they were in every neighborhood in San Diego...
Twice we had picked up dessert for dinner parties and were disappointed. We found them to be amateurish and over the top. We are new to town we decided to give them another try at the suggestion of a friend. Planned to order several items for a large party. Called on a Monday morning and were treated very rudely by the owner. It seems that they were busy and didn’t want to be bothered. Bottom line. It seems some in San Diego are gullible enough to be fooled by the flowers & garland that decorate these Less Than Ordinary Desserts.
Despite all the fanfare of this "restaurant," the desserts you would find at upscale restaurants are better (taste and presentation). This place has appeal because it is trendy and chic, but as for the desserts, sorry to say, I have had better in San Diego. I came here with a friend and some family and friends who were visiting San Diego because I believed it would capture the spirit of San Diego. Sadly, dissapointment... For example, the blood orange pie/torte didn't come with a blood orange slice on top like the other pieces so I went to the staff to ask maybe we received the wrong piece. I was rudly laughed and snickered at from a staff member. For some reason, this place has a snobby feel to it. Yet, as for the drinks (coffee, etc.), there is a wide array of choices and they are great. I ordered a $3 cola but I was not disappointed at all, all worth the $3. Check out the tea selections. There is also a section in the restaurant where you stand in line where there are opportunities to buy "tourist" items such as tea tins, chocolates, cookies, fudge, etc. And yes, this place is designed for tourists and the "trendy" crowd in Hillcrest but don't let that make you come here; you have noting to lose by going somewhere else. Expect a long wait:upwards of 30 minutes on weekdays; and on weekends? you really don't want to know.
I've tried this place twice now and I can say that both times, the desserts looked fabulous but tasted blah. I won't give it another try. Too much money wasted already.
This place is overrated and overpriced and has succumbed to its own publicity. The display windows were dirty and difficult to see the desserts through. The cakes were all turned frosting side out so that you really couldn't see what the inside would be like and the staff made it seem as if it would be a terrible inconvenience to turn the cakes around. The desserts were uninspired, the prices were ludicrous, the portions just small to average. For a much better selection at better prices, with no wait, go to the nearest Vons bakery and have a good time.
Although the desserts are a feast for the eyes, the counterhelp is slow and surly. Customers were treated as a bothersome inconvenience. Ordered a chocolate biscotti -- crumbly texture and if it weren't for the slight bitterness, it wouldn't have had any taste at all.
We went all the way from LA tonite just to hit the "famous" Extraordinary dessert and we've got there at 11.05 PM (Sat nite, they close at midnight). The manager started to send guests home because they were closing at midnight. I nicely requested her to let us ordered and stayed before she mentioned that they were going to close in 55 minutes and no other service will be provided. What a sucks service!! I dont think restaurants OR EVEN CAFEs start sending guests home 55 minutes before it closes??? Sorry, but no more coming back!!!!!!
