McArthur's Bakery and The Pioneer Cafe

Could not have been more elated to have McArthur’s make my grandfather’s birthday cake for his 100th birthday. At no charge due to the centennial celebration, they took on my order for a full sheet cake, with a week’s notice and made it not only beautiful but incredibly delicious. Every guest was raving about it! Would 1000% recommend McArthur’s. Beyond pleased! This experience furthered my love and loyalty for this small but iconic St. Louis business.

Food: 5

Service: 5

Poor choice of donuts available. Disappointed.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

I ordered a cake for my sons birthday and OMG first of all, it was delicious but we all knew it would be, right?? Secondly it was so beautifully scary it was a crowd pleaser tastefully and visually.... Stunning!!!!! Thank U all once again for an amazing cake!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We have stopped here many many times over the years and it is progressively gotten worse the last two times. The food is unedible. Staff is awesome. Atmosphere is awesome food horrendous

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

Make sure every little detail to the T is on the contract. Get it rewritten until exactly like you want word for word. Get a model of the cake made with something. Especially, if you're doing something that hasn't been done before. Was recommended by parents of the bride as they used them for their wedding. They were distraught at how everything turned out in the end. Probably a good idea to capture everything as a voice recording as you never know. Seems like about 25% of what was said was actually written down. Whether that was in the notes they had or the actual contract. They've lost the flowers that were supposed to go on the cake. We're lucky that the mini dog figure of our pet was on the cake but no where it specified on pictures with the contract. I would've raised this to at least 3 stars had there been a partial refund. That's pretty much the summary of my experience and I don't think I've had any sort of an experience like this, not even compared to McDonalds.

Parking: Make sure you drive a truck that's at least got 10 inches ground clearance or more. It's a doozy getting in and out of their parking lot.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Gift Basket

We absolutely loved the experience of picking out our wedding cake, and then having that cake the day of. We definitely recommend the amaretto flavor!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We ordered our daughter her 21st Birthday Cake here and I didn’t know what I wanted, I just wanted something not childish but feminine. McArthurs Bakery did amazing! The cake was an ombré rosette with pinks/oranges … and, let me tell you.. the 10” round chocolate cake with buttercream icing was the best cake we have ever eaten! So moist! Seriously 2 days later and the cake is still moist! My daughter wants to know what the secret ingredient is to keep the cake this moist! Thank you to your staff for helping me figure out what to order and then to the staff that made it happen AND made this cake beautiful, feminine and one that a 21year old appreciated! We will be repeat customers! Thank you! Thank you!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Doughnut, Cupcake, Danish, Wedding Cake

Unfortunately, I'll never go to McArthur's again. Having grown up in South County, I was so excited to learn that they delivered to St. Charles, where I live now, so I was thrilled to use them again for a bridal shower I was throwing.

I ordered the cake months in advance, toward the end of July 2024, for an October party. The young person who took my intake seemed a little unsure about what she was doing, and that should have been my first tip off. I explained what I wanted (see first photo, handwritten notes - spooky / elegant / fall theme for bridal shower, shades of purprle, add flowers, "Congratulations Dani"). The order person and I discussed the theme and looked up some photos on Pinterest while I was there. I mentioned that the decorators could call me if needed for clarification, because I really wasn't confident in the order person's abilities. I then called a few days prior to delivery to confirm the details and to make it clear, again, that this was for a bridal shower. The cake was delivered on time by a very nice gentleman.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the box and saw a literal HAUNTED HOUSE. This is a Halloween cake, not even close to a bridal shower cake. It looks nice, but again, absolutely NOT APPROPRIATE for a bridal shower. As you can see on the second photo (delivery invoice), it was never noted anywhere that there should be flowers, and "fall theme" was also omitted. Even still, I'm at a loss how we got a haunted house from "spooky, elegant, purple" bridal shower theme.

I called and spoke with a nice woman who advised that she or the manager would call me back.

Holly the manager called me back, but was clearly already upset. She kept interrupting me, and told me that if I could bring the cake in in the next 35-40 minutes, they could "add some flowers". Well, again, I live in St. Charles and it was going to be unlikely that I would make that time frame. Then Holly explained to me how this was my fault, because I didn't provide any pictures, the invitation, or guidance. I told her that the girl I placed the order with never suggested that I bring in an invitation, and that she didn't really seem to think that this was going to be a problem. It just totally shocked me how Holly seemed to want to pass the buck. Like, of course I didn't know what to put on the cake. I'm not a cake decorator. That's why I paid over $100 to go to the professionals.

By this point, my mild amusement had shifted to anger, just based on Holly's "not our fault" reaction. I told her that bringing the cake it at this point wasn't going to be good enough, and that I wanted a replacement. She put me on hold, and then came back a few minutes later and said that they couldn't get me a new cake, but they'd refund my purchase. Well, okay, but I still don't have an appropriate cake. When I asked again about bringing the cake in to have flowers added like she had said, Holly advised that this was no longer on the table. I told her that I was going to come bring the cake in because that's what she told me I could do, and then she said I was threatening her, hung up on me, and then the store refused to answer the phone when I called back.

I then called the Kirkwood store and spoke with Bree, who was much more pleasant. She said she'd do some investigating and someone would call me back.

Holly then called me back again, and was less rude but still interrupted me frequently. She confirmed that I'd still be getting a refund, and said I could bring the cake back in and "the general manager who is not a decorator" could add some pre-made flowers to it in the morning, but then I'd have to drive back in to get it before the shower. At this point, I don't know if the time and the gas would be worth this half-measure.
<

Beautiful pastry, helpful staff, & great parking.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Cupcake, Danish, Veggie Omelet

Sarah was amazing we really loved her help ❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

When I patronized this very good establishment today I was told twice by two different employees when I paid and was leaving, “there you go”. Excuse me but whatever happened to “Thank you”.
I know I am leaving. I don’t need someone to tell to leave.
People just need to learn some manners and courtesy.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

Super chocolaty mocha frappe.. local business support..yes!

Highly recommend McArthur's! My wife and I chose them to bake our wedding cake. It was so fun to do the tasting and on our wedding day they delivered the cake on time and it was absolutely perfect! we got the amaretto flavor!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Wedding Cake

Ordered biscuits and gravy it was different but great food perfectly cooked eggs

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Biscuits & Gravy

They did my son’s baptism cake exactly how I wanted! It tasted so good too. We come here often for breakfast, it’s always so good. The goat cheese omelette is the best!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5