My friend had an incredibly disappointing experience with this baker. Not only was the quality of the baked goods subpar, but the whole interaction was unprofessional and frustrating. When she voiced concerns about the order, the baker responded with nothing but defensiveness and excuses, claiming that as an "artist," her decisions were final. I understand the value of creativity, but there’s no excuse for rude behavior and a complete lack of customer service. If you're looking for someone who can handle feedback and deliver quality with professionalism, this is not the baker for you. Definitely won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kristina Lopez
My sister bought my birthday cake from this bakery and was not given what she ordered. When my sister addressed this the owner responded with rudeness stating that it’s “her art”. No sir your job is to make what you agreed to make when the costumer ordered it. To add insult to injury the cake wasn’t even good. The cake was dry, dense and there was barely any filling. An embarrassment for humankind and bakers. Save yourself your money and read the many one star reviews that show their lack of humanity.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Rebekah Lopez
My mistake from ordering here was assuming that 4.1/5 stars meant that I would get a decent cake and service.
I placed my order with Drew. I requested a green and gold cake with edible flowers, filled with vanilla custard, strawberries, and bananas, and a pick up between 2-3pm. However there were issues not just with the cake, but the co-owner Sara.
I arrived at 2:15ish and was told by Sara the cake is nowhere near done. After a short conversation we agreed to 4. I returned and asked to look at the cake before walking out with it only to find cake was not made in the way that was discussed. Wrong color and real flowers instead of edible. I told her what was wrong and suggested an adjustment. I was hit with a rude response “you don’t know what looks good, if you have an issue talk to the guy, i don’t care what you wanted, i know what’s going to look better, you’re not getting a refund”
Not getting to a resolution, i got my wife to talk to her. My wife was greeted with the same disrespectful shouting. My wife requested we get a refund and was responded with too bad. We had to leave unsettled because we had a party to get to.
I got a call from Drew apologizing for her actions, and an “explanation” ‘you have to understand this an art and she thought it would be nicer, the cake isn’t always going to come out perfectly like the references’ He gave me a 50% refund and we left it at that.
Even with the refund, it was not worth it. The cake was super dry and barely had any filling. Crazy to go through all this for a disappointing cake. Was your ‘professional/artistic’ opinion that the real flowers looked better or were you actually just running out of time?
Don’t waste your time here. Sara i hope you treat every customer like we were treated and see how your business continues.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Charles
This review reflects only a cake I ate a slice of as well as a negative experience my step daughter related. First things first is the cake. I was not impressed with the texture and taste. Although I am not one to eat cake, I will have a slice. Most cakes of the caliber Stuffbynj appears to portray are usually very nice on the outside, and also fresh, moist, and tasty inside. This was a 2 layer birthday cake and probably 8" tall and 8" round white cake my step-daughter ordered. I was not impressed at all with the dryness of the cake itself which reflected on the taste. I don't know how much filling this establishment usually places between layers, however for the price they initially were sellling it for it needed more of each of the 3 flavors so I could actually taste each flavor. So the 2 stars reflects what is, in my opinion, the cake rates for with taste, texture, and flavor. As for the experience my step-daughter had, I am very disappointed that the order placed and documented in text messages is not what she and her mother wanted and was then ordered. when a customer orders a certain color and edible option be added, this is a non-negotiable, unless something different is agreed on. Artistic designs are okay only when agreed upon. The cake was to have edible flowers. Real flowers were instead used. Gold was to be used for a reason, and was left out, then when noticed a simple sprinkle of gold was placed on it. from what I understand, the owner knew what was ordered but instead used artististic creativity to change our cake without consultation. This is not customer service. This is customer disservice.
Food: 2
Service: 2
Ivana
I emailed Drew about redeeming a gift certificate I purchased for one of their baking events. He kept telling me that they don't have any events coming up & kept asking me to pay additional $100+ for "private event" instead, that I said I did not want. After several emails he told me to give him a call. As soon as he picked up the phone, he started yelling at me, not letting me speak, and saying insulting things like: "I'm waiting here for you to say something worth listening to". I repeatedly asked him to "kindly stop yelling at me & to let me speak". He refused, continued to yell & then hung up. Needless to say, my gift certificate will go to waste. This unprovoked outburst of aggression over the phone, at a customer who you have never even met, was shocking. I've never experienced such treatment in my life. I never write negative reviews, but this experience left me so shaken that I felt I had to. I am shocked that there are people who treat others so viciously, let alone a paying customer. My family will never step foot in this store.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Marie Connell
Dear Sir,
I hired you to make my daughter’s baptism cake. I was very excited for this celebration which is why I spent so much on this cake which was $850. Unfortunately, I experienced a horrible family emergency that has not only prevented me and my daughter traveling to New Jersey for her baptism and celebration, but has prevented me from also being able to do so in the foreseeable future.
It made me very sad that we could not come to a negotiation on a partial refund. The situation I was in and still am in has been turbulent and forced my life and my daughter’s life to be suddenly uprooted. In a time where I needed compassion, I did not receive it in a way that I was expecting. You have only offered a 90 day credit for $850 that I will not be able to use because of my circumstance and because of this, it has saddened me that we have not been able to seek a different resolution.
I believe a 50% refund would be fair since I believe there was time and consideration exhausted on designing the cake, as well as man hours and money spent on shopping for the ingredients. I also understand you may have needed to turn away other business in order to have secured September 22nd to have the cake ready by. Thus, I believe 50% is fair and just.
I believe $425 is an adequate amount to keep for a cake that was never baked and covers man hours, cost of ingredients, supplies, and still turns a profit for you and your business.
I would very much like to come to a reasonable agreement where my position and feelings are taken into consideration with your counter offer or agreement to my proposal.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and taking what I have to say into consideration.
I am willing to take what you have into consideration as well. Please feel free to reach out via email, text, or phone call.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Murray Connell
What a nightmare, beware ordering from this place! We had to cancel with multiple days notice and they refuse to do anything besides pocket the money. They claim the ingredients were bought specifically for our cake and cannot be used for another.
Paul Alves
I would like to reinforce the review by Rosa.
The ethical thing to do here is to be a human being and realize that this type of poor decision will ultimately affect future business and referrals. How can you keep over $800 and not actually ever provide a product or service. This is being short sighted and truly defines a business owner. You can't say your a local business in the community when you act without any compassion for a family that had an emergency that was completely out of their control. Try adding trust as an ingredient in you business, it defines you!!! Go somewhere else, they aren't the only specialty cake bakery.
Rajiv Mallikage
Horrible cancellation experience, these people are crooks!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Rosa Alves
Reached out a week in advance to cancel a cake order, due to a family emergency, that we prepaid over $800 for and were refused any reimbursement. They told us they purchased the ingredients in advance and couldn’t use it for another order. That is ridiculous. You can’t use eggs, flour, sugar, etc. for another cake. Every other vendor worked with us during this trying time but they were totally unsympathetic. Pocketed the entire amount for doing nothing. Be cautious and use a reputable bakery that doesn’t steal your money. They get zero stars from me!
Adding insult to injury, the owner calls my daughter to curse her out! Crude behavior from a business owner. Shame on you! Don’t do business with this establishment. Go somewhere else for peace of mind.
SJ and her husband are the dream team! I stumbled upon them in trying to find a place who can make vintage style wedding cakes, regular and gluten free, in the Montclair area. Once I spoke with them, they easily accommodated everything I asked for and for a very great price. Not only did we get a chance to go in to try all the cakes, frostings and fillings, included in the total, but we also got to meet them and their family, who are so sweet, welcoming and down to earth people (really making it worth the $$$ in helping and supporting small businesses/their family). SJ also makes all the cakes, icings and filings from scratch-delicious!! On the day of my wedding, the cakes were just ask expected and beyond our expectations!!! Highly recommend them not only just for weddings but any cakes for any special occasion!!!!
My custom cake came out absolutely amazing! The chef worked her amazing super powers to make a miracle piece then her husband carefully wrapped it to perfection for me to bring it home! This is the absolute best decision you can possibly make when choosing a cake shop
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tameca
This Bakery is the Icing on the Cake! Stuff by SJ has officially stolen my heart (and my stomach!). From the moment you step inside, the aroma of freshly baked goodness washes over you, and you know you’re in for a treat. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They were happy to answer my questions and offer recommendations.
Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janine McNulty
This family ran bakery is AMAZING! A friend got me in touch with them and I sent a few ideas in to them on a last minute hope to find the perfect wedding cake- and what they created was better than I imagined! They also delivered and set it up in the perfect spot (which was the opposite area the venue had suggested and it was the best safest place!) Now the cake was not only beautiful it was also mouth watering delicious! 5 STARS!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wilmarie Salazar
I love ❤️ this place my son is autistic and likes cake a certain way I have order 4 and even joined them for event to create one by far the best mountclair has !!! Catch them at pride
My friend had an incredibly disappointing experience with this baker. Not only was the quality of the baked goods subpar, but the whole interaction was unprofessional and frustrating. When she voiced concerns about the order, the baker responded with nothing but defensiveness and excuses, claiming that as an "artist," her decisions were final. I understand the value of creativity, but there’s no excuse for rude behavior and a complete lack of customer service. If you're looking for someone who can handle feedback and deliver quality with professionalism, this is not the baker for you. Definitely won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
My sister bought my birthday cake from this bakery and was not given what she ordered. When my sister addressed this the owner responded with rudeness stating that it’s “her art”. No sir your job is to make what you agreed to make when the costumer ordered it. To add insult to injury the cake wasn’t even good. The cake was dry, dense and there was barely any filling. An embarrassment for humankind and bakers.
Save yourself your money and read the many one star reviews that show their lack of humanity.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
My mistake from ordering here was assuming that 4.1/5 stars meant that I would get a decent cake and service.
I placed my order with Drew. I requested a green and gold cake with edible flowers, filled with vanilla custard, strawberries, and bananas, and a pick up between 2-3pm. However there were issues not just with the cake, but the co-owner Sara.
I arrived at 2:15ish and was told by Sara the cake is nowhere near done. After a short conversation we agreed to 4. I returned and asked to look at the cake before walking out with it only to find cake was not made in the way that was discussed. Wrong color and real flowers instead of edible. I told her what was wrong and suggested an adjustment. I was hit with a rude response “you don’t know what looks good, if you have an issue talk to the guy, i don’t care what you wanted, i know what’s going to look better, you’re not getting a refund”
Not getting to a resolution, i got my wife to talk to her. My wife was greeted with the same disrespectful shouting. My wife requested we get a refund and was responded with too bad. We had to leave unsettled because we had a party to get to.
I got a call from Drew apologizing for her actions, and an “explanation” ‘you have to understand this an art and she thought it would be nicer, the cake isn’t always going to come out perfectly like the references’ He gave me a 50% refund and we left it at that.
Even with the refund, it was not worth it. The cake was super dry and barely had any filling. Crazy to go through all this for a disappointing cake. Was your ‘professional/artistic’ opinion that the real flowers looked better or were you actually just running out of time?
Don’t waste your time here. Sara i hope you treat every customer like we were treated and see how your business continues.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This review reflects only a cake I ate a slice of as well as a negative experience my step daughter related. First things first is the cake. I was not impressed with the texture and taste. Although I am not one to eat cake, I will have a slice. Most cakes of the caliber Stuffbynj appears to portray are usually very nice on the outside, and also fresh, moist, and tasty inside. This was a 2 layer birthday cake and probably 8" tall and 8" round white cake my step-daughter ordered. I was not impressed at all with the dryness of the cake itself which reflected on the taste. I don't know how much filling this establishment usually places between layers, however for the price they initially were sellling it for it needed more of each of the 3 flavors so I could actually taste each flavor. So the 2 stars reflects what is, in my opinion, the cake rates for with taste, texture, and flavor. As for the experience my step-daughter had, I am very disappointed that the order placed and documented in text messages is not what she and her mother wanted and was then ordered. when a customer orders a certain color and edible option be added, this is a non-negotiable, unless something different is agreed on. Artistic designs are okay only when agreed upon. The cake was to have edible flowers. Real flowers were instead used. Gold was to be used for a reason, and was left out, then when noticed a simple sprinkle of gold was placed on it. from what I understand, the owner knew what was ordered but instead used artististic creativity to change our cake without consultation. This is not customer service. This is customer disservice.
Food: 2
Service: 2
I emailed Drew about redeeming a gift certificate I purchased for one of their baking events. He kept telling me that they don't have any events coming up & kept asking me to pay additional $100+ for "private event" instead, that I said I did not want. After several emails he told me to give him a call. As soon as he picked up the phone, he started yelling at me, not letting me speak, and saying insulting things like: "I'm waiting here for you to say something worth listening to". I repeatedly asked him to "kindly stop yelling at me & to let me speak". He refused, continued to yell & then hung up. Needless to say, my gift certificate will go to waste. This unprovoked outburst of aggression over the phone, at a customer who you have never even met, was shocking. I've never experienced such treatment in my life. I never write negative reviews, but this experience left me so shaken that I felt I had to. I am shocked that there are people who treat others so viciously, let alone a paying customer. My family will never step foot in this store.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dear Sir,
I hired you to make my daughter’s baptism cake. I was very excited for this celebration which is why I spent so much on this cake which was $850. Unfortunately, I experienced a horrible family emergency that has not only prevented me and my daughter traveling to New Jersey for her baptism and celebration, but has prevented me from also being able to do so in the foreseeable future.
It made me very sad that we could not come to a negotiation on a partial refund. The situation I was in and still am in has been turbulent and forced my life and my daughter’s life to be suddenly uprooted. In a time where I needed compassion, I did not receive it in a way that I was expecting. You have only offered a 90 day credit for $850 that I will not be able to use because of my circumstance and because of this, it has saddened me that we have not been able to seek a different resolution.
I believe a 50% refund would be fair since I believe there was time and consideration exhausted on designing the cake, as well as man hours and money spent on shopping for the ingredients. I also understand you may have needed to turn away other business in order to have secured September 22nd to have the cake ready by. Thus, I believe 50% is fair and just.
I believe $425 is an adequate amount to keep for a cake that was never baked and covers man hours, cost of ingredients, supplies, and still turns a profit for you and your business.
I would very much like to come to a reasonable agreement where my position and feelings are taken into consideration with your counter offer or agreement to my proposal.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and taking what I have to say into consideration.
I am willing to take what you have into consideration as well. Please feel free to reach out via email, text, or phone call.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
What a nightmare, beware ordering from this place! We had to cancel with multiple days notice and they refuse to do anything besides pocket the money. They claim the ingredients were bought specifically for our cake and cannot be used for another.
I would like to reinforce the review by Rosa.
The ethical thing to do here is to be a human being and realize that this type of poor decision will ultimately affect future business and referrals. How can you keep over $800 and not actually ever provide a product or service. This is being short sighted and truly defines a business owner. You can't say your a local business in the community when you act without any compassion for a family that had an emergency that was completely out of their control. Try adding trust as an ingredient in you business, it defines you!!! Go somewhere else, they aren't the only specialty cake bakery.
Horrible cancellation experience, these people are crooks!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Reached out a week in advance to cancel a cake order, due to a family emergency, that we prepaid over $800 for and were refused any reimbursement. They told us they purchased the ingredients in advance and couldn’t use it for another order. That is ridiculous. You can’t use eggs, flour, sugar, etc. for another cake. Every other vendor worked with us during this trying time but they were totally unsympathetic. Pocketed the entire amount for doing nothing. Be cautious and use a reputable bakery that doesn’t steal your money. They get zero stars from me!
Adding insult to injury, the owner calls my daughter to curse her out! Crude behavior from a business owner. Shame on you! Don’t do business with this establishment. Go somewhere else for peace of mind.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
SJ and her husband are the dream team! I stumbled upon them in trying to find a place who can make vintage style wedding cakes, regular and gluten free, in the Montclair area. Once I spoke with them, they easily accommodated everything I asked for and for a very great price. Not only did we get a chance to go in to try all the cakes, frostings and fillings, included in the total, but we also got to meet them and their family, who are so sweet, welcoming and down to earth people (really making it worth the $$$ in helping and supporting small businesses/their family). SJ also makes all the cakes, icings and filings from scratch-delicious!! On the day of my wedding, the cakes were just ask expected and beyond our expectations!!! Highly recommend them not only just for weddings but any cakes for any special occasion!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wedding Cake, Celebration Cakes
My custom cake came out absolutely amazing! The chef worked her amazing super powers to make a miracle piece then her husband carefully wrapped it to perfection for me to bring it home! This is the absolute best decision you can possibly make when choosing a cake shop
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This Bakery is the Icing on the Cake!
Stuff by SJ has officially stolen my heart (and my stomach!). From the moment you step inside, the aroma of freshly baked goodness washes over you, and you know you’re in for a treat. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They were happy to answer my questions and offer recommendations.
Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This family ran bakery is AMAZING! A friend got me in touch with them and I sent a few ideas in to them on a last minute hope to find the perfect wedding cake- and what they created was better than I imagined! They also delivered and set it up in the perfect spot (which was the opposite area the venue had suggested and it was the best safest place!) Now the cake was not only beautiful it was also mouth watering delicious! 5 STARS!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love ❤️ this place my son is autistic and likes cake a certain way I have order 4 and even joined them for event to create one by far the best mountclair has !!! Catch them at pride
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake Cup, Wedding Cake, Strawberry Cake Cup, Cake Popsicles, Birthday Cake
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