Chanel Gray
Pearl's is the go-to wedding cake vendor for a reason. I searched for months until several people recommended Pearl's to me. I scheduled a tasting and the rest is history. The tasting was a no pressure, delicious time. We were able to sample several flavors. The staff was so nice and accommodating. We placed our order that day but were not required to pay. We made changes up until the days before our wedding with no issue and superior customer service. Now. Let's talk about our wedding cake. Best cake we've ever had. We are no doubt ordering the same cake for our anniversary. (We also had vegan and gluten-free options for several guests, so that's a nice bonus so everyone can enjoy!). Photos @cschmidtphoto
Megan Bishop
When thinking about favors to give our guests at our wedding, my husband & I wanted to give our guests something everyone would enjoy & incorporate RVA in some way and we landed on Pearls cookies! The staff at Pearls was absolutely amazing to work with. They patiently sat with us at the consultation meeting and provided great suggestions as we designed each cookie. Our guests absolutely loved them & everyone kept telling us how gorgeous & delicious they were! Highly recommend!!
Sarah George
I ordered cupcakes for our grand opening event at work, and they were a hit! We got a dozen plain jane and a dozen black and white cupcakes, all vegan and gluten-free. I love that as someone who is plant-based, I had many options to pick from, including ones that were gluten-free for some of my colleagues.
Danielle Rudolph
I ordered cupcakes for holiday gifts today, and bought 2 extra cupcakes to try them out, as we are from out of town. Wow, my cupcake was amazing! It was so fresh, moist, and tasted like I made it in my home kitchen. Beautifully packaged and made wonderful gifts!
Chelsy Amrhein
Today was my second trip to Pearl's, after some delicious red velvet and peanut butter chocolate cupcake on my anniversary I decided to try again. I am gluten free due to celiac and have a very difficult time finding baked goods I can eat. I stopped by today and got the GF wedding cake with the raspberry and a couple others. The frosting on the GF strawberry shortcake was literally the best frosting I have ever had with how light and fluffy and delicious it was, the cake of the royal wedding cake was delicious and almost savory while still being sweet and satisfying ! I'm so glad I discovered Pearl's, my GF requirement has become so much more tolerable! Thank you!!
ETA: I have been a Pearls loyalist for YEARS now, birthdays are incomplete without Pearls. The gluten free scones are TO DIE FOR!!! I typically end up breaking off pieces of the scone on my way home, they're too good to wait! Love love love love đź’•
Stephanie Larsen
4.5, I get a coffee flavored cake from Pearl's twice a year for both my mom and me. This year we got Mocha Madness and it was super yummy. A little light on the coffee in the cake itself but the the moist/dense cake and light coffee icing made up for it. I was nervous about ordering this year because the shop changed ownership at the beginning of the month but I ordered the cake online a week early and the cake was ready to go with no issues. I ONLY ever ordered chocolate cake/ cupcakes from Pearl's because the yellow and other not chocolate flavors have always been hard/ dry, lacking in flavor and just not great. Cake was definitely more expensive this year than last.
It was all justified with one bite..... Hopefully with the ownership change everything on the menu will be amazing! Thanks for my cake!
McKenna Hall
Absolutely love Pearl’s Bake Shoppe! This team was amazing and accommodating to my husband and I’s vision for our wedding. The cake was so incredible - our guests couldn’t stop talking about it! I highly recommend them for your future events!
Grace Cooper
I placed an order one month in advance for 24 cupcakes (half vanilla, half carrot cake) for my brother and SIL’s baby shower. I picked them up and was informed that only half of the order had been made. They were able to give me a gluten-free version of the ones missing (from the display case), and I had enough that I left with a full 24 cupcakes. Everything tasted amazing and everyone at the shower raved about how good they were. I understand they probably have many many orders to keep track of. That being said, this was my first time here and it was not the best first impression to be missing half an order. I would come here for periodic treats, but I am not sure if I would order another full batch in the future!
Samiyyah W.
This place is dangerous in a positive way. I loved the variety in cupcakes from regular to gluten free vegan to lots of different flavors. I tried the strawberry champagne and it was tasty. I also bought the red velvet cake and strawberry shortcake (gluten free). My dad said the red velvet was yummy!
The service was friendly and the store is cute to sit and enjoy a coffee with your cupcake. I’ll definitely visit again. 💛💛💛
Photo of one missing from the box. Lol couldn’t wait to dig in.
Charles Jones
We had Pearl's cupcakes and a small two-tier cake for our wedding in May. The cake and cupcakes were beautiful and delicious, they were a big hit. However, the communication, booking process, and everything leading up to our big day was a mess. We had done a tasting and it was very unclear what flavor combinations would have up-charges, what could be done as cake vs cupcake, and what specially cupcake flavors were available. Following our tasting we signed the contract. Months later when it was time to finalize everything, we reached out and they had lost the contract. It took many phone calls and several hours wasted with employees and managers to locate the contract. The entire process was challenging, the manager was kind but very difficult to get ahold of. Hopefully, the communication and process has improved since then.
Kyra Gustwick Photography Support Staff
I loved working with Pearl's Bakeshop on June 27th, 2020 for the Sackson's wedding! The desserts served at this wedding was out of this world! I’m a sucker for cupcakes, and they really delivered. Can’t wait to taste their work again!
Eleanor Towers
The best cupcakes in town! Both the cake and icing are delicious!!! But what was equally impressive was the customer service. They were responsive, will deliver the wedding cake to Charlottesville and were so accommodating during the tasting.
Hyde Loupassi
Pearl’s Bake Shoppe is a wonderful local bakery. I put in an order of mini cupcakes for a luncheon. They were exquisitely made and absolutely delicious. I will be back for more. The butter cream icing is to die for! The NEW owners are fantastic and provide excellent customer service!
Lauren
We ordered a variety of cupcakes and a small cutting cake from Pearl’s for our wedding. The tasting Kiyanna put together for us beforehand was fantastic- it was delicious, informational, and really helpful in choosing the flavors we wanted. They were easily accommodating to make some of our cupcakes gluten-free, and made sure each of those boxes were well-labeled. They even set aside a small box of cupcakes to be put in the bride and groom’s suite on our wedding night, such a wonderful touch! And of course, our guests raved about how amazing all of the cupcakes were! Thanks to Pearl’s for making our big day so sweet!
sushma govindaswamy
Love love love it!!! I absolutely loved the way they got my custom order! I had specific ideas about not having a typical pink birthday cake for my daughter. I ordered a chocolate cake with strawberry filling and vanilla buttercream icing. It was delicious!
Rachel and Juliana their customer service representatives were absolutely delightful, they were patient and friendly in handling my request over the phone. And hats off to Michelle, the baker- am assuming it’s Michelle, since she was handling my emails.
Highly recommend Pearl Bake Shoppe!
Lauren Brocious Oberholtzer
You haven’t lived until you try Pearl’s. All of my out of town visitors are more excited to visit Pearl’s than to see us. I have a gluten allergy and their gluten free cupcakes taste like they have come from heaven. I know people who aren’t even vegan or gluten sensitive who order the gluten free/vegan cupcakes because they are so darn good.
FA
Extremely unprofessional! We order our wedding cake and everything was going as planned. A month before the wedding I called to find out final price and make sure everything is as planned. Mary said that because its a holiday weekend even though we had agreed to pay and EXTRA $150 dollars to have it baked and delivered Sunday they won't do it. My only option was to pick up the cake Saturday, take it to the hotel (we live 2 1/2 away from Richmond), keep it in my hotel room, and us bring it to the venue the following day.<br/><br/>What kind of suggestion is that?!<br/><br/>We don't want to do that, and risk braking the cake. We called back and ask for deposit refund of $180 dollars, they said NO. We suggested to $180 dollars worth of cupcakes and they also said NO. They said we can only get the entire cake worth of cupcakes or no money back.<br/><br/>This was the first and last time we contact them. <br/><br/>I will never recommend them to anyone, specially to rely on them to supply a cake or any type of sweets for such an important event.
Smithlg
Extremely Rude, I will not return. I went to Pearl's and they were extremely rude. I was there around 4pm (they close at 530). There were three people behind the counter and no one besides my mother and me in the shop. We asked a few questions about the various flavors but the sales associates were rude and gave us the minimum information for the answer. Furthermore, my mother is handicapped and in a wheelchair. They did little to accommodate us maneuvering in and out of the tiny door. My mother could barely see the cupcakes in the shelf because of her wheelchair as well. Once again, they were unhelpful and rude. We will not return. We'll take our business elsewhere!
Sunnyrae
I have sampled many a cupcake. Pearl's has the best. THE BEST. They are always moist. They are never too cloyingly sweet. Fresh, beautiful and delicious! Yum!
Jenny
They did not deliver my sister in laws top tier cake for their wedding, in spite of it being on order. When we were notified, 4 hours before the wedding and 7 hours before the cake was cut, Pearls response was basically an unsympathetic "sorry we don't have time to fix it." That left the bride and groom in a panic. They had to resort to having a groomsmen watch my child while I ran to 3 different grochery stores begging for any kind of white cake for them to cut. Then 3 days after the wedding, the bride finally got a hold of the owner who said quite rudely "sorry" and only refunded their $15 delivery fee. They had enough time to go and bake a small 6 inch cake before the cake cutting. Even if it was not on the original order, pearls should have stepped up and helped on such an important day. Instead pearls didn't provide a completed wedding cake as ordered, wasn't apologetic for it, and only returned the $15 delivery fee (which did not even cover the cost of the grochery store cake). I'd be ashamed if I was Pearl. Don't order from them- on one of your most important days Pearls will fail to deliver and not care about you.
Metjmu88
Don't order catering!!. Pearl's cupcake Shoppe has great cupcakes but they are unorganized and unprofessional. They messed up my wedding cupcake order on the day of my wedding. When called to fix it they refused and blamed us! It was in our contract! Think twice before going! We had to go buy our own cake topper at a grocery store the day of our wedding because they refused to bring us one or make it right!
Marrington
LIARS/unethical businesswomen. I was told in WRITING, via e-mail, that 6 10 in round cakes were going to be 45$ a cake. I was not having any special decorations, just icing, regular. <br/><br/>I got there and when they clued in that it was a wedding (which they had record of all along, since I had been in for a tasting and a quote about a month before hand) they tried to charge me 88$ a cake!!!!! With a 35$ delivery fee. I asked why they were marked up more than 100% and I was told by the owner that it was due to delivery, while there was a delivery fee that the delivery was also included in the price of the cake.....<br/><br/>SO i said I would pick them up. She said that would take away the delivery fee, but that there were extra thick cake cardboard bottoms they put them on....and that she could not do anything else..hahahhaha. <br/><br/>I am not sure if they thought that I was incapable of doing math or what but I told them no. Short story LIE TO THEM, if they have no problems lying to you. OR JUST GO SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY ARE NOT HORRIBLY UNETHICAL and perfectly willing to STEAL from you.
Annie Capito
Horrible Dry Cupcakes. I thought the cupcakes were dry and horrible (the icing flavors ok). This being said, my biggest complaint was the rude staff :( Such a shame because I love this are of Grove & Libbie and want shops that will do well and stay for years.
DJ
Pearl's cupcakes are awesome! I've tried multiple flavors and they are all delicious. Best cupcakes in Richmond by far.
Ecalwest
Best cupcake ever and the macaroons ain't bad either. I splurged on on a tray of desserts from Pearl's this holiday season. Their peppermint cupcake is the most buttery and delicious cupcake I've ever tasted. The filling was a whipped cloud of sweet peppermint., the frosting sublime.<br/><br/>I'm a macaroon fanatic and these were the first I'd found in Richmond. They give Sucre of New Orleans a run for their money. Not inexpensive but worth it. Though I do think some color in their macaroons would help them sell.
Velvetbelle2
Addicted.... Let's face it...no place that specializes in cupcakes is going to be cheap...nor should they be i suppose. So $3 for a cupcake may seem like a lot but I think as a treat every now and then (or, since my coworker and I are addicted, at least once a week...) is totally worth it! These cupcakes are not as sickly sweet as some i have had before are. I have only had a dry cupcake from Pearls once (and did i mention my coworker and I go typically once a week??). The key to this place is the simplicity of the shop and what they offer, yet the complexity and variety of the flavors!!! I love any one they make with the champaign batter, the banana sundae is amazing, the pina colada is a must to try...giggles is delicious with it's salted caramel filling, their mocha is mmmm, their vegan cookies and cream is a classic, their deep dish cherry pie is DELICIOUS...i seriously could go on and on....and there are sooo many i have yet to try....next on my list? Campfire and their pumpkin cupcake! Check it out...may not be for everyone but i think they are pretty darn tasty.
Jennifer
Read some good reviews so I sent my hubby over to by 10 cupcakes for a small 1st birthday party for my baby. $30 later I was very surprised to see how small they were. Fresh, moist, and not too sweet, but really small and nothing special for $3 a piece. I don't really write reviews but felt obligated since the stellar reviews brought me to Pearl's to begin with. Doubtful I will return. Over priced and overrated. Bye bye Pearl!
PL
Pearl's is by far the best cupcakes in Richmond! I am a bit of a cupcake snob. I moved to Richmond from the DC area where I was a loyal Georgetown Cupcake fan. No one could compare to G'town until I took a bite of the Peanut Butter Pandemonium cupcake. One word, YUMMY! That isn't one of the regular cupcakes but they should seriously consider making it a regular. The other cupcakes that are great are the Choco Nut, Campfire, and Pumpkin with Brown Butter. Also the website is torture to see all these cupcakes! The only negative I would write is that you have to check daily to find out the special cupcake flavors. It would be nice to see the schedule for the week.
Kelly C
Overrated. Went to shop after reading the reviews online. Shop was empty of both people and furnishings, and because the place is so large, it was kind of eerie.<br/>I bought a 1/2 dozen mixed of their cupcakes. All were ok, not nearly as good as Too Sweet and not as nice looking either, kind of messy. They were on the smaller side for the price as well. <br/>Also the women behind the counter was kind of rude. <br/>Every time I drive by its empty inside, not sure how they are staying in business.
TAMMY
Good cupcakes!!. These cupcakes were very much enjoyed. I know that on their website They have all these different speciality flavors. I just wished they rotated them more on set basis. But the ones they have everyday are good.
Bill Swank
Pearl's. Very good. Old fashioned goodness is the theme here. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good, make that great, cupcake! My family enjoyed them to the last crumb!
Glutenfreerichmond
I was recently over in the Libbie Grove area so I popped into Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe to see what was cooking (or baking, I guess). I was so glad I did! First off, the aroma in the quaint little shop is enough to keep you salivating for days. I was in pretty early so the selections on display were breakfast pastries and on the menu was a gluten free carrot cake muffin. I, of course, poured myself some of their freshly brewed coffee (can a good pastry be enjoyed without a cup of joe?) and I sat back to savor every bite. As you all know, when you are living gluten free, it isn't always easy to find a quick bite to eat in the morning - most coffee shops only have the traditional wheat pastries or sandwich offerings. It was so nice to pop in and pick up a sweet treat that wouldn't leave me feeling awful for the remainder of the day. Pearl's Carrot Cake The carrot cake was dense, slightly sweetened and perfectly spicy. Each bite had an extra flavor punch of gold
Caroline
Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I have a somewhat slight obsession with cupcakes, or dessert for that matter. Finding cupcakes in Richmond were not difficult at all. The only hard part was trying to figure out which place had THE BEST cupcakes. I randomly chose Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe, just because the internet was not very good at providing ranked lists of cupcake shops.
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