Despite a few starting issues, a limited menu and a tiny space, Cup Cake Factory makes up with its rich, creamy frostings and centre-filled options
Cup Cake Factory
Think of a cupcake factory, and imagery would involve an airy eatery dressed in vibrant colours, where cupcakes are served, topped with all sorts of frosting swirls, and with many hands on deck. From the looks of it, Cup Cake Factory, the new dessert space on Bandra's buzzing Pali Hill, is anything but that. Sharing space with the confectionery store Mac Craig (they're partners, we were told), the eatery is more of a takeaway (they deliver up to Khar, till 1 am in the night) with only a display shelf and a couple of chairs.
(Left to right) Strawberry, Red Velvet, Vanilla Chocochip, Peanut Butter and Orange cupcakes. Pic/Rane Ashish
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While the eatery serves classic cupcakes, centre-filled ones, slice cakes, cookies, muffins and biscotti, scouring through the menu took a few moments, as the choice was limited, and many items were unavailable. We opted for their offer — get half dozen cupcakes for the price of five — and sampled classic Red Velvet, Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Vanilla Choco Chip, Orange and Salted Caramel (each priced at R70) as well as Cranberry Slice Cake (R60). Considering the festive season, we loved their idea of perching figurines of gingerbread man and Christmas tree on top of the cupcake frostings.
In terms of taste, Salted Caramel was melt-in-your-mouth. The caramel butter frosting and sprinkling of sea salt crystals offer the right blend of flavours. The Orange — supposedly baked with fresh orange juice mixed in the batter and its frosting infused with orange rind — was soft and the frosting was a little on the sour side, indicating no artificial sweeteners, thankfully. Meanwhile, thick syrup filled in the centre of the Strawberry cupcake came through the spongy texture. Yum.
The slightly bitter, dark chocolate base of Peanut Butter and Vanilla Chocochip blended well with their sweet frostings but the cupcakes weren't fluffy enough. The biggest disappointment was the classic Red Velvet. Its texture was rough, and the cream cheese frosting was bland. The Cranberry Slice Cake was average with a cinnamon overdose.
While Cup Cake Factory scored with its rich and not-too-sweet frostings, they need to perfect the fluffy base of their cupcakes. Expanding their menu would help too. Our picks: Salted Caramel, Orange and Strawberry.
At Gasper Enclave, St John's Street, Pali Hill, Bandra (W).
Call 9967539019
Cup Cake Factory didn't know we were there. the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.
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