My Experience at The Cake Bake Shop, Now Open on Disney’s Boardwalk
I don’t make it to Disney’s Boardwalk often, but when I have in the past I’ve really enjoyed walking by the construction for The Cake Bake Shop. The first time I did, it inspired me to look up the amazing story behind Gwendolyn Roger’s bakery and restaurant (more on that below). I wouldn’t say I was in any rush to check out the new restaurant, but I was excited for it.
So, when my brother-in-law and sister-in-law came to town and asked if Zach and I would like to go to dinner at the new restaurant, we were quick to say yes.
Here’s how it went!
The front of The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant on Disney’s Boardwalk
What is The Cake Bake Shop?
The Cake Bake Shop first opened its doors in 2014 with a location in Indianapolis, and another location opened in Carmel, IN, in 2019. The Cake Bake Shop on Disney’s Boardwalk opened in October of this year, but, according to Gwendolyn Rogers, who is a lifelong Disney fan, opening a Disney location has been a dream in the making since the early days of the bakery.
I already mentioned that I’ve looked into Rogers’ origin story, which I read about on The Cake Bake Shop website. The website mentions how Rogers practically had to raise herself, taking her first job at a movie theater when she was just 13. She also got her start in the restaurant business during her teens, working as a cook, dishwasher, and waitress, along with other jobs. In college, she worked double shifts to help pay her tuition.
There’s way more to her story than that, describing how Rogers’ overcame so much heartbreak and so many obstacles in order to turn her love of baking into her cake-based brand, and you can read all about it here.
The Cake Bake Shop on the Boardwalk, which was announced in 2022, is housed in the former ESPN Zone restaurant location. The dining room can seat over 250 people, making it the largest location for the bakery and restaurant (though, still be sure to make a reservation if you want to visit, especially in these early days).
The Vibe
Pretty much as soon as I entered the restaurant I started ooo-ing and ahh-ing at the gorgeous decor, and I wasn’t alone. The general consensus when my group got to our table was that the interior of the restaurant was immaculate. We visited during that weird time between the Halloween season and the holidays, so while there was a Christmas tree up there was also a table full of pumpkins (though, maybe these pieces are permanent fixtures? I’ll have to return to be sure).
My sister-in-law compared the decor and general vibe to the Grand Floridian, and I couldn’t agree more. The pale walls and touches of gold practically scream “Grand Floridian lobby” and it would have been a natural fit in that space. Not that it doesn’t fit at The Boardwalk, but…feels like there was a missed opportunity here.
The gazebo inside The Cake Bake Shop on Disney’s Boardwalk
The chandeliers inside The Cake Bake Shop on Disney’s Boardwalk
The Cake Bake Shop’s Christmas Tree decor
The Cake Bake Shop’s pumpkin decor
On The Menu
Drinks
I first flipped to the drink menu, wanting something unique to the restaurant. I went with The Cake Bake Shop Rosé Bubbles, which was created through a partnership with Jean-Charles Boisset, a French wine producer. I enjoyed the taste, which was drier than I’m used to, but what I enjoyed even more was watching how it sparkled?? It was so pretty.
The Cake Bake Shop Rosé Bubbles
Aside from the bubbles, the wine and cocktail list is quite extensive. There are also a number of signature cocktails, which include:
Gwendolyn's Famous Cosmopolitan: Ketel One vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime, cranberry, orange oil, and garnished with an orange peel
Black Swan: Espresso, Ketel One vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, and homemade vanilla simple syrup. Garnished with a Cake Bake Shop custom chocolate.
Through the Looking Glass: Empress Gin, St. Germain, Apple Rose Water, homemade Ginger Chardonnay simple syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice
Cake Bake Shop Shake Up: Tito’s vodka, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemons, and lemon bitters, topped with fresh mint
Pink Lady Margarita: Milagro Silver tequila, Giffard Pêche, guava syrup, agave nectar, freshly squeezed lime juice, with a Pixie Glitter® sugar rim
Rose Rickey: Glendalough Rose Gin, St. Germain, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, gomme syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice
Frosé Rosé: Frozen Fortant Grenache Rosé, Tito’s vodka, and homemade simple syrup (can also be served in a souvenir rose gold goblet for an added cost).
Food
When it comes to the food on the menu, the cuisine ranges from simple soups and sandwiches to decadent signature dishes like pasta and crab cakes. As a starter, we had the Truffle Pommes Frites, fries tossed with truffle oil, smoked sea salt, thyme, and Parmesan cheese. On their own they were pretty good, but the garlic aioli they came with took things to another level of deliciousness.
From The Cake Bake Shop Menu: Truffle Pommes Frites
For my meal I got the Three Cheese Cavatappi, a pasta dish with bacon and a cream sauce of Gruyère, Vermont sharp cheddar, and a touch of bleu cheese, topped with toasted basil breadcrumbs. It should go without saying that it was absolutely amazing. I was a little nervous about the bleu cheese, but it was not overwhelming, and honestly it just gave the dish a bit of a nice kick.
From The Cake Bake Shop Menu: Three Cheese Cavatappi
Though going in I knew I wanted the pasta, there were a few other meals that caught my eye, which I’ll be sure to check out when I return:
Chicken Velvet Soupe: made with homemade chicken stock, poached chicken, and cream.
Ham, Rosemary and Goat Cheese Quiche: made with thinly sliced French ham, rosemary, goat cheese, and baked in a European all-butter pastry dough crust.
Crab Cakes: homemade blue lump and jumbo lump crab cakes, mixed with panko bread crumbs, and sautéed in olive oil and clarified butter.
Croque-Monsieur: country bread with French ham, Gruyère cheese, and Maille Dijon mustard topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
Dessert
When going to a restaurant named The Cake Bake Shop, chances are you’re going at least partially for the, well, cake. That was the general consensus at my table, and while we enjoyed the main meal, we were more than ready to crack open the sweets menu.
Right off the bat, the Raspberry Champagne Cake caught my eye, and it did not disappoint. The layers of vanilla cake were brushed with a French champagne simple syrup, and between the layers were fresh raspberries and Raspberry Pixie Jam™. Iced with champagne vanilla buttercream and topped with fresh raspberries, it was elegant, it was mouthwatering, it was everything.
From The Cake Bake Shop Menu: The Raspberry Champagne Cake
We also tried Gwendolyn's Famous Earl's Court Chocolate Cake, which includes three layers of Valrhona French chocolate cake filled with Callebaut Belgian chocolate ganache and malted chocolate cream. Talk about rich. Talk about decadent. It was delicious, of course, but after a few bites I had to put my fork down. It was a lot.
From The Cake Bake Shop Menu: Gwendolyn’s Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake
One thing that stood out about both cakes is just how thick the icing is. I think I may have been converted to an icing girl, because it’s something I’m going to remember for a long time.
Of course, we couldn’t try everything that looked good, so here’s my shortlist for what to order next time I visit:
Red Velvet Cake: Three layers of red velvet cake with Callebaut miniature chocolate chips. Filled with signature cream cheese frosting, and frosted in a rosette pattern with pink vanilla buttercream.
Pixie Fetti® Birthday Cake: Three layers of vanilla confetti cake with a hint of almond. Filled and frosted with Princess Pink vanilla almond buttercream and topped with Pixie Fetti® confetti.
Mixed Berry Cheesecake: Homemade cheesecake made with cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and a touch of lemon zest. Baked in a graham cracker European all-butter crust and piled high with fresh, glazed blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
Know Before You Go
If you’re going to The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk, here are a few things you should know before you go:
Reservations: You’ll definitely need to make a reservation at The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant, at least during these early days, but honestly probably for much longer after that (people have been waiting a long time for this place to open). You can book a table through OpenTable or through MyDisneyExperience.
The Bakery: Can’t get a reservation? Well, if you only want cake or one of the other sweets on the menu, you can stop by The Cake Bake Shop Bakery, which is right next door to the restaurant! No reservation required, but be prepared for a long line.
Parking: If you do have a dining reservation, you will be good to park at the Boardwalk. If you don’t, because you plan on only going to the bakery, it could be hit or miss. I’ve driven to the Boardwalk before and asked to park without showing a reservation with no issue before, but every now and then parking will be limited to only hotel guests and DVC members. You could roll the dice, but it’s probably best to make a reservation at another restaurant in the area in order to ensure you’ll be able to park (and you’ll have a fun dessert to look forward to!).
Hours of operation: The Cake Bake Shop serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open everyday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The breakfast menu ends at 10:30 a.m. and the lunch/dinner menu starts at 11 a.m. The bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Special events: Every day, The Cake Bake Shop serves its Roses of Gold Afternoon Tea, where guests can enjoy an experience fit for royalty, trying an assortment of teas and dining on finger sandwiches, cookies, scones—the works. Afternoon Tea is held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and, important to note, reservations are not available on Open Table. To book a table you should call the Concierge Events Team at (407) 574-3040 Ext. 303 or email concierge@thecakebakeshop.com.
All In All
With beautiful decor, a menu offering a range of different dishes, and cakes that, in my opinion, are worth the cost of $23 per slice, The Cake Bake Shop is a wonderful addition to Disney’s Boardwalk. I look forward to returning and, if you’ve visited, I’d love to hear about your experience! Drop a comment below or message me on Instagram to share your thoughts. And while you’re there, be sure to follow for more Orlando restaurant highlights!
Until next time, Dreamers!
