Georgetown has most culinary niches covered: cafés (see Milano and Bonaparte), a crêpe joint (see Snap) and the usual greasy gentrified Chinese food (see Kitchen #1), but one niche that hasn’t really been covered adequately is the newest ultra hip tradition—the cupcake place. Fortunately, that void in our stomachs has been filled by Georgetown Cupcake. A miniscule yet picturesque place on Potomac Street right across from Quick Pita, Georgetown Cupcake is noticeable from a distance, as most of its customers are waiting outside in the cold, unable to glimpse the smallest treat.
The walls are lined with gleaming coffee appliances, reflecting the light from the window to the glass divide separating the people from the cupcakes and back out the window again. On the wall is a pastel Warhol-esque cupcake portrait with painted pink and blue frosting just begging you to lick it.
The main attraction (the list of the day’s cupcakes) is right by the door. There are the usuals: vanilla squared (vanilla icing on a vanilla cupcake), chocolate squared (chocolate icing on a chocolate cupcake) and a delectable yet terrifying chocolate cubed (chocolate icing, chocolate cupcake, and chocolate sprinkles). They also offer lemon blossom, chocolate mint, key lime pie, and bubble gum, among other fruit inspired flavors. The cupcakes come in at $2.75 each (cheaper than Baked and Wired’s $4 over-sugared concoctions), although half a dozen, perfect for splitting among friends, is only $15 and comes in an adorable pink cardboard box.
My philosophy with new restaurants is to always go for the classics before the adventurous, because if they can’t master the basics, there’s no hope in attempting the complex. Immediately, my sweet tooth went for the red velvet, the ultimate test in pairing the rich flavors of the cake with a subtle enough icing. To my delight, it was perfectly executed. The cake was soft and fluffy, avoiding the all too common density of an uneven batter, while maintaining the palatial intricacies and a hint of nuttiness. The icing flavor was cream cheese (as it should be), managing cream cheese’s tanginess and avoiding its heaviness. The proportion of icing to cake was also superb; the icing wasn’t threatening to take over the cake in flavor or in size and had the right consistency. In short, it was a delectable treat and disappeared within moments.
My only recommendation, Hoyas, is to get there early. When I went (3 pm), they weren’t due to close for another four hours, yet they were selling out of cupcakes left and right. Apparently they had to close early on their opening day for the same reason. So go early, bring a coat, and don’t expect to be able to eat once you get inside. There’s only one four person table inside, and odds are, someone else has already snagged it. But grab a cupcake on your way to shopping on M or on the way back from lunch, and I promise you won’t regret it.
Georgetown Cupcake is located at 1209 Potomac St NW. For this holiday weekend, their hours are Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 12am-5pm, Monday- Closed. Their normal hours are Tue-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat and Sun 11am-9pm.
Photo by Sam Sweeney, Blog Editor
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March 7th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
THERE’S SOMETHING NASTY UNDER ALL THAT ICING. I just drove down today from Bethesda after a doctor’s visit with my sick wife who wanted something sweet at Georgetown Cupcake. When I arrived at noon, the door was closed, with a note that said knock if you called ahead. A woman came up and knocked and the owner opened the door. I inquired as to the shortly and she said we are closed now — even though the posted time on the wall said they should be open. I said this is the second time I have come here and you were out of product or now this time closed. She said and I quote, “We don’t care”. I asked her again if she means she doesn’t care that customers are inconvenienced and to please repeat what she said and she repeated herself verbatim. That will be my last visit.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
WOW - that is really bad. Next time your wife needs a sweet you should get her something from Baked & Wired in Georgetown, they are located down the street from Barnes & Noble. You won’t be disappointed!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
This bakery is selling a high quality low volume item that is well worth the wait. Celebs and just plain folks wait to score one or a dozen of these little cupcakes while the people in line before them exit triumphantly as though they had just scored final four tickets. You have to do it to understand it. The little girl behind the counter will treat your order much like the Michelin Man, Bibbendums caresses his tires as they leave the factory. What could be better?