Baked & Wired | Washington D.C. (georgetown)

So as promised, here is another one of my reviews from my recent weekend trip to DC.  I did my research ahead of time and chose a bakery, Baked & Wired, which received rave reviews in the Georgetown area. 

As my husband waited for me in the car, our last stop was Baked & Wired.  I knew I had a big decision coming up, deciding on a cupcake for myself and him.  The only instruction I received from him was to get him a cupcake with cream cheese frosting, this alone narrows down his choices to Red Velvet / Pumpkin Cupcake, but what about my indecisive self?

LOCATION
1052 Thomas Jefferson St. NW
Washington D.C., 20007
202.333.2500
(Georgetown)




AMBIENCE
Baked & Wired is a cute bakery off of M street in DC’s Georgetown district.  I loved the colors immediately, pink and brown, the color combo really stood out.  

There are 2 sections to this bakery, the right side is where you can pick up your coffees/lattes/drinks, the left side is where you can browse and purchase your desserts.  


To the right is the coffee section.

To the left is the bakery section.  While you wait in line you’ll first notice the biscotti and cookies.  They do look tempting, however I knew the good stuff was straight ahead.  

I absolutely loved the decor at this bakery.  Ball-like lanterns hung from above and I really liked the black & white photos on the wall which gave this bakery a classic and chic look.

Also, notice how all the cupcakes/brownies/pies are covered using a dome shaped glass cover… loved this!  Pay close attention to the cute pictures that went along with the cupcake name.  And how adorable are those cupcakes?

RECOMMENDED TO
Everyone




CUISINE
Bakery/Cafe




MENU – $
Baked & Wired Menu.  Their website doesn’t tell you this, but each cupcake is $3.85, a little steep if you ask me.  The regular small coffee was roughly $1.50 each.
Dessert for 2:
2 cupcakes + 1 coffee = $9.85




RECOMMENDED HEALTHY EATS… choices below are based on my knowledge of baking and nutrition.  There are barely any healthy items at Baked & Wired, however if you must try something here, I suggest going for a biscotti, banana breads, pies, or scones.  Although there is still a good amount of fat in the listed items below, these are healthier options in comparison to the rest.  In addition, if you are going for an item that is more fattening – any cupcakes, brownies, cookies, I strongly suggest sharing with someone if you are watching your weight.  There is no online nutritional information available for Baked & Wired, please use your own discretion when making a decision.

HEALTHIER EATS
BISCOTTI
Almond Anise
Ginger
Oatmeal Raisin
Tart Cherry and Pistachio
BREAKFAST BREADS & COFFEE CAKES
Banana Nut Bread
Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread
Rita’s Cream Coffee Cake
Zucchini Bread
COOKIES
Flourless Peanut Butter
Oatmeal Raisin
CUPCAKES (not healthy, but probably healthiest cupcake)
Elvis Cupcake (Banana Cake w/Peanut Butter Frosting)
HIPPE CRACK
Granola Bars – not sure of the variety
MUFFINS (not healthy, but better options)
Apple Cinnamon
Blueberry
Cranberry Walnut
Mandarin Orange
PIES – avoid crust, enjoy the filling. Stay away from cream & chocolate.
SCONES
Chive & Cheese
Ginger

MY REVIEW
Like everyone else, I was patiently waiting in line for my cupcake.  With each step I grew closer to my cupcake, was it going to be Strawberry or Pumpkin?  I really didn’t want a plain ol’ Chocolate or Vanilla, this had to be more than just an average cupcake.  And then there it was staring me in the face, it was the Elvis Cupcake made with banana cake and peanut butter frosting, I think we have a winner!  This was it.  This was the cupcake that freed my indecisiveness – you know the feeling of when you know, you just know!  I quickly decided on the Elvis Cupcake for myself.  

The peanut butter frosting was a teeny bit sweet, but not painfully sweet, it was okay with a bold peanut butter flavor.  On the other hand, the cake was not what I had expected and was a bit dry.  My guess is that the banana cake was not made with oil.  There is something about using oil in a banana cake or carrot cake, it simply adds a ton of moisture which results in a very soft, spongy cake, and not a dense cake.  This banana cupcake was dense and lacked the moisture and the chunks of banana that I am used to tasting – read my Billy’s Bakery Review in NYC.  I literally felt as though I was eating a Peanut Butter & Banana sandwich and biting into banana bread, rather than a banana cupcake.  See the difference?

As for my husband, I honestly wasn’t sure how he’d like the Pumpkin Cupcake since he isn’t a huge fan of Pumpkin, hence I succumbed and went with a safe choice, the Red Velvet Cupcake, which also happens to be one of my favorites.  My husband sorta liked the Red Velvet, but the Red Velvet had the same issue as the Elvis Cupcake.  While the frosting was good and just a teeny bit sweet, the cake lacked the moisture I was looking for. 

Now get this – each cupcake at Baked & Wired was $3.85.  Seriously?  Really?  I couldn’t believe my ears!  I am so used to paying no more than $3 for a divine cupcake in New York City, so in my head I was thinking, ‘this thing better be good.’  Each cupcake here is baked in parchment paper, and although it is unique, it also makes it difficult to eat the cupcake.  Look at the size though! 

Of course, as you all know cupcakes are my weakness and I always need a cup of tea or coffee to go with a cupcake, no lattes or anything fancy, just a cuppa of tea/coffee.  I got a cup of Small Coffee for about $1.50.  It was absolutely delicious, not too strong, not too mild, just perfectly brewed!  Love that!

VERDICT – 3.5 / 5
Contrary to user reviews, I personally didn’t think this place was anything special and was let down.  I only ate half my cupcake which should tell you something.  Both cupcakes lacked the moisture I was looking for and didn’t have that soft cake-like, spongy feel, instead they felt more like dry bread, for lack of a better term.  On top of that, as cute and adorable as these cupcakes look, they certainly didn’t taste as great as they looked and were not worth the hefty price tag of $3.85 a cupcake!

Here is why I gave this place a 3.5…
1. The variety of desserts here is insane… they have all types of brownies, coffee cakes, cupcakes.  If you are a dessert lover, you can seriously get lost here.
2. I didn’t wanna be too harsh because there were many other items I haven’t yet tried, so judging a bakery based on 2 cupcakes wasn’t exactly fair.  
3. This place is adorable indeed.  I loved the decor, the pictures, the friendly service, and the coffee section.  Very cute!
4. The coffee was pretty damn good! 


I’d give Baked & Wired another shot, and consider ordering their bestseller, the Strawberry cupcake, how could I have not known that?  Should have read the menu ahead of time…. DAMN!




TELL ME: Have you tried any bakeries in DC?  What about Baked & Wired?  If so, what do you recommend at B&W?