Extraordinary Desserts, San Diego

While on vacation for my birhtday we went here, what a better way to start your birthday then eating dessert for breakfast,so we went fist thing in the morning, I had been wanting to go for several years while there visiting and just never found the time to go. The service was good, but very slow, I had to ask for the bill and there was only a few other customers in the place. I was expecting this outstanding dessert both in flavor and size, it was neither, the portion size of my blood orange ricotta cake was average,and the same as you get from other establishments, I thought the sauce swirled on the plate was better the cake itself. It was not at all what I was expecting,and for $50 for 4 people and 1 cup coffee that is a bit on the pricy side. We were going to hit both locations on this trip but we did not go to the second location. Our waitress but very nice. I would suggest that they not serve the desserts so cold as you do not get the flavor you would if it was served room temp. The raspberry custard/ice cream was very good. Parking was hard to find. again the cake/torte serving size is NOT this huge amount to feed 2 people that I read over and over in all the reviews I read.

My wife and I have been here several times and love it! Presentation is just as wonderful. We always take out of town friends here, and it was our first choice for a unique wedding cake! Almost too popular and sometimes the line of people is just too long. If so, Heaven Sent in North Park is our next stop, but the selection is not nearly as good. Several different varieties of cake vs. standard lava cake, tiramisu, etc. Not at all knocking Heaven Sent! That is our second choice when the E.D. line is too long. San Diego has several wonderful dessert places, and this is the best. Oh! FYI.... there are two locations: Hillcrest and Little Italy. I am not sure why, but the food at Hillcrest is noticeably better! And it is a dessert place with seating, not a restaurant (meaning you order at the counter).

I went to the Union Street location a couple of times last month. I'm a sucker for delicious desserts and I pride myself on having pretty discerning taste, so I just had to check it out after looking at the menu online....wow! The building is impressive, nicely designed and quite large. The desserts looked fantastic...I was surprised by how huge they were for only $5. We picked out 4 different ones and took them home to try. Well I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I dug into them...they were so mediocre tasting. We didn't even finish them and threw them out. We decided to go back because we wanted to try the sandwiches and appetizers. They were actually pretty good, but not outstanding for the price. I really enjoyed the matcha green tea latte though...yum! We decided to try a couple different desserts again hoping we just chose wrong last time, and ended up with the same result...disappointment. I also picked up the chocolate mint and chocolate coconut sauces they sell but I really didn't like them and they were pricey for what they were. The service was fine, we didn't have any problems there. So I'd consider going back for sandwiches, but I won't get dessert again anytime soon. I'll still hold out hope that maybe they'll read some reviews and make them taste as good as they look!

My husband and I had heard a lot about this "great" place to visit in San Diego. When we arrived, we were impressed by the building design. The pasteries were displayed artistically and looked inviting. We were seated by a gregarious server who ended up being very disgruntled with her job. We did not appreciate the strict menu touting absolutly no substitutions. We both ordered the smoked mozzerella grilled cheese. In addition, we ordered one avacado bruschetta and one buffalo mozzerella/tomato bruschetta (overpriced). The avacado bruschetta was bland, the other was passible. The grilled cheese sandwiches were good, and served with a side of whole mediterarian olives (their version of tapenade). We were not impressed with the quality of the food and felt that it did not reflect the high prices charged. To say that this establishment is overpriced is an understatement. Now this being said, understand, we go out to eat at high-end restaurants often. We expect to pay for quality - but this wasn't it. We both had desserts. I was annoyed that I had to get up to look at the dessert case to pick out a dessert! I choose the berry cobbler with almond brittle ice cream. The dessert was good, but my favorite part of the whole experiece was the almond brittle ice cream. Very good. My husband got the banana creme tart. He was very dissastified with his dessert. First, the tart held a very thin layer of actual banana creme filling and then about 4 inches of whip creme on top. He felt it was very misleading. I agree. We left the restaurant with a lot less money in our pockets, and feeling a little cheated. We chalked it up to an experience and thought we had moved on. However, here's the kicker. A few hours later, my husband started to feel sick (nausea). He spent the entire night vomiting - from what we can only assume was that darn banana creme tart. I did not get sick. We had to report this illness to the City of San Diego today. So, we paid how much to get a food-borne illness? Beware, foodies. This establishment is pretentious, but does not deliver satisfactorily in the food department. You're better off going a few city streets down and eating at one of the many Italian restaurants in little Italy. You'll leave more satisfied and won't get sick at the end of the night.

An Extraordinary Disappointment . . . I've gone to Extraordinary Desserts at least a dozen times, usually with friends wanting to try it or having a sweet tooth around midnight. And the U2 lyric "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" still rings fresh in my mind. I always go with great expectations. But everything I've ever tried there has been an extraordinary disappointment. A plus for extraordinary hours, but a minus for mediocre desserts. Luckily there are several other bakeries and dessert places in San Diego with truly gifted dessert chefs producing truly extraordinary desserts.

I took a group of people to Extraordinary Desserts. After waiting in line and ordering our items, setting a table up, and sitting down, we noticed an extra $10 tacked on our receipt!! The reason we were told, was because our party was 8 people, they automatically add an extra 18% on top of the premium we pay for the delicious desserts. We would of gladly tipped any employees if they assisted us, but after standing in line, ordering for ourselves, seating ourselves, and paying top dollar, why should we be penalized for bringing a large group of people with us??? What options or choices do we have if we are FORCED to pay an extra 18%??????? Next time, we are going to Ghiradellis for sure!!! I will not recommend this establishment to anyone. Unfair and unjust.

My husband and I went to the Union Street location on a relatively slow Sunday afternoon (fewer than 1/3 of the tables were full). It took us 15 minutes to be acknowledged by a member of the wait staff, who then kept forgetting things we'd ask her about. She was thoroughly confused, and seemed as though she was just hired that day. The "turkey panini" that we ordered was a turkey sandwich, not a panini, and it took us 45 minutes to get it ... very average food. The chocolate chip creme brulee was good, but a little on the eggy side. If the service had been even ordinary, I would consider returning but this was our second time there being treated as though we were an inconvenience to the staff. Such a shame to put so much time and money into a wonderful location and have such awful staff.

Extraordinary desserts has the best desserts ever!! There are so many to choose from, plus they all look gorgeous where you don't want to eat them. Matthew and I love this place. For a more romantic feel, go to the one in Balboa. For a night out with friends, go to the one downtown.

Came in for a business trip. Check on Yahoo for a late night dessert place. This was the best part of our trip. The chef's dessert menu was wonderful. She had everything from specialty coffees to wonderful baked goods. Every cake was decorated beautifully with fresh flowers. I had a fresh berry neopolitan. My husband had a warm berry beignet. Both were out of this world. Freinds, who live in San Diego, went the next day after our recomendation and they had the tres leches cake. Also wonderful! They said they will go back again. Do go. You will love it!

I took my girlfriend there as it is a nice place to go to if your not to hungry and just wanna have some appeztiers and some really nice looking and delicious desserts, although the service there is not all that great. It's a great place to come and sit and talk amongst friends and family and enjoy a nice small meal.