SusieCakes

Just as homey as can be, without the ugly furniture, mismatched chairs and musty odors. Modern-retro describes both the decor and baked goods at SusieCakes. Reminisce about the days of carefree innocence over the most comforting of comfort foods. The menu of classic all-American desserts features cupcakes, cakes, pies, pudding and cookies. Note the homestyle details, such as hand-rolled pie crust and frosting swirls that look professional yet not too perfect. The red velvet’s uniqueness comes from “Aunt Betty’s secret recipe,” and, like all cupcakes, it’s filled with a little dollop of frosting inside. Old-time pictures of cakes and children’s birthday parties adorn the mint green walls, while light fixtures take the form of oversized cake pans. Retro lettering behind the counter issues the simple command to “eat cake.” Now that you’ve got the sweets, pick up some savory dishes at Promelis Market or Picnics Deli. Relax over coffee at Martin Diedrich’s Kean or have some authentic New York hot dogs at Carm’s Coneys. Stay with the retro theme and have a sit-down dinner at old-school La Cave.

Tips: Second behind the red velvet, the strawberry cupcake is mighty popular, thanks to a certain fan by the name of Martha Stewart. Succumb to celebrity pressure. We won’t tell. No visit to SusieCakes is complete without daring to try whoopie pie, a jumbo-sized chocolate cookie sandwich filled with rich buttercream. Imagine an Oreo that overdosed on steroids. It takes two hands, but you can conquer it.