Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery

Hands down absolutely our favorite restaurant of all time! We lived in Raleigh from 2000 to 2010 and we tried a lot of restaurants. This 1940’s throwback dinner quickly became our go to date spot. Classic American dishes that are done to perfection and outstanding dessert options you cannot pass up. We recently had the opportunity to visit Raleigh after 15 years of being gone and to our greatest delight Hayes Barton was still open and just the same as it was when we first went there. This is a hidden gem that will take you back in time with comfort food and a cozy atmosphere. Don’t miss out! Be sure to make reservations (parties of 4 or more).

One of my favorite restaurants everrrrr. Make sure to book a reservation unless you’re there just to grab dessert. We’ve been here many times and have enjoyed ourselves. Everything is good. Cute, quaint, relaxing small restaurant. It’s one of the oldest restaurants in Raleigh. They are also known for their HUGE cakes. You can’t leave without a slice of cake!

DELICIOUS. nothing else to say. make a reservation in advance! at least a week before, I called 2 just to make sure. set menu with additional rotating options. and set aside your cake slice right when you get there too, they will sell out!

Such a fun atmosphere! We had lunch and the food was pretty good. I had a BLT that was nice. To be honest, the real reason I went there was to take home a couple of pieces of cake. Just took a couple of bites so I could let you know... They are phenomenal. I got the seasonal patty (which was a berry layer cake) and the chocolate raspberry. I gotta go now so I can finish off those cakes Lol!

Great desserts and great atmosphere. Been a Raleigh native of 41 years and this place has been a staple as far back as I can remember. I still unfortunately haven't tried the food yet, just desserts. I'm gonna make it a goal to get there for a dinner soon. My wife and I had dessert there a couple of weeks ago for our 15th wedding anniversary and the owner took grear care of us. He got us a window seat. It's busy there but all the great places are so just be patient. It's worth the wait. The owner will work with you the best he can. He's a great guy. Looking forward to going again hopefully in the near future.

The desserts are only one reason to fight for parking around here! As first timers, we were unprepared and now know to call for reservations. Josh and Frank came to the rescue by sharing space for us to eat cake! The staff are as warm and welcoming as our initial bites of cake. Hidden gem in five points for sure!

Had lunch with my daughter today. First thing first more parking is needed. We arrived right as they were opening. Very friendly staff and food was very flavorful. I got the chicken salad, my daughter got the chicken salad bLT I think. Good size amount of food. We of course got 2 slices of cake , not realizing how big they were. I will tell you that cakes were absolutely amazing. I will definitely be back to try all the other cakes.! 😋

A must dining experience in Raleigh! Frank's tomato pie (seasonal) is one of the best things I've ever tasted, amazing! Be sure to try a slice of cake! Thank you for the incredible service and hospitality!

My girlie and I went here for a date in August when I was visiting. What a cool atmosphere, of a 50's diner with all the memorabelia and photos. We got a cozy corner booth, the best seat in the house. The service was fast and friendly and very knowledgable about the food and drinks. The muscles were out of this world good, with the bread!!!! The salad and deserts were also amazing. Tons of great comfort food! Can't wait to go back!

I love a good retro feel in a diner. To see an upscale dinner was surprising, but the ambience was a perfect balance of swank and coziness. The manager was kind and thoughtful - you can tell he likes to build a rapport with his staff and customers. All of the staff were friendly and welcoming. The first thing you'll be greeted with on your left as you enter the restaurant is the dessert case, and boy does it not disappoint. These are the diner desserts I've been looking for since I moved to the RDU area from up north. The cakes and pies do. not. hold. back. I took my cake slice to go and enjoyed it over the course of THREE DAYS. Such amazing flavor and huge portions. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a classy and unique place for a date, and anyone with a penchant for sweets - you won't be disappointed.

Finally made it here for dinner, mostly to try their cakes. Had the Bella Linguini for dinner and enjoyed a delicious key lime pie martini. Brought home 3 slices of dessert and was generally underwhelmed, especially for $13 per slice!! 1. Key Lime pie - my favorite of the 3. Enjoyed it, but not enough to go back again for it. 2. Biscoff Cookie Butter cake - way too sweet for my taste. 3. Peach cake - unique filling between slices, similar to custard, with fresh peaches. Enjoyed the cake portion of it, but didn't love it as a whole. The cocktail was the only thing worth coming back for.

So this is very small inside but a very retro 50s diner kind of feel. The cakes here are incredible. Get reservations for dinner.

It's soooooo hard to get a table here but it's worth the wait. You have to call to make a reservation or leave a message. The staff is friendly and attentive. I forgot to take pictures of the fried oysters appetizer because in my family "you snooze you loose". We almost always get them and they last maybe 60 seconds on the table. Doesn't matter how big the order is. Fresh oysters expertly fried. DELICIOUS! Their cocktails are on point. But their desserts! Tall beautiful cakes that make an impression visually and in taste. Boston cream is my favorite and its always the first to go life is short. Order dessert first! before you order dinner. Just saying...

Can't believe we never went in the years we lived in Raleigh. So glad we tried this trip back. Fun atmosphere, feels old school diner like but has a modern take on the food and drinks. And the cake slices are huge! But so delicious! If you love coconut, then def get the Coconut Cake. You won't regret it!

The food was superior and the service was great. The owner came over to make sure we were happy with our experience. A very class act. Thanks Frank The atmosphere was a cross between Johnnie Rocket's meets the Golden Age of Hollywood. Cannot wait to go back with friends and family and try new items on the menu. I will try to remember to take photos before we eat for good visual.

Only stopped in for cake, but it was great! The pieces are big enough to split with 2-4 people depending on how hungry you are. The service was quick and they let us sit at the bar even after closing since they still had restaurant guests!

I rarely walk away loving every single item, but that was the case here. I can't believe I've lived here my entire life and never visited before now. The meatloaf was very unique and not ketchup based (as far as I could tell). It was a large, dense loaf, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The potatoes were great, especially when paired with the meatloaf. And the beans were well seasoned! The chicken noodle soup was an unexpected delight. It was extremely flavorful and filled with chunks of meat and veggies. You can tell a lot of love went into the recipe. I only had a bite or two of the chicken pot pie, but there was no question it was perfect. My wife loved every bite. She could only eat half because it was huge! If you want cake on the weekend, you should reserve ahead of time. They were running out very quickly. If you want a seat, I also recommend reserving well ahead of time. We will be back!

This was great food and super fast. Could have been a little cleaner but overall cute and would recommend

This is the best restaurant in North Carolina. The food is always so fresh, the service is outstanding, and the ambiance is charming and so beautiful unique!! The owners are wonderful and it's a place you don't want to miss and will keep coming back to you. And the CAKE omg it's out of the this world and I don't even like cake!

Cake heaven! I have been dying to get my hands on a slice of HBC's cake for years and for my birthday this year, I finally decided to go! (Why did I wait this long?!) You can pre-order whole cakes but they also sell a wide variety by the slice every day. Their daily dessert menu is on a chalkboard at the front of the restaurant and they usually also post updates on their Instagram account! I got a slice of the Triple Chocolate (I think) and the Italian Cream Cake. It came out to a whopping $24 (+ tip!) but honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. They were so good! My boyfriend and I shared the slices and it lasted us a good 3 servings each. I'm really happy I checked them out and can't wait to try more of their flavors. Definitely eyeing the coconut and cakes!

I absolutely love this place! We came here last year when we were in for the annual pen show, and it was so wonderful that I needed to come back. Really, MOVE THIS RESTAURANT TO NY!!! The food is so good, our waitress was amazing as well and the host that seated us was even amazing! We ordered--a appetizer wedge salad, yummy--fried oysters, amazing--chicken pot pie, unbelievably delicious--a special fisherman stew, just so yummy! We were much too full for dessert so we left. But I'm so sad! Next year!

It's been years since I've stopped here for a slice of cake and glad I'm back! The best cakes in town, in my honest opinion. If you're looking for a slice of homemade and quality cake; this is the place to visit! You don't have to dine in to order the cake. You can easily walk up the cash register and order. I got the chocolate raspberry and it's the best I've had. The $12 slice fed me 3-times. I do warn you that it's quite busy! People dine here all the time. It's a tiny space but the food must be that good to keep people coming back for more. I look forward to trying the other food on the menu in the near future. Parking can be limited so be sure to plan ahead. Overall, the customer service is fantastic and kind folks!

The desserts are out of this world. Slices are huge and very fresh. We had the chocolate salted caramel & Boston cream. The chocolate salted caramel was declared the best cake ever by my husband.

Great customer service and the desert is amazing! The owners are really great, they love their customers to the fullest!

A great place for fantastic desserts, mainly cakes & pies. We've been going here for years and have never been disappointed. I can't speak to the food, but the desserts are among the best around. Anything you get will be enough to be shared with others or provide you a 2nd round later.

The key lime pie the best I have ever had just out of this world also that coconut cake o my goodness

My husband and I went here tonight for date night, and it was AMAZING!! Not only was the food 10/10, but the owner, the people dining there, and the overall vibe was phenomenal. My husband had the meatloaf and I had the pot pie and they were both delicious. We met two other couples there and had fantastic conversation. The owners Frank and his wife are absolutely wonderful people. The cakes, WOW!! We took home several slices to try and they were all delicious. We can't want to go back!

Oh my!! This place is delicious! The diner ambiance is super quaint and the food is top shelf. I got the grouper piccata on the yummiest mashed potatoes. My husband got the meatloaf. We were so full that we got dessert to go. The blueberry lemon cake is to die for-- not too sweet and just perfection. Can't wait to save my pennies and return to this jewel!

Lunch and dinner menu are meh, overpriced for portions and underwhelming. The desserts are where it's at!

Awesome cakes and fun food options to remind you of past years! Service is great and ambience is throw back to years gone by.

Interesting experience. Went for lunch, you grab a seat then go up to the counter to order. If you go by yourself and want to eat in bring something to place on a seat to save your spot. It's cafe style at lunch not table service so you order, place a number on the table and wait for the food to be delivered to you. At 1:15 on a Friday the place was packed. We enjoyed the Egg salad sandwich and cheeseburger. Love that fact you can select a side item from a variety of choices for sides. I thoroughly enjoyed the deviled eggs. Amazing selection of cakes. Lunch for two with one slice of cake was$40. If this was a$30 lunch I would be back tomorrow. But it will be a while till I go back. I noticed on the menu that dinner entrees are around $28-$30 per person in case anybody wants to know.

This place deserves all the stars. My parents recently moved down from Massachusetts and my dad was requesting a Boston cream pie for his birthday. Thanks to Yelp for saving the day, I reached out the Hayes Barton for one of their specialty cakes. Their response time was quick and had great communication with me via email through the whole process. They were super understanding when we had to push back our pickup date a week later #thankscovid and the end result did not disappoint. I was a little worried about getting their 'smaller' top hat cake but where there was only 5 of us getting together, that seemed like the right move, and there was more than enough to go around, plus plenty leftover, so yes the top hat size is great for a smaller party. As the cake is high, the slices are still massive and each bite was light and fluffy and perfection. Pickup was a breeze and according to my husband 'this place is really cool inside' He also grabbed a massive slice of carrot cake to bring home which was equally delicious and out of this world. Many may look and say 'oh it's pricey' but when the quality of a personalized cake is amazing with equally amazing customer service (plus the good karma of shopping local) it's worth every penny.

The decor is top notch, and the service is as well. My first time going to Hayes Barton, got the pork medallions which wasn't anything special or that tasty of a meal in my opinion, but, the lemon raspberry cake was without exaggeration the best cake I've ever had. The serving size is enormous, maybe enough to split between 4 people, but you'd have to pry it out of my cold hands to share. Highly recommend.

Hayes Barton dessertery has the best cake I have ever eaten. They have regular and special flavors as well as AMAZING key lime pie

Best kept secret! Unbelievable food , atmosphere and the staff was amazing. It's like having dinner with friends! Thank you for a wonderful night of amazing food and desserts.

I've been wanting to go here for a while and finally did this past weekend for my birthday. This was my wife's review to me concerning the restaurant. And Although I thought our waitress was plenty attentive, I otherwise agree with My Wife completely. Positives: food was good, Liked the vibe, thought it was cozy and romantic setting, like the music a lot. Bar seating was good except for the Barbarian beside me. Negatives: didn't acknowledge twice that I said were celebrating a birthday, the waitress could have been a tad more attentive snd I thought the guy up front should have acknowledged we were patrons and said come again we're glad you ate with us. Little stuff means a lot. The barbarian referenced earlier was the guy sitting next to My Wife who was eating like he had never tasted food before. Obviously not the restaurants fault. All of the food was beyond good! The pork medallions were outstanding and perfectly cooked! So are the beans and the potatoes. The food was top-notch. As a long time restaurant veteran, I did find it problematic that my wife told them three times, once on the phone, and twice in person that we were celebrating my birthday. It was never acknowledged. I don't expect a free dessert or anything free for that matter, but it could've been acknowledged. I don't care, but it was important to her and it was not done. Additionally, I've always taught my staff to acknowledge people as they arrive and as they leave to set a goodTone, and as we left nobody said anything, they just watched us leave. As My Wife said, it's a small thing, but it matters. The other thing that I found weird, is the fact that they open at six for dinner. There was a long line waiting, and we got in there and the staff was immediately crushed. They handled it well, but the service could have been better had they not been grinding to start the service. Overall, I highly recommend this place. I will absolutely return but there were some things that could've been done better.

Stopped in for lunch. Food was delicious service was nonexistent. Even though it clearly said please tip your servers. Tipped them $10 in advance in a $35 tap. I always overtip. But it was annoying because couldn't get anyone's attention.

Best Darn Cakery in Raleigh! Quaint vibe, stellar dishes and owners are absolutely amazing!

I've never eaten inside but I've eaten a lot of cakes. I pick up slices (btw one slice serves 3-5 people) for our family members bdays and they never disappoint.

If you are looking for some of the best and biggest cake slices you need to check out Hayes Barton. This restaurant is so cute and presents such an awesome atmosphere of a retro diner. The food is standard here, nothing to write home about but their cake slices are to die for! They have such a variety and I would recommend them all! My most favorite is the chocolate raspberry follow by the Heath bar!

Our first dinner last night here. Why haven't we been enjoying this for years? The vibe is so casual, comfortable. The food amazing and big portions. The service - top notch. The desserts are so good!! Be sure you make reservations, I understand the have a full hose nightly,

I was not expecting a fabulous restaurant in the middle of South Hill, but this place was truly a gem. We ordered house specialty drink, a wine sparkler along with a buffalo burger and fried green tomatoes. The meal was amazing. Would definitely recommend.

A good spot for some massive desserts. I ordered 2 slices of cake and it lasted 2 days each. I ordered the cookie dough and it was really dry even with eating it the same day I bought it. But the chocolate cake was moist and yummy.

In town for a conference and decided to stop after reading the positive reviews. I got the coconut cake and chocolate raspberry cake but didn't realize how big the slices would be! Cakes are pricey at $12.50/slice but they are the size of my head, so it's worth it? Both were super moist and even though coconut is their most popular, I thought it was just okay. My vote goes to the chocolate raspberry! It is very decadent but sooo good. The raspberry compote in it is delicious.

Had to leave a birthday dinner across the street early so we could get here before 9 p.m. to enjoy cake. Best in town! Night. Made.

Yes... The cake actually TASTES as good as it looks! We've never had anything but dessert at Hayes Barton. And it's always been too crowded to eat at the Cafe, so it's always been "to go". Today was no exception. The cake, though, is OUTSTANDING. I had the coconut cake. Each slice is enormous, easily twice the size of a typical serving. The yellow cake is spongy and moist, in 2 layers with a light and marshmallowy frosting and glazed with fresh shredded coconut. This is among the best slices of coconut cake I've ever had. One day will have to go back amd actually have dinner at this place. I'll probably just order a side salad though, to make sure I have room for dessert.

Cake cake cake! This place is absolutely amazing. After an amazing dinner with a friend that I met on bumble bff I thought this would be the perfect place to have dessert. She is new to the city so it was only right that she tried the best dessert in the RDU area., When we first arrived we were both able to find a parking space fairly easily! I always park at the bank because it's convenient and there almost always a space over there! I checked the time and we had about 30 mins before they close so we were in luck! When she walked in she was immediately like wow! This amazing, she couldn't believe all of the flavor cakes that they have, we ended going for the peanut butter cream pie and it was delicious. The restaurant is very small quaint so it makes for a nice evening of talking. She raced about how amazing the pie was and that she would come back with other. Overall I love this place. I will always come back.

If you want a legit, 1950's style cafe that has the family owned feel...this is it. I got the chicken Marsala and it was the best I have ever had! Incredible! The atmosphere is adorable complete with golden age Hollywood posters and big band music! The desserts are obviously the main showcase and worth the trip for just those! Fair warning, it is a bit pricey and expect to pay about $50 a person if you end up with dessert as well. Totally worth every penny! Perfect for date night but get a reservation!

I have a kind of conflicting review. The place is so cute with a retro diner vibe, and the cakes are giant and amazing but the actual food was disappointing otherwise. The staff was kind, but it's not actual table side service which felt odd when it was well staffed. Be prepared to order at the register, seat yourself, and just have food dropped off. Signage that says "seat yourself" or "order here" would be helpful.

Delicious food and desserts, cute and fun ambiance. The place has high throughput and we definitely felt a little rushed by the server (she brought takeout boxes out while we were clearly still eating) - not a place to linger over a long meal.

Amazing food! Got the chicken pot pie and was in love with it! Also got the coconut cake and it was good but not up to the hype it's received. I recommend trying a different flavor even though it's highly recommended.

Dropped by for cake after dinner and the cakes are scrumptious. We shared a slice of banana cake and every bite was a treat. Highly recommend for dessert.

Best desserts in all of Raleigh. Absolutely huge slices that will feed 2-4 people. Have eaten dinner here several times and usually order whatever is on special, tho they usually run out of several dishes and desserts so arrive early. Every thing I've eaten at this restaurant has been delightful. If eating dinner you must make reservations several days in advance as the dinning room is very small. Even with reservations we've had to wait up to 1/2 for a table. Worth the wait!

What a nice little cafe/restaurant in such an unexpected place. I looked up "cake" and this is one of the places that came up in the search. I arrived near closing time for lunch, and the servers were still so accommodating. The cake display was so rich! Each slice is about $10. Like many have said already, you end up with a large slice that's meant for 2 to 3 adults. The foods are like cafe food with your simple hamburger (no bells and whistles), sandwiches, salads, and soup ranging from $8 to $13. Very simple and goes very well with the theme of the entire cafe. The entire atmosphere was just nice to be in and very comfortable. There were street parking and limited parking across in stalls, which wasn't a problem for us if you're coming by for late lunch once everyone has left. Also, most are coming by to pick-up cake, so parking spaces will open up.

The desserts are still amazing but my latest experience leaves a lot to be desired. Usually you can get some dessert and sit at one of the five barstools along the wall if one is free. Not so on this visit. We waited for ~10 minutes in the dessert counter line and once we got close to the front, I grabbed an open barstool, per usual. The host promptly evicted me because now there's a wait for people who want to have dessert in the barstool area too. He offered to add our names to The List, which we did. Cool. We get to the counter and Cake Lady asks "for here or to go?". We told her we're eating in. She tells us we have to put our names on The List to get a barstool. I told her we did. Next she says since we are on The List we cannot order from her. Instead we have to wait to be seated at a barstool and then order from a server instead. We decline and tell her we'll just get it to-go then. She tells us we have to take our name off The List if we are ordering to go. I tell her we will. She says we need to do it NOW to ensure no one seats us after she gives us the dessert. (ummm....ok). So I go back to the host and remove our names and voila, we are allowed to order cake from her. Hallelujah! We ordered Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake and Carrot Cake. Each slice is $10. Cake Lady hands me a $28 receipt to sign with a tip line on it. (Slow your roll Cake Lady. 10+10=20) I inform her and she says "Well, the 8 is right above the 0". Ok then Cake Lady........ Bottom Line: Gotta give them credit for their AWESOME DESSERTS but not a great experience. Always crowded and staff is hit or miss.

this is one of the best slices of cake i've ever had. moist, plush, flavorful, sweet, just perfect. i haven't stopped thinking about it since i got it and i'm planning on getting a cake for my graduation and my birthday too

An absolute delight of a place. The cakes are seriously good- and also enormous. The menu didn't read "fancy" per se, but the food was well executed and just the thing. Sometimes it's refreshing to have a restaurant not try to be innovative and creative. This place has excellent, non-revolutionary food executed at a high level. The bread basket is also a hot tip. We can't wait to come back!