Tuong Vi P.
Yelp
I had a hankering for a Red Velvet cupcake after a grueling day of coding school at The Iron Yard and once I reached the train station in the Antique Row neighborhood, I remembered I had gone to Lenox Cupcakes a few times last year, when they re-opened. From my conversation a few days ago with the woman who answered the back door that led to the kitchen (who I presume is the business owner), it seems that between the time they were in Buckhead and now in Chamblee, they were in the wholesale business and were not open to the public.
Anyway, I gave Lenox Cupcakes 3 stars last year shortly after their opening of their current location because of the meager furnishings, taking off 1 star because of this. With my box of 4 flavors last year (see photos), I firmly believed the cupcakes were more than worthy of 4 stars. Last week's experience just shot up my opinion of this place 2 stars. Yes, 2 freakin' stars, people.
The RV cupcake was fantastic. The cake was amazingly moist with the most luscious cream cheese frosting sweetened JUST RIGHT. I was stuffing my face as I made my way home, which resulted in red crumbs all over my face, lap, and car seat. Who cares!?!
What pushes up this rating up through the roof is the service that I received. I knocked on the back door, which has a note indicating that the patron does not have to go around to the front to enter, instead, just knock. I didn't see a sign with the hours of operation so I wasn't sure anyone would come. I knocked once and no one seemed to hear. Before leaving, totally understanding that it would be reasonable for the joint to be closed as the time was approaching 7 p.m., I thought I'd knock once more for the hell of it.
And then I heard light footsteps behind the metal door. The smiling woman invited me in and I got shy when I saw I'd walk through the kitchen, where there were two other women baking tons of cupcakes. She told me to just go through and she'd help me out front. The display was pretty sparse, as it was late in the day. I had vanilla (maybe birthday cake?), chocolate, caramel, and red velvet to select from. For some weird reason, I've been wanting red velvet cake, which before I thought was totally overrated. Anyway, she packed up my cupcake in a cute kraft paper box (with no extra cost like some new Atlanta cupcake competitors!) and when I asked the nice lady what time they usually closed on weekdays, she said 6 p.m. Come again? Did you pay attention to the aforementioned time? I was almost an hour past the time she said and when I brought that obvious face to her attention, she chuckled and said that as long as there's someone working in the kitchen, they'll open up their shop. If you want this rare special treatment, be sure to park out back. If you're in the front and they've closed for the day, it would probably be hard for anyone to hear you from the kitchen.
Anyway, she walked me to the back door and bidded me farewell. This place is the shit and may replace my go-to cupcake shop in Buckhead as my pick for best cupcakes in Atlanta. Seriously. And I am talking about just the cupcakes themselves. Throw in the service and it is hard to find a place more deserving of more buzz and love. Go check them out!