4. Restaurants

Carlo’s Bakery

95 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ, 07030
  • (201) 659-3671
  • Store is closed

Carlo’s Bakery Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Hoboken for healthy meals suggestion.

Hoboken Bar & Grill ( 230 Washington St )
Johnny Rockets ( 134 Washington St.,Hoboken )

Visit below restaurant in Hoboken for healthy meals suggestion.

Johnny Rockets ( 134 Washington St.,Hoboken )

  • Sasha S.

    I was in NYC over the weekend for a concert. Since I am from California, I wanted to do all the tourist stuff. One of those things were to take the train over to Hoboken since yes, I watch Cake Boss. I never had a Cannoli before. All I can say is YUMM! That is my new favorite treat. Obviously I can't compare them to others but I can compare the regular to the Chocolate one and I can't say which is better since they were both incredible!! I also had the Chocolate Brownie which was the best I have ever had. The Carrot cake muffin was incredible also. Everything I had there was so great. It was so worth the hour wait to get inside. I just wish we had a Carlos Bakery here in L.A. =( Next time I am in NYC, I am for sure going back to Hoboken and ordering a ton of treats! Btw, the price didn't seem so bad either.

    (5)

  • Vicki S.

    Ok I have never actually been to the bakery, but I have had the cake and O my God it was delicious. I had some the cake they made for the Bronx Zoo. It was a vanilla cake and I usually hate vanilla, but it was perfect. The brown sugar used for the sand on the cake made the frosting even better. The cakes look as good as they taste.

    (5)

  • Sam P.

    I was so happy to see when I got to the Bakery that it only had about 5 customers inside and no wait at all to order. The staff was so helpful and pleasant. I went specifically to taste the Lobster Tails that everyone raves about. I was soooo not dissapointed. These were amazing! Crispy, Flaky and the cream inside is to die for. My experience was awesome!!! . I didnt taste anything else so I can give a review on anything other than the Lobster tails and the Napolians. Both were delicious.

    (5)

  • Miranda B.

    What a wonderful birthday cake they made for my daughter! It was a pink Italian liquor with french creme!!!! WOW-it was utterly lovely!!

    (5)

  • Dayani M.

    I used to be able to go in and out of this place in 5 mins. Heck I though that I must be one of the 5 people who go here hahaha Not! But now there's always a line out the door in the evenings and weekends. Some mornings, you'll even see people lining up and taking pics in front of the place.. tsk..tsk..tsk.. what happened? Anyway, I'm still a fan of their cakes. I love their chocolate mousse cake so much, esp when the chocolate is on the verge of melting. It is so moist and you can tell the chocolate is high quality. I am salivating just talking about it. As for the lobster tail that everyone raves abt, eeehh I don't like it that much. I love the cream inside but not the shell. I will still go to this place, but only if there's no line! Ok fine I'll accept if there are less than 3 people in front of me!

    (4)

  • Roya J.

    The cannolis are to die for and it was worth the 45 minute wait. The creampuffs that snuck into my pastry box (which I did not order, but was charged for) were horrible. Definitely go there for the cannolis, but not creampuffs or customer service. The other pastries I ordered were decent, but nothing to write home about.

    (4)

  • Alison C.

    Carlo's Bakery has been around for about 80 years, but its popularity has exploded due to its showcase on TLC's "Cake Boss" reality show. Pastry chef, Buddy, provides a humorous and entertaining glance into the trials he faces as a custom cake designer/baker. Though I have often found myself in the Carlo's area, debating whether to indulge my sweet tooth, I have always managed to surpass the cravings. However, my love for the television show drew me into the traditional Italian bakery. While I was enticed to go all out and inhale an entire cake myself, I settled on a small baked custard as my bakery taste test item. The sweet and delicate pastry was shaped like a mini-muffin. The lightly browned crust encased a mushy, cakey filling with vanilla and almond undertones. The baked custard was a delicious introduction to Carlo's, and now it is time to take the next step and try one of their extravagant cakes...that is if I can even step foot inside the café again. Carlo's Bakery has become a tourist destination with constant mob scenes, photographers, and more lining up for a peek into the pastry haven. Sure locals will find this discouraging, but, trust me, the sweets are worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Kelly A.

    If you don't live in Hoboken but you watch the Today Show, you may now know about Carlo's Bakery. They were just featured on Today and are making the cake for the "Today Throws a Wedding" wedding. This is a Hoboken institution, with the best darn cake I've ever eaten. Carlo's is an old school, Italian, family-run bakery. Their specialty is cakes for all occasions, but they also have great pastries and cookies. No need to go to Little Italy or Brooklyn for some real Italian pastries. We have it right across the street from City Hall in Hoboken, NJ! And if you are planning a wedding or a big party, do put Carlo's on your short list for cakes.

    (4)

  • Kenna W.

    I am from Georgia, so when the opportunity came up that I could go to New Jersey, I was thrilled. Since I love watching the cake boss and have watched every season of the next great baker. So you can imagine my disappointment when I got to Carlos Bakery, I did not have to stand in line long as it was a weekday, the disappointment began when I realized it was a bunch of teenagers waiting on us and I half expected to meet at least one member of Buddys family, if not the man himself. It was so crowded in there that I could not even ask what kind of cake I was getting, (I picked out the most chocolate looking one) ordered a plain brownie and paid my $32 and left. That cake cost me $47 in all ($15 parking for 20 minutes) As we headed back to GA we ate the brownie, if it wasn't for the frosting on top it would have been dryer than the Sahara desert. I figured ok, maybe because cakes are his thing, so imagine my dismay when I realized that I have had a better cake for one fourth the price from my local grocery store. So to top it all off when I got home I figured that I would email Buddy and let him know that his fans are kinda disappointed by the whole experience, maybe they could take steps towards addressing the problem only to discover they have no email. What a wonderful experience this has been!!!

    (2)

  • John C.

    As i was walking by this place going to eat lunch i over heard a women say that she waited almost three hours since 9 a.m to get into this place and then i remembered i had some red velvet birthday cake from this place the day before. Yea it really wasn't that memorable the cream cheese frosting was way too sweet and overpowered the cake which its self was o,k i mean it wasn't dry or anything but nothing amazing. I have never seen the show and this was the first time i have been in the area since it has came out. With that being said i was shocked at the length of the line, i mean this is worse then shake shack, then the fact that people were taking pictures outside the place and the fact that the street was renamed after the guy. I guess it speaks for the decline of our civilization, i mean you donks are really gonna wait 3 hours in line on a monday morning in 97 degree weather for some overpriced pastries. I mean its not like you are getting to meet justin bieber in there, then i'd understand. Anyone in this line should be spayed and neutered so we could begin weeding out the stupidity in this country.

    (1)

  • Anita J.

    Still love Carlos' for their cannolis, cream puffs, and lobster tails, but now I have experienced better cakes than theirs. Downgrading my remove a star, but I still credit them for the Italian classics!

    (4)

  • Kelly G.

    Like many other reviewers, I'm a fan of the tv show so I "had" to stop in while on a visit to NYC. My BF and I went on our way home on a Sunday morning and were surprised to see no line outside. That's because everyone was already crammed inside! They do have a "door man" who gives each person a number so it's semi-organized chaos. We waited an hour and the people just kept piling into the store. It can't be good having all those people packed into a tiny store. (Safety-wise). Once I finally got my turn, I ordered an assortment of Italian cookies, a piece of coffee/crumb cake, a black and white cookie, and some sort of pastry ring with icing and pecan pieces. All have been very yummy, but the whole "BEST EVERRRR...?" No. It was worth it to say I've been there...to check off 'been there, done that.' I will repeat what so many have already said: get there early!! When we left (11am on a Sunday) the lines were already starting to form outside. A few cons: - No menu, price list, or names for any of the stuff they have. I can guarantee 90% of what makes the line go so slowly is people getting up to the front and not knowing what the heck they want. Even if you want to just be able to point to something and say "I want that," with the store that crowded, you can barely get up to the shelves to see what they have. - Scary crowded. Now, I'm not a fan of crowds at all but I prepared myself knowing what a huge tourist stop this was. Still, anytime there are that many people crammed into a tiny spot, I get concerned should there be an emergency. The "take a number" thing is helpful but I would honestly think it would be better to have everyone form a line outside the store, and take small groups in at a time. This way, people can SEE what's available, ask questions and not feel rushed. - Overpriced. I get that they are "famous" and people will pay pretty much whatever to simply say "I had a cookie from Carlo's Bakery" but c'mon. Like so many others have said, they ain't all that. They definitely aren't struggling, thanks to their fame, so they could be a lot more reasonable in their pricing.

    (3)

  • Demo K.

    amazing food. lines are long bc of the publicity though.

    (5)

  • Stacy C.

    I'm a baker in hopes of having my own bakery soon and I watch Buddy on all his programs and admire his business ethics and believe he is very business savy. After watching his program on fixing bakeries I really expected the inside of his bakery in Hoboken to be much nicer, instead I saw dummy cakes covered in dust and looking old, display cases looking so so and the customer service just ok. The singer outside entertaining those waiting in line was happy to be there when it was not even required of him. The kid at the door letting customers into the bakery was very miserable looking and set a mode even before entering the store. I was able to visit Carlos bakery in Hoboken and New York and found the atmosphere in New York surprisingly more pleasant, but customer service was still terrible. As for the actual baked goods I really expected more. The white cake was dry and tasteless, buttercream frosting was not good ( I can't stand shortening in my frostings) the chocolate cake was dry and a bit bitter. I enjoyed the red velvet cake and the cannoli's were the best I've ever had, the cookies were good and terimisu was excellent. I loved being in the bakeries, it's been something I've wanted to do for years now and it was worth it despite a few disappointments. I still love buddy and will continue to watch his shows.

    (3)

  • Jan J.

    I am not sure about this hype. The pasties are over rated, I had better at other locate Italian bakeries. The lined are mainly tourists. We know better that this isn't the place for a good dessert.

    (2)

  • Aliyah M.

    Pretty overrated... The single reason I will come here is for their lobster tails, which are PHENOMENAL (and I haven't come across a bakery with good ones yet). I've tried all their cupcakes- nothing outstanding that would make me prefer this bakery to any other. We also ordered a cake from them once, my husband wanted our baby pictures on the cake in a certain way and they kinda just threw them directly on (the pictures weren't cut out the way my husband requested, nor positioned on the cake the way he wanted). We could have gotten the same cake done in Shoprite, at least is wouldn't have been 80+ bucks! FYI- apparently, if you live in Hoboken, you don't have to stand in the line outside, you can just walk in and take a number. A lot of people got pretty livid seeing people 'cutting', but that's the store policy and while I don't understand why Carlo's does this, just letting ya know.

    (3)

  • Steve C.

    I used to be a fan of cake boss when it first came out on Netflix. I recently just moved to Hoboken and was so excited to be a local near the bakery. My boyfriend got me some treats from there on valentines day.. The tiramisu was delicious and so were the big juicy chocolate covered strawberries.. But here's my main complaint.. For a guy who goes around judging other bakeries on bakery boss.. He should make much better cupcakes. I am extremely disappointed. I loveee cupcakes and I know a Walmart cupcake when I have one. Which is what I would compare his to. Sweet on Fourth St could give him a tip or two.

    (3)

  • Penelope G.

    If this were 2009 or 2010, I would've rated 5 stars for sure, despite the wait. Of course the wait is long and sometimes extends to the next block even, but it used to be worth it. Their lobster tails, cannolis, and cupcakes...chocolate strawberries and even their pie...mmm jeez, pretty much everything was worth waiting an hour and a half. When I visited recently, I was hugely disappointed. These days, the pastries are decent, not great. Flavor was lacking. The cupcakes didn't even have the eye-catching designs (or just no design at all) like they once had. Even their classic lobster tails were a letdown. I think their A-team has moved on to bigger things...obviously Buddy has. Unless Buddy and his old team returns, I don't think I plan on revisiting anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Annie B.

    I'm from California and I've always been a fan of the show. When I went to New York I decided to go visit the bakery and I honestly shouldn't have wasted my day. The girls working there were rude and rolled their eyes when we asked for separate boxes. The canolies weren't as good as I expected. Neither were anything else we got. I went with the highest expectations and was extremely disappointed. One advice I would give is hire people who are nice and have good customer service. ESPECIALLY because this bakery is well known and people mostly come for the show.

    (1)

  • Alicia M.

    Seriously, I'm a huge fan of cake boss however I feel like this place is just famous because of its show on tv. I tried their cannolis and their cupcake... I didnt find anything special with the taste. The line was so long but it went by faster than I thought. Everything talks so big about this place but seriously ... just go to any other bakery. 4 stars because I love the show so much and their cool cakes ! :D ... About 3 for the dessert.

    (4)

  • Michelle Y.

    Having watched Cake Boss for the past few months, I really wanted to check out Carlos Bakery for their sweet treats! I arrived on a Saturday afternoon in January around noon. The wait was about 15 minutes to go inside, but the wait inside was about an hour. They were crowding about 50 people inside the store, and it was difficult to see what tasty treats were available at either sides of the glass displays. I ordered the a quarter of the sheet of crumb cake, 6 lobster tails, and 4 cannolis. It was definitely not cheap; a total of 40 dollars! The lobster tails were cone-shaped versions of cream puffs. They were flaky on the outside and custard-like on the inside. The cannoli and crumb cake, while good, was soooo sweet. The crumb cake is so heavy that it is so hard to eat too much of it. Everything had SO MUCH SUGAR!! I was in disgust after a lobster tail and a tiny bite of the crumb cake. (Maybe that is why folks on the show are a bit wider). But in all honesty, the sweets were not that good! I think there are better italian bakeries out there, with MUCH cheaper prices! This bakery is overrated, as the others have mentioned. So much merchandise from mugs, shirts, dvds of the Cake Boss show was on sale along with the sweets. Folks on line were from all over the world. We caught sight of Madeline and her son while in the shop. Folks were bombarding them with photos. Seriously people, they are just on a baking show......

    (2)

  • Silvestro S.

    Went the day before Christmas Eve. Line was ridiculously long. We were told it would be a two hour wait. I promised my daughter (who is a fan of the TV show) that we would come back the day after Christmas. We came back, walked right in, bought some cupcakes, cookies, hot chocolate and schwag. The servers weren't as bad as many have posted here. All items purchased were good quality. Have I had better? Probably. Would I go back if it were not in the TV show? Probably not. But it is what it is - A tourist attraction w some pretty good eats. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Rachel M.

    Ok so, I am an avid baker in my free time and I watch Cake Boss & the Next Greatest Baker whenever I can. So of course I wanted to head across the bridge to Hoboken no jokin' on my day trip to NYC and grab some pastry from Buddy! And that we did. We went at like 7:15am, maybe like a 5 minute wait, no line. Took a bunch of pics...and then I was starstruck. Buddy himself walks downstairs and I kept slapping my friend on the arm to get her attention. He was so nice and shook our hands. He thanked us for making the trip from Boston to try his pastry. I was so pumped to have met him! Albeit kind of expensive for a bakery (the thing is on TV for Christ's sake, I should've expected it!), the pastry was delicious. I ate a peanut butter cupcake, snagged a bite of my friend's red velvet, and then brought home some cookies to my parents and manfriend. I will be back. (Loved Hoboken, too, very cute area!!!)

    (5)

  • Tom W.

    Fresh bakery and nice people. I was expecting a tourist trap, but, besides the long wait for service, it was pretty good! Staff was very friendly, which surprised me. If I was local, I'd stop by again

    (5)

  • Jennifer G.

    More like 3.5 stars. We decided to drive a little out of our way to make a stop here last weekend. My sister had been here previously and said it was the best canoli she's ever had so that was enough convincing for me. As we pulled up, we saw the huge line outside so we had someone jump out of the car and go stand in line while we found parking. (Which was a nightmare on it's own because of a street festival going on a few blocks away) Once we parked and made our way back, we jumped in line and noticed it was moving fairly quickly, which was a relief. It was also fairly organized outside. As groups of people left the bakery, a worker would call groups in and hand a numbered ticket as you walked in. Employees behind the counter shouted out numbers as they finished up with their last customers. However, that's where the organization ended. There is absolutely to order inside the bakery. It's pure and total chaos. People are elbowing to push up to the glass to see what's behind it while other people are basically laying on the glass cases to keep their space in "line" (I'm not sure they understood that there was no line other than the number in their hand). It didn't take long for our number to be called (maybe 5-10 minutes inside the bakery) so thankfully we weren't in there too long. Anything longer than that and I probably would have gone nuts. If it weren't for the quality of that cupcake, they would have gotten 2 stars just for the hassle. But that one cupcake gave them an extra star and a half. I went with a standard yellow cupcake with vanilla buttercream. Yes, it's a basic item, but if you can nail that, you've got a good bakery. And they did. Soft, fluffy, fresh cake, with sugary icing piled on top. YUMMMMM!!! I don't know if that will be enough to make me drive up there and go through it all again though.

    (3)

  • Aysha A.

    I've been here three times, all because out-of-towners insisted that I take them. In my honest opinion it is a perfectly average bakery, decent pastries but nothing worth waiting in line for. I think tourists just come under the mistaken impression that they will actually see Carlos but that is rarely the case. If you happen to be in the area and there is no line, then sure, stop in, but don't go out of your way and expect excellence.

    (3)

  • Ann P.

    I am a huge fan of the TV show Cake Boss, so I had to try this place out while I was in New York. The whole experience of being there was worth the trip, but the desserts, not so much. The cupcakes were comparable to supermarket cupcakes. The cupcake itself was very dense, which was okay, but I couldn't eat the frosting. Too sweet and like I said, tasted like something from Smith's. The cannolis were fine and the cookies were disappointing. We did get a mini tiramisu cake, which was the best thing out of all the desserts we bought that day. Wanted to try the crumb cake, but they didn't sell them in small pieces... you had to buy a giant slice, which I don't understand. The person who packaged our desserts had the cupcakes tipped over and everything was just a mess and squished. Walked out spending $50 and was not happy with my purchases. Their extravagant cakes do look amazing and I'm still hooked on the show, but I definitely won't be visiting again for their desserts. If you want a big, fancy cake just for looks, then Carlo's Bakery is your place. For taste, there are better places to go where you don't have to stand in line for hours. I am a huge fan, so it hurts me deeply to write a review like this. I still love you, Buddy! :0)

    (3)

  • Madelyn S.

    I went here over winter break last year. I expected it to be packed and a really long line. We ended up meeting Buddy's sister Lisa. She was incredibly nice and me and my brother took pictures with her. She was much prettier in real life. She also told us that Buddy didn't work on Monday's was a Monday). I had a dark chocolate mouse cake thingy that was really good. My brother had the same thing just in milk chocolate. We were staying in New York so we just hopped on the ferry and came over. It wasn't packed at all. It was really hard to choose exactly what I wanted.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    This place is always packed and the line is out of control every weekend, with tourists and people from all over lining up to get a glimpse of Carlos Bakery, famous for their tv show CAKE BOSS as well as their famous cake designs. I passed by here a million times and the line was always long, so it turned me off. Im sure the guy is super nice, and he makes great cake designs, but I feel like some stuff in there is overrated. I had their cannolis and it wasnt bad, but it isnt as good as the cannolis in Villa Borghese in Halmetta, NJ. However, I did like their red velvet cupcake which I think can hang with the other dessert places here in Hoboken. Other than that, I wouldnt wait 30 min in line, when Crumbs, and Sweet is right around the corner. ;) But if you came from out of town to see this place, dont make me stop you from visiting the place. ;)

    (3)

  • Meghan J.

    i'm about to eat my words a little bit... although i stand by my original review, i had the opportunity to try some more of what the cake boss has to offer. opportunity = needed a cake last minute (again) and all the other pretentious bakeries in hoboken need 48 hours notice. carlos' was my only choice. they have various cakes ready to go and can write on them in just 5 minutes. first time- strawberry cheesecake. perfect. second time- red velvet cake. as good as it gets. if this review were on the red velvet cake alone, then it would be 5 stars. plus, i still get anxiety and pedestrian rage just by being inside the bakery. don't wait on line. go during work hours.

    (3)

  • Liz T.

    I thought it was all a hype, but when I took a bite of the lobster tail I was in heaven...perfectly crispy and the cream was not too sweet, it was so perfect...just like a lobster, even priced like a lobster (12.99 per pound). The strawberry shortcake was delish and a great gift. The petite size strawberry shortcake was not good though, skip that and save the $4. I didn't get a chance to try the other mini's but I think that they would probably not be as good as the whole cake or the lobster tail :) Be prepared to wait though, staff members were great.

    (4)

  • Cameron M.

    Another over-hyped bakery. Be prepared to take a number and wait a long time. I came towards the end of their business hours and they stop letting people inside about 30 minutes before they close, so don't come right before they close and expect to be let inside. I had their carrot cake cupcake and it was delicious, just not worth the wait or hassle of going to Hoboken.

    (3)

  • Dave M.

    Went there around 10AM on a Tuesday in summer and there was not much of a line. Waited about 10min to order. There actually isn't a "line" when you get in the store you just get a number and wait for them to call you. This gave us time to check out all the amazing pastries. The staff was very helpful and kind. Answering questions they must get hundreds of times a day. We got the lobster tail, cannoli, & crumb cake (recommended by the staff, but also what's featured most on the show). We were not disappointed. The pastries were delicious. The crumb cake was likely the best thing we had and I would say it's a must order item. Would HIGHLY recommend this place if you're a fan of the show. Worth the time and the $5 PATH fee to get over. Which the PATH station was only a couple blocks from the shop so it was super easy to get to from where we were staying in Brooklyn. If you love CAKE BOSS, ignore the haters and go visit for yourself. If you're visiting at a busy time you can even order ahead and just go pick something up and skip the line altogether. Or just go early and also avoid the line.

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    I've come to Carlo's Bakery maybe twice since I live in Queens. Each time, the wait was long even when I come in the mornings. First time I came here was on a Saturday and that wait was probably 2 hours! The second time was on a Monday an that wait was still about 1-1.5 hours. It's crazy the amount of people that go there. The place is pretty expensive if you ask me just for baked goods and pastries. I've gotten the red velvet cupcakes, canolis, chocolate chip cookies, brownies. They're pretty good. My favorite is actually the chocolate chip cookies...lol. The red velvet cupcakes are a bit messy and falls apart if your'e eating them by hand.

    (4)

  • Gina M.

    SO EXPENSIVE! It is worth it though to meet everyone and taste a pastry but take out a small loan. It is a big tourist attraction so it is very hectic in there but I love it. I bought five cannolis one time and it costs 40 dollars. I didn't like that too much but hey, you pay for the name more than anything. The decorations and designs are incredible. It is worth the trip and the wait!

    (4)

  • Randy S.

    Went yesterday and waited about an hour before our number was called. We walked down to park and enjoyed some of our treats, but noticed one didn't make it into the box. On the way back I stopped by and they quickly fixed that problem. It was a good experience. Next time we would bring a blanket to sit on at the park when we enjoy our treats.

    (4)

  • Neal P.

    My wife's nephew and his family were here on holiday from Australia, they mentioned that they would like visit Carlo's, Bakery. Being that they're huge fans of the show, with one day left, we settled on having them over for dinner. We live on Staten Island, so I picked them up at their Hotel in Manhattan and took a detour into New Jersey, unbeknown st to them, proceeded to Carlo's Bakery. They were floored once they realized what I was up to. Once we arrived, there was this line outside, I thought maybe it was for brunch, Not, wait time was a half an hour outside an another twenty minutes inside. While waiting, we met the owners wife. The banter and hospitable exchange truly overwhelmed the Aussies. This being my first there as well found the whole experience priceless. The Cannolis rock, the cupcakes killer, the Fondant cake, fancy, the Assorted cookies great, the Beignets awesome, I'm going back this time with the wife. Hoboken got it right, what a quaint town.

    (4)

  • Ryan L.

    Staff looked super annoyed to help anyone. Would it hurt to smile? I was afraid to order anything else and inconvenience the staff.

    (3)

  • Kristina K.

    This bakery will not be remembered for it's delicious baked goods, but for it's celebrity chef and long lines. If you plan to stop by this "Cakeboss" storefront, be prepared for a long wait. Almost every day without fail, the line stretches across the street. It's considerate that the line doesn't block neighboring storefronts. Since Hurricane Irene was on the horizon, we did not have to wait. It was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, the goods did not hold up to the hype. We picked up an M&M cookie and an almond biscotti. Bizarrely the almond biscotti tasted like licorice. Did someone use the wrong flavoring bottle? Gross. We threw it out after a couple bites. The M&M cookie tasted like a grocery store cookie. We were disappointed in Carlo's Bakery not because we held up higher standards, but because the items we had were so ordinary. It doesn't look like any of this will change, as they have a "good thing" going for them. The lines pretty much say it all. If you're looking to rub shoulders with a celebrity chef and have some ordinary baked good, line up for Carlo's bakery.

    (2)

  • Jon B.

    Not worth it anymore. Now it is all about the t-shirts. With more machines than people now, enjoy the massed produced so so baked goods. Soon we probably will be buying bow-tie cakes out of a vending machine or at our grocery store in the Carlos aisle. The treats were so much better 7+ years ago. Buddy has given in to the $... Could have still made bank and kept it a little smaller. The quality has suffered. They need more cashiers too. Takes 5-10 minutes to service someone. Get some iPads and take credit cards for those just wanting a cupcake or a few cookies. If you really want to get in and see this washed up place grab a friend from Hoboken as they can skip the line with their ID.

    (1)

  • Taryn C.

    Seriously, what's the hype? Yes I now this is the scene of Cake Boss or whatever the hell that show is. But when I lived in Hoboken (not too long ago), such a show never existed. I would come to this bakery for it's canolis and that was pretty much it. The good thing about their cannoli is that they fill them when you order them, so they are not sitting around all day. The way a cannoli should be made. But I mean, I'll go to Little Italy before going there. And what's with the line? There are WAY better bakeries in this area that don't have a Studio 54-esque line outside of it and hype built into the price. Try Giorgio's Pasticeria (sp?) for better selection. And Crumbs has way better cupcakes. But to give them credit where it's due - their cakes do look very original looking. Since I'm already married, but I didn't have a wedding, I wouldn't get a cake from there if you paid me.

    (2)

  • Mr F G And Ms M S.

    After watching Cake boss for a while, we decided to come and try . There were no lines when we got there and not too much people inside. They have a system where you have to take a ticket and they wont serve the orders until you are in front the cashier .We bought the cannolis and cream puff.. The taste was okay, but not great. I noticed the dummy cakes in the front display were dusty.. All in all, overrated place.

    (3)

  • Maria J.

    If I could give negative stars, I would. I lived in Hudson County for nearly 30 years, and every holiday was celebrated with a cake from Carlo's. Before the bakery became famous, it was a good place: the food was good and the staff was friendly. This morning, I went there for a crumb cake. The crumb cake is ready at 8, and I arrived at 8:05. I took a ticket at the door. There were 16 people in front of me and just two people working behind the counter. This wouldn't have been so bad except for the store's policy: anyone with a Hoboken ID gets to go to the front of the line. Because of this policy, the line never moved because residents kept showing up and going to the front. I think this is a good policy. Hoboken residents kept the bakery going for years, and they shouldn't have to wait on a tourist line. However, they also shouldn't go to the front of the line. There should be a line for residents and a line for non-residents, and both lines should be served by people behind the counter. After waiting for nearly 30 minutes without having a ticket called because residents kept showing up, a man from the UK pitched a fit about fairness and the line finally started moving. When my number was finally called, my server was slow and inattentive. I wanted Italian bread, too, but Carlo's doesn't make it. What kind of Italian bakery doesn't make fresh bread?! Save your time and sanity and go elsewhere. This is a poorly managed vestige of what it used to be when Buddy's dad was alive.

    (1)

  • Brianna W.

    Good not worth a long line. The cookies were not impressive at all. The mini cakes were impressive! I saw and tasted skill in the mini cakes! Add on : Once you've been once there isn't a big need to come back - due to the line. If the business was not on TV I may have a different opinion. IF the lines were shorter I might be more impressed. Either way good products I just don't like to wait in long lines especially when there are other Bakery options. Keep up the great baking though!!

    (3)

  • Cris G.

    Only brainwashed monkeys wait as long for pastries as people have waited here.

    (2)

  • Sue Ellen C.

    Complete waste of time. Long lines and the employees are rude. The pastries are not amazing l've tasted better. It's nothing but a big hype.

    (1)

  • Vittoria H.

    Prepare to wait in line, receive a ticket and invited inside after some patrons clear out. Wait patiently til your number is called. It makes it hard to know what you will order when people are crowded in the bakery blocking your view of the goodies and the names of what you see (not everything is labeled :/). It would be helpful for them to have a price list or a menu. Some items are sold by weight and others are sold individually ($5/cupcake). The cannolis are amazing- did not try the chocolate ones, just the original ones. I spent $40 on...not much. I vow to return for the cannolis on my next visit to the east coast!

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    Love this place. Always use them to create a cake for my family reunion. The creation is always the talk of the reunion.

    (5)

  • Aila B.

    The bakery is not the way, like it was before. Is a tourist spot now. The lines are long and once you are inside, you cannot see behind the class to pick out what you want because so many people are inside the small bakery. I would have to get off line to run to put quarters into the parking meter for waiting on that long line. I'm better off buying an Entenemm's cake than Carlo's 7" pricey cake.

    (2)

  • Terry M.

    Came back to Carlo's for lobster tails and cupcakes. 2 years ago we waited in a huge line for these items and we were not disappointed. This time however, we phoned in our order to avoid the line - big time saver. However, the products this time around were not as good. The lobster tails were hard and difficult to chew. The cupcakes were dry. We arrived at 11:30 so it's not like it was the end of the day. Probably won't make it a priority to stop here on our next trip to NYC.

    (3)

  • Sabrina S.

    The canolis and lobster tails were probably the most delicious desserts I have ever had. I love Cake Boss and I love baking. The cupcakes were just cupcakes like you could get at any other bakery though. Georgetown Cupcakes are ridiculously priced, so that was what I was expecting the cost to be like at Carlo's. To my surprise, it was reasonably priced. The only negative thing about Carlo's is the ridiculous line you have to wait in to even get inside the store, which was crowded and nearly impossible to move though. It was chaos walking into the bakery after waiting in line for 2 hours. Hoboken residents can walk in and skip the line with proof of residence.

    (4)

  • Adam D.

    Unless you're a resident of Hoboken you'll wait in a really long line which extends outside. I've seen a ticket counter outside that gives you a number they'll eventually call. When you finally do get inside the place is a crowded mess and the first thing you see is Cake Boss merchandise for sale, not the bakery goods. When you get through the merchandise and your number is called the staff expects you to be ready to order when you've barely had a chance to see what they have to offer. When you finally get your order you should be happy with it. There's no denying that they do a great job with the cupcakes, cookies, brownies, etc. For me, it's the speciality cakes that I'm not a huge fan of. I've had slices from at least 4 different specialty cakes and they've all been moist and brilliantly decorated, but there was something about the frosting on each one of those cakes that didn't sit well with me. They all had a very chewy consistency and you could literally taste the sugar in all of them. My advice would be to go here to try the goods on display. If you don't mind the wait as a non-resident, the prices are actually pretty reasonable. What I would avoid is wasting your money on the cakes to order. There's no doubt that a lot of work goes into making them look nice, but the frosting is overwhelming.

    (2)

  • Terri B.

    I went on a Tuesday afternoon and there were no lines. Inside the store, though, there were more people taking photos of the joint as opposed to purchasing pastries. I ordered a red velvet cupcake and my boyfriend had the ricotta canoli. It was okay, but not anything to write home about. I don't think they really care, anyway...this place is famous because it's on tv...but I wouldn't really get too excited about the pastries inside. To be honest, the best ricotta canoli is at Mezza Pica in Leichardt, Sydney. And the best red velvet cupcake is at Ghermez on George Street in Sydney, too...so if anyone plans on visiting Australia sometime, keep those places in mind.

    (3)

  • Katie C.

    It's pretty good but it's way over priced. If you have a Hoboken ID you can skip the line.. which is the only way in hell I go in there. No cupcake is worth a 2 hour wait, sorry..

    (2)

  • Rebecca P.

    I'm not normally in the business of writing slanderous reviews, but this place is way over-hyped and detracts from several very legitimately good bake shops in Hoboken. The line that clogs Washington like a hairball in a drain is a major nuisance to anyone who lives in Hoboken. Residential rage aside, my mom came to visit and insisted on dragging me here (she had been here before). We came on a rainy weeknight, so fortunately my experience wasn't even further marred by a long line. I sampled several offerings, including the rugelach and some chocolate dipped pecan cookie contraption. Both were dry and sickening... Buddy also made a cake recently for my office (and actually delivered it). Again, a let down...it was cool to look at, but was so outrageously sweet that we all felt sick after a couple bites. So yeah, in short, over-hyped and an utter letdown. If your idea of a fun day in Hoboken includes standing in line all day long for an unsatisfying stomachache, have at it...don't say you were not warned.

    (1)

  • Azile Y.

    Helpful staff, but worst cupcake ever.

    (2)

  • Quentin J.

    Sad, used to be my local bakery. Now the prices are jacked up and make no sense ($20 bucks a pound for rugelach...when NYC bakeries charge $12-15). They stopped making bread and rolls and filled that space with the souvenir crap. Must not be the best place to work...I pass by all the time and there seems to be revolving door of minimum wage workers. I do miss the lobster rolls. Even though they let locals cut the outside line...you still have to deal with the tourists inside who take forever to order and it just takes too long to run in and out for some pastry.

    (2)

  • Rob R.

    We had some family visiting from Canada and for some reason they were dying to see "The Cake Boss". So we made them happy and took a drive into Hoboken, only to find the line to get into Carlo's Bake Shop was approx. 2 blocks long!!! I'm not joking when I say the wait in line was longer than actually getting to Hoboken from Long Island. To be fair, once you get passed all the hype and the ridiculous pageantry that goes into the whole experience, the pastries were actually very good. Everybody bought a mix of cannolis, lobster tails, cream puffs, mini eclairs, napoleans, etc... etc... Even though everything tasted good I can't justify a drive into Jersey and a 2 hour wait on line for just "good tasting" cannolis.

    (3)

  • Jonathan C.

    I'm a big fan of the show, but I'm trying to write an object review. First, yes, the lines are long. You WILL be waiting for an hour, unless by some stroke of luck or God you get here at an off peak time. But I came on a Tuesday afternoon (2pm) and still waited for an hour... so good luck. Second, yes, it's pricier than most other places. You know what? That's just economics. It's a TOURIST destination people, if their prices are too high, then don't go. But clearly the people waiting in the 1 hr line are willing to pay. I shouldn't have to pay to ride an elevator to the top of the empire state building; but they can charge for it, and people pay. To be honest, if I were Buddy I'd probably raise my prices even more. I bought a red velvet cupcake, a lobster tail, two cannolis (chocolate and regular), three of these cookie roll things, a large M&M cookie and a chocolate walnut bar, and came to $17. To satisfy those who are looking for a great experience with great prices in addition to great pastries, I'll knock off a star. Now, onto the food. GET THE LOBSTER TAILS AND CANNOLIS. I'm a HUGE pastry fan, and let me tell ya: These. Are. Awesome. Simple as that. The Lobster Tails are perfectly flaky, the creme is oh so fresh, and it all just comes together amazingly. The cannolis are equally great, fresh and crispy with cool creme. Given the amount of turnover here, it's no wonder they're able to keep their pastries fresh. They must sell thousands of these things a day! I also tried their red velvet cupcakes, and while good, I wouldn't say it's the greatest thing on earth, so I'd pass on it. Additionally I tried some type of cookie roll looking thing, and it too was good, but comparable to others I've had (I can never remember the names of these things). The M&M cookie and choclate & walnut cookie are equally average. Good, but not something you need to pay a premium for. That's how we do it baby! Hoboken Style!

    (4)

  • Carly E.

    I'm from Massachusetts and every summer I take my younger brother to an amusement park for his birthday. This past year, going to Six Flags at home was not going to cut it for him so he begged me to go to the one in New Jersey because of the different rides. I told him the only way we would go is if we stopped at Carlos Bakery on the way! Of course it was hot and sticky when we got there and we patiently waited in line with the hundreds of other people that were trying to get in. Surprisingly it only took just over an hour to get in. The attendant at the door told us that the wait was usually three to four hours. I guess we got lucky! When we finally got to the door of course we had to take a picture in front of the building. How could you not?! We got into the bakery and it was PACKED. My brother was looking around for people from the show on TLC but we couldnt find any. That's okay, I was more here for the desserts. We literally got a little of everything. Everything was so good and satisfying. Definitely worth the wait. PS. I will have a Carlos Bakery cake as my wedding cake :D

    (5)

  • Tammy T.

    Was in NY on vacation and had to visit this bakery. Who doesn't like fresh baked goods? Stood in line for about 2 1/2 hours. When it was my turn, I had to push and shove my way to the cases to see what was being offered. I was born and raised in NJ but now live in FL so I was anxious to try the crumb cake. It was awful. The cake was dry and crumbly and the crumbs were dry as well. I spent about $40 on assorted pastries, cookies, etc and threw most of them away. I was recently in Vegas and decided to try the crumb cake again at Buddy's Bakery. My thinking was that maybe the cake from NJ was just a bad batch. Not so....the crumb cake in Vegas was just as bad...almost stale tasting. If you truly want a good crumb cake and you are in NJ, go to Styretown Bakery in Allwood, NJ. Their cake is dense, moist and so delicious. Buddy's is not worth the wait or money. I gave one star to be fair cause I wasn't able to try all their goodies.

    (1)

  • Christa Y.

    Really mediocre cakes and pastries that didn't seem fresh. Worst is they have the most antiquated billing system so that you don't actually get an itemized bill and can never really figure out what they have charged how much for. The servers range in attitude from mildly tolerant to impatient. Just a great big marketing scam. Avoid!

    (2)

  • Kim L.

    I never thought I would edit in line for two hours to get $40 dollars worth of pastries. Besides the long wait the pastries were yummy! We got some lobster tails, short bread assortment, two cupcakes, and m&m cookies. The m&m cookies were the best I've had, the dough was moist! The lobster tails were my favorite :) If the didn't mess up my cupcake order, we ordered a stawberry and red velvet but instead we got two chocolate I would have given them 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Shina P.

    Was not impressed with the cookies or cakes here. With all the hype I def expected more. Luckily it was raining so we were in and out but def not worth the wait if the line is out the door. Everything seems to be stuffed with mouse or creams. No wow factor like the cake boss. I'm sure there are other bakeries around that are way better. But you have to visit this tourist site if your in the area.

    (2)

  • Rosemarie D.

    Carlo's use to be the best but now they have fallen to ordinary. My favorite was always the crumb cake....I bought one yesterday and it tasted day old and stiff. You can't be a neighborhood jem while baking like Entermann's. What a shame

    (2)

  • Heather B.

    My GF and I stopped in here early Monday afternoon. They say the TV adds ten pounds, well on TV the place looks much larger. It's a single store front and was a bit croweded, but not too bad. Walked in and took a deli style ticket. We oogled and drooled looking at everything in the cases as we waited about 30 mins to be helped. I was a little disappointed looking at the quality of the specialty cakes. Since they are now made in a warehouse, you could tell that the same attention to detail isn't adhered too, due to mass production. Every pastry though looked amazing! My GF got several items- I think she spent her mortgage. I myself passed, since I didn't see any no sugar added/sugar free items. But hey, I'm not complaining, it's a BAKERY for Pete's sake. The GF and her fam housed all the goodies she brought home almost instantaniosly! SAVAGES!!!! They said it was good. I guess coming Jersey/NYC area we are all kinda spoiled with the quality bakeries we have, just like diners. I am sure that someone who isn't so spoiled would be in heaven, but to me it was just like any quality Jersey Bakery! We had fun though!

    (3)

  • Jen R.

    Long wait. Lobster tails were pretty amazing, cannolis just meh, and other pastries just okay. We ordered a tiny chocolate ganache cake & it was dry but rich. It was a unique experience, but I probably would only go back for the lobster tails or special order, full size cake.

    (3)

  • Brian B.

    This place is simply over-rated and not worth the effort it takes to get your goods and go. If it weren't for the show, the line (that literally goes down the street almost two blocks) would be much more reasonable, but obviously TV has done this bakeshop some good... Even pre-ordering online is a complete hassle. After selecting what you want, giving them the selected date and time you want to pick up, it still takes almost 30 minutes to finally get your cake in hand... KEEP IN MIND YOU PRE-PAY ONLINE!!! You may be thinking "That's just a fluke, it must have been a busy day", well, every day is a busy day. I'm sorry, but if I'm pre-paying, scheduling a pickup time, and calling 20 minutes in advance to let them know I'm arriving, I should wait no more than 5 minutes(MAX!)... sadly, all three times we've ordered pastries from here it's taken 20 - 30 minutes of waiting!!! SERIOUSLY?! So again, you ask "So why do you order from there?"... the simple answer is this. When people know you live in Hoboken, they want freaking pastries from Carlos when you visit... My grandmother wanted tiramisu, our good friends wanted cannolis... etc.. If I had it my way however, I'd hit up a number of other bake shops before ever stepping foot in this overpriced, poorly managed shop ever again!

    (1)

  • christina j.

    Not worth the trouble. Saturday I emailed 2 photos of the cake, which I ordered for my nieces 12th birthday party showing a significant crack on the side and missing fondant in the center. I was told while at the party with the cracked cake, to bring it back for repair. Unfortunately I was over 1 hour away and the party was in full swing. I am truly disappointed over how this was handled. Perhaps the bakery has become to big to accommodate a simple order such as mine.

    (1)

  • Angela F.

    love, love, love love!! what more can i say

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    Definitely not what I was expecting. Even had we not had to stand in that horrendous line, I would still give this place two stars. I gave it three because the people working there were very nice and helpful. We ordered a cake, lobster tails, and some cannoli. The cake was very dry, the cannoli was average, and lobster tails were just ok. Not worth the long line and price.

    (3)

  • Alicia C.

    I'm still shaking my head at how long I had to wait to get in this bakery. My daughter really wanted to get a lobster tail and she's a big fan of the show "Cake Boss." We arrived around 11 am on a Monday morning. There was already a line that went around the corner of the building. I didn't think it would take so long, but we ended up waiting almost 3 hours!!! I did see a glimpse of Buddy drive by in his Range Rover. He waved to adoring fans. Yeah, yeah..I know - 3 hours - hope it was worth it, right? Well, once you're in the store, you're given a number and you have to wait a bit more. It's really busy inside this small bakery. I looked around at their cake displays and was terribly unimpressed considering the sophistication of cakes they've featured on the show. We ordered lobster tails, creme puffs, cannolis and tiramisu. Prices were decent. My daughter LOVED the lobster tail. I thought the creme puff and cannoli were so-so. Nothing different from the bakery next door. The tiramisu, however, is one of the best I've ever had. Yum, yum, yum! Given that...will never wait that long for pastries ever again! I don't care who owns the place.

    (4)

  • hafa b.

    Canoli was good, cookies were ok, expensive, tv celebrity hype

    (3)

  • Chris O.

    I walked pass Carlo's Bakery and noticed there wasnt a line. So, I tried their red velvet cupcake to see what's the fuss about. It was very disappointing; tastes like a Shoprite cupcake. Giorgio's, up on Washington St, is better.

    (1)

  • Madhumitha N.

    I have seen his show in TV and always impressed by his work. I went to his shop, I was totally disappointed it's an average place with an expensive price for a piece of cake. I tried Tiramisu and Red Velvet cake, not a fan. I would rather go to Applebee for desert than to this place...

    (2)

  • Jessica A.

    CAKE BOSS! I enjoy the show. My friend & I were staying at her aunt's place in New Jersey. Being in the area, I definitely wanted to make a stop here. We were leaving Saturday morning & wanted to bring some goodies back home, so we planned our stop here for Friday morning. We arrived at 7:30am, hoping we wouldn't have to wait long. There were already people in line when we got there. We got in line right outside the front door. Oh the excitement of being at Carlo's Bakery! I enjoyed taking lots & lots of pictures. It took us an hour all together to wait in line, order, get our items, pay, & walk out the store. Pretty long time for just being right outside the front doors. Idk what took so long really! Everything is already made..just grab & go! Probably my favorite things here are the Black & White Cookie & the Cannolis. The Lobster Tails were okay, but I found the Cannolis better. The biscottis were NOT worth it. So expensive & they weren't even all that great. Customer service was okay. Nothing special. Kinda sucks because I was so excited to come to his place. Not fun employees = LAME. I'm still a fan because it's Cake Boss :)

    (4)

  • John C.

    Okay, everyone knows Buddy, his Bakery is a TV Star. Everyone wants a piece of Buddy or to see the baker in action. Well that ain't happening. From Manhattan is a hop skip and jump to Hoboken New Jersey via Path Train. In fact it is a 10 minute walk from the NJ Path terminal to the shop, located at 95 Washington St. Head north on River St and make a left on Newark St, (if you get to first you have gone to far). Make a Right on to Washington, boom you are there. Expect to wait an hour and half in line and another thirty minutes to get your order taken and filled. So from Manhattan it is a 3 and 1/2 to 4 hour ordeal. Great food, poor service and a long wait. Kids love it, so it's an act of love. How I got three stars, 5 for product, 1 for experience and wait. Maybe Buddy can ask me how to improve the experience and fatten his wallet. A

    (3)

  • Trina V.

    we used to go here before cake boss popularized it. there were no lines and it was easy to select a cake, pay and go. but the cakes are soooo good! we loved the strawberry shortcake and we loved the chocolate cakes whether the ready made or made to order, they all tasted yummy. i'm just not sure i'd be patient enough to wait long to get one.

    (4)

  • JEAN H.

    I took my son's girlfriend on a trip to Carlo's Bakery for her 21st birthday present. She works in a bakery and wants to own a bakery someday so she obviously loves Cake Boss and so do I. We were both very excited to go. The drive was 6 hours from outside Pittsburgh. We stayed at the Holland Hotel which was very convenient in location to Carlo's and NYC (might as well make the trek to Times Square while we were there) and not outrageously expensive. It was a Saturday and the line was crazy long at Carlo's but I thought the staff did a great job at keeping it under control. Yes, we stood for almost 2 hours and then once inside it was jam packed but it was worth it just to visit the store and see what we watch on TV all the time. I thought the staff was friendly and organized, not rude at all like some others have posted. The lobster tails were amazing. Pricing was good. I bought a big piece of crumb cake, 3 lobster tails, 4 small cannolis, 4 chocolate dipped butter cookies, and a mini tiramisu cake and it was $31.25. I wish I would have bought more. They do have a number system for ordering and paying which I thought worked out very well. You do have to do a little bit of pushing and squeezing to see everything in the cases once inside. That's the one thing I would change. I would rather stand outside waiting for an extra 15 minutes than to be stuffed inside like a sardine. Otherwise, the trip and the wait were well worth our visit. Critics need to understand, it isn't the food we stand in line and wait for, it's being inside Carlo's and the whole experience. We all know there are other bakery's just as good and some may be better but they are not Carlo's and Buddy doesn't own them. Everyone loves Buddy! If you are a fan of Cake Boss I highly suggest this experience. If you go early in the morning or during the week it's probably not as busy.

    (4)

  • Tanya L.

    I bought some lobster tails for me and my mom. Very yummy but no any thing special. I've seen better desserts at other bakeries.

    (3)

  • Serena R.

    Love their cannoli cake! Red velvet cake was kind of gross and the st. Joseph cream puff things were eh.

    (3)

  • Cristina b.

    A coworker gets the Chocolate cake for special occassions and it is to die for! seriously, im not ever in Hoboken but might have to plan a visit shortly. Would probably say this is the best chocolate cake I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Tom K.

    Carlo's is the best! Better than any Manhattan bakery. Their cakes taste just as good as they look. If you want to impress someone for that special occasion, a confection from Carlo's is a must! Most recently, I bought a cake for my mother's birthday. It looked so gorgeous, she was afraid to cut it. Once we did, it was pure heaven inside.

    (5)

  • Lulu I.

    unless you want to wait hours and hours...go early! we were around the corner and still waited about 40 minutes outside and another 30 inside,they were filming on the day though. service was nice, cannolis were amazing as were the cream puffs!

    (4)

  • Chris V.

    I don't know why people expect this bakery to have the best cakes and pastries they've ever had. Just because Carlo's had the right shtick to land a television show doesn't mean all their baked goods are the greatest....or worth the wait. That said, if you're a fan of the show you won't be disappointed. The day my daughter and I visited we waited for an hour to get into the store and another 40 minutes to look around, pick a few items and get served. Was it worth it? Yes, if you want to experience "being there," and like us, are fortunate to see them shooting an episode. My daughter was excited to see some of the on-screen talent including Danny, who walked down the street in front of us, and sister Madeline in the alley behind the store. Once in the store we experienced all the hustle and bustle of shooting a television show while trying to run a busy bakery. Yes, the cakes and pastries were expensive, and yes, I passed at least 50 bakeries that were as good or better, but those aren't on television. While I wouldn't wait on line just for their products, the Chocolate Moose cake was really good as well as the Lobster Tails. I wasn't too crazy about the Red Velvet pastry and I've had better Cannoli and Sfogliatelle.

    (4)

  • Diana D.

    The Lobster Tails are one of the best deserts ever put on God's green earth! I have a place near me that makes better canoli and cookies, but Carlos has nailed it with the lobster tails! Whoa! I was in NYC and had to make the trek to Hoboken (cute town!), because my husband and I caught the show where they made the lobster tails. We were ready to lick the screen! One bite and you will know why. Amazing!

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    Had watched cake boss on tv on a few separate occasions so I had to go see what all the commotion was about. Went in a little after noon on a rainy wednesday and was able to stroll right in without a wait. There was a short wait, about ten minutes which wasn't too bad considering some of the stories ive heard. Some of the counter staff didnt seem too thrilled to be there, the young man just wanted to get me what I needed and get me out asap. Joey, mauro, buddy's wife lisa, remys wife lisa and grace were there and had no problems stopping for photos with fans. Also ran into mauros son buddy on the way out as his classmates were on a field trip to the bakery that day. For my purchase i got 2 mini cannolis, a strawberry mousse, red velvet cupcake with bc frosting, lobster tail and a 1/4 lb of neopolitan cookies all for $19.90 this may seem crazy to people not from the area but it was worth it to me. Cant say ill be a regular as im from long island but id definitely go back.

    (5)

  • tiffany e.

    loved this place! im italian and very picky about my desserts.. this place had it all! didn't have to wait too long because evidently it was "off season".. biscotti..lobstertail..rugalah..choco frosted vanilla cupcake..various italian cookies and choco chip cookie were all wonderful! only downside is there is NOWHERE to sit and enjoy your goodies.. also, they prefer cash.. things can get a little hectic, so know what you want when it's your tuen to order.. love love love this place..best cannoli i've ever had!

    (5)

  • eglys h.

    when it was decided that we would go to new york - this was one of the places we knew we were willing to take train, subway, bus any transportation to visit. we are true fans of Buddy and the Gang (Cake Boss!) we made a point to get out here early... and we did.. it is conveniently located not too far from where the Path Train leaves you (just a short distance walk) it was amazing to us when we finally made it to the front door.. even thou it was early, there was plenty of patrons already there.. we were able to see various pick up cakes - these looked wonderful, beautiful, delicious!! we were promptly and politely asked if we needed help... the shop is not all that big and even thou it does have plenty of variations, there really is not that many... kind of contradicting... well what i mean is that there are various of beautifully displayed sweets, most have the same thing - their delicious cannoli cream!!! no issues about that! we started with the cupcakes - red velvet - 3 w/reg frosting and 3 w/cream cheese, 1 Reese's cupcake for our friend Norma (who stated it was scrumptious) then on to the pastries - 1 slice of Italian wedding cake, a Napoleon filled w/cream/2 small canollis, a small cream filled tart topped with a plump delicious strawberry.... this was just one side of the counter! then we went onto the other side..... there we got 10 pcs of rugula (sorry not sure of spelling!- the jews cookies) chocolate chip, raspberries w/cheese gosh these were amazing!!! then we noticed there was a sweet coffee mug - so cute and t-shirts available - $67 later.... it is not an inexpensive stop.... but it was awesome!!! we were able to take pics w/two of Buddy's family member (sister and i believe his brother in law - both were kind and took a moment to take pic) we enjoyed our desserts at hotel, shared a few cupcakes with good friends and brought rest home...... it was a nice experience...

    (4)

  • Stacey E.

    I called and every time I said, "I'd like to order a cake" they would say, "hold on" 3x this went on! Then they hung up on me! So I called back thinking mistakes happen- so I ask a question about ordering a cake and they say hold on again! Then click, they hang up again! Wow- scared of the treatment I might get once I'm there according to the other reviews:(

    (1)

  • Elisabeth Z.

    I was hesitant to spend any part of our trip doing something so touristy, but it turned out to be really fun! All the bakery items were delicious- got a cannoli that was well worth my 30 minutes in line! I made the family get there by 7:15A, with the store open at 7A and there was still a line of customers before us and long after us. They did tell us while we were there if you are trying to catch a glimpse of the staff on the show- don't go on Mondays. The staff working told us that Buddy etc usually has such a busy weekend that they take Monday off. For as hectic as things were, and as quickly as the staff wanted to go they were helpful and very nice. We had a great time and saw a little bit of early morning Hoboken walking around eating our treats. I've heard that people will wait in line for 2-3 hours so taking the path train out to Jersey at 6:30A was perfect and we had the train to ourselves. On the return to the city, not so much. It gets crowded with all the people getting to work. I recommend you go early and spend some time walking around the city killing time to go back. We had two wait for two trains before we got one that could hold all 6 of us. Easy trip though, and worth it for a great bakery and a little touristy moment on a trip!

    (4)

  • Felicia A.

    My mom and I went to Carlo's to try out the cannoli and lobster tail. Not impressed. My husband also tried to order a birthday cake for me, but people on the phone and in the shop were not helpful. He knew I liked the Peony cake they've shown on Cake Boss. They told him he would have to come in the day of to pick one out. Um... what if it were special and not a cake in the case?? And what if they run out of something?? Isn't that the whole point of ordering it in advance?? I think the front counter staff need to be more educated and customer service focused. Just because you have a tv show doesn't mean you're great. There is plenty of room for improvement! Not to mention if you do want to order a cake, it has to be a minimum size order (ex Peony cake)! Not what we thought, as they show things to be much different on the Cake Boss show and on their website. All bakeries I've ever dealt with take orders for birthday cakes, no matter the size, and do what they advertise. I personally think the hype around this shop is just that...I've had better service and pastry so many other places. If people in Hoboken think this is good, they are missing out on so much more from other bakeries (outside of Hoboken)!

    (1)

  • Cyber B.

    Would love to go in, but the line is always long. Think it has more to do with the TV show then the quality of baked goods. Was last in there year sometime and they were kind of rude, so today I skipped Carlos and went to Panara instead.

    (2)

  • Vienne L.

    I'm a fan of the show and since I've been assigned projects in the Hoboken area recently, I thought to visit THE CAKE BOSS! The line was long.... long long line in this bitter cold to get into the small bakery. Was it worth it? I really don't know but it does get heady and exciting when you are in line with many people who have the same passion and craze as you do. The cakes in the store looked fun and delicious. The staff were really efficient in my opinion and it's just us undecided customers who really slow down the pace. There were too much to choose from and the crowd inside the store put quite a bit of pressure on me so I randomly chose the nearest pie I saw available. The Coconut Custard pie (not sure if this is the official name but the girl told me coconut custard.) My sister and I just savored it... and it is delicious! Not too sweet. Not too dry. Not too greasy (the way some coconut pies are). and it wasn't heavy in taste at all. It's quite perfect actually and I was pleasantly surprised and I'm always worried about having pies that taste great at first bite and then the sugar and grease make you feel so queasy and sick later. I'll give the pie a 5 star but because I did feel it is a bit expensive for that 2 portion pie...... well, the price of fame?Anyway, my plan now is to head back to the bakery but next time, I'll head over earlier before the crowd comes in after work hours. And this time, I have a clear head and a good shopping list to start with.

    (4)

  • Manisha K.

    I'm a baker myself and I happen to be a fan of the show Cake Boss, so when I was in New Jersey I dragged my cousin to Hoboken to see if Carlo's Bakery can actually live up to all the hype. I went during lunch time and the lines were endless. I even got a glimpse of Buddy! I loved how even with the show, the place was still run like a local mom and pop shop and everyone you see on TV actually works there. I was served by one of Buddy's sisters and she was very friendly. There were people lined up for autographs and photos, and the family members gladly signed autographs. We ended up getting two speciality desserts and a cupcake. We had the tiramasu, chocolate mousse, and a vanilla cupcake. The tiramasu was okay, not the best I've had but I'll give them credit for the eye catching design. The chocolate mousse on the other hand looked elegant and tasted amazing! You would have to be an intense chocolate lover to finish the whole thing. The cupcake was delicious to say the least, it was well decorated and still tasted great, which I think is hard to find at some bakeries. The frosting had the right amount of sweetness and the cake was moist. Pricing was pretty fair, we had 2 coffees, 2 pastries, and a cupcake for around $17 bucks.

    (4)

  • Patricia R.

    i have to say I'm a pretty big fan of Buddy and his show i watch it all the time . today i had the chance to visit . i was waiting to here there was a 2 or 3 hour wait but in 15min we were in and we got our ticket and the girl who helped us was super nice since i did change my mind a few times but she was super nice and patient' . you step in the bakery and all you smell is all types of sweets it was yummy . you had counters of Delicious treats on both sides of you . the staff was super friendly and even if they had some stupid questions asked they remain friendly you should have heard some of these questions lol .so i looked and looked and began to order some yummy treats of all kinds cupcakes ,chocolate mudpies,mini strawberry cheesecakes and brownies. so many yummy things . so i sat there and ordered and ordered and said wow I'm gonna walk out broke but i had 3 boxes of yummy items and only paid 27 dollars i was super happy i thought he would have some crazy prices since he is on TV and with all the tourist that come . there was a lady who came from England to bring cakes home to her family SO crazy . i enjoyed every minute of Carlo's bakery cant wait to go back with hubby so he can have a blast with my next thing is to purchase one of there many chocolate cakes with chocolate covered strawberry's on top lol

    (5)

  • Vanessa G.

    Never understood the appeal. I lived in Jersey City from 13-24, (I am 26 now) and we use to visit Hoboken in the summer's. First, let me get out of the way the fact that they have BEAUTIFUL cakes, hands down. That being said, what I have tried from them was not the best. Their brownies were 'ehh' and their cupcakes were a little dry. I did like their cheesecake but the fact that I have to wait on this huge line, was a big turn off for me. If you visit and there isn't a line, go for it. But I personally do not believe the wait is worth it.

    (2)

  • Lisa A.

    I wouldn't wait on line for the pumpkin pie. The top looked burnt or dark but I didn't let that judge The flavor. The flavor was really light though. It was mostly the consistency that threw me off. Honestly the Entemann's pumpkin pie is better. I guess that's why it's sold out. -signed angry prego

    (1)

  • R B.

    Had some friends visiting from Chicago and Carlo's Bakery was a "must" on their list of things to see! (and I am a fan as well!) So we took the short train ride over to Hoboken (on the Path from the 33rd street Station). The trip was so worth it! Bought about $20 worth of a variety of pastries (and, you know, 4 pastries in Manhattan would've gone for about that much!) So far....my faves were the Lobster Tail and the Cannolis (I still haven't had the chocolate truffle mini cake or the piece of crumb cake that we bought). My friend liked the Cannolis better than the ones at Ferrara Bakery in Little Italy (and she loves Cannolis!). We all thought the cupcakes were very good - I don't understand the negative reviews on this site for those. They were moist, which I loved, and my friend liked the carrot cake one so much she's thinking about ordering the top-tier of her wedding cake from Carlo's. I also had the chocolate rugelach, which was also very tasty but a tad too chocolatey for me! But my bf liked them just the way they were. Cream puffs were nothing to write about. All of the pastries were way above average and definitely worth the trip and the wait - we waited for about an hour on a Sunday morning at 11 a.m. UPDATE: chocolate truffle cake was tastey!

    (5)

  • Miguel G.

    over rated. trader joes coffee cake from a box is better than this place

    (1)

  • Adam C.

    I have been to this bakery well over twenty times. I live around the corner and used to stop in for a coffee or cookie before it became so popular. The service at this bakery used to be and still is extremely unpleasant. Every time I leave the bakery I am amazed at how unfriendly the staff are. The canoli's are decent and I go in now and again to get stuff for people at work due to the "novelty" of the place. It must be tough working in there with the hundreds of people that come in and out every day, however the staff was not friendly 3 years ago before the show even started. I'm not impressed.

    (2)

  • Brooklyn I.

    I have seen the show and I was interested to go to the bakery. I was in Hoboken today so I thought I'd swing by the bakery. I went in and got a number the line was to the door, I was okay with that, the incompetence of the staff I was not. I have never seen so many women do so little. Well apparently they were filming the show so the staff was all it turns out the show is pretty staged which I have to say takes a little away from it. But long story short the baked good were relatively good, I wouldn't rush back but it was ok, the show is better :)

    (3)

  • Jul C.

    now i dont have much of a sweet tooth but i wanted to give 'em a try to see what all the commotion was about. their store interior is modest, clean and brightly lit. the sweets did not entice me sitting there behind the glass panes looking dry, but we tried a few things anyways. they were surprisingly good! we had an apricot jam cookie and a raspberry swirl thing. the swirl thing was great.

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    The cannolis are the best in the world!

    (5)

  • Maria B.

    my first visit from philly...loved the chocolate covered strawberries and the small eclairs but didnt like the chocolate chip cookies. didnt get anything else. my husband got a brownie that was excellent. line was very long. my double espresso was good not a whole lotta space when its very crowded, so try to get in as early as possible staff was really friendly & joked around with us. next time Im gonna try some other things but gotta watch the sugar. (per doctors orders) would def go back but from what I hear, Buddy is opening a place in Philly so looking forward to that would def order a cake from there if I was having something

    (4)

  • Nicole F.

    We went to Carlo's yesterday and after waiting about 1.5 hours we were in. Once in, the place was a mess!! There was the number system, but you could not see all they had to offer because people were just standing everywhere! The food is OK nothing remarkable. We did not get a glimpse of anyone on the show. One of the employees said that he has worked there for a year and a half and has never met Buddy...go figure.

    (3)

  • Abdulaziz A.

    I went to Hoboken for the first time to eat at mamouns falafel and after I was finished I decided to hit 2 of my bookmarks in one day by getting dessert at Carlos bakery. I've never watched the show, so I wasn't really excited. The line wasn't that long, it started at the door. I think it's because it was raining and I'm pretty sure it was a Sunday. I saw people getting a number from a crappy little machine that looked like it was going to fall apart at any second, so I got one (carefully). It was cold outside and even colder inside, not to mention I was wet from the rain. As I was in line I was checking out the sweets, I decided I was going to get a cupcake. However I changed my mind quickly when I saw a bug crawling on top of a cupcake. The place is small and gloomy, there were only 2 tables I think so don't expect to eat here, especially when it's crowded. Everything looked old and stale. When it was finally my turn after waiting in line for 20 mins I think. I ordered a lobster tail because on yelp it says that it's the most popular item here. Well they didn't have anymore, and this was before closing time so I don't blame them. So I got cannolis and peanut butter cookies instead. The cannolis were okay I liked the little chocolate chips they put in the cream. The peanut butter cookies were just normal. Parking is on the street and the surrounding streets are confusing, the gigantic potholes and cracked streets don't help either. It's 25 cents for 15 minutes with a 2 hour max.

    (2)

  • J. K.

    My friends came from Indiana to come here. No, I am not joking. They flew in for forty-eight hours under the guise of "spending St. Patrick's Day" with me (ummm, on March 16th!). Really, I know that they flew in for Carlo. And then we went. And I realized why. First, Yelp is wrong. Carlo's does NOT stay open until 9:00 PM on Saturdays. HEED THESE WORDS. We got there at 8:00 thinking that we were doing well on time. When the employee guarding the door like Chico Marx in "Horse Feathers" told us that the place was closed, I seriously thought my friends were going to cry. No, seriously. Then we explained the whole Indiana situation, and my friend was visibly on the verge of tears, so he looked over his shoulder and scooted us in. We were the last ones to get in line. Thank. God. Everything looked delicious. I don't even want to use the word "delicious." It's not even on the right plane. "Celestial"? Even "celestial" doesn't work.... everything looked... as if it could cure the wounds of anyone's heart. There, that might work. Cupcakes, cakes, mille feuille pastries. Cannoli, cookies, biscotti. Coffee. My friend bought the place out. I had a chocolate peanut butter cupcake and a large coffee. And I can tell you, for those minutes, those bites made my heart feel bulletproof.

    (5)

  • Brian J.

    Other than the prices and long lines there really isn't anything bad you can say about this place. Absolutely the best cannolis and nutella linzer cookies I've ever had

    (4)

  • Kim K.

    We were visiting family in NY and my kids really wanted to visit the World-famous Carlo's Bakery in NJ. Right off the bat, we made two fatal errors- 1st, deciding to do it on a warm June Friday night and 2nd, thinking we could drive from Queens to Hoboken via Holland Tunnel in less than 75 mins. By the time we got there it was 7:45 PM and the shop closes at 8 PM. I want to state that the SOLE reason they are getting 4 vs 3 stars (pastries were OK) is that they have a NEW POLICY. Basically, everyone that is IN LINE by 8 PM or closing time is guaranteed to get a ticket (order #) and everyone gets in! In fact, I can't guarantee this will always happen but on that particular night, they were still handing out tickets at 8:15 PM. As someone who had just gone thru hell aka Holland Tunnel to arrive here, it was very much appreciated ! I would of had two very disappointed kids and a mad Mom if we had been told that we couldn't get in. Now, let's talk about the actual pastries. They are basically "on par" with any good Italian bakery. The cannoli filling needed much more ricotta cheese in my humble opinion. The pastry (filled with pastry cream) we got was clearly a couple of days old (dough was soft). The two highlights of our $50 purchase ($16 for an autographed coffee mug) was the peanut-butter chocolate cupcake (buttercream frosting was dynamite) and the pignoli cookies which were $16+/pd. Would I come here again? Resounding NO. I didn't mind waiting in line outside but once you are inside, it is complete chaos. Yes, you have a number system but they let way too many people in at a time and you are constantly being pushed or having an elbow etc in your face as you try in vain to actually see what's inside the pastry cases. Let's be honest for a minute- the only reason people are willing to wait in line for 1 + hours to eat an "OK" tasting pastry is in the slim chance they might get to meet/see Buddy and his crew. I was actually glad that Buddy didn't come down for a visit as there would have been a stampede! Having said that, I am glad that I got to take my girls there as they are big fans of Cake Boss. And, I have to compliment their employees. Everyone we encountered - from the person handing out the tickets, to the person taking our order, to the person manning the door were ALL very friendly. And again, the fact that they remain open well past closing time (we didn't get out of there until 9 PM) is what bumped them up to 4-stars.

    (4)

  • Mark J.

    I was walking through Hoboken with some friends when we noticed that there was no line to Carlo's. With all the recent hype from Cake Boss we thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. We walked inside and noticed the vast variety of cakes and cookies that they had. However, none of them looked innovative or unusually good - I have seen better variety at my local baker in Houston. The cookies however, looked really yummy. We finally settled on some cannoli's to go - the cannoli's were good but no better than any other Italian restaurant that serves them. So while it was good, it was not Gee Wiz Amazing.

    (3)

  • David J.

    I have never been to Carlo's Bakery. But my coworker who lives in Hoboken bought a variety of baked goods from there this morning and this whole day has been a glorious binge I hope to frequently relive. They say keeping a food journal helps, so I will chronicle my day here. 8:50am - Arrive to work to be informed coworker has bought variety of baked goods and leaves in common table. Am told to try the rugelach. I hear 'arugula' and am turned off but light up when I have a bite of the chocolate chip rugelach. Gluttony ensues. 10:58am - In the awkward it's-not-breakfast-but-not-lunch-yet-oh-wait-I-­just-eat-a-lot phase of the day. See there are 2 M&M cookies. Break off one half as little treat. 12:30pm - Eat lunch and need something sweet. Try mini all-chocolate pseudo-oreo sandwich cookie. HEAVEN. 2:10pm - Getting that 2:30 feeling even though I am 20 minutes early. Indulge in the other half of the cookie. Realize that my trips to the metaphorical cookie jar/actual cookie box have not gone noticed. 5:20pm - Realize it's going to be a long night at work and stealthily get another strawberry and cream cheese rugelach. 8:43pm - HAVE ZERO CARES IN THE WORLD and break off another half of the M&M cookie. Promise to venmo Hoboken-based coworker on my way out. Basically, I am stopping by next time I am in Hoboken (but zero interest in Port Authority outpost for some reason).

    (5)

  • Benay K.

    As major fans of the show, when we came to NY, we had to make one day of our trip a "Carlo's Day".. Coming from CA, we had no clue about subways, and how to get there. Everything you hear about rude New Yorkers...unfounded. Every person we asked (and there were a lot), for help in navigating around took a minute to help us. One man actually walked us to the right entry, as he thought we might (probably) would blow it. So, we get on the train to Hobokan, so excited to be getting the chance to actually see 'The Bakery". As we approach the address, we see so many people in line that it is mind blowing. Hundreds. I look at my daughters and tell them "You know I won't wait on a line like this for a ride at Disney Land...no way am I doing it to buy a cake". Well, lots of tears later, I say..."OK, let's see how long these people have been waiting". Half way down the line, they tell us one and a half hours'....ugh. So, at least 2-3 hours...I just could not do it. So we went to the front of the shop and took a picture...oh well.

    (3)

  • Leea J.

    Carlos Bakery is a staple of Hoboken, and we made the trip into the city specifically for the bake shop. We got luck and went at a time where there was no line. I got a cannoli and a lobster tail, which totaled $6.50. Though it was overpriced, the pastries were delicious. You can find better pastries at other places in town for a cheaper price, but if you're looking for the Cake Boss experience you won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • S F.

    We decided to make a trip from south Jersey for a small treat. Considering previous reviews we decided we would arrive early; around 9'ish which turned out to be a good idea as the line had already begun curbside. The assorted cookie tray was superb - being I am not a cookie fan this is a shocker. The price was high but after a taste it was worth the $$ and trip.

    (4)

  • George A.

    Just ok. It's pretty cool I guess for the hype but it's more hype than taste in my opinion

    (3)

  • Jewel Y.

    In the past few years every time I visit friends in Italy, their moms ask me whether I have tried Carlo's Bakery or not which got me very curious about the quality of their cakes. Apparently "Buddy Valastro" is now a household name in Italy after "Il Boss Delle Torte (Cake Boss)" became a huge hit over there. "Cake Boss" is a fun show after all, it has a somewhat universal appeal offering many visually interesting but seemingly inedible crazy cakes one after another and some family dramas in between. Buddy is a likable personality compared to other annoying stars of Food Network and if he wasn't as funny, talented, and nice as he is on the show, I wouldn't have bothered waiting in line for an hour on Sunday afternoon at his shop. That said, however, the pastries I tried were just a-ok and not amazing. They live up to the standard Italian bakery quality, but I wouldn't wait in line again for them. Here are what I have tried: 1) cream puffs - 3 stars. I prefer Beard Papa 10x more! 2) red velvet cupcake - 3 stars. I'm a big fan of Sweet Revenge's "Crimson & Cream" and it's hard to beat that flavor and texture. 3) tiramisu - 3.5 stars. This slightly unconventional tiramisu with mascarpone encased in ladyfingers with a ribbon wrapped around them was pretty good and looked pretty but I still prefer the traditional tiramisu in which the ratio of ladyfingers soaked with espresso is higher. You'll know what I mean if you try it. It's too cream-heavy 4) lobster tail - 4 stars. this was the best thing I had from Carlo's bakery so far. It's on par with my favorite lobster tail from Rispoli's in Ridgefield Park. I can now tell my friends in Italy that I have actually been there but I probably won't return again knowing how crazy the line can get. It's more fun watching the show than waiting in line to buy the cakes.

    (3)

  • Taylor Z.

    I feel terrible for waiting as long as I did. Despite waiting in a crazy long line, I very much enjoyed my experience inside the bakery. The employee that helped me was exceptionally nice. Alyssa was extremely nice and I even told before I left that I would mention her in my review. There was an older woman there, I couldn't remember her name, that didn't seem overly pleasant so I'm really glad this other woman helped me.

    (5)

  • Delia A.

    Pro's - Great brownies and red velvet and nice staff. Hoboken was so cute! Con's - Enormous line with 90 min wait. Not crazy about canolis. Small inside.

    (4)

  • Kaoru M.

    My wife is a big fan of their TV show, so when she realized that this bakery is just a short drive away from Port Imperial in Weehawken (where we park to take the ferry into NYC), she really wanted to check out Carlo's Bakery just so she can say that she's been there. We knew they can make some over the top beautiful cakes, but honestly, we weren't expecting their food to taste that good. We now stand corrected. Best cannolis we've ever had, by far. (And we've had cannolis in Rome and Venice) Their lobster tail is good too, although we prefer the cannolis. As other reviewers have pointed out, however, the wait time is significant. We went on a Saturday morning and probably waited 25 minutes outside and another 25 minutes inside. We were excited to take pictures of the inside, this being our first visit there, but I can see the wait getting annoying if this was a regular destination for us. The parking situation in Hoboken is pretty painful as well. Either way, we'll definitely swing by again on our next trip to the Big Apple!

    (4)

  • Monica G.

    The wait time for this place is no joke. Came here on a Sunday afternoon, and waited 2 hours to get into the store and another hour to get called and obtain the goodies. So overall the experience took 3.5 hours!!! worth it? If you love the show cake boss, and just want to experience it once just to say you did, then yes! other than that, the baked goods don't really do the long wait time justice! Here's what you do when you arrive, fall in line. usually it is near the CVS. wait until you are Ok'ed by a worker to cross the street and finally stand in line in front of the bakery. then you are given a number. wait some more, and then you are let into the bakery where there is no line, just wait for the workers to call your number. what we got: -canolis: eh they were okay, not that great -lobster tails: yes these are delicious. crispy delectable pastry filled with cream and dusted with powdered sugar -strawberry shortcake: loved this. my family members thought it was okay, but i thought the whipped cream was made right, not too sweet, not too bland! I wish we got an actually chocolate or vanilla buttercream cake, but maybe next time!

    (3)

  • Cortney K.

    My niece is obsessed with the show, so we made the trek to Jersey. Came here on a Sunday morning with my sister and her daughter. I've seen A LOT of bad reviews for this place - about the lines and the pastries. I disagree! The line was very well organized - you get a ticket when you line up and they only let a set amount of tickets in at a time. It is still crowded, but you have room to walk around and look at all the cases to see what you want. We were all the way at the next block past the pharmacy and we got in about 45 minutes. The girl that took our order was nice - didn't rush us at all. I didn't recognize her but Tatiana (Danny's daughter) was there and was nice enough to take a picture with my niece. We loved everything we took home. My mother is a bakery snob and she said the lobster tail was better than any place in Long Island! Tiramisu sold as a mini cake decorated beautifully.

    (5)

  • Wing C.

    Although I've watched endless episodes of Cake Boss, I honestly didn't recognize the branding/logo at the most recent Wedding Salon event. I only took the time to research and learned after being blown away by their scrumptious chocolate cake! They were extremely generous in giving away samples and welcomed brides to return to the station for additional flavor tasting - of course I circled them again and again and again hehe. So I ended up also tasting their vanilla, raspberry, red velvet, and carrot - all were good but not as amazing as the chocolate of course. Carrots are usually my favorite but I thought theirs could use a bit more nuts in their recipe. Nevertheless I still really enjoyed their cakes! Not only were all their cakes perfectly sweetened and moist, their frostings were airy and light. Apparently they opened a location by port authority? Definitely going to check it out and feed my inner fat kid!

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Things to know about Carlo's: Yes, you will wait in line (it was 1.25 hours for us) to get it. Yes, it won't look bad at first, until you realize you have to wait a block away until they call up your "group." Yes, it is (evidently) always packed. If that doesn't scare you away, read on. We got cannoli, chocolate covered cannoli, lobster tails, and a bag of butter cookies. The pastries were all delicious, but I did not think the cannoli was necessarily any better than other cannoli I have had in the area - but I also think that any cannoli is a good cannoli (although the chocolate covered shells did stay crisp for much longer, which is a plus). However, the real star of the trip was the lobster tail. I have never had a pastry so delicate, flaky, and rich all in one. The cream filling is so wonderful I could just eat it with a spoon - but then I would miss the amazing shell! Of all the things we ordered, the butter cookies were the least impressive. That is to say, they are fine. It is hard to mess up something with the words "butter" and "cookie" in the name. I just wouldn't wait an hour in line for them. So, in conclusion - Carlo's is a fun trip if you have the time. The specialty pastries are delicious, but maybe skip the cookies. If you aren't set on seeing the inside of the store, you can order some items ahead on-line and just pick them up from the front door, skipping the line.

    (4)

  • Kunal N.

    I'm here on vacation and I made it my mission to come here and it was worth it. The pastries were all so good. My family bought the lobster tails, canoli's and chocolate chip cookies. All of them were so good! The customer service was also great! Everyone was so kind and helpful. Definitely check out Carlo's Bakery! It is worth it

    (5)

  • Eugene K.

    Came here and ordered over sixty dollars worth of carbs and sugars in various forms. Biscotti, cookies, linzer tarts, you name it! Sorely disappointed with the taste. As I suspected the draw is the popularity of the show rather than the quality of the food. Waiting in their hellish queue while tourists from every corner of the world elbow you to snap an instagram photo of a cookie is enough to drive any sane person up the wall. The receipts don't show the items charged only price and quantity so it is easy to be the victim of a rip off or unsuspecting error on the part of the cashier. I don't think the bakery deserves its reputation and wouldn't come back.

    (2)

  • Stacey L.

    I'm a huge fan of the show and my boyfriend and I were visiting NYC for 6 days. After 5 day of running around NYC we needed a break, so my boyfriend suggested heading over to Hobbokien to check out the bakery. I'm a bit at odds about if my trip to NJ was worth it. We came on a Tuesday morning and it was raining. Luckily, there were no lines. I was able to walk in and order within 10 mins. If you are expecting on coming here and meeting Buddy or any of his family members, think again. They aren't there. I will say that its cool to see the place in person, but it's way smaller than it looks on TV. In the end, I ended up getting 1 cannoli, 1 lobster tail, 1 cream puff, 1 eclair. Cannoli is pretty good. The ricotta cheese filling was very good. Thicker than i'm used to, but it's really good. The lobster tail was the one thing I wanted to try the most because I've seen it on tv. It was really good. It's like a croissant outside and a creamy custard on the inside. The cream puff and eclair could have been skipped. Nothing special. Overall, nice to had visited, but could have done with out the visit.

    (3)

  • Michele D.

    The first time I was here I wasn't very impressed about this place. They only have 1 table where you can sit. I was here with my cousin, we ordered some cookies and hot chocolate. I have to say the hot chocolate was amazing but the cookies were old and our table was so filthy. My second time here I ordered some rainbow cookies and brownies to go. Do no ever get the brownies I really didn't like it. They add too much chocolate frosting to their brownies but the rainbow cookies were good not excellent. I tried better ones. I also tried better Bakeries. If there's a line. The wait in not worth it.

    (4)

  • Michael R.

    I went there maybe 3 years ago, but this is my first time using yelp. Maybe the recipes changed, maybe I just had a old batch. But when I went I got assorted cookies, different cupcakes and some cannoli. I was very saddened at the fact it just tasted like something from a average bakery. Funny thing though when I went it was only tourist going to this location I saw no locals from NJ or NY.

    (2)

  • Jessica C.

    If you are a fan of the show Cake Boss, then a visit to Carlo's Bakery is like a pilgrimage. I have been numerous times with my family members and we always have a great time. Yes, the line gets long on the weekends, vacations or the summer so be prepared to wait. I think waiting in line and the anticipation is part of the experience. The more you wait in line, the hungrier you will become. Trust me, this theory is true. There is a pizza shop right around the corner if you want real food while you wait. I prefer to wait until I have my baked goods and then stuff my face. As you wait in line you may get a chance to see some of the family members or workers from the show coming in and out of the bakery. I think my family has met almost everyone (except Buddy) and they were all very nice and happy to take pictures with us. My little cousin (9 at the time) is the biggest Cake Boss fan so we made a special visit and ordered a red velvet cake with a picture of the Valastro family on the top of the cake. The day we picked up the cake, we asked if any of the family members were available to sign the cake boss for the birthday boy. The worker took the cake box and came back with a personalized autographed picture of Buddy Valastro for the birthday boy! He had the biggest smile on his face for the rest of the day! Thanks Buddy for making his day :) Let's get to the goodies... The crumb cake is the best I have ever tasted. It has more "crumbs" than your normal cake, which is the best part. The other Italian pastries are really good. I would recommend trying the cannoli, lobster tail, and red velvet cake with the cream cheese frosting. If it's a nice day, take a short walk over to Frank Sinatra Park and enjoy of view of the NYC skyline and your Carlo's Bakery sweets!

    (4)

  • Serena N.

    Only 20 minutes line on a Sunday afternoon. I tried cookies and bignè and they were good and tasty, I was surprised that the cream in the bignè was so good! The service wasn't the best but I can understand since was crowded. I'll come back next time I'm in Hoboken.

    (4)

  • Daniela B.

    We visited on a Thursday at 7:00 a.m. There was NO line!! Lobster Tails and Cannolis were The BEST!! Cookies were fresh and cheesecake was to die for. We also had a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter icing. Heaven!! Wonderful experience and will definitely be back..

    (5)

  • Candy R.

    I would give it 5 stars but that would only be because of all the excitement built around the bakery. So, "Yay! I'm a fan." I went there late one evening during the week - NEVER AGAIN. Not only was parking difficult to find but I had to wait an hour and a half in freezing cold weather with snow flurries falling on my head. The line was all the way past the CVS pharmacy which is a block down from the bakery. So towards the end I couldn't take it any longer and I went inside CVS to warm up and buy a pair of gloves. Once inside CVS, I could feel my toes and fingers defrosting. That was not a good feeling. I realized the line was moving, so I hurried back outside to get back in line and receive my ticket number to get ready to go inside. I got ticket number, 15, and I could feel I was moments away from entering the famous, Carlo's Bakery. I waited another 15 minutes after reaching the store front and then I was allowed inside. When I got inside, it was another battle... Not against the cold but against everyone else in there. Even though they gave me and everyone else a number to order and make things a bit organized it is still a battle to get around the small shop and take a look at the goodies. There are so many people inside that you can't just go up to a window and goo-goo eye the baked goods. So, I waited patiently. Finally, I got called to place my order but my experience with the girl who was helping me was not so fantastico. The girl was somewhat rude and she didn't know much about the baked goods. I asked her what were some of the most popular items they offered since I didn't get to see anything from the 'overcrowdedness.' She named some items and when I asked her about them she couldn't explain to me what exactly they were. So I ended up getting some cannolis, lobster tails, and creme puffs, as well as two cupcakes, a chocolate one and a carrot cake one. The lobster tails and creme puffs tasted identical to me - only difference was, one is cone-shaped (lobster tail) and the other is circular but both are stuffed with the same cream. In the end, it turned out to be a lot more expensive than I had expected, but sometimes you pay for the name on the thing. I will be going back to try one of their cakes. HOPEFULLY, next time I go I will see, Buddy. I will not be holding my breath though.

    (4)

  • Bilge Y.

    Lobster Tail, Italian Napoleon and Hazelnut Cream Puff are delicious. Chocolate Truffle Cake is too dense even for me, as a chocolate lover!

    (4)

  • Laila D.

    Come here for their to-die-for lobster rolls. One of the most delicious pastries I have had in my life. One of these days I need to branch out and try something different. Very studious vibe and kind and friendly service.

    (5)

  • Ana G.

    The best part about Carlos bakery is the cakes! We waited in like for about an hour to tried lobster tails, tiramisu cake, red velvet cake and cheese cake. The lobster tails were over hyped but the cakes are amazing!! I would have given it 5 stars but the other pastries are a bit lacking.

    (4)

  • Deanna J.

    I am a huge Cake Boss fan, and recently saw Buddy on the Bakin' With The Boss tour. Buddy is an amazing cake artist, and his shop is truly a treasure. We came on Black Friday, hoping everyone would be out shopping. We waited two hours in line but it was SO WORTH IT. Got to see the new Carlo's Bakery Way sign and lots of family members (though the sisters must have all been out bargain shopping.) With our tickets, we went inside the bakery. Packed with people, we made our way to the souvenir section where they were selling t-shirts, dvd's, aprons, and Buddy's book. Rather quickly, our numbers were called to order pastries. I ordered the famous lobster tail and cannoli, but couldn't see the pastries because there were so many people blocking the view. I told the girl to just fill two boxes with a variety of cookies, which she did. Would have liked to get a better look and take more pictures but they really wanted you to leave after your order was filled (with good reason.) People were literally just standing around... which I didn't understand. I have to say the prices were decent, though I expected (and would have still paid) more. Such a great experience to visit the shop and see where the magic happens. Even the box with the old-school string tied around is special. I just wish they allowed fewer people in the bakery at a time, so that when you were in the bakery you could see everything and order exactly what you wanted. The best of the bakery world, Carlo's.

    (5)

  • Teresa L.

    AMBIANCE: Small venue. Really hyped up due to the television show so the place is swarming with tourists. The line extends out the door, and it's not that much more orderly once you enter the store. People are pushing against each other to see the baked goods, taking pictures, etc. There's not much room to stand, and there's definitely no room to sit and eat. You have to take your orders to-go. FOOD: They have a great selection of pastries, cookies, and cakes, and everything is reasonably priced. I purchased 5 cupcakes and 2 mini pies for about $24. My friend purchased a tiramisu cake for about $21. Reasonable for New York standards. The icing on the cupcakes were really unique, and would make great holiday party plates. The icing was a bit on the heavier side though, it tastes like the icing you can purchase at generic supermarkets. I definitely prefer the icing from Magnolia's, which are lighter and fluffier. I would recommend this place if you are craving Italian desserts and are already in the area. But I definitely wouldn't return here on a regular basis. There are lots of bakeries in New York who can produce just as eclectic and delicious Italian desserts. They just don't happen to be on television. I will try to order a cake from the bakery in the future for birthdays, and then update my review.

    (3)

  • Jose C.

    The place is not that niece at all. The employees are watching tv and not attending the customers. The cupcakes dont taste good they need sugar and flavor. You can find better at stop and shop. Dont goo

    (2)

  • Amy T.

    Liiterally just left the bakery. traveling from AZ and my daughter Loves the show so we had to go.The experience was less than I expected. none of the people on the show were there, so she was bummed. the food is WAY overpriced, which suks. doesn't seem right to rip people off. we had 4 items and it was $25. The line was 2 hours long and it was so crowded inside you couldn't see the treats in the cases. not worth the time or money at all.

    (2)

  • Mir P.

    So I'm a big fan of the show, and I loved the episode where Buddy baked a crumb cake. He seemed to really believe that his was the best ever. Then I watched him to do it on Rachael Ray, got even more tempted, and planned a Jersey trip. But then I saw that you can order the crumb cake online and it ships the next day fresh! So I did that, and it arrived, fresh and as scheduled, on my doorstep. The problem? One word: Entenmann's. Yep. The crumb cake I grew up buying in my local grocery store is better. Oh, and my local bakery, and everywhere else. To give Buddy credit, the crumb part is delicious and piled high, as crumbs should be. But. The cake was dry. Very dry. And it's a coffee cake, which I love (wasn't expecting, since his recipe online is a sponge), but totally lacking in any moistness or spring. And the flavor of both cake and crumb were predictable. Nothing stood out as the best, which Buddy argues that he is. Service was prompt, though, so with the tasty crumb portion and that, two stars. Is the rest of the bakery overrated as well?

    (2)

  • Hannah B.

    Love show love them went there over the summer spent at lest 80 dollars everything was sooo good only lasted a couple days! Suggest the lobster claw yum!

    (5)

  • Tracy H.

    Don't waste your time. We waited in line for OVER two hours (I'm a huge fan of the show) in the freezing cold and, sadly, were not impressed. No one from the show was there to represent it! :( The bakery is small and the pastries expensive and not anything that leave you wanting more. I make a better cheesecake than they do! The girl who helped us was awesome tho and we will remember her! I can't remember your name, so sorry, (brown hair & wearing glasses) you were the "clothing model" for me when I bought the hoodie for my teenage daughter on Sunday afternoon. Glad we won't be craving the pastries since we live in California :)

    (2)

  • Adhari E.

    Before Cake Boss was a show I knew what Carlo's Bakery was all about. Im a wedding planner i.e. brides ask me about cake amongst other things. There work was always impeccable. I took my mother her for her bday in December (quite cold) and waited about 45min on line for pastries. Seems crazy but it's true. The lobster tails, and cream puffs are out of this world. Cupcakes are dry plain and simple. Don't expect to sink your teeth into something moist b/c its close to a corn muffin. The staff is nice but they do get overwhelmed with the amount of people that enter/exit. Be patient and get a lobster tail you will not regret it. Oh and the canoli's are superb

    (4)

  • Vicky L.

    Vanilla Cake with Lemon Cream Frosting and Fresh Strawberries. IT. WAS. AMAZING. That's all I have to say.

    (4)

  • Yoeun P.

    Honestly not that good. We ordered a bunch of different things. While the canolis were great, the cream puffs were dense and tough. Not the lightness of a typical pâte a choux pastry. The filling was also awkwardly thick and dry. It was closer to cake frosting than whipped cream. The eclairs were the same. The tiramisu was so-so. Wish we could've had a chance to try the lobster tail, but they ran out.

    (2)

  • Ngoc P.

    Long lines but I hear they move quickly. Service is okay. Their cannolis are good and they pump the filling in when you buy it. I dislike cannolis that come pre-filled, it makes the cannoli all mushy. I got a dozen cannolis from Carlo's for my birthday once and remember finishing almost all of them in one day, not a proud moment of mine but it was worth it. They're not too sweet, nice and crunchy and you can even get chocolate chips in the filling if you want. I was never a big fan of fruit tarts since the crusts are always soggy and hard because bakeries have them sitting out for hours. However, Carlo's does them really good. I remember some other chocolaty desserts I've had that were okay but one thing you've gotta have is the sfogliatelle.

    (3)

  • Kelly C.

    This used to be my bakery for years. The quality back then was better than it is now but they've always been average. The only upside is that he definitely does a great job decorating the cakes. The taste of the cake, however, is not the best and CERTAINLY not for the price. Now its just a gimmick. Everyone loves the Cake Boss show and he is certainly making a TON of money. I'm generally very happy that they found fame, but their items, while they LOOk great, they don't taste all that great.

    (2)

  • Rosie J.

    The Cake Boss is not just a famous tv reality show: OMG, everything in that place is so fresh and tasty. Even the plain yellow cake melts in your mouth. Maybe it's because they sell their baked goods so quickly it never has a chance to air around or maybe it's just cause they're just THAT good but it took a bite of several items and each was better the first. I would recommend this place for their cakes and baked goods hands down!

    (5)

  • Stacy S.

    I have been craving the baked treats from Carlo's Bakery ever since Cake Boss first started airing. When we moved to NYC this year, this was one of our first adventures outside of the city. We waited in line for 45 minutes, but it was worth the wait! The biggest problem with waiting that long, is that you have 45 minutes to stare at all of the amazing sugary creations, and your eyes become infinitely bigger than your stomach. By the time it was our turn to order, we ordered a whole bag full of desserts for the two of us! The canolis might have been the best that I have had, and I am very picky about my canolis. We also got a bunch of different types of cookies, a couple of cupcakes and some pastries. Everything we tried was delicious! I would definitely go back at some point. We even got to see Mary while we were there!

    (4)

  • Laurie M.

    As Cake Boss fans, my family and I had to trek on over to Hoboken to try their treats. Surprisingly there was no line. We went on a Thursday afternoon. Walked right in and ordered cupcakes and yummy cannolis. They were out of lobster tails which is what I really wanted to try ): When we walked out, a line had formed by the sidewalk so we were fortunate to walk in when we did. On our way back to the PATH we saw Frankie walking to the shop (:

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Cupcakes were great, also loved the eclairs. Cookies... Meh. Three employees working, one of them on break much of the time, it was a Monday at lunch so only about a 30 minute wait.

    (4)

  • Lily C.

    The lobster tails are PERFECTION...super crispy shell and the filling is sweet but not too sweet, with the consistency of a delicate custardy pudding. The lobster tails shells were so crispy that even the next day, the refrigerated lobster tail is still good. The canolis are also some of the best I've ever had. The shells are crunchy and cinnamony. The filling is nice, not too heavy, just the right sweetness and consistency. I'm really particular about my canolis too. These are my two favorite items at Carlo's but I heard the crumb cake is really good too. The first time I came to Carlo's, I just ordered my items online and picked up my goodies at the door. No line for advance orders but you don't get the "experience" of selecting different things and being in the shop. The second time I went, we got there early so the line wasn't that bad, maybe 30 minutes. The third time was after a cake decorating class at Lackawana and the receptionist was kind enough to call my order in. However, when we got there, there were only 10 people waiting to get it in. I didn't understand it. It was a mild winter day (yesterday) on a week-end...practically no line! When I asked the guy who got my pastry order, why there wasn't a line. He replied, "at the moment". So, I must have gotten there when there was a lull. Too bad we didn't have time to shop around. I'm a fan of the show but I'm also a fan of the baked goods. I just wish I could leave the bake shop without spending a ton of money. Oh, I've also been to the one in Ridgewood. Same delicious lobster tails. Of course they are! The lobster shell and canoli dough is all made in Lackawanna and then shipped to the stores. The instructor of the cake decorating class said they're opening a Carlo's Bakery on Long Island. I would go just for the lobster tails.

    (4)

  • B B.

    I tried the tiramisu, red velvet cupcakes and the cannoli's, they were delicious! The staff was friendly and I got to meet two of Buddy's sisters (I'm a fan of the show, so it was neat).

    (5)

  • L. Eliza C.

    Caveat: This review was based on my experience before Cake Boss was on TLC. My now ex boyfriend lived in hoboken and we used to love staring at the beautiful cakes on the window display right before our NYSC workout nearby. Yes, we would workout out and then get their really good deserts (they have this cassatta siciliana type desert thats available on Saturday only) and it was worth the workout. I used to see Buddy sitting in the corner with the Client but he did not seem friendly AT ALL. Pros: Great cakes and desert Cons: Nothing (except the calories consumed)

    (4)

  • Marilyn D.

    Went on a rainy Tuesday morning (9am?) there was no line. The lobster tails were amazing! But everything else was beyond average and overpriced! The crumb cake was nothing special and the cream puffs were to be frank, gross. The Clerks were rude and The interior of the store could use some revamping.

    (2)

  • Evan M.

    I happened to be in the Hoboken area and noticed that there wasn't much of a line for the famous "Cake Boss" bakery so I figured I would take advantage of it to see what all the fuss was about. I've caught a couple glimpses of the show before and everything on TV always looks so good. Reality, however, can sometimes be a little different. They had the system here down. You get handed a number as soon as you walk in. Normally the line is out the door on most afternoons but I went in around 6pm on a weekday and was lucky. Only about a 15 min wait. The only problem with the setup is that they don't really list their items anywhere so you just have to look at the sweets from behind the glass. It can be very difficult since the place is pretty full with customers inside. Not an environment to point and ask questions. Of course you will see the occasional fans of the show from out of town that take pictures of themselves to prove that they were actually at the place. A friend reccommended the crumb cake so I ordered a small sheet of it. It was ok but nothing that would give a regular Entenmann's coffee cake a run for it's money. I liked that it had a very thick layer of crumb on top but the cake part was not so moist and had a slight lemon taste to it. I also had a red velvet cupcake. They didn't have slices. It was pretty typical and nothing special so I had no complaints. Kinda wish they would have had cake slices instead. People also raved about their cannolis so I figured I would try one. Tasted like a cannoli that you could pretty much get at any Italian pastry shop. I don't need to go to Hoboken for that. I'm sure the Cake Boss is good at making a working motorcycle out of cake but I think he needs to focus more on quality rather than creativeness. Then again, that probably won't get him his own show. You can only see things on the show, not taste.

    (3)

  • Emily P.

    Definately not worth it! Save yourself a trip and head to a local non touristy-trap family owned bakery. The hype around Carlo's makes it so overrated. Went here and purchased just a couple of items and spent over $30. Not only that but the cupcakes I got were stale, dry, and tasted worse than a grocery store's. The cannolis weren't anything great either, just mediocre. I guess I have been spoiled my whole life growing up in Philadelphia with the best bakeries just moments away. Do not waste your time at Carlos seriously not worth it and just another tourist trap. What you see on TV is not always what you get.

    (2)

  • Lissette M.

    Their baked good are really yummy. It's pricey but it is worth it. The only thing I don't like is the long line to wait to get in. Otherwise, great baked goods.

    (4)

  • Ravi S.

    Great place for lobster tails and thiramisu... I went there after watching all their episodes on TLC and i was not surprised to wait in the line for close to 3 hrs... but it was worth waiting... I wish to visit again but hate to wait...

    (4)

  • Mark C.

    Kids loved the show, so we stopped by. No lines (Thursday @ 11am). Lobster tails were good. No Buddy, but had a nice time.

    (4)

  • Marina C.

    Nothing wrong with my visit. What I ordered was good. It gets a three star rating because it seemed like just a regular bakery. I also thought it was very pricy...not worth what I got.

    (3)

  • Thuy P.

    Before "Cake Boss" I was able to walk in freely and get a piece of cheesecake or cupcake with no fuss and no line. I've been back once and this was on a Wednesday around 3:30pm to pick up some sweets for a friend's bday. There was a short line. They have removed all of the small tables they used to have in the shop... I figured to make room for the crazy tourists on the weekends. I've only had their cheesecake, cupcakes, and chocolate dipped strawberries... so my review is strictly on those three items. The red velvet and carrot cupcakes are all very moist and rich... a bit too rich for my liking. The cheesecake is just any cheesecake. It's good but nothing memorable. The dark chocolate dipped strawberries are simply good. Nothing fancy about them... they always look pretty though. I'm not sure if I'll be back. The BF doesn't care too much for sweets, so maybe not.

    (3)

  • Emily G.

    Went to Carlo's Bakery, wanted to see what all the hype was about. Drove past on Friday afternoon, there was a line outside. Checked it out on a Monday morning, no one was there!!! Score for me. The most incredible tasting cannoli's I've ever tasted. No idea who this Cake Boss is, but the cannoli sure made my day.

    (5)

  • April M.

    So after being redirected three times by locals until realizing the street I was hunting down shared its name with another just three miles away, I saw it- the famous, the TV hyped, Carlo's Bakery! (I know, I know get a GPS already... google maps seriously let me down.) It was unbelievable how the site of this bakery relieved every ounce of stress and sent the jitters throughout my body... no exaggeration I was really pumped. Finally, once I found a place to store my car for a while, I glided down Washington Street, eyes glued to the maroon and gold trimmed store. I waited outside in line for only 10 minutes (pretty good for a Saturday), got my ticket, and went in. Surrounded by the wonders of pastry, pie, and cake, I realized, crap what am I going to order! Luckily, I had time before my number was called to check out the goods, which was tough because the tiny bakery was PACKED. Not in an annoying way though, it was more of an excited vibe. I was helped in about 15 min and decided on some mini canolis, two giant cookies, a few choc chip pastry things, and possibly THE MOST AMAZING apricot bar I have ever had! I stayed away from the cupcakes seeing as reviews of them weren't very good. Everything I bought turned out to be remarkably delicious. The canolis and apricot bar made such an impression that I will have to make another trip up. While I was there I happened to see little Frankie (adorable), and had my picture taken with Mauro's wife (the sweetest woman ever). Sure the young workers weren't HAPPY to be working, but I found them professional enough that they didn't dampen my trip! Unfortunately Buddy was upstairs filming so I didn't have the chance to see him. WARNING: Parking is a pain in the rear. Let it be known that you might have to make a small hike to the bakery if you go on a weekend!

    (5)

  • Rashmi V.

    Came alllll the way from California to see the Cake Boss.. Since we got to NY all I have been talking about was Buddy..Cake Boss...Canolis..:) Sooo we finally got there and I thought it would be superpacked line out the door but surprisingly it wasn't...Came on a Thursday around 1pm there were people inside..As soon as I walk in I see JOE the baker who also is a firefigther. I was super excited and I waited for him to say hello but he didn't..hmm..Looked at his smiled still nothing..jerk..I was kinda hesitant to ask him for a picture especially after he didnt even say hello so I didnt even bother. I'm still waiting in line and there are two sides of the bakery there are some pastries on one side and the canolis/cupcakes on the other side. I could've SWORE that I heard someone say if you are ordering from the other side you stand on the other side of the line. So I was already waiting in line for 10 minutes so I go to the other side and wait..I wait and wait and wait and still no one has acknowledged me..WTF? The workers there are sooo freaken unprofessional they are cursing and they are sooo not friendly. In the show they make it seem like the whole family is working no way not at all I didnt see any of Buddy's family working there just a bunch of garbage employees saying bad words and talking about when their shift is over. Okay sooo I'm still waiting and since no one acknowledged me I ask so do I wait in this line to order from this side and this RUDE girl says NO you need to wait in that line. OMGGG sooo I've been waiting for 25mins now for NOTHING?? grrr soo I'm trying to keep my cool and I get back in line..So I go back in line and once again I wait and wait and wait for another 10minutes while I'm waiting in line out comes Stretch the delivery boy..He smiled at me and I smiled back..I wanted to say hiii but once again I got nervous..ha me nervous? NEVER..I dont know what was wrong with me..Than I see FRANKIE awww he's sooo cuteee and cuddly looking.. It's my turn and I finally get to place my order I end up ordering a few canolis, a lobster tail and some chocolate chip cookie things. As I'm waiting for my order to be rung up I see BUDDDYYYYY coming down the stairs and I thought he was gonna come up to the front but he went in the back..awww boooo!! =( I didnt get to actually meet him or take a picture of him..I did see Grace who came out Joe's wife I got a quick picture of her but ehhh I came here to see Buddy. Well I leave the place with my canolis and get back on the subway..I open the box and try the canoli..O-M-G it was soooo freaken DELICIOUSSS..Mouth watering, amazinggg, yummy in my tummy..I never had a pastry this good..The canoli frosting or whatever it was was hellla gooood..I was cryinggg because I only bought 3 canolis...I wanted to go backkk..=( Next time I go to NY I'm definitely going to go back to Carlo's Bakery..PASTRIES were AMAZINGGG..Far better than I expected... PROS-Pastries Cons-Rude Employees

    (5)

  • Heather K.

    Well, the line thing was pretty crazy. There are two lines, one in front of the store, and another one block over in front of CVS, which we did not know. They let way too many people in at once. You literally cannot see any of the display cases, as everyone is packed like sardines in there. I ordered a 2# full sized crumb cake and only got a 6x9 piece but to try to get that fixed seemed like way too much trouble. Cupcakes were not nearly as good as I thought they would be. Lots of over priced "signed by Buddy" items for sale - LOTS. Like water bottles?? Couldn't get a sweatshirt in my daughter's size. Felt very rushed. Should have ordered online ahead of time.

    (3)

  • Molly M.

    As bakeries go, I'd prefer the Target pre-packaged desserts. The fact that there is a wait for this place goes to show you what a TV show will do to convince the average American to stand in line an hour for mediocre (at best) pastries, cakes, and cookies. The staff are rude and the place is a clusterf*ck. Kids running around licking their fingers and touching the glass, upset women trying to get someones attention so they can order their 75 cookies for a dinner party...it's hardly a fun environment. Not to leave without a well-rounded view, we ordered one of almost everything. Almost everything tasted EXACTLy like the rest: floury, bland, and dry. Perhaps if you need a birthday cake to look like a giant amusement park (even if its inedible) this is your place to go. If you want a cookie or other sweet....keep walking up to Crumbs up the street!

    (2)

  • Nadia B.

    I feel better about Carlo's after ordering red velvet and their dark chocolate Ganache mini-cakes-- While I did pay $11 for two measly mini-cakes... they are famous AND they were VERY good... so, yea I get the hype now.. I wonder if they changed their goods after realizing many people were coming to their doorsteps in Hoboken in any case.. I went when there wasn't any wait (Thursday at 3), and every other time I see it there is a line outside the door... don't know if I'd wait in a long line, but four people ahead of me-- I'd definitelyy go in.

    (4)

  • Maeve C.

    I was relieved upon eating what I had bought at Carlo's because it proved that the long wait (about 40 mins) was worth it. I went with my sisters and we got a mini cannoli, a chocolate mousse mound, and a mini tiramisu-ish cake. We walked down Washington to a Starbucks to eat our treasures and enjoyed every sugary bite. **Just a note: the tiramisu-looking cake tied with brown ribbon was actually just flavored whipped cream surrounded by lady fingers, not layered tiramisu with coffee like you'd expect. Still delicious, though.

    (4)

  • Wendy S.

    Waiting is line to take pictures? It is a bakery & not a very good one! Let us say I did not wait in line. Maybe if I had I would have gotten tired & not spent well over $150 for my crew. The best I can say, it was expensive "fou-fou" cake but not with no class. The pastry was brightly colored & hard as a rock. Taste, don't even go there. Sweet Lady Jane in Los Angeles has beautiful pastry & an exquisite taste. It was nasty & not at all cheap. I guess being the "flavor of the reality moment" ups your price & notoriety, but certainly not quality or taste.

    (1)

  • David B.

    So I took my wife and sister in law here because they both wanted to try it. Me, personally could have gone to a bakery down the street and enjoyed something just as good, for half the price. The crumb cake was fantastic but the canoli and lobster tail pastry seemed stale. My wife and sis got a little personal cake, both enjoyed it but could have enjoyed another bakerys just as much.

    (2)

  • Charlene I.

    When: Saturday morning, 11am Wait time: 45 minutes (outside in line), 15 (inside to order) Weather: HOT and humid as fuck! -_- SoooooooOoOOo...it was a journey to get here from Long Island City and another journey just to get into this bakery...lol...we're looking at a 1 hour and 45 minute adventure. Was it worth it? Maybe...haha You come here for the hype. It's cool to visit this place and be able to say you've visited this place, but this probably isn't a spot I'd make a goal to visit each time. The baked goods are tasty, not incredible, but man...... the wait time is killer...also the bakery is really small so you are jam packed up in there! Please don't come here if you are claustrophobic. My rating might be different if I ordered a cake here instead, but I didn't so this is what they get...LOL That chocolate canoli was bomb dooooooooeee!!

    (3)

  • Jill S.

    Came here on a Friday afternoon and only had to wait about 15 minutes in line. I got a bunch of goodies including cannolis, lobster tails, crumb cake, and brownie. The cannolis and lobster tails were excellent! I would go back just for those alone. The crumb cake was disappointing; very dry and not any flavor. The brownie was tasty but not anything to write home about. The staff was efficient and polite. I had zero problems getting everything that I wanted and they really were very nice about everything. Seriously though - those cannolis and lobster tails - *drooooool*.

    (4)

  • Raul A.

    I gotta say that this place could use a real makeover when it comes to customer service. I've visited twice now and the employees never seem happy to be there or help customers. Stay away from the carrot cake cupcake. It's just not good and I've tried it twice now. In fact I'd say the cupcakes probably aren't the best choices because a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter cream wasn't good either. Really a shame. The cheesecakes are decent but nothing crazy. They really could win some points by delivering a better customer experience.

    (2)

  • K C.

    -been there once during winter -almost hour long wait -very crowded inside -desserts were okay and expensive -didn't feel very different from any other good bakery

    (3)

  • Brianna L.

    Long line but over all it was worth the wait! Got a mini white chocolate mouse cake and a chocolate cannoli ... DELISH!! Defiantly going to come back in the future for more!

    (5)

  • Liz R.

    The 90 min wait was definitely worth it! We got a cannoli, lobster tail, black & white cookie, and eclair. They were all delicious! The cookie was very moist! The cannoli, lobster tail & eclair were just amazing! We def had to go back for more! The line starts at the CVS across the street. An employee walks around and gives u a ticket and then you just wait. They let a group at a time cross the street and then wait in front of the store. Once inside it's a big o cluster F! The inside is so small and the amount of people inside make it hard to walk and see what pastries they have. They call numbers out and you wait to be called. So you have to make your way up to the front and then order. Considering the crowds and the attitudes of the customers the cashiers/order takers were real nice!

    (4)

  • Debbie A.

    Not worth the long line. My daughter watches the show and it is the only reason I tolerate that line. Today was my third time at Carlos Bakery and I have to say it seems like the quality continues to decline. Some of the pastries today were in pretty sad shape. I actually saw fingerprints on one of the cookies covered in powder sugar, prints in the sugar. Gross. And, the cupcakes? I can make cupcakes that look better than that. The displays overall didn't look that nice today. I don't know how the bakery prices pre-packaged items but check the prices before you buy! I picked up a 1lb bag of cookies to buy for one of my kids. $19.99 for a 1lb bag however, the exact same cookies, if you buy them out of the case are $13.99 a lb! The bakery itself looks like crap. The window displays were disappointing. If not for the name, no person walking by would not be drawn in by those cakes in the window. Inside, the line of cake displays along the top of the left wall are a mess as well with pieces of the display cake falling off and the cakes are covered in dust. You can see a film of black on the cakes. It's disgusting. They also have a hot chocolate machine, the kind you would see at a gas station. This high profile bakery can't even offer house made hot chocolate? At least hide the machine, it doesn't look nice. The only thing this place has going for it is its name. Clean the place up, please. If you can't do it yourself, hire someone. There are plenty of people that need jobs.

    (1)

  • Ian N.

    It's good. People rave that it's the best, probably over the fact it was on TV. In fact most of the people on line are over weight middle American women that wouldn't know the difference between a Jelly doughnut and a François Payard soufflé. A lot of the pastries are good, in fact some are very good. But certainly over rated. The coffee is amazing here. It's nice and strong and it puts hair on your chest. Coffee and a lobster tail to go is my default here.

    (2)

  • Alescandra D.

    It wasnt really packed when I went in and I was served really fast. There are ALOT of tourist in there taking pictures and recording. I had no idea that a television show was that much of a big deal. Anyways decided to have a lobster tail since the bakery is known for their crusts and cream. The filling was good but a bit too much and the flaky crust was good as well. The lobster tail overall seemed not fresh when it was handed to me. As if the crust was thawed then filled with cream or maybe it was sitting in the glass case for quite some time.

    (4)

  • Alia L.

    Stopped here twice in the last year. First time was with my family because my step-sister is a fan of the show Cake Boss. I couldn't believe the line! We waited two hours in the pouring rain to get in to this place. Crazy that people from all over the country were there to check this place out. The treats are super yummy. I'm not a big baked goods person but I have to say the treats here were better then most places. Definitely worth checking out but definitely not worth waiting in the rain for two hours.

    (3)

  • Srini J.

    Everything i have had here was absolutely delicious. Every cake ordered was fresh and melts in your mouth. I would definitely recommend this place. Worth the hype!!! However, the down side is the time they take to serve each customer. They took more than 25 minutes to serve 6 cupcakes. The average wait time is 1hour.

    (5)

  • Sanjana A.

    Tasty pastries. Like milk chocolate and Berry Cheesecake. But nothing extra ordinary but pretty delicious.

    (3)

  • Natalie C.

    I went there to see what all the hype was about when on business last week. It was so good! I had a mini Cannoli and a Hazelnut creme puff. The cream in the Cannoli was so smooth I felt like I was eating ice cream I expected a little bit of gritty taste like most icings. I went back to Dallas telling all my co workers and family about my experience. The young lady that helped me out was so nice and accommodating Sabrina thank you for your help! Tip: I went on a Wednesday about 4:30 I had only 1 person in front of me. My co workers that live there said I got real lucky the line is normally out the door.

    (5)

  • Pierre D.

    2 hours waiting in line (saturday) But when you gotta go... :) Wife and kidz where happy As for the product itself, its good and what is to be expected from a bakery, nothing more, nothing less. Nice sunny afternoon with pleasure what more can you ask for?

    (3)

  • Lynn R.

    This was simultaneously one of the most nerve-wracking/delicious experiences I've ever had. Delicious because, c'mon, it's cupcakes/cookies/cannolis; nerve-wracking because you're thrust into this tiny bakery with 50 other people and need to make all of your baked good decisions before they call your number. This was a pleasant discovery on a trip out to Hoboken. I didn't even put two and two together until I saw the sign and then saw the line waiting outside. I immediately texted my mom to tell her where I was and then gave the bf puppy dog eyes to convince him to wait in line. They've got this down to a science. The line moved quickly and before we knew it, we were amidst the chaos and I was scrambling from counter to counter to decide on my purchases. I felt seriously chubbs when I ordered a M&M cookie, mini chocolate cannoli, mini regular cannoli, and two cupcakes. The bf: "Um, are you going to eat all of that?" Comment ignored. The total for said baked goods = $8. So cheap! The M&M cookie was consumed on the Path back to Manhattan as I closed my eyes in ecstasy over every chocolate candy filled bite. They fill the cannolis fresh when you order, and while I've never had one before (I know, what's wrong with me?), I really really liked it. Granted this review is probably inflated by the fact that this bakery is featured on TLC, but the taste to price ratio equals a good star-studded value in my book!

    (4)

  • Eric G.

    Almost every time I walk by Carlo's, there's a line out the door and around the corner... not when you're walking by at 8am on a Sunday morning though. I was on my way home for Mother's Day brunch at my parent's house and I figured crumb cake would be a nice addition... and it was. I got home, broke it out almost immediately, and my parents and I each tried a little piece... it was really good. It seemed to be a hit with everyone else, too, as it received quite a few compliments. It wasn't far superior to other crumb cakes I've had, but it really was enjoyed by all. While I wouldn't wait on a ridiculously long line to get something from Carlo's, I'd definitely stop in if the line was reasonable. There were definitely a number of other treats I wouldn't mind trying.

    (4)

  • Tatiana P.

    This bakery is "The Place"! Oh my goodness, the line was so long it took me around an 1 hour and 30 minutes to get in. Boy, was it worth it! The inside was crowed but I still got to see every cake, cookie, and pastry. For $70 i bought the Seasonal Summer Fondant Cake, Mini Strawberry Cheesecake, Cannoli, Mini White Chocolate Mousse Cake, Vanilla Pignoli, Eclair, Brownie, and something similar to a cannoli but I can't recall the name of it (it had chocolate chips sticking out of both ends and was my favorite pastry). I think the prices are fabulous. I was shocked that they were so cheap, they defiantly could charge more(I'd be willing to pay more). Moving on the Fondant cake was amazing, I loved the top fondant layer. The other pastries were just as good, I loved the creamy fillings and flaky buns. The mini cakes were delicious but I wish they had a some sort of a base. (cookie crumbs, perhaps?) I was disappointed that they ran out of lobster tails, but that just gives me a reason to go back. At first i was also shocked that the front door guy didn't check my number ticket thingy. But then he told me that he remembered me because I made him laugh earlier (which was true). I wish people didn't complain about the long line, I mean, it's your own choice to wait. If your not willing to to wait, go to a different bakery.

    (5)

  • Trang H.

    We came here on a friday around 1pm and the wait was 3 1/2 hours.. insane! So here our are tips to skip the line: 1. Ask or pay a hoboken resident to show their ID to cut to the front of the line and go right inside. 2. Order a small cake in advance and you get to walk right in to pick up the cake. 3. Ask or pay the people waiting in front to pick up some pastries for you so can avoid the long line. We didn't think the pastries were very good and thank goodness we didn't have to wait that long for them. But if you must get the carlo's bakery experience without the wait.. we hope our tips help you get there a lot faster.. good luck!

    (1)

  • Neo R.

    I finally took my daughter here over the weekend and i was a bit disappointed. All the hype on the tv show we finally tasted a variety of cupcakes, cheesecakes and cookies. I will say they make cakes appealing to the eyes but that's about it, I've had better they are overrated. If you dare to wait in line I will say the lobster tail was pretty good.

    (2)

  • Colleen C.

    A co-worker told me all she really wanted was a cake from the "boss" for her birthday. Since I live in Hoboken and her b-day is in the wintertime it was quite easy to score a cake in the morning. To be honest, the cake itself was incredibly dry. Although, I gotta say, the icing lived up to expectations. And by "expectations" means all I ever wanted was something yummy. I just don't want to be drinking milk to wash down the cake, but rather to compliment. Fair enough right? Yeah, not so much....although feel free to pack me up some of that icing! Again, I stopped by this morning to grab a Lobster Tail. I've heard some great things about it. It had some of the most delish cream filling I've ever had. So delicate, but sweet! My Recommendation to Out-of-Towners: If you're in town visiting, check out Veniero's in NYC. They've been in the business a little longer (15 years or so), have a wider selection, even just stepping in it feels more old school Italian, oh and it isn't nearly as glorified as the cake boss.

    (3)

  • Rick R.

    Online service is awful. I received a smashed plate of cookies, notified them of this and they did nothing to remedy. Looks like a great place on TV, my experience was awful. Two very average crumb cakes and a smashed plate of cookies are what I received. I could do better at my local grocery store and your customer service is the worst. You said you would remedy the problem with the ruined cookies and then did nothing and stopped communicating. Steer clear of this all-hype corporate front, average tasting product, poor customer service and top $ prices.

    (1)

  • David S.

    The most overrated bakery I've ever been to. I don't see the appeal of this place and I would never wait online to get ripped off for their sub-par pastries. I find completely pathetic that people go out of their way to visit this place, but it is America so people go gaga for their idiot celebrities. I guess this one can be explained with that logic.

    (2)

  • Harold K.

    I am a professional Corporate pilot and go to New York often. One of my crew thought it would be good idea to surprise the passengers with some ware from Carlos. Carlos is that like some Mexican bakery? Realizing he was talking about all the hub bub of this show, I went along. I also waited in a stupidly long line, when there are plenty of other great bakeries in the area. We order some things and I also ordered some eclairs to take home to California. Dressed in my pilots uniform they were very nice and pointed me towards a bunch of what I thought were eclairs. I ordered a dozen of them. Halfway across the United States flying home at 45,000 feet I got hungry and thought I would try one of the pastries. Instead of selling me nice creamy eclairs these shills sold me some lemon crap cakes probably ones they could not sell. I was disappointed since I was looking forward to what I had ordered and wanted to compare them to what they sell in France. I thought, next time I visit the place I will bring this up with the hope they would make the order right. Again I showed up in uniform and to my surprise they were apathetic, dismissive to the point of being rude and impatient as if they were too busy to deal with me and said; sorry its not our problem, can't help you what would you like to order. I turned around and walked out. Until they remedy this order, I will never return to this place again. They were inconsiderate, rude, self important and only riding on the coat tails of their TV success. It appears more as if Carlos and his cake wrecking crew forgot where his customers came from and what customer service is. Until they fix that order, they lost my business, nor will I purchase goods for any of our private jet aircraft passengers. Save your money, go to a real bakery not a head shop that is built on notoriety. There are plenty of excellent bakeries in NYC that happily provide great customer service. Don't be enamored because some bored TV crew that ran out of ideas for a show with the excuse to keep retuning to NYC area made something of this place. If they were not famous, maybe they would still be struggling and remember what good customer service is. Oh and the cannoli's my co-pilot ordered showed the same lack of care. The outer crust was way over cooked or it was cooked with old oil so the crust was way too dark. A cannoli is supposed to be a light sweet pancake like crust, not something that tastes like a french fry that was left in the oil too long or was cooked in old oil. Carlos is an example of what happens when you let fame and notoriety get to your core business and apathy seeps in. Quality goes out the door. The experience was a total let down.........

    (1)

  • Andre N.

    there is alot of hype here ..THE CAKE BOSS i think hoboken needs the hype I have had the cupcakes here ..also cakes are fair.... ..other then that ..no big deal here ... I have not seen Buddy ...I noticed there are huge lines ..alot of tourist with cameras ....

    (3)

  • Brian K.

    The crumb cake was good, but the two things I had and LOVED were the lobster tail and the cannoli. You have to get these things they are amazing.

    (5)

  • Carmela D.

    My boyfriend & I caught this show on TLC in it's very early days so once we realized it was filmed in Hoboken, we headed down to Carlo's for a visit. The first time we went, there was a small crowd out front taking pictures and buzzing around but the lines weren't unusually long. We took some pictures and bought some cupcakes and cookies which were all impressively delicious and creatively decorated. We asked for Buddy but he was "off" that day or so they told us. But the next time we were in Hoboken we headed over again to try and see Buddy and we lucked out! We met Buddy and he was gracious enough to take a picture with us. His mom and sisters were also there. The bakery has definitely outgrown his success and popularity but everyone behind the counter is pleasant and efficient- they know how to keep the lines moving but they are still willing to answer questions or help in any way possible. Despite all his fame, Buddy is the nicest person you will ever meet and he knows how to make some pretty damn good pastries too!! I'm sure there are some other great bakeries in and around Hoboken but this one is worth a visit, even if it's just for a sneak peek at one of the Valastro clan in action.

    (4)

  • Jay M.

    My brother and future sister-in-law are getting married in 3 months and are big fans of Cake Boss. So.... in an attempt to determine if we should get a cake from Cake Boss (Carlo's Bakery) they made an appointment for a consultation. Appointments are had to get and are $100 for a half hour consultation. Coming from Long Island and hitting major traffic, it took us about 2.5 hours to get there. It's a good thing we gave ourselves plenty of time as we arrived just in time for our appointment. The entire town is run down except for the area where Cake Boss is. It's almost like he's a national hero or something. There are signs and posters for a 4-5 block circumferance surrounding the bakery. The line to get in was at least 3 blocks long as we were told there was about a 2-3 hour wait to get in. Lucky for us, we had an appointment and wouldn't have to wait. I couldn't imagine living in that area and not being ablt to go to my local bakery for a bread or some cookies because of the insane wait. Anyway, we arrive and are taken upstairs to meet with one of the bakers ( I can't remember his name but he's a big guy and often has appearances on the TV show). There were 6 of us all together and we were given some bottled water. Based on what the bride wanted, he showed us what the cake would look like on the computer. They also brought us 6 slices of cakes, assorted varieties, to taste and choose 1 for the filling of the wedding cake. Especially good were the chocolate rasberry, and the chocolate/vanilla cake with chocolate pudding filling. Red Velvet cake was also great. So, my brother and his future bride ordered the cake which will be delivered on their wedding day to the reception hall. Since we were ordering a cake, we were given the option of buying some bakery items without waiting on line if we so choosed. We bought several items including the best chocolate regulah I have ever had. It was so fresh. Everything we bought was delicous. I think the bakery is great and has the freshest, best tasting bakery items I ever had. However, I don't think I'd go back becuase of the long distance from my home, plus the tremendous crowds and wating time invloved. If they were able to somehow reduce this lines making the wait more reasonable, I'd be a regular customer. The prices are high, but as they say, "You get what you pay for". I highly reccommend.

    (5)

  • Spock N.

    There was a long line on a humid (but cloudy) July day. We weren't sure how long we had to stay in line for, but it was quite long, and it moves in drones. Anyway, we stood in line, and had to wait for 2.5 hours!! We were almost giving up towards the end, since my kids and I don't even watch the show. I was ready to send in my order online and pick it up (they have 1/2 doz minimums on online order). But anyway, we finally got in the store. It is well kept, cold and neat. The employees were nice and got the order right the first time. I really did not see them chit chatting. Was it worth the 2.5 hours wait? I don't think so. Was the food awesome? I think so. We got the lobster tails, cannolis which the kids ate for breakfast and were very happy instead of being their grumpy self. Next time, when I feel like a big spender, I will just order it online and pick up. If the line is short, it is worth going in, otherwise skip it. You could always ask the people at the head of the line how long they waited just to get a clue.

    (4)

  • Nicole W.

    I went here on my birthday...Friday the 13th! Luckily we got right in and grabbed a number 10 and number 3 was on the board. We got a big box of yummy pastries. My favorite...absolute favorite...Pignoli Amaretti..to die for! The Lobster Tails were really good too. I enjoyed everything else we got but those were my top favorites! I'll have to try the cannolis next time I go and I'm hoping they have almond horse shoe cookies next time!

    (4)

  • Pooja K.

    Overrated for sure. Their chocolate mousse cake is pretty darn good, but their red velvet is just eh. Its not worth the wait.

    (3)

  • Estefany F.

    I fell in love with this bakery! It lived up to my expectations of what I expected ever since I became a fan of the show earlier this year. I was super excited to finally pay a visit yesterday with my boyfriend. Fortunately we went in the evening so the line wasn't very long and the wait time was only half an hour. The chocolate fudge cupcake, red velvet cupcake, cannoli, eclair and sprinkle cookie are to die for! The nutella tart can be a hit or miss depending on your preference palette. We will definitely be returning!

    (4)

  • Annette P.

    Don't wait in line. It's not worth it unless you're a fan of the show and want to stand in line in hopes of bumping into some of the people in the store. Its so packed in there and constantly busy so don't think for one minute that they're going to stop and hold long conversations with you. They even have a bouncer at the door. Yes, a bouncer. The line can go on for blocks. I personally never watched the show and went strictly in hopes of getting some tastey treats so this rating is not biased on the show's fame but strictly on the bakery quality itself. I found the cakes and cannoli's standard. Living in the NJ/NYC area you could get just about the same quality if not better, anywhere. I enjoy baking and use fondant & gum paste in my own cakes & decided to follow the instructions on their web site to try and attend a class. They never bothered to get back to me after my several attempts. I guess my money is not good enough. I understand that they may be busy or the classes may be filled, but please consider your customers and keep updates on the web site. Also, the cakes I saw on my visit were not impressive. NJ alone has so many wonderful artists that could make a prettier cake for a lot less.

    (1)

  • Anthony C.

    I really like the taste of their products, especially their black and white sheet cake with fudge filling and butter cream vanilla icing. They really are among the best bakery cakes that I have ever had. They are also reasonably-priced also like most of their pre-made cakes and come in several different sizes for your needs. A cake for 15-20 people is roughly $55. Yes, Costco has a good simple cake like this for half the cost but Carlo's is a little better. You must call ahead the day before and leave a credit card deposit but you are allowed to cut the line (huge time-saver) with a custom order! They have a great assortment of cookies too. What I don't like: parking is a pain if you have a car, they don't take American Express, and they dropped the ball by not making a cake the last time I called in even though we have had an ongoing relationship since before the TV show. Fancy custom birthday cakes require 3-4 WEEKS of notice and roughly range from a whopping $250-500. Also, it wouldn't hurt these people to be more polite on the phone. They can afford another phone specialist with the volume of business they are pumping through. ONE time I had a really nice girl take my order and I had thought that I dialed the wrong bakery.

    (3)

  • Nancy M.

    This place is sooooo over hyped with the t.v show. The lines are not worth waiting on. The products in their are no better than some of the other local places, and if you want to pay a couple of thousand dollars for a cake thats a little better than average, the more power too you. Sorry, I like watching the show once in a while, but i'll pass on buying anything from there

    (1)

  • Tiffy G.

    I can't believe I gave into the craze and waited on line for a bakery!!!! I spent about about 70 minutes inside and outside, which I know is not a lot of time compared to stories I heard. The girls behind the counter were complaining about how tired they were... BOO-HOO. If you can't handle the job, do something else! I felt they were purposely working slow. Aside from that. it's the BEST CANOLI EVER!!! The bakery puts the filling in as you order. The shell is crunchy and fresh! My friend ordered the Lobster Tail, Chocolate Merengue and Pistachio Biscottis. She enjoyed her Lobster Tail, but both agreed, we wouldn't go through that craziness again. I would rather venture out to Brooklyn, but at least we can say we "been there, done that" with Carlo's.

    (3)

  • Mc T.

    hyped up cake. not very good, but plays one on TV mediocre at best. but supercharged with surgar. If you like surgar in cake shapes, this is the place for you! I had one of their spring chocolate cakes. it was crap. thick and heavy as balls. If you appreciate cakes and pastries, I'd keep moving.

    (1)

  • Nancy R.

    We had the most fun here. The bakery was full, but it was fun to chat with people from all over--Canada and Boston. We are from Idaho. My daughter got her picture with Buddy's first cousin who was manning the door. He was so polite and fun to talk to. Mauro showed up and we got a picture. Definitely recommend. The lobstertail was amazing. I had some fresh strawberries to go with it and it made it spectacular!! So it's touristy. So what. Go and enjoy. :)

    (5)

  • Dawn Maria D.

    I tried to go to Carlo's this past Saturday, March 12th. I expected a line, but I had no idea that the line would be several blocks long and maybe four people deep. I didn't even park, there was no way I was going to wait in line all day to get in the door. I was pretty disappointed because I wanted zeppole for St. Joseph's day and since I like his cannoli filling I knew they would be good. I was pretty disappointed to leave without any, but I did get some in Manhattan. I live in Philadelphia and do go to NYC often enough that I can just stop by another day, probably during the week when there's no line. My first trip to Carlo's was last September. I had been to Hoboken several times but never went in the bakery before, I knew about Buddy from several appearances on the Food Network Challenge, and I was happy to see him get the show on TLC. I took home at least two boxes of pastries. On that trip, I got some mini cannolis, sfogliatelle, lobster tails, pastichotte, eclairs, and some seven layer cookies. I am sure I got a few more but I can't remember which. The cakes were delicious. I live in Northeast Philly, and there's only one Italian bakery near my house, and sometimes the cakes aren't as fresh as they could be. There are a few other Italian bakeries in the city that are good, but their quality has gone downhill recently and they have jacked up the prices ridiculously. Not so at Carlo's. Carlo's is like the bakeries in my old neighborhood when I was growing up. Their cakes were fresh, they had a great variety, and they were delicious. The canolli shells were crispy. The filling in the lobster tail was delicious. The sfogliatelle shattered when I bit into it, like it should have. I did not think the staff was rude, in fact, the girl who waited on me was very nice. I also got to meet Buddy's sister Lisa, who got Buddy and Joey to come down and say hello. Both Buddy and Joey were extremely nice. Buddy told me that he can fill the cannolis with whatever I wanted, that he didn't just have the ricotta filling that was in the case ( I like vanilla and chocolate canollis, too!), but by then I had already bought a lot of cake. I really don't understand the cupcake fad, or why people expect cupcakes to be something so special. Typical cupcakes at any Italian bakery I have ever been to use vanilla sponge, or chocolate sponge, and just frost them with white or chocolate icing and then put sprinkles on them. The cupcakes I've seen at Carlo's do look pretty, but I am sure they just started to decorate them fancy since they are in style. I, personally, wouldn't go to an Italian bakery and get anything else but Italian cakes, unless I was getting a cake for a special occasion. There's nobody at Carlo's wearing a cutesy apron with their hair in pigtails making fancy cutesy cupcakes.

    (4)

  • Becha H.

    They had pretty reasonable rates for a 'famous' bakery. We waited in line for about an hour outside, we were then headed in the building and waited in such a cramped area for another 30 minutes. So many people that we couldn't see a lot of the goodies. They were delightful I will admit but made me feel like a sheep the way they herd people in and out.

    (3)

  • John F.

    Not the best pastries I've ever had, but good. Put it this way, I would NEVER wait on line for anything at Carlo's. People like going because of the TV show, which is fine. However, if you're more interested in pastries than C-List celebrities, go to Veniero's in NYC.

    (3)

  • John B.

    My wife and daughter are big fans of the Cake Boss show, and wanted me to stop at Carlo's on my way back from business in other parts of New Jersey. I was a bit hesitant due to the mixed nature of the review here on Yelp, but overall, am glad I did. Got there at 7:15 am on a Friday morning, and there was already a short line, maybe 20 people. Took me about 30-40 minutes to get inside. Once I did get in, service was prompt, and very friendly and not at all rude as reported by others. Took about 10 minutes to fill my order. I'm glad I got there when I did as the line had gotten very long by the time I left. The Italian butter cookies were on par with what I've purchased from the supermarket. Nothing special considering the per pound price. I wanted to try the red velvet cupcakes, but they didn't have any out yet. Got the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes instead. The cake was dense and had a nice chocolate flavor, but it didn't blow me away. Ditto the peanut butter frosting. Good, but not great. Definitely not the best I've had, but far from the worst. The pastries, on the other hand, were great. Best cannolis I've personally had. The filling was really good, and the shells were far superior to any I've had before. The crust on the lobster tails was light, crunchy and flaky, and the cream filling was wonderful. The pignola tarts were very rich and delicious. I'm a huge fan of almond paste, and finding it inside the tart along with raspberry jam was a wonderful surprise. All in all, I'm very glad I stopped, and if I ever find myself passing through the area again I would definitely stop there again if the time of day was conducive to not waiting in line for hours on end. I'd give Carlo's five stars except the cookies dragged the overall rating down.

    (4)

  • Sophia T.

    The 30 minutes wait in the freezing cold is so worth it! Oh and don't think it was only 30 minutes because before you enter, you get a number, and then wait another 30 min yayy! Their prices are very reasonable for being a well known shop. We got 2 cannolis, a red velvet cupcake and white chocolate mousse cake for under $16!! Staff is friendly and Mauro "Chef Mario" Castano even came out and took pictures with some of the fans. If you're in New Joisy, you have to stop by!!

    (4)

  • Louis R.

    A. Line was ill and for what? B. what = red velvet cupcake that was dry with icing that was way too sugary B1. what = date disappointed in her cake and ensuing b*tching followed C. I should have known that this spot could not live up to the hype (I blame myself) D. I will stick with Magnolia even if I have to trek it back into the city, the rewards are far superior I will not hit again.

    (2)

  • Kate L.

    OK, so I gave in when my little cousin wanted to visit "The Cake Boss" on her recent visit to NJ. I can't help it, she's so darn cute and a mini-foodie-nista. I love 'er. That said, I would have never normally waited an hour to visit a crappy little italian bakery. For real, that's what it is. There are a million in this area. Cannoli's: Seriously, Buddy? By far not "the best". Not bad, I still ate it, but not great. Dip the ends a those suckas with lil chocolate chips next time, would ya? Napolian: If you can mess up a napolian you are not an italian baker. Ya done good. Lobster Tail: Friggin' awesome. Stick to what you know. I'll see ya when my next family tourist is in town.

    (3)

  • Food L.

    My sister got a cake for her kids graduation on June 26th, 2010 and it was HORRIBLE!!! It cost $600.00 and looked like a child wrote on it and tasted worse than an expired Entenmann's cake!!! Buddy has bitten off way more than he can chew...his father would be very disappointed. They can't touch Rispoli's in Ridgefield!!! If you're looking for a cake that tastes as good as it looks you must go there!!!!

    (1)

  • DubR R.

    minus the TV show, still a good family bakery... im from jersey and this is an east coast experience. MUST HAVE: mini Cannollis - get a gym membership with it.

    (4)

  • Samantha E.

    Time to be cliche and go to someplace simply because it was on tv! My family visited Carmine's early on a Sunday morning when there was almost no crowd. All-in-all we spent nearly $90 buying almost one of everything in the place.The cannoli's were divine and the crumb cake was 95% crumbs and 5% cake. We were not disappointed with a single dessert and actually ended up going back after our first round of food. Carlos' is very deserving of the hype from the show!

    (5)

  • Leo R.

    It's so sad that employees can make such bad first time impressions on a business... I was there early to buy cannolis for a friend, no line but angry employees giving terrible customer service, specially one girl, If they don't like what they do don't work there because your attitude is a reflection on the business...

    (1)

  • Michael M.

    My daughter is a huge Cake Boss fan. When we were in NYC we took the train to Hoboken and stopped in Carlo's Bakery. The line was fairly short, it took only 15 minutes to get in. We were not disappointed. The cakes were exquisite. We ordered a few cookies and cakes and took them with us. Everything was great! Carlo's is a must see if you are in the neighborhood! Buddy will be happy, we also bought a couple of t-shirts too.

    (4)

  • Pete C.

    As many people posted, my daughter likes the TV show, so we decided to drop by after we visited NYC. Since it was Easter Sunday , they closed at 3pm. We got a very slow traffic when going through Holland Tunnel, and called the bakery and asked whether it would still be open if we were 10 minutes late. The lady answering the phone said they had to do cleaning for 30 minutes after closing, so it should be ok. "If the door is closed, just knock." Sounded nice and reasonable. So we went through the tunnel and got to the store at 3:06pm, the guy at the door turned us away very rudely, then a young lady came out, said something about their policy. I tried one more time and called the store number outside the store, the same lady answered the phone, quite rude this time. Had to drive back with my daughter very upset, paid $13 to go back through Lincoln tunnel. Can't comment on their cake or cannoli, but what an unpleasant experience! The TV show brings some unbearable weight to the bakery, I really doubt that they can go all the way to the top .

    (1)

  • Lindsey K.

    You definitely want to head to Carlo's Bakery if you are a fan of The Cake Boss, but if you are just looking for some nice biscotti, cookies and pastry then I don't think it's worth the long wait. If you want an amazing custom-designed cake then I am sure this is one of the top places to go! I didn't see any of the cast inside the bakery, but you often see them out in the back alley on occassion. The staff was really really friendly, we were talking about how there aren't very many good fresh bakeries on the West Coast (I am from Arizona) and she recommended a few things for me to take home! I am super excited to try the tiramisu cake I bought! The only not so nice person was the woman at the register, but I guess she does have to be speedy and efficient since there is always lots of people in line. If you don't want to wait I recommend going near the opening hours on a Wednesday. Every other time I have walked past the line has been across the block, but on Wednesday I only had to wait 10 minutes maybe 15! The security guard at the front door was super nice and overall I had a lovely experience. I gave it three because it just depends on your reasonings for going. The cannonli's I had were good but I wasn't a fan of the cupcake and donuts.

    (3)

  • Sylvia K.

    Came here on a Sunday with my cousins on our first trip to Jersey. We only waited in line for about 15mins and then went in to make our order. It was a small place and was total chaos inside, they gave us a number and we had to push our way thru to see what was showcased in the bakery shelves. None of the items had prices on them so we looked to see what we wanted and ordered when our number came up. The girl who handled our order was slow and spent alot of time yappin to her fellow coworkers as we waited for our order to be boxed up. People that were after us even finished before us. They have great creative ideas for cakes, but that's probably all i would go there for. The other pastries were good but nothing to rave about. We ordered 2 napoleans, 2 eclairs, 2 lobster tails, 1 chocolate cream puff and 3 cupcakes for a total of $24. Overall was a good experience to be able to say we were in Hoboken to see the Cake Boss!

    (3)

  • Pius K.

    Talk about keeping it real. Bearing in mind all of the fame that has come to Buddy and the crew at Carlo's, this is an old time Italian bakery that has great goodies backed up by excellent customer service. We went on a Sunday at around 10:30-11 time frame. We got in a line that lasted about 45 minutes. Once we got in, we were handed a number which was immediately taken. They assign an individual to work with you to get what you need. The guy working with us didn't make us feel rushed and told us about the various items in the case. We ended up getting 2lbs of cookies, a cake, some patries, Cannoli all for about $50. We also walked out with about $60 worth of swag for the kids. The items we got were amazing. We have great corner Italian bakeries in the San Francisco area where we live and Carlo's is on par or better in many categories. As far as "star" spottings, we did see Mary working the register and caught a glimpse of big Mauro. One con...we ran into someone on the train that said they were filming on the day he visited and he waiting 3.5 hours in line. Ouch... A tip...If you are staying in Manhattan, we found it was easy to subway down to the World Trade Center stop and then take the PATH subway (New Jersey transit system) to Hoboken. Carlo's is roughly a 5 minute walk from the Hoboken terminal. You'll save big money in taxi fares that you can use to get more goodies at Carlo's. Have fun visiting the Cake Boss!

    (5)

  • Shenny S.

    Word of advice. Go here after 5pm on a weekday! I waited an hour in line in the sun and then the craziness once inside! I ordered a some goodies with coffee and enjoyed them at nearby Pier A Park soaking up the awesome view of Manhattan. When I dropped by at around 5pm, no line at all! So you've been warned. Anyway, the goodies I ordered were good, but wouldn't wait an hour for them. The only people from the show I saw were Mauro and one of Buddy's sisters (don't recall her name offhand).

    (4)

  • Food L.

    Definitely not worth a line or the price. I can go to any Italian bakery in Jersey and the for the most part it will be just as good. This place is for tourist, it ain't for the people in the know. I haven't tried their cakes, so i can't judge them on that. But for other baked goods such as pastries and cookies, it's just a ok.

    (3)

  • Liana L.

    OK, Cake Boss... maybe in the bakery you're the boss but on Yelp, I'M "da freakin' boss!" FIRST of all: I do not appreciate the fact that you don't answer your emails. EVER. Don't put an email address on your website if no one intends on answering emails. Turd. SECONDLY: You use shortening in your icing. SHORTENING. The. HORROR! Don't call it buttercream if there's no butter in it. Gag me, please. THIRD: Much to my dismay, I spent over an hour waiting in line in the crippling cold to get your "famous" crumb cake. YOUR CRUMB CAKE FUCKING SUCKS! I will challenge you to a crumb cake battle any day. It doesn't really take skill to make something that tastes better than dry, flavorless garbage. FOURTH: Your sister Mary really is a horrible bitch. I thought she was acting! I kind of feel bad for you. But then I don't because... (fifth:)YOU LIED! Your cannolis are NOT awesome. Liar! It tastes like you filled your cannoli shells with straight up ricotta cheese, laced (sparsely) with chocolate chips. Granted, the shells were filled fresh, but I'm from BROOKLYN and I know good cannolis... and you, Mr. Boss, do NOT make them. SIXTH: Every single one of your cupcakes were horrible. Vanilla, chocolate, red velvet... all of them. SEVENTH: You make awesome lobster tails. But they are tiny and shaped like sfogliatelle. Again, I'm from Brooklyn, home of Italian pastry superiority. Though good, these are not superior. I don't know why I believed you... I guess you've got kind eyes or some shit. Or maybe it's possible that you really believe your items are the best. But I was disappointed in your bakery. And you, Buddy.

    (2)

  • Moses G.

    So we got there and it was 98degrees and humid. We were told it was 1.5hr wait in line just to get in. The staff took us to the front of the line because we had are friends pregnant Fiance. We were happy at this point. Once we got inside they staff were more then welcome to move us up to the front and get us out as soon as we picked. We got a assortment of items all were good one or two items just weren't so great. For the price and the time even being pushed to the front of the line it's ok. I know of a few other places in other states that are better. The hype for this place is mostly because of the show. But it is an experience I think people should try.

    (3)

  • Sarah G.

    The baked good were very tastey from here but no different from any other Italian bakery. It isn't worth the wait. There are plenty of other places to go. Also, once you finally get into the place, it is so tiny and crowded, that you can't even look in the display cases to order. Basically, its just a lot of hype.

    (3)

  • Kelin C.

    Honestly i was disappointed went there for vacation from CA, the cannolis were nasty,dry and sour to flavor. the Cheesecake was plain to passion. They are all about presentation but no flavor you dont leave with that delicious flavor that will make you come back. Ive tasted yummier cheesecake at safeway that look simple let me tell you. They are all looks but awful taste.

    (1)

  • Randi C.

    I finally found the time to head over to Carlo's after watching hours of "Cake Boss". After a trek from Brooklyn and a 35 minute wait, I ordered: - red velvet cupcake w/ buttercream frosting - lobster tail - cream puffs (chocolate & vanilla) - eclair - cupcake w/ flower detail The pastries were actually good - definitely not knockout delicious, but definitely an great example of authentic Italian bakery desserts. My order came to $20. What I hated about this place was the lack of organization. I understand that the bakery is very well known because of the show, but there has got to be a better way for everyone to wait. Each person has a number, but the waiting process is a mad house. You're packed in the store like a sardine can with the people ordering, the people just with the people ordering and the people taking pictures. There's no menu or price list so you had to rely on the display to see the pastries available and that was near impossible with so many people in the store. The experience sucked. Admittedly I probably won't be coming back here because its takes too much travelling from where I live and it'll be hard for me to come during a time when this place isn't crowded. But if you are a fan of the show, you should definitely try it.

    (3)

  • Kim B.

    Unless you're dying to get into a reality tv bakery, it's not worth the wait! It's really just a BAKERY people. And is it just me or does Buddy talk like a hormonal adult? Okay - this review is supposed to be about the bakery, not the show... I've had some good pignoli cookies here as well as some good cupcakes and cream puffs. But the cute chocolate yummy looking cake I had (sorry can't remember what kind it was)... not so much. It was basically whipped cream in the shape of a cake. The sweets and treats here are just okay and a bit pricey (can probably thank the tv show for that). Normally I might give this place 3 stars but the line down the block and the prices made me subtract two. Sorry Buddy but I won't be coming back.

    (1)

  • Delta C.

    Best canolis ever, love their edible chocolate bowls with chocolate covered strawberries. Everything here is great except the one time I got a custom strawberry shortcake character with strawberry shortcake filling cake, the outside was nice but the inside was a different story, the sponge was very dry so was the cream inside on top of that, they put VERY little plain fresh strawberries. It was very unenjoyable. Thats surprising to me being that I've gotten cakes from there in the past that were very good. Oh yeah very expensive

    (3)

  • Kirsten D.

    We first went here last january using Lucy (our GPS) to find it since my kids are fans of the show. After leaving NYC we headed over, easily found a parking space and headed in. It was busy, and it took a minute to figure out their system of helping people. So we finally got our cupcakes, took some pics and headed home. So this trip to NYC (it was a few weeks ago) we left on a Sunday to head down to Atlantic City. My 12YO was with us, so I wanted to take him there in person. So we drive on over there, had our signal on for a parking place only to have it stolen by some yahoo (was an omen I guess). We finally find another space and walk towards the bakery. I'm expecting to walk on in, get him a cupcake and head on... ha! So I see a line, we start walking towards the end, then I see a continuation of the line across the street.... I finally gave up walking towards then end. Someone said it was over 2 hours to wait... for a cupcake? They were good, but not amazing and definately not worth a 2 hour wait for. So needless to say I told austin he could touch the window, say he'd been there and headed out!

    (4)

  • Philip B.

    Im a huge cake boss fan..so visit to NY this weekend required a trip across the river... Getting there was easy, the PATH train from 33rd and brodway at greeley plaza was the easiest thing ever...$1.75 each way...and its 2 blocks on the Hoboken exit. Now..I get there and to my surprise the line was down the block: well not a big surprise...so I wait maybe 45 minutes to get in..what was funny were the locals walking by commenting on how its just an average bakery.. got some canolis, cookies and biscotti...All were really good, would love to try a cake,but, I will save that for next time...got lucky Buddy was driving the delivery truck around the front as I was in line...Like I said im a fan... Hoboken in general is really nice..so visit carlos and walk around the city..

    (4)

  • Darcy C.

    Wow, I surprised there are not thousands of review for this place since there were about 200 people in line just on the morning we went. While vacationing in NYC we decided to take the PATH over to Hoboken to check out Carlos since he is the Cake Boss and all. When you walk up it is pretty confusing that there is a line a mile long, since its back a bit from the door so we along with several other just walk up like we are going to walk right in, only to get the dirty looks from the large line and the security who nicely points to the end of the line. We waited for about an hour to get in and once inside its pretty packed. I am a lover of desserts so have decided it was worth the wait. The chocolate covered cannolis are AMAZING. I wish I would have gotten more of those for sure. I got about $15 worth of goodies which amounted to a few small boxes and then headed back to the hotel to dive in - there is not any room in this place to sit and eat. Everything we tried was delish - not a thing we did not like. We also went on a Saturday morning and that might be why the line was so long and about twice as long once we were leaving. I would say its worth the wait, but you might have to be a lover of desserts as me to appreciate it.

    (4)

  • Karey W.

    I am a big fan of the show! So I went there around 7 am today and the line wasn't so bad. Waited only 20 minutes. I got 4 lobster tails, 4 regular cannolis, 2 chocolate covered cannolis, 1 small tiramisu cake, and 1 small strawberry cheesecake. The chocolate cannolis were too sweet, and the regular cannolis were kind of sourly. Did the fillings went bad? However, the lobster tails were just right and yummy. The cakes were delicious. If you want to avoid long lines, you have to be there at 7 am around weekdays.

    (4)

  • Alyvia M.

    I don't know why I thought the home of the Cake Boss would be easy to order from on Mothers day. I walked in at 11:00 am and they were already mobbed with kids, parents, and grandparents! I wasn't prepared enough to order, so I went with a few canolis and cupcakes. Everyone was pleasantly surprised, and pleased with the ordering. Their red velvet was amazing! I'll re-star the rating after my next visit.

    (3)

  • Linh N.

    I don't watch the show, so if it weren't for my bff and her 2 daughters visiting me, I wouldn't have gone. Based on reading other reviews and trying to avoid super long lines, we went 1st thing on Friday morning. We arrived at 7:05am and there were about 25 people ahead of us. When we made it inside, we still remained in an organized line, but later realized you can walk around and look at the pastries b/c they'll call your number. Make sure to check your order BEFORE they tie up the boxes and cash you out. My bff did not receive some cookies she ordered and was charged and didn't realize it til we got home. I got a red velvet cupcake and a cannoli and they were ok. Not the best I've ever had, but not the worst either. To me, the trip was only worth it b/c my bff's 5/7 yr old girls got to see Buddy's mom and get their picture taken w/Sal.

    (3)

  • Rick W.

    Went to the new one in Westfield the crumb buns are like we used to get when I was a kid just keep making those I know a lot of people in are area are going to be happy when they find it .

    (5)

  • Arcelia G.

    Arrived at 9am Monday so no real wait in line; tried a pignoli cookie, pumpkin cheesecake, coconut macaroon and walnut cookie; the best was the pignoli cookie (pine nut/almond paste cookie), fnished the almond cookie, only one bite of coconut cookie and one taste of cheesecake... avoided the cannoli and lobster tail because I had them in Italy and wasn't a big fan so I doubt New Jersey would have a better version. I would recommend a visit only if you are a fan of Cake Boss but other than that the goods are edible not spectacular.

    (3)

  • Colleen W.

    My boyfriend was clued in to get a lobster tail from this place by a friend. We've never seen the show and didn't know much about the place other than it looked busy every time we walked/drove by. There's no lobster in a lobster tail. That was mildly unexpected. I knew it would be dessert...but curiosity kept lobster as a possible ingredient in my blonde head. It's crispyflakygolden on the outside and silkysmoothcreamy on the inside with the perfect amount of sweetness. I don't know what it is, but it's worth a try.

    (4)

  • Devon L.

    a bit overrated as expected and the lines are ridiculous. we came back near closing so we didnt end up waiting too long. the cupcakes were pretty good. Im not big on sweets, so i dont know what makes or breaks bakes (see what i did there??).. but i liked the cupcake about just as much as i like any other cupcake.

    (3)

  • Richard N.

    What can I say....I went because it is famous. Staff were great but I did not buy a cake. That's right, I only bought pastries, 25 cannoli's for a meeting. Everyone enjoyed them.

    (4)

  • Jin C.

    I am a fan of the Cake Boss and admire their creations. I've visited their store twice and both were on friday nights after work so there were no long waits. On the weekends, I've pass by and the line is a mile long....all the way across the street to where CVS is located. I can only review their cannolis which I love cos it's not too sweet and the outside is crispy/doughy. I'm not a big sugar freak so I can't say much but I hope to try other bakery items!

    (3)

  • Michael Z.

    Woot woot. This place was delicious. The lobster tails are the bestalo the chocolate moose was not bad either. Can't wait to go back to NY to go back to Carlos.

    (5)

  • Nirali S.

    I bought so many things I cannot even list them all, and every single one was so delicious! I waited a full 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon, but I'm not from Hoboken so I had to give it a shot. I thought it was totally worth it, I'd go back if I was ever in the area!

    (5)

  • Ashley F.

    Come on, this is a no-brainer. Buddy and his famiglia have got baking down to a science. I came in on a wednesday afternoon and to my surprise there were no lines, and no huge crowds! It felt like any other bakery until Madeline (buddy's sister) walked out to help a costumer with his cake! I tried the cream puffs, cupcakes (which I ate in the traditional Carlos's bakery style) and of course, the lobster tails which were even better than I thought they would be. Service was excellent and everyone in the store was friendly and helpful. Also, I purchased two boxes worth of baked goodies all for $15!

    (5)

  • Jesus R.

    i loved it they pastries ( which is what i bought ) are as fresh as it gets and very tasty i'm not a fan of fondant so i will never sample a cake with that i will how ever try their french cream cakes , the only reason i gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is the lines, weekend lines are huge if you go there don't expect to leave under 2 hours and the fact that they load up the store with so many people that you can't really see and enjoy what they have ..bakeries are 90% impulse sales so if you walk around and you can see what they have to offer (especially in a location as famous as Carlos Bakery) you will tend to pick up a few more goodies then what you planed to, the prices are a bit high but so is the quality...i read a post that the red velvet is better at Applebee's ? really? a frozen and thawed out cake will never ever taste better than fresh baked sorry

    (4)

  • Jo V.

    I came on the seemingly worst day to come - Early afternoon on a Saturday. But the experience was not terrible at all. When I got there the line wasn't too long. It didn't wrap around the street like most people have said. It was a 40 minute wait - quicker than I had expected - and you wait outside. Once you are actually in the shop, you are immediately assigned to a server who fetches you whatever you ask for and sticks with you until it's time to ring you up. The service was really quick once you are allowed into the shop but I wish it wasn't so crowded. There was enough crowd control on people coming in but I wish that the guy would let less people come in the store so that customers can actually look around without someone breathing down their neck. Although it was my first time there, I felt like I had to know what I was going to order because the servers really rush you. We ordered the small canoles, lobster tails, red velvet cupcakes, cream puffs, biscotti, and crumb cake. My favorite was definitely the canole, mainly because it was made to order. The shells are lined up on the display window and once you place your order they take them and fill them with the yummy filling. I also loved loved loved the crumb cake. The lobstertails were alright, the flaky shell was my favorite part of it but the filling wasn't to my liking. I could stand to eat no more than one of those. I actually didn't try the other pastries we ordered but my boyfriend thought the red velvet cupcakes were okay. Buddy and Mary poked their heads out the window twice while I was in line - I believe they were filming due to the camera crew running around the stairway area. It was also nice to see Mary running around like crazy and taking orders. Sad that I didn't get to see the mom or the other cast members but it was cool to see the Buddy because everyone thought he was in Ohio that day! I'd definitely pay this place a visit again, especially for the canoles. I'd try the other pastries too but it was definitely the canoles that I felt were unique to this place.

    (4)

  • A B.

    I have lived in Hoboken for a while and tried this place a couple of times before they got a TV show. It was terrible then and it's even worse now. The food is still terrible, but rude people, not only employees but also the lines of people taking up the entire sidewalk for at least a block are what define this place now. Locals hate this place. It's all tourists now. Don't waste your time waiting on line and your money on the overpriced, bad food.

    (1)

  • Ed Z.

    So, apparently mistaking TLC for TBS or whatever network this reality show is on on a FOUR STAR REVIEW is enough to get people so angry that they will send you reviews calling you a bastard and other profanities. Just to make it clear - if you think it's necessary to cuss someone out on Yelp because they got the name of a TV network wrong, you're probably not the right person to be judging anything.

    (4)

  • Antonella M.

    Buddy's decorating skills get 5 stars... the family 5 stars... the location on the best street in Hoboken 5 stars... the showcase windows 5 stars... the taste mehhhhhhh.... If you are not from around the area, you will highly disagree with me but i am a special case I am from Brooklyn and Staten Island where we practically invented the pastry - I am very picky, i worked in loads of bakeries, eaten plenty of 7 layer cookies, saw many cannolis come and go... Look the bottom line, people rent apartments all the time where they live in a closet and have the best view in town... it's the same thing, you will have the best looking cake out but the taste will be similar to "the closet" and you get to meet the entire family from the show which if you watch the show is kind of like meeting real deal celebrities? Definitely worth a trip on the path from NYC, it's 2 stops come on... if i lived in Hoboken I wouldn't be against going to Carlo's regularly... and if i were to get married I definitely would pay big bucks for that leaning tower of Pisa cake from the show even if it was filled with cardboard and glue... (just buy Entemanns for all the guests - they will never know) Oh, also please tell the sisters from the show to tone it down a notch or save the annoyingness for the Real Housewives of NJ...

    (3)

  • Justin E.

    Review of the Cupcakes ONLY! This week I was inspired by a dear friend of mine from high school, who considers herself a cupcake connoisseur. She travels far and wide sampling the best of the best, and after conquering New York City, she recently laid her sights on our fair town. For this week's review, I decided to gather a sampling from the big three cupcake bakeries, Crumbs Bake Shop, Carlo's Bakery, and Sweet, and perform my own Pastry Pepsi Challenge. I bought 4 similar cupcakes from each of the shops and brought them back to my apartment and set up a blind taste test for my roommates and myself. The results may surprise you. While Carlos is a local bakery, they are arguably more recognized than the national chain. Located on Washington right across from City Hall, Carlo's is the home of Buddy and TLC's Cake Boss. This bakery must be the busiest place in Hoboken that doesn't serve alcohol, and every weekend, they have a line even longer than a bar on Hoboken St Patty's Day. Thankfully when I went on Wednesday afternoon, the crowd of tourists snapping pictures and buying shirts and DVDs wasn't too bad. I ordered a Vanilla with Chocolate Frosting, Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter, and another Red Velvet cupcake, which set me back $10.75. While the price that was less than Crumbs reflected the smaller size, it had no relation to the taste. We determined that they suffered from inconsistency with their cupcakes with some being dry and others being too sugary. Carlo's offers a wide variety of pastries from cakes to cannolis, but I was only here for the cupcakes. The good ones were great, but because they didn't consistently hit the mark, they managed to nab 5 votes out of the maximum 16 to be the second best cupcake in town.

    (3)

  • Jerry W.

    Family's a huge fan of the show and decided to check out the bakery. We picked up cannoli (regular and chocolate shell), cream puffs (plain and chocolate mousse), American napolian, lobster tails, Italian cookies, cupcakes, and a fondant cake (we wanted cream rolls but the counter girl talked us out of it saying it's the same stuff in the cream puffs). The lobster tail was good, the cannoli, chocolate cream puff, napolian, cookies, cupcakes, and cake were okay, and the plain cream puff was kind of nasty tasting. We got there as soon as the door opened but by the time we left, the line was around the block. The prices were outrageous. In my opinion, buy from a local Italian bakery. It'll be cheaper, closer, and the pastries will be as good or better. Cake Boss makes beautiful cakes but the experience pretty much begins and ends there.

    (3)

  • Keeley-Ann H.

    OH MAN this is god sent treats from heaven. Me and my besty made it a plan to make sure when we were in New York that we came here. The line up to get in is obnoxiously long BUT its well worth it. The shop its self is small and clearly wasnt intended to have such a large crowd. There are a shit tonne of workers obviously because its blown up over the years. Id have to say the best part of the whole visit to Carlos was the CANNOLI'S !!!! they were absolutely faaantastic! we had cakes and cupckaes as well and they honestly were probably the best ive ever had. I would go here 10 times over and over. what i thought was awesome was the prices. seemed to be alot cheaper then anything we have here at home, so we pigged out. sat across the street with our treats and ate on the city hall steps! it was fantastic :) cant wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Adrienne J.

    I stopped here with some friends a few months back because i am a fan of cake boss. First let me start by saying that this place can get quite chaotic being as tho its not that big in the first place but because of all the hype and exposure of the reality show "Cake Boss" i guess people want to come and see what all the hype is actually about. They have a number system with serving customers which was a bit confusing and im not quite sure if this was due to all the confusion of serving sooo many customers at one time in such a small space or if it was actually the confusion of the two separate lines. Once it was my turn i ordered quite a few cupcakes of various flavors and my friends ordered cupcakes, cannoli, and several other pastrys. I sampled their goods as well as my own and wasnt impressed at all by the cake but the cannoli were good. Not sure if id go back because the high prices, and chaos. This place is definately over rated but glad to say i got to see for myself what the hooplaahhh is about.

    (3)

  • Carolyn Y.

    Seems overrated but the prices were right and we didn't wait at all (went on a late Wednesday afternoon). The cream puffs were okay but I wasn't a fan of the cream. Definitely recommend the lobster tail; very crisp!

    (3)

  • Blake S.

    My daughter loves the show, so we waited in line for 3 hours (they told us the wait would be 20 minutes) on her birthday... I couldn't say, "no." What did I think? It's a JOKE...the desserts at Safeway are better. Unless you'll disappoint a young child, Skip this place!!

    (1)

  • Jaime W.

    I'll admit it. I'm a bridge and tunnel girl. I frequent the PATH and Ferry system, and I usually take a bus to work. We have Carlos, and New York doesn't. HA. Quite honestly, I don't even like Italian pastry. I know- call me crazy, i'm just not into it. I find it ghastly and plain, and think overall it needs a major update. The only thing I can usually get down is the top layer of a napoleon, and then I'm done. My mother-in-law feels completely different, and doesn't understand how I could not love...her home land treats (not really-she's from the Bronx...but close enough I guess). After 12 years of being with my husband, she still seems shocked when I turn my nose up at these Italian desserts. She tries to get me to like them, I know this is completely out of love, but I usually want to upchuck...Anyway-I'm completely straying off topic here. So, my mother-in-law was in town visiting us, and she and my father-in-law came to pick me up at the PATH. She started in with her need for something Italian for dessert, and I glumly suggested Carlo's, since it was right there (I had no idea the stir that Carlo's has created what with Cake Boss and all, at this point) and I knew it was italian pastry. I went in with her, said I didn't want anything, and she proceeded to start ordering, and then put me on the spot in the crowded bakery to have me also make suggestions for what I would like to get...Grrrr......I pointed to some things, yessed my mother-in-law to death, and wrapped up our order. While paying I said "Oh look, I guess this guy is on TV. Haha, that's funny, I had no idea. I'll have to check the show out." Hours pass, we eat dinner, we clean up, we sit down to watch some TV, and we open the italian pastry. I have a bite of one because I'm kind of pressured into it, and BAM!!! My entire thought process and past experience of italian pastry goes right out the window. It was good, real good. Little tart cups filled with almond paste, raspberry, and pignoli nuts. They were awesome. I will eat them again. We had many other items, but these were my favorite. Although my views of Italian pastry have not changed much, Carlo's is the exception to the rule.

    (5)

  • Gabriel R.

    Came here on a trip to New Jersey. I had watched the show for a couple months and had secretly hoped that there would be time to hit this place up! There aren't many places in california that serve lobster tails, and having seen them on an episode, had to try them! They don't show much of the downstairs on the show, and it's a lot smaller than you'd think. You can see the place where Buddy does his consulting, and some of the staff you see on the show. I came pretty early and I heard Buddy's voice and those classic stairs. The lady behind the counter could tell I was excited and asked if I wanted to take a picture!(OMG) So she pretty much screamed "Buddy!! PICTURE!"(must get that a lot) and wham bam thank you ma'am I have a pic of me and the Cake Boss. Awesome. The lobster tails were savored all the way to the airport, and for a week later back at home. If you're anywhere near this place, its a must-visit. Airport security will allow pasteries on flights as well :).

    (5)

  • Keerti S.

    Never been to the bakery; but a hug fan of "Cake Boss"!

    (5)

  • Joycelyn R.

    Don't waste your time. Ended up throwing most of the things that we purchased away. The brownies were good but the rest of the $140.00 that we spent were nothing special and ended up in the trash.

    (1)

  • anamiriam C.

    you guys do not deliver to california that sucks because i like to have one of your cakes i watched all of episodes and i really want a cake and a pastries. I am very sad iam 12 years old.

    (2)

  • Marie O.

    About the crumb cake. I received it through the mail only 2 days after it was baked. The cake was dry, and the topping had no flavor whatsoever. I will be throwing the cake away instead of serving it to friends.

    (2)

  • Ainsley D.

    After watching the first season of Cake Boss, I had to try Carlo's Bakery while I visited the east coast last month. I really loved the area the bakery is located. It was really busy, as I expected, when we walked in. Luckily I felt that the employees helped everyone in the order they came in, even though it was like cramming everyone into the middle of a room. We got an apple turnover, a red velvet cupcake and the reason we went--a lobster tail! I was super excited to try a lobster tail after watching the show and seeing how they were made... I was a little disappointed that it wasn't as soft as I expected, but it was good nonetheless and I'm glad that we got to try it!

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    I am reviewing solely on the Italian cookies, lobster tail, and cannoli. I have never tried the cakes or pies etc. I have always enjoyed Carlo's Bakery's cookies. My favorite are the jelly filled ones and the green leaf cookies. The lobster tails are crisp and crunchy and the filling is not too sweet, which is nice. I don't like cannolis but from reviews of friends who have had them, they have always enjoyed them - although they say they could use more chocolate chips and less of those chewy gummy things. Since the show has gotten so popular, there seems to always be a line outside the door - I do not think it is worth waiting in line for these cookies, but if you happen to stop by on a day where there is no line, go in and get some, you won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Jeff F.

    Ran in here a few months ago for a birthday cake. $55 later, walked out with a vanilla cake with a chocolate mouse middle and buttermilk frosting on top. Cake was eh. The call seems to be coming to Carlos for Cake Art and not necessarily really good cake.

    (3)

  • Allison G.

    They have the mostly delicious baked goods. However, I accidentally bought a $45 cake once; the price wasn't marked, it was not large, but apparently the fondant bow made it quite pricey. It was already in the box and wrung up when I learned the price, which is my own fault. I used to go there often on the weekends for goodies, however now that they have all the advertising from the show I can never get in there, and I refuse to wait on a 30 minute line for a $3 cupcake. The only reason I give this bakery a 4 is because I can't get in anymore and their already high prices have continued to rise.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Get in the box truck Buddy, you're fired! I recently went for a cake tasting here as our hall threw in a cake from Carlos as part of the cost. I was initially excited, what would be cooler than a wedding cake from the cake boss?! They have a website where you can choose from about 20 different designs, and to be honest, aside from the flowers, which looked great, the cakes looked a little sloppy, particularly when it came to things like ribbons. This was a little concerning, as these were the cakes on their website which should represent their work at its absolute best, and had me wonder what a typical cake looks like. So anyway, we go to our tasting, which they only do on weekends. Carlos is now a huge tourist attraction and the line is generally two blocks (and two hours) long on the weekends. If you have an appointment, you don't have to wait in the line outside, but we did have to wait an extra 30 minutes inside past our appointment time, and the inside is a mob scene. It was hot, we were pushed, we were bumped around- it was as bad as taking the 4 or 5 at rush hour. Anyway, so after 30 minutes we finally get to our appointment. We actually met with Mauro, which was pretty cool and kind of relaxed me a little bit after standing in the downstairs mosh pit for 30 minutes. The tasting was in a tiny grimy office that would have fit right in at the back of an auto repair shop. We sat on plastic folding chairs, and we brought our moms as we thought it was going to be a fun, nice experience (who doesn't love to eat cake?), but the room was so small we had to sit two by two, so our moms were behind us staring at our backs. So they bring the cake out- on a paper plate with plastic spoons, and since there was no table to sit around, I had to hold it the whole time so our mom's could get a taste. We brought champagne as we thought it was going to be a fun celebratory event, but after standing downstairs in the 3rd ring of hell it was warm, and there wasn't even a place to put the glasses we brought down so we had to skip that. I thought the decision on flavor was going to be more about deciding between many delicious choices, but really the cake is pretty mediocre- only two flavors stood out, so we picked those. Canoli filling was apparently not available for our cake even though it was listed on the website, and it was what we were most looking forward to trying. We picked a 4 tier cake from their book, they tried to make it three tiers with a sheet cake on the side. We called him out on that, and then he abruptly changed it back, but seriously, who even tries to pull that? Luckily for us, we didn't have to pay anything for our tasting as it was thrown in by our hall, but they normally charge $100 for this- which is outrageous. If they tried charging us that, you would have seen a little mac vs king hippo style boxing match break out that day. We were quite disappointed by the whole experience and we called our hall up and told them about it. They were not surprised, it wasn't the first complaint they had heard, and offered us a credit to get our cake somewhere else, which we took them up on- into the box truck Buddy! We went to the Pink Cake Box, and it was everything we thought it would be! We sat at a nice marble table in the front of their bakery, and got to try many delicious fillings and sponge flavors. We had a person sit down and actually design a cake with us, not just throw a book at us and say "pick one!" We were even able to enjoy the champagne we brought! It was a fun and delicious time! Going back to Carlos, we did pick up some canoli's, and they were good, but nothing that you couldn't get at any other bakery in Hoboken or any decent Italian bakery in any town. The people from the show do indeed work there and you will see them milling about including buddy's sisters who are behind the counter selling and serving.

    (1)

  • James G.

    Cookies and bakery items are alright here, but for my money, I would rather go to the celeb bakery Tosh.Dough. Tosh.Dough has the best cream filled éclairs, the hot cream explodes in your mouth and coats your throat. I was there when Daniel lined up a tray of éclairs and kept pounding and pounding the eclairs with his long member until he filled them with his cream. In fact he had extra cream so he lined up a few willing customers like baby birds and shot loads in each of their mouths. Now that is what I call customer service.

    (2)

  • Dante P.

    Don't expect to be able to just walk in and order anything.. there was a line a block long for people to go in.. I didn't realize that this bakery was that famous until it was told to me that this is where the cake boss works out of. yeah, ok.. I'll just stick to getting my crossaints at my usual spot, instead of standing in the cold..

    (2)

  • Jessica R.

    I religiously watch "The Cake Boss" on TLC and decided to do an outing to Jersey strictly for these pastries. I am not into sweets at all, but the show is so good, Buddy and his family are hilarious, and his designs are amazing, I thought it was worth checking out. I only tried 2 pastries while I was there, a small chocolate cake thing (I'm not into sweets so I don't know the name), and a fruit cup pastry. Delicious! I needed a cup of milk asap! The place is very small, but they do have a lot of great cakes on display. A cake was just being packaged and it was a replica Dooney & Burke purse with a Coach stiletto. It looked magnificent, but it cost $1,500 and it was a small cake! If you're going to order a cake from here, make sure to have lots of money! Designs are beautiful though.

    (5)

  • J H.

    Carlo's got 2 stars for two reason: 1 star for the excitement of visiting the shop since we're fans of The Cake Boss, and 1 star since they let us use the bathroom. The three stars lost were because: we had to wait over 3 hours in line, the cupcakes we bought were DISGUSTING (Safeway's are better)- the cake was dry and the frosting was hard, and the cookies were just terrible. The few items that we wanted to try were sold out. I'm glad I took my son for the experience, but I wouldn't eat anything from Carlo's Bakery if you delivered it to my front porch and gave it to me for free!

    (2)

  • Beeni M.

    tried the cannolis - delicious! pretty good red velvet cupcake and the prices were right. the wait wasn't bad at all for a Saturday night - about 15 mnts. we spent the time staring at all the shelves of goodies. can't wait to go back to try some lobster tails!

    (4)

  • Ernest l.

    Best cannolis I have ever had. We went at 8 am on a Saturday. Picking up cannolis for dinner that night. Served right away, cannoli cream in separate containers. Very expensive, but worth it. The only down side was my 7 year old daughter saw a cake she wants for her birthday. Scared to find out how much it costs. Staff was friendly, but we got them early. Do not watch the show, but saw wide eyed tourists everywhere taking pictures. Heck I took some myself. Guess I'm a tourist.

    (5)

  • Jay A.

    Screw this guy!! As a Hoboken local I don't understand the appeal of his subpar bakery. I understand that he is on TV (so of course tourists have to flock to him, I mean...since it is on TV it has to be good right?) but come on people, you can get better pastry at Costco. Nothing worse than walking down Washington St on my way to the PATH and having to navigate a sea of people who have nothing better to do on their trips to NYC than wait in line to buy overpriced cannoli and cupcakes that aren't any good. And ever since he stopped letting locals cut the line, he has managed to piss off the entire town that supported the bakery way before the TV show came around. I can't wait for the day that the show is canceled and Buddy ends up out of business because no locals would be caught dead spending money in there now. So...for all you tourists who flock to Hoboken to waste your hard earned money on this place, you would be better off spending your time on the real things the NYC/Hoboken area has to offer as opposed to this very average bakery with extremely long lines.

    (1)

  • Allison M.

    Carlo's is like the gold standard of Italian Bakeries. Good pastries, nice cannoli. Would I call this place gourmet? Maybe, maybe not. But if you want a nice Italian pastry, this is your place.

    (4)

  • Liz S.

    I had incredibly low expectations from this place and I was shocked to discover it was delish. I had the best lobster tail I've ever had, and the cannoli was also really, really good.

    (5)

  • Dave R.

    As part of my daughter's birthday weekend celebration we stopped by the bakery 4/20/13 to pick up a pre-order - cannolis and red velvet cupcakes (both fantastic!!). I was able to pick up my order at the door but since the line was short my family wanted to wait and go in. Once inside, my daughter quietly said hi to Madeline (Buddy's sister) and told her it was her birthday. Madeline was very busy but took the time to greet my daughter and give her a hug! Can you believe it? What a kind and gracious thing to do which has made incredible birthday memories for my daughter. Can't wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Zenaida S.

    We came home with a box of delicious mess. They over packed the box and the chocolate mousse melted all over the other pastries. Please pack the mousse separate from the other pastries, next time.

    (3)

  • Nicole D.

    Not a fan. I love the show and the cakes looked really pretty but there famous crumb cake was hard like a rock. We also got tri-color cookies that were stale tasting. We tried a few individual cakes that were ok but nothing I would go back for. Of course buddy and family were no where to be found. The tv show is better than the bakery!

    (2)

  • Susana M.

    this is a must stop if you are ever in the new jersey area. my friend and i showed up around 10 AM on a Saturday and had to wait in line for 2 hours. its funny because there is literally no line right outside the place, everyone is lined up across the street against the CVS pharmacy, so dont get excited if you drive past the bakery itself and see no line cause it will most likely NOT be the case. anyways, here is what i ordered. cannolis - i ordered these because everyone raved about how delicious they look on TV and actually taste (those that have had them). to my surprise, i actually threw away half of the cannoli i ate and gave the rest to my friends. the filling was not my favorite. it was too thick and i just didnt like it. lobster tail - this was pretty good. the cream filling was just right..very light and not too sweet. the outside was nice and flaky. i wouldnt wait in line for these though. i can get a cream puff anywhere. tart - now this was good. just the right amount of custard and the fruits were perfectly sweet. the crust was soft. chocolate chip cookie - perhaps the best chocolate chip cookie ive ever had. it was so soft and the chocolate chips were so decadent. ahhh, my mouth waters just thinking of these. apple crumb cake - tasted like a perfect apple pie.!! and thats it. i ate all of this in a matter of two days too. lol.... i also got to take a picture of buddy's sister, i forgot her name. she said how thankful she was that we were all there and thanked us for waiting in the long line. pretty cool experience. i wish i could have met buddy... now to detox....

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    Luckily we got there on a weekday when there was no line to get in. I was dying to try their famous lobster tails, and low and behold, they were all out. How you can be out of the thing you are famous for is beyond me. But oh well. So I got cannolli. Very very good! Very fresh, the shell was crunchy and not soggy at all like most Italian bakeries. The cream was delish! I also got a peanut butter cupcake that, sorry to say was GROSS. Not good at all. The cake part could not have been more dry. The icing was too thick and way too sweet. This cupcake was pretty much inedible.

    (3)

  • Alejandra C.

    the truth is, its all about the marketing!!!! I thought the products were to die for, but theyre ok.... I didnt see the girls on the front counter as on the show, etc... people go there just because of the show..... want really good cake? go to your nearest Italian baker, I bet he charges cheaper for a better quality.

    (2)

  • Connie D.

    The best Cannoli's ever made! Actually all their Italian pastries are "Fantastic" service was also good!

    (5)

  • Amy A.

    The staff (small Spanish lady) was super nice. Cool tourist attraction. 9'am, not much of a line. It brought my 9 year old to Hoboken! We ate at panera...too early for pastries. We bought a coffee mug.

    (5)

  • Tom L.

    i don't watch the show, but being in the area, decided to give the place a shot. sometimes the line goes all the way out of the store, but this place seems always to be crowded. they have a numbering system and the line outside is organized, but inside the crowd can be a bit uncomfortable when you're trying to see what to get. my advice: get a big menu and put it up on the wall, with prices. the employees are pretty helpful though. as for the actual baked goods, a bit pricy, but not overly so. a small lobster tail, two small cannolis, an individual fruit tart, nutella cookie, and a carrot cupcake turned out to be 20 dollars. i only tried the lobster tail, which I did not find to be great. the outside should be flaky, but this shell was overbaked, making it crispy and a bit hard. and i always thought the filling of lobster tails was ricotta based, but this had a custard filling (similar to the inside of a boston creme donut). wasn't bad, but wasn't what i was expecting. overall satisfactory, and the show definitely brought the name to the store

    (3)

  • Joanne L.

    BEST CAKE EVER! I had the pleasure of ordering TWO cakes from Carlo's Bakery in 3 weeks. One from the case and one very elaborate "custom" one that Remy designed with me for a bridal shower. I must admit the cost of the second was a stretch, but the end result was worth EVERY last cent and then some. I couldn't have been more pleased with his time given to my consultation, his phone calls to me during the last days in the preparing of the cake and the attention to the detail in the final product. I will most definitely be returning to them for ALL of my future cake needs. Aside from the designs, they truly have the best TASTING cakes around. Hmmmmm... Remy. Great cake, but better story now. HAHAHAHA

    (5)

  • Tiffany N.

    Amazing! Their lobster tails are the best pastries I've ever tasted! I definitely plan on returning. Don't let all the people hating on this bakery keep you from trying it. The line wasn't too bad..definitely worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Mae M.

    We visited Carlo's on our Spring Break trip to NYC. It was the highlight of the trip for the kids and I! It took 3 hours to get in and out of the bakery, but it was well worth it. The staff were extremely polite and friendly. We got to see most of the family including Buddy! In terms of the goods, we got lobster tails, peanut butter and red velvet cupcakes, and some cookies. Everything was to die for! Ignore the negative reviews and go see for yourself!

    (5)

  • Ken B.

    While there are certain things here that are OK, overall, this is a much hyped place that does not live up to it. The celebrity factor has brought lines to this place and not deserving so. In a town with some really good bakeries, for my money the quality is 100x better at Choc au Pain, the German Bake Shop and Giorgio's Italian.

    (3)

  • Dev F.

    commercial tasting cakes + cupcakes over-priced and over-hyped annoying lines of tourists glaring at you for walking past their poses as they try to take pictures *gasp* imagine the concept of someone walking on a sidewalk! points for artistic ability - creations LOOK stunning but not sure they taste that way (from what i've sampled)

    (2)

  • Debra L.

    I'm from California and went to visit my daughter in Hoboken. She said I should go to Carlos, its the Cake Boss guy. OMG! I had no idea. Duh! So we decide to go out and she dropped me off to get a facial while she went around the corner to get her hair done. I was done earlier than she so she said walk over to Carlos and get some goodies then come walk over to her hair salon. Mind you, this was in Dec 2012 and it was 28 degrees outside and I left my jacket, gloves and scarf in her car which she had. So in my cotton t-shirt and jeans (I did say I was from Calif, right?) I go strutting over to Carlos thinking I'll walk right in and walk right out. WRONG! I stood in line outside in 28 degree weather with my golden ticket 37 as they called out numbers to let people go in. We were at number 54, I was 37. Ugh. I almost gave up as I was freezing to death but waited it out. When I got in, OMG! It was so worth the wait. Packed with people, (which warmed me up) but the goodies looked marvelous. I bought cookies, cupcakes (assorted) and spent $50. Trust me I could have spent more. My plane left the next day for Calif and TSA wanted to jokingly keep my goodies. Guess everybody knows Carlos Bake Shop. The cupcakes were heavenly and the cookies wonderful. I also bought a Apple Tart (mini apple pie) for $7 and it was so mouth watering. I want to go back to Hoboken. Not only is Carlos Bake Shop so worth the trip but the town is just darling, quaint and very close to NY and everything else interesting. I would do it all over again but I'd wait it out with my jacket next time. It's an experience you must do. The people inside are worth watching if nothing else. Run, don't walk to Carlos Bake Shop. Its an out of body experience

    (5)

  • Stephannie Q.

    I am a huge fan of Carlo's TV shows, and aside from that, I love baking so taking a short ferry ride to Hoboken, NJ from NYC was a must while I was in town. It was everything I expected and more. From lobster tails to cannoli's to red velvet cupcakes and cookies...everything was exquisite! All their pastries are fresh and met all my expectations. There is a location on Times Square but it is called "Cake Boss." I personally prefer the original bakery and plan on visiting again the next time I am close by.

    (5)

  • Mary G.

    I have been here several times and every time I get the Lobster Tails because they make the creamy filling so yummy. I also purchased a cake here and the richness and flavor was amazing. I recently went and decided to pick up 6 Lobster tails because I figured I could put them in the fridge and then snack on them at night during the week. Guess what, they don't taste so good after being in the fridge. In fact I tried to microwave them slightly to make the creamy filling soften up but then it screwed up the pastry part. End result is that you should only buy them fresh and eat what you can at that time. Love this place!

    (4)

  • A. G.

    Love Love Love this bakery!! I was waiting on the long line to get some of their famous cannoli and cupcakes. One of the Carlo's employees came out with a tray of assorted cookies for us. I took a piece of the double chocolate chunk cookie and almost wanted to grab another one from how delicious it was! The chocolate chucks melt in your mouth. Yummmm. Even though the line was long, it moved extremely fast. I got an order of cannoli and chocolate cupcakes. The cream in the canolli was incredibly fresh; Carlo's bakery makes it like no other. The cupcakes were just as incredible! If you love delicious Italian pastries, this is the place to go! :)

    (5)

  • Ash F.

    If you go here, there will be a line, but wait because it is one of the best bakeries I have ever been to. It is SO packed which is a con, but I really loved their pastries. Get their cannolis! They have so many different cute pastries I wanted to try them all. Everything was made fresh and the staff was very hardworking. Take a picture with the carlos paper cut out for fun!

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    Oh my Lord! When I was here yesterday, it was just as you see it on TV. Between the $30+ cakes to the cookies that were double the size of an average cookie, to (you name it), the experience was 100+% as real as the TV Show "Cake Boss" depicts it. Although we never saw Buddy, we were told by one of his employees that he was bound to come in that next hour. And the best thing was, those cakes and pastries definitely were worth it, when we tasted a variety of them after purchase. I don't know what they are talking about, but at 9 AM on a Saturday, the line wasn't out the door at all, and around the corner like some people say. We didn't have much of a wait. Things flowed well inside. We had only a five minute wait, and even the ticketing number system really worked like a charm. Yes, you'd think that with this place having such popularity that their "serving employees" wouldn't also ring up the customers order at a register. But, this wasn't the case. I did recognize an employee as one of the employees from the show, but am not sure of this person's name. My mom who actually was the person who ordered the items, was the person who took note of the stairs leading to the upper cooking level where it is told that Buddy does almost all of his baking from. No, this place isn't just right on wheelchair people. With the crowd up at the register, you couldn't possibly get through or around and into the crowd, so to the location seconds upon opening time. And even then, they have only one "café-style" table. Small, and not really wheelchair accessible, and when you add other people in the corner, it's a mess. I mean, this place might have been worth something to see, if you enjoy the show, but they really need to improve and branch out in overall space inside, if they really want to show off their good reputation. I wasn't impressed, through it all.

    (2)

  • Jennifer L.

    Food is excellent. Customer service is some of the worst I've seen. Carlo's is a treasure in my book for having the best cannolis I've ever eaten ( and I love trying cannolis everywhere! ). Their cookies and pastries are also divine! However, mirroring many other reviews, for a place with such good food and so much fame, it is bewildering how poor the customer service is here. You enter the store, especially when it isn't busy, and the staff ignore you. They stand around either staring at each other or playing with their cell phones with their backs turned to you. I don't know whether the workers are paid such poor wages they don't care, or if the hiring and training process is so mediocre it borders on neglect. Regardless, it is an awful experience entering a bakery, a place that should be warm and friendly, and feeling a cold draft of personality, not air. It's a situation where I need to pros and cons each time I considering stopping in to purchase some goods- whether the deliciousness outweighs the negative experience I'll need to undergo to get these cannolis.

    (3)

  • Ruth C.

    This is a super touristy place, obviously, so the line to enter the shop can get pretty ridiculous. And although the pastries are a little on the pricy side, they are quite tasty and, in my opinion, totally worth it. I'm not sure that I'd come back and put up with the wait again, but I am glad I did it once.

    (3)

  • Annie T.

    Carlo's Bakery is a Cake Boss (TV Show) chef. The store itself is pretty adorable. It's small and decorated with lots of streamers and fluff. I'm not sure why since it was the middle of February. They have TVs up on the wall playing the Cake Boss TV show, which is pretty nice to watch as you wait in line. The wait: CRAAAAZY. I understand that Carlo is a huge celebrity and this is a tourist destination, but come on! It isn't even New York. This is HOBOKEN. Anyway, make sure you grab a number when you walk into the store. That way, you'll be able to wander around and come back when your number is called. The pastries: a HUGE selection. I've watched Cake Boss a few times, but expected there to be cake. Instead they had three, large, glass containers filled up to the bring with various types of pastries. It's an impressive selection. Servers: Extremely cheerful and friendly. Although because the store was so crowded that people would rather stand outside in the freezing cold than be inside, made it so that the servers were rushed to customers. I don't blame them, but if people are willing to wait in line, you might as well take your time so each and every customer gets the same friendly and not pressured experience. Just saying. Overall: the pastries were okay. They weren't as spectacular as I thought they would be. The cannoli is definitely a must. Everything else was just alright. I probably won't be back. It is a good tourist place to at least check out if you watch Cake Boss!

    (3)

  • Gino T.

    Average and overrated. I bought their Strawberry Cheesecake and Buttercream Cakes, it wasnt that impressive at all.

    (3)

  • Tyler H.

    Over rated...OK...We only ordered a brownie, red velvet cupcake, oatmeal raisin cookie, chocolate chip cookie, and crumb cake. All were average (good grocery store bakery stuff) except the crumb cake which I thought was awful. On top of that, I had to wait over 30 minutes to get it. I think people get so caught up in the celebrity stuff and what they see on TV that when they visit, it doesn't even occur to them to really judge the goods. They are rating it a five before they even taste it because they have been biased by TV. The cakes looked really good, but i didn't want to spend $24-$35 dollars for a very small cake. And honestly...$2.50 is outrageous for a small cookie. I'm kicking myself in the ass for spending what I did in that place. I had originally given them a three star rating because the baked goods were average, but as I am writing this review and thinking about it, it is waaayyyyy overpriced and for that...they get a two star. Besides, I'd never go back and I would certainly suggest that my friends bypass this tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Ciara G.

    I'm not sure about their other offerings, but I gotta give it to them as they make a pretty good cannoli. I sure would never wait in their crazy line for anything but if the line is short, I say give them a try. Also their number taking system is wonky bc some of the staff uses it and others don't. It left for much confusion on who was next on my visit. Cash only (really?!) but ATM on site.

    (3)

  • Jacob M.

    Like everyone else and their brother and their sister and their hunched, Italian grandmother, I came to see what all the buzz was about at the Cake Boss's place of work. The store was FULL of tourists and the wait was longer than I'd expect for a bakery: twenty minutes. It gave me plenty of time to go over their offerings though and they had a decent amount. I ended up ordering a cannoli, an eclair, and 1/4lb of raspberry and cream cheese rugelach. The cannoli was okay - the ricotta filling was delicious, but the crust... was... crusty. The eclair was bland, nothing too exciting there. The rugelach however was pretty good, but almost immediately went stale. Such heartache as it was the one thing that I truly enjoyed from the bakery! Overall, they have baked goods and they are in fact edible. I just wouldn't worry myself silly about seeing just how good the Cake Boss's nosh is.

    (3)

  • Marie L.

    I am a big fan of Buddy, his family and his show and had to stop by! I went to both this location and the location in New York! Let me tell you, two completely different atmospheres and experiences! I went to the NJ location first and as expected, the place was packed. It wasn't a really long line when I arrived early in the morning, but after a couple of minutes the line was out the door. As I waited for about 20 minutes to order, it was great to see everything inside the bakery! I got hot chocolate, brownies, cannolis, and a few other things with my friend and sister. We couldn't complain, everything was great! The only minor issue was the taste of the cannoli. It was way too sweet! At the NY location, you would think that it would be super packed because of where it is located at, that was not the case. Completely opposite from the NJ location! Obviously the location is larger, but there was such a small line that the wait wasn't too bad! Mind you, I visited in the summer. Overall, both locations are great! Great time to go; NJ Location: Early in the morning! NY Location: Morning or Late afternoon

    (4)

  • Megan S.

    I needed a last minute cake made for my team at Cycle For Survival. Carlos bakery in Hoboken did us a HUGE favor by creating a cake with our team logo on it overnight! Consistently living up to the reputation. Thanks again :)

    (5)

  • Mary S.

    Lobster tail was okay, chocolate chip cookie on the other hand was amazing. Cupcakes were also a big hit. Wasn't worth the hype, but the area the shop is in is pretty cute. No long lines.

    (3)

  • Bobby B.

    Lets start by saying i grew up in brooklyn,so im use to great bakeries. I had their cannoli and it was average. The lobster tail was great and the cupcakes were good. If you're a tourist and are not used to getting really good pastries this place will be fine. It is not a place i would go back to since the lines are long. Without the lines i would stop in once in a while

    (4)

  • Summer G.

    Everything in here is to die for! The pasteries are amazing and amazing service as well.... Their chocolate covered strawberries and oreo cupcakes are wonderful and a must!

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    I've been a resident in Hoboken for 8 years. I decided to go to Carlos one Sunday on my way to work for breakfast. I walked in and there were about 3 families ahead of me (who of course have to order the entire bakery and ask what every pastry is made with). I decided to wait because it was early in the day and there was a very short line. My frustration grew when I noticed 8 people working in the bakery however only 2 waiting on people in line. In between customers, the two teenagers taking orders would clean the floors, walk in the back, and take unnecessary extra steps to make the wait time even longer. After about 20 minutes in line it was finally my turn. I ordered two pastries, even with my small order he still had to "sync" it in the iPad, which took longer of course because he didn't really know how to do and then asked me to repeat my order 3 times! It was time to pay, I used a debit card, and that itself took long...3 swipes, remembering my (small) order, and typing into the new register systems. I was finally on my way after 1/2 hour. Maybe I'm late to the game and perhaps am the only resident who still goes there, but I can honestly say this is the absolute last time! The quality of the pastry isn't even good anymore. I'll leave it for the tourists...

    (1)

  • Darby S.

    Being a fan of the show, I knew my daughter & I had to stop by when we were down in Jersey for a convention. We heeded the warnings of long lines on the weekend and got up extra early to go grab breakfast and then come here. We ended up being the first in line when they opened. We got... Lobster tail: Amazing. I was expecting a fluffy croissant-like shell. The outer layer was crunchy but delicious. The cream filling... outstanding. I am still kicking myself for not getting more. Cannolis: So yummy. We brought a cooler so we could bring some desserts back home to NH after we spent the day at our convention and they were still delicious the next morning. Italian cookies: These were amazing. The butter cookies with fruit center were my favorite. Cupcakes: I wasn't too impressed with the cupcakes. They tasted like box mix to me. My 5 year old ate it with no hesitation, though. :) Merch: I splurged and got myself a Carlo's Bakery mug that I use very often. I run it through the dishwasher all the time and have had no fading in the design. Well made! We will definitely come back if we are ever in the area again!

    (4)

  • Edward W.

    It's all about the experience. Yes, it's a mob scene. You're gonna wait. Celebrity has made Carlo's a tourist attraction. The baked goods are supposed to be the main attraction, though, and although you'll find really good cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other goodies, you'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth the wait. Knowing all of this I thought it was a fun destination in downtown Hoboken.

    (4)

  • Mabely C.

    I can't believe I wasted my time here. This place is overrated! I've had better pastries in other states and countries.

    (1)

  • Benjamin M.

    At a time when there are reality shows about everything under the sun, including multiple versions involving cake (seriously?), Carlo's Bakery has become a household name. I've seen the show "Cake Boss" a couple of times, but completely forgot it was located in Hoboken. So, when I saw a bunch of people gathered out front taking pictures I decided to cross the street and check it out. As soon as I walked in I was handed a number by a gentleman at the door. The bakery isn't very large, or maybe it was the ton of people packed inside that gave that impression. Either way, it made it difficult to see what they offered in the parallel display cases. But I eventually browsed my way around and decided to get one of the Christmas wreath cupcakes when my number was called. Thankfully it was very moist and sweet for three bucks I handed over. Of course, there is plenty of Cake Boss merchandise for sale, including shirts and DVDs, if you just can't get enough of Buddy and the crew.

    (4)

  • Chris V.

    More of an attraction than a bakery! The cheese cakes were good but everything else we tried was very mediocre. Since we had to stand in line for so long we figured we'd buy a bit of everything and we tried the cheese cakes, 3 types of biscotti's, 2 pastries, and a cake. Only the cheese cake was good, everything else sucked and biscotti's were like the super market ones! Why would I pay a premium for that!! And of course the service is terrible, I can imagine that the workers there are stressed due to the sheer number of people but it's organized terribly and at the end of the day it's just not worth the wait and hassle. The bakery is just living off their tv fame. I gave two stars for the cheese cake.

    (2)

  • Srujan G.

    Hyped up little place because of the TV show.. Long lines will make you wait for hours. Luckily starting for years in Jersey city we went on a very cold Saturday in winter and we don't have to wait. Lobster trail was the best of all we tried. We tried Canoli, coffee cake, brownie which sucked and few others. Red velvet and chocolate cake was pretty good. Of all just get lobster tail and you will not be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Maria M.

    Order my 5 year anniversary cake from we. We wanted a cool walking dead cake . we were going to have the bakery do figurines but they were charging 100 for each figurine so we oped to just go to toys r us and buy plastic ones from walking dead. anyways. i would say the cake was very expensive but i loved it and it looked great. It was red velvet with cream cheese filling. i think it was three layers too.. it cost 250 for the cake it fed about 15-20 people.. i was happy with how it looked.

    (4)

  • Dalia V.

    Sugar sugar honey honey... Yup this is cake boss! While playing tourist in Hoboken I came across the original Carlo's Bakery and of course I had to come in. Piece of advice: Grab a ticket as soon as you walk in!!! I saw many people confused walking right to the counter where the crowd was and no number in hand. I waited 15 mins before my number got called. They recently remodeled the place so now instead of 2 counters they only have one which means less items but nonetheless they have fresh made canolis, lobster tails, cupcakes, cookies and cheesecake. I have tried 2 other locations (Vegas and Cranford) this place surpasses them all, it was an expectation I had being the original joint. The filling tasted fresh, the lobster tail nice and flakey, just delicious! I spend $14 on 3 items (yes, a bit pricey) but look at it this way: you don't live down the block so a few bucks to splurge on a few sweets won't leave you broke. They have a few chairs inside but don't count on coming here to sit down and have your morning coffee, it's too busy and noisy with little to no space to walk. They also have an ATM inside, street parking only which is free on Sunday's.

    (4)

  • Amelia M.

    Touristy as you can get but I felt like I had to try once since there was miraculously no line when I walked by. Splurged on a lobster tail which lived up to the hype: fresh, flakey and sweat creamy goo on the inside...lol...this is sounding weird. Would come back again to maybe try the cannoli. As soon as I left, a group of crazy tourists with khakis and selfie sticks came barging in...ah! that was close

    (3)

  • D C.

    Touristy and fun. This is the kind of place to bring your selfie stick. Cake wise, crappy and overrated like Magnolia Bakery. If you like your cupcakes crumbly (with half of it sticking to the wrapper), then this is the place. Cupcakes should focus on the cake part and not solely on the icing, which is always fail proof (hello, butter, sugar, and milk).

    (2)

  • April P.

    All the pastries and cookies are delicious! Recommend the canolis and the lobster tail. The filling is delicious and nothing is sickingly sweet. I tried the chocolate chip cookie as well and loved it. A bit of a wait though!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    The watched the show and wanted to get the full experience on this place, luckily my boyfriend and I were around the area and decided to give this place a try. Aside from waiting an hour and 15 minutes I could say I tried it. We ordered the cake and also a small one for the road and I expected something incredible, it was no different from the bakery's around my way.

    (3)

  • Fran D.

    Long wait. We came on a Sunday. We waited outside for 15 minutes then waited inside for about 20 minutes. It's not like the store shown on the show. They have renovated and now they have an open section for viewing where the cake decorators assemble & decorate basic cake orders. Cannolis & napolean the best. All else seems like grocery store bakery. Lots of tourist items to purchase like shirts, hats & mugs. Honestly there are better bakeries in the tri state area.

    (3)

  • Fransisca M.

    Does Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken count as a NJ's tourist attraction since our state is lack of any? (well the Liberty Statue is technically ours but you know, NYC kinda has their name all over it) Came here on a weekday, around 6ish, just because I have some time to kill. Though the line was out the door, there were only 4 people working behind the counter. The number that you take from the queue number generator at the door didn't even matter. And tourists, yes I'm talking to you, y'all seem to be so indecisive and it makes the wait in line even longer. The biscottis were perfect level of hardness for dunking. One of those that don't require you to cup your other palm below it during the (sometimes has to be fast) movement between the dunking cup and you mouth. In other word, it doesn't crumble so quickly.My favorite is the chocolate-pistachio biscotti. The canoli was ok, though they ran out of the chocolate ones by the time I got served. But everything seemed to be over-priced for what it is. For how much things here cost, I'd rather go to a mom-and-pop bakery that's not overly-commercialized. I love watching the TV shows (Cake Boss and Next Great Baker), but another visit to the bakery? I guess not.

    (3)

  • Corabelle G.

    Pastries, cakes, eclairs, cream puffs...yes please!! So of course this bakery is already popular by default, who doesn't know who the Cake Boss guy is!! So clearly this was a must visit while in NJ. Had heard about the long lines so I went prepared, lucky for us though it wasn't too bad when we got there, but as we were leaving the line was out the door and down the street. It was pastry overload, everything looked delicious and I have to admit it was very appealing to the eye (for those who decide on what to get based on how it looks like me ha). So we got the Oreo cupcakes, lobster tails, Mousse cheesecake, napolean and cream puffs. Mousse cheesecake was moist, soft and light. Now for cheesecake you wouldn't expect it to be light and "airy" but this one was. I usually can't finish a whole cheesecake slice but this one was gone in minutes. It was topped with chocolate mousse and a very large, plump, fresh strawberry. All in all..a solid 5!!! You like cream in your pastries, the lobster tails are for you!! Its a crisp puff pastry shells with creamy goodness oozying out! Napoleans have a delicious custard cream..wow! Definitely a must try if your in Hoboken, NJ!!

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    Tried carlo's bakery today for the first time because the line wasn't out of the store and down the block. My wait was around 30 mins which wasn't that bad. I got the lobster tail, crumb cake, tiramisu, chocolate mousse cake and cream puffs. I must say, it was quite disappointing. The only thing that lived up to the hype was the lobster tail. The crumb cake was so stale and dry that I couldn't even cut it in half with a knife. Everything was pretty average except the lobster tail, which was definitely worth it. But seriously, I watched almost all the episodes of cake boss and was really excited to try the crumb cake. It tasted like it was made weeks ago.

    (3)

  • Peter S.

    Ahhh, after watching all the episodes of cake boss, I finally had the opportunity to visit Carlo's. Having planned a trip to NYC, I made it a priority to add going to Hoboken to come to the bakery. Finally getting to this small bakery, it did not disappoint! Since it was pretty cold and rainy out there wasn't too big of a crowd, still a line though but it went quick. The place was filled with tons of baked goods, fit for every taste bud. I knew I had to get a cannoli and some lobster tails, but there was just so many options to choose from. When our number was finally called, the staff there were very friendly. Helped us pick some of the best sellers. Unfortunately the chocolate chip cookies were already sold out! I knew I wanted to take some treats back to Texas with me, unfortunately cannolis and lobster tails don't last long. Lucky the staff did recommend the crumb cake, omg that was delicious. It wasn't too sweet but just right. The cannolis weren't my favorite, but the lobster tail was Devine. Delicious breading with just the right amount of sweet from the creamy filling. Unfortunately no one from the show was there working, but I wasn't expecting anyone of them to be there. But I was not let down!

    (4)

  • Prasad J.

    They are very very famous.. Chocolate n Cake lovers would understand that words cannot explain the taste of mouth watering chocolate cakes.. Must Try Bakery.. taking 1 point off for long long queues... expect minimum 1 hour wait..

    (4)

  • Jennifer E.

    Why all the hype? ! The bakery is simply ok, nothing great. There are much better bakeries in hoboken. Their pricing is also insane

    (2)

  • Julio A.

    Food is good, the staff are not friendly, very cold and systematic. I was expecting a better experience. They put more attention to wrapping a beautiful box. The place feels more like a franchised location than the original Carlos bakery store. I believe in people and experience, therefore I will give them a lower score . By the way, I traveled from far to see this place and my girls have being dying see it as well. Disappointment. I hope Carlos trains his staff to smile and acknowledge people.

    (1)

  • Mary M.

    My daughter and I spent a week in NYC and one of the things she had on her "to do list" was to visit this bakery in NJ. The day before we were to leave we took the subway to Hoboken. The bakery is easy to find and right around the corner from the subway station. We stood in line that wrapped around the corner for about an hour. The baked goods was alright, nothing special but maybe because I'm not a big baked goods person. We got to meet Buddy's sister Mary who was very nice and took pictures with the customers and also my daughter.

    (4)

  • Julia H.

    If you are here - definitely get a Lobster Tail! The Lobster Tails here are AMAZING!!! The shell is nice and flaky and the filling is SO YUMMY! We had also got a mini chocolate truffle cake - which we haven't gotten to yet but will update this review once we try it!

    (4)

  • Dabrena S.

    I went here while on vacation. It was the "CAKE BOSS" place so I expected gorgeous cakes all over the place. There were some, but not many and not as impressive as I'd hoped. Don't get me wrong, the cake decorators are very talented, I just expected too much. It is small and kind of crowded. You have to take a ticket when you get there and be ready to order when they call your number. The guy behind the counter that helped us was really nice and helpful. We ordered a bunch of small treats and although I did not try them all, the ones that I did were good. The chocolate and cheese rougelah was good and there is a weird shaped cookie with chocolate covering half, and pecans in the middle... That one was the best!

    (3)

  • Carolina B.

    Yes - this is a tourist spot. Although since they've open up other places (Times Square location comes to mind) I think it has helped the excessive crowd of people. But if you watch the show this is the spot to come. They have recently(ish) had some renovations & it has improved the store exponentially! There is a place to watch the decorating in progress, which is really neat & a lot more open space in general which makes it easier to wait your turn & decide what you'll be ordering. Pastries - they're delicious. But honestly : LOBSTER TAIL!!!! If for no other reason, go for the lobster tail. It's all sorts of flaky deliciousness with goey sweetness on the inside ... I'm just saying - this is what you need to order. & yes this is an Italian bakery but that does not mean you should order cannoli's. I'm picky about cannoli's & theirs just don't make the cut. I fee them to be too heavy on cinnamon ... I just don't like them. Their cupcakes are cupcakes, delicious but nothing out of this world. But have I mentioned the lobster tail? Ok I think I made my point. Price wise I think it is on point, I would expect them to charge more considering the tourist attraction thing but really they keep it real price wise. If this is your sort of thing, you'll love it. But if you aren't a big fan of the show & you're not a big fan of Jersey or commuting to Jersey, there are many just as delicious options in the Italian bakery department (especially in you're in NYC).

    (4)

  • Kim W.

    Went to carlos bakery to find out about the hype. Must say a nice place with huge variety of desserts and custom cakes displayed at & on top of the counter. Do not forget to take a no. When you enter as they serve by no. It wasn't as crowded when we went there. Got our order of lobster tail cream puff within 10 min. Again nice collection of cakes.

    (4)

  • Robert M.

    My ex promised my daughter a pig cake from Carlo's Bakery as an incentive (bribe) for her going to sleep away camp for two weeks this past Summer. My daughter is a fan of the show (Cake Boss on TLC). yelp.com/biz_photos/carl… Well the pig cake cost $300.00, which to me seems extravagant for a damn cake. I did not see the cake nor did I taste the cake. For the $300.00 the cake should taste like the best cake ever baked in the history of cakes. I am guessing this is not the case. Why? My ex said the cake was hilarious but not worth the $300.00. So perhaps they really deserve 2.5 stars; however, I will dispense with three stars. So there you go; that is my opinion for what it is worth.

    (3)

  • Gina L.

    The famous Cake Boss Carlo's. Yahs. First, growing up in an Italian family I have had my share of lobster tails, pastry boxes tied with red and white string, and small family bakeries. You would think Italian cream pie was my sister. Quality service and quality baked goods. Please don't complain that it's expensive; as a baker, I know that these types of pastries are some of the hardest to make! They take a lot of work and time, and they have to continually keep fresh ingredients more so than other restaurants. Is it worth the wait? I never had to wait, but I would say probably not. Just because they're 5-star good doesn't mean they're the best around. You can find a lot of 5-star Italian bakeries in northeast NJ. This is just one of them, for sure. : )

    (5)

  • Royal V.

    Hubby and I were in the area so i decided to pass by and get him a small birthday cake, thankfully the place was not crowded at all. Now lets see what the buzz is all about... The place was nice and clean and everything was organized the lady behind the counter I believe her name was Anna was very pleasant and helpful. I ordered one of their small cakes I believe it was chocolate fudge and two cannolis. Service was good prices were decent. Its kool you can see behind the counter while they are making cakes. I gotta say I was a little disappointed on how the cake tasted. The cake was so so sweet I mean super sweet yes chocolate cake can be sweet but I feel like i was in a sugar coma and it wasnt moist at all, I had to add some ice cream to my slice. I couldnt finish my small slice to say the least. The cake was bit overrated, honestly my sons chocalate bday cake from Shoprite tasted much better IMO! The cannolis were good, but I think the cannolis from Artuso Pastry in the Bronx taste much better! Overall it was an OK experience, however, I don't know if I will come back here again.

    (2)

  • Janice F.

    Everybody loves Cake Boss. It's famous for its great cakes and family-owned bakery in the heart of Hoboken. Truly a fan of the show, but maybe not of this bakery. Coming in on Saturday night and getting our number from the dispenser as you walk in seemed totally normal. Until we saw that our number was 61 and the number on the display was 6. 55 orders ahead but only a group of about 30 people?! No way. It appears that many people just get their number and decide it's just too long of a wait and just leave. However, for the rest of us, it's a hassle, a debate between who has which numbers, liars who don't actually have that number, and just a scramble for the staff. Once your number is called, it's called - if you don't get it, get a new number because that's how it works. We probably waited about 20-30 minutes for two cupcakes. The cupcakes weren't bad - they weren't extraordinary, but I wouldn't say worth 20-30 minutes. They were kind of gigantic - worth $2.25. There were also barricades parked outside - I'm guessing the line gets worse during the day? I've been told that for Jersey residents they can skip the line - sorry, New Yorkers.

    (3)

  • Rick B.

    Carlo's Bakery - Hoboken NJ...July 2014 - 4 Stars: if you are a fan of the Cake Boss reality show, this is Mecca. We drove over to Hoboken just to see this famous little bakery...and it is small. They have kept their small storefront operation even with all their TV success. This place is so popular that a line forms outside to get in...and some employee lets you know when it is your turn, letting in three or four at a time. On busy days, the line gets long and the neighboring stores must have complained because the overflow line is a half a block away in front of a chain like Walgreens or something. The line snakes down the windowless side of that store so no one minds. When you get to the head of that line, you move up to the line in front of Carlo's. What an adventure just getting in. So how about the bakery items? Once we got in we were met with a tiny crammed aisle with bakery cases on both sides...you can see why they control entering. All the items looked lush and there were enough employees to move the crowds. We each chose one or two items to try and made our way out after picking up a coffee mug and other souvenirs. Once we had a chance to try the pastries we were impressed. The bakery items were very good...the store has not rested on its laurels at all but still put out fine items. If you are in the vicinity and looking for a sweet, give this place a try.

    (4)

  • Krupa P.

    I ordered the cannoli! It was pretty solid. Overall, it's just an average Italian bakery with a lot of options. Not sure if it's worth all the hype but hey sugar is sugar!!! The line is insanely long though sometimes which is the downside.

    (3)

  • Luis L.

    Stopped by to get some snacks while in town. It's right in a cool pry of town close to Manhattan. Place was packed, when we got there they were In #17 and we were #31. It only took about 20 minutes to get called and get out order. It's a bit overpriced but since it's famous people are willing to pay and be able to say they have been there. Food is good, fresh and place seems a bit larger than what I saw on TV. If you're in town and want to stop by, go for it.

    (5)

  • Gabrielle M.

    If it weren't for the show, this bakery wouldn't even be noticed. Happen to be close by and since I've watched the show we decided to try some of the goodies. Cookies were good but ordinary and overpriced. The only one that stood out was Mamas Favourite. The only tasty cake was the cheesecake . Cupcakes were dry and icing too sweet and tasteless. The decorating with the fondant is nice but I've seen better. Service was slow and hard to find a smile by the staff. We were told by locals that the baked goods were better before they were on the show.

    (2)

  • Kimberly A.

    For having had so much success thanks to the TV show and its fans, you would think the workers would be a little more inviting. They all looked miserable and like they hated their lives. Mind you, it wasn't even that packed when I went a few days ago. There was no line out the door or anything. The number system they have going on is also very helpful. Just grab a ticket, stand anywhere, and wait until you're called to get your order. I suggest looking around while you're waiting, and writing down what you want so that when they call your number you know exactly what to order. You kind of feel pressured to order quickly with the number of people behind you and the worker just staring at you. I ordered the 2 main things they're famous for - cannolis and lobster tails. The cannolis were great, and kind of reminded me of those prepackaged pies Safeway used to sell when I was a kid. Ok, maybe not the best analogy, but it did taste really good. The lobster tails, however, were surprisingly not that great. I even ordered 2 and ended up throwing 1 1/2 of them away. The other thing that surprised us that was really good was the hazelnut tart. Of course, for anyone that watches this show and is a tourist, this is definitely going to be a must see place regardless of what the reviews are. Like I said earlier, it would just be nice if the workers were a little nicer. I even heard a couple of the guys talking to each other about how they were closing the store down at 5pm that day for filming, which would suck for their paychecks. Not really what you want to hear as a visitor there.

    (2)

  • Maria A.

    I went to this bakery before it got famous. The food was really good! The cakes were delicious, the pastries were amazing. Then it got famous. The fame got to their heads. The food is now ok if even that. It's not worth the time or the money. If you want a good cupcake go up the street to crumbs. They make better cupcakes.

    (2)

  • Ggg H.

    Very expensive (over-prices is more like it). Slow service & very arrogant workers .... As if they're doing you a favor by serving you. Not impressed.

    (2)

  • Haley C.

    I went here on a Sunday morning at 8:00am or so and waited about 20min in line. You get a number when you walk in and then you can wander the store to decide what to buy. When my number appeared on the screen I went up to one of the workers and had to have my order ready. So be sure of that! They packaged my desserts very well. Nothing has crumbled or smooshed. And of course, the taste! My crumb cake and cream puff were delicious! No let downs at all! I probably wouldn't come back, just because of the long wait (and the hassle to get over from Manhatten). But I am glad I went.

    (4)

  • Cameron G.

    I think the cake show has given CB a little more fame than it deserves. I ordered a mini cheesecake that had major problems. First, the outside had started to harden from how long it sat (uncovered) in the fridge. Second, the cake had an eyelash sealed in it. Third, they gave me the wrong flavor. Needless to say, I wasn't pleased and I wouldn't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • L B.

    Overhyped pretty much sums up my experience. The so called famous crumb cake I received was hard as a rock and too saccharine. I agree with other reviews who posted that the products offered are all about visual appeal without offering much in the taste department to to speak of. I also agree that the asking price is much too high on the cakes particularly considering that the products are made using cheap quality ingredients. If you are looking for good bakery go down the street to Choc-Au-Pain.

    (1)

  • Trish P.

    I was a fan of the TV show so I decided to check it out since I live nearby. I went sat morning, big mistake, huge line but wanted to try it out. The cake was OK, a lot of fondant, kind of dry, didnt live up to my expectations :(

    (2)

  • Ben P.

    OK, let's begin by saying that it's not a hype. Their canolli and lobster tail are as good as I thought it would be. We tried few other items and they were all good. If you are a fan, the 1-3 hours of waiting shouldn't come as a surprise. We were lucky to get in less than 1 hour. Be prepared to deal with a little of madness once you get into the bakery, but that's part of the experience. A good attitude and knowing what you want before your # is called will make for a much better experience.

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    I visited Carlo's Bakery yesterday for the first time. I waited in line outside for 10 minutes (which is to be expected due to the popularity of "Cake Boss"). The doorman kept the traffic moving so it was not a terrible wait. It was crowded inside, but the girls working behind the counter were nice (not overly friendly, but nice) and I was out of there in about 15 minutes. I was there to actually buy pastries and not try to see Buddy and the whole crew. Most of the people in there were with kids and they wanted to see the "famous bakery" that they love to watch on TV, so it's not the bakery's fault that there are tourists overcrowding the store. They can't stop people from coming in. We purchased the lobster tail, cannolis, fruit tart, and puff pastry filled with pastry cream. As a pastry chef, these desserts were very nice. I wouldn't drive up there to just get Carlo's, but I would definitely stop in again if I was in the area. Everything we had was tasty and executed nicely.

    (4)

  • OPI N.

    Did NOT eat all day in preparation for this trip. Went in today-no line outside - YAY ! Very crowded inside you cannot see all the available pastries because there are so many people. In addition, some fat kid with ADD kept pushing me- BOO ! Bought the following: LOBSTER TAIL: omg- im done! I knew from watching the show this was going to be good. The outside was so crispy and the filling was not too sweet- just right! I bought my friend one and dropped it off for her at work- she ate it in disbelief of the flaky goodness. RED VELVET CUPCAKE (creme cheese frosting): I've never eaten a cupcake so moist. There should be some type of award for this type of tastiness. CANOLLI- This was good also. The filling was especially tasty. CHERRY CRUMBLE PIE- with the lobster tail and the cupcake, also one of my FAVS. I don't have the words to describe how good this was. Just buy it- damn it. TIRAMASU-have not eaten it yet as my friend has made me promise not to cut into it until she gets home. But it was unanimous by patrons in the store that this is one of the best desserts there- I will update later.

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    After reading this reviews i have decided i must have awsful taste in pastries because i love Carlo's Canolies maybe because thefilling is not that sweet. the lobster tail is not my favorite. the red velvet mini cake looove. Also i had cakes from here b4 even knowing about cake boss Cakes for my honor society ceremony came form here yellow cake chocolate and banana filling was too live and die forr

    (4)

  • Marie V.

    Good in the winter when there isn't a long line of TLC tourists crowding inside and taking pictures. Lovely creations.

    (4)

  • Woulfe n.

    I tried their cupcake's and red velvet cake, both tasted like having a tumor in my mouth. I felt i needed to go out and gargle shit in my mouth which would be one step up, just to get his nasty tasting so called treat's from my mouth. If your one of those zombies that simply just goes their simply because his on tv or their's even a remote reason for you wanting to go don't. This guy and place is way over rated and the only reason he probably got in the show was he probably sucked on the producer's cannoli.

    (1)

  • Jacob G.

    I have watched Cake Boss from the beginning. I do not expect greatness just because his bakery is on TV. The bakery must be doing something right since they have been in businness for more than 100 years. Anyway to my review. I have read up on the bakery from many different sources, some good some bad. So I showed up around 6:20 am on Friday the 23 of December, about 10 people were in line and I found a parking spot right outside the bakery. My wife and son stayed in the car till it was time for the bakery to open. Once I entered was handed a number and thought that they were going to call people by the number. However, someone was asking people who had a small order. They packed the bakery with people and it was very hard to move around. Once I was actually in the bakery it took about 45 mins. to actually get my order and leave. I just wished that they would actually go in-order with the numbers that were given out. Also, it seem that there was not enough people behind the counter right when they opened. The number system was the only downfall. I ordered 4 cannolis, 4 lobster tails, a piece of crumb cake, single serving of chocolate mousse, and a fudge cake. The cannolis were covered in chocolate and were the best cannoli I had. They filled the cannoli on the spot. I would eat the cannoli within a few hours. The longer they stay out they lose the crispness of the shell. Lobster tails were great even the next day. The cream was completely filled throughout the lobster tail. Chocolate mousse one word to describe amazing. Crumb cake great. Chocolate cake best cake I have had. I hope that this review helps others. It is a bakery. People make mistakes. I have learned not to have my expectations so high because I would always be disappointed.

    (4)

  • MandM S.

    OVERHYPED ..being from hoboken and having tried the stuff from here twice.. I can honestly say that it's totally overhyped. The cannoli's were fine (6 out of 10) but definitely not one's that I would wait in line for. The red velvet cupcakes (4 /10). We tried an oreo cookie cake (choc cake with oreo filling) (5/10). The artisan work the bakery produces is unquestionably excellent ! But the regular everyday baked goods are average at best. There are definitely better options out there. A tip for tourists - if you want the best shot at avoiding lines come on a day when the weather is not so great.. when it's rainy or cold.

    (3)

  • Michael W.

    The most expensive Italian bakery in all of New Jersey. This place can charge that much for there stuff because it is on TV. The wait is definitely not worth the food. Average wait times in the summer are anywhere from 3-4 hours and in the winter anywhere from 1-3 hours. They have cool designs but they don't taste the best. I have had anywhere from the normal chocolate chip cookie to the cakes that they make. It is not all that is cracked up to be. There are way better Italian bakeries in New Jersey!!

    (2)

  • Nikki T.

    SOOO GOOD. We just visited the bakery to buy a small cake and some cannolis for my birthday. Let me tell you- it was worth every single penny. The staff was so helpful and accomodating despite how busy it was. The cake was absolutely perfect. We settles on a small fondant cake that had a cute polka dot decor. There were a variety available for purchase at the counter when we arrived. Additonally, we ordered some fresh filled cannolis. The cream was perfect- it tasted just like heaven!!!! We could not have asked for more--WE WILL BE BACK ASAP!!!

    (5)

  • Kristin M.

    Who doesn't love a great bakery that is known to service celebrities, whose head chef has appeared on The Food Network and whose cupcakes look more like sculptures than bites of deliciousness that will be devoured by my friends in .6 seconds? If you don't, then you're missing out and you probably couldn't deal with the cupcake obsession by my friends :) Carlo's is a Hoboken staple. If you bring Carlo's to a party you immediately earn 10 points by the host and 20 more points by the guests. People from all over the Tri-State area come to get Carlo's and once you have one taste, you'll know why. You can't help but stop and stare at the amazing cakes in the windows or run inside for a cookie, cupcake or pie. I had to pick up cupcakes for my good bud's birthday this year and immediately ran to Carlo's. Knowing her love of cupcakes I was kind of nervous to pick these out as they were SO PRETTY. Neon sunflowers and roses looked more like art than a birthday treat! The party loved the cupcakes and how they looked but the birthday girl loved the little pastries even more as we split them. OK, we ended up eating all of them but hey! it's birthday time! If you're going for a birthday party, bring Carlo's. Just do it. Trust me.

    (5)

  • Lovet O.

    I came here one time years ago before this bakery became popular and back then the pastries and cakes were ok. But since the popularity of the show, the quality (in my opinion) has gone down. And they are a bit on the pricey side. Only been here twice and not eager to go back. Plus, its not worth staying in line for.

    (2)

  • Karen A.

    GHETTO AND RUDE PEOPLE WORK FOR THIS SPOT AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WAY BELOW PAR. Don't waste your time going here. The little man outside the door is a disgusting and distasteful person. He is just too cool for me... and looks more like a drug dealer rather than an employee who should be representing the company as what people expect. I arrived at the door at 8:30pm. He said the store is closed. I said the yelp posting stated that the business is opened until 9pm. He said you see that line in there??? They wont be done until 9. I told him that I came from a long way to come to this place. I am not usually in Hoboken and I am here with my parents. He said then persisted to shut the door in our face and said I am not letting you in. The talking to his friend, as we walked away ... he said, " I guess I have to start speaking Spanish...." I replied, "there is no need for that. I am not Spanish, I am Indian and I am American." DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME... THEY DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS OR YOUR MONEY. A BUNCH OF LOW LIFE PUNKS WORK THERE AND THEY DO NOT RESPECT YOU OR THE ELDERS YOU ARE WITH. Way over rated... and I have tried their crappy pastries there before. I was taking my parents for a treat before they moved to Florida... and I am sure they will not be missing these Ghetto attitudes when they leave. I can't believe how people rant and rave over this shitty place.

    (1)

  • Bar P.

    Stopped in on Thursday, picked out a few tasty items, everything was extra fresh, yummy!

    (5)

  • Michelle C.

    used to dig their cakes t l c killed that ish quick damn you t l c

    (2)

  • Diane H.

    I have been visiting Carlo's long before the "Cake Boss" was around! It is a stop I make every time I am in NY/NJ. I have to say though... it is a little disappointing to see the long line and busloads (literally) getting out and running to take pictures in front. I have family in Hoboken and when I visited it was nice to go have a slice of pizza at Benny's and go by the Bake Shop to get some cannolis and other sweets afterwards. This past weekend we went and thankfully my cousin had her ID and was able to go right in and get our delectables. I keep returning because... hands down... it is the best cannoli I have ever had. Living on the west coast... we don't have bakeries like this. I used to love the small, hometown feel you would get when you entered this place but that is long gone now with the popularity of the show... I gave it only 4 stars because it just isn't the same as it used to be. I applaud them on their success, but I miss the old Carlo's.

    (4)

  • Luca C.

    Mmmm, Carlo's. I didn't even make the connection that this was the Cake Boss joint until recently (No TV and a blind eye to reality show news), as I've been going there for years to scoop up sacks of cannolis to bring back to JC. Their Italian cookies remind me of the ones I got growing up from a super old-school baker in Hollywood. I'm a fan! =)

    (4)

  • Serena E.

    For our wedding rehearsal, we thought we would stop by Carlo's and pick up some goodies from there. Before going there, my husband called them and asked how long the wait was going to be. We were told that people start lining up an hour before the shop even opened. So we planned ahead and left the house accordingly. We bought a box of assorted pastries, strawberry shortcake and one other cake. Everything was delicious and well worth the wait. I would definitely go back if I have the time but for all that's never been there it's a small shop so it's extremely crowded and the wait is very, very long. I noticed that other customers tend to get a little rowdy and rude. I think it's the sweet smell of all the baked goods that drive everyone crazy so be warned....

    (4)

  • Anais B.

    I wish I could give 3 stars and 1/2! The line was so long. It took us 1 hour to get in and another 1/2 inside the store before being served. It was a saturday afternoon and the bakery looked sold out. You could see 4 cakes on the right side (pretty ugly), a very small selection of cookies in the middle and maybe 10 different types of pastry in the back of the store (the same kind you can order online). No label, no names on the pastries. Very hard to choose since you don't know what it is and the very young ladies working there are not so exited to help you. The pastry taste good, nothing crazy and overall I think Carlo's Bakery is way overated!!!! We know you are famous but please make some effort in the store to make your customers happy! Not coming back!

    (3)

  • Dorian G.

    Best cheesecake I have ever had, and I usually don't like cheesecake at all. It was smooth, not too sweet, and not tangy...probably because its Italian cheesecake and isn't made with cream cheese (ick). The cannolis were amazing, as well as the Italian cookies. I'd return here in a heartbeat...if the line wasn't 3 hours long. (Disclaimer: I did not have to wait in line due to some special circumstances).

    (4)

  • Kae B.

    *4 stars* for their cannoli =) oh and the fact that i enjoy watching cake boss =)

    (4)

  • Claudine S.

    Came here on a Sunday around 4pm...we only had to wait in line out front for 20 minutes and then we went right in. It's not a big place and the presentation wasn't that great. I expected so much more. There wasn't that many options to chose from but they definitely have many creative ideas for cakes. We bought about 4 cupcakes, 2 napoleans, 2 lobster tails and 2 eclairs and we got out for about $25. Not bad at all. The desserts were good too... not the best but they were good. Still a cool place to visit and snap a few pics and just for the fact of saying that you were in Hoboken...say it, you know you want to... HO-BOK-EN!!!! LOL!

    (3)

  • Josh B.

    I don't get it. Why are you people always waiting on line here? I haven't seen the TV show, but is the show really that good? The line is always around the block. The baked goods are fine at Carlo's, but are nothing special and are 3 time what they should cost. That said, Hoboken does appreciate the tourist influx, and since the boardwalk is falling into the Hudson, this is one of the main attractions that people can still visit.

    (2)

  • Jillian P.

    This place is totally blah. NOT worth the wait at all. The cannolis are good, other than that, the same stuff you'd get at your local grocery bakery counter.

    (2)

  • JF G.

    Up early to get in line because we drove past yesterday at 1:00pm and the line was three blocks long! We arrived at 6:35am and there were 20 people already in line. We were in by 7:15 and out the door with two bags full of goodies by 8:05am. Despite all the negative posts, my kids loved the experience although it's like most other high quality bakeries. The counter girls were very helpful and occasionally one of the TV guys would pop out for pictures with the folks in line. If you get there early enough when the line is not across the street, it's worth the wait. Otherwise I'd come back first thing in the morning.

    (4)

  • Heathet B.

    Stopped in here twice in one week. Picked up a cannoli, cream puff and cupcake the first time. The cannoli is to die for!!!! Cream puff and cupcake okay. Second stop, 5 dozen cannoli, two lobster tails and a fondant covered cake. I absolutely did not like the lobster tails, the pastry was tough and I hated the cream filling. Once again the cannoli are amazing and the chocolate covered cannoli are even better. Well worth the wait in line.

    (4)

  • Susan A.

    Good stuff but I will never wait in line. It's such a tourist trap! I don't understand how some of you wait 2-3 hours!!!??!?!?!!!

    (3)

  • Khody A.

    The space inside can be cramp given the chaos of people, but the cannolis were good.

    (4)

  • La L.

    Dude, I don't get it. I think the cakes taste like something you'd get in the supermarket or perhaps worse. I want to tell all those poor suckers waiting in line that it just aint worth it. I suppose hype creates perception and perception becomes reality.

    (1)

  • Rita M.

    Very disapointed!! I was a fan of the show, we went all the way to Hoboken just to try his cannoli's and although they were good his staff behind the counter were just super rude!! It almost seemed like they were bothered that you were there... Won't be going there again.. Think Buddy should rethink his staff!!!

    (1)

  • Michael O.

    Great bakery! It's a family run place and the staff are all super friendly. Cannoli's are awesome...great black and whites....best rainbow cookies around. yum!

    (4)

  • Chris G.

    Arguably the best bakery in New Jersey. Certainly the best in Hoboken or all of Hudson County, for that matter. Whether you need Italian cookies for a party, a custom cake for a wedding, or you just NEED a cannoli mid-day during football season before stumbling home with a half-buzz....Carlo's is the pasticcieria of choice.

    (5)

  • Tara R.

    My kids like the show, so we took the PATH over from NYC during a visit to New York. The good part is that getting to NJ was easy and inexpensive, the walk to the bakery was short, and or wait was "only" around 40 minutes outside at 5:30 pm on a Sunday. The bad part is that the inside situation was ridiculous. We were packed in so close it was hard to turn around, impossible to see most of the offerings, and there was no menu or even labels of food in the few cases we could see. We waited another 30+ minutes inside. The counter help was not particularly nice or informative. There was an incredible lack of information (it seems like they could make more $ and have happier customers if there was more information aboutthat the produts, like basic photos ofhen people enter the shop). It also seems like an ADA lawsuit waiting to happen when people on crutches can barely get out through the throngs after making a purchase (a separate exit at the rear would make things much smoother). Buddy seems like somone who wants to improve problems; it's hard to believe he spends much time in this place. The cannoli was pretty good.

    (1)

  • Lauren C.

    I've gone to Carlo's for cakes and pies before but I have to say that their butter cookies are simply to die for and went for about $13/pound. Picked up a box of these cookies to bring to the boyfriend's aunt's birthday party. The whole family was there and as I was meeting them for the first time, bringing a gift of cookies seemed to be in order. They loved them!

    (4)

  • Bree M.

    My husband & I went last night and liked it. Its not amazing, but its fun to go to and I'm looking forward to going again. The staff was efficient and helpful even with people going a little crazy. He got a m&m cookie & it was pretty good but not amazing. I got a Raspberry Jelly cookie (basically a super moist shortbread/sugar cookie w/ raspberry jam on top) & it was REALLY good. We walked past to see how the line was and there were only about 15 people in there so we went it. I'll go again for sure, but also want to check out the other bakeries in the area.

    (4)

  • michelle r.

    Went back again for the Thanksgiving holiday... love their Biscotti , cannolli's and italian cookies... yah!

    (5)

  • Nish K.

    When planning my first-ever trip to NYC, one of the first things I did was to figure out how far Hoboken was from NYC, for one reason, and one reason only: Carlo's Bakery. As a fan of "Cake Boss" and everything on the show, I thought a quick trip out to NJ would be worth it to sample some of what Buddy and his crew bake everyday.... So for those wondering, the bakery is totally accessible and convenient by train, so don't worry about buses or cars. I caught the subway in NYC to the PATH Station, hopped the train to Hoboken, got off and walked literally 5 minutes down to the bakery. The trip took all of 20 minutes or so, from the subway to getting to Carlo's. If you're visiting NYC and wanna go to Carlo's, it's definately a quick trip via public transport and the tiniest bit of walking... Anyway... so we got to Carlo's on a Monday morning around 9:30am. The bakery at the time was near empty - no crowds, etc. None of the "family" was working, although I did see 1-2 of the Buddy's brother's-in-law going up and down the back staircase...Inside was smaller than I imagined it based on TV, but all good - I took a few moments to look around, then decided to get a few cannolis - why not? Buddy is making them on, like, every other episode of the show, so they gotta be good, right? Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan.... love the show, but did NOT enjoy the cannolis.. Mind you, I've never had one before, so perhaps cannoli in general just aren't my "thing" - but I'm a pretty easily-pleased girl when it comes to the sweet stuff, so it sucked that I did end up throwing them out after just 2 bites.... Disappointing. All that way to try some of the "Cake Boss'" stuff and I didn't even like it... My friend had a red velvet cupcake that she said was good, but not like, jaw-dropping amazing.... I'm glad I went to check it out, cause I would've probably WISHED I'd gone there if I hadn't, ya know? But when I return to NYC, I won't be going back to Carlo's again.... maybe for a wedding cake, but everything else just seemed a little lacking...

    (2)

  • Elvira G.

    I waited in line for hours to get into this bakery! It was all part of the experience so I didn't mind at all. When I got into the little shop I could barely move around to see what I wanted. However, everything I got was delicious... Everything was also reasonably priced as well. I would recommend trying everything and anything you want, you cant go wrong. But if I could recommend one thing, it's the tiramisu..and everyone working there is so friendly. Especially buddy's mom!

    (4)

  • Jane A.

    No line, excellent cannolis, and delicious cake. I was surprised that the cakes that looked so perfect would taste so good. I've heard about the lines here, but Friday at 4:00 is a good time to go, if you just want to get in and out quickly.

    (4)

  • Jennifer T.

    It's an alright place. Most of the time there's a long line out the door and all along Washington. It's just 'cause of the publicity they get. All I've tried from their place are the ice cream cakes. They're pretty good, but they're around $45 for one.. $60 if you want it to have a theme. That is, they'll have some cartoon character or something drawn with frosting. I think it's much too overpriced. I haven't tried the other things they offer, so I can't say much else. I think this place is overrated though. People from all around go to this place, when there's right priced and better bakeries around town.

    (3)

  • Iggy F.

    Go Sunday morning and expect to wait in line for a few hours unless your me or with me.

    (5)

  • Joseph F.

    I don't care if the cannolo is filled to order or not...the shell was crisp but all I could taste was the shortening they use and the oil they fried it in...... as for the cream....very sour... I don't know how long it was siting in the bag for but it wasn't good...sorry boss...

    (2)

  • Mike R.

    Carlo's allure for me was the television show, Cake Boss. Took my three kids there in hopes of seeing Buddy and the rest of the folks they love from TV. The line was long, but expected since we went during spring break, a couple days before Easter, when schools were out. As we waited outside, Buddy hung out the window to wave to and chat with the crowd - it was fun. Once we got inside, the line moved very fast. It was small inside - much smaller than it looks on television. It was a little hard to see what they had in the display cases because everyone was crowding the counter. Few people go there alone, most were full families, so there is one person ordering and four or five just hanging around the counter. The staff does a great job of waiting on the crowds - they were patient and answered any questions. As for the baked goods - the real test - they were awesome. We ordered cannolis, which are filled when you order them. Best cannolis I've ever had - so fresh. We also ordered a cake. We bypassed the $45 fancy fondant covered with a fancy fondant bow cake for something simpler - it was about $25. The cake was outstanding. One of the best cakes I've ever had, and we didn't eat it until Easter Sunday which meant it was a couple of days old (and it was still great!) I'd like to go back sometime during the week when the kids are in school and everyone is at work - might be a more relaxing experience. I will be back though, it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Suz E.

    Poor excuse for an Italian bakery. I always admired the cakes in the window, so I decided to try out a couple pastries to see how good a bakery this was. I got an assortment of cannolis, napoleons, and eclairs. The cannolis were filled fresh but the cream was bland. The napoleons were also bland and soggy. I'm not that much a fan of eclairs but they were just ok. I guess I'm spoiled having grown up patronizing two excellent Italian bakeries, but this was a huge disappointment. I'm curious about how the beautiful cakes taste, but after this experience I'd rather not waste the money to find out.

    (1)

  • Kyle C.

    Lobster tails were good but l loved the Rainbow cookies and I ordered a bunch of things and Buddy was called out to just to see me since I came from across the country just for this bakery shop. But everything was sooo good try the conolies. And when I finished ordereing Buddy's sister said Buddy got the tab for me haha I didn't even pay Buddy did! So I went the next day again and ordered everything to go to take back to ca but this time I paid myself I got sooo much stuff in boxes I had to carry all my clothes on carry on. I'll visit again soon.

    (5)

  • Yesenia R.

    One cold winter day my friend and I were hanging in Hoboken when we saw a line in the middle of the sidewalk. So I asked a lady what she was in line for and she said for the Cake boss and we decided to make the line also. 1 hour and a half later we were inside. Love the cakes design they seem too pretty to eat. All the desserts were fresh. We even order my cousin 5th birthday cake from here and it was really good and beautiful (cars theme). Just plan to spend a little more than usual cause you will want everything.

    (3)

  • Rondell T.

    Still like the lobster tails and the cannoli still have the lovely flavor. Make sure u bring lots of cash and come here early. This is my fourth time and counting.

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    As a Hoboken resident I swore to never go to this place. I hate the pretentious Buddy and his awful Cake Boss show. My apologizes for the small rant. To my dismay, I was in line waiting to get a box of Cannolis, because a few family members wanted to try them. Being the good boy that I am, I broke my rule and waited and waited. I bought a dozen Cannolis and got the hell out of there. I do have to say the baked goods looked great and it made me very hungry. I am a really sucker for bakeries. I tried one of the Cannolis and they were good, but not amazing like some people say. There are a ton of NYC bakeries that blow that place out of the water. I didn't hate my experience but I didn't like it either.

    (3)

  • Abigail R.

    Best Cannoli's i've ever had!! Took some home all the way to CA & my family loved it. The store is just how u see it on tv. I'd suggest going early morning & a hour or so after they open. Both times i went, i got there just in time & lines started forming. Pecan snowballs! Butter cookies were all delicious! Cream puffs were good as well, but it's very sweet. Definitely a place to visit & its so easy to get to from NYC. & when you get off the PATH train, there's a small park that shows a skyline of the city!

    (5)

  • Ehn M.

    Do it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Its worth the experience. We waited about 75 min. Everyone in line knew they'd be waiting for a while so they had a good attitude. We made friends with the people around us and enjoyed the time spent waiting (gotta make the most of it). Once we got in the energy was good, the people working were for the most part nice considering they have to deal with incredible crowds day in and day out. We bought about $300 worth of stuff between souvenirs and pastries (OMG that's crazy) but oh well ;) The Cannolis were soooooo good! The Italian style Napoleons were pretty amazing. We got the bouncer out front to join us for pictures and he seemed like he enjoyed the attention. All in all, we got what we expected. One caution, check your package that they don't forget stuff. They forgot 3 of our major items and we had to keep checking to mke sure it all ended up in our bags. Good experience, don't go in with huge expectations and have a good attitude, you'll enjoy it.

    (4)

  • Nijole T.

    Seriously, I have never seen a crowd this big during the week in the morning just to buy something from Carlos. Pulling up on washington we saw a mile long line all around CVS a block from the bakery. I was wondering what this was but saw that Carlos was not at all that full. They had a manageable line in front and inside was packed. We stood there for a minute until we noticed that they were calling out numbers. The security totally ignored my question as to how long the wait was and barked into the masses that whoever does not have a number gets in line at CVS to recieve one with the DAY and TIME they could come back to try again! WTF??? There are so many great beakeries all around NY, surely I was not going to stand there and come back some other time. While I enjoyed the show a few seasons ago (really how many years can you watch the guy making cakes?!!) it gets old and I'm not going to wait DAYS to get a cannoli....

    (2)

  • Jackie S.

    The general complaint about this place is the wait. However, the baked goods aren't bad at all. They are delicious in fact. I tried a couple of cookies, tarts, cheesecake, and a cannoli. Everything was outstanding. I'd definitely come back, but I'd order via phone first and just pick up.

    (4)

  • Lily H.

    I went to Carlo's Bakery a few years ago, shortly after the first episode of Cake Boss (or at least, when I first started watching it). I loved his friendly personality. They didn't have any of the cool cakes available then like you saw on the TV show. I got a box of various cookies and pastries, some were good and some were unremarkable. One day I'll go again. I'm glad I went when it was popular but not packed, because I've been able to say for years that I've been there, but didn't have to go through any excessive lines. It was crowded when i went but I only waited a few minutes. I can't believe the show is still going on, six seasons in five years. Congrats Buddy!

    (4)

  • Nora L.

    Being a huge fan of the Cake Boss show, I was very excited to visit Carlo's Bakery. After reading the Yelp reviews, I made sure to go with lower expectations but still wanted to go because I'm a fan. I went on a Tuesday evening, around 6PM. There was a short line outside and it was pretty crowded inside. I waited about 20 mins total for my number to get called. The cashier who helped me was very nice- I got 4 lobster tails and 4 mini cannolis.. which came to about $16. I wanted to try the famous crumb cake but they only sold it as larger cakes. Overall, the pastries were just OK. I've had much better at classic Italian bakeries in Boston. The prices were pretty steep as well. However, I knew that going in and was not disappointed with my visit. Still love Cake Boss! Tip: I'm glad I was able to go during an off time when it wasn't too busy because otherwise it would not have been worth the visit.. I would avoid weekends.

    (3)

  • Justin M.

    Checked out this place when a couple of "Cake Boss" fanatics were in town. The location is excellent, situated on the main drag in Hoboken across from city hall. We went on a Sunday afternoon which probably wasn't the best idea, but we didn't have many options. Be prepared to wait. It was cold and windy, but this didn't keep people away. Also do not be fooled by the line situation. In addition to lining up in front of the store, there is a second line you must wait in across the street in from of the drug store (CVS maybe??). Overall we waited about an hour/hour and a half to get into the small crowded bakery, and about 30 minutes once we were inside. Now onto the treats. The desserts were just divine. We purchased a variety of items to take home (there is no dining there) and were impressed with everything. Prices were also very reasonable, and no more than a quality bakery in any small town. Cupcakes were $3, small canollis $2, and little cakes and pies $7. The workers were all very nice and took their time with you once it was you turn, but didn't appear to be in any rush to serve the massive inflow of customers. They neatly package and wrap each item for you in cute little boxes. If it wasn't for the really long wait and crowds this place would have been a 5.

    (4)

  • Winnie L.

    Carlo's bakery is just popular only for the amazing, fantastic, and cool designs that buddy creates in his cakes. That's it! I waited more than a hour in line to be in such crowd when I finally could enter to the store. The staff is friendly, the service okay, but overall I didn't find anything special to this place. The goods are so expensive if you compare their prices with the ones of the pastries that people sell in the Brooklyn area. I bought a $7 tiramisu when I could have been able to buy like three of them where I live. Such goodies are not bad but not so great. I prefer more buying pastries here in Brooklyn or any part of NYC which I consider that they taste better, instead of going that far to that place.

    (2)

  • Steven C.

    Carlo, you are good on TV and I just wanted to come and check out your place. Its kinda like trip to Disneyland to meet Mickey and Minnnie but don't have to pay large sums of money to get in. We made trip from hotel near the Central park to the Path terminal and got out near the bakery in Hoboken. There was no line outside so we walked right in and waited for 5 minutes or so before getting our goodies. Well, I didn't get to see the famous TV personality but ended up with few lobster tail, cannoli and cookies...and.. just wanted to say, l had it better at my home town in Denver.

    (3)

  • Adriana V.

    I am sorry. I loved the show and my kids are such big fans. I visited the place last Sunday with my 6 year old. He was so excited and although I was ready to go he wanted to wait. We had to wait an hour to get any help. First of all there was a line outside, eventually they let you in where there are over 50 people inside waiting for their turn. When we got in we had number 106 and they had just called number 70. It was so crowded you could barely move. Why let you in if you cannot even move. I think there is a health code issue there. What really upset me is when I noticed that there were only 5 people helping. You would think that with the amount of business they have and the amount they charge they could hire a lot more cashiers. Also, the cashiers looked like they were taking their time. There is no reason why anyone has to wait so long. IT IS NOT WORTH IT. I am really upset at Buddy because my kids looked up to him but I think he is more concern about making $$$ than about costumer service. The baked items were pretty good but I bet there are many other places that you can find pretty good or even better.

    (2)

  • Amanda C.

    FORGET THE CAKE; GET THE LOBSTER TAILS! Their regular cakes are just that...regular, nothing special. They may look pretty but as far as taste it's dry. Their cannoli's are ok; Rispoli's in Ridgefield makes much better ones. BUT I will say...Carlo's has some of the BEST LOBSTER TAILS I've ever had. The cream is to die for!

    (3)

  • Jake L.

    A friend and I had to go check the place out. Let's face it, if there wasn't a tv show associated with it...we wouldn't know this bakery from the next. But because it's on TV...well, we had to be typical tourists just to say we've tried it. The experience of soliciting this store beginning to end is kind of a nightmare. Parking is a joke...just park in the parking garage and pay the few dollar premium. It will save you a huge headache and will be well worth it if you don't plan on doing anything else in Hoboken. You'll wait at least an hour in a line down by CVS and wait for them to come get you. The real nightmare starts when you get in the store. They let way too many people in at one time. It's like a NY nightclub. You can't see the display's and it's next to impossible to ask about the different pastries they offer with the noise levels. Madeline Castano, Buddy's sister was there helping customers. She really is a sweetheart and was taking pictures with children. You can tell she has a big heart, and when she's working the displays she gives the customers attentive and friendly customer service. I got 4 cookies, 2 cannoli's, 2 cupcakes, and 2 mini-cakes. Cost about $30. Cannolis are actually pretty expensive and the mini-cakes run about $6 a piece. The Cupcakes were average. They box them nicely, but it obviously fell apart in the bakery and they boxed it up and sent it home with me anyway. The cake in the cupcake is nothing special, the only thing that makes them alright is the icing on each cupcake. The cream cheese icing on the red velvet cupcake is pretty good, but the peanut butter frosting on the chocolate cupcake is pretty amazing. Cookies are nothing special, but the cannoli's (albeit expensive for a cannoli) are a must try. As far as baked goods go, it's above average...but not the best. Add in the price, and the touristy draw...and it's an experience to have at least one time.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    I wasn't planning on coming here until a few of my family members decided to just go here because of the show. I was a little hesitant to come here because usually anything made into a tv show makes things worse, regardless if it's food, service, etc. But this place surprised me! We ended up ordering: Tiramisu Cake: Even though this isn't an authentic tiramisu cake, the inspriation of it was there. It was a light cake and the creamy part of the cake was really good. Yummy! Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting: This was a larger cake than the tiramisu but it was really moist and not too sweet. This was also good. 10 Cannoli's: The cream for the cannoli was really good. It's much lighter than other places that I've tried. It's also not too sweet. 2 Lobster Tails: The filling in the lobster tail tasted similar to the cannoli but it's in a pastry. I thought it was good and flaky. Service was good. Not only did we order cakes and pastries, we also got some books and mugs. The person helping us wasn't frustrated with our large order and he was friendly. There wasn't a lot of people here like there was no line but I guess it's because we went during the day on a weekday. I don't remember if there was a lot of seating here but there's some benches outside. I would love to come back here again just for their cakes.

    (5)

  • Jaclyn C.

    Expect to wait at least an hour and a half to even get through the front doors...worth the wait? I think so. My family and I went for my little sister's birthday. She's a huge fan of Cake Boss so she was super excited and we were willing to stick out the wait in the heat. The line moved in large tranches of 15-20 people. So when you got to move up it was fairly exciting and it felt like you were making good progress. There were a lot of tourists so be prepared for what comes with: disposable cameras, where are you from and the not-from-New-York-innocence, etc. When we finally got inside you could tell that it used to be a cute family establishment. My aunt used to order cakes and pastries there for years before the TLC hit show ever came along. My little sister got to meet Mauro who was incredibly sweet and nice to her, he wished her a Happy Birthday and it made her whole day. We ordered cannolis and a lobster tail which were really delicious. My only complaint, for as packed as it was, the staff was really moving at their own pace (aka kind of slow). All in all they were really friendly, my order was correct and packaged nicely, but there was a lot of chatter and personal conversations going on between all of them. I wouldn't mind if it wasn't that busy and there wasn't an hour and half long line outside the door in 80 degree weather. Just sayin'. Later in the day we took her to a cake decorating class at their off-site location in Jersey City (only a few blocks from the bakery, definitely walkable). They give you a tour of their 5000 sq. ft. facility and then you get to decorate cakes. The facility is amazing and so clean. The instructors were super friendly and really sweet to the kids. Overall, the whole Carlo's experience was wonderful and we had a really great time.

    (4)

  • Kirsti Z.

    We got two cupcakes, an eclair, and a cannoli for $10, so the price wasn't bad at all. I only went here because my mom is a huge fan of the show and wanted to live vicariously through me on my trip to NYC. As someone who doesn't really watch the show, but loves pastries, I was still excited to try the cupcakes. I'm not really sure what his "specialty" is supposed to be, but I'm going to assume it's cupcakes and cakes because of the show's cake hype. My cupcake was mediocre. Of all the popular/gourmet bakeries I've had cupcakes at in the country, I would say this is the worst one. Not very moist or sweet. A cupcake is a cupcake, so it was still good obviously, but not worth the 45+ minute wait in a small cramped room filled with crazy mothers ordering hundreds of dollars worth of pastries. I suppose if you're a fan of the show, the "experience" could potentially be worth it. However, if you're like me, I recommend going somewhere just as reputable, but with (much) shorter lines and better products.

    (3)

  • Sonya A.

    The BEST chocholate dipped strawberries- EVER. Had several times and they really are good any time of year. The pecan thing is out of this world. Line is EXTREMELY long... like down the block and across the street long. Be prepared if waiting with kids- dress accordingly.

    (5)

  • Anna W.

    I love The Cake Boss! So, when I found out how close we would be to Hoboken, I knew that I had to make a trip to the famous Carlo's Bakery! Despite the heat, the wait to get in the store was definitely worth it! I couldn't believe there were so many people there on a weekday morning.. The line was extremely organized, and we were each handed number when we went in that was called. When my number was called inside, I was waited on personally by a worker. I bought a bag of cookies and a cupcake. Let me tell you, they were delicious. Plus, there was a little grocery store beside the bakery where I was able to get some milk to enjoy with my chocolate cupcake. I was in heaven!

    (5)

  • Deborah A.

    It is what it is.......pure hype ...based on the tv show. Waited 1 1/2 hours to get in the bakery .(I was told that wasnt bad.....wtf??) Bought cannolis, lobster tails, cream puffs, and rainbow cookies.....they were ok...but not worth waiting 90 mins for. I guess if your a tourist and you want the "experience" go....I on the other hand dont want an experience ....I want to buy really good pastries and be done with it...

    (2)

  • Iris L.

    The line was a little long, and the goodies a little pricey but the food was magic to my taste buds. I think if you are in the area, go for it. It is a classic Italian bakery. If you aren't local, I don't think its worth the trip. Overall, good food but parking stinks.

    (4)

  • Tyler R.

    CAKE BOSS - a very fitting review for the day after my 27th birthday. Regardless of the TV show and the associated fame, I've never had a better slice of cake. Ah, Italian things & baked goods - two things Jersey does exceptionally well. Do you like to wait in long lines? Well, if you want in and aren't a Hobokener then I suggest you get comfortable with the idea. People line up pretty early too - I've seen visitors stuffing their face with a 9am cupcake right outside the store. Since my GF moved to Hoboken a few years ago I've had the pleasure of consuming Carlo's cake for my last few birthdays - as have my dad and brother. Kicks the ass of an ice cream cake any day of the week. Plus I get to say "I got a cake from Cake Boss for my birthday." Relatives from out of state are very impressed by this feat. I recommend the circle cake with blue fondant and a chocolate bow tie on top. This, in my cake-consuming opinion, is the crème de la crème of sugar carb fatty delicious circles. This year - I got two cakes. My fondant favorite and an Oreo topped chocolate monstrosity. Tonight's menu - salad, water, cake, cake, and 17 hours at the gym tomorrow.

    (4)

  • Katharine B.

    I do not understand why people stand on line to get into this place. First of all, most of the baked goods are not made in-house, they are made offsite and trucked in. It's just the hype from that show that makes people feel like this is a necessary destination. There are many other bakeries in HOBO that are less expensive and much better quality.

    (2)

  • Jenny K. L.

    Got two cakes from the window with 'happy birthday' and my name added to it and they were delicious! Heavy on the fondant but beautifully used to decorate. The chocolate and vanilla inside were surprisingly moist - like two pound cakes. They were excellent!

    (5)

  • Bidisha D.

    I had the cheese cake and Fudge cake .. and all i am say is that the caskes simply melts in mouth. CARLOS makes the BESTEST BEST cake

    (5)

  • April B.

    Can't rate to food because the line was way to long. I didn't even go inside. It was raining too.

    (1)

  • Irving B.

    Pros: Great service and great canolis & lobster tails. Cons: The line to get in, the crowded line inside and the lack of actual good pastries. Food Experience: When I came here on January 4th, 2013 I honestly did not know what this place was and why we were so desperate to get in. It was cold and we still had to wait outside. Then you they give you little tickets for when you get inside. It was at least 2 hour of waiting, outside line and inside line. Then when you're finally ordering the only good pastries that ANYONE said is worth getting there is the canolis and lobster tail, so I get them. People were saying how dry the cookies are and to go to another store for cupcakes and all this stuff. HOWEVER I ate what I bought and I regretted not getting anymore because by far it was the most delicious pastries I ever had. It was finger licking good but small. Conclusion: I would recommend it for their canolis and lobster tails it was THAT good.

    (4)

  • Liza Faye T.

    Overrated. 1 Star for creativity.

    (1)

  • M F.

    A family member brought one of the fondant cakes to a holiday party. The cake was very pretty with a red and white fondant icing, bow and "merry xmas" message. However, the taste was not good at all. Everything about it was bad. The cake itself was two layers, chocolate and vanilla. Both layers were dry and had no flavor. The icing was too sweet. For the money spent, I could not even finish a small piece. If you are looking for a cake that is edible in addition to looking decorative, I would advise going somewhere else!

    (1)

  • Ann B.

    Ugh! Stay in Jersey cause you'll never survive in Brooklyn with the horrible pastries you over charge for. We bought 5 different pastries (for lack of a better word) from Carlo's because we wanted something sweet. Each of us took one bite of our pastry and threw it in the garbage. Awful doesn't come close enough to describe how crappy these pastries were. Like I said, don't come to Brooklyn...You will go broke "buddy". You have some nerve charging the people for your crap. We expect non-natives of NY to love this garbage, but you transplanted NYers? When asked after this review about $ I gave 4 $$$$ because people are being charged way too much for Buddy's.

    (1)

  • Rick G.

    The cupcakes and cannolis are fantastic!, highly recommend stopping in to the famed "Cake Boss". I went about 20 mins. before closing, and thought the freshest cannolis would be all but gone, but found that they fill them fresh in the back upon ordering! Yay!. When I called my daughter and asked if she would like some cupcakes and cannolis from Carlos' Bakery, I got a resounding Hell Ya!, she loved them and would definitely wants to go with next time I visit. Parking is not the easiest but can be found.

    (4)

  • Raza H.

    Painfully overrated compared to what it used to be before the tourists, 3 hour waits, and lines that make it impossible to walk on that side of the sidewalk. (I have lived in hoboken for 5 years, and can tell you offhand that there are at least 5 better bakeries in a 4 block radius)

    (2)

  • Naomi B.

    Ok, so I just went because I see them on tv but, meh it's ok, it was exciting, but the pastries were not anything to go crazy over. We got to meet the sister tho!!

    (2)

  • Brian L.

    45 minute wait but worth it for the Novelty type bakery... Got a chocolate covered cannoli and a mini NY Style cheesecake. All very good... Cool cakes on display. Traffic is horrible going in and out and parking is here duos especially with the snowbanks etc... Good old Hoboken!

    (4)

  • Nicole N.

    Iconic bakery! Long line but moves pretty fast. Love the showcase full of small cakes for purchase and the wall of pictures. Makes the place feel less commercialized and more home-y. Lobster tails are my absolute fave here! I thought the the small cookies were a bit pricey by pound but have not had the pleasure of trying them yet.

    (3)

  • Sharon V.

    My hubby had only one request on our recent road trip. Between Philadelphia and Montauk, NY, we HAD to make a stop at Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken. I of course, didn't have a problem with it because I'm a fan of Cake Boss myself. We listened to the advice of many other reviews and planned to arrive before the lunch or dinner rush. We arrived at 11am and the line was just to the door and still took 20 minutes to get to the cashier. I couldn't imagine how long the wait would be if you were around the corner. The store itself is pretty dated but knowing the families history here, it didn't bother me. Pictures of the family, accomplishments, press announcements are plastered along the wall which were neat to see. Especially the picture of Buddy's father in the bakery. Very sweet. As we started to take in all the baked goods, we could not decide what we wanted to take home. I wanted to take one of everything...and we practically did. Since we made the trip out here from California, we wanted to sample a little of everything. In the end, we decided on the following: 1 almond biscotti 1 chocolate almond biscotti 1 lobster tail 1 chocolate cannoli 1 regular cannoli 1 custard tart 1 butter cookie dipped in chocolate 2 eclairs 1 chocolate rugelach 1 crumb cake 1 red velvet cupcake ....all for the bargain price of $14. Everything was absolutely delicious and some of the best pastries and cookies I've had. Each were fantastic and it would be impossible to pick a favorite. If this place were near home, I'd be in some serious trouble. I am a BIGGER fan of Carlo's Bakery after our recent visit here. A return to the area can't come soon enough.

    (5)

  • Kiet L.

    Not worth the wait nor the trouble. The pastries, cookies and many of the things they offer are OK at best. We got a collection of their baked goods and nothing was even close to being outstanding. Prices are high to boot.

    (2)

  • Steve W.

    I'll keep this short and as sweet as I can. You want a cake with fondant this is your place Sadly though since striking it rich from reality TV and expanding their operations I find the wait the price and quality to have taken a hit

    (3)

  • Saeeun B.

    We waited 45 min in line for this place, received a ticket for our number to be called out once we got into the bakery. Once you get in I'm pretty sure all the people being in there all at once violates some kind of code b/c it get so packed you can't walk around to see anything. It was bad for us since it was a hot day, wasn't cool inside so we're all stranded in one place bumping into sweaty strangers trying to leave the shop, yuck. The lobster tails and canolis are amazing, the red velvet and chocolate cupcakes are okay. Can't say that they're worth the wait on a hot summer day though, go to get over the hype.

    (4)

  • Sourma K.

    The great brownie ever sold! Yes, from all the thing I could have had at Carlo's for the first time I had the brownie just don't even pay anymore attention to this review go out and get it and see for yourself. Also, the staff was super nice and patient. I love to see the fame hasn't gotten to their heads.

    (5)

  • Priscilla A.

    After seeing this Bakery on Cake Boss (TV Show) I couldn't wait to try them out. Little did I know it was going to be a long wait to get served... It took about 2 hours to get inside the door but it was completely worth it in my opinion. I mean it is on tv... Got there around 1pm and finally stepped in the door around 3pm. There is a line in front of the door that holds about 15 people and then another line across the block with about 50+ people waiting to get a ticket. We stood in front of that CVS (3 of us) for about an hour and twenty until we officially got a ticket. *Literally a number ticket. Once we got the ticket maybe 20 minutes later we moved to the next line in front of the door and it was minutes until we got inside. So go there with time on you because you're estimating at least 1.5-2 hour wait until inside the door. The staff was friendly and moved quick considering it was a holiday weekend. My opinion of what we got 1 Poor - 5 Great: Red Velvet Cup Cake -- 4 Carrot Cup Cake -- 5 Sugar Sprinkle Cookie -- 1 *Too Hard M n M Cookie -- 5 *Perfectly Moist Tray of cookies *they have them displayed -- 3 Triple Chocolate cookie -- 3 *Subway has better one's... Way better Pecan Wedge -- 1 *Too Hard. Save your money. Berry Cheese Cake -- 4 Mini Red Velvet Cake -- 4 Chocolate and Cheese Rugelach -- 4 *Yummy! Never tried it but definitely will get again. *Yes the pastries are pricey. But we also got a lot. We spent about $90 and my best friend spent about $105.

    (4)

  • Rachel A.

    Hoboken no joken, what's the deal with Carlo? Nobody knows him by that name anymore. It's Cake Boss and the line proves it. I have walked by Carlo's Bakery for years and there was never a line. I walked in once and walked out empty handed. Everything just looked typical and kind of meh. A few years later, Hollywood changes the neighborhood and the game. I returned with my out of town guests and since I don't live in Jersey anymore either, I guess I was just as much a tourist. Hell, I was even excited about visiting. A trip to Carlo's is a bit chaotic. The line stretches two blocks and moves like snails. A guy comes by to give you a ticket for your place in line. Once in, it is a madhouse and packed with people. You can't even see what is being sold. We left with the following: 5 chocolate dipped cannoli 5 plain cannoli 2 St. Patrick's Day horns 1 Lobster Tail 1 brownie a dozen cookies Everything was great and what you would expect from any other Italian bakery. I only wish they would follow suit in organization. How about a proper line inside like Ferrara's? The cakes are not pretty and the tables inside are now gone to accommodate the crowd. Carlo's Bakery is not for lounging anymore. Take the goods and get out of there. Congrats if you don't get a free spinning headache on your way out. Was it worth the wait? Yeah... Make an event out of it. Otherwise don't waste your time or your $2 on the PATH train.

    (4)

  • N D.

    The place is overrated. The cupcakes are the best. The cheesecake was fresh and good. The dark chocolate mousse cake was overly sweet.

    (3)

  • Madhuvika M.

    What to expect at Carlos Bakery: 1. Parking is almost impossible. 2. Expect a long queue. Go on a weekday morning (for a shorter queue). Weekends/ holidays are a strict NO NO. 3. Everything looks great. 4. Its all affordable. 5. If you are a group. Take turns to wait in line, the rest can (pretend to) shop at the rite-aid or at the other stores nearby. 6. If you have out-of-town friends or if you wan to impress anyone, bring them here. 7. There is nothing special about how the cakes/cookies taste. (But they do look fabulous that make you want to buy the entire store).

    (4)

  • Ella L.

    Just like many of the other customers out there, I was extremely excited to go try the oh-so famous treats that the Cake Boss has to offer. Unfortunately, like many, I was disappointed. To start off, I'd like to say that I'd gone just recently with my boyfriend and we didn't have to wait in line to get inside; we stepped in, took a number, and were called a few minutes later. However, after examining their selection, I noticed nothing stood out. They had the typical run-of-the-mill italian cookies and a few interesting pastries. The more 'complex' cookies, such as the seven layered ones, were more expensive than the plain cookies and had to be ordered at a different counter. This was already a let down. We were told that the plain cookies would run us about 13$ a pound. I'm sorry, what? Thirteen dollars for one pound? That's outrageous. Back in brooklyn I could have purchased twice that amount for that price. (And honestly, they'd probably taste better, too) Regardless, we figured we'd try out the cookies. After all, that is why we drove here. We ordered a few of the typical cookies, such as the plain kind with sprinkles, jam dipped in chocolate with sprinkles, and a few others, and none of them stood out to us. We intended on ordering cannoli's, but they didn't have any. On a side note, they did have some presentable cakes and pastries on their shelves. Unfortunately, I didn't intend on spending so much money on cakes that may not even be that special. For a typical bakery, they're good. But if you consider the fact that they have their own tv show, and are always being complimented and honored for their 'delicious' concoctions, you'd be very confused as to why. Honestly, they were nothing special. Just a typical bakery. Maybe, even less than the average bakery if I compare them to the ones in my neighborhood or the city. If you intend on visiting the bakery as a tourist attraction, then you'll probably get a little excitement. However, if you plan on purchasing high quality sweets, I suggest you buy them somewhere else and save yourself the cash and disappointment.

    (2)

  • Lisa G.

    I have to admit I wasn't really impressed. I have been to better bakeries. Not much to pick from. One food case featured all cupcakes. I thought this was an Italian bakery. Save yourself the 2 - 3 hour wait to get in and go somewhere else. Was very disappointed with the coffee cake. Purchased two at the time. One for my family and another for my uncle who raved about the coffee cake at the NY City location. When we got it home it was about 1/4 inch cake and 2 inches of topping. The cake was hard and not moist. I'd like to think they can do better. The inside of the bakery was dingy. With all that money your making you should invest in a nicer inside. The storefront gives you an impression that you are going to be walking into a really nice, clean bakery. NOT the case. You be the judge, but be warned that you will be waiting in a line for hours just to see what I am talking about.

    (1)

  • Gabe L.

    I make a special trip to Carlos in Hoboken to get the cannolis to share with my family and friends . Note that my family hates cannolis from anywhere else. When I said try these cannolis, they refused. With a little persuasion, I got 'em to try it and they are now hooked. Thanks Carlos bakery for making the best cannolis ever! Worth the short wait (hint I go right before they close). Note to Buddy and staff... Please make sure westfield is following the same recipe bc their cannolis are not as good. When I mean not as good... Let me clarify, there were left over cannolis at the end of coffee time when I went to westfield. That never happens when I pick em up from Hoboken.

    (5)

  • April J.

    We had to do the tourist thing which is fun every once and a while. We got a later start which I regret now but after being in the line for a while it's sunk costs. It was a Sunday which is the problem. After waiting over 2 hours to get in the store, we waited another 1 inside before our number was called. However the system they have worked out is the best that I can think of. People who were behind us in line and had a higher number pushed through and blocked the cases, really people? You can barely tell what you want to buy, some of the items didn't even have signs. Thankfully I'm tall enough to see over and can make quick decisions to pick what I want. The staff was helpful and friendly. The staff does take their time however everyone deserves a turn after waiting so long. Customers also jeopardize time and patience by buying any and everything and we had to wait 10 minutes while people decided which t-shirts they wanted. I loved the brownies, they are definitely rich. The cookies are okay, I've definitely had better. So went for the experience, enjoyed the treats but won't do anything like that ever again if I can help it.

    (3)

  • Aldo V.

    OMG - if you are even around this place over a weekend you will witness the absolute spectacle that is the line to get in. Yeah he's the Cake Boss - but come on people - I have had a better cannoli in California. 1 extra star for the Lobster Tail - It was crunchy and delicious.

    (3)

  • Dave F.

    The good: love the canolis, love the lobster tails. Love actually doesn't do it for the lobster tails... they are divine. The bad: the cookies. None of them were that good. The even worse: all of the massive amounts of tourists who line up, every day, for hours at a time for a freaking cookie. The "haha - suckers" moment: if you are a Hoboken resident with a Hoboken driver's license, you can skip the line and enjoy the dirty looks you get from all of the tourists when you do.

    (4)

  • Christina L.

    Over rated. Let's face it, they are an italian bakery, and their cakes are not very good...particularly the red velvet cupcakes and the red velvet chocolate covered dome things. There are far better bakeries so stay away from this one. Only reason to come here is to bring out of town guests who are fans of the show.

    (1)

  • Danielle C.

    First of all, I actually moved to Hoboken before I had even heard of the show Cake Boss (this is what happens when you go without cable for like 4 years), so I definitely didn't visit this bakery for the show. Do know that if you are a Hoboken resident you can bypass the giant line that often forms outside this bakery by showing the "bouncers" your Hoboken license. I think the cookies here are actually quite good! They have an assortment of flavors, and often have seasonal ones (like for Valentine's Day, heart cookies, etc.). I really liked these small star shaped chocolate cookies - it was just the right amount of chocolate and sweet. SO GOOD. They also have a lot of shortbread varieties, which are pretty good too and just melt in your mouth. I got some that were half dipped in chocolate. Do know that I got like 8 cookies and the total came out to be around $6, so this place is not that cheap! I've had their red velvet cupcakes - they're all right, but I think there are better ones to be had around the NYC area. I think sometimes the clientele here can be pretty nasty -- this morning I saw a few people demanding why they didn't have certain cake flavors, and one person was like, "I WANT MY CAKE NOW" -- sheesh. Makes for a terrible environment to buy sweets. My co-worker has brought in some cake before from Carlos' - the cake we had was pretty soft and the icing tasted pretty good (and not overly sickeningly sweet) - the fruit on the cake makes for an awesome touch. Anyway, this is a pretty decent bakery (surprised me!) but be warned that the line can stretches down the block or two. Lines tend to be long during weekends and/or nice days (especially summers when school is out).

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    I grew up in Hudson County. I sampled Carlo's goods BEFORE the TV show and his success. They sucked then and they suck now. I even gave his bakery a few tries, because I really wanted to like it. But everything they offer is just God-awful. I tell ya, this guy seriously lucked out with the show. This made him and his ridiculous bakery. Now naive tourists line up here to get a taste of the terrible concoctions. When I see them taking pix by the storefront, it makes me sad. They came all this way from who-knows-where to sample the crappiest baked goods in Hoboken and possibly NJ. Save your money. There are plenty of better bakeries in Hoboken where you don't have to stand in line to buy a freakin' canoli.

    (1)

  • N C.

    We waited in line for about 1 hour 15 minutes. They come out and give you a ticket and you can walk around and just come back a little while later. The canoli was outstanding, the chocolate cake we got was incredible. I would totally recommend this place and if your a fan of the show it is totally worth going. I do wish they didnt let so many people in the store at one time. I would have totally purchased more items if I could see more of what they had to offer.

    (5)

  • Dahoniel P.

    A line to get in the door. On a hot summer day in Hoboken, prepare to wait a little before entering through the doors! Never having watched Cake Boss, i didn't know what all the fuss was about and it was an eye opener to see so many people lined to get into the Bakery for a glimpse or taste. It was definitely a hit for the locals around, because it was the only place on the block flooded full of people trying to get in. We waited in line and an employee at the door ushered people in as they left and he did a fine job at doing so in a timely and orderly manner. He handed our order tickets, so that once we entered, things would move a little smoother. Upon enetering, it is beautifully decorated on the inside with posters and pasteries galore, and you then understand why so many people have flocked! It was hard to really get an idea of the prices because of the fact that so many people were tucked together, but it had it's variances and I am sure they had their extreme lows to highs. We didn't take long to order and ended up leaving with delicious-looking cupcakes for the family. All in all, this was definitely an experience. Plan a trip early because it seems as though the hype wont go down for a long time at Carlo's. There is a rich history and the hype surrounding the nationally known 'Cake Boss' has definitely helped it's business and appeal moving forward. I enjoyed the thrill and would recommend any food lover in general to check it out anytime they are in town.

    (3)

  • Rudy C.

    The streetsinger outfront seemed the happiest person around this place, and most inviting...and he isn't even an emplyee! Disappointing atmosphere...the "crowd controller" scowls ruin it before you even walk in. Once inside you quickly notice clutter and lots of dust on the display "dummy cakes". Goodies were just okay, but the cannolies were the best I ever had. If it wasn't for the tv show, this place would be average. Lots of better bakeries out there. Who wants to go to a place that doesn't offer seating to enjoy yourself? Recommend buddy focus more on the home business before it gets away from him.

    (2)

  • Nora P.

    The one in New York. This was the worst customer service. Buddy or whomever hired these people they need to be retrained! Awful customer service. They were acting like they were on break all day long. I came twice within the weekend and both times I and others experience the same frustration. Buddy your employees are not professional and do not give good customer service!!! I'm sure your mother would be so disappointed how her family bakery is being run in New York!! The only person working was a young man. I believe his name is Terrell. As far as the Bakery I didn't get to enjoy it as I was so frustrated with the employees behavior and lack of customer service.

    (1)

  • Angela K.

    Omygoodness the lines! Its a constant madhouse in here. There is now one or two in the city which should help but on weekends its still slammed here. I've tried a couple cupcakes, the best was the chocolate cupcake filled with cheesecake. The rest were just ok, or not so good.

    (3)

  • Terry A.

    We read reviews and we ready to wait in line for a couple of hours with our two girls who love the show. So on Monday morning (day after the 4th of July) we took the PATH train and walked a few blocks over to the bakery, then walked right in - No Wait!! The kids loved the brownies and cookies, grownups liked cannoli and lobster tails. We loved not feeling rushed and getting to watch the staff making pastries. A really nice way to end our NY vacation.

    (4)

  • Jenny-Marie D.

    Honestly I was pleasantly surprised we visited at about 3:00pm on a Thursday and I was a little worried about the kind of lines we were going to encounter. We got to the bakery and I actually thought that they were closed when we walked up. No lines! No waiting! We walked right in pick out our delicious pastries and left. There really isn't any seating to hang out but we were happy to take everything to go. In total we spent about $30 a little pricey but you are really paying for the brand, atmosphere, and memories

    (5)

  • Ron S.

    Good cannoli. Among the best ever. Big line. Line in Manhattan under bus station was longer. Parking sucks. Local lot was $15 regardless of time. Found a spot on the street 5 blocks away for&1 per hour, but took about 10 minutes to find. Wanted a lobster tail but were sold out at 3pm.

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    My first time here and I tried their cupcakes. They were beyond amazing! I also got a cake I believe it was Oreos cookies and cream. That also was a thumbs up. It was all delicious. My brother was so excited to come here. And I know why!

    (5)

  • Connie H.

    So delicious! Got to chat a bit with Madeline. Neat place! So much to pick from. We stopped at about 10:30am on a Wednesday. Not much wait time at all. Cannolis were awesome! Cookies were delicious. My daughter said the chocolate covered Strawberries were like heaven. Soft milk chocolate that didn't break off after one bite.

    (5)

  • Zei K.

    I definitely enjoy the Cake boss show and before living in NY (mid 2014), I wanted to come and see this place at all cost. But since I've become a local, I went back yesterday and after spending $10.50 for 3 supposedly large but really barely medium chocolate covered cannolis, I wondered why did I come back here? Well there was absolutely no line and I felt like a chocolate covered cannoli. The truth is, this is exaggeratedly overpriced. I mean 3.50 for 1 barely medium cannoli is just too much. There are SOOO many Italian bakeries in NY/NJ if you are a local with much better value and taste actually, including the lobster tails. So personally I will be sticking with those from now on. Cool to see and try once but that's it. All the power to Buddy though because obviously people love him and his brand enough to pay those prices and smile since there are hour long lines throughout summer, spring and the weekends.

    (2)

  • Camille A.

    I was in Jersey for the weekend so I came here. Wanted to see what the hype was about. Parking was a pain. Took me at least twenty minutes to find parking. The lines was to bad. Staff was able to take care of customers very quickly. The staff was very nice and professional. In terms of the pastries, way to expensive. Got six items spent ten dollars. It was good but it wasn't amazing. I just came here because I watched his show.

    (3)

  • Danny B.

    This place is more an attraction than it is a bakery. The lines are always long, the place is cramped and it's pretty pricey. The pastries are good, but not out of this world like the show makes it seem. I want to come back and give them another shot though.

    (3)

  • Karisa D.

    I know, I know, it's Carlo's Bakery, from TLC's CakeBoss. But I couldn't help it. I found myself in Hoboken and figure since I'm already here, I might as well go. It's not like I'm in Hoboken every day. When we got to Carlo's Bakery, our initial thought that the line wasn't too long. But when we came up to the sign, we saw that the line continued across the street, it turned out the line was much longer. Embracing the Carlo's Bakery experience, we waited in line for about an hour. When we finally got inside the bakery, it was packed. It's much smaller than I thought based on what I had seen on TV. But it did smell amazing inside. The way I described the smell to my family was it smelled like waffle cones were being constantly made (which is a smell I like). Thankfully we had time to think about what we wanted. This is what I bought: Mini Canoli, chocolate chip Rugelah, and 2 chocolate nutella cream puffs. The canoli alone made the trip worth it. It was delicious; the filling was rich but not overpowering. My other favorite were the Rugelah. I wish I had gotten more flavors to try though. I am curious to know how they taste. So yes, Carlo's has a loooong line. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you don't like to wait or don't have the time to wait. They do have an order online feature and pick up. Not sure how it works, but could be worth looking in to. The line brings it down a star, but it is good pasty place.

    (3)

  • canddes D.

    Very disappointed. Cake was not ready when they said it would be waited 35 mins more while my ride had to keep circling cause we all know Hoboken and parking! The 9inch cake was 96.00 (exorbitant and a plain rip off) The girl promised me a credit on my next order and three weeks later still no credit! Also I was promised a bill and order confirmation via email which never arrived. So when I went to pick up they couldn't find the cake. Then I noticed a baker working on a cake that looked like what I had ordered so I identified it as being mine. Once they verified that I had to wait till she finished decorating it. Then they couldn't find the correct size box. So I waited again patiently. What's worse is when they called to find out how I liked everything and I told them they offered and promised a credit!! I didnt complain or ask!!!! and then they have the nerve to forget and to make that even worse never sending the credit even till now!!! Disappointing experience over all. Just want to add I am an old customer buying from this bakery before he was "the cake boss"!!! Since 1997!!! That's 20 years!!! I did a consultation with him for my engagement at that time and he was very humble and nice !! He had to be he was just a baker then! Not a boss!!! Wonder if Buddy knows how this place is being run now?? Or is he too BIG of a boss now to care! This is proof that money does change the quality of a place sadly for the worse!

    (2)

  • Alicia S.

    Fantastic place! My family and I met in Jersey for my nephew's birthday. All he wanted for his 10th birthday was a cake from the Cake Boss. My sister ordered the cake and it was an easy process and they were very helpful. We had some pastries while we were there. Everyone in our group LOVED their pastries. My daughter and I split the a gluten free option which was one of the best gluten free desserts we've had. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Mauro was there and he was very friendly. My nephew got his picture taken with him which made his day!! All in all I would say that coming here was well worth the cross county trip.

    (5)

  • Dee G.

    With utter skepticism and hearing so much hype for YEARS about Carlo's, I finally decided to give him a try. What is this chocolate creation that I'm devouring at 2sps (spoonfuls per second) without ceasing? Is it a mousse? Is it a half brother of a cheesecake? Why is it so dense, rich, delectable, and leaving me insatiable? As yes, of course... because this is what heaven must taste like. I actually detest mousse, it's always been on the "airy" side. But heaven opened it's gates of renewal to me today. Thank you Carlo, I put my thoughts of your pretension aside and now we can gleefully approach our diabetic days ahead together with ease.

    (5)

  • Luis J.

    I completely love this place! We got to meet the sister of Carlos. Too bad he was in Brazil.:) However, I enjoyed the cakes and cookies they have. Staff is friendly and helpful, and did everything in a neat way! Really hope they open one in California some day! :)

    (5)

  • Asish P.

    Stopped by there to pick up a cake for my niece's birthday. Picked up a 7 inch red velvet... and also picked up a few of their mini cakes for the family. I had called earlier to make sure it would not take an hour to get the cake... but they said there was no line, and we should be ok. Got to Hoboken, Parked, and was in the shop within a few mins. Quick in and out, and I was on my way. The small mini white chocolate mousse cake was good. Unfortunately, the red velvet birthday cake was not great. Flavor was decent, however it did not seem fresh at all. Oh well, at least we gave it a try.

    (3)

  • Brett B.

    As good as you think it would be! Did not disappoint. The lobster tail was ridiculously good, and my family's personal favorite are the brownies! The whole atmosphere of the bakery is just something you must experience once. Thanks Carlo!

    (5)

  • Jennifer P.

    So seriously I was not expecting good things from this place. I figured all the hype was because they were on TV and by now they've let it get to their heads and were probably churning out sub par pastries to the tourist mobs outside their door! So I was pleasantly surprised to find their pastries were exceptionally tasty and we enjoyed everything we picked. I will definitely be craving Carlo's goodies again!

    (4)

  • Mindy R.

    It was cool to visit what we had only seen on TV, and we enjoyed the experience. Quick in and out, tasty baked goods. Staff was nice. Seemed a little disorganized though. I kind of thought they'd have set up a rail or something to help move the crowds through more easily. There was confusion at the register because they weren't sure who came up first.

    (4)

  • Adrianna A.

    After watching the show I was very excited to visit Carlos Bake Shop, Located in Hoboken NJ. I'm a person that loves family owner and operated business because frankly I think business with old "tradition don't exist much anymore. This place was far from old fashioned and traditional. I waited in the line outside in 100 degree weather for about 1.5 hours. Finally they let more than one person it. Once I walked in I waited another 35 minutes to be helped. I was expected an old fashioned, traditional italian bakery and it was the COMPLETE Opposite. I guess when businesses start making money they have to show it off and lose their sense of tradition. I ordered a few things, 50 later 80% of it was thrown away. The red velvet cupcakes were so dry and ugh, the cannolis, which their know for was horrible. You can get a better Cannoli at shoprite and I also tried their Italian rainbow cookies. They were worse. I really had high expectations and I was severely let down. I would rather give my money to small mom and pop bakery that's have been around for a while who aren't on tv than a bakery who dishes out garbage and is only famous because of the show.

    (1)

  • Elv A.

    Love their tiramisu and lobster tails! We were there around 1:30, and their wait line wasn't too bad. Plus, don't forget to check out the view of NY city at their local park.

    (5)

  • Wei V.

    This place is totally overrated. If it's not for the TV show, they won't have a long line in front of their shop. In general, the desserts were too sweet for my taste. I would rather go to the Old Germany Bakery instead.

    (3)

  • Barbara S.

    This was cool and disappointing at the same time. It was cool to be at THE bakery. Ya know, like seeing a national landmark or the place where something famous happened. I adore baking so I was looking forward to trying Buddy's bakery in addition to just being there. The taste was just meh. My cannolis sucked. I guess that's what happens when it goes from a family business to a madhouse. Everyone who helps you behind the counter is a disgruntled teenager. Get there before opening. I'm glad we did. The place gets baked and the line never ends. We met Mauro. He was miserable too. Oh well. I would recommended getting a picture outside in front of the bakery to say you've been there and then just leave.

    (2)

  • Gabriel S.

    Wow the wait sucks but was worth it can't wait to pig out like a fat kid he he

    (5)

  • Carlos I.

    After 3 failed attempts I finally had the opportunity to go inside Carlo's bakery. I have gone in 2006, 2010 and 2013 only to find extremely long lines and pass on the opportunity. This time around I believe thanks to the weather and time we got to go inside! At 9 am with crazy winds and chilling cold we walked right up to Carlo's bakery without a line! Finally!!! The lobster tail was great, the brownie was awesome! I did not give the 5th star because she forgot to pack our cannoli, when we got to the car and opened the box everything else was there except the cannoli. It was just way too cold and windy to walk back for it. Maybe next time!

    (4)

  • Dawn D.

    Excellent brownies and the prices aren't bad considering the size of them and the cupcakes are good not excellent but good.

    (5)

  • angela h.

    Yes it was good! It was delish! I have been to the time square location, and the Hoboken location was better in experience, and in taste. So excited I finally had the opportunity to make it here! Things I got: Cannoli: my bf refused to try it because we had one before and it was not worth it. But, I was surprised that he actually took a bite and said he loved it! You must eat it fresh when you get it, don't wait to bring it home. Lobster tail: omg, so creamy in the inside and crunchy and flakey on the outside... Even after it's been in the fridge and eaten the next day. It was sooo good. The portion is pretty big. Dark chocolate mouse: to die for, light, sweet but not too sweet. It was heavenly. Even after it melted in the heat.... Lol. My bf doesn't eat chocolate but he thought it was pretty good. Cheesecake: haven't eaten it yet... Getting there. Cupcake: little better than the average. Hoboken is such a neat town. You have to walk around and make sure you walk to the pier to see the skyline view if NYC ... And hangout. Awesome little town.

    (5)

  • David M.

    I live in Hoboken, so I see people lined up to get pastries at Carlo's every day while I am headed to Taco Truck. What they don't know is that the pastries aren't very good. Tourists come to get a taste after seeing the TV show, but having lived here for 28 years, and tasted the good many times, I would suggest enjoying the show, but never eating the cakes. If you want really good baked goods, go to The Little Pie Company on 43rd St between 9th and 10th, and skip the new locations at Port Authority. Carlo may be an entertaining TV personality, but he isn't a very good baker.

    (1)

  • Anthony J.

    Before it was the pop-culture attraction that it is today, we used to go into Carlo's from time to time to grab some pastries or cupcakes and sit down and have them with some coffee. It was never the best bakery in town, in my opinion, but it was good. That experience is gone. Now the only time we ever go there is when our out-of-town relatives beg us to pick something up for them. The cake is good, but again not my favorite. They have a very distinct style of cake and icing. And obviously their decorative cakes are impressive. Luckily, if you can show that you live in Hoboken, you can forego the massive line and walk right in. But the days of sitting down and having a little something to eat in peace are over.

    (3)

  • Celine T.

    came here after the Times Square location forgot something in our order and told us to come here to get it. The place is nicely renovated, and has an area where you can see the bakers pipe cream, make cakes, etc. the service we got from Josh was awesome. he helped us with our mix-up order and with another order. there was one incident with the worker and the customers in front of me. apparently, they prioritize Hoboken residents instead of the first come-first serve basis and the people in front of me were a bit upset about that.

    (4)

  • Travel G.

    Can you believe there was no line to get in? It was a Sunday afternoon and once inside you are asked to take a number. We only had 7 people in front of us! Great staff, great experience, great cupcakes!! Also took some packaged cookies home for a friend in a signature box. It was only $8!!

    (5)

  • Kelly S.

    We bought a variety of items from the shop. The Italian pastries like cannoli and the lobster tail were very good. The cheesecake was very good. The vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream frosting was average. The lines were very long. It took us on a Saturday afternoon more than an hour to wait in line, get served and pay. I might wait that long again for the cannoli and lobster tail, but definitely not for the cake. The Italian style cookies were good but not spectacular.

    (3)

  • Eric D.

    What happened to this place what a difference a year makes service was horrible the girls were more involved in conversations with each other it's been a year since I been back was not to busy still a 20 min wait the freshness is gone the prices are still a little much

    (1)

  • Sulbey R.

    this is a nice tourist spot and I love the way they remodel it, but the prices on everything they have is super ridiculous expensive.. A small one person cake is $20,6 cannolis for $12 etc... other than that it's good..

    (4)

  • Arthur G.

    My wife and I were in Hoboken recently and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I realize Carlos' is a reality TV star and also realize that "reality" TV is not always "real". What really matters to me is, how good are the pastries, service and décor inside. Décor was what is was. A bakery and nothing more. But really, does that matter? I don't think so. What matters is the food and from an artistic standpoint, I've seen few displays as colorful and beautiful, yet simply arranged, as Carlos'. Very well done and certainly the presentation can make you want to try something. I also liked the fact that they took into account the other holidays (Hannukah) and had several pastries and cakes that reflected that. Very nice touch. The service was adequate but not what I would consider friendly or unfriendly. It was just there. They did a good job of filling my order but didn't have time to make any small talk. Maybe a few more smiles behind the counter would be nice, but I don't think they were unfriendly. Lastly, why do you go into this place? It's for the food, the pastries, the sweets, the cakes. And that they do exceptionally well. The pecan snowballs were adequately sweet, not overdone, moist and flavorful and really out of this world. To me, the test of a great place is how they do the small things. Pecan snowballs may not seem like much, but putting the time into making them right means that they'll do the same with the big things. And based on the crowd that I saw in there, few of them tourists, they do the small and large things right. I wish there was a way to rate each aspect of the store. Service I would give 3 stars, food 4.5, décor 3. I hate having to rate something a three when in essence the most important aspect of the store, the food, deserves much higher.

    (3)

  • Kain E.

    No line !!! Cannoli yumm.. lobster tail, strawberry eclair , coffee all great !!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • S K.

    Cakes are excellent. Crumb cakes and apple strudel were the worst I have ever had. Way over priced too. Tourist trap, not everything is good....

    (2)

  • Jennifer T.

    Everyone says the lobster tails are the must have. However I had an apple turnover that was perfect. I could've had one every day for a month at least and not be tired of it.

    (5)

  • Teri H.

    Stopped by on my recent trip to NJ. I'm glad I did, so I can say I have been here. Took a few pictures and thought that the line wasn't too bad...I was wrong lol. The line in font of the store wasn't too bad, but they keep that portion of the line to a minimum. They pull about 20 people at a time from the longer line that is across the street in front of the CVS. I found that the people at the front of the CVS line had been there for close to 3 hours. There was NO WAY I was going to wait that long! Snapped a few pictures and was glad to find out that there is a Cake Boss store in Times Square. That's where I headed. It was only a 15 minute wait there. Chocolate eclairs (Excellent!! The puff pastry was incredible and the filling was very generous and very good), mini Boston Cream Pie was very good (the one bite that I got because I got it for my hubby lol), the Cannoli are just amazing! Crunchy on the outside and a thick, rich and creamy filling! Not very sweet as i have read in other reviews. SO GOOD! I also picked up 3 fondant cookies. These were oh so yummy! The fondant on them is incredibly tasty. I have NEVER liked ANY fondant that I have tried. They always have a nasty taste to them. Not so for the fondant used to decorate these cookies. I am glad that he has a store in Las Vegas. I'm not too far from there and can get my goodies to go! YAY! I really want more cookies lol! I would have given a 5 star if the wait was reasonable. I figured I could rate the treats on here too since IT IS the same recipes used no matter what location you are at.

    (4)

  • Carla E.

    I've heard horror stories about the lines over here, but I went on a Saturday in the afternoon and only had maybe one or two people in front of me. The weather has been pretty cold, so that probably has a lot to do with it. They said some of their most popular items are the coffee cake, canoli, and lobster tail. They were out of the lobster tail, but said they would be ready in half an hour so I ordered and went back for it. It was so worth it, that was by far my favorite thing! The cream inside was not too sweet, I guess a bit similar to cool whip (but better), and it was perfectly flaky, yumm! I had the chcocolate peanut butter and, red velvet cupcake. The chocolate one was better, the peanut butter cream was delicious, cake portion was so so. I also ordered the coffee cake, which is tasty, but not super sweet. I enjoy my pastries a little more on the sweet side, but this would go perfect with a latte. You can take a nice little walk to the park, which is about 3 blocks down with the pastries for a lovely morning snack and view.

    (3)

  • Patrick H.

    Very good customer service. Friendly staff. I even saw Buddy in the store while filming. As for the food, unfortunately, I did really want to love it, it was about average or a little above average. This may be because my expectations were high. I got a black and white cookie. It had a good flavor but may have been a day old as it was partly crunchy. The American Napoleon was ok but nothing to write home about. As for the canolli it was about what one expects from a good Jersey bakery but not outstanding. Overall kinda of a fun place if you catch th filming but nothing to go out of your way for.

    (3)

  • Alice V.

    Super-crowded, so watch out. Their Lobster Tail is amazing, a lot of other stuff is good, but I doubt it's worth that long of a wait - i think this place is hyped up a lot because of Cake Boss. I would still go to get an occasional Lobster Tail, but stick to non-rush-hours :)

    (4)

  • Somchai I.

    had to visit this place i love the show and i love baking lol. it really does look like the show! haha you can see the staircase they use and the little area he uses to talk to people. it gets quite busy so be ready! a quick walk from the path. i of course had canollis, cheese cake, cream puffs, carrot cakes. i def didnt finish each one but i sure did try haha. never had a canolli before but it tasted good, not great but good. the hero is the pastry cream which wasnt overly sweet. i def want a specialty cake from there haha.

    (5)

  • Carl L.

    When I moved to Hoboken, I promised I wouldn't go here on principle. The whole "if everyone else likes it, then I'm definitely too cool for it" thing. Furthermore, I used to openly make fun of people on line for baked goods at 8am in summer. That being said, I caved because my sister said they do make good cannoli's. I like good cannoli's. If I had to wait on line for hours here, I wouldn't dream of coming here. No pastry is worth waiting more then a few minutes. I don't care if the good Lord himself came from Heaven and made the cream himself for Buddy in the back...I'm not waiting for an hour for my cannoli (and probably freezing my butt off to boot). Since I live in town, I get to cut the line. It's great and I get my goods. The cannoli's are actually good and fresh and the cookies are really delicious. I recommend the little chocolate sandwich ones with the Nutella in the middle. I've read a few reviews of people saying employees in here aren't friendly. I'll be blunt. They aren't. But here's a news flash...this is Hoboken. When I go into any type of establishment and get treated well, quite frankly, I'm surprised. In my mind, the surly treatment comes with the territory. If I wanted to be treated well by people in stores, I'd move somewhere where people are generally nicer. Oh for the record, the coffee here isn't half bad. The coffee tastes like coffee. They have various types of milk and sugar to put in the coffee if you desire. If you're a cannoli fan, definitely pay Carlos a visit...but only if you live here or know someone who does.

    (4)

  • T H.

    We stopped by the bakery mid morning on June 2,2014. There was a short wait after taking a number. The young man who waited on us was wonderful and patient after taking our order he told us to wait while he put it together. We got lobster tails, cannoli's , chocolate brownie w/nuts, and cookies . He checked with us to see if we wanted anything else before taking us to the register. Great service . Oh and the baked goods were fantastic and fresh we were not disappointed . What a great experience in Hoboken. Thanks staff of Carlos .

    (5)

  • Erin L.

    Delicious pastries and beautiful storefront to go along with it. Order the lobster tail.. It's great. Not too busy when we went and the staff was very helpful! I wanted to purchase a sweatshirt but they didn't have the one I wanted in my size, but was told I can order online :) great experience and love the show!

    (5)

  • Desiree M.

    I was so excited and yet a lil nervous to try this place I wasn't sure if it really was the greatest. I had to try it for myself and it really was the bomb!! I waited in line for 3 hrs and I had a taste of just about everything I walked out of there spending $65 dollars lol the wait was worth it and their pastries were something I've never ate. Their famous lobster tail and Cannolis are seriously something else!! In a great way I absolutely FELL IN LOVE with this place can't wait to come back again

    (5)

  • Joe C.

    The cakes look great but expensive as heck! $33 for like a 8 inch cake, $20 for a 1 pound bag of cookies? Definitely cashing in on his fame here with high prices. If you go to the shop be prepared to wait in a line outside of the bakery for awhile like an amusement ride. Once its your turn they give you a ticket number and you can go in and look around. Its crowded as heck inside so there is not much looking around. They definitely need a bigger store or at least not let so many in at once because once inside it was another 45 minutes before they called our number. He did have a nice assortment of cannolis. I had to buy a few to compare to my grandmothers recipe and found out that my grandma could make one heck of a canoli! I liked the buttercream but Carlos Bakery still has some learning to do when it comes to some of their recipes. Sure they can make them pretty but the taste on some of the baked goods needs a little work.

    (2)

  • Gloria J.

    What's the big deal with this place?? The lines are always too long, the croissant is not flaky and dry, it actually tasted like it was from the coffee cart in NYC corners. The $19.95/lb rugelach is no better than Cosco's ($6.99? for a huge container).

    (1)

  • Marlene G.

    I've been coming here for a few years now and have to say that the quality of the products has changed, the pastries don't taste as fresh as they used to. I love their sfogliatelle, but last time i had one the crust was a bit stale. I also love their pignolo cookies, but they are not as moist as they used to be. Carlo's i love you guys, but what the heck is going on?! Maybe becoming too commercial wasn't the right move for you?! I will be back to give you another try in a few weeks and I'm hoping the experience is better.

    (3)

  • Marlo G.

    It's very difficult to get into Carlo's Bakery courtesy of the lines outside. And I guess the bakery got tired of hearing complaints from would be patrons as they have a pick up system! You can order a number of items off of their website and send an email with the details/personalization you'd like. Then as you drive to Carlo's give them a ring and they'll gather your order and meet you at your car! For my mother-in-law's big birthday, we ordered 2 cakes: one a wrapped pink "present" and the other, a black and white cake with red roses. The black on the second cake was licorice flavored and the red roses were inedible. Both cakes were the same inside: layers of chocolate and vanilla cake with frosting in between. I loved the cake--reminded me of down home baking. Others thought it was good, but not worthy of the lines that decorate the sidewalk.

    (4)

  • Maylyn S.

    LOVE.LOVEE their lobster tails! You must purchase at least one of these before leaving. Haven't been back to the bakery since Cake Boss became a big hit on TV. I would definitely recommend this place for pastries if around town visiting, just because there isn't any other bakery around the surrounding the city of Hoboken that can compare. Purchased: -Lobster tails-4/5 right amount of crisp, powdered sugar & filling! Just wondered why some of the lobster tails were smaller than most -White chocolate chip & chocolate chip cookies: 2/5 was expecting more of a chewiness -Sm. cannolis: dee-lish! I think it's the best around town. However, I do believe Boston has competition! My overall rating isn't an outstanding 5-star because my intentions on coming in was to buy my a dozen chocolate chip cookies for a coworker's birthday. They looked scrumptious but they were no way near chewy. Thank god I got them other assortments to enjoy!

    (4)

  • Roger T.

    Yeaaaaaa NOT REALLY. Was in NYC and decided to go check this bakery out because of all the notoriety. FAR BETTER pastries in Boston's North End. The cannoli was soggy and flavorless and the wait is ABSURD. There were only 20 people ahead of us and it took us 45 min to get in and out. Don't believe the hype.

    (3)

  • Graceful V.

    Went there with family from out of town. Awful! Cannoli shells were stale, this cookie with nuts I got was dry and nuts tasted old, I saw a hair in one of the cupcakes on display. Sorry Buddy, if it wasn't for your show and your specialty cakes your bakery wouldn't be on the radar at all.

    (1)

  • Tommi L.

    I am so thankful I have a friend that lives there so we can get in the quick resident line versus the hours long tourist line! I can only write a review on two things and for those two things, I can say that if I HAD to stand in the tourist line for hours for these two things...I would. Lobster Claw & Chocolate Cream Puff WOW. These desserts are so delicious. The lobster claw has just the right ratio of cream to flaky and the cream puff melts in your mouth.

    (5)

  • Tanvi C.

    The food quality is meh. I've had better dessert but the only thing I liked about it at Carlo's was that it has stuck to its traditional flavors. However, the worst part of my experience, besides standing in line for 2 hours just to get in, was to realize that there was no need for a line after all. The service is SO SO slow that it makes sense that there would be 100 people waiting in line outside. I do not exaggerate when I say they serve 2 customers every 15 minutes. So even when you get inside the store you end up waiting another hour just to get a few desserts. I have never ever experienced worse service in a bakery or any other store for that matter. The bakery has been reduced to a tourist spot and it sure felt like nothing less than a museum to me. And I think they don't work on making the service any faster to give the impression of it being extremely popular what with the long lines outside the store. Major Fail.

    (2)

  • Allison N.

    Lobster tails are amazing, and so are the cakes. The cookies are just alright -- I'd probably choose a pastry over them. The best advice I can give for going to Carlo's Bakery is to show up early. With all the publicity this place gets, you can expect to wait for a while if you don't show up as soon as they open. The service felt a little rushed, but I guess that's to be expected with a bakery with this huge of a following. I'll be back the next time I'm in the city, though!

    (4)

  • Cecilia T.

    Walked in spontaneously for the first time, hungry for some cupcakes. Carrot cupcake tasted like any cupcake on sale at Stop and Shop. Tiramisu was devoid of the paramount coffee flavor----and this place is owned by ITALIANS. C'mon, Carlos.. F for quality F for tiramisu F for Cake Boss F for delivery A for take-out boxes

    (2)

  • S Q.

    We went because of the TV show. The food was good but nothing great. Had better treats a couple of doors down. And the staff was much friendlier. But I can say I was there.

    (3)

  • Joe B.

    It was worth the wait. We have never been to NY and so we planned a trip for our 20 year anniversary. The visit to Carlos was one of the stops I was looking forward to the most and was indeed my favorite. I may have been influenced because we had been dieting for the last year and I knew we were going to splurge. It was awesome. My wife and I bought $79 worth of pastries, walked to the park and indulged. Lobster tail was my favorite. May have some delivered to Colorado this Christmas if it works out.

    (5)

  • Brynt L.

    Visiting Hoboken with a friend, and had to stop by the Cake Boss shop while we were there. My friend and I arrived around 6, and they closed at 7. We waited in line outside the shop for about an hour before getting in. Once inside, we waited an additional 30 minutes before our number was called. This place gets packed, so I would definitely say block off a solid 2 hours if you're planning to visit. By the time we walked in, they were turning people away. Finally they called our number, and it was like winning the lottery. I must have practically dove over the counter to get serviced. After having plenty of time to look around, since we were waiting, I knew exactly what I wanted. I ordered the infamous "Lobster Tail", a cannoli, and a carrot cupcake. My friend ordered the mini cheesecake, a caramel cupcake, and a red velvet cupcake... Everything was simply divine! While i'm sure this is not the best bakery in the world, its definitely worth the wait, and the experience of saying you visited the home of the Cake Boss.

    (3)

  • John C.

    I stopped into Carlo's on a Monday morning around 9:15 and there was no wait. I was pretty pleased. I had passed the place a few times over the weekend and there had always been a line out the door. The options were plentiful and I was on a time crunch so I picked up a crumb cake to go and a breakfast pastry. Both were very good. Loaded with cumb topping. Actually, almost too much crumb topping for my taste. The pastries were moist and tasted very fresh. The service was nice and friendly. I was pleased with how quickly I was able to get in and out. Carlo's was good but in the interest of trying new things I may try some of the other bakeries in Hoboken. Thanks for the tasty treats Carlo's.

    (3)

  • Mark Y.

    My daughter wanted to go, the wait for some brownies which was more like cake with cake frosting was not that good and toooooo sweet. The red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing was "eh" my daughter loved it though.

    (3)

  • Alejandra B.

    The line is ridiculously long. Every day. The cakes are not that good. There are many other bakeries like this one in Manhattan. Only for fans or for Hoboken residents!

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    Needed a specialty cake. A wave with a surfer on it for my sons 1st bday. For 30 people. This requires a consultation. Spoke to Jeff and he asked what my budget was. I said 75 and he scoffed saying that would not be enough as they had to make a wave and a baby riding a surfboard. I emailed and said I could use a small baby figure. After this Jeff never emailed me again nor called. Needless to say I went and found a cake elsewhere. I am a hoboken local. This place is a joke. Hey buddy you make cakes get over yourself.

    (1)

  • Jeff G.

    Wife and daughter went because they like tv show. They waited in line for over and hour and the baked goods were average at best. Very disappointing. It's possible out expectations were to high but the reality is that I can't think of one bakery that I think is as bad.

    (1)

  • Rhonda S.

    i wanted to go to Carlos for my birthday yesterday. The worst part was parking. We finally found a paid parking spot. Hoboken I might add is adoralisish. There are a lot of bakeries in the area. Carlos stands among them. Carlos might not be the cheapest or the best, but it's Cake Boss. There was no line, maybe one person ahead of us. I had read on Facebook that Buddy's sister likes the strawberry cheese cakes the best...(please, I silently pleaded) let me buy one. We went in, and I wanted a tshirt. Tshirts run small, but I bought one, and stretched it at the hotel...it fits great now. Buddy inspires me to bake. If it weren't for Cake Boss, I wouldn't dabble with baking or making desserts. After you pass the swag and merch, you see pretty cakes in the display, and cookies. To the left are pictures of the Valestro family. (I will correct the spelling after I find how to spell Buddy's last name). We were there at 6:00 at night, still a good selection. My friend wanted a cookie they were taking from the display, and they made an extra effort to get her one. I bought a lobster tail, which is cannoli cream in a phylo triangle, and a cheesecake with a strawberry as large as my fist. They put both into a charming Carlos box, and tied the box with red and white string. The lobster tail was delious. Tons of pictures were taken. They are in my dslr, and I have my iPad. I will post them when I get home. As for location, it's on Washington street near a CVS, and Cluc U is a few doors down. Parking sucks royally, but it is totally worth the trip if you are a fan, which I am.

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Bottom line: No line, no wait, service OK, pastries good (but not awesome). Here are the details: We arrived at 7:50am on the Saturday before Christmas. We parked directly in front of the shop (75 cents for 45 minutes). There was absolutely no line in front and very few people inside. We took a few pictures outside and then went inside. The display windows in the front were decorated for Christmas, but not an over-the-top display-in fact, it was barely noticeable. There was a small poster in the window about one of Buddy's shows. Above the Carlo's sign you see on TV are three more additional stories. To the right is a Verizon shop and the left is a flower shop. Many local people were walking by ignoring us and the bakery. As you enter to the right, there is Carlo's Bakery Merchandise on display--T-shirts, aprons, DVDs, mugs. Some of the stuff was signed. We ended up buying a ceramic mug for $10 (I like to get mugs from places I've visited). As soon as you entered an old machine that dispensed tickets greeted you. We took one, but they weren't using them because the shop was so empty. I had the sense that most of the people in the shop were locals, ordering cakes and Christmas goodies. To the left on the wall as you entered were many photographs of the family. In the back there was a poorly done painted portrait of the entire family--maybe it was a gift? My girls were elated to see all of the goodies in the cases and had a hard time choosing. There was more variety than our local bakery. Each of the items were marked with what they were and the price. I didn't see a sheet/menu that listed the items which was surprising. I also was surprised that the items weren't described with more details. One was simply marked, "Mama's favorite." My girls took about 15 minutes just to choose what they wanted. At about 15 minutes we started rushing our girls to make a decision, because right at that point about 20 tourists came in. We chose the mini chocolate eclairs, one mama's favorite, two chocolate covered strawberries, two vanilla and two chocolate cream puffs, arugula, and milk chocolate torte ($39 including the mug). The chocolate cream puff cream was heavy and thicker than the vanilla. All of the pastries were good, but not amazing. It took the clerk about five minutes to box up the order--which was surprising. (I wonder if that is part of the reason they end up with lines.) However, what was most surprising about the visit was the lack of energy and excitement of the staff. I didn't see any smiles (again, when we were in there it wasn't crowded). I think it should be clear by now that this shop is more of a tourist attraction not just a regular bakery. The staff should be trained like Disney staff, cheerful and energetic -especially during the holidays. I was expecting someone to greet us at the door and to be given a paper menu and merchandise list, and maybe even asking us if we are a fan of the show. At a minimum, the staff should be happy, cheerful, and smiling. I was also surprised that there was no information put in the bag about new shops that were opening up in new cities, or a coupon to buy something online, or perhaps even some sort of certificate that says you visited with Buddy's image on it. It wouldn't have to be much--just something that would encourage repeat business--again, maybe even just the staff saying, "Come again!" All, in all, for us it was enjoyable mostly because we didn't have to wait in line and we got to look around at all of the goodies when few other people were in the shop. Our girls enjoy the show so it was fun for them. They summed it up best when they said, "It was good to see where it all happens."

    (4)

  • Cindy C.

    Found a hair inside of Danish.

    (1)

  • Sarah B.

    I knew walking in that the bakery would be a let down simply because they are so busy and the chances of meeting Buddy were slim, what I didn't expect was the rude employees! Yes, they are busy but I think sometimes they forget that people travel HOURS (4 for me) for the experience as much as the food. There was a large line of people and three employees taking orders-no problem, my daughter was super excited to look at everything while deciding what to buy her brother (a huge cake boss fan) for Christmas, when it was our turn to order we had only viewed the large display case because they were two large parties ahead of us blocking the smaller case with cannoli, cupcakes and mini cakes. Javier asked me what I wanted and when I told him I hadn't looked in the other case yet he said "yeah, what do you want" I told him I still wasn't sure so he told me I was being skipped. Finally daughter and I got to the display case and made our choices, they were boxed beautifully and the girl was very quick to try to rush us out. To say she was annoyed when we then asked about the prices on the merchandise (nothing was labeled) is a big understatement. She quickly gave a couple prices, informed me there was a line and needed to know what we wanted. We asked the price on the aprons ($16 and change) and asked that it be added to our order. Well she came back with a kids size, my son wears adult sizes and I had not been told there were two sizes, when I asked if they had adult sizes she rolled her eyes and said, uh yeah. Quickly grabbed an adult, charged an additional $10 for the apron and took my cash, my "turn" took less than 5 minutes start to finish but you would think I'd wasted an hour of her day. No thank yous or come agains.... bummer. On a plus side the cakes were delicious and were enjoyed by all! I'm sure the staff was just trying to hurry but it is just as quick to be fast and polite as fast and rude.

    (3)

  • Elise K.

    The cake boss is really the boss man. We're from New York and the last trip we made there six months ago my son and I stopped here before heading to JFK. I wish I could've taken some of the cannolis and delicious pies with me but I knew that we would eat them all before take off and that just would've been unfair.

    (4)

  • Janell W.

    The pastries are legit a 2 star in taste. Nothing better than a run of the mill grocery store. Except apparently I hate canoles... So I can't judge if they were gross or no matter how good a canole is made, I'm not going to like it. But I hated the canole. However, I do love cookies, cakes, etc so I KNOW the mousse cakes were meh, the cheesecake was meh, the black and white cookie was meh, my favorite thing was the hazelnut cream puff, it was the best cream puff I've ever had. The bear claw thing was okay. The shortbread cookie things were meh... But a TWO HOUR WAIT for $90 worth of pastries (they are reasonably priced but we wanted to try EVERYTHING), and I was only able to find one thing I really liked... out of the 15 things we tried. I just don't think that's worth a two hour wait. No thanks.

    (1)

  • Peter K.

    So I guess this place if famous for a television show or something, there seems to always be a line outside for some reason. I don't really understand why, the food was average for a New York bakery, which are known to be some of the best. The place has been around for a long time, so I guess they may be the best in the area of Hoboken, but I wouldn't go out of my way to pick them over any other New York bakery. I guess it must just be a fluke or a fad that may come and go when the show ends, because I don't think it's the food bringing that kind of crowd. It may be more for the creative and colorful cakes than the regular pastries and baked goods.

    (3)

  • Karen P.

    Oh Carlos Bakery, I'm sorry for judging you before trying you. I used to watch the show and loved it because I just love cooking/baking shows. I never craved the idea of going here because as reality teaches, never set your expectations too high: you'll often find yourself disappointed. Last month, my friend, whose a huge fan of the show, guilted me into a weekend trip that included a visit to the bakery. I was prepared to brave any obstacle as I had been reading up reviews about the place. Although it was cold and snowing when I went, THERE WAS NO LINE. Seriously, on a weekend too! That was an awesome surprise. I ordered 3 chocolate covered strawberries and a mini original cannoli. The strawberries were humongous!!! And oh so juicy and refreshing. Next time I'll pick up a box, if I have money that is. These strawberries are not cheap, about $2+ for one. The cannoli was mind blowing. That is a rare statement coming from me. Not ever had I ever had a cannoli I could swallow down nonetheless finish. In Boston, I thought Mike's Pastry was as good as it gets when it comes to Italian bakeries. But it's cannolis are disgusting. I can literally taste the texture of confectioner's sugar in the cream. I've never been able to finish a cannoli there, waaaayyyy too sweet; diabetes waiting to happen. So I ignorantly believed Carlos was going to bring the same disappointment. Boy, was I wrong. The filling was light and fluffy, not too sweet at all. It was absolutely delicious. The only downside to Carlos was that they ran out of mini tiramisu cakes before noon. I guess I'll just have to plan another trip.

    (4)

  • Shelby W.

    I'm a culinary arts student, and I absolutely love Cake Boss and anything on Food Network. So on my most recent trip to NYC, when I realized we'd be passing right by the bakery, I jumped at the chance to stop in. Our visit was great! We got there at about 2:30 in the afternoon on a Friday. The line was much shorter than I expected, but that might have been because it was raining. We got some cannolis and some lobster tails, since those were highly recommended and they were DELICIOUS. We also got to meet and take a picture with one of Buddy's sisters who was in the shop. She couldn't have been nicer, greeting customers, asking people where they were from, and welcoming us to Hoboken. Don't let this place fool you. Just because its on TV doesn't mean it's an overrated, over priced tourist trap. It's definitely worth the visit, especially if you're a fan of the show.

    (5)

  • Melissa A.

    It's the Cake Boss!!! How can this NOT get 5 stars?! But in all honesty it's only worth going if you go first thing in the morning and plan on getting there as soon as it opens... if you go any later you'll experience an extremely long line that takes place outside, and wraps around the block. I was told people actually wait 4 hrs to get pastries! While vacationing in New York (Time Square) we mapped out how far it was and how long it would take, it's about a 4 minute bus ride and the round trip bus ticket was $7. We got to Carlos' Bakery around 7:08 and we were 10th in line so they still permitted up to wait inside. Everyone there was REALLY friendly, staff were posing for pictures, very engaging and interacting with all the clients waiting! The bakery is small, you can see where Buddy has his cake consultations and a lot of people are taking pictures. It has become a tourist spot. On the walls there's photos of the crew you see in the show, cakes and merchandise available for purchase. On to the best part the baked goods! It was absolutely delicious but not everything was that great! I ordered Biscotti, Cupcakes, Crescents, cookies and coffee. (Pricey my bill came out to $30 something) I loved everything (and I have a huge sweet tooth) but the fronting on the cupcake was a little too sweet but still indulging and delicious! We weren't there for too long... I want to say we probably waited a total of 20 minutes, 35 with placing our order and receiving it. I loved their packaging... they wrap in each box with red and white string, Carlos' Bakery definitely does its best in preserving a classic bakery feel. Hoboken as a whole is a quiet city, most of the things were closed because of the time of day, we took our Carlos Bakery Breakfast to the park that was there. It was a fun sweet adventure!

    (5)

  • Altoni Leen C.

    I've been a fan since day one, even way before I visited New York just to go to Carlos Bakery. I would always watch their show and get inspired by how well they make custom cakes. I thought the bakery would have a long line but when I got there, there wasn't a lot of people. However, few minutes into the bakery shop, a flock of people arrived. SO GET THERE EARLY!!! I got confused on how to take an order and I'm glad the guy in the front gave me a numbered ticket. The workers would assist you personally and they were so patient because there were a lot of people in there and trying to see all of the baked goods is really hard. I got about three boxes of goodies for my return back to California. They stayed fresh for several days. My favorite was the tiramisu mini cake and also the biscotti cookies. GREAT PLACE AND I'M DEFINITELY COMING BACK THE NEXT TIME I'M IN NYC.

    (4)

  • Gus C.

    I guess I was luck today. No line and found parking right in front. Was it and out in 10 minutes. A dozen lobster tails to go and some cannoli's.

    (4)

  • Natalie C.

    we are cake boss fans from Australia, so on our holiday to NYC we had to stop into carlo's bakery in hoboken. we really wanted to love it but were disappointed. the customer service was absolutely appalling. specifically this one older lady -she was not a happy camper! the good thing was that there was basically no wait line. the 1st time only had to wait 5min. 2nd time there was no wait, only 1 person in front of us so that was good, as we expected there would be huge lineups to get in. our experience: The 1st time we went we got a large chocolate coated cannoli, hazelnut creme puff, napoleon slice & crumb cake. first of all, not all the desserts have signs with what it is & the price which was a bit annoying as we had to keep asking the server what a lot of things were. we were also served by the rude mean lady who displayed horrible customer service. anyway, we left with our stuff went to take a look before eating & realized she didn't give us our cannoli. so we went back in & told her. she wasn't very nice or apologetic. anyway she ended up getting our cannoli. then we went to try them. we really liked the crumb cake & also thought the napoleon slice was good as well, although the icing on top was way too sweet & overpowering that we had to take some of it off. the cannoli & hazelnut creme puff, on the other hand were just average. they were okay but nothing amazing or spectacular. our 2nd time back was just over a week later. on the back shelf where the brownies are, one slab had nuts on top & the other didn't. the one with the nuts had a sign saying chocolate brownie with nuts which obviously made sense, & the other didnt have a sign, so we assumed it was just a plain chocolate brownie. we love nuts so we wanted the one with nuts. also, this time, there were 2 napoleon slices-a smaller one with a sign on it saying it was the american napoleon for $2 the other which we had last time didnt have a sign. when the guy asked us which napoleon we wanted he asked if we wanted the american or italian, so we said the italian, lastly we ordered the apple crumb pie. after we paid we left to catch the bus back to our apartment where we would eat our treats. when we got on the bus, we had a quick look just to make sure everything was there & correct as last time the lady forgot our cannoli. when we had a look, we noticed the brownie wasnt the one with nuts on top. we also noticed that he gave us the small 'american' napoleon slice instead of the 'italian' one. so we quickly got off the bus on the next stop & walked back to the bakery, in the rain! when we got back i explained how we ordered the brownie with nuts & he was saying that he did give us the one with nuts. i showed him & explained that the one he gave us was just the plain brownie. he then said that the slab that doesn't have the nuts on top is still the brownie with nuts but just didn't have nuts on the top. we thought this was pretty dumb as one would think the brownie with nuts would be the one with nuts on top, & the one without nuts would be a regular brownie. anyway, he ended up getting us one with nuts on top & then went to speak to the rude older lady who served us the 1st time as he told her he was throwing the first one he gave us out as we wanted the one with nuts on top. she was angry & rude again saying that it was basically our fault & that he was not supposed to swap the order as they were both the same. the guy said to her it wasn't his fault, basically blaming us as we thought they were different. if anything, he should have asked us which one we wanted if they were both the same! i tried to cut in while they were speaking as i didnt want them to just throw the first one out - we would have been fine with the one he gave us as long as it did have nuts in it. after they finished talking i was able to tell the lady that he didnt have to swap it for us if it was the same. what a waste! instead of just throwing it out they could have still given it to us which would have been good customer service for them making the mistake. next was the issue with the napoleon. he said the one he gave us was the italian one & we said that the sign said it was the american. he then said someone must have put the wrong sign up & got us the other one. we ended up keeping the italian one as well as i didn't want them to throw it out - what a waste! we had to pay for the new napoleon & then left to wait for the next bus-another 30min. when we got home we ate. we loved the apple crumb pie & the italian napoleon was definitely better than the american. after eating the italian one i didnt really like the american one anymore. the brownie was definitely a let down. there were hardly any nuts in it and tasted like chocolate packet cake mix overall would give carlos bakery 3.5 star for taste & 1 star for service -overall 2.5 star. we were going to come back again in our last week but due to the bad service received both visits we wont be coming back.

    (3)

  • Steven D.

    You kind of have to know what they have before going in due to the fact that it gets pretty busy. Once you number is called you have to know what to order. The cannolis is a must try!

    (4)

  • Paula B.

    We've watched all of the Cake Boss episodes and in planning our trip to a nearby town, we knew we had to stop at Carlo's. Two relatives are residents of Hoboken and residents of Hoboken or nearby college student can bring one adult non-resident and skip the line. That was a huge benefit for us, because the line stretched between 4 and 5 blocks at noon last Friday. We had to wait about ten minutes for people to leave the store, then we were told we could enter. We didn't have to take a number and an employee told us to take our time and look around, and she'd check on us later to see what we'd like. We ordered 6 cannoli and 6 lobster tails and while they were being packaged, an employee came from the back with a tray of cupcakes. He held it over the counter and showed a young lady ... on the cupcakes was written, "Will you marry me Veronique?" Then the man with her shouted out, "She said YES!" Cameras were out, everyone was cheering, she was crying. What a magical moment! Everyone was in tears! I'd never had a cannoli or a lobster tail before, and I must say it was AMAZING. Totally the best thing ever. Crunchy shell, creamy filling in the cannoli, and the lobster tail...wow oh wow. That was my favorite. Filled with a wonderfully creamy delight of I don't know what, but it was heaven on earth. On a side note, there is a Cake Boss Cafe in NYC in the Port Authority bus terminal. We stopped in there but didn't try anything. NO crowd at all, you take a number and it appeared to be just a few minutes' wait. The cases were filled with the same pastries and cakes as Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken.

    (5)

  • T C.

    We were visiting in NY so we decided to take the subway to Carlos Bakery. It took about 30 min and the subway is only a couple blocks away. The wait at the bakery is long so be prepared to stand while. We waited about an hour. You have to get tickets and stand down by the CVS store (I think it was called). We went on a Saturday afternoon around 1 and heard that we just missed mama. Guess she tries to come in on the weekend. We wanted to try some desserts but we were happy when we saw Marlo and Maddilyn (not sure how to spell) walking out from the back. They were nice and took pics with us. Then everybody started pushing their way up to where I was at to get pics too. Some people are so rude and didn't care they were pushing my kids. Get the cannoli's and lobster claws. They were good!

    (4)

  • Laurie L.

    Just visited here today. It's a typical bakery nothing special. Not better than any other bakery. I wanted to see what the hype was about and I feel it's famous only because it's on tv. I say there average !

    (3)

  • James D.

    Great place if you don't mind being herded like cattle on an endless line with a bunch of assholes who wouldn't know good bakery if it hit them in the toches.

    (1)

  • Maria R.

    Extremely disappointed with the visit to this bakery. There wasn't much of a selection and so far what we have tried wasn't very good. The frosting was great but the cake (as in choc and caramel cupcakes) was very dry and lacked flavor. The customer service was also lacking. The wait time was a ridiculous hour just to get in to the bakery then another half hour waiting for our number to be called. The people behind the counter were in no hurry to assist and spent more time chatting with each other than actually helping people who had been waiting in line. The entire experience was a disappointment and I would not go out of my way again for the "experience". I really hope his cakes taste much better than what we experienced.. Side Note: If you ever get to Boston - go to Mike's Pastry in the North End you will not be disappointed not only with the selection but also the customer service. i have never waited longer than 10 minutes to be served!

    (2)

  • Sasha G.

    Oh how touristy-- and yes it is. Corny as heck . Dude is a brand. What's his name? Carlos right? He's Puerto Rican right? Anyway, the rugelach cookies are REALLY good. Expensive (more than $1 a cookie) but dare I say it's worth it? Yum. Apricot are better than the raspberry ones. Yes this place is over-hyped and don't think it's worth waiting more than 5 minutes for so go early... These cookies are the only thing good in Hoboken though... HEH. JUST KIDDIN'- relax Jersey.

    (4)

  • Katie W.

    I had to check out Carlo's Bakery when I was in New York for a family vacation. As I turned left onto Washington, I saw the bakery and I screamed!! I was so excited! Hoping to meet any of the Buddy's family members, I walked in to the bakery. No luck! I was sad but I was still excited to try their pastries. I knew from watching the show that their cannolis, crumb cake and loster tail are a must try! So I did and what a big disappointment! Loster tail was pretty good but the cannolis and crumb cake weren't that good. :( Cannoli shells were too soggy and crumb cake was hardened. Chocolate chip cookie was so-so. I would give it another try if I ever visit NY again only because I am a big fan of Cake boss!

    (2)

  • Rupali S.

    Must visit when in and near by Hoboken..my often hopping place always a long queue outside ..Visit this place in evening or at closing hours on weekdays

    (4)

  • Jaehyun J.

    The line was really long, the pastries were so-so, but the service was awful. The pastries are not labeled and I pointed out the ones I wanted, and there is obviously only one pastry at the end of the row, and they pretended they didn't understand and kept being annoyed even though I was the one who should be annoyed. They were rude, unhelpful, and threw my card at me because it didn't work. Just because the show made them famous and they have little hope of business failing, it doesn't mean you can be rude to customers. The pastries were good, but not so amazing that the extreme unpleasantness you get from the shop people is worth it.

    (1)

  • Foodie G.

    I like it! If you are not the fan, maybe spending time in the line isn't that a good idea. I like their stuff. I always come in when they are not busy and get yummy yummy things :)

    (4)

  • Napualokelani K.

    We were staying in Jersey City while visiting NYC to celebrate my daughters 14th birthday. She is a fan of Cake Boss and watches the show on a somewhat regular basis. When she found out wed be close to Hoboken, she asked if we could stop by Carlo's Bakery. I figured we could on Sunday before our drive back to DC. So after we finished our lunch at Grimaldi's, we walked down Washington Street to Carlo's Bake Shop and as we got closer I got a glimpse of the LINE! Sheesh. It ended up not being too long of a wait - maybe 30-35 minutes, but then comes the fun part - once you get inside. The guy at the door gives you a number and then you are left to fend for yourself - everyone in there goes completely APE SHIT over some freakin' cakes and pastries!!! You can barely see what the bakery has to offer because these people are fighting for a glimpse of an empty cannoli shell. SMH. One chick standing behind me kept trying to inch her way closer to get a look at a freakin' CUPCAKE! Anyway, our wait inside was probably about 45 minutes. I told my daughter after all this commotion, it had better been worth it! What I didn't like was the upsell of all the Cake Boss SHWAG once you're inside. One bakery worker asked for everyone's "undivided LOVE & ATTENTION" so he could push Buddy's new bakery book with a signed autograph - only $30! (insert sarcasm) We ordered a small cannoli, one red velvet cupcake with cream cheese, a slice of coconut custard pie, two lobster tails and a square of crumb cake (that feeds six people). I have to say, the cream inside of the lobster tails were good, but not great. The custard was very heavy. My daughter said the cannoli and the red velvet cupcake were very good. The crumb cake was nothing special. Overall everything was just OK - I still don't know what all the fuss is about. You will not catch me in that line again!

    (3)

  • Michael M.

    Well looks like Buddy has turned his back on Hoboken now we have to wait in line with the rest of the tourists. Guess he needs to pay for the renovation

    (1)

  • Lizzy V.

    Absolutely delicious! Before entering, there was a long line & I had to wait about 30 min or less before going in, but wow its so good. The bakery is much smaller than I imagined so it gets pretty crowded. I went on a Tuesday at around 1pm and couldn't believe how many people there were. I got the crumb cake, lobster tail, nutella cookie.. and more but I can't remember. Def a place to visit if you like the show and want some good treats for a decent price :)

    (5)

  • L G.

    M&M cookie 4 stars Tiramisu 4.5 starts Chocolate cannoli 3.5 starts Regular cannoli 3.5 starts Coconut cheese pie 4 stars Pumpkin cheese cake 4.5 stars Some of their goods are average and some are outstanding. Their Tiramisu and Pumpkin cheese cake was worth the trip from NY and definitely worth another trip!! Aside from the Cake Boss fame this place does have some good eats! Give it a try!

    (4)

  • Mike G.

    It's from Cake Boss on TV but it's really a damn good Bakery! We got a fondant Cake, lobster tails, explains, cannoli, and brownies and everything was just amazing. Super fresh and flavorful and it's still just the little NJ Bakery it always was. I didn't get to see any of the family but the treats definitely lived up to the hype.

    (5)

  • Lola D.

    The first thing I noticed about this was the Sear's like headshots of the family on the wall. You'd think that as a family business, Buddy would have old family photo's all over the place, but instead you see the headshots for the TLC show. Someone should also mention that they let locals go first. If you've been in line for 2 hours and a group of 10 locals come up, they get to go in. We got there at 745, and finally got through the door right at 9. The kid who was manning the door would let any girl with blonde hair go in if she bat her eyes and said she was a local, and a family of 4 in front of us, the mom and daughter went up and said they were local and went in, then came back out and sat with the husband and son in line to go back in again. Once we got inside they crammed, and I mean CRAMMED about 60 of us in there, and we stood for another hour. We got our pastries and my friend asked what time they come in and start baking. The guy said "oh, we don't bake here. They make them at a factory and bring them over every other day" So, goes to show how "real" the show is. The Cannoli's are ok, but we really wish we'd just taken a picture and moved along.

    (1)

  • Shams N.

    More of a touristy spot than a bakery... Stopped in on a weekday afternoon with some "out of towers". After seeing the bakery on TV, they were definitely excited to be there. Past the initial excitement, it's a regular bakery that did little to excite me. Got the strawberry shortcake and some cookies per the reviews. +1 for the MASSIVE strawberry they put on top. The shortcake was good too, very smooth for cheesecake. Cookies were big and chewy but I've had better. I've seen the line be big on weekends, but stop by during the day if you can on a weekday and you won't wait for long (if at all).

    (4)

  • Kate O.

    Ahh-mazing. I ordered 4 large cannolis, 1 red velvet cupcake, chocolate mousse cheesecake, and macaroons! OmG! The cheesecake was to die for. So good! The only disappointment was not seeing Buddy or the family working. It's a Saturday though so maybe during the week they work there. Who knows. Definitely worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Angie L.

    The Christmas season event I was at, raved about the Cake Boss' unique cupcake creations baked fresh and delivered that very morning. I was delighted by the seasonal designer icing 'sculptures' and fancy cream detailing. The taste of dry, run-of-the-mill vanilla or chocolate cupcakes however, was not so delightful. Major NO for me.

    (2)

  • Jesse K.

    Due to the hype of the show (cake boss), this place has people bee-lining to get in and buy. As far as the food is concerned my mom makes a better tasting cake and cookies. Nothing extra-ordinary!

    (2)

  • Catarina L.

    The sweets I bought were nice, but I really expected more. It was my first time in the place and seeing the TV show I really thought that Buddy and his sisters used to work there until nowadays, but I was wrong. The big line to go inside was only because of the food and, of course, to take some photos of the place.

    (3)

  • Ash B.

    I've been here a few times already and each time I go, seems my experience gets worse. They are famous for the lack of customer service at the counters. No matter how long the line is, there can be one or two people helping out the hundreds that are waiting in line. At one experience, I waited ten minutes outside and I thought that was great, but once inside, I waited for a little over an hour, and my number wasn't even close to be called. I actually left. It definitely was not worth the wait. The items I've had are just okay. I've heard their cakes that they make are very good, but haven't had that. Overall, I can do without Carlo's when going to Hoboken. I enjoy watching their show, but may be a little overrated, and definitely not worth waiting in line longer than if I was waiting at Disney.

    (2)

  • Cassandra G.

    It's super overrated. I got 3 chocolate chip cookies, one chocolate mousse (personal cake), and a chocolate cupcake with butter cream frosting. The cookies were good, it's kind of hard to mess up chocolate chip cookies. They tasted like any chocolate chip cookie. The mousse cake was good, definitely super sweet. The only thing that was really not good was the cupcake. It was super dry, not very good tasting at all!!! The line I waited in was not worth it. It was packed in there and I don't know why. Other mom and pop bakeries are just as good. If you're in the area then go for it, but I would never take the 45 minute drive out there just to go to carlos bakery.

    (3)

  • Eugene N.

    No cannolis in the morning right when you open? Knowing this place is now a tourist attraction? That's like going to a Miami Heat game and no seeing Lebron James play. Yes, there are other pastries to pick from, just as there is still Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, but the main attraction is missing. Come on now. They said the cannoli cream was not done yet, and it would still be another at least an hour and a half. Anyways, as far as everything else. We were there right before they opened (which is at 7AM). 7AM passes and they still didn't open. It was more like 7:10 they finally opened the doors. There were indeed already people waiting. I must say being able to be there at the spot I've seen numerous times on TV was a delight. Going inside also is what you have seen from the show. It is small. What do you expect in a bakery? If this place wasn't so popular it would just be a normal size bakery. So you go in, and the process to order can be complicated. And to think this is BEFORE it really got crowded. The crowd wasn't that big that once they opened everybody who was outside was able to go inside. But once you go inside, you just have to grab someone who can take your order. The problem is actually getting someone. But I imagine once it gets REALLY crowded and they implement the taking a number it is more organized. So just be aware if you go early and there is still a good amount of people but they have not used the ticket number, you have to speak up or someone else will get helped before you. So how bout the goods? Well I was disappointed that they didn't have cannolis but we still ordered a bunch of other stuff. We still were able to get their signature lobster tails. Even THAT we may not have been able to get it. They guy said they were not done filling them, but I was persistent and was able to get a few of their signature item. We got a bunch of cookies and biscotti. Some eclairs and other stuff. I only actually ate the lobster tails, as the others we did not open from the packaging. What an I say about the lobster tail? It was aigggggggggggggghtttttttt. (alright). I mean it wasn't super duper orgasmic stuff. It was good, but honestly I have tried much better pastries. The thing with Carlo's is things are a bit higher in price as well. And just speaking of the lobster tail, I just dont feel (personally) the taste, texture, and overall satisfaction justifies the price. But again don't get me wrong, it is still good. Carlo's still also does things old school. It definitely adds to the family run history of their business. They box everything up for you right there and DO NOT USE TAPE, they use string to keep the boxes close. This is also what makes it take more time and I'm sure why the line gets backed up. But what can you do, it just adds to the whole Carlo's Bakery experience. Overall, I couldn't give this place a perfect score, simply because there are better places for just as much if not cheaper. But who knows? Maybe if I had ordered a cake from them it would change my mind, but I'm just rating per my experience and what we ordered. But with the novelty of being at the famous "Cake Boss" shop, it's still a must visit if you can, but dont keep your expectations so high and make sure to be ready to spend.

    (3)

  • Blair V.

    Must try the cannolis and the lobster tail!! both are delicious and addicting! First time there during my NYC vacation and waited for 30-45 mins in line (which wasn't too bad). Friendly and fast service! Also glad to have seen Carlo's Bakery opening up in Vegas at the Venetian!

    (4)

  • Matty G.

    Before moving to New Jersey and Hoboken, I watched Buddy's show on TV to see what I was getting myself into moving to a new state. Although the TV show did not accurately depict what life in Hoboken would actually be like, it did a good job with teaching me one place to go for sweets and treats. Living in Hoboken gives you tons of perks. One of these is being able to go to Carlos's Bakery during non-peak hours. There is usually a line in front of the place that extends at least two blocks and will be there during rain, snow, hail, thunderstorms, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions and even Armageddon. If there is a line then forget it, but being able to walk there on a Wednesday at 7pm will get you through the door with no problem. Once inside, grab a number from the guy working the front door and consider the different delicious looking treats you could get during your visit. From cookies to cupcakes, cannolis to cakes, the possibilities are endless. I had no idea what to get so I did the next best thing, asked the person who was serving me. she recommended the Red Velvet cupcake which I can say was one of the best I have ever had. The carrot cupcake was alright and the M&M cookie was pretty good. I could have walked out with much more but I made sure to control myself so I come back. Overall I gave this place four stars because of the good sweets they have, the variety of sweets they have, the helpful and friendly staff, and the nice atmosphere of the place. The one downside is that you cannot even dream of hitting this place up during the weekends unless you wait in line for HOURS. If you live in Hoboken or really want to go to this place, I highly suggest going there during odd hours. My buddy keeps telling me when he comes to visit one weekend he wants to go here. I just keep telling him good luck.

    (4)

  • Simon G.

    If you like to spend an hour buying some overpriced sugary food while waiting for some noisy tourists taking photos of cupcakes that's the place to be.

    (1)

  • Kathy L.

    There is no question that Carlos aka the Cake Boss or Buddy is talented. His ability to create cakes that look like fire stations, hand bags, shoes, etc is unbelievable. However aside from the Lobster Tails, the pastries were average. My family and I ordered about $30 worth of different cakes, cream puffs, cannolis and tarts and the only thing that we all thought was delicious is the Lobster tails.

    (3)

  • Beee K.

    Lobster Tail - Great. 4.5 star. Light not too sweet filling, crunchy flaky pastry crust.Lovely. Had to buy 2. Enjoyed every bit of them. Chocolate Covered Strawberry - To my surprise, my favorite from this place. Strawberry was big, chocolate was just enough amount. Really good. Cookies - good, but not excellent. I liked them ok, but probably won't buy them again. Wait - Not too bad, but not so great. We waited maybe for about 15 mins to order. Store stuff were nice and efficient. Wanted to come here for some time since I liked watching the show, "Cake Boss" when I exercised. I'd visit again during weekday.

    (4)

  • Kendra C.

    The treats were great, with a very large selection. It's worth stopping here to check one of the food stops off your list, but it's not good enough to wait in that insanely long line a second time.

    (3)

  • Tara W.

    Disclaimer: I don't watch the show, but the fam does, so I was sent on a mission to get some kind of pizza rustica and lobster tails. Every time I walk by I have to laugh at all the tourists from flyover states waiting in the back alley like paparazzi hoping to take a pic of.. whoever is on the show, I guess. There is no way I would wait on a 2 hour line for some baked goods, especially when there are other good bakeries in town, but luckily being a Hoboken resident has its perks :) That's actually where the four stars come from- they were so friendly and accommodating. The food was decent too :)

    (4)

  • Stephanie R.

    Awesome bakery. We love the lobster tails, red velvet cupcakes, rugelah, and of course their cakes!!!!

    (5)

  • Louisiana E.

    I had the opportunity to visit the famous bakery, and it was well worth the 45 min wait outside. I bought two large Canolies at 3 bucks each. It was a bit pricey for a bakery but obviously because of they hype they can charge a little more. It was still reasonable prices. The guy who helped us was Jay, and he was a real cutie he even started to blush while helping me and my sister. Everyone inside was up beat and friendly. The line was long other then that IM A FAN

    (4)

  • Blue B.

    They are really busy all the times, and if you check out their kitchen, they have as many supplies you could ever ask for! They even have a tv show!

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    His sisters are soooo rude behind the counter. Baked goods are not good at all. Don't waste your time. Tourist are rude too. Don't know what the hype is about.

    (2)

  • Raye S.

    Purchased a Cake Boss Cake at Ralphs, it was awful, it must have been made my the Ralph's bakery and had the Cake Boss name on it, the icing was gummy and tasted like sweet glue and the cake was super dry, no flavor and had the texture of stale bread. Ralph's bakery is horrible, I wouldn't let them put my name on it.

    (1)

  • Kristine N.

    My sister and I stopped by here while visiting the East Coast. I've watched cake boss, and I admit that I gave into the hype. I was kinda excited to see this place in real life, and to taste the pastries. First thing we noticed, was the line. The line was long, and we ended up standing in line close to 2 hours. The employee that was standing outside controlling the line said that for them, it was actually a slow day, since summer was ending. He said that on a busy day, people wait up to 4 hours for those pastries. Since we were in line for for 2 hours, I hoped it would all be worth it. After 2 hours go by, we finally made our way inside. The place itself is EXTREMELY small. There were way too many people crammed inside the bakery, and it is very difficult to try and make your way within the bakery to look at all the pastries and baked goods. That was one thing I hated about being inside the bakery. Instead of forming one cohesive line, and having the employees help each person standing in line, everyone was just standing around waiting for their number to be called or trying to squeeze their way through to see everything. There is NO organization at all inside the bakery. Another thing that I hated was that there were no labels for each pastry or any menus. When looking at the pastries, you definitely have to try your best in guessing what each pastry is, and when you place your order, you have to either point or try your best to describe the pastry that you want. It makes it hard to know if you're getting the correct pastry. To make it easier for the employee, my sister decided to take pictures of the pastries we wanted with her iphone and show it to her, so she knew exactly what we wanted. They should definitely have labels with the name of each pastry as well as a menu with all the products that they sell, and the pricing for each, because you don't know how much your paying until they ring it up. Believe me, I overheard a few totals, and some people paid way too much money for just pastries. The pastries themselves were okay. Out of all the pastries we got, the biscotti (pistachio almond) was my favorite. You could really taste the chunks of pistachios and the biscotti was soft. Everything else is just okay. Overall, I'm glad that we made this trip out there, because it was good to experience it first-hand, than to just see it on tv, and just assume that it's good. Like everyone else said, this place is really is over-hyped. This is just an OK bakery that just happened to one day stumble upon nation-wide fame. I've been to way better AND more organized bakeries. However, if you are in area, feel free to experience it and judge for yourself.

    (3)

  • Ryan B.

    We had to try this place after watching all the cake boss episodes. There was a line which surprised me. I would had thought his fame would had worn off by now. I was with a cousin who lives in Hoboken, so we got to skip the line. If your not local go with a local so you get quicker service. Ok now the pastries. My expectations where pretty low but to my surprise this place really rocked. I bought a ton of items and brought them back to the family. And everyone was delight with the quality and freshness. Highly recommend if you looking for rocking pastries.

    (5)

  • Vivien L.

    Friends and I were leaving Manhattan and decided to drop by here on a spur-of-the-moment decision. We arrived around 7pm on a Tuesday and there was still quite a line up outside. The wait to get inside was not too bad but the wait inside the actually bakery was quite chaotic and cramped. We finally made it to the back of the bakery around the same time they called our number to take our order. We got a lobster tail, cannoli and a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting. The pastries were delicious and I wish I had ordered more! The lobster tail was so good, way better than I had ever anticipated. Cannoli was alright, they fill them right after you order it which is nice (prevents soggy-ness). All in all, it took an hour to get in, order, and get out. Oh also we saw Mauro (Buddy's brother-in-law), I thought that was pretty cool =)

    (4)

  • Bethany S.

    Carlos Bakery clearly has many more customers than it was originally expected to handle. (A reality TV show tends to have that effect.) We waited in line for about an hour before we were allowed to enter. (The waiting system consist to two separate lines and a ticketing system that was somewhat confusing to just about everyone. But we did eventually make it inside.) Most of the people working there we people I did not recognize from the show. However, we did see sister, Madeline, and cousin, Buddy. The confections were actually very good. They had a decent selection of items and the prices are decent as well. My only disappointment was that I had my heart set on a cream puff cake, but they won't make one that serves less than 100 people. Boo.

    (4)

  • Mary N.

    Last Friday morning, I spent a painful wait at Carlo's Bakery, feeling like a victim of tremendously talented marketers. The bakery items were over-rated, average at best and not worth a 10 minute let alone 2+ hour wait. No wait at Disneyland equates to the experience at this place with no thrill to be found at the end of the line. To top it off, what I had ordered after all this grief was not what I found when I got to my hotel room and opened the box. Buddy, you talk big about the importance of family but the reality is sadly small talk with total disregard of your extended family . . . your customers, who have limited time, energy and patience. When the line gets long . . . . . 1. Get the order correct 2. Post the possible wait time from one point to another. 3. Distribute order sheets with a picture menu for customers to complete in line 4. Completed order handed to them with a brief walk-through of the bakery and pay at the end 5. Ultimately, expand one location and make it the happening place. Have viewing windows so customers can watch the process unfold and set-up a tour with a sample at the end. . . should have the bucks to do it right by now. I joined yelp today as a result of my experience, so pardon the length.

    (2)

  • Kathrin S.

    The staff are extremely rude and their prices are outrageous. Their cakes are good but definitely NOT WORTH IT. Go to SWEET, only a few blocks away....better desserts, reasonable prices and friendly staff.

    (1)

  • Ajit G.

    This is my first 1 star review and I'd feel worse about it if wasn't for the fact that the place is so famous from it's TV show. They aren't hurting, despite Yelp reviews to the contrary. Still, they were highly disappointing and I think they are getting unwarranted credit, so maybe this review is a bit of a backlash to it. Decor: Standard bakery. Not much to say about it. Looks nice enough and clean. One thing to remember: This place is packed and has a line out the door that often forces patrons to wait for a hour+! Service: I think the fame of their TV show has rubbed off on their employees. You'd think they were serving in the White House or Buckingham Palace and not some bakery in...Hoboken. Get over yourselves. It's a bakery. I'll cut them a little slack, because they are probably overworked from all the annoying tourists, but still. Food: I've only tried this place a couple of times and I was woefully unimpressed. Cupcakes--tastes kind of like supermarket cupcakes. Cannolis--eh, bland and uninspiring, with crust and cream that I found boring. I disliked the eclairs too, but then again, I've never been much of an eclair fan so maybe this wasn't their fault. And the prices...oh my god. What the hell?? Overpriced just a little?? Oh well. Their cakes DO look pretty, but I find that is often the case, especially with specialty or wedding cakes--looks gorgeous, tastes terrible. That does not make an appealing cake to me! So yeah, I think it's a combination of factors that warrants a 1 star review. Really, their food isn't THAT bad, but it isn't really all that good (and how can it be when they are forced to put out so much volume per day?), but when you combine it with high prices and poor customer service, they deserve a 1 star. There are probably better choices in Hoboken and elsewhere and for all those tourists--please stay home! Your local baker probably bakes something much tastier (and affordable!) and he could use the money a whole lot more, I am sure! Stop being a lemming!

    (1)

  • Lorde E.

    Even before the Cake Boss show, I thought this place was overrated. Now it is seriously overrated. If you want a real italian bakery go uptown!

    (2)

  • Bloss C.

    This bakery is average at best. Definitely not worth waiting on line for anything. You can get better pastries in any Italian bakery in NYC.

    (2)

  • Rob L.

    So if it weren't for all the hype, I'd give this place 4 stars based on the food alone, but I deduct one star for atmosphere because we had to wait on line for 20 minutes and once we got in, we were packed into the place like sardines so you can't walk around the cases to see what is available. They take your order, write it down, go have you wait by a register while they ask what merchandise you want to purchase (I do give them credit though for the mugs, you can get one signed by Buddy and it's the same price as not signed--made an extra special souvenir), then they bring over whatever you ordered. The cookies were average, the small cakes we had and the fruit tart were very, very good (ALMOST worth the chaos) and the canoli's were very good but overhyped. Overall, I'd say that if it were a quiet, regular bakery, I would frequent it because the quality is above average but because of the chaos, I think you should go there at least once but I'd find a different bakery to go to regularly.

    (3)

  • Thomas C.

    "Nobody goes here anymore. There's too many people in line." I had the chance to stop here on the way to JFK. Yes, there was a long line. And it even took longer since they were filming this day as well. We had a great time talking with the girls working there as well as other customers. The wait just flew by. I will be bummed out if I don't end up on the show when it airs. So I took a dozen cannolis and a crumb cake on the plane back to Los Angeles. I'm not sure what kind of witchery they use to make the filling on the cannolis, but it's so flippiing good. The crumb cake is really good as well. Super flavor and the huge, satisfying crumb topping. Don't be lame. The stuff they sell here are the real deal. Don't worry about the wait, it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    I used to pass this place all the time when in Hoboken for business. One day, I walk by and see that the place has a line around the block. I ask someone what its for, and that was the day that I learned that Cake Boss is filmed here. To this day I still haven't seen the show as it sounds formulaic at best, but the other week I was in Hoboken early and while there were people inside here, there was no line. I went for it. I got served right away, though I did get a good look around. As expected, the place is very polished and has pretty good variety although it skews more to the artisan bakery side than the old school Italian bakery side (although the favorite items from the latter are still present). I ended up getting a fresh sfogliatelle, coffee, and a half pound of their small sesamee cookies (AWESOME that they have 2 sizes). Staff didn't seem thrilled to be measuring half a pound of cookies at 8am, but they saw by my look that I wasn't going to take any BS. The coffee was good quality, and the sfogliatelle was great. The crunchy exterior had a nice butteriness when you bit into it. The inside was nice and soft, but it did lack a bit of flavor surprisingly. The sesamee cookies were up there with the best I've had. They had a bit of sugar in the batter but not too much, were slightly burnt, and avoided being too bready or crunchy. In other words folks, we have a miracle. Its actually lives up to the hype. Be wise and go early like I did. In the words of Governor Schwarzenegger, I will be back.

    (4)

  • Craig E.

    Maybe I'm spoiled living in NJ, but there are many bakeries that are better, and a lot less disorganized. The cakes were ok, the cannolis were ok, the lobster tails were ok. Great, no not really, but just ok. I have never seen the show on TV, so I cannot speak about the overrated hype, just the food on it's own merit. The confusion with the line out front by the employees made for a tough time trying to just get inside and try the baked goodies. It just added an extra level of stress that we could have done without.

    (2)

  • Francesca D.

    It's a good bakery, don't get me wrong. I just think that it's not the world's greatest bakery I would never make a line to go there. I think it's okay, it's good, looks nice but it's not fantastic.

    (3)

  • Matt E.

    3.5 stars... So I finally I visited the Cake Boss, for those who don't watch TV and live under a rock Cake Boss is a show on TLC that features Buddy (the owner) and Carlo's Bakery. It's a cross between Ace of Cakes and the Sopranos (they are less goofy but much more talented than Duff at Charm City Cakes). The show is almost entirely based on Buddy's cake business and the unique and amazing cakes they're commissioned to do. But just coming in to the shop you most likely won't see Buddy or the crazy cool cakes (though you will see some cakes including a couple fondant covered ones you can just walk-in and buy). You will see your typical Italian Bakery full of cookies, canolis, etc.. The shop is almost always packed with people who saw the show and want to check the place out or just locals from Hoboken looking to satisfy their sweet tooth with some great goodies. If you're at all star struck by minor reality show personalities you'll probably see one of Buddy's many sisters walking around helping people but with more than a half dozen young workers there you probably won't be helped by one of them. If you've never been to this area of Hoboken you're really in for a treat, it's a beautiful area and a beautiful street with lots of good shops, bars, and restaurants. Carlo's is toward the end of the street and right by the Path train so it couldn't be simpler to get to. If and when I end up in this area of Hoboken again I'll go back but with so many great Italian bakeries in Manhattan and Brooklyn I really wouldn't have any reason to specifically go to Carlo's, it's too much of a tourist attraction for run-of-the-mill Italian desserts.

    (4)

  • Sophia L.

    Tiramisu was ehhhh! Chocolate mousse and black&white cookie however was worth the wait!!

    (3)

  • Peggy M.

    The baked goods were delicious! But it was an hour and a half wait when we got in the bakery. The only complaint was on the lobster tails, they did not put powdered sugar on them. Even though it was a long wait, I'd definitely come back again!

    (4)

  • Julia P.

    Two hours of waiting in line for this overrated, mediocre tourist attraction was not pleasant. Despite my gut's efforts to tell me of looming high opportunity costs and a low return, I did not listen, and alas once again, curiosity has killed the metaphorical cat. And by cat I mean the satisfaction of my taste buds. They were very displeased. Carlo's Bakery has been a brick wall in my pursuit of eating mind-numbing, saliva-inducing, orgasmic Italian pastries and I often look back feeling melancholy, still grieving those precious two hours of my life that I have lost. Sob Should you find yourself waiting on line, ignorantly hopeful, then here are a few tips. Avoid the cream puffs, eclairs, and cupcakes. The cream they use is infinitely gross. Cupcakes were dry and frosting tasted like a generic supermarket brand--uneventful and cheap. There are amazing cupcakes out there, just not at Carlo's. Lobster tails and chocolate-covered cannolis gave this review an extra star. But they could not redeem this bakery from the depths of my Never Again List.

    (2)

  • Diera H.

    So I came there yesterday at 7.20pm. I was very glad that I could make it just before their closing time. I knew what I was going to get, so I ran to the door right after I parked. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to enter the shop. Lady at the door: Sorry, we're closed. Me: Really? I thought it's at 7.30pm Lady at the door: Sorry. We're open tomorrow at 7am if you want to come back. Me: I came all the way from Chicago and I'm leaving tonight, this is my only chance. Can I just come in to buy the Cannoli? Lady at the door: No. Me: Can I just come in and take pictures then? Lady at the door: No. Me: Can I just come in and take a look around and leave? Lady at the door: No. Me: So your closing hour doesn't mean anything then? Lady at the door: Yes. I'm so confused. What is the point of having business hours if they don't even abide to it? They should just post this on their door and on their website: Business Hours: Whenever we feel like Mind you I was not alone during the whole conversation. I know I was very annoying, but there were few other people visiting from Florida as well who thought they made it on time before closing time. We stood there for 15 minutes in the cold, still hoping to be let in. If she let us in at 7.20pm when we came, I bet we would have left by 7.25pm anyway. Disappointing.

    (1)

  • Annie H.

    I wanted to love this place, but the service was f"ing awful. The girls working the counter were total B***ches. I'm not sure if theyre getting their breaks but they were just Mean and awful to all their customers. They expect all customers to name the pastry by its proper name making zero effort to help your less informed fans. They don't even pretend to try and look where a customer is pointing. I was APPALLED by how rude they were, not just to me but EVERYONE else that was served the hour plus I waited there. I thought it was just one embittered girl, but honestly I found it wasnt just one bad seed. Makes me sad there were kids there that just had with all their hearts hoped and prayed that they'd catch a glimpse of buddy... but instead met the crappy customer service of some embittered employees. BUDDY i'm sorry but your staff is making a horrible name for you. I ordered a few items, your red velvet with creme cheese was delicious, but if i want to be virtually spit on by some staff members I'll go to New York City. Your desserts will never be good enough for me to go back again. Please give a pep talk to your staff. This cannot be good for your image. Again very sorry that so many kids and die hard fans are being so disappointed by not you, but your staff that represents you. Please encourage your team to represent you in the best iight possible. It seems like they really hate their job or hate the people who butter their bread, who are your fans and your supporters. What happened to customer service. I over heard another customer comment that this was as "popular and loved as katz deli in new york, but the people are actually happy to work there. "

    (1)

  • Andrew S.

    The little Italian cookies are very, very tasty. And the Lobster Tails were a big warm, gooey yet crispy hung of awesome.. mmmm, delicioso. Very cute place, and right around the corner from my company's NYC area office, so very accessible.

    (3)

  • Luckie D.

    2-Canolis, 2. - lobster tails, rainy night 20 minute wait. Good not great but a ton of fun in Hoboken, another item off the bucket list.

    (3)

  • Jessica D.

    My fiance and I are getting married at the Hyatt (in Jersey City) this summer. Included in our catering costs is a wedding cake from Carlo's Bakery. We were very excited, and looked forward to our cake tasting - however, it was HORRENDOUS: 1) Due to the Cake Boss shows on TLC, it is a tourist trap - which means, HUGE crowds. Why on earth would they require all cake tastings to be done on Saturdays and Sundays? 2) Cake Tastings are $100 - and after my experience, they should be ASHAMED of themselves 3) My appointment was at 1 pm, and they made my fiance and I wait over 50 minutes, in the OVER-CROWDED bakery to taste cake. 4) We get upstairs and are given 10 pieces of cake on a PAPER PLATE and then given PLASTIC SPOONS to taste with. No water, milk or any beverage was offered - oh, and NO TABLE to sit at. 5) They tried to cheap out and cut around corners with the cake I selected (ha - on top of a limited selection from the catering hall book). I picked a 4 tier cake, and they then told me that they only wanted to do 3 tiers. Um - excuse me? After my experience at Carlo's - I can not believe the Hyatt still works with them as a preferred partner for their wedding cakes. The only reason I gave Carlo's 2 stars is because I was able to purchase a cannolli - and it was fantastic. However, I can tell you of 20 other italian bakeries that are FAR better in the area. Carlo's is mediocre, and I am extremely disappointed that my wedding cake has to be from there. I'd rather bake my own wedding cake than to have to deal with the attitude I experienced from Carlo's Bakery. The cake tasting is supposed to be one of the more fun moments of wedding planning....ha....thanks for ruining that one!

    (2)

  • Andrew A.

    I thought this place was good except for the wait. We waited an hour to just get in the place and about 20 more minutes inside. I thoroughly enjoyed their baked goods. I dont understand why everyone is bashing this place. They are known for their crumb cakes but I never got a chance to get them because they ran out. I would suggest getting their lobster tails and my girlfriend got some sort of cookie that had jam in the middle like a sandwich and powdered sugar on top. She said it was really good and I asked her if I could try it and she wouldnt let me. So it must have been really good. Opposed to contrary belief they do take credit cards. I thought we would spend a lot on our stuff and for 6 different things it ended up being around $20

    (4)

  • Alice L.

    Manhattanites: It's a surprisingly short journey to Hoboken- a mere 12 minutes between Herald Square and Hoboken on the PATH. That being said, my chipper mood upon alighting the PATH was instantly dashed by my discovery that the line to get into the Cake Boss bakery was 1.5 hours long. I grumbled, decided to grab lunch first, ate and came back two hours later. The wait time had shortened to 1 hour. I sucked it up and waited. There was a tall dude manning the entrance, who would have looked as equally menacing as any bouncer at a Meatpacking District club had he not been wearing an apron. After finally getting inside, the reason for the wait time became clear. The bakery operates pretty inefficiently. Firstly, the bakery (at least the display area) is surprisingly tiny and cramped. The pastries are divided into two separate counters along opposite walls. They operate on the "grab-a-number-and-wait" system, and there are numerous employees behind the counter. Nevertheless, it is a zoo inside. Because of the awkward counter set-up, employees have to run back and forth across the store in order to gather all the items to fill your order. Additionally, most people order a ton of pastries to compensate for having waited so long just to get in. So despite the fact that there are enough people behind the counter to assemble an army, you still wait quite awhile once you get inside. This place is a tourist magnet, and most bring their entire families along for the experience. So while Mom is at the counter ordering 20 lobster tails, Dad, Grandma and Grandpop, Aunt Judy, and the four rugrats are crowded in the other corner of the bakery, trying not to get elbowed in the face. I ordered the lobster tails and the cannolis. The cannolis were pretty average. The lobster tails were definitely good but not worth the effort of a trip. Unless you're a diehard Cake Boss fan, this bakery is not worth a visit. Veniero's in East Village is way better and much less of a headache. If you are a loyal fan, however, they were filming an episode upstairs while we were there: a woman came downstairs with her face smeared with cake and announced, "We're filming today!"

    (2)

  • Jen M.

    I don't give a hoot about reality TV, so this review has nothing to do with the fame of the bakery. The venue I am getting married at uses this bakery for the wedding cake. My fiance and I went for a consultation and had an unpleasant experience. First and foremost, the mob of crazed fans was ridiculous. Secondly, Nicole, the woman we met with, didn't extend a hand to introduce herself or get our names. When we went to the consulting room, we were greeted by a jungle of card board boxes and filth. A bride wants to feel accommodated and special - I felt rushed and as if I was an inconvenience. The thing I couldn't believe most was that Nicole did not offer any tasting!! We expected to taste the cake, filling and icing flavors... unbelievable that it wasn't even a fleeting thought in this woman's head! The binder of cake photos were grade-A CLASSLESS. Completely tacky designs. Totally "Jersey" and tasteless. I felt as if I were looking at a 1987 yearbook of wedding cakes. This bakery is unprofessional, dirty and un accommodating.

    (1)

  • Min A.

    Luckily, I live nearby and can walk here and actually stop in when the place doesn't have a mile-long line. Red velvet cupcakes and cannoli's are DELISH! I've been there when there IS a line and the worst part is when you're inside. Too many people in there taking pictures and such (which is okay, but I couldn't walk around to see what was in the cases).

    (4)

  • Julia F.

    I recently discovered the show Cake Boss and was really excited that this place was close enough that I could actually visit. A quick ride up to Hoboken on the PATH train and I was pretty much there. I showed up around 4pm, and the line wasn't too bad (I've seen it worse at different times of the day). It definitely wasn't extending outside the shop at that point, but there was a guy handing out numbers at the door to keep things organized. The inside of the shop was packed with people, mainly because entire families and groups of friends were going in, but really only one person in each group was ordering. So in the end, they called out my number after about 15 minutes, which is much better than the hour wait I was expecting, and about how long it took me to get up to the registers. One thing you need to remember when you go here - in general, the staff behind the counter can't wait for you to leave, so they really plow through the numbers. If you don't answer almost immediately, they move on, so pay attention! I didn't hear them call my number, but I saw it on the number board and yelled it out before they gave up on me. When I got up to the front, I'd only had glimpses of pastries through the hordes of people, but I had read a review saying that their chocolate cream puffs were exceptional. So I ordered up two of those, and it was so cheap (about $3 for the both of them) that I wished I had ordered four. Maybe next time. The cream puff was good - it's the first cream puff I've ever had that I didn't think was disgusting. The puff was soft and slightly chewy, the chocolate filling was chocolatey, nice, and light, and the bit of chocolate on the top was amazing. What I didn't like about this place was that most of the people behind the counter were very rude (I heard a number of them arguing with and belittling customers while I waited), and also the fact that they obviously didn't care about the customers and just acted like they wanted everyone to leave (counting off numbers "21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26" almost as fast as you can read that - there could not have been that many customers who gave up and left, and I only heard them call out a number more than once one time). I've had jobs where it was that busy, and it's tough, but that kind of attitude is unacceptable. If you can't handle dealing with that many people in a civil way, then you should get a different job. So that's why this place only gets 3 stars instead of 4. I am going back again though, because I want to see if their cakes are as good as they look :)

    (3)

  • Bernadette M.

    Cake Boss's red velvet cupcakes and cannoli.... In town visiting my bff. We decided to take a break from fist pumping and take a walk down Washington st. Neither of us really watch Cake Boss but were familiar enough to know of the show. But not familiar enough since we would have never recognized this place without the long line coming out of it. It's a friday night, 10 degrees, snowing, and like all the other crazies we still decide to stand in line. We wanted to see what the hype was all about. I heard it's usually like an hour + wait, but with the crappy weather it was about 40 minutes. While waiting in line, the guy at the door will allow so many customers in at a time. When it is finally your turn to be herded in like cattle, you will be given a number. Remember this number because it is your ticket to ordering amidst the chaos in this bakery. I recommend trying to get as close as you can to the front so that when they finally call your number you don't have to waste all the time trying to push your way through the crowd. I also recommend already knowing what you are going to order because it's so busy. I couldn't even see what was in the cases with all the bodies pressed up against it. Cannoli- choice between the small and the large. I got one small, which was the length of say a deck of cards. Pretty tasty, I likey. Should have bought more. Two red velvet cupcakes with two different frostings were the only cupcakes offered at this bakery. So of course got one with buttercream frosting and the other with a cream cheese frosting- both dry and forgettable cake. Cream cheese frosting is better than the buttercream, but overall meh. These come in mini and regular sizes. If I would have known they came in mini I would have got that instead. Wasted my 4 bucks on a regular. I'm thinking this place is just known for their cakes. Maybe if I'm back in town I'll try their crumb cake, which I heard after was really good. TIP***My bff and I stopped by again on an tuesday afternoon since we had lunch down the street. No wait! So my advice is if you plan on going here, don't go on the weekends or weeknights***

    (3)

  • Lorenzo T.

    I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but if I ever go to someones house for dinner I go to Carlo's Bakery to bring for desert. The lobster tails are unlike any place else. Honestly to die for. My favorite though has to be the tri-color cookies. Just typing this makes my mouth water. They are moist as can be and have a layer of jam between each color. Please try atleast one next time you go there, you'll have a new favorite sweet. I sometimes bring a square of the coffee crumb cake to work as I walk to the path. My co-workers now place orders for the stuff to take home through me. Basically the cake is all crumb with just barely a layer of cake on the bottom. Multiple people have told me it's the best crumb cake they have ever tasted. I guess growing up on Carlo's bakery has spoiled me.

    (5)

  • Chris U.

    Tips for Annoying Cake Boss Tourists by Chris U. 1. No matter how much you pray, you're not going to see Buddy "The Fondant Fornicator" Valastro in person. 2. You should know that there are many, many great Italian bakeries in New Jersey and NYC and, really, Carlos is just a pretty decent one. TLC aside, it's not all that unique. 3. Unless you are looking to have them build a cake in the shape of an iPhone, life sized Smart Car, O.J. Simpson, etc. most of the "regular cake" is really just mediocre. Try Georgio's up the block if you want better quality without the crowd. 4. The cannoli = is a 6 out of 10. Many of the other Italian pastries are superb. And the sfogliatelle (lobster tails) are really excellent. 5. I had the coffee here while picking up some cookies one morning. I made a lot of bad decisions that particular day and that was probably the worst. 6. If you park on the Residents Only side of the street, you will get ticketed and booted - and rightfully so. 7. YOU CANNOT MAKE A TURN EASTBOUND ONTO NEWARK STREET! Do they not have one-way streets in Pennsylvania? Keep your eyes on the road and drive like a normal person. 8. Have lunch at The Taco Truck right around the corner. It's the most authentic artisan tacos you'll find, they're nice people and I want them to stay in business. 9. THROW AWAY YOUR GARBAGE when you're waiting on line. I already pay $11,000 a year in property taxes and we don't have any money left to pick up your trash. The corner by the CVS looks like a landfill on Saturday afternoons. 10. If you order a cake/pie/etc. ahead of time, you don't have to wait two hours in line to get into the place. DUH! 11. Cupcakes? Really? I think the Cupcake is the now the official lunch food of the New York City area, so do you really think this mass-production pastry assembly line makes the best cupcakes? Try Sweet off Park, or even the Crumbs up the block! 11. Italian Bread? There aint no stinkin' Italian bread here. 12. Stay in line and stop blocking the sidewalk. This is a real, living city, not a Disney movie set. People need to get to work, CVS, the PATH and the other bakeries up the street. 13. The winner of all of this: The guy who operates the hot dog cart on the corner of Newark and Washington Streets. I think I saw him driving a Benz S550 the other day. Oh, and welcome to Hoboken! Save me a tiramisu...

    (3)

  • Casey R.

    Was soooooo much better before the "fame" I grew up on these pastries and cakes & I am no longer impressed. It's unfortunate.

    (2)

  • Melissa P.

    Ok, I'm not gonna lie. - We went here as crazy fans of "Cake Boss" in the hopes to catch a glimpse of Buddy. Now that I got that off my chest, lets move on to the actually bakery itself. We live in NYC so it was about a 45 minute ride between getting there, and parking. We got a spot right next to the famous alley way where they pack up deliveries, and got a picture of the white van. When we arrived in front, there were about 10 people waiting on line outside. Didn't seem too bad, but the line moved very slow. We were out there for about a half hour. Once inside, we waited on an additional line for 45 minutes. When it was finally our turn, the staff was very rude. I understand they are trying to get people out as quick as possible, but have some consideration for the people who travel to be there. They work really slow, although it may seem like they're moving fast. The girl who helped us stopped to have a conversation with another worker midway of getting our pastries. I can understand why theres a line out the door. I would of given this place 5 stars, if it wasn't for the wait or the staff. The pastries are GREAT! Coming from a tradition Italian family, I know a good cannoli..and these were out of this world!!! The chocolate cupcakes were also to die for, and the Tiramisu? Fuggedaboutit. Amazing. We'll go back, but definitely at 7AM to avoid any lines. UPDATE: We did end up going back while on our way to Atlantic City. We got there at around 8AM and there was only 1 other person in there getting their morning coffee. Highly recommend pulling yourself out of bed and going this early!

    (4)

  • Evan M.

    Average Italian pastries. Overcrowded due to tv show. Stay away.

    (2)

  • G K.

    I have not been there but someone brought in cannolies to work....They were amazing....i want to travel to NJ and try some other things.

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    Probably the best cakes I've ever had. The place is family-run and old-school. It's always busy, but you get taken care of fast and efficiently. There are even a few tables and chairs if you want coffee and a pastry. The custom cakes are reasonably priced and you get a ton of options. It's almost frightening as to what combinations you can come up with given the choices. This is probably one of the best, if not the best, Italian bakeries in the area. And that means a lot from someone who's lived in Brooklyn his entire life, and has had cakes from probably every bakery in Brooklyn and Staten Island (thank you, ginormous family!).

    (5)

  • Justin M.

    cake looked awesome but tasted like crap - i'm a fat guy and I could barely eat a small piece. do't but into the hype - highly overrated. stale entemanns is better.

    (1)

  • Rosa C.

    Dear Carlo's Bake Shop: I am so glad you are located in Hoboken and I'm in Florida because if you were down here, I'd be one Lobster Tail away from a heart attack. There was no way I was going to drive to NYC without stopping at Hoboken for some of Carlo's Bakeries staples. I sampled so many things I could hardly remember what they all were: Lobster Tail Canoli Red Velvet Cupcake Peanut Butter Cupcake Chocolate Cake w/ chocolate mousse ALL WERE AMAZING! The taste is perfect, the cupcakes were not too sweet and made to perfection. I do not like creme fillings on anything but the Lobster tails and canolis were incredible-- I couldn't stop eating them! We were there on a Tuesday morning so the line was short, we waited outside for maybe 10 minutes but I did hear that it can get long on the weekends. The staff was very friendly and I had an overall great experience. I have to say that I was almost discouraged to visit the bake shop because of some of the reviews here but I LOVED the experience and would do it again in a heart beat-- it's worth it!

    (5)

  • Danie B.

    I guess experiences vary per individuals because I enjoyed my visit. I arrived on a Saturday morning at around 8 am. There was no line outside the store. When I came in, I got my ticket and when they called my number, this girl, Angela, helped me. She was really nice nd very obliging. I had a few questions, which she answered. I also changed my order a couple times, but she was patient. I had the regular cannoli, chocolate dipped cannoli, and a lobster tail. Both cannolis are delicious but the lobster tail was just eh. The filling was very very good. I came in at a good time cause I after I settled to eat there was already a long line. Come early. When it gets busy and you're rushed or too worried of losing your place, you can't really enjoy it.

    (4)

  • amanda p.

    The Cake Boss definitely lives up to their image. Their canolies are fabulous as well as the cream puff and lobster tails.. It's pricey but totally worth it. Also you have to wait in line and when u get in they rush u to hurry and order. I suggest go there early in the morning as soon as they open.

    (5)

  • Adelyn L.

    Cannolis and lobster tail are pretty good, but that's about it. There is no "WOW" to their pastries (yes, that includes the cannolis and lobster tails as well!). Meh. Overhyped. Overrated. Touristy.

    (3)

  • Brenda D.

    Was visiting New York City when I found out it only took 15 minutes to get to Hoboken, New Jersey. That's it?! I'm going to Carlo's Bakery! I went fairly early on the 4th of July because I had heard the lines get really long. It must have been around 8:30 in the morning and I did in fact have to wait in line, but the wait was very short. Once inside however, is a whole different story. It is jam packed with people! And the bakery is very, very small... If you tend to get claustrophobic, then you might want to wait outside. On another note, the experience inside was great. You have people coming from all parts of the world to see the bakery and try some treats, so I made friends very quickly. And the treats, are in fact yummy. No hype here, you will get some good treats... The red velvet cupcakes were still not ready when I arrived though (and I am still sad about that). So I will have to return to try my favorite cupcake :)

    (4)

  • Shaan L.

    I went on a Wednesday in the afternoon, and the wait was almost two hours. That was to be expected though, so it wasn't so bad. Just be prepared for it, if you plan on coming here. Once I got inside the bakery, I barely had any time at all to browse around or take even a decent amount of time to decide what I wanted. There was a mad rush, and they were calling people's numbers fast, meaning I had to decide fast. If it were up to me, I would have tried a couple different slices of cake, a traditional Italian pastry or two, a brownie, and some cookies. Unfortunately, it was either buy a whole cake or no cake at all, and I had no idea which pastries were worth it. I ended up getting two cookies and a random pastry that I couldn't eat, because I didn't realize it had pecans on it, which I am allergic to. Needless to say, the cookies were both DELICIOUS. I ate the first cookie 20 minutes or so after getting it, and it was still warm, soft and moist. I didn't eat the second until about eight hours later, and yet it was still soft and moist! It hadn't dried up or hardened at all. I was very impressed, and consider that I am obsessed with cookies, and can be a hard judge. The only reason this place gets a 3/5 and not a four or a five is because I really didn't even get the chance to properly experience the place, and that definitely took away from the overall enjoyment.

    (3)

  • Cecily B.

    I watch their show on TLC and was obsessed with it! Finally made it to New York and took the train to Hoboken which was only 8 minutes from the city and it was worth it! everything there was so delicious! The line was 2 blocks long, but worth the wait. Sadly the famous bakers weren't there because they moved to a new bigger location for more orders, but the place is still great =)

    (5)

  • Larry F.

    A highlight of our trip - again! Our second visit from California. Went on our son's 14th birthday. Buddy's sister Madeline was working behind the counter. My wife told her it was our son's birthday. She said he gets a hug, a kiss, and a cupcake! Wow! She was so incredibly nice to him and to us. Her warmth was the highlight of our visit! Our family has watched every episode of the show and we love how their stardom has not changed their family values and kindness. Our son said the cupcake was delicious. So was the cake we specially ordered, the cookies, and of course the lobster tails. Those lobster tails are worth the trip alone - they are beyond excellent! Thank you Madeline and Carlo's Bakery for making our trip so special!

    (5)

  • Char J.

    If you're going to make the trip to Carlo's, there are a few things we found that might help. 1. Go early and in the middle of the week. We arrived around 10am on a Tuesday morning and the line was minimal. We may have waited all of 15 minutes before we got it in and may have had another 10 minutes before our number was called. 2. Go prepared with an idea of what you want to order. It may be difficult to move around and see all of what is available. Check out the website, facebook page and online-ordering site for a few ideas of what you can get. 3. Ask the person you are working with to repeat your order before they start boxing things up. If you're like us, we traveled a few hours to get there and wanted to try a variety of treats. 4. Check your boxes before they tie them up. Once you leave the store, there are no corrections. They run a pretty smooth operation, but with so many people in the store at the same time, they do a good job trying to move people in and out. Mistakes can be made in the rush. It was slightly disappointing to realize that the things you asked for were never included. We received everything we paid for, so no complaints there; but, there were a few things that we asked for and did not get. In all, it was a fun experience. The treats we did try were great! (Cannolis, Lobster Tails, etc.) and traveled very well. We had a cooler ready, left the bakery just before 11am and didn't get home until 10pm and with the exception of the icing sliding off one cupcake, everything was great! Even the cannolis were still crisp! In all, if you're a fan of the show or just curios about all the hype, it's a fun experience. Be patient and be prepared!

    (3)

  • Santosh I.

    Cannolis were good, but just about everything else in our shopping experience was bad. 25 min wait outside in the cold, 20 min wait after entering the shop.. & that's when I realized inefficient service is one reason for the lines. One ends up feeling more like a cog in their money-making machine than a valued customer. Go if you are an adoring fan, but skip it otherwise. We can get just as good, get treated a lot better and spend a lot less time/$ elsewhere.

    (2)

  • K B.

    This was on my daughters bucket list. She LOVED IT! What made the 2.10 wait time worth every check on her list was Buddy's older sister Maddalena and her daughter Dominique . Dominique was darling and very patient with the crows ticket and wait time questions. But, Maddalena was the show stopper and was the sweet heart of the bakery taking photos and passing out cannolies. Thanks for making Carlo's Bakery even sweeter. Your father would be proud of all you!

    (4)

  • Pinky And The B.

    I have a dirty little secret I like the Cake Boss. The Cake Boss show is kind of like a show about Santa Claus for me. I know he is fake but I love him anyway! So I went to the bakery with my husband on a little staycation. I just wanted the experience of going to take pictures. I knew not to expect much from the reviews. The review of Ophelia's S is hysterical! Thanks for making me laugh during a stressful time in my life! Some here said the cannoli's were the best they have had others said the worst. How can it be both? I had to find out. The cannoli's in my opinion were his own take on them not a classic cannoli so now I do understand the different reviews for them. For me they were not the best or the worst. They were just different. What is different about them is that they are greasy. The shells were not the same as any I have had. The filling wasn't bad It was not overly sweet like Veniero's so they were okay to me. They were better than Veniero's . They were not of the same quality and taste as Rose and Joe's or Cascon's. But they were okay. But as I said they were not a classic cannoli. He apparently has his own recipe. Some will like that some will hate it. I also picked up a peach pie. It was a typical pie. Nothing special or bad about it. We went at about 4:30 PM on a Thursday. There were no lines at all. It was empty when we went in but then a mini van full of tourists came in. But other than that it was empty. The neighborhood is very quaint and a nice place for tourists to walk around. Obviously Carlo made his name doing wedding cakes. I wasn't expecting everything else to be like his wedding cakes. I didn't experience the poor service other reviewers talked about. We had a sweet girl named Chrissy and she was really helpful! A fun experience. I know it isn't really like me to like a show like this since I am a purist and I am not at all a fan of people like Rachel Ray or Bobby Flaye or any of the other fake TV personalities who have food related shows. (and if Rachel Ray and Bobby Flaye got married her name would be Rachel Ray Flaye) I think they should get married, they are perfect for each other, just sayin.. Anyway Cake Boss is so funny and innocent for me at a stressful time in my life that it is just my speed right now. Thanks Cake Boss for the laughs!

    (3)

  • Amy B.

    We visited for my mother's birthday and what a great time. We arrived early and walked right in and was asked if we could be helped. Pricing was just as reasonable as any other italian bakery we had been too. The cookies (m&m w/ chocolate chips) were the best bakery cookies we ever had. My husband said the red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese filing were excellent. The cake we bought for my mother's birthday was chocolate w/ chocolate mousse and just amazing. Even my 4.5 yr old who normally doesn't eat chocolate cake or mousse loved it and wanted more. Yet the best part of the trip was the way they were with my daughter. My daughter with a little coaching from her grandfather asked if Buddy could sign the book we had gotten my mother for her birthday. The girl took the book upstairs and came back with it signed. She didn't even think twice about doing it. (We think this may have been Mauro's oldest daughter). Then before we know it Mauro's son Buddy is asking my daughter if she would like a cookie. He was so sweet. He even took a picture with her which she now needs to keep by her bed. Just a great time for all involved with tons of great goodies to be enjoyed later.

    (5)

  • Ave H.

    Nom nom nom! First off, this is a one-time only kinda deal. Totally worth it but I will never, ever wait in that line again. Ever. It took about 1 1/2 hours to get in. Despite the wait, I think the staff handled it perfectly. They had two guys outside working the line, making sure no one cut and carefully monitoring the amount of people on each block so no intersections were blocked. They also were really good at estimating the wait time so people could have an accurate idea of how long they may be out there. When we finally got up to the front of the line there was a guy monitoring the door who was in charge of handing out he order numbers, deli style. When you go in you can stand anywhere you like and you place your order when they call your number. I'm not sure how many people work here normally but since it was the holidays they had a bunch of seasonal workers. Despite the fact that these people had been working for about 4 hours already and there were tourists as far as the eye could see, the woman (Sally) who helped us was pretty cheerful and friendly. We got ten large cannolis and three red velvet cupcakes w/ cream cheese frosting. The cupcakes were kinda small for the price, but look lovely. All I have to say about the cannoli is - best. cannoli. ever. It was SO good and worth every penny. Our total ended up being around $34. Only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because they def do mark up prices. They get hundreds of customers a day so it seems a bit silly to me to also mark up price. Granted, their prices on smaller items is not so bad - but their cakes (even their tiny ones) are vastly over priced. All in all though it is worth it. As I said, I wont be returning because that line almost killed me - but I'm so glad I went once.

    (4)

  • Carina Z.

    As an experience, visiting this reality-show-made-famous bakery was lots of fun. Waiting in line, in anticipation of fresh baked goods, and a chance to see someone famous at a place that is already famous was totally worth it. We took the bus from the Port Authority Bus Station in New York and, as tourists, I will say it was easy to figure out, cheaper than I expected, and really quick (I think we were there in under 20 minutes). As a bakery, the food was dissatisfying. I got a cannoli and lobster tail and brought home some biscotti. The cannoli was run-of-the-mill, they did fill it on site but the ricotta filling wasn't as smooth as others I have had and my shell seemed a little over done. The lobster tail was crispy on the outside and the filling was okay; I was just expecting more. The best item I purchased was the vanilla almond biscotti they have a good crunch when you bite into it and then it melts in your mouth exactly as you would hope. I will speculate that none of the items I purchased were made that morning; they all looked and tasted a day or two old. I understand that the small location struggles to keep up with the demand that the show created, however it was still disappointing. Unfortunately I didn't get to see anyone famous (not even any of the front-line staff) so I was a bit let down by that. Also because the bakery was so packed with people once we got inside I found it hard to navigate the items they were offering so I don't know that I even knew all of my options when it was my turn to order. I also didn't like that there were no signs by the items so you have no idea what some items were called and absolutely no idea of prices until you are ordering and then there is pressure to decide fast, so it was a bit overwhelming. If you are a fan of Cake Boss I still recommend visiting the bakery and seeing it firsthand but don't expect too much from the food.

    (3)

  • Rima D.

    BEWARE!! Make sure you leave with what you paid for. I paid $87 bucks and walked away with half my stuff, because I didn't open up the wrapped up boxes in the store before I left. I called the store, after i got home and told them they must have forgotten to put the missing items in the bags but i was definitely charged for them, "Nicole" responded with store policy is to check your boxes before you leave! Sorry can't help you! Click!!,,, Are you serious after their employee closed the boxes and put string on them, they want me to open them up and check that he did his job?? How about the cashier does that, as she is happily ringing up any amount the guy helping me calls out without verifying anything!! Well, Shame on them, that's absolutely so rude, After the incredible overpricing for mediocre pastries and bad customer service, Never again!!

    (1)

  • Tesheca L.

    Don't believe the hype. Even before the show aired I tried the pastries a few times and again this year happened to go in surprisingly without a block-long line to wait in. The store is so small, and there is no way you can browse without losing your place in line. Its best to be partnered up so that the other person can hold your place in line. The actual items are good, but not great as they make it seem on TV. Canolis, cupcakes, cookies-good. I've never tried their cakes, so maybe they are great, maybe not. Their cakes are very pricey.

    (4)

  • Mone T.

    The famous Carlo's bake shop. Obviously famous for their cake decorating skills because the taste was average. My wife insisted on going here on our first day in New York. I know its in New Jersey but its just over the river so we went. We caught the train from the hotel and it dropped us off a few blocks away. From their we walked and saw a rather long line just to get in. We had to take a number from a guy standing across the street. While we stood in line we met a family from Thornton, Co just down the street from where we're from in Denver. The lady told us she was there a few days ago but the line was too long so she left and came back this day. Now I'm thinking this has got to be some good stuff if people are willing to stand in those kinds of lines. Well, lets just say its over rated. We didn't want to spend a whole lot of money and we didn't have a place to store a lot of cake so we got a few small confections. I got a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese icing and a fudge brownie. The cupcake was kind of dry or stale as if it had been there a while and the brownie was too soft, not spongy or something, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. My daughter got an assortment of sugar cookies which she devoured but she's twelve so what does she know, as long as its sweet lol. My wife, well she got a cannoli and some other stuff. She ate the cannoli and was so disappointed that she didn't even waste her time with the rest. After all the hype I was just glad our wait in line wasn't too long.

    (3)

  • Vivian W.

    I really like the Cake Boss show, so I was super excited to find out I was having dinner near THE Carlo's Bakery in Jersey. Of course I dragged my friends for a stop in to see and try the pastries. The cakes on display were gorgeous of course. The place was packed on a Friday night, and when you walk in you have to grab a number (just like venieros). The unfortunate part is the wait. There are almost a dozen people working, but for some reason the line moves along VERY VERY slowly. Looking around, at any given time there are always 3-4 people just standing there instead of helping customers. Of the two cash registers, only one was being used even though the line was essentially out the door (fire hazard?). It took almost an hour to get some pastries. Maybe it was the hype or maybe the wait, but I have to say I've had better pastries elsewhere without this kind of wait. I will say that the canoli's are filled when you order them (bonus points) and that I'd still want to order a cake from this place some day (they truly are gorgeous), but for pastries I'll pass, there are other places in the area, less expensive, with less of a wait.

    (2)

  • Jason D.

    I am not waiting a half hour on line for a cannoli! I used to go get a great cannoli every time I was in Hoboken, but then there were lines and take a number. Apparently the place got featured on some crappy basic cable show, so now it is a magnet for tourists and gawkers, like someplace over the river. It used to be worth the trip on the PATH train over from the City, but now don't bother. As Yogi Berra said, "Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded."

    (1)

  • Lovinparties G.

    I bought and ate products from the bakery long before he was cake boss and the line got soooo long.The displays are the best part, after that it all tastes well...identical! I found the goods to be unremarkable, waxy, flavorless and taste like canned frostings. Being a former Newark resident it was levels below the real authentic baked goods once found on Bloomfield Avenue in Newark. Thats my take. Most non NJ neophytes wouldn't know they are clueless about GOOD FOOD and get suked in by the tourist cache. Honestly...its nothing special...go if you're a fan.

    (3)

  • Zach G.

    We did it. We made the pilgrimage to Hoboken, NJ to see the uber-famous Carlo's Bakery - home of the Cake Boss. Don't expect to see Buddy, though... "he's in a meeting." Reading through the other reviews here, I thought it was an exaggeration that the wait time would be so long to get into the bakery. I was wrong and had time to ponder it as I stood at the back of the line - a block and a half away from the bake shop. The wait was a solid hour long at least. Fortunately, they have staff managing the line and keeping people from cutting in. Once it was our turn to go in, another problem became apparent. They have a doorman who only allows a certain number of people in the shop at one time. This would normally be a good idea if that number wasn't three times as large as the group that should have been in there to start with. It was a zoo - literally packed to the point where it was impossible to see the selections or move around the bakery at all. Seeing as there was no way to physically fit any more people into a single location, I had to wonder why there was someone watching the door at all. There is a number system in place that regulates when you are able to order. By the time our number was called we had forced ourselves to the front display cases. I'm sure some unfortunate individual was trampled in the process. We got the legendary lobster taills and cannolis. It was disappointing that the guy who ordered cannolis after us was given a choice of cream fillings and we were not. Such is life though. Sometimes it's just a one-cream-filling-choice kinda day. I will admit that the pastries were good. Best ever? Probably not - and for the time it took to get them I could have been fattened up at my choice of any four other bakeries in the Hoboken area. Service was disappointing as well. I couldn't help but feel like the staff would rather be someplace else. Who can blame them though? They are probably fed up with the touristy rampage that falls upon them every day like a stampede of cattle. I'm sure they are forced to hear "where's Buddy" a thousand times a day. Maybe it's worth it to experience it once - maybe you're crazy and enjoy things like that. Either way, try to sneak in when the weather is bad or during the evening hours when things are not as busy. You'll thank yourself.

    (3)

  • Rene M.

    Good stuff, no line at all, did not have to take a number. Only one other customer in store on Monday morning. Took subway from 7th/57th to 33rd st. To PATH train to Hoboken, 5 minute walk. Total time about 30 minutes, 15 at Bakery And 30 to get back. Quick and easy.

    (4)

  • Scott C.

    Over an hour in line to buy a cupcake? Nah....

    (1)

  • Dontae D.

    The staff were all really nice and the Cakes were nice, but not for the price. I get that its on TV and everything but I looked at a 2 layer cake and they wanted $ 1,700 bucks. It was just going to be purple. Like really???? Come on Cake Boss???? I bought the same cake at a less known bakery and paid $200. If you like to waste money go ahead folks. The cake is very good but I just think the pricing is a bit crazy.

    (2)

  • Caskett C.

    Yes, I will admit I am a huge fan of the show. So during my trip to NY in March, I had to visit the bakery. I planned to visit during the week (Thursday) and before the rounds of spring break started to avoid the crowds. There wasn't a line outside, but it was 3/4 full inside. As many reviewers have mentioned, there is a guy manning the door who opened it for me and gave me a number. He also said there's no line inside the bakery, that I could walk around. I was number 67 and they were on number 35. So I had a bit of a wait. I went straight to the back of the bakery, where they have those consultations, hoping to see Buddy. They were also filming during my visit. Buddy's sister Grace was working behind the counter, but disappeared to the back after about 15 minutes, obviously to film a scene as I started to hear her and her two other sisters, Mary and Maddalena arguing. Mauro then came out to do a consult with a client, but I did not see nor hear Buddy during my visit. When it was finally my turn, the girl helping me was nice, but not overly nice. She wrote down what I wanted, which wasn't much, a cannoli, lobster tail and a souvenir mug. Off I went to their one and only cash register to pay. I did notice, however, one rude sales woman who would yell out a number, then ask you "do you want anything on the other side?". Well the problem with that is the bakery is pretty packed, so unless you are bumping and pushing your way around, or unless you are familiar with the layout of the store, you may not know if you want something from the other side of the store (which happens to have the cupcakes, cannoli's, lobster tails and other pastries). Her attitude and mannerisms were off putting for me. Anyway, the cannoli and lobster tail I bought were yummy! OK i must admit I've never had a cannoli before (dunno why) and it was prettty damn good. The cream in the lobster tail was pretty good too. Both were kind of small though, but I just wanted a taste so it was fine. So yeah I went there for the hype, would I return? Only if I were to be able to go there when it was not crowded, otherwise I would not return for a second trip to wait in line for hours. BTW I did try cannoli's from other bakeries during my trip and Carlo's was the best!

    (4)

  • Joselyn Y.

    We didn't have to wait long! Awesome everything! Like everyone says, get the cannolis!!

    (4)

  • Jaime O.

    Since my last review they have now implemented that town residents can show their ID and cut the line. They have also put up barriers to control the crowds to not block the sidewalk so commuters can get through. In more recent visits the staff has not pushed me to buy marketing items and really has been taking the extra step to treat the locals better. This is a big improvement! Thank you for taking care of your locals!

    (4)

  • Lisa O.

    Pastries were terrific - but the wait was ridiculous! Out of town 10 and 12 year old nephews are "Cake Boss" fans, so off we go to Hoboken on a 90+ degree day at mid-day in August. Line is long, but lovely people who drove 2.5 hours from Pa. to come to Carlo's offer to hold our place on line. So we have lunch down the block, came back 1.5 hours later, and we're still nowhere near the front! We wait another 1.5 hours - and then wait more in chaos inside bakery to order. Takes over 30 minutes once our number was called to get a dozen pastries and a few t shirts. We're laughing at this point at how ridiculous this whole experience was, and how nuts it was to wait like that. But - have to admit - once we got the pastries home, we were really impressed. Cupcakes were just delicious. Lobster tails amazing (wanted to compare to Sfogliatelle, the ricotta filled version, but they were out. No crumb cake either). Cannolis very good. Adored the pignoli cookies - really soft and filled with almond paste. "Chinese cookies" a big hit. Only thing we thought was just "eh" was individual chocolate mousse cake. So overall - not worth a 3+ hour wait, but a fun experience and great food!

    (3)

  • Jesus L.

    Came here on our recent vaction back in April 12. We frequently watch Cake Boss on TV and made it a must to come here. We visited Carlos Bakery on a Monday afternoon. I was a little worried about the lines after reading reviewis online cause we had to be at the Yankee game that night. To our suprise there was no wait what so ever, We walked right in and I was shocked (Good for us). Wife and I ordered the cheesecake, Lobster tail and canoli (Spell Check) and some other goodies. I have had better cheesecake but the canoli was freaking awesome. Overall my group was happy that we went and there wasn't no wait. Go on a Monday (During the week) and avoid weekends.

    (4)

  • Lina M.

    Gosh. I really, wanted to give them 5 stars the mouse kept toggiling back and forth from 4 to five and then I just closed my eyes and it landed on 4, so 4 is the number im going on...even thoughhhh 5 was on my mind. I love the show, Cake Boss is hands down one of my favorite shows to watch. I've always came to New Jersey since I was a kid, and now that I watch the show it was something to look forward to seeing in Jersey. They weren't too busy when we walked in but they do have a "Take a Number" system which I assume they use when really busy. all the cakes, deserts, and yummy cookies looked phenomenal in the cases and tasted just as good. We had order a lobster tail and some kind of cookie half dipped in chocolate with walnuts in it. The lobster tail, I loved it, it was almost heaven. The cookie was good too, but the lobster tail was my fav. We would have ordered the cannoli but knowing they fried it in lard I couldn't eat it. The price I dunno if its cuz of jersey but I felt it was a little too pricey. Two cookies, two lobster tails....12 bucks...so i dunno, maybe im a cheap-O but It was still good and I'd eat here again. Never saw buddy, but I did see one of the sisters. Everyone was really nice and ready to help!

    (4)

  • Brenda M.

    Over-hyped and over-priced! Made a trip across the Hudson to try the pastries that looked delicious after seeing Cake Boss. Eh! The line was not bad on a weekday at 2pm and moved quickly enough. We purchased 2 lobster tails (I liked these best from all the pastries here), 2 chocolate cannolis (I'll pass, not enough chocolate chips), 2 regular cannolis, 2 red velvets with cream cheese and a mini chocolate truffle cake. This came to $30. The cannolis were not great, Im glad I got the small ones instead of the large ones. I have def had better red velvet, esp here in ny. I enjoyed the lobster tail which were crispy but did not like the creme filling, too thick. In the store, they also sell Carlos Bakery merchandise for the tourist. One small fondant cake is worth $45, waaay overpriced if you ask me. They do not sell cake slices which would have been nice. Only pie slices. Also the crumb cake only comes in a huge square with 6 servings. The mini chocolate truffle cake was $10 which is twice the price you would pay for that size. So I can imagine how much the crumb cake would come out to. Also purchased a large coffee for $1.75 but it was not good, get yours at Dunkin Donuts for $1 down the street instead. Overall I think the pastries/cake look purty and delicious on tv, but do NOT taste good. My neighborhood french pastry place makes SOOOO much yummier pastries. We did not see anyone on the show except for Mauro who seemed nice enough and posed with people.

    (2)

  • Paulette H.

    Well our experience was a bit disappointing to say the least. After waiting for 20 minutes outside (wish it would have been 40 more). We were ushered inside a packed mad house. There were so many people in this place you, literally, could not move. Then you had the obnoxious people that seemed to think they were the only ones that mattered so they pushed and shoved their way to the back of the store to get a better view of what was there. We waited at least an hour to go from #90 to our #109. All the while being pushed, shoved, stepped on and listening to rude people excusing their rude behavior while shoving their way through the mad house. When our # was finally called I was prepared with a list of what we wanted to purchase. I handed it over to the girl who promptly copied it down to her own piece of paper. While she went about putting our order together I pushed my way over to the register to check out with my handy Amex. Just to be told "we only accept MC and Visa". As a business owner myself I find it very irritating when I have to deal with a business that doesn't accept Amex. It just tells me that the owner is a bit of a cheapskate because he doesn't want to pay the extra 1% that Amex charges their merchants. But anyway.. Back to my purchase.. I sign over $110.00 of my hard earned money to Carlos's and start my battle to get back to the front door. I finally make it outside and to the vehicle that my husband has been patiently driving around in while waiting. We head towards home (8 hrs away) and I start going through our goodies to find.... We had been ripped off... I have no idea if the girl wrote my order down correctly or if I was charged for the 5 items we didn't receive... They don't give you a detailed receipt and there are no posted prices.. So who knows.... Maybe Carlos's got to me today for 2 napoleons, 2 cannoli and a carrot cake cupcake... And maybe they didn't. I just think it is insane to allow as many people as they do into such a small area and expect to have happy customers.. And the really disappointing part is.... Nothing, so far, has been that great... It's all just "ok".. He's a great cake decorator that for sure but other than that.... No big deal

    (1)

  • David G.

    This place is a madhouse on the weekends, thanks to tourists flocking there after the TLC show launched. I bought a cake here once before the show started, and it was cool. The cake was good, but pretty heavy. Both in taste as well as weight. Our wedding cake was also made by these guys. Our guests pretty much loved it. Sadly, I had one bite that night, and I don't really remember much from that sole bite. FYI, their cakes (regular or wedding) aren't cheap. Best time to go is in the early morning.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Got here at 7 am no wait must be cause all that snow. The crumb cake was alright nothing to brag about.

    (4)

  • B. C.

    We got to Carlos's Bakery at 7AM and were one of the 1st 10 people in line. We had the lobster tails, which were unbelievable, and bought a box of rugleach to take home. Also great. Fun, tasty and pleasant experience. Only complaint was not getting to meet any of the "famiglia"

    (4)

  • Joanne P.

    Went to Carlo's Bakery today and spent most of my time queueing. What impressed me was the canoli. Great tasting with an extremely crunchy canoli shell - a great delight! I like the homemade feel of the place and the baked goods. Had to queue 1 hour outside the shop and another 40 minutes in the store. The only reason why there was a long wait time is because of the lack of workers during that time. All the pastries and what not are all ready in the display cabinets. They only need to be packed in the boxes. If there were just a couple more people, the line would have moved much faster. In all, great stuff to offer, but would have been even better with a more efficient system.

    (4)

  • John M.

    Amazing food, great customer service. Check them out if you live in or visit New York (it's really close!).

    (5)

  • Cyryl G.

    I can't believe I was able to go here while visiting the east coast! The great thing about this place is you get here directly from taking the Path Train. Coming here was de-ja-vu, cuz i'm a fan of the show. I didn't see Buddy but I did see glimpse of one of his sister-in-laws in the hallway talking on the phone. My family came here on a rainy day so there was no line out the door! When you get inside they have you take a number. The place is really small, so you feel packed inside with all the other people. Straight ahead you can see the 2 chairs and the table where Buddy has his consultations with clients. And there's tons of old family pictures of them on the sides. I'll be honest. The pastries were ok, I think I've had better cupcakes before..but omg, they're cannolis are really to die for! I've been trying to look for something close to it here on the west coast but i'm afraid I could never eat another cannoli like that until our next visit to the New York area.

    (4)

  • Colleen N.

    I knew it would be a wait. I went on a Sunday evening. A little less waiting on line about an hour. But I was prepared. Getting inside it was really crowded, and like all the other reviews said..you cannot see the goodies too well. When it was my turn about another half hour later, a kid took my order and said wait at the end and I will bring it to you. While waiting ..two people returned to say they forgot items on their order. I'm thinking, I hope they don't mess up mine. So now I'm waiting and waiting and waiting for my order. Literally 15 numbers after my order. Another half hour. I go over my list and the kid confirms. All the boxes are already tied up. I go back to the hotel and of course they FORGOT something. My red velvet cupcake..so freakin annoying after 2 hours. But the items I did get were pretty good, tiramisu small cake,cheesecake, linzer cookies. The cupcakes were just ok. Better down four blocks at Crumbs on Washington street. So all in all try it once, but not worth waiting 2 hours for any other time. If the lines were shorter I would go back. No more expensive than any other bakery.

    (3)

  • Christina S.

    I was in the neighborhood and decided to finally stop in to see what all the hoopla was about. I was greeted by a friendly security guard who gave me a number when I walked in. There were about 15 people in line ahead of me but I only waited about 5-7 minutes. Everything looked great but of the $14 worth of pastries I got everything was just fair-okay. The best ting I had was the canolli and it was just alright.

    (2)

  • Emily K.

    I will preface this by saying that I left with low expectations. TV bakeries are usually not all they're cracked up to be (see: Georgetown Cupcakes), but as an aspiring baker, I wanted to try some of the thing here. I prepared myself for a multi-hour wait, as most reviews suggested. Upon arriving, the store was virtually empty, save for the workers and one or two other customers. This was a Wednesday morning around 10:15. The servers were very friendly, and even let me sit at the consultation table while I ate my cannoli, since there wasn't a consultation happening at the moment. I got several cannoli (both plain and chocolate dipped), a crumb cake (whoever said you can't buy it in slices went on a bad day...you certainly can!), some lobster tails, two cupcakes (chocolate chocolate and chocolate peanut butter), and a small tiramisu for the friend I was staying with. Thus far, I've only tried two: the cannoli (plain) and the crumb cake. The cannoli was delicious. It helps that they fill them on the spot, because the shell was very crunchy in contrast to the smooth filling. I found myself licking my fingers! The crumb cake was good (especially the spices in it- strong sense of ginger, followed by cinnamon and nutmeg), but quite dry and hard. I'll update this review once I've had a chance to try the other things. In general, Carlo's is definitely a good bakery, not just good tv. Save yourself a wait in line and go on a weekday morning- you'll be in a better mood, the staff will be in a better mood, and you'll be able to take your time, wander around, and look at everything!

    (4)

  • Kent W.

    What's up with the hype? The bakery was featured on a TV show - and now they're selling autographed T's? Eh. Ah. Uh huh. I mean, "clap clap" on the biscotti and cream puffs, but everything else were "eh" Seriously, the cupcake taste like any ordinary yellow cake mix with the gloop on top.

    (2)

  • june Y.

    lined up for an hour to get in and another 1/2 an hour to get the pastries/cakes... total was almost 50 bucks for 3 small cakes and 15 pieces of pastries. a bit chaotic on a sunday afternoon since the shop was packed--they even hired 2 "bouncers", but it was worth the wait since everything was so tasty, especially the lobster tail. the small strawberry cheesecake was to die for and so was the chocolate cake... wish i had gotten more stuff!

    (4)

  • j w.

    The children were in from Florida and wanted badly to visit the Cake Boss. We drove up early Thursday morning, parked the car in a garage and walked over only to learn the line was backed up the next block past the CVS. We were told the line moves fast. We stood in the cold windy air along with a hundred other fans for three hours. Once in the store it was another hour before they called our numbers. There were 12 clerks working but only 4 or 5 appeared to be waiting on the 100 or so fans packed into the little bakery room. All toll, it took 4 hours to get a bunch of cookies and cupcakes. The cookies were typical bakery cookies and the cupcakes were pretty standard as well. The kids were thrilled to get pictures and a teeshirt ($30) and an apron ($25). We will never do that again!

    (2)

  • Fay I.

    So I never new anything about Buddy Valestro up until I saw Cake Boss. When I was watching his show I was like WOW OMG AMAZING! His work is just so beautiful. I decided to go to Carlos Bakery on a Saturday. BIG MISTAKE. The wait was 3 hours and the line was almost 3 blocks. I then came back on a Wednesday and the wait was 30mins. The shop was so cute and his sister Mary was there and she was really nice. I ordered canolies, cupcakes, and rainbow cookies. I rate there cupcakes a 4 there conolies 2 and rainbow cookies 3. There cakes looked so pretty but they are so over priced. It brakes my heart to pay $40.00 plus for a 6 inch cake. I don't care who made it people shouldn't be ripped off liked that. I would go back and give it another try because there's so many more pastries to try, I heard many good things about his wedding cakes. I am engaged so when it comes time for cake tasting I would probably make a stop there!

    (3)

  • Madd K.

    I love the carrot & red velvet with cream cheese cupcakes.. not too sweet, just right for my taste. They have so many interesting cakes too!

    (4)

  • DM M.

    Overpriced and Over rated. I heard a women drove from Mass. to come here WTF are wrong with these people?? The locals in town do NOT go here. There are so many wonderful bakeries in town. We all go to the Family run 'Giorgio Pasticcerie Italian' up on Washington and 11th St. But of course they don't have a TV show for the lemmings to follow...LOL

    (1)

  • alisa g.

    I ordered my mom's birthday cake and it was wonderful. The vanilla cake with strawberry/pudding filling was so soft and yummy. Unfortunately the girls that work there need to use some kind of glove or tissue to pick up the pastries. I don't know if I am too picky but I cant stand the fact that they use their bare hands to pick up the cookies and pastries. It's disgusting.

    (3)

  • Melchor B.

    ive heard all the hype, my friend even worked for them. expensive as hell and not really worth the trip or the line. does not live up to the hype you would expect. people actually take pics of this place like its a landmark, i take pics of them because i cant believe how stupid it is lol. sorry im a big guy and i love pastries, but this place isnt all that sorry.

    (2)

  • TX B.

    I come here for their cupcakes and cannolis. The cannolis get a full, solid 4 stars for extreme cannoli creaminess, but my only complaint is its hype and crowd. My first time here, I waited 45 minutes in line (outside on a Saturday, during midday when the weather was mildly warm). I can't even imagine how long the line is when it's nice out. Oh yeah, it also took 45 minutes to find parking in Hoboken so the whole dessert trip took a grand total of an hour and a half. The cannolis are great, just as the rest of the selection is consistently good. But again, I repeat, it is not worth the hour wait. The prices are very reasonable ($2.50 for a large cannoli), but there are definitely better bakeries that don't have a ridiculously long line. I've tried their mini tiramisu cake and strawberry custards, and they were along the same line: great, but not worth an hour wait. It's cool to come here once to see what the hype is all about, and to check out their cakes on display, but come when there's no line and try a cannoli.

    (3)

  • Ann L.

    Sadly, I have to agree: just because a place is featured on the Food Network, it doesn't mean that it deserves the hype. Bakery treats and cupcakes were good, but you expect a lot more when you see people waiting outside in droves despite the rain for what treasures are inside. And snapping pictures left and right. I passed that place multiple times in awe of what treats I would be in for if I only had the patience to wait that line. Their cakes are sure purdy though. This is a one-time visit only for me, thanks anyways.

    (3)

  • Emily Z.

    Definitely worth the hype and the wait. The baked goods were delicious and the staff (the ones you see on TV AND the ones you don't) were all incredibly friendly, helpful and appreciative.

    (5)

  • JEN R.

    We went April 2010! It was great! Loved the cannoli and the strawberry shortcake! It was easy to get in and to place an order. Yes there were a lot of people and it is not a personal experience but we had fun and we all loved the the goodies! Way to go Buddy!

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    very very tasty - the mini chocolate mousse cake is INCREDIBLE. I have never bought the big expensive cakes, but i get a single serving for like 4.50 and it is very much worth it.

    (5)

  • Daniel J.

    When I first walked into the bakery, I was greeted by a rude Italian bouncer. I do not know the purpose of this fellow, but he detracts from the overall experience. All the food was aesthetically pleasing but the taste did not match the appearance. However seeing buddy was like seeing an old friend and pleased me immensly. The one saving grace of taste was their canolis. They were superb. The lobster tails were too crunchy for my girlfriend though. Please fix that buddy!

    (4)

  • Chad J.

    Visited on Saturday this past week- what a delight!! A true Italian bakery- everyone was a delight!!! Sorry I didn't run into Buddy- yet the entire 'family' was so nice! I didn't know what to get- so many choices!! I went with the cannoli and lobster tails- they were fantastic- I enjoyed them back home in Chicago! Will certainly be back on my travels to NJ again!!

    (5)

  • Luscious J.

    Got my wedding cake there, my son's baptismal cake and every holiday pastry and birthday cake since. Not only the best in Jersey, I'd say the best in the tri-state area.

    (5)

  • Sherry Z.

    The Hoboken charm becomes a big hit when "Cake Boss" airs in the TLC. Besides the frame, this bakery has it name and history for reasons. Instead of wedding cakes, Carlo's also has the daily pastries including: lobster tails, cream puff, danishes, etc. Of course, the charisma of the owner, Buddy, add extra fantasy of this historical bakery shop.

    (5)

  • Sara J.

    We went on a weekend where it was busy and crowded but they had a person at the door keeping people moving and that kept the wait down to a minimum. Honestly the food was much better than I expected for a reality show bakery, in fact everyone who ate it said it was extremeley good. First, I had the best carrot cake I have ever eaten there. I only ordered the cupcake because I wanted to sample several things but it was extremely moist and the icing was just sweet enough. Second, The lobster tails are very good. I had never had one before so I cant compare but they remind you of a crispy cream horn with a pudding filling. Third, we got a small cake with fondant icing and while I am not a fan of fondant the cake itself was absolutely delicious. My daughter is a huge fan of the show so we went as her treat for her birthday and it was really cool to be able to see some of the people on the show working.

    (5)

  • Jasmin G.

    apparently this place is really famous for its cakes. the ones showcased looked really awesome and the decorations were so unique (i saw one cake that was in the shape of a bloomingdale's shopping bag - hah!) i got a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting - it was good! Icing and cake was just sweet enough (not tooth-aching sweet) and the cake was soft and moist but not overly buttery - perfect amounts. i have to be honest, nyc cupcakes reign supreme - but this place def has tasty treats!

    (4)

  • Maria L.

    I'm rating this place mostly on experience, although their goodies are not too shabby either! On my most recent trip to NY, I stayed @ my friends house in Hoboken which is about 15-20 mins out of the city. Anyway, I woke up early on a Friday morning itching to go discover the area, but of course, all my friends were fast asleep. So, I decided to go out anyway. I walked down the street a while until I saw the sign of the bakery. I thought, this would be a cool place to get some breakfast treats to bring back to everybody:). As I got closer, I noticed the big poster of The Cake Boss....I nver had seen the show, but knew that it was a popular one. I was like, "Score"! this place has the possibility of being totally cool! So, I go in and there is quite a long line....it took me about 30 mins to get served, but let me tell u, it was the most entertaining wait I've ever done! The Cake Boss' whole family was there! (I recognized them from the picture on the wall....and of course I recognized the big baker guy. Everybody was there except for Carlo, who was on tour. I also liked that everybody in the family were working their butt off! They weren't laying back, super star status. I finally order, I don't remember what exactly now...but the one thing that I ordered that sticks out in my mind was the chocolate canolli! It was sooooooo goood! I highly recommend:). Anyway, finally left and headed back home....as I left, It was about 9:30ish...I notice the line got significantly bigger...out the door...so, I was like "Score"! Again! Ayway, it's about noon when we finally leave the house with everybody to go into the city, I gave them all of my goodies and told them about my experience, so of course, now they wanted to go too! So, we pass by the bakery once more....and the line was double wide and it was 2 blocks long!!!! I could not believe it!!! Unfortunately for my friends they did not get to see the cake Boss family, because if my line took 30 mins to get through, I can't imagine how long the two block line took! So, basically what I would recommend is to go early on a weekday, so u do not have to wait in that monstrosity of a line!

    (5)

  • Barry V.

    We were in NYC on vacation and the kids really wanted to go to the "Cake Boss". The trip on the PATH train was really easy and the bakery is a short walk from the station. As we approached, I saw the line of people gathered on the corner and I knew we were in for a wait. After about an hour in line, we finally made our way inside and it was packed. The shop is much smaller than it appears on TV but Mary was behind the counter wearing her trademarked look of annoyance. I would not have wanted it any other way. Our number was called in a few minutes which had given us time to drool over the most luscious looking pastries we had seen in a long time. Everything looked freshly made. We ordered cannolis to be filled for immediate consumption and some left empty with the cream packed for us to bring back to Florida, an individual sized chocolate mousse cake, a red velvet cupcake and a lobster tail. The bill was bigger than we expected but was worth it. our family travels around and has had cannolis from some of the best in the business, including Mike's Bakery in Boston. These were better than the best we had ever had in NYC and were on par with Mike's who had held title of best ever as far as we were concerned. (To the reviewer that thinks Carlo's canolli cream needs more chocolate chips - WRONG!.) It's not about the chips - it is about the cream. Smooth, fresh and with just a hint of Anisette. The shells were the thinest and most delicate we ever had and they actually fill them all the way through. The chocolate mousse cake was ex termly rich but delicate at the same time. Covered in ganache, it was a little piece of chocolate heaven. And the lobster tail! Light, crispy, flaky and not too sweet. Everything was just right. Buddy came through the shop while we waited and the crowd of teenage girls went wild. (So did we.) But the real treat was when Mama came out from the back and hugged the kids in the store and let them have their pictures taken with her. Some may say that the TV show has ruined the place but the TV fame will run it's course and these folk's who produce an unbelievable variety of fresh pastries from scratch every day in addition to some amazing cakes are simply getting what they can out of their fifteen minutes of fame while staying true to the art and craft of pastry making. There are lots of places I have been so i could say OK, I went there and experienced it and would never go back. Carlo's Bakery is worth a repeat visit (maybe not the week before Easter though).

    (5)

  • Tiffany N.

    I love CAKEBOSS.... OMG my sister told me she was going to New York and I said OMG you have to go to Carlo's Bakery and get the cannolis... they looked so good on tv when he was making them... I couldnt wait for my sister to get back... she got a whole dozen of cannolis.... I could not wait to bite into them.... it was sooooooooo good.... i had never had cannolis before.... it was like eating a little piece of heaven.... it was soooooooooooooooooooooooo good... it wwas crunchy from the shell and sweet and creamy.... I cant wait to go to New York and visit Carlo's bakery

    (5)

  • brian S.

    i want to do 1 star because of the worker there (Mary) wow never met a bigger BI*** other than that..best bakery ever. cake boss!

    (5)

  • Justin F.

    I really hated to have to come here and ruin the aura if what this placed "seemed like". But the pastries were really "ok". Their sesame cookies were like corks. The Italian butter cookies were alright and brownies were dreadful. They had no lobster tails or svelidelles (I know I can't spell it). I also had a Nutella tart that was dry. I didn't want to spend $30 to try a small cake so that went out the window. Gotta say, nothing special. We only waited about 10 minutes but it was more a sightsee then a place I'd go back to for pastries. The people were decently nice, but not what you'd expect for a featured network show. Ehhhh, go the the backstory. Save your money on trying a bunch of stuff, you'll be disappointed. Ohh, and don't expect anyone from the cast. They rarely are there during normal hours and when they are and filming, the bakery is closed.

    (2)

  • Diane S.

    I went to Carlos and bakery in Hoboken and it was a great experience. We waited in line for about an hour but it was worth the wait. My sister had the cannoli's and ate the whole box they were so good! The cookies were super good too. And everything was reasonably priced! Loved it!

    (5)

  • Meg N.

    We used Carlo's Bakery for our wedding cake. I have also been to bakery in Hoboken. Pros: We had a red velvet cake with cream cheese froasting for our wedding cake. It was absolutely amazing! Probably the best wedding cake I've ever tasted. We received many compliments from our guests. Fortunately we picked our cake at their headquarters in Jersey City, which is free of tourists. Cons: Waiting in line is ridiculous. There are other Italian bakeries in Hoboken that are just as good for the basics - pies, cookies, etc.

    (4)

  • Maureen M.

    My daughter is a huge Cake Boss fan so we decided to take a day trip up to the bakery and check it out. The drive wasn't so bad from Philly, just under 2 hours. So we arrive and are lucky enough to find a spot right outside (meter parking). We get in line, wait for 2 mins, then some kid from the bakery shouts out to us, and a few peple behind us, that the line is across the street. Walk across the street, get ticket, wait 30mins before being herded like cattle across the street to outside the bakery. Now while we are in line people keep lining up behind us only to be told (by my friend yelling out the bakery) that the line starts across the street. Fifteen mins later we are next in line and called into the bakery. Once inside you wait for your ticket number to be called. It would have been nice to walk around and see what's for sale in the bakery but the place was packed! I felt like we were sardines in a can. People were pushing and shoving, yelling to one another from across the store, it was chaotic. All in all, I would not recommend the bakery. The desserts were meh and I could have gotten better in Philly. The staff were rude as well!

    (2)

  • Shannon W.

    When in New York, rent a car and drive to Hoboken to visit the "Cake Boss"? Absolutely! Of course an avid "Cake Boss" viewer, I could not pass up the 30 minute drive from Manhattan to the oh-so-cute little town of Hoboken, NJ. Upon arriving, you can immediately tell which building holds these delicious goodies- the one with all the people crammed into its tiny shop. Once in, you can tell that being in the limelight has not gone to Buddy's (the owner) head. The walls are filled with family pictures and cakes that illustrate the hard work of these bakers put into their work (And, yes, they do make cakes for celebrities like Oprah and Britney Spears). With all the publicity surrounding Carlo's, they still cater to the public, and I am sure glad they do. The staff was very helpful amid all the maddness- I even got a glimpse of two of Buddy's sisters who are frequents on the show. And oh yeah, the desserts were amazing! We purchased cookies, a red velvet cupcake, an eclair, a canolli, a Nepolion, and a chocolate cream puff, and all were out -of-this -world good. In short, Carlo's lives up to the nationwide hype because it is in fact one of the best bakeries in the country.

    (5)

  • Samantha S.

    Rude, Rude, Rude. You've got customers out the door, and the staff acts like it's a hassle. Seriously? What kind of a joke is this? The 20something guy throws the cookies in the box as if he's angry at the world, then the woman who takes my credit card throws, literally slams the receipt and the pen on the table, without as much as a "thank you." CARLOS, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. NO PASTRY IS WORTH RUDE SERVICE. When I mentioned my shock at a neighboring store, she said that's what the help has been like since their "success" saying, "they've never gotten used to it." Awww, poor things. My visit was not prompted by their success, I was just looking for a good, neighborhood bakery. Next time I'll drive to Jersey City, take the path to NY or see what else Hoboken has to offer. Oh, yeah, and it took me a 1/2 hour to get a parking place!! The cookies were fine, but nothing special. And they didn't even have Christmas cookies--sheesh.

    (1)

  • James L.

    The best Tiramisu I have ever had. The donuts are really good too. The big event cakes are beautiful and taste amazing!

    (5)

  • Ena A.

    Carlos's bakery is overrated! People just go there because of the stupid show, but i guess that is business for you. The treats there aren't very good either and some of it is way over priced. It gets very crowded just because it is a tv show. If it wasn't a tv show no one would know about it and it would probably not even be at 3 1/2 stars.

    (1)

  • Adrian P.

    My first time coming and we beat the lines which was pretty cool. They have a pretty cool selection of things. As we all know carlos bakery is a popular spot and has been know for cake boss. I gotta say the pastries are pretty good. I got some canolis, ecclairs, cheese cake , cookies and vanilla moose and they were all great tasting. Cant go wrong with any of your favorite pastries. The only thing I didn't like was that there were no pies or rainbow cookies :/ but it's all good.

    (4)

  • Melvin C.

    my first experience with Carlos Bakery was back in September of 2009...I went on a Thursday and arrived at around 1pm...managed to find 1 parking spot on Washington street on the opposite side of where the Bakery was located...anyhow once my friend and i made it to the bakery, we ran into buddy who held the door for us and allowed me to tale a picture with him...i gotta say...buddy is very genuwinely friendly...there were no cameras around so he didn't have to be nice...ok so we walked into the bakery...there was no line and had time to actually see what we wanted to get being our first time visiting...red velvet cupcakes...make sure you don't leave this place without getting one...ok so overall fantastic experience...my wifes small birthday cake that fed 10-12 people cost me 40...I traveled all the way from Connecticut to pick it up...fast forward to February 13, 2010...a Saturday...I took my wife there hoping we could have a nice day in Hoboken and maybe just maybe Buddy might be there for her to meet...once we made it into town, there was NO free parking anywhere...and it was extremely cold...since my wife was pregnant, I was trying to avoid alot of walking so I paid 20 dollars for parking on the street behind the bakery...once we arrived at Carlos, the line was almost around the corner...that's how long it was...by the time we got inside the bakery, out faces and hands were numb...there was a guy taking care of the crowds...once we got in he gave us a number and told us that Buddy was filming with the TLC crew upstairs so the chances of us getting to see him were slim to none...hearing that made me dissspointed but hey...this place was super crowded inside...once they called our number, we had to tell the girl to give us a sec cause the crowds were blocking all the pastries from our view so we could really choose...so we looked around for all of 2 seconds and we ended up getting 2 regular cupcakes, 2 red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, 2 lobster tails and 2 cannolis...cost us 20.15 all together...I saw some people going to the upstairs area to grab a pic with buddy so I wondered what they did to get to go up there...we stuck around hoping to catch some of the cast members...we saw buddy's mom, sister Mary, and little nephew...at the end of the day my wife didn't get to meet buddy but we enjoyed the treats...the lobster tails are worth the hype...here's a tip for those looking to visit Carlos...dont travel from far distances JUST to come to this bakery with the intentions of meeting Buddy...you are gonna be setting yourself up for dissapointment...and DONT go on the weekends

    (4)

  • Lena G.

    Upon my first bite, the flaky lobster tail pastry fragmented and gave way to a blissful eruption of cold crème pâtissière. Amazing. Got a parking spot right in front! There was no line at all - we got there at 7, but still. I was delighted. The guy working behind the counter was very friendly, and reinforced my decision to get the lobster tail.

    (5)

  • Lauren K.

    I bought a random selection of items to bring home for family on my way back to Baltimore for the holidays. Every single item (cookies, cannolis, biscotti, etc) was amazing. My family was raving for days. My only gripe is that the prices are very high for some basics. Which I guess they have earned with the aforementioned raves but I dropped close to $50 on two small boxes of goodies to show for it. So I will reserve Carlo's for special events that merit the investment.

    (5)

  • Amoi K. T.

    You have to try the lobster tail. Don't leave without it ;).

    (3)

  • sharon k.

    Where to begin with this huge disappointment of a first visit to Carlo's.The call I placed a week ago to get some info. on ordering a speciality cake should of been my first clue into how rude and arrogant the staff treat their customers~omg~I talked to a young girl Nicole, who informed me that all i needed to do was come in and sit down with some idea of an cake I was looking for. Order it at the store because she wouldn't do a phone order. I inquired about the time frame because I needed it on 3/7, she assured me it would be enough time. Well, after my 2 hour drive from my home in South Jesrey, I was met with a HUGE line leading out into the street, we stood in line for 30 minutes, as we made our way up to the counter the girls behind the counter were RUDE, barking at each customer "whaddya want, come on...!" I was then herded into another line for "special orders" for another 20 minutes while I waited for someone to acknowledge me as they passed by pushing their way through. I finally talked to someone and with such an attitude she told me they were not taking any more orders for 3/6-3/9, forget about the phone call I made promising me i had enough time to order the special 40th bday 2 tier cake I wanted. She could only offer me whatever was in the case on that 3/7~WTF~ with no apology or sincerity, not too mention i almost fainted when she told me a two tier cake that serves 40 would cost $500!! What a disgrace, I guess they think they can justify being the absolute most arrogant and miserable bake shop outside of NY with the long lines they have. What a waste of time and energy. They are completely unprepared to deal with crowds and their attitudes are awful. Shame on them, even if they're cakes are great, their customer service sucks!

    (1)

  • victoria r.

    although they are family friends that own/run this that has no effect on my attraction to their yummy desserts! i love love love the pastry called the "lobster tail" sooo good. i could live off them. just about everything in the store is addicting!

    (3)

  • John T.

    This review is for the pastries only. We've been here about half a dozen times and come back when in town even though the pastries are mediocre. The Chocolate hazelnut puff pastry is our favourite. Nothing more than a tourist trap...Not worth the wait.

    (3)

  • Dimpal P.

    After standing in along line, we finally reached our destination! It smells heavenly sweet in the Bakery as we decide what to get boxed up. Having to wait another 1/2 before our turn in a very small congested area, we write down on our note pad all the baked goodies! We enjoyed all the goodies! Thank you for an amazing experience!

    (5)

  • Rachel G.

    Yeah, it might be over hyped but I don't care. It is delicious. The cannoli was awesome, though I wish they added chocolate chips or pistachio's to it. Also momma's favorite is awesome, can definitely see why it's her favorite. Had the lobster tail which I don't think could have been made any better. The wait is insane, an hour and a half. For us it was worth it because Buddy came out that day and was taking pictures with everyone.

    (5)

  • Diane B.

    So....I don't really keep up with things like the "Cake Boss," but was in Hoboken so, yes, had to go here. As I'm actively trying to avoid becoming a bigger person, I limited my self to a few (or maybe quite a few) tastings. I ordered and proceeded to eat the following (not in one sitting, or I wouldn't have been able to get up): a cream puff, a mini napoleon, an amaretto cookie, a plain cookie that had a name that started with "T," a couple of hazelnut meringue cookies, raspberry and apricot rugula (yes that means two...maybe three :/), a raspberry butter cookie finger, and the three varieties of vanilla biscotti (pistachio cherry, almond/choc, hazelnut/choc). All of them were good. None were OMG amazing. The cream puff and the "T-cookie" were actually at the top of my list. The biscotti were good...solidly good...would have preferred them without the chocolate in them (that's my issue not the bakery's). The napoleon was also pretty good. Amaretto cookie was delicious. The rest of them were decent. I ate them, but I've had better. All in all, this is a fun place to go even when it's crowded. If you're in the neighborhood, why not? If you're into celebrity chef/baker spots, definitely. If you're looking for the best baked goods (granted I did not try the amazing looking cakes), I'm not sure I'd travel super far to come.... But maybe that's just me, and my couple of really amazing bakeries near home.....

    (3)

  • Rachita B.

    Be prepared to wait in a long line! Aside from that, which is obvious given the success of Cake Boss, there is nothing to harp on negatively about this place. The bakery must be decent sized but the storefront is small. I didn't mind this and I appreciated the coziness! I absolutely LOVED that there were croissant samples out! Oh, the samples are amazingly delicious... I have had many items in the past and am a huge fan of the cheesecake and tiramisu. I also recommended the cookies! This location is a must visit!

    (5)

  • JD C.

    We saw Mario. That's all my kids will remember. This father will remember it cost me $50 for 5 danishes. and some cupcakes! Its the experience, right?

    (4)

  • Julissa S.

    Experience was great! Deserts were awesome!!! Best of all Buddy was there and gave my little girl his autograph and took a picture with her... We will return on our next trip!

    (5)

  • Dania D.

    I wasn't planning on stopping in here, but we were in the area for dinner and figured we'd stop in and get dessert since there was no line. I got the carrot cake cupcake. It had great flavor but was very dry. My husband got the lobster tail which was crunchy on the outside and filled with delicious creme on the inside. After the guy in front of me ordered half a dozen chocolate hazelnut puffs, I caved into my curiousity and added one to my order to try. I'm glad I did because it was delicious. It had a light and airy hazelnut filling and delicious chocolate glaze on top. It was YUM, YUM, YUM! Definitely my fave of the night. I also recommend the cannolis which are definitely worth it. They fill them on the spot when you order so the shell doesn't get soggy.

    (3)

  • Arshia B.

    Don't let the hype fool you...This place is all hype! Waited in the worlds longest line that circles around the bakery to hell and back. After about 4 hours of waiting I was so excited to get the baked goods that ultimately ended up disappointing me. First of all the bakery is small and dingy full of annoying tourists who are excited to get baked goods that they are waiting a stupid amount of time in line for. After they get their desserts they will probably instagram them raving about how delicious they are. Then they will lie to themselves and pretend the dessert is good so that they aren't hit in the face with a sack of bricks of a reality that they just wasted time to buy crap. The only reason I came here was because I live near by and I had family visiting me who were fans of the show and wanted to go. Being a nice person, I took them LOL REGRETSSSS!!! To make is simple -Ridiculously long wait -Annoying tourists -Terrible desserts -Regrets If you insist on coming here anyway the least terrible dessert was the cannoli. Also it was cold that day so I bought a sweatshirt once I paid my time waiting in that hellish line... Big mistake $40 and shrunk to a baby size when I put in in the wash.

    (2)

  • Briana W.

    I have never gotten a single thing from here that I did not like. Also, if you live in Hoboken you get to cut the entire line (you just have to show proof that you live there i.e. License or PSEG bill). My weekly treat to myself is the lobster tail.. it is TO DIE FOR. It is unlike anything I have ever tasted. Also, the cannoli's are pretty good but the one thing that amazes me is the tiramisu. Ive gotten a layered fondant birthday cake from here as well and that was just delicious. Other delicious treats are the crumb cake, napoleons, mini chocolate mousse cake, the cupcakes and the cookies. I liked their baked good so much I even went to one of their bake classes at the Lakawana factory just down the road. It was worth the money because you get to decorate a fondant layered cake which you get to take home, and they even give you an apron to keep! If you are in Hoboken this is definitely a place that you must go to!

    (5)

  • My T.

    Be prepared to wait!!! Me and the hubby went on a random Saturday afternoon at two and inside was already packed. We took a number at the front and according to the number there were about 25 parties ahead of us. However, only about half of those parties were served because the service was REALLY slow so I think that a lot of people left. Even so, it took a a full hour to get our order. Seriously, the staff are really, really slow. Most people were just standing around. It seemed like the staff was more interested in chatting with each other and working at their sweet leisurely pace rather than pay attention to the fact that half of their customers had left. The manager seemed more interested on restocking cups and straightening out the displays than serving people. Seriously, this was probably some of the worst service that I've ever had. On to the food. We got two lobster tails, two cannolis, 1cupcake, and 2 eclairs. The lobster tails and cannolis are delicious. The lobster tail was probably the best that I ever had and the cannolis were pretty freakin good. Everything else was just ok. So, I don't feel so bad about the wait. Would I come back? Maybe. Depends on if I can find another bakery with better service and how much I'm jonsing for a lobster tail.

    (3)

  • Claire W.

    Yay! This is my 300th review!! I am a big fan of Buddy Valastro's show The Next Great Baker Season 4 on TLC and his regular show, the "Cake Boss" is fun to watch too. Since I was in Hoboken for a half-day trip today, I stopped by and sampled a few items: Chocolate cupcake with hazelnut frosting: tender moist chocolaty cake, with silky creamy flavorful frosting. Cannoli: very rich cream filling, with thick, crispy chocolate shell. If you like the traditional Italian style cannoli you would like this from Carlo's Bakery. I probably still like Romolo's cannoli better as they are also an Italian family owned business and they specialize in cannolis. Their ricotta cream filling is slightly lighter and the shell is also thinner and crispier. This is located in the San Francisco bay area though (in my hood): yelp.com/biz/romolos-can… Eclair: also very rich custard filling with fresh and soft puff pastry. It's another delightful treat. Again if you prefer the traditional style rich puff pastry you would like it. If, on the other hand, you prefer the Beard Papa style lighter version custard filling, which is very runny and messy to eat, then this would probably be too heavy for you. Just remember when you taste any classic European pastry don't count the calories at the moment and you will be able to enjoy it. We can always work out later to work off the calories right? What earns 4 stars for CB from me is how everything I tasted was so fresh and done with just the right amount of sweetness with good flavors. There was nothing crazy about them but they were just very simple and done right. All in all, I was glad that I did manage to stop by and taste some basic items, despite the reviews especially about the long waiting time. In fact when I got there around 2 pm I was able to walk right in and saw a line of only about 15 people. Some of them were tourists as they were taking pictures with their cameras. I took a number and then sat at the only table inside the store and did my own thing until my number was called. It was an easy 15-20 minutes wait; no fuss, no moss :-)

    (4)

  • Clay K.

    Here's a good example of how a mediocre place with the same quality bakery you'll find at hundreds of other Italian bakeries is elevated well beyond its substance by virtue of a television show. The family owners here are featured on a show called "Cake Boss", as such, it has become a bit of a pilgrimage location for people less concerned with food quality than seeing someone who has been featured on their clatter-box. We waited for about 25 minutes outside on the sidewalk before waiting another 35 minutes to be waited on inside the small, tacky bakery. We finally went away with a cheesecake, some cannoli, and some "lobster tails". Everything was nice but really, this should be the best cannoli you've ever had and it simply isn't. Of the items we got the standout was the Lobster Tail. The cheesecake also had some chocolate ganash with it that was pretty spectacular. My gripe here is not so much the quality of the bakery, only that this really isn't any better bakery than a dozen places I can go to without the hour-long wait.

    (3)

  • Antwan F.

    I love their mousse recipes but the chocolate cakes can be dry which cheapens the experience once the food hits your mouth. It's a hit or miss with this place. The flavor is excellent it's just that the texture isn't always consistent. I come here a lot anyways. Where else am I going to go get chocolate mousses from? Shoprite? A Diner? Hahaha yeah right

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
  • Mon : 7:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Delivery : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes

Carlo’s Bakery

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