Sweet is a cupcake bakery. There are three locations - two in the Back Bay, and one in Harvard Square. One must wonder - why would Sweet put two locations in the Back Bay, so close to one another (they are maybe 8 blocks apart)? The only reason that we can imagine is for clientele reasons - the Newbury St location caters more to tourists who feel that they should treat themselves to something while shopping, while the Mass Ave location caters to the more "normal" Boston population - people who live/work/study there.
The main attraction at Sweet is the cupcakes. The cupcakes come in a wide variety (maybe 15-20 different flavors), however, their selection is seasonal - there are certain flavors available during the winter months, different flavors available during spring, different flavors available during summer, and a fourth selection during fall. Some of the basic flavors (vanilla, chocolate) are available year-round, but the majority of the others are seasonal.
The cupcakes sold by Sweet are some of the best we have ever tasted (and believe me, we have gone around the greater Boston area tasting them at various other bakeries). While the name of the bakery implies that the cupcakes are sweet, the cupcakes are actually just sweet enough. Other cakes that we have tasted at different bakeries have been too sweet, leaving you with a sugar-high that takes a good amount of time to subside. The cupcakes at Sweet are different - after you eat one, you feel happy and satisfied instead of overloaded on sugar.
Flavors we have tried:
- Dark Chocolate with Vanilla Frosting - recommended, particularly for the frosting. The cake is great compared with other cupcake bakeries, but not the best that Sweet offers.
- Cookies and Cream - recommended if you want just a taste of chocolate. The white cake is quite moist, and the frosting is similar to a mashed-up Oreo cookie.
- Cappuccino - tastes more like cinnamon than cappuccino.
- Organic Karat Cake - we don't really care that it is organic. This is the best carrot cake around - you can see the small pieces of carrot inside, there are no nuts, and the cream cheese frosting is probably the best frosting that Sweet makes. This cupcake is our favorite.
- Sweet Cake with Vanilla Frosting - the white cake here is better than the dark chocolate version.
- Salted Brownie - available only in the fall - interesting salty flavor plays off of the sweet chocolate brownie. The downside to this cupcake is that it doesn't have frosting.
Sweet also has a small selection of coffees, teas, and bottled beverages for purchase, although we have never tried them, so we can't comment. They also make full-size cakes, and can provide cupcakes in large quantities, if you want them for a big event.
Other important information:
- Cupcakes come in normal or mini sizes. Normal-sized cupcakes cost $3.25 apiece (mini ones are a little cheaper). You can also buy a "frosting shot" - which is literally a small cup of frosting - for 50 cents.
- None of the Sweet locations have restrooms, so don't go in there thinking that you'll be able to use one if you buy a cupcake.
- There is extremely limited seating at all of their locations. The Mass Ave location tends to be less busy, because it is not in the tourist hubs of Harvard Square or Newbury Street. But, either way - don't expect to be able to get a seat. You're better off purchasing a few cupcakes to take home and enjoy in peace.
- They don't make their cupcakes in-house - they're made at a factory in Hyde Park and are delivered to the bakeries throughout the day.
- We have a sneaking suspicion that Sweet makes the cupcakes that are sold at Max and Dylan's, as they look and taste VERY similar. If you like Sweet cupcakes, and decide to ever go to Max and Dylan's, order the cupcake dessert, and you will be pleased.
Overall Rating (Sweet): 7 out of 10
Positive: Spectacular cupcakes
Negative: Cupcake varieties only change 4 times per year. No restrooms, and very limited seating at all locations.
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