Zakes Cakes & Cafe

very good. Went for lunch. Nice selection of wraps, sandwiches and salads. Excellent service. Can get loud. Beautiful cakes for dessert or to-​go.

I have eaten here for breakfast and dinner, and never been disappointed! It is a great neighborhood restaurant, that delivers on quality, tasty food!
Breakfast: I usually get the pancakes here and my favorites are the butter pecan with caramelized bananas, and the honey and lemon pancakes with raspberries served with caramel sauce. Their homemade caramel sauce is so delicious, and pairs well with the pancakes. You forget their is no maple syrup!
Dinner: A BYOB, which is a big plus for me! They start you off with an assortment of small homemade breads and a sweetened butter spread. For the appetizer I typically get the grilled calamari salad or
lobster mac and cheese (this is seasonal and not always on the menu). For my entrée, I order the scallops or a fish dish. Scallop dinner is lovely. My husband always orders the lamb dish, and they change up the sauce as well. He once had the lamb with a mint flavored sauce and they changed it over to a horseradish purée.
The only drawbacks I can note is the limited amount of space (they can get super busy) and pricing for the food. Pancakes run about $ 9, and you get three small pancakes. If you want fresh fruit, meat, or potatoes that is an additional costs. However, the food and the flavors helps overlook the space and
pricing!

This is my and my moms special little place! My mom gets the lemon pancakes, I usually get the ones with the caramelized banana, or the coconut whole wheat French toast for breakfast. for lunch the steak, lamb or crab cake salads are SO good… Im sure the other options are yummy as well but I just haven’t had a chance to get to them because I’m not willing to give up my faves… Their desserts are yummy, especially the cookies. It is a tight place with quick turn around so you do get eye balled a little if you linger too long after your meal… but if that doesn’t bother you the food is definitely worth it.

A gem hidden away outside of Philly, which is probably for the best so their quality is preserved. Yet, unfortunate for city dwellers like myself who crave great brunch place like Zakes and support local organic produce!
I’ve only come for the lunch specials, but I absolutely adore their warm rustic ambience inside the restaurant (which I consider more of a cozy home– so embrace yourself for a tighter squeeze if there’s a full house, especially lunch time!)
***Tip:
Just my preference, but if tables are available I would suggest asking to sit by the window near the sun room where you will get plenty of sunlight if you’re a human plant like myself who thrives off warmth and brightness :)
Must try lunch:
— Lump Crab Cake Sandwich (sweet fresh crab-​filled patty without excessive mayo or panko that overpowers the taste, a delightful lunch for a seafood lover)
— Lemon and Honey Pancakes (soft, fluffy, light pancakes that leaves you floating on a cloud in happiness if you’re looking for a semi sweet and light lunch)

The first time I ate at Zake’s my husband and I were visiting in the area. I had lunch with a friend and it was great. Since moving here in 2013 I had wanted to go again, so when I saw that they were serving dinner I thought a 65^th birthday dinner would be the prefect time.
When I called to make the reservation there was no mention of Restaurant Week or a special menu, other than the prix fixe that they have on Wed. and Thu., which I was not interested in. I told the guy I spoke to that it was a special occasion but I didn’t want anything special, just a nice quiet table. He said he already had us down for the perfect table. I also ordered a 6-​inch carrot cake birthday cake to take home with me.
A few days before the date (on a Thursday) I went online to look over the menu and share it with my husband. They now had a banner up advertising Restaurant Week, the very week of my birthday. I called the restaurant to see if the regular menu would be available and I was told it would be so I was relieved.
When we arrived at the restaurant no one had reserved the «perfect table» at all! They acted surprised that I would even mention it during such a busy time! At first they tried to seat us between 2 4-​tops against a wall but I refused and then we were seated at a 2-​top by the door. After I acted annoyed the guy that seated us found us a nice quiet table in the back room, which was fine.
We were only presented with a prix fixe menu, not the regular menu. The items looked good so we were okay with that. However, the service was very rushed and it was obvious that the plates were hurriedly assembled. My filet of beef, green beans and potatoes au gratin were almost comical to look at, all on one side of a large square plate. I’ll post a pic. As soon as we were done with the last bite of a course someone was there to whisk away our plates and bring us the next one. There was no time for a leisurely chat between courses as I am used to in upscale restaurants. My husband always drinks a lot of sparkling water. They gave him a very small bottle of Perrier and then never offered him more. He decided not to complain and just drank the water on the table but I was very annoyed by it. We were done with our meal in 45 minutes from the time we walked through the door! Not how I wanted to spend my 65^th birthday!
The food itself was a mixed bag. I had the filet of beef and the beef was tender and had a very good flavor. The bordelaise sauce was a little too rich but not bad. The green beans on the other hand were tough and undercooked — inedible. The portion of potato au gratin was very tasty and very small. My husband said his scallops were good. We both had the key lime pie for dessert and it was okay but not great.
When we left, the person who had seated us brought us 3 large leftover muffins — from breakfast I suppose. I give them credit for noticing that we weren’t entirely happy with the experience. The muffins were horrible and went down the disposal the next morning. No wonder they were left over. My carrot cake birthday cake also went down the disposal. The cake itself was not bad but I didn’t care for the very airy filling between the layers which contrasted badly with the very dense icing. Overall, the cake was a disappointment. I can make better at home.
Between the so-​so food and the hurried service I won’t say I won’t go back (maybe for lunch sometime), but I won’t be in a hurry.
The white paper covering the tablecloths was very unfortunate!

Went for Sunday brunch and it was great! Cute place, friendly staff. Had the coconut French toast and it was the best French toast I ever had! Brilliant.

This is our special brunch place. The food is excellent, and the gluten free pancakes are melt in your mouth good. It is agreat place to take friends who are foodies. The servers are friendly and helpful and I’ve never had a bad meal. The only downfall is the portions are on the small side, so if you are used to a diner or chain restaurant you will leave feeling hungry.

Went for breakfast on a weekday. We had quick attentive service and an excellent meal. Not often when all four dishes ordered come back quite so good — we had poached eggs, and omelet, a burrito and French toast. Not a miss across the board.
The ambience is cozy American colonial especially in the atrium. And the cakes! Wow — we bought one and will update!

This is our favorite brunch location. Have been going there for years. I would have given it a lower rating in the past because the service used to be awful (slow, always forgetting to bring things), but it really has improved in the past year or so. They do still forget the toast or sides sometimes, and getting a refill can be hit or miss.
My husband always gets the onion, spinach, and brie omelette. I don’t think it is the best thing on the menu, but he is kind of obsessed with it. The granola is delicious. It is homemade and full of nuts and coconut. You get a full bowl of granola with a side of yogurt and fruit. This will sound strange, but their bowl or side of fruit is really good. They always use fresh fruit and have good choices (berries, mango, pineapple) instead of just melon and grapes like some places. The lemon pancakes are also delicious. They are really light and almost crispy on the edges, and come with an amazing caramel sauce that is way better than syrup. I also really like the Indian poached eggs. It is like a bowl of dal with poaches eggs on top. The flavors are more Thai than Indian, with a strong lemongrass flavor and lots of whole coriander seeds. The toast is really good, but they put the butter in a disposable plastic cup (why?) and use prepackaged, individual jam.
It gets pretty crowded on a Sunday so try to get here early.

I’ve been looking for a nice brunch spot that’s not located in Philly. Someone recommended I try Zakes. I was very happy with my decision. As you walk in, there’s a bakery to the left that sells cakes and cupcakes. The restaurant itself is small and brightly lit with a lot of natural light.
I ordered the crab, mushroom and cheddar omelet minus the mushrooms along with the honey and lemon pancakes. The omelet was delicious. They use real crab in the omelet, not that imitation stuff. The pancakes were delicious. There is a sprinkle of sugar, which has a hint of lemon. The pancakes are thin, which is actually how I like my pancakes. To top it off, it’s not accompanied by syrup. Instead, you’re given Zakes’ homemade caramel sauce.
If you decide to visit Zakes, keep in mind the parking lot is fairly small.

Everytime I walk into this place I feel like I’m going to have tea on a Sunday afternoon at my grandmother’s house. It’s adorable, but the place is tight. It’s a bit difficult to have an intimate conversation without bumping elbows with the guy who is sitting at the next table.
I will say that the food produced here is delicious. The menu is light, offers a variety of options, and is an ideal lunch spot for a business meeting, grandma, or someone you want to catch up with. You HAVE to get dessert if you’re going to eat here; their cakes, pies, tarts, pastries, you name it– all delicious. Perfect with a cup of coffee.

What a lovely and quaint café outside in Fort Washington outside of Philadelphia. The menu is large, with lots of choices. Be sure to leave room for dessert… we didn’t but the choices looked amazing! Our friends had the lamb salad and crab cakes, we had the turkey sandwich.
Recommended if passing through the area.

We’ve loved Zakes from way back on Indian Queen Ln days! Marlene made a beautiful and delicious cake for my brother’s wedding and catered my niece’s wedding shower in June of 2014. Everything was perfect! I’d use Zake’s for any event at home and enjoy every meal we’ve had in the café.
xxx

I always can count on enjoying a great breakfast when going here with my girls from the gym. While the place is amall, the flavors are big! I must admit that great company may affect my mood when I have been here but the attentive staff makes the experience that much more pleasurable :)!
The bacon is always perfectly crisp & the eggs and home fries are delicious! The french toast a friend had was delectable. One of the best foods here, is the butter toast. The toast almost taste like panini bread perfectly buttered. The bread is so good, everytime we go here, we ask for more.
The prices are affordable & you get a lot for your money. The only drawback is the small size of the restaurant. Heads up, if you are going here on a weekend make reservations. We always have a party between 7 – 9 & never have a long wait. Just know that until your entire party arrives, you won’t be seated.

Ordered the grilled tuna salad. Asked waitress if the tuna was cooked ahi style and she said it was. Tuna came out totally cooked through and served on a bed of wilted greens. Presentation was sloppy, it looked like a salad that my 7yr old could throw together. So disappointed as this used to be one of my favorite places. Has the ownership changed? Not sure since it’s the first time returning here after 7 yrs.

OMG, LOVE IT HERE! 1) it’s great that Zakes knows their business crowds and can keep up with how lunches should be done within an hour. 2) the place looks huge, but everything is kind of tiny and I felt like I was really close to other tables.
We made a reservation for 12:00pm for 5 people. We had to wait a few minutes when we got there to get a table that wouldn’t interfere with others. My co-​workers loved their salads. I got the Southwest Turkey BLT sandwich. It was delicious! It came with homemade potato salad and a salad with vinaigrette. Well made and loved it! I cleared my plate. Their pricing definitely reflects on how fresh their ingredients are and that’s totally okay.
They also had a huge bakery case with so many homemade goodies, I was so full I couldn’t even think about dessert but I cannot wait to go back and try more items on the menu!
I also noticed that a table of 6 sat in behind us and immediately there were drinks brought out to them, then 2 minutes later, all their food came out. I really give Zakes a lot of credit for making sure their business crowd is not missed. Our office is 5 minutes from here and I’d definitely come here since I know I can get in and out within an hour. Other restaurants in the area do not have the same courtesy.

You can drive pass this place ten times and wouldn’t know it’s a restaurant — that’s how unassuming and low key the place is. First impression walking in — ummm are we at the right place? Let’s turn around, I think we’re on someone’s front porch. But then the closer you get to the front door the more apparent it is that you’re at the right spot.
Cool little place, the dining room is actually a living room and the servers look like residents. It’s a different vibe.
Anyway I got the blackberry peach pie with caramel drizzle as we only went there for dessert. It hit the spot. Big chunks of warm peach with four or five blackberries on the inside and a flaky sweet crust.
I definitely have to come back for lunch or dinner and see what else they have to offer.
Hey, if you’re tired of the fast food or chain life then give this place a try.

Been here for brunch twice now and I can accurately say that I am a fan!
The first time I tried their Honey and Lemon Pancakes, which were nice because they weren’t too sweet. The lemon added a nice brightness to the pancakes too!
On this most recent visit, I shared their Coconut French Toast and Vietnamese Benedict. The french toast, again, was not too sweet, which is appreciated. Sometimes with a sweet breakfast, you just can’t get yourself to finish it because of the sweetness factor but not here! I loved it with the caramelized mango that came on the side. As for the benedict, the pork and shrimp patty was very flavorful but the size was a little small for my taste. It just didn’t match the size of the wheat toast favorably but that is a minor detail. I really liked the Tamari Ginger Dressing! It was tangy and paired perfectly with the patty. The egg had a nice runny yolk too, making me very happy.
Satisfying meals both times and can’t wait to come back to try some of their cakes! They look amazing in the display!

Went for Sunday Brunch with my Aunt. They don’t take reservations and there’s always a long wait. They were kind enough to take our cell number so we could sit in the car because the waiting area gets filled easily.
Our waitress was friendly but I think she said she was one of few taking orders that day, so understandably flustered. They were quick with service though.
I ordered the whole wheat french toast with sweet coconut flakes, mixed berries, and mango pieces drenched in gooey caramel sauce. It was a decadent and delicious breakfast. I managed to eat every filling bite.
My aunt ordered their seafood quiche with a side salad and I got to taste. It was incredible! I would highly recommend it.
We are planning to come back here for dinner or later for Brunch again :)

BRUNCH REVIEW:
Finally tried Zake’s for Sunday lunch/​brunch after my bfs mom had been raving about it — her and her girlfriends come regularly! So we decided to break from our normal routine and give it a try — hello new routine!
At first glance the tables are quite close together, but I forgot about this soon after the food started to arrive. We each ordered. Sandwich, me the southwest club and he the crab salad sammy. Wowzaaaa! The bread was wonderful, basically everything you’d expect from a bakery and more, I was so pleased. My sandwich was full and packed with flavor, and my boyfriend shared the same adoration for his!
The sandwiches came with homemade potato salad, ahhhhmazing as well, and a simple side salad. We licked our plates basically. Perfect brunch, although we ordered more like lunch. We will certainly be back, the brunchier options being consumed around us looked just as delectable. Can’t wait to be back!