This tiny shop in the heart of Fremont is easy to miss, but its small location belies its big reputation. The dessert hotspot has been in business for more than 25 years and has consistently been rated as one of Seattle's top bakeries. Co-owners Philip Tobin and Stacy Hagya make everything from scratch with premium quality, all-natural ingredients. And it shows.

The simple glass case inside displays decadent desserts that make choosing something extremely difficult, but going with a few friends and having everyone order something different quickly fixes this since, the portions are fairly large.

In this shop, chocolate is king. The Chocolate Fudge Cake is a simple two layers of spongy old-fashioned chocolate cake with a smooth fudge frosting that adds just enough sweetness. Their Black Bottom Cupcakes are a rich combination of dark chocolate cake, cream cheese filling and chocolate chips that melt into each other. For a break from chocolate overload, the Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake finds the right balance with its fluffy texture, shortbread crust and dark chocolate ganache topping.

The shop is small, yet intimate, and a good place to take a seat and observe the heart of Fremont while indulging in a piece of your favorite delight. Whole cakes can be purchased for about $35, and they make the perfect birthday cake, especially when everyone pitches in a few dollars.

— Hanady Kader