Peeking into the glassed-in kitchen, an endless row of cake orders hang from thumbtacks in perfect order. Seems the Monday through Wednesday crew stops in for espresso and a cupcake, while partying and brunching weekenders make a made dash for regular cakes and specialties: crusty apple tortes and slick-looking Icing Dome Cakes (quasi-igloos of cool chocolate wafer layers with vanilla filling in between).

Owners Colleen and Jim Standish—a Silver Laker since the 80s—run this confectorium with charming aplomb. Walk in, and they’re asking if you’d care to try a sample of the oatmeal cranberry cookie, or Colleen’s salted caramel cupcakes. We opted for the mountain of icing atop the chocolate “dome” cookie, and we were not disappointed by the novel, muffintop goodness of the best part of cakes and Oreos: the frosting.