Let Them Eat Cake!  Sound a little too Marie Antoinette for you?  Well, I have a question:  How many of you would rather have something sweet, than something salty?  I’m always on Team Sweet.  But not just any ol’ kind of sweet.  Sugary treats….nah.  Chocolate…most of the time.  Pie….depends on the kind (but not with meringue, because blech…what even IS that…I have no idea).  Cake?  Now we’re talking.  Cake with some kind of buttercream frosting?  Get outta my way, I’m going in!

Which leads me to the subject of today’s post:  Where oh where can you find the BEST cake in Dallas….with the BEST frosting…AND eat said cake in a sitting-down situation?  Never fear dear followers, I have the answers!

Let Them Eat Cake:  The Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus Northpark Center

The Mermaid Bar is located on the ground floor of Neiman Marcus Northpark Center, sandwiched between the Men’s Department and Cosmetics.  Some awesome history of this space, from the Neiman Marcus website:  “The Mermaid Bar at NM NorthPark is graced with the whimsical decorative work of Bjorn Wiinblad (b. 1918 in Copenhagen, Denmark). This Danish artist is a true “Renaissance Man,” having mastered his style as a painter, illustrator, scenographer, ceramicist, and designer. His decorative style and gentle brushstrokes convey subjects with a sense of calm and contentment. Fantastic scenes with dainty women, birds, and flowers are typical subjects for Wiinblad.

The mural tiles were commissioned by Stanley Marcus in the 1960s and originally hung in the cafe in our Houston Galleria store. They are most fitting here as they complement the mermaid sculptures on the center wall. The mermaid sculptures and tiles were commissioned in 1965 and have hung in our Mermaid Bar ever since.

Bjorn Wiinblad was a long-time friend of Stanley Marcus. Over the years, Mr. Marcus purchased several ceramic sculptures and commissioned the artist to design an image for the “East Meets West” Fortnight.

For those of you from Dallas, you might remember that back-in-the-day, there was a bakery next to the Mermaid Bar.  Every year, my Dad ordered my Mother’s Birthday Cake from the Mermaid Bar Bakery, and I looked so forward to each delectable morsel!  Fast-forward to 2018, and it’s still possible to enjoy a piece of cake at the Mermaid Bar.  Each cake available that day is displayed on the counters, and I can personally attest to the strength of the coconut cake, with or without lemon filling.  In the name of Blog research, I also tasted (ahem, ate) a piece of German Chocolate cake, and a piece of Carrot Cake.  My Blog assistants also agreed that each flavor was fabulous.  (OK, I don’t really have assistants…it was my daughter and my husband, but whatever.)

Customers can still special-order cakes at the Neiman Marcus Mermaid Bar.  Each cake serves 12-16 people, but special-order larger cakes are possible!  Flavors like Heavenly Strawberry, Black and White, Red Velvet and Italian Cream make me want to shout “Let Them Eat Cake!!!!!!”  And not even be embarrassed.  At least two days in advance are needed for special order cakes.

PC: Neiman Marcus

True Story:  one of my Mother’s dearest friends has enjoyed a piece of cake at the Mermaid Bar, EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. of her life, since at least 1970.  And she’s teeny….sooooo not fair.

The Curious Cowgirl’s Mother (L) and The Queen of The Mermaid Bar (r) Circa 197?

Let Them Eat Cake:  Cake Bar at Trinity Groves

Again, in the name of research, I visited a second site that came highly recommended by many friends.  Cake Bar at Trinity Groves.  Trinity Groves  is a fun redevelopment project in West Dallas bringing together restaurants, shopping, and now urban living in one central area.

PC: Trinity Groves

In addition to the ten or more cuisine-specific restaurants, there’s retail too, and one of those retail spots is Cake Bar, located on the north-west, or back-side of Trinity Groves.  The Menu boasts over 15 different cake flavors, not every one available every day.  Which means you need to go often to taste all of them.

On my visit, I tasted Wedding Cake and Key Lime Cake.  And both were totally fantastic.  I was so full from an entire day of cake-eating, but even in that state, I almost went back for a piece of the Neapolitan Cake and the Chocolate Cake. Next time for sure!

You can purchase cake by the slice, or take home a full cake.  Which, if you don’t share with anyone, I’ll completely understand, and won’t judge you at all!

Summer days are long and hot in Dallas.  Cake makes EVERYTHING better, y’all!  Go get you some!

And, for cake that is worth the road-trip, check out this post.

P.S.  I received a LOT of suggestions for places to partake in cake in Dallas, but out of consideration for my current pant size, I did not investigate.  But, I’d love to know your favorite spots in the comments, because comments are calorie-free!

P.P.S. My Birthday is in October.  Y’all feel free to treat me to cake…and just so we are clear, I prefer pink or yellow roses….in buttercream frosting, don’t ya’ know.