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Stephanie H. said: "UPDATE: Their Chocolate noir - 85% cocoa (with a cone) is a MUST-HAVE here. They don't have this flavour everyday though so keep your eyes out for it. I love the gelato and sorbetto here! I would come here if I want "simple" gelato…" read more »
61 reviews for Sweet Revenge
Review Highlights
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"...wait to come back to try the white chocolate cheesecake." In 11 reviews -
"My favorite was the Berry Trifle." In 4 reviews -
"I would recommend the chai or london fog here." In 3 reviews
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61 reviews in English
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Review from Danielle B.
Vancouver, BC
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had heard from yelpers pro and con, but in spite of Crystal H.'s soundly un-recommending of Sweet Revenge, (both in-person and by review), I decided to stop in for take-out dessert, since it was right on my way home from the fabulous Peaceful UYE. I wondered what they would offer for takeout (considering it didn't seem the kind of place to use disposable dishes), and I was pleased to see creme brûlée, trifle and tiramisu included, with a quite-reasonable $2 refundable deposit for glassware.
I did not feel like anything heavy or rich after the Peaceful feast, so I opted for the Berry Trifle, which came attractively layered in a glass water tumbler with saran wrap over the top. They offered a spoon, which I declined as I planned to eat it at home.
The berries were lovely and fresh, and the cake held up through the delicious booze (whatever it was - brandy perhaps?). The creamy custard was a good balance with both other elements and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found that the Rules which frustrated Crystal H. were apparently not applicable for takeout, so I was quite satisfied with my last-minute-on-the-way-home dessert undertaking.
Now I just need to remember to return the glass and get my 2 bucks back. Or maybe just return it in exchange for another? Hmmm, now there's an idea :) -
Review from Pamela L.
Oh my. So full of chocolate ganache. On a normal late winter nite, two girls decided to meet and catch up on the happenings of each others' lives What better way to do it than by indulging out sweet tooth?
I was shocked at how busy it was and this was a Wednesday nite at 8:30 pm. The decor is rich and dark, very Victorian. It reminds of the Living Room that used to be in Kits.
My gal pal ordered wine and the old fashion cake which was moist and satisfying. I ordered the chocolate ganache, which was dense and heavy. I also ordered a chai but for someone who likes we tea extra strong it was a bit light. The one thing that was a turn off was that they made my friend wait for a while even though she insisted that she would start eating before me but they refused to sit her. Finally she just said "eff it" and sat down anyways. Cuz that's the kinda gal she is.
I would give it a try again but it wouldn't be a destination spot for me. Then again, I'm not a dessert kinda gal. Give me charcuterie and cheeZe any day and I'm a happy gal. -
Review from Kevin B.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
Went here with some friends about a week ago. We had actually tried the year before, but it's tiny and if you have a larger group it's going to be a long wait, so we didn't that time around. But this time we got lucky, as the (only) large table freed up about 15 minutes after we got there.
First off, I have to say I love the room. It looks like you're in someone's living room circa 1901. Little kitschy things everywhere, old prints, textured wallpaper, the whole nine yards, really cool. The seating is very comfy too, big vintage couches and armchairs if you're lucky. We had fun playing with the oil lamp lighting our table, and of course, beverages were served in vintage teacups. Very nice, I like. Oh yeah, and they had a fireplace going, made it really warm and cozy which was great on a chilly February evening.
The desserts were amazing. My date had what I believe was their self-titled effort, some sort of chocolate & cream cake with raspberries, done up with some extra swirls of raspberry sauce in a Valentine's-themed design. I had the apple crisp which was very delicious, but I ended up being a little jealous of everyone else's chocolate-laden choices. We also took home a small apple pie which reheated well, the crust was deliciously flaky, and the filling was generous and well-spiced, but a little too tart for my taste. Nobody in our party complained about anything so I assume they were too busy stuffing their faces with amazing desserts. One thing I was presently suprised by was that the portions are larger than I would expect from a specialty dessert shop.
The coffee and tea portions were generous, I believe it was $4 for a small french press or $7 for HUGE one (or maybe $3 and $5, I can't remember now). The smalls yielded two cups and the large would be best to share. Our one friend ordered a big one for chai tea and it was much bigger than she expected.
The serving staff was friendly, but I did notice the older guy who I assume runs the place was a bit surly, as previous reviewers noted. He didn't say much to our party and we had no problem splitting the bill, so I guess we caught him on a good day.
It was a great experience for us, and I would definitely go back. Seems like the perfect place to take your date after dinner for a nice intimate chat. Providing you can get a seat, that is, because it really is tiny.
EDIT: I forgot, there was one complaint from on of our friends, the specialty coffees were a bit small, with a lot of whipped cream on top hiding the fact that it was only about 2/3 full. I say bring your flask and spike your coffee yourself. ;) Actually no, don't do that. They might get mad. -
Review from Judy H.
Richmond, BC
2/6/2012
I'm a very positive person, who rarely says negative things but last year ( yes, it took me a year to review this place so I can calm down and write in a mature manner ) my girlfriends and I had the worst experience in a long time.
This place used to be great, friendly staff and wonderful dessert. Now, it's the opposite.
I'm surprised you aren't given a dunce cap when you enter. If you want to be scolded by a creepy old man because you don't know what you want to drink/eat as soon as you sit down, go here.
If you want to be timed like an overweight kid running 6 laps around the track by a mean gym teacher, go here. "Hurry up and eat that zucottto you good for nothing #($&@^& Go go go!"
If you feel like you want to shrink in to a small ball of nothing because you asked to split the bill, go here.
Grainy coffee, anyone? The french presses are so overused that when you depress the strainer, the grinds come up. Yay!
Joking aside, one thing that made me feel very uncomfortable was how the old man was talking to his fellow workers. We can hear his condescending, demeaning tone constantly. Not cool.
There are many more dessert places that I can go to than here. Unless you are into being submissed into sick masochistic experiences. ;) -
Review from Matthew P.
Vancouver, BC
10/5/2011
There really outta be some better sweet shops on Main near Riley Park. Imagine if a cake shop/cupcake place opened up here... back to topic. My review is solely based on their baked goods, as I did not take a seat after seeing how small of a seating area it was inside.
SMOOTH OPERATOR: Really, almost $10 for something super bland in flavor. It looked delicious, but failed to deliver on taste.
OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CAKE: Although more familiar to my pallet and better then the S. Operator, it still lacked flavor. The cake itself was a bit dense and not as light/fluffy as I like.
10/10 stars for presentation
5/10 for taste.
If you're looking to satisfy your sugar monster, I would pass this place up and either pick up a box of Betty Crocker at your local market or go elsewhere in d-town. Maybe at one point in time their cakes and sweets were great... Maybe overtime they just became content with what they offered. Either way there are far better options out there.
It's a shame this place fails on baking because it has everything else going for it. The location is great and the ambiance feels right inside, minus being packed. -
Review from Sarah D.
10/8/2011
Hoo-ee! Nothing brings out the fat kid in me like a speciality dessert place. If ever I were to utter the phrase "one of everything, please" it would be at an establishment such as this.
Sweet Revenge is a teeny tiny dessert shop in the mid-Main area of Vancouver. Opening its doors each night at 7pm, I encourage visitors to get there as close to opening time as possible. Since this place is so small, it gets increasingly busy and awkwardly cramped as the night progresses, so get there fast, people!
On my last visit I had a Dutch coffee and a tiramisu. Although I can't imagine why anyone would complain about boozy coffee and espresso-soaked cake, I have to honestly say that both were just okay. It seemed like something I could have whipped up at home, and my culinary skills aren't exactly stellar.
This is not to say that I wouldn't go back again. The service we got was good and the shop itself is quite cute, it just isn't exactly a "destination" spot. Then again, the fat kid inside me could never shun a dessert shop, no matter how mediocre.Listed in: The Main Attraction
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Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Come with a chocolate foodie and order the chocolate sampler!
This sampler is only offered from Monday-Wednesday only. White chocolate cheesecake, chocolate gateau, two chocolate cakes, and a side of vanilla ice cream FTW! This is definitely enough to feed two people with a pretty big sweet tooth.
This place is small and usually you gotta wait for a bit; after some wait, sometimes you might need to share a small table with another couple lol. We were only sectioned off by a small divider. I suggest coming here with 4 people max.
We enjoyed our food, it was great! Desserts are made in-house with organic ingredients. Our fave was the chocolate cakes! MMMMMmmm Soooo good! -
Review from Herman E.
11/27/2011
Don't blink, or you'll miss this place.
This is a small shop and it is very easy to miss if you don't know where it is. Even if you do know where it is, you can still miss it. I know because I did it a few times.
Good desserts. A lot of people come here too and being the small place that it is, it gets busy. -
Review from DeathandFood b.
7/19/2011
Looking for a romantic over the top late night dessert place? This tiny dessert cafe is the perfect place. Open from 7pm till 1am this place is geared to adults rather than sugar craving kids. The decor is over the top with lots of red and chinoiserie and Asian music playing. If you go on the weekend prepare to wait 5-20 minutes. There are definitely too many tables for the small space and it's best if you like intimate cozy spaces.
The menu has a nice selection of teas, other beverages and dessert. We got the zucotto and the chocolate pudding cake. Both were listed on being on the smaller size but they were plenty big enough for us! the zucotto was great nice and light but with a strong but not overwhelming strawberry flavour. The chocolate pudding cake was equally satisfying. The drink were also good with the European chocolate being strong and rich and the hazelnut steam milk being just right.
There were three of us and we got two drinks and two desserts. A per person minimum was never mentioned to us so perhaps that has changes. The space was cramped and I ended up on a folding chair while the spouse and our friend were on the Victorian couch.
The server did seem very overworked with only one person for the entire tiny cafe.
I would go back but probably wouldn't wait 20 minutes to get seat. -
Review from Betty T.
Tiramisu was AMAZING. Masala wine a little strong that I was a little flushed :3
Creme Brûlée tasted really egg ish but yummy.. Not too sweet!
The old fashioned chocolate cake was HORRIBLE!!! So dry! My friend's exact first words were "this is grandma's ass cake.. So dry!" -
Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2012
I've been here twice now, and I have to say this place has more hype than it deserves. Staff is friendly but not overly attentive; presentation of the desserts is great but the flavors are nothing special.... We got the CSI platters, which is a half portion of four of the chocolate desserts - sweet revenge, chocolate cake, chocolate gateau and white chocolate cheesecake. None were outstanding - found most of the cakes a little dry and a little lacking in flavor - almost like they were old. We were seated right by the kitchen and midway through our dessert they started washing the floor with bleach. The smell was so strong that nobody wanted to eat anything at all. Too bad.
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Review from Sydney L.
Vancouver, BC
3/20/2012
I went here on St Patties with my mom and sister. We had a great time. If you go here get the smooth operator. It is worth the fact, it is a little more expensive it is huge. We got the Zuccotto as well and the sweet revenge and everything was very delicious. We had a great time. It was a little crammed but I think it added to the whole experiance and it is really cool. Perfect.
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Review from Reena M.
Updated - 5/26/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I was a bit disappointed in my most recent visit here. Their zucotto is still good, and the service had never been impeccable. But I discovered today that their menu hadn't even been updated in 2-3 years, nor anything in the restaurant it seemed. The bathroom lock was broken. The news articles and awards were all old, from 2002-2004. And sadly, Sweet Revenge is no longer my favorite dessert place anymore. So many other restaurants do such awesome dessert, and some can be innovative and trendy. But one thing that these restaurants do is keep their dessert trends current and always changing with the times. Sweet Revenge hasn't changed a thing in ages, and it could use some updating.
To top it all off, I remember the menu saying how SR prides itself on using organic and natural ingredients when possible. But then why do they use processed granulated sugar for the tea on the tables. On top of that, the spoon in the sugar cup was dirty. One of my friend's chai french press had grinds/tea debris at the top after pressing and was less than impressed when the server just gave her a strainer and took away her first cup of it (leaving her with only half the french press full of chai and still paying full price).
I really liked this place, so it would be nice if they got their act together and improved and updated it a bit.
P.S. the $6 minimum charge per person is kind of a deterrent...Listed in: Best Desserts in Vancouver, Reena M's Guide to Main St.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2009
I LOVVEEEEEEEE this place!
I love that they make everything on site from scratch and from wholesome… Read more »
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Review from Joe L.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would love to give it a higher rating for it being an earnest independent establishment with a warm & inviting decor offering decent dessert selections.
Its service was less than desirable during my visit. I ordered a London fog with my choices of the selections made available (Earl Grey, cream, vanilla syrup). I was served plain Earl Grey in a French press and charged a London Fog. We were requested to change seating and move twice. First time round, we accommodated. Second time, NO. -
Review from Alison S.
7/17/2011
Sweet Revenge is a cute place to satiate your sweet tooth, with some items being more swoon-worthy than others. As my friends and I have yet to make our way through the entire menu, here is a short but incomplete list:
To try:
- Chocolate pudding cake: oh so warm and gooey and chocolatey.
- White chocolate cheesecake
- The fruit teas
To pass:
- The Sweet Revenge (R): I found it rather hard and not as satisfying as some of the other desserts
Undecided:
- Creme brulee: like Vincci L, I had the fruity creme brulee, but with blueberries. Although it was very smooth, I wasn't crazy about the blueberries being put in there whole. Also, the top on mine was caramelized a little too enthusiastically and was very thick and hard.
- Alcohol beverages. They are on the pricey side, and my boyfriend and I were unsure after the fact what they define as a "double," as it looked like he was given 2 oz. but was charged like he was given 4. At $21 for some bourbon we probably could have just spent a little more and gotten an entire bottle.
Another thing I noticed was that service was a little on the unsmiley side. I'm not saying everyone should be spewing sunshine and rainbows and puppies but a hint of a smile would be a nice touch.
All of that being said, I will be back for the pudding cake, the tea, and the decoration. Not to mention making my way through the rest of the menu! -
Review from Sunny G.
Vancouver, BC
5/20/2011
Mmm dizzurt...
My date and I got here at about 11:30pm on a Friday night, and every single table in this little place was full (a good sign!). The first thing we noticed while waiting was the interesting ambiance, it reminded me a lot of the TV show "The Adams Family", even the server had an interestingly weird vibe about him - it was definitely unique! After waiting only a few minutes a couple left and we we're promptly seated. The service was good, a tiny bit on the slower side but that gave us time to check out the décor (some really interesting art selection here). The wait also gave my date and I an opportunity to chat about the ambiance, we both agreed it was mildly creepy which made our whole experience that much more entertaining! lol
I got the chocolate pudding cake which was super good, really rich and a decent size. She got the Crème Brulee which was also good, served in the traditional Crème Brulee bowl which was a little small to satisfy my sweet tooth lol. The menu here tells you what size the desserts are, so theirs no surprise when you get your sugary treat. I strategically picked something a little bigger =P
I was really tempted to try the Chai Tea here, but it was pretty late and I didn't want to be up all night, so I'll give it a shot next time.
Overall I was happy with my visit here, our 2 desserts came to about $14 plus tip. The ambiance was interesting to say the least, so if you're coming on a first date you'll definitely have something to chat about lol. And the service, although a little slow was very good. I'll be back :) -
Review from chiex c.
Richmond, BC
8/21/2011
Service: HORRENDOUS
Food: BORING AND DECLINING IN QUALITY
If you are looking for a great argument and a fierce fight, Sweet Revenge is a must-go!
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I brought my relatives who were visiting Vancouver from overseas to try out the dessert at Sweet Revenge since my previous experiences were very pleasant.
First, the waiter expect to take our order after having seated us for less than a minute. Second, it took too long (considering the size of the restaurant) for a waiter to get us two missing forks.
The dessert was okay, but improvements can be made on their menu. It's old, and becoming boring.
What angry me the most was when my cousin was paying for the bill. She and I waited for three minutes for someone to take the bill because the young waiter is busy serving food and the old waiter is busy yelling at the kitchen staff.
When my cousin paid with her credit card, the machine said the chip malfunctioned and asked her to swipe instead. The old waiter yelled at me for pulling the card out before the transaction is over. I tried to explain to him what the POS displayed, but he simply said "do you know how many people ran away without paying?" I was so mad that I was speechless. He is implying that we are thieves trying to dine-and-dash! Would someone who is trying to dine-and-dash make the effort to pretend to pay the bill? I think not. If he was so concerned then he shouldn't have turned his head away from the machine.
Never will I visit this place again. -
Review from Angie L.
Burnaby, BC
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh how i love dessert places, especially chocolate desserts, yummm..
Came with friends last week for a late night dessert after a fine dinner at downtown. It was around 10pm and it was PACKED. The place is tiny, few small tables and a small kitchen. Three of us needed to wait around 15 minutes for a table and we had to share with two other strangers, with a mini shade on the table for privacy(?) it was cute nonetheless, and we did not mind at all.
I was feeling adventurous/hungry, so ended up ordering two desserts: the chocolate pudding cake and tiramisu. My guy friend got a white chocolate cheesecake and my girl friend got the chocolate gateau. Must I say, or stress, the pudding cake is delicious, DELICIOUS, and worth the work out at the gym the morning after. Umm...I'll probably be dreaming about that tonight. The tiramisu was alright, nothing to write home about. The cheesecake was light and not too sweet, good for guys who don't like sweets i suppose. The gateau was not as sweet as my pudding cake, I did not taste too much as i had two desserts on my own.
On top of the two desserts, I ordered their hot chocolate which is the "European" style, very good for a cold night. My friend really enjoyed his mocha.
Sweet Revenge put a good full stop to a fun night out with friends and I would recommend it to any dessert lovers. -
Review from Mark H.
Updated - 9/16/2010
So I repeated. And I think it may have been too soon.
My sweet tooth took over logic (health wise that is) so came back for dessert. We were the only ones there when we got there = romantic. We ordered up Americano's, Zuccotto and Berry Triffle.
In comes a guy for take out. He got his order well before we got our desserts! Minus 1 star. Another pet peeve, on both visits we received our coffee too soon in that we had to wait too long for our desserts. Last time I checked desserts should be a quick service, especially cake.
Anyhow, taste test. The Zuccotto chocolate and berry mousse layers were alright, but the bottom layer tasted like whole wheat bread. Berry Triffle was awful, the Grand Marnier was either overdone or the wrong liquor was used. Fruits used tasted canned.
Not sure if I'm willing to come back.Listed in: Places that will make your…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/11/2010
Sharing tables with a Chinese accordion screen, what the heck? That awkwardness aside, this tiny… Read more »
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Review from Edward B.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2011
Yum yum yum my sweet tooth is satisfied.
Upon entering, the place is dark and sketchy. It's like a old Western style brothel... or maybe it's just my dirty mind... I don't know. It's a tiny joint with minimal lighting. Good for couples I guess. I was with a bunch of dudes and I'm not sure if this kind of ambiance is the best for us... :|
Well anyway I shared the chocolate sampler (CSI Vancouver) with my friend. I was TASTE-BLOWN. Them chocolate go POW POW POW!!! Ok I'm kidding but the chocolate tastes good. White chocolate cheesecake is great, but the taste of cheese is kinda overwhelming. Chocolate mousse was yumz yumz. Sweet revenge was vengeful and sweet. It's quite pricey though, came down with a total of $20 for dessert. You kidding me?!?!
Service was meh. I think the manager was there and he wasn't very friendly... -
Review from Jenna L.
2/7/2011
Once you enter the door you are transported back to someone's tea room back in the 40's and 50's. Very small place, always crowded, and quickly gets hot unless you sit by the window. Usually you will have to wait 15 mins or longer. Best for couples or small group of girl friends. They have a nice sofa seat as well too for the couple. Their coffee is only ok, (had latte and cappucino before). Many varieties of chai (maybe 4?) and they come in a french press style. Spicy! ! ! ! ! I enjoyed it though.
The desserts are served in a cute victorian plates, they are usually yummy, but the price tag... ~$7-8/dessert... is not so friendly.
Service is usually pretty hectic, the guy takes the order, brings it to you, comes back with a bill, and that's the only service you get.
Not sure if I am eager to return now, but worth checking out. -
Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
Updated - 8/9/2011
I don't know why I came back. Oh wait, because it was there.
I didn't really want to come back here, but it was after the Canadians' game and I didn't know where else to go to end the night. I came with two of my girlfriends. There was a couple waiting before us... and a foursome that came after us. A bench for two opened up and half a table for four. Hmm, guess who was seated first? No, not the couple who had been waiting. That would have been logical. They sat our table of three on the bench made for two and the table of four. Then they looked at the couple and said that a table for two should open up soon. Umm, one did and you gave it to us. D was distraught and wanted to give them our table. I should of left. They waited about five to ten minutes more. Then another table of three got seated behind us and it was just way too cramped. How am I supposed to gossip if I am worried that the table sitting almost in my lap is gonna know someone I know?
Our server was really nice and the only one in a room full of people. Since we were ordering two London Fogs, he told us to get a medium... again he asked what kind of tea and if we wanted syrup. Don't write it on your menu. Seriously... D looked a little confused. She worked at a cafe. She knows what's what. Our mousse cake was okay. Really tangy because of the cream cheese... and really smooth.
But I don't think I am coming back. This place is just weird.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/11/2011
Hmm, I thought it was going to be dark and romantic... It was dark and cramped.
I have been dying to… Read more »
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
7/25/2009 1 photo
Maybe all the hype led to my disappointment, but I actually think my me-thinks-not feeling started to stick as soon as I stepped foot inside...literally.
In lieu of a standard review, I give you "The Rules."
Rule #1 - Step lightly. The floor is so sticky that I literally couldn't move my feet from where they were standing waiting to be served. The sound of people's suctioned feet destroyed any hope of ambiance here. Right down into the corners of the room.
Rule #2 - No matter how much eye contact or motioning you make with your server, they may never come over. And you might sit twiddling your thumbs while others breathe down your neck for a table as you wait for your bill.
Rule #3 - If you want a proper chai, make a pit stop at East is East or Rangoli first; or be happy sipping on weak, flavourless tea, with steamed milk.
Rule #4 - If you like the neopolitan flavoured strawberry ice cream in your grocer's freezer, you will like the Zuccotto. If you are like me and prefer the taste of real strawberries, you may want to pass and head straight for the chocolate desserts.
Rule #5 - You may want to order another $1.50 of whip cream because the first whisper on the chocolate pudding cake acts more like a garnish than part of the dessert.
Rule #6 - Make sure you follow the real house rules of Sweet Revenge:
-1.5 hour maximum seating time during peak hours (whatever they are?)
-$6.50 minimum order per person
-Croissants and Cinnamon Buns are weekend onlys. (Darn!)
-Chocolate Sampler is only available Monday-Wednesday.
A note to Reena (and everyone else who loves it here): I know you lovveeeeee sweet revenge and I'm sorry I had to disagree so much! But on the bright side, it won't be me occupying a table there so you can get your chocolate fixes in to your heart content...I'll be over at Sweet Obsession with my mousse cakes... -
Review from Jennifer W.
3/24/2010 1 photo
This place is extremely cute and kitschy so it was no surprise that I was immediately drawn to the window when I passed by this randomly. I love the old fashioned decor, little coffee tables and vintage teacups everywhere. We were going to come here in the morning, but to our surprise, this place opens late, so we actually had to wait a while for it to open.
I would recommend the chai or london fog here. I had the lavender rosehip, which was great. It was light and fragrant. They also serve alcoholic beverages including ice wine and beers.
Let me say that while olden things are cool, some things are better left unaged. By this, I mean cake and air. As soon as we walked through the door, a wave of mustiness hit our nose and it was so offputting throughout the entire time we were there. The sweet revenge was quite hard, but maybe it's supposed to be that way. Also, I had the zuccotto, which was quite good had it not been so old. The chocolate icing on the trim hardened and I was also put off by all the fingerprints on the chocolate shell exterior. I still ate it of course, because I'm not going to let my money and good food go to waste, but please wear some gloves next time and please invest in some air freshener.
Also, as a warning, the deals posted at the front of the window do not apply anymore. -
Review from chris o.
Kelowna, BC
8/6/2010
Went with my girlfriend last night just after midnight. She asked the server what was good and he just laughed .. She ordered a $8 terramisu and a $5 latte. When I ordered a coffee the waiter gave me a really weird look, and after an odd pause he asked "and for dessert?". I told him I was good with the coffee and I was just tagging along with my girlfriend. He had a problem with that and told me there was a $6.50 minimum per person. This was at about 12:15, 45 min before they closed. I told him I didn't want anything and if we really wanted we could leave. He walked off grumbling and it was a very uncomfortable experience.
The desert was actually fantastic, but we will never go back thanks to the creepy awkward asshole server. -
Review from marc m.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2009
The interior is cute and kitsch. It can be a bit crowded. The desserts are rich, rich, rich, but not in a cloying way. My girlie and I always share one.
We've had the zuccoto, the sweet revenge, smooth operator, the chocolatey gateau whose name I can't remember. Everytime, it has been letter perfect. For a tiny place, our server has been ever attentive and yet not intrusive. My only bad experience here was last night, and it was two customers in their peroxided, overtanned leathery glory who seemed to have no idea as to how to modulate their voices to an appropriate level for this cozy intimate hole in the wall. A huge collective sigh of relief accompanied their departure and we all zoned back in on the sensual pleasures of good company, great food and tasty bevies.
Do yourself a favour if you haven't been here and stop in for a nosh. This is the perfect after movie place to take a date. Remember, its just desserts! -
Review from Parker L.
Vancouver, BC
7/29/2009
If you like sweets, this is the place for you.
I am lactose intolerant but I decided it would be worth it to try. And I think it was.
We ordered the tiramisu and the sweet revenge cake. Both were delicious.
But what really got to us was the wine. We ordered two glasses of the elysium dessert wine. For those of you that enjoy sweet dessert wines, this is definitely worth trying. It was a great tasting red to go with our meal and we left the place incredibly pleased.
I took away a star simply because, depending on the seat you get, the ambiance definitely changes throughout the restaurant because they try to accommodate so many tables in such a small space. -
Review from Jonas T.
4/26/2009
Sweet Revenge is sweets heaven for chocolates and cakes lovers. My favorite was the zucotto.
JONASAPPROVED! -
Review from Emily C.
2/26/2010
Haven't been here in years, but here's what I remember:
It's tiny. like, midget/elf/little-people tiny. Wouldn't be surprised if the place barely sat 10! And it's front entrance is literally the width of a pantry door. You blink? you'll miss it. And it's not open every day, which is strange. They have mad weird hours, so definitely call ahead to check! I have shown up on numerous occasions where they're closed.
But food wise, or dessert wise, it's fantastic. i remember the cake being delicious, and a selection of teas to choose from. All served on fine china type utensils, i was very pleased. it's great for a date place, cozy and intimate. love! -
Review from Michael H.
Calgary, AB
8/30/2010
A solid 4-star experience.
The ambience seemed a bit cluttered to me, but not grating in any way. And unlike the experiences of a lot of other diners here, I found the service to be quite friendly, courteous and prompt.
I had the Berry Trifle, while my dining partner had the Smooth Operator (chocolate sponge layered with marscapone cheese icing and fresh raspberries, topped with white chocolate shavings and drizzles with raspberry coulis.)
I was told that the Smooth Operator was divine. And judging from her first reaction after the first bite, I would guess that she was not fibbing. I'm not much of a chocolate person, so it tasted pretty much like a moist chocolate cake to me. The icing and coulis were up my alley and I found those components tasty.
I very much enjoyed the trifle. Fresh fruit. The trifle/cake was great, not soggy, not dry. I would imagine this dessert would suffer during the winter, when the berries are not seasonal to Vancouver and they have to be trucked from way down south.
I would come here again. It is a nice little dessert place. Enough dessert choice to please most anyone. The decor is a little cramped and overly antique shop for my tastes, but that doesn't really detract from taste. -
Review from Steven N.
Vancouver, BC
10/26/2009
This is by far, my favourite dessert place in all of Vancouver. Let's see if it matches my criteria.
Neat decor - check
Good selection of desserts - check
Decent prices - check
You really can't go wrong at Sweet Revenge. The owner is amazing friendly and charming. Working in such a small place, they were really quite efficient.
Word of advice, call in for a reservation. Usually if you have a group of 3 or 4, they should be able to accommodate. I had the 'CSI' platter and it was amazing. Nice selection of 4 different desserts to sample.
The tea selection is oh-so-good as well.
First timer?
I'll make it easy for you, do the following.
1. Make reservation
2. Order the CSI
3. Order a medium tea (choose one that sounds interesting like Rainbow Almond)
Can't go wrong, see you there. -
Review from Mya N.
Langley, BC
8/26/2010
Cute place, mediocre desserts.
We came in on a Wednesday night at 8pm. The stars were aligned because we were the only ones there! Scored the cozy love seat and got front row seats of the mounds of ppl that soon squished in. I loved the decor, with its mid 20th century floor to ceiling wallpaper, record-player music, antiquity furniture, and cute china.
Got the chocolate sampler which included the white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate gateau, Sweet Revenge and old-fashioned chocolate cake, and two side-order of ice cream. All I can say is, the cheesecake had me at first bite! So good! The rest was forgettable and definitely not worth the calories. But I'll throw in an extra push-up for the cheesecake and ice cream combo any day.
Because I only loved 1 out of 4 desserts, 3.5 stars it is. I didn't even finish the other cakes, and I'm known to snort my plate when it comes to desserts. Thank goodness for scoring the loveseat otherwise it wouldn't sucked being squished in with everyone else. -
Review from Ellen G.
3/3/2009
It's been a dream of mine to have a late night eatery only serving desserts! And lo-and behold, here it is!
You MUST get the Sweet Revenge, afterall, it is its' namesake, so it must be good, right? Well, it is. And I don't even normally like cake. But it was seriously perfect. -
Review from Angela L.
5/6/2009
We had the pear bread pudding with creme anglais ($6.55), warm apple pie ($6.35), and white chocolate cheesecake with berry sauce ($6.75). They were all adorably single serving sized and made with fresh organic ingredients.
The desserts are good - there is no arguing that, but beside the wonderful food however, the rest of my experience left quite a lot to be desired.
The bottle of essensia orange muscat dessert wine we splurged for was too sweet (yes, even for a dessert wine) and wasn't exactly the perfect pairing as suggested by our server (and yes, this is arguably subjective). He was the only one working the full-to-the-brim room and everything starting from water took quite a while. He was hustling though and although slightly annoyed, those waiting to order, for their food to be served, and on bills and tables (including ourselves) didn't seem to really be bothered since the desserts themselves (or promise of them) more than made up for the disorganized and hurried service that evening.
The mixture of antiquey Victorian and Chinoiserie pieces in the decor was interesting. The Lilliputian (read: very small) room was cozy and warm as promised.
If you can help it, try not to be sat at the most awkward demi-table in the room which forced us all to sit facing the wall, uncomfortably scooting our chairs in a bit more every time the server tried to squeeze by to and from the kitchen. I guess it could've been worse and we could've had a much longer wait while salivating by the door though.
I have heard and read a lot of otherwise great things about this place and would definitely go back for more of their delightful desserts - this time with less expectation for attentive service so that I may be fully pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Peter S.
7/31/2009 1 photo
Sweet revenge would have been taking off without paying my bill!
Crap service. Weak tea. My chocolate pudding cake could have easily been from The Keg. One of the straight outta the microwave kinds with oozy chocolate sauce and a dollop of whipped cream.
Maybe I caught them on a REALLY bad day? But I would still never return for high tea!
Just for the record - I would never actually run out without paying. That is illegal, and it gives you bad food karma for life! -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
1/12/2010
The place is pretty small and was really warm when I was there. All the tables were taken, so instead of waiting for a table, we decided to get our dessert to go. We ordered the Zuccotto and the chocolate gateau.
I initially didn't want to order the Zuccotto after reading Crystal's review of it as I don't like strawberry flavoured things. However, the artificial flavour of strawberry flavour that can be found in neopolitan ice cream wasn't that apparent. It didn't taste artificial or really real either. However, I did notice a grittiness in the mousse - real strawberries mixed into it perhaps? In combination with the other parts of the cake, I quite liked it.
The chocolate gateau was to be expected. It tasted exactly how I expected it to taste. There is a thin layer of jam in the cake and not being a big fan of jam, I didn't enjoy it as much.
If I go again, I'll try to eat in... Only if they turn down the heat!! -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
After a quick dinner at Beefy Beef Noodle, we walked to here for desserts.
When we walked in, they already 2/3 full at 7.45pm on Sat night. It wasn't that busy, most the customers were having desserts already, however, we're waited for 5-7 mins to be seated.
We got seated at 4-person table and the waiter put a small divider on top of the table, so the other people can share the table.
We got white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate mousse cake and coffee. The white chocolate cheesecake with strawberry sauce was ok. The cheesecake not very rich and a bit powdery, but, the strawberry sauce quite sweet.
The chocolate mousse cake portion was big but not smooth at all. I liked it though, at least it's not too sweet.
They put the coffee in the pot when it served. The coffee just right, not too strong or light.
Personally, I prefer to go to clean. comfort and modern place to eat. So, I only give them 3 star. -
Review from Chelsea S.
Vancouver, BC
7/21/2009
I think that I've had everything on the menu here, and it is *all* fantastic. We usually have coffee with our dessert as well.
Yes, it is very small - but somehow the set-up and lighting still makes each table feel fairly private. Rowdy children can really wreck the atmosphere, but we've been here a number of times when there were well-behaved children and it was still really lovely. -
Review from Johannes H.
Vancouver, BC
7/13/2010
I love this tiny dessert place! Sweet Revenge is a bit far away from downtown, but it's the best dessert experience you can have in Vancouver!
Honestly, coming from Europe, I have never seen any place like it! There is not a lot of space, and the decoration is really cute and it feels very cozy there.
I did not have to wait, but when I went the place was definitely filled with people.
The drinks are really good and they have everything from coffee and tea to hot chocolate. Whatever your taste is, you surely find something delicious here.
My favorite was the Berry Trifle. The Smooth Operator was great as well, and it is huge! I also tried the Tiramisu and thought it was great, but I would rather recommend to try something more unique, something you wouldn't get any other place.
This is a place where you can bring your date or come with a few friends. Just don't bring too many, otherwise you risk filling up the whole place. The atmosphere here is rather quiet and calm. -
Review from Earl R.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2011
I used to love coming to this dark and cramped place as it's very close to where I live and has a wide selection of teas and desserts.
But in my last visit, I was very disappointing in the lack of customer service shown to me. My girlfriend and I ordered a fruit and cheese platter from the menu, and after picking through the grapes we noticed how half of them we on the verge of rotten.
After advising the server, he apologized but said it was the fault of the person who prepared the dish, and then promptly left to help another table.
A few minutes later, the person I believe to be the owner came around and asked how everything was. We mentioned the grapes, and when he looked at it, he said "Well they gave you more grapes then usual" and then walked away.
I wasn't looking for a free dish, or a replacement, but I believe it's common cutesy to ask your customer if they want a replacement for their rotten food. Maybe I have given "you more business than usual".
