Here's the deal: I didn't read through the rest of the reviews to see if anyone else had mentioned this, but it's better than Dozen. That's pretty much all you need to know when thinking about cupcakes in PGH. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the non-cupcake fare at Dozen, like their pot pies, quiche and chicken salad sandwich (even though $8 is a bit steep for a cafe sandwich and small bag of chips), but Vanilla is simply better. I'll go so far as to say it's better than Magnolia Bakery in NYC. I lived in Greenwich Village for a few years and visited often, so I say that with great authority ;). Why?:
-Their cupcakes start moist and stay moist throughout the day
-The icing is light and fluffy and not too sugary and gritty like some, just the way it should be
-My favorite item: The chocolate with peanut butter icing. Best cupcake I've ever had
-April and the rest of the team are incredibly friendly