Crixa Cakes

Crixa Cakes Restaurant Review:

Berkeley native and baker Elizabeth Kloian opened Crixa in 1999 in order to acquaint Bay Area denizens with a range of old-school cakes long admired in Eastern Europe. Bulochki, kremtorta, puncs torta, rigo jasci, kifli, vatrouchka and more --- with a few Boston cream pies and Jamaican chocolate-rum cakes thrown in for international harmony --- are among the selections. Sip coffee and savor Kloian's artistry by the slice in the brick-walled eatery, and you'll feel like Franz Kafka or Sigmund Freud whiling away the hours in a buttery haze --- except for the sounds of traffic roaring past outside. A large selection of pies and other baked goods rotates frequently, with some items sold only on certain days and some selling out early. Special-needs sweet-seekers can usually find treats that are eggless, flourless, nut-free, gluten-free and/or sugar free.