Saahiti Kiran Chamala/Fourth Estate

Despite its wide range of treats, the celebrated bakery falls short of expectations

BY SAAHITI KIRAN CHAMALA, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., Milk Bar brings its iconic sweets to the capital — but not without some letdowns. If taking the metro, switch to the red line and hop off at Dupont Circle station. From there, the shop arrives in view after a 10-minute walk. The hours at Milk Bar are Monday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

At first glance, Milk Bar’s menu seems packed with options — from milkshakes and soft serves to a variety of cookies and cake slices. It’s easy to be excited seeing the colorful displays and creative flavor names. However, the reality didn’t quite live up to the hype.

I tried three of their well-known items: the Birthday Cake Cookie, the Birthday Cake Milk Quake and a Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Slice.

Starting with the Birthday Cake Cookie, it was honestly underwhelming with a 4/10 rating. There was nothing particularly special that set it apart; it felt like just another basic cookie with sprinkles, lacking the rich, buttery flavor you might expect from a famous bakery.

As for the Birthday Cake Milk Quake, the experience was mixed. The consistency was notably thick, and the first bite offered a promising, nostalgic taste. However, as I kept eating, it quickly lost its appeal; the sweetness became overpowering and the flavor monotonous, making it hard to finish.

The Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Slice was the most interesting of the trio. The texture was more doughy than a traditional cake, almost like a dense cookie rather than a fluffy slice. Still, the flavor was decent and stood out compared to the other items. I would rate it a 6/10 and would consider trying other cake flavors from their menu.

Another letdown was the soft serve selection. Sophomore Mohamed El Hadj Sidi commented, “The soft serve was not great and there were not many flavor options.” Compared to the extensive menus advertised online, the real-life selection felt surprisingly limited.

Echoing a similar sentiment, sophomore Faris Madani shared, “From what I’ve seen online, Milk Bar has honestly underwhelmed me. Their birthday cake items were bland, and the red velvet cheesecake flavors did not complement each other.”

Overall, while Milk Bar DC impresses at first glance with its wide variety of offerings and vibrant branding, the actual flavors and textures left much to be desired. If you’re in the area and curious, it might still be worth a visit — just manage your expectations.