A Taste of Heaven

Name: A Taste of Heaven

Neighborhood: Andersonville
Address: 5401 N Clark St
Map (link above): blue dotted pin
Nearest El Transit Locations: 
Berwyn Red Line Stop
Hours:
Mon - Thur  7am - 10pm
Fri - Sat  7am - 11pm
Sunday  8am - 10pm
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.75
Boxing/Packaging: Cups with lids
What makes this bakery special: They have a substantial, homemade-fresh, assortment of unique cupcake flavors. 

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

Nutella
Cake: Nutella
with
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Lemon Meringue

Cake: Lemon
with Meringue icing filled with lemon curd
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:

After the disappointing Nutella cupcake at Molly's I was hesitant to try the one here at A Taste of Heaven. With some convincing, I gave it a shot--and will never regret it! This cupcake is exactly the dream Nutella cupcake I've been wanting: rich, moist cake, extremely light and fluffy frosting with [almonds?] on top. ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' DELICIOUS! A Taste of Heaven, please know that you gave me what I so badly wanted last year and it was WELL worth the wait and commute. Honestly, this was one of my absolute favorites so far. Even if you're not a huge fan of Nutella, I'd say give this cupcake a chance. The cake and frosting were absolutely, well, heavenly.
The Lemon Meringue was also amazing. The cake wasn't over-powering, the lemon curd filling was packed with flavor, and the creamy frosting was delicious. This cupcake had a nice balance of cupcake sweetness and lemon tartness.
The actual storefront is kind of tiny (they're a cafe, too!). There is an indoor seating area, but if you're dropping in for cupcakes, I'd recommend you take them to go so you don't have to bother with the cramped space. The staff is super friendly and are not only willing to make suggestions, but will give an honest answer to any questions you may have.

George's Ice Cream and Sweets

Name: George's Ice Cream and Sweets

Neighborhood: Andersonville
Address: 5306 N. Clark Street
Map (link above): yellow pin
Nearest El Transit Locations: Berwyn Red Line Stop
Hours:
Mon - Thur  12pm - 10pm
Friday 12pm - 11pm
Saturday 11am - 11pm
Sunday 11am - 10pm
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Price: $
Boxing/Packaging: Box with inserts
What makes this bakery special: George's is what Andersonville is all about: fun, eco-concious, accepting, and laid-back. At George's, these qualities shine from the atmosphere, staff members, and products. Good customer service is a lost art and you'll be sure to find it here.

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:
German Chocolate
Cake: Chocolate
with Coconut pecan topping rolled in chocolate shavings
Appearance: 2
Size: Large (tall for average)
Bite #: 5
Moisture: 3

Red Velvet
Cake: Red Velvet
with Cream Cheese Frosting
Appearance: 2
Size: Large (tall for average)
Bite #: 5
Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:

From past posts you may recall that I'm not a big coconut fan, therefore German chocolate is usually not something I actively seek out, and that I somehow missed the Red Velvet train and don't really see what all the fuss is about. Well, George's is apparently where I can find the German Chocolate and Red Velvet made to my liking.  Both cakes were smooth, rich, and fresh. The German, like at Sweet Sensations, was made of regular rich chocolate cake, not the lighter german as per expected. The topping was rich, chocolaty (due to the tasty and aesthetically pleasing chocolate shavings), and loaded with carmel-y goodness.  The Red Velvet...well, if all RV cupcakes were made like this I could definitely understand the RV craze better.
*NERD ALERT: RV, if you didn't know, is technically neither vanilla nor chocolate cake. In theory, it's a halfway point, made with cocoa powder which reacts with apple cider vinegar or another agent to chemically turn the batter a reddish brown.*
What I've experienced many a time in the past is a botch RV cupcake, with an unnecessary amount of red food dye and not enough cocoa powder (or perhaps lack of a decent chemical reaction) to give the traditional, pseudo-chocolaty flavor.  So, well done, George's! The rich cake exceeded my expectations and the rich cream cheese frosting paired perfectly.
The staff are all friendly and enthusiastic.  I regret not staying in and eating there.  Inside, it's spacious, hip, comfortable, and warm.  Aside from tables, there are gushy-looking arm chairs and couch(es?) to lounge in.  Next time I'm in the area, I'm going to take advantage of such a space to relax and enjoy cupcakes with coffee.
p.s. They also have vegan options!