On Columbus Day weekend I went to the famous Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, NJ. It is perhaps better known as the location of the show Cake Boss on TLC. I am a fan of the show and was planning a trip to New York City so I thought it would be a good opportunity to stop in. It is an easy ride to Hoboken via the PATH train from the 33rd street subway station under the Manhattan Mall.
Before going, I read a ton of reviews on both good and bad experiences. Most of the negative reviews were geared toward long waiting times so I went into it expecting to wait a while. I arrived around 11 AM and was there a total of about an hour and half as there were quite a few people. There was a staff member acting as crowd control as patrons lined the sidewalks out front. Once inside, there were many people waiting for their number to be called. You are given a number on your entry so when we got there it was on 28 and we were 53.
Once you get in, you just sort of stand around until your number is called. I was able to get glimpses of some of the show's regulars, which was kind of neat. In fact, they were taping an episode upstairs while we were there.
While a bit pricey but also very good, I would not recommend coming here unless you are a fan of the show. To just get baked goods would certainly not be worth your wait. With all the fame and publicity that the show has, I am sure that this kind of wait is normal. Sadly, this place has become a tourist trap for regular patrons from the neighborhood from what I gather.
PS We got lobster tails, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and some sort of strawberry shortcake cookies.
