Pearson’s Southgate Bakery

Not sure what the other reviewers are eluding to but I’ve been purchasing Pearsons Cakes for many years. They are always delicious. The filling that one reviewer is referring to could have been the tasty custard that they put in the middle of the cake as a bonus treat that holds the wonderful, layers together which adheres to the whipped cream icing. Try it for yourself. These cakes are delicious. Yes, the building is old but so is Homewood! Old is not necessarily bad.

Despite its appearance, Pearson’s is an old fashioned gem out here in the suburbs. Sadly most people have forgotten about this part of Dixie Rd. and head to Orland. The cakes and cookies are fantastic, and I always make sure to get their paczki this time of year!

My mother in law purchased a quarter sheet cake for my and my son’s birthday. The cake was supposed to have the Superman symbol on it. Instead, the cake was decorated with yellow and peach roses, two plastic trees, and a plastic Superman. The cake looked to me like they had decorated the cake for someone else or had made the cake as a generic store cake for a last minute shopper who had not pre-​ordered a cake and at the last minute threw on a Superman toy. and the plastic trees. They completely ignored the order instructions for the design, which said Superman Symbol. Also, the cake was thinly iced on the sides and you could see the underlying cake. I felt bad for my mother in law because she spent $ 40 for a cake that was an average tasting cake that was improperly decorated. The Superman insignia is not difficult to draw, and roses and trees have absolutely nothing to do with Superman.

This is my go-​to place for baked goods when I am in Homewood. Be sure to order ahead if you want Swedish Limpa bread and Cardamom Coffee Cake. His Swedish Rye bread is also excellent. I like the Cinnamon bread too. If you like traditional danish style pastries, donuts and coffee cake, give them a try.

Ordered a birthday chocolate cake with whipped crème and banana filing. I asked for roses and balloons. I phoned my order and spoke to the baker himself and assured me he would put roses and balloons on it. The cake looked mediocre at best, only a few roses, no balloons. Ugly colors. I shall get my cake elsewhere.

I second what the other reviewer said about the building and atmosphere. To top off the 1950’s feel they also do not accept credit cards. I was informed that there was an ATM «up the road.» To which I replied «by then I’m ½ way to another bakery!» Save yourself the time and trouble and go to one of the many other bakeries in the area that are not stuck in some 1950’s time warp. Never did get to try any of their baked goods, but they did not look good enough to make a trip to the ATM for.

I’ve been coming here for years and EVERYTHING is fantastic! I grew up in Chicago Heights and used to visit that location back in the day. The items I’ve gotten on a somewhat regular basis are all fantastic – great taste and fresh – danishes doughnuts, coffee cakes, bundt cakes. I love their frosted finger cookies – my favorite! I’ve gotten a few cakes here as well in the past and never disappointed. Yes the place is old as the previous reviewer states – but the business is very old, and well, so what? The baked goods are very very good and priced very well – isn’t that what matters? Oh in the summer they will sometimes make garlic bread – and it is the best I’ve ever had – better than any of the fresh stuff at grocery stores. I look forward to getting some of that soon!

I thought that a bakery that had been in business for 50+ years must be pretty good… until I walked into this place. A dump. Clean, but clearly a dump. No updating since the early 60’s. Forgiveable. I bought a dozen sweet rolls. Mediocre at best. Forgiveable. I thought maybe they have really great cakes, so I ordered a birthday cake for an upcoming family birthday. Simple order, an 8″ round chocolate layer cake with white buttercream frosting and coconut. When I went to pick it up, the lady showed it to me and the coconut was yellow. IT really looked awful next to the pure white frosting. She immediately commented that the coconut was fresh and didn’t know why it was yellow, but the baker was going to call and find out why. So I paid $ 25.00 for my cake. Later that day when I served it, there was this weird yellow colored gel-​like stuff in the middle, which I did not ask for. I just wanted white frosting with coconut. I still don’t know what it was. It didn’t taste bad. It had coconut in it. The chocolate cake was very fresh and very good. The buttercream frosting was good. Not very sweet, but good. The filling in the middle was just weird, but not bad. I probably will not go there again. If you do order a cake from them, be VERY specific about what you want. They have a website, but it’s pretty useless. If you want a good cake, go to Weber’s. If you want good sweetrolls, go to Iverson’s.