2 weeks Ago
COLUMBIA — On Sept. 17, Dulce Bakery and Cafe , which will offer coffee, baked goods and lunch items with a Latin twist, opened its doors in Columbia's Vista . Occupying the lot on 1213 Lincoln St.
, which previously hosted bakery Cupcake DownSouth , Dulce will have breakfast and lunch hours during the week, as well as hours until 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Its owners, Iris Perea and Sharisa Boyle, were previously at the helm of Cake Collection Boutique , which closed its doors in December 2023. Now, Boyle said, the mother-daughter duo is ready for the "next chapter" in their baking career. "We still wanted to offer our great, made-from-scratch desserts, but we also wanted to offer lunch options, and somewhere where you can get a more balanced meal," Boyle said.
"We're excited to provide that kind of environment and atmosphere." 'Not an easy decision:' Columbia's annual Gervais Street Bridge Dinner canceled Perea and Boye, who identify as Puerto Rican, named the eatery after the Spanish word for "sweet" — and for the caramel spread, dulce de leche, they grew up eating. While their previous bakery specialized in custom cakes and 12 cupcake varietals, Dulce will offer both sweet and savory bites over the course of their daytime and nighttime hours.
"We want to attract more people," said Boyle. "Not everybody wants something sweet, but they want a killer sandwich that we offer." Among Dulce's menu of baked goods are a lemon-blueberry coffee cake, red velvet cupcakes, white-chocolate-cranberry cookies and gluten-free "tropical" carrot cake with coconut and pineapple.
As morning turns into afternoon, guests can also snack on Cubano and Italian sandwiches — as well as Cuban-style coffee, or Cafecito, with whisked-in sugar and a surge of caffeine, available all day. "It's a true coffee experience for actual coffee connoisseurs," said Boyle. "It's not just for Starbucks people.
" With the addition of Latin-inspired menu items, late hours and an interior with an "elegant vibe," Boyle and the Dulce team hope to transport guests to a Miami bakery as soon as they walk through the shop's doors. Music lounge reopens on St. Andrews Road with new menu, event lineup "I think it makes you feel like you're not necessarily in Columbia," Boyle said.
"We're excited to make people feel like they're somewhere special and provide them with delicious food." Boyle and Perea are looking forward to expanding their offerings in the near future. They hope to add more soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as a lineup of dessert cocktails for their evening "Dessert Bar" menu.
"This is going to be a place that attracts, a student who just wants to study, have some coffee, lunch or breakfast, but also get some work done," Boyle said. "It'll attract businesspeople, but it'll also attract a couple that's going out for a date and just want something sweet at night." Those interested in following Dulce Bakery & Cafe's growth can refer to their Facebook page for updates , or attend their ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept.
17 at 11 a.m ..
