Review of SweetTree Patisserie in Lakenham Norwich 2023

In a recent column about Norfolk’s hidden foodie gems, Zena, who blogs as Love Norwich Food, raved about SweetTree Patisserie in Lakenham. 

“I’m a fan that probably mentions it too much,” she said. “I’ve become friends with the owner, Magda, who’s from Poland and I’m such a regular that I’ve even been trained to use the coffee machine, so that if she has a rush while I’m there I can step in.” 

And the reason Zena is such a fangirl? If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is the place for you.  

It’s absolute dessert heaven.  

Talented Magda Pawelec makes all her cakes fresh on site, with always a minimum of a dozen, up to 18, on the counter – Zena’s top recommendation is the chocolate fudge cake.

There are gluten free and vegan options on offer and there’s an incredible assortment of other sweet treats on the menu too – including crepes, pavlovas, sundaes, waffles, Eton mess, smoothies and milkshakes.  

And they’re available to take away – or have delivered – in the evenings as well. 

Tucked away in a parade of shops just after the old railway bridge in Hall Road, you could be forgiven for not knowing it was there. 

So, one very chilly January day I engaged a friend to join me on what I was with characteristic hyperbole calling ‘an important journalistic research mission’ and we headed over there for lunch to check it out. 

There was another table occupied when we arrived and a number of customers, who are obviously regulars, popped in to buy slices of cake to take away. 

It’s table service – you pick up a menu on your way in and take a seat. 

It may be a small place – there are a handful of tables for eating in, plus a garden which opens during the warmer months - but the menu is big. 

Even starting at what we thought would be the easiest decision – drinks – required more deliberation than usual. 

Coffees start from £2.50 for an espresso up to £4.30 for a white mocha. 

Then there’s Italian hot chocolate – which comes in milk, white and ruby varieties (£4) and a good selection of teas. 

Cold drink options include Cawston Press cans (£2.50), Folkington’s juices (£2.85) and freshly blended smoothies (£3.95) – I loved the sound of the mango papaya and pineapple.  

And the milkshake menu (£3.95) is seemingly never ending – with flavours ranging from banana and strawberry to Kinder Bueno, Malteasers and peanut butter. 

As we needed to warm up, a hot drink was the order of the day. I went for a decaf cappuccino (£3.30) and my friend chose a chai latte (£3.50) - we discovered, because we were lunching there, refills were free. 

While it was hugely tempting to have a solely sugar-based lunch, especially having had a preliminary glance at the cakes displayed temptingly on the counter and in the window on our way in, we decided to have a savoury course as well. 

Ciabattas, which come with Kettle Chips on the side, are £6.95, with fillings including chicken, mayo, greens, avocado and cheese and hummus, rocket, sundried tomato and pumpkin seeds. 

There’s also a homemade soup of the day (£5.95), and a selection of quiches and tarts, again baked by Magda, which come served with greens (£6.95).  

And there are three salad options (£6.50): Mediterranean, Greek and Italian, which all come served with ciabatta. 

But we were both drawn to the savoury crepe menu.  

Crepes are one of those things that are so simple yet, done right, so delicious.  

Every Pancake Day I always promise myself I’ll make them more often – I never get around to it.

My friend went for the red onion, chutney, goats' cheese and spinach variety, while I chose basil pesto, sun dried tomato and double mozzarella.  

The crepes come in two sizes – 9ins (£6.95) and 12ins (£7.95) – yes, of course, we did go for the bigger one. 

They arrived generously filled, perfectly slightly crisped on the outside, and soft and fluffy inside in a way that I can never get them at home. 

The bright colour and crunch of a mixed leaf and tomato salad ensured the dish was a visual, as well as a flavourful, hit. 

We took a short break before turning our thoughts to dessert. 

Reading the menu, it feels like the only limit is your imagination – we could have chosen Black Forest crepes, Oreo sundaes, tiramisu Eton mess, homemade pavlova, retro banana splits, waffles drizzled with maple syrup, brownie jars, wafer ice cream bowls and much, much more.  

But we were really there for the cakes – and luckily Magda, who told us she started baking when she was 14, was on hand to talk us through the myriad options.  

There were so many that I lost count. They towered, glistened and gleamed with layer upon layer of sponges, fillings, ganaches and frostings.  

If you can dream it, Magda can probably bake it. 

From memory the awe-inspiring array included carrot cake, lemon drizzle, lemon meringue, Kit Kat cheesecake, Bakewell slice, Kinder cookie pie, salted caramel and chocolate cake, coffee and walnut and white chocolate Biscoff swirl cheesecake.  

Eventually my friend went for the multi-layered apple and custard shortbread cake - a slightly tart apple strata alternated with soft cake, topped with a layer of chilled custard.

She declared it imaginative and delicious.  

And I went for the Lotus Biscoff cake – I find that addictive combination of sweet and spiced impossible to resist.  

The triple layer cake, filled with crunchy Biscoff cream, was a work of art – the piping was beautiful and painstakingly done. 

It was almost – almost – a shame to eat it. 

Our only regret was that we didn’t take up the genius half-and-half offer, where for a few pennies more the indecisive can try two smaller slices, and experience the white chocolate and pistachio gateau too.  

Or, if we’re being honest, any one of the cakes crowding the counter. 

SweetTree Patisserie is at 5 St John’s Close, Lakenham, Norwich. It’s open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 11am-10pm (takeaway only after 4pm) and Sundays 4-10pm (dessert takeaway only). Desserts are also available for delivery via platforms including Deliveroo and Just Eat on Tuesday-Sunday evenings. Follow on Instagram @sweettreepatisserie 

It is a member of Love Norwich Food’s Love From Norwich pay it forward food donation scheme. To find out more visit lovenorwichfood.co.uk