With a small inventory of goods but creativity by the boatload, the brothers behind Sweet Honeybee Bakery prefer to keep their storefront operation slight. The real show is in the books, with dozens of examples showing off the small bakery's impressive repertoire.

With a comprehensive list of classics—chocolate, yellow, carrot, German Chocolate or black forest cakes, among others—Sweet Honeybee Bakery covers all the baked goods bases and then some. Special orders, both for flavors and decorations, are clearly the brothers' forte. From a haunted mansion hewed out of spongy chocolate and buttercream frosting to an elaborate, lily-adorned wedding cake with multiple tiers, no request seems too big, small or difficult for the bakery's talent.

But while the palatial cakes in the window tell one story, the fuss-free interior tells another. The bakery is somewhat bare-bones inside, with the absolute minimum in seating and rather slim pickings from the menu: cookies, eclairs, cupcakes, small tarts and cannolis are the staples of the lineup, and brewed coffee and soda round out the set of choices.

Although the inside doesn't offer much to sit and linger over, the options that are available prove that Sweet Honeybee isn't just a one-trick pony. The five varieties of cookies, plus whatever decorated shortbread cutout is on display, are nearly irresistible with a better-than-homemade flavor. The cupcakes are manageable and tasty, and an excellent choice if you want to see and taste of preview of what they can do for a full-sized cake. A few dipped fruits are sprinkled in with some small cakes and tarts ready to be carried out.

The regular items range from fifty cents for a cookie to $15.95 for a 6-inch three-layer cake, with prices trending upward the bigger, fancier and more customized you want your dessert. If you plan on ordering a cake or even picking up a dozen or two cookies for the office, at least 24-hour advance notice is required.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kim Bellware