This is exactly the kind of place you want to find when traveling. On the outside it looks like a cinder block donut takeout (though the signs are pretty amazing) but step inside and it reveals a classic diner, serving breakfast! Decent breakfast, too, with good potatoes and prices that are stuck in the time, several decades ago, when they thought it was a good idea to brick over these beautiful old diners. I wonder what it looked like originally? The tag of the manufacturer is above the door on the inside. One side is donut shop and the other is diner, with a great corner booth under a giant donut photo. Good train car bathrooms, too. A long counter runs the length of the place. Sandusky is a tourist town, but this place is full of regulars. It's kind of a secret spot, hidden in plain sight. read more

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My 9 year claims "Best eggs ever!" (I'm a little insulted but what can you do?) Every single time I treat my kids here they love the food and atmosphere. Service is great and they move as quick as possible. Keep in mind this is a small diner with limited capacity so if they're booming you won't be in and out quickly, BUT you will enjoy your entire time here! read more

Old school but a little too old school. Could use some new dishes and a power washing. All in all, it's a fine establishment. Food was good at a reasonable price. read more

Ok this place gets a 1 star only because Yelp doesn't allow 0. I went there with a group of 3 children and 4 adults (all well behaved). When we got there we waited for about 10 minutes before on waitress said (while not making eye contact) well that's all we have" after it took 10 minutes to clean a table off that had 2 coffee cups 1 plate and a napkin. Meanwhile, there was still no "good morning" or "welcome to NOT so Jolly Donuts". We decided to sit at the counter, and still nothing for another few minutes. Sadly, we kind of got the feeling that they didn't like black people, their jobs or possibly both. Very unwelcoming, especially for a place that didn't look the cleanest. Run far away... possible to The Bates Farm Kitchen. Only 2 miles away :-) -best wishes read more

Great place for breakfast. We got tired of the mayhem of the free breakfast bar at our hotel and decided to venture out - and we're glad we did! Staff is super friendly, breakfast is good and affordable and the donuts are awesome! read more

We stopped by here on a trip to Castaway Bay this past weekend. First time in OH for the fam. It definitely has that "old school" presence about it. Reminded me of donut shops when I was a kid, where people just bellied up to the counter for a coffee and a donut. The ladies working were delightful. It was my son's birthday, and they brought him out a birthday donut. He's still talking about it days later. And the donuts? Good lord, the donuts. They are amazing. I'm from the Chicago burbs, and I can honestly say, they are better than anything I've sampled in the greater Chicago area. Yes, even Harner's, if you're from the Aurora, IL area. Which is akin to sacrilege in the donut world. If you're in Sandusky, stop by. You won't regret it. Great atmosphere, great service. And absolutely amazing donuts. read more

Only ordered the donuts, but saw the breakfast menu while I was there and not only is it very inexpensive, but looked yummy! As for the donuts, they were awesome! The long johns were filled with more cream than Peter North! The fifth star was added because the service was extremely efficient and very friendly. I'll eat breakfast here next time I'm in Sandusky. read more

Traveling with family back from Cedar Point Used Yelp to find this place, the food was good but extremely slow service. Half of our group ordered French toast and we were told that our service had taken an hour because we ordered French toast. This is a breakfast place, it should not take that long for French toast, pancakes, and waffles. The donuts were amazing, but I would not be back. When my husband asked the waitress about our food because others that had come in after us had been served 1st, she became irritated and her customer service skills went down the toilet. read more

Come for the basic breakfast, stay for the donuts. The coffee was strong and quickly refilled. Once the donuts are gone, they're GONE, so come early and often. I tried a chocolate iced raised donut, and it was heavenly. We came later, so the options were a bit limited. I also enjoyed a half order of biscuits and gravy, which needed just a touch of hot sauce, but was otherwise delicious. Better than other options in the area (Perkins & McDonalds) for sure! read more

The donuts were so fresh and so good. We got here at 8:30 am and it opens at 6 am. The donuts were almost sold out. I also shared the stuff pancakes with my daughter. Hey were good, not as good as the donuts though. Server was friendly, I say that because, often in tourist restaurants, they are not. Prices were very good. read more

Jolly Donut - Donuts Near Me - Sandusky, Ohio

Food is decent but lots of staff are kinda surly and sullen. Unhappy doesn't fully describe. Being a donut shop, I get that they run out fast. I got biscuits and gravy clearly from a can and nuked. My friend got a single egg, which wasn't cooked all the way. read more

The donuts had to be the best I have ever had. Wow. Coffee is great. I like to old diner style good cheap food before I'm off to Kalahari to blow threw needless amounts of money... read more

Jolly Donut - Yum. - Donuts Near Me - Sandusky, Ohio

If you love fried food and fresh fish, this is the place for you!! Everything was delicious. The hushpuppies, perch and chips, even the cole slaw was excellent. You will leave full and satisfied!! read more

Jolly Donut wasn't so jolly. My sister and I stopped here on our way out of Sandusky to get a quick breakfast. Unfortunately it wasn't quick. We walked in and no one had greeted us. We found empty stools at the bar and sat down. We were then greeted by our waitress that asked what we would like to drink. We got 2 coffees. And then she asked us what we were eating and let us know the food would take 30 minuets. Which we weren't thrilled about but we were already there. We were never given a menu so we weren't ready to order food right away. She gave us the menu and went on to another guest. We briefly looked over the menu and were ready to order but she didn't come back. We sat for at least five minutes before another waitress walked past and asked us if our order was taken and said she'd grab our waitress. We then ordered and then waited for FOURTY MINUTES. One lady which I'm assuming is the manager or the lead asked if we'd like a donut on the house for the wait. We both chose red velvet on a guess that they may have it. It was an alright donut. Nothing I would be just dying to come back to. Finally 5-10 minuets later our food came out. My sister ordered the corned beef hash which looked like it was Hormel or some off brand canned corned beef. The eggs were cooked just the way she likes. But 45 some odd minutes to heat up the corned beef and fry 2 eggs!? I ordered the western omelette. Which was a simple omelette to make. I don't see how those 2 items could have taken as long as they did. There were at least two guys working the kitchen. They don't have any complicated items on the menu. The free donuts make up a star because they tried to diffuse the situation. But it was just ridiculous. If you're looking for fast I would would find another place. If you're looking for fresh and delicious food I would also find another place. Just a sub par place that takes way to long to get your food out. I also have to say it wasn't over crowded either. read more

I'm a fan, those donuts couldn't be any fresher. If you want your kids to experience a little bit of history, this is a place right out of the 50's. The service was ok, the food was what you'd expect for a small diner - the donuts were exceptional and I'd come back just for that. We were able to get a seat when we walked in on a Thursday am, no problem, but it's pretty tight! read more

Jolly Donut - Super cute place inside! Old timers and tourists alike. - Donuts Near Me - Sandusky, Ohio

Good donuts but like the other reviews have said, for the best selection, get here EARLY! There's still good ones left after 10:00 but it's gonna be your basic fare. Get here early enough to try the snickers donut and it'll change your life. Good breakfast too. For service, I'd try to get one of the older ladies. They really bust it out so tip them accordingly. Sadly, the younger ones just aren't as thorough. read more

This place was across the street from the HOJO I stayed at. I ran here on the mornings I woke up in Ohio to get some coffee. I don't remember if I had any donuts so I can't give a fair rating on the donuts, it just gets three stars for having some coffee at the ready for a desperate caffeine addict. read more

They had many tasty options left at 11:00. We tried snickers, Dutch crumb, caramel crunch, jelly, cream-filled, glazed, and more. They were all delicious. The coffee was standard. read more

Stopped for a quick breakfast. Kids grabbed a donut while waiting. Good service and excellent food

The breakfast was pretty good and the prices are very low. The Jolly Donut is right outside of Cedar Point and is a great spot for a cheap breakfast before going into the park! And the donuts are great! read more

The food is okay, but if you want something real good, the chocolate milk is the best compared to any other chocolate milks I've had.

The doughnuts are a MUST. so yummy! And I am not a doughnut or dessert person. The food was good. The steak French fries are delish!!! Loved how it's a local diner and locals come in all the time. A must stop when in Sandusky....plus very cheap!!!!! read more

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1 Star: Price (pass) for six doughnuts plus cappuccino and a bear claw it was $9. Not bad considering the area is close enough to Cedar Point that they could have jacked things up. 1 Star: Customer service (fail) Sorry but the hours you work are not my fault. I came for the food, not to hear you complain about your employer! 1 Star: Food (BIG FAIL) I've had doughnuts that were a week old that tastes better. Save your money and eat some stale bread. It will taste better than these, scouts honor. 1 Star: Drinks (fail) If you like colored water instead of cappuccino, this place is for you. 1 Star: Ambiance (pass) the Location is super small but has a quaint diner feel. read more

This place is great. My fiancee and I have been going here for years and we are (almost) never disappointed. The best pace to get breakfast in Sandusky, in my opinion. The food is typical diner food done right. We usually get some variation of eggs, bacon, toast, and pancakes. The eggs are always spot on (hard to find places that do this), and the service is always quick. The donuts are good, too! The prices are very affordable, as well, especially when you are comparing them to the other local breakfast places (Bob Evan's, for example, is way too expensive for what you get). However, what really won me over was the following experience: One time, we ordered a meal that came with a side of bacon that we did not receive (we ordered it as carry-out). Mistakes happen, so we just let it slide. Well, the next time I ordered from them, I mentioned this. The lady not only refunded me the difference off of my current order, but she personally double-checked to make sure I received the correct order this time (she even gave me a few extra slices of bacon to make up for it :) ). Oh, and the best part... they are open until 2pm everyday! No other place that I know of serves breakfast that late. I would recommend Jolly Donut to anyone looking for a solid breakfast in Sandusky. read more

A favorite place to go whenever traveling through Sandusky, I am always sure to treat myself to the food and donuts at the Jolly Donut. The staff is very friendly and the food is excellent, especially for the price! Cya next year read more

This "diner" is the real deal! Great food, excellent coffe and fabulous service! Their donuts aren't too bad either! Busy every time we go!!! I requested a grill cheese, fried bologna sandwich which wasn't on the menu and they gladly made it to order!!! Great job!! read more

Wish I could give zero stars! Went in for breakfast while visiting cedar point. My family and I walk in and not one word to greet us! My husband even went to the counter to ask if we seat ourselves, completely ignored!!!!!!! I honestly believe it was because we are an interracial family with biracial kids. They seemed to fully attentive to the other patrons. All money is green! Unluckily for the server we tip quite well. Steer clear if you're not white! Horrible service!!!!! I will never be back and I suggest you shouldn't either! Now, we're sitting at Diana's Diner across the street where we were warmly greeted and felt welcomed! read more

This is a must stop when we are in the Sandusky area. Old time dinner feel with GREAT food and great staff! Don't forget to get some donuts on your way out! read more

Unreal. If you want to experience a bit of nostalgia visit Jolly Donut. A really cool atmosphere that other restaurants have tried to capture but yet fail in an ever-changing world. Took my three kids ages 9, 6, and 3 while visiting Cedar Point. The ambience, quality of the food, and service were awesome. But when you get the bill be ready to feel as if you have truly set your watch back 50 years. Wouldn't go to Sandusky unless I could visit Jolly Donut! read more

The only thing holding this place back from a 5 star is the atmosphere and wait staff friendliness. My family and I were in town for a dance competition my daughters were in. There weren't many breakfast options so we figured we'd give it a go. When we walked in the door it was like in the movies where the music stops and everyone turned to look at us. Needless to say we were having second thoughts on if we had made the right choice. Lucky for us, once we tasted the food, all of our trepidation went away. The donuts were outstanding, as was the rest of the food. Carry out for the donuts is probably your best option, but if you can look past the atmosphere, it's a real solid breakfast spot. read more

Don't go here unless u just want a donut and a cup of coffee (great if ur looking for diabetes). Went for breakfast and omellette had a whole slice of American cheese over the top, potatoes could be ordered on side but waitress didn't ask us and we assumed they came with it. I asked for chili on my omelette and they brought me some on the side which was super watery. Seats were duct taped up. Service slow, then found a short and curly at the end of my omellette Buckets are available for 1.50 on ur way out if u need to puke. read more

On a family trip to cedar point and kalahari, we decided to try breakfast at jolly donut. Love the retro atmosphere. It's an old diner. The donuts are good and the coffee is #awesomesauce like for real. And it's great for selfies like lol omg cool. read more

This is the closest thing to a short order breakfast joint in Sandusky, with the best part being able to take a Bakers Doz for the road for $6!!! read more

We used to go all the time with the kids and there were some nice waitresses. The staff there now is EXTREMELY rude. The ladies are the exact opposite of jolly. My husband needed a refill and our waitress never came back, so he took his glass up to the bar to ask. The waitress told him "no, there's other people here who haven't had anything to drink yet!" Umm...seriously? I ordered a donut from my waitress and she told me to go up to the counter and get it myself. Terrible service. I hope they fire the staff and hire some nicer people, otherwise I can't see why anyone would come back. read more

Great old fashioned breakfast joint. Good food at a reasonable price. Close to Castaway Bay and much cheaper/better than their breakfast buffet. Highly recommend! read more

Typical donut joint. Not a very big selection for donuts but the ones we got were good.

This place is very unwelcoming. I see what waitress the rest of the people that gave bad reviews are talking about. The owner/ manager should fire her. We walked in and literally turned around and walked back out. I only gave one star and that is because I have to. Hole in the wall place, pretty sure this business will not be open much longer. Management should hire happier people to work there, we the consumers are what's keeping those doors open. Horrible place. read more

Jolly Donut, YOU know your restrooms are unacceptable. Why won't you clean them? Your restaurant has much potential but besides the dirty restrooms it is clear cleanliness is not a priority which is not good for a food establishment. read more

Dirty, not very friendly staff and for a place called jolly donut, there sure aren't very many donuts. We won't be back.

Delicious cherry cake donuts (my husband and I are a bit of connoisseurs when it comes to cherry donuts). Service was fast, donuts were delicious, coffee fresh and hot, bellies full, we are satisfied! read more