Parlor Doughnuts in Lakeland, FL -- Come for the doughnuts, stay because you've made a new friend…read more
My husband and I walked into Parlor Doughnuts around 10:30 in the morning with absolutely NO idea what kind of doughnut we wanted. None. Zero. We stood there studying the menu like it was a major life decision.
Thankfully, there wasn't a line behind us, because we probably took a good 10 minutes trying to figure out our doughnut destiny. And the wonderful woman working the counter was SO patient, friendly and helpful. Honestly, she didn't just help us choose doughnuts -- she probably could have helped us figure out our lives, too.
And if she ever decides to get into real estate, I'm telling you now -- this gal could sell some houses! She was that engaging and personable.
We told her what we liked, and she worked with us. I love peanut butter, and she told me she had a little bit left, so she made me a fresh doughnut with it. It was absolutely delicious. My husband likes very plain doughnuts, so she made him a "Plain Jane" and even offered to add a little sugar or honey. He politely declined because apparently he wants his doughnut to be as plain as humanly possible.
We also grabbed a few of their smaller doughnuts, which were only 65¢ each. Everything was incredibly fresh, and there were probably a dozen or so varieties available that morning. Some had already sold out, but here's the cool part: if they have the ingredients, they'll work with you and make what they can. Especially on a slower morning, it felt like such a personal experience.
The doughnuts were so fresh that my pictures honestly don't do them justice.
The shop itself is also really nice. There's parking around downtown if you look for the free spots, music playing overhead (hello, 60s! ), plenty of tables, couches and comfortable spaces. It would be a great little place to sit and work, too. And the air-conditioning was PERFECT -- not freezing, not roasting. Just right.
So if you're in Lakeland, come support this local doughnut shop. The doughnuts are fresh, the people are wonderful, and you might even walk out with a new favorite doughnut... or a new real estate agent.
Parlor Doughnuts -- definitely worth a stop!