Dolly's Donuts — Restaurant in Sydney

This review comes after 3 visits over 18 months and I think it's a fair assessment.

THE COFFEE is disappointing. It's on par with Donut King, McDonald's or Coffee Club. Considering they're in Glenbrook where so many great cafes do fabulous coffee (especially Kickaboom, Vincent & Underground) I thought they'd have a better coffee game.

*DONT EAT IN. The booths are insanely uncomfortable, I don't know how they got the measurements so wrong. The seats are so low that the average person would struggle to comfortably rest their hands on the table. (I heard another customer ask for a cushion or even a phone book so she could reach the table. They couldn't provide for her so she left). ATMOSPHERE: the decor is charmless & reminiscent of a budget highway road stop restaurant. It's got a cold and unwelcoming sparsness. After my first visit, subsequent visits were for takeaway as I couldn't stand the feel of the place. This isn't helped by the unenthusiastic and patchy customer service.

THE DONUTS. The kitchen team are ambitious. You can see from the beautiful look of the donuts and the everchanging menu that they want to create incredible stuff. But they don't. I feel they have aspirations of Grumpy, Shortstop & Daniel's but they're not at that level. The donuts are overthought and underdelivered. Too many ideas & not enough curating. And the pricing is ludicrous.

I hope the able and willing kitchen team rise to their aspirations. They've got it in them. I'd love to see FOH and coffee improve their standards. And management need to put some love into the whole shebang.

TLDR: if atmosphere and comfort don't bother you, and your only Donut experience comes from Krispy Kreme or Donut King, you will probably be satisfied with Dolly's, even if your...

(3.5 stars) Dolly’s Donuts is a stylish operation. The business name is a tribute to the Red Cross volunteers known as the “Donut Dollies“ who served doughnuts and coffee to the troops in Vietnam to boost morale. And a stop here is definitely a morale booster. Once you drag your eyes away from the glass cabinet that holds exemplars of the 14 doughnuts on offer, you’ll notice stylish seating options like padded pink booths and a cool roller banquette. There are also two coffee bars with high stools if you’re eating on the run.

A line-art mural depicting the interaction that gave the store its name—a woman providing comfort in the form of hot, golden dough rings—gives me a hankering to try the old-fashioned, Dolly’s Hot Donuts ($3/each). The resulting cinnamon sugar-dusted batter doughnuts are good but I found the ratio of sugar to cinnamon a bit high. You can also eat the hot doughnuts dusted in vanilla bean sugar. Be warned: these are super messy for very little vanilla reward.

From the fancier doughnut range, which includes one vegan option, Basque burnt cheesecake ($8) was the flavour that spoke loudest to me. Arriving on a paper-lined tray with disposable cutlery, it looked deceptively simple (rather like the cheesecake it is inspired by). Inside the surprisingly light, yeast-raised doughnut there‘s a thick, vaguely cheesy filling with notes of caramelisation. It was enjoyable but again, very sweet. With coffee also on offer, I’d mark down Dolly’s Donuts as a refuelling stop to power you up and over the Blue Mountains on...

Hands down the best donuts in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. You don’t have to drive to Sydney or Berry to find quality donuts any longer. Firstly, the donuts…. I think the selection of flavours is actually quite large considering the time that is so obviously given to the creation of a each donut. From the dough, to the consistent and meticulous finish of each desert is a pure art form. If you are an appreciator of food that is made with passion and professionalism, you will think the prices at Dolly’s are more than reasonable. If the Artisanal donuts aren’t your thang and you prefer the simple life, there are fresh, HOT, cinnamon donuts available all day for $2 each or 6 for $10. Secondly, the coffee, drinks and gelato… Glenbrook is known for its boutique cafes and passion for good coffee. Dolly’s is no different! Coffee for the big kids and a gorgeous array of icy cold milkshakes for the little kids. Everyone is happy here! The gelato speaks for itself. Made on-site every day makes it fresh and oh-so-satisfying to any ice cream or gelato lover! And last but not least, the space… With a thoughtful and elegant design, this space elevates your experience immediately. From the friendly staff, to the outstanding interior design to the gorgeous wall art, you are left mesmerised while enjoying your choices from the simple yet amazing menu.

I could write all day but you HAVE to try this one for yourself. My advice would be to take a friend or two so you can share. But if you don’t eat all the things yourself…I don’t...