Shipley Do-Nuts — Restaurant in Hoover

Excellent donut shop, I've reviewed another one in Pelham, AL called Donut Joe's and this is similar but quite bigger, these donut shops are pretty underlooked but popular when you get the chance to go here!

Atmosphere: You feel at home here, like it's inviting you to go inside, looks like your mom is cooking something good, maybe some Kolaches? Oh yeah that's one of the menu items and a great one too.

Food: The donuts just melt in your mouth but they are a bit too sweet for my liking, almost too sweet like a kid getting so excited after eating candy. The kolaches or should I say, like pig in a blanket type of food? Is the best thing on the menu that everybody should try for the first time or if they've been going here for years. For example, I got a sausage, egg and cheese, pepperoni, and ham and cheese.

Verdict: If you've been going to Dunkin, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, etc, this is a MUST-TRY in Hoover, AL, I guaranteed you...

It is a little intimidating getting into the store for the first time. The person at the register is ready for you to rattle of your order the moment you enter the door. I guess most customers are regulars that made their choices years ago and value fast service. I've been there several times but although I am clearly not a knowledgeable doughnut shopper, never got any kind of explanation or advice from the staff. Having that said, it is worthwhile getting over this awkward moment and the feeling of inferiority. Just take the plunge and order whatever comes to mind, they will tell you if its available or not. The peach fritter, even though I never really found peach inside, is heavenly and so rich and heavy that I cut it in slices and serve it as cake rather than a single serving. The doughnuts consist of a more substantial dough than big chain doughnuts making them less fluffy but so much richer and...

Another case of a food store, not having a popular menu item available! Shipley's has, in this guy's opinion, THE BEST, Apple Fritters in Birmingham! No question! However.....you might want to cook up a few extras everyday! I don't know why they don't, but I've even given up on calling ahead to reserve a couple. They do not mind you doing that. But, the last two times I called ahead...like, around 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon...THEY WERE ALREADY OUT OF THEM!! Look, I realize that it's tough to guage. But, to miss the mark that often...well, let's just say that that's is Business 101...the main thing that kills most small businesses...is not a lack of need in the community. It is this...."Bad...Management!" So, whatever formula you've been using to calculate and reach the number of Apple Fritters sold, on any given day....CHANGE IT! It is...