Parlor Doughnuts — Restaurant in Nocatee

I'm not one for writing negative reviews. Just look at other reviews I give and you will see. But feel like this is worth mentioning because this has happened on three occasions now. I won't really discuss the food, I don't take issue with that whatsoever. But what I don't appreciate is how you're treated if you come in between 3pm-4pm (which is the hour before they close). Right when you enter you see an empty case, or a very, very, sparse case. They say hello and let you know that they only have "X" donuts left and we can make some to order if you like, as long as they aren't creme filled. I've been to this location a few times during this timeframe and sometimes they already have the chairs on the tables, they're mopping the floor, and it's VERY apparent they are closing and you are stopping them from doing that. So my beef is this:

Just close at 3pm then. If you're open - you're open. You offer everything on the menu, and the experience shouldn't be affected if I'm there the last hour. I don't show up at McDonald's 30 minutes before closing and get told, "sorry the grill is shut down, we only have chicken nuggets and fries." So why is that a thing for this place? No other business decreases the service level an hour before closing. The customer should be treated the same at opening as they are 30 minutes before closing. If it's a labor issue, send everyone home but the closer at 4pm. If it's a waste issue, fine, but the staff can hold off on cleanup until 4pm, and treat people like paying customers - not an interruption to them getting home. This last time, I was there with 3 different customers, and you could see on everyone's face that the experience was awkward and you didn't really feel welcome because you were basically in the way of them cleaning and closing. On one occasion I was handed a box of donuts with frosting ALL over the outside, and it was all sticky. Like they rushed to just get my donuts done to get me out the door.

So I'd say the food is certainly good. One of my favorite donuts for sure. But the way the customer experience is between 3pm and 4pm is not a great look. Skip it during that hour for sure. I know I won't be back if it falls in that window. You're either 100% open for business or your not. The customer shouldn't feel like they're an interruption to the cleanup for closing. Just my opinion, take it for...

Amazing 'looking' pastries, but looks far better than reality, in my opinion. I ordered a couple of the keto donuts, one of the regular maple pecan donuts, and a "house roast" coffee.

Coffee - The so-called "house roast" coffee isn't. The staffer in front said it's roasted in the back, but you can see there's no roaster back there or lingering smell of a previous roast. So they corrected the statement to say its roasted by another company elsewhere that is owned by the same guy. Maybe... but if so, it's still months old and has minimal flavor or aroma. If you are used to Folgers, it's good. If you want coffeehouse coffee, not so much.

Keto donuts - Not in front and only topped when ordered. So I expected something far better than I got. It was fridge temp. These are baked in a donut shaped pan, not fried, and cold and rather soggy. Even an hour later, the maple glaze was still wet to the touch. They almost fell apart on contact. I thought it might be better heated up, but 10 seconds later, it really fell apart. My expectations were at least partially to blame here, but I do think there is much room for improvement.

Maple pecan donut - The better of anything, but still have nothing in common with what I think of as a donut, fluffy but yet cakey and slightly dense. These are huge but have big pockets of air, essentially over-raised fried balls of roll dough, then rolled in sugar and covered with a tasty but very sweet frosting. No real bread or cake flavor. If you are looking for a way to deliver very tasty sugar, this is your vehicle. Your mileage may vary.

My product preferences aside, give them a try. Not everyone wants or expects the same thing.

Credit where it's due, they have a bright, attractive and inviting store, very clean, and very friendly and accommodating eager staff, even if a little under-trained. This is a place where I would meet a friend, though I'd have to try...

Stop by after seeing a billboard on i-95. Have to say the thing of layered Donuts intrigued me so I had to stop to check it out. The donut case looks amazing plenty of options but don't expect to see your regular donut with a hole here at least in my visit I did not see them. But they were plenty of flavors. Peach cobbler, churro, chocolate chocolate chocolate the names go on and on and all look delicious.. these are not the kind of donuts that you grabbed out of the box and eat with a coffee these are strictly fork and knife kind of donuts. I also ordered a breakfast sandwich. Starting with the donuts these are not made with the normal donut dough that everybody is accustomed to but regardless they taste really good. The Churo doughnut was amazing and the blueberry lemon cheesecake that apparently is only a seasonal or special donut was even better.

Now the sandwich was made with their own bread I'm guessing made in house but it was completely unflavored and really greasy. The bacon really tasted like frozen bacon that was thrown into the microwave for a couple of seconds the eggs were the only thing that were made fresh but everything put together was completely tasteless with a massive amount of grease.

The girl that took my order named Caitlin felt like she didn't want to be there completely unattached nice but as soon as she took my order she completely just walked away even though that the location was empty at the time no interaction with me the customer even asking her questions were straight to the point with no other comments. Caitlin was there but her mind was somewhere else.

I will come again if I'm in the area just for the donuts but...