By Erica Blankenship
My first impression of Sugar & Spice Donut Shop was that it is very aptly named. The sugar comes from the sweet flavor and the spice comes from the eccentric variety of doughnuts.
Sugar & Spice Donut Shop is a small restaurant on Bardstown Road in Fern Valley, a location that is somewhat out of the way for University of Louisville students. However, the rest of the facets of the store more than make up for this extra travel.
Like many other college students, I’ve had my share of doughnuts, free or otherwise. Until now, no doughnut has rivaled the homemade ones from my hometown. But Sugar & Spice has quickly moved to the top of my list of doughnut-making locales. The selection is varied and different from the usual massive doughnut-making companies. Regular selections include long johns, chocolate and vanilla fritters, as well as powdered and glazed doughnuts. But the menu also extends to more exotic flavors, such as banana split, funky monkey and even a turtle sundae doughnut.
The chocolate cream doughnuts were delicious, filled with whipped cream rather than the usual yellow custard. The long johns were a plainer variety, but were also tasty and fluffy. Meanwhile, the glazed doughnuts were filling, while not being too overpowering or messy.
The more exotic flavors of doughnuts were also well received. According to a friend who tried it, the turtle sundae doughnut was the “grown-up” doughnut. It had a cream filling and chocolate topping with caramel and nuts. The saltiness of the nuts balanced out the sweetness of the chocolate and cream.
The banana split doughnut was topped with whipped cream, chocolate and nuts. However, my friends and I were unsure whether the filling was banana pudding or yellow custard.
The funky monkey doughnut combined the filling of the banana split doughnut with a topping of chocolate and peanut butter. According to a friend, it was “yummy and quite decadent.”
All of the doughnuts were light, avoiding the heavy doughy taste and overwhelmingly sweet flavor of other doughnuts. The size of the doughnuts was also compelling, leaving the eater feeling satisfied but not on a sugar high. In addition, the appearance was pretty and appealing, tempting any viewer to want to try them.
Sugar & Spice also offers coffee in a serve-yourself setting. Flavors include hazelnut, vanilla, raspberry, Irish cream and more. For me, the coffee was excellent, although it might be a bit too weak for some avid coffee drinkers. It provided me with a morning jolt without leaving me shaking for hours or shuddering at the taste.
The service was excellent. The two women who provided service were efficient, kind and helpful. The restaurant offered a small bar and a few tables for people to eat inside. However, it seemed to be more of a take-out restaurant.
All in all, I was extremely pleased with Sugar & Spice Donut Shop. The doughnuts were delicious, the service was good and, at only 70 cents a doughnut, the prices are pleasing. I will definitely return and I encourage others to try the Sugar & Spice Donut Shop.
