Donut shops, EVERYWHERE!

Billy86 · 21-10-2017 03:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

There was one at the bottom of Grafton st also. I never understood why they closed. Ireland's love for real coffee hadn't really taken off at that point so maybe that was part of it.

I also have a really vague memory of there being one in the Square in Tallaght when way back in the earl 90s, may well be wrong though. I would have thought the brand name and novelty of only 1-2 locations would have been enough in itself, especially with appeal to kids even from movies or TV shows etc when I was 5-6 I was well aware what Dunkin Donuts was.

21-10-2017 03:41PM

Billy86 wrote: »

I also have a really vague memory of there being one in the Square in Tallaght when way back in the earl 90s, may well be wrong though. I would have thought the brand name and novelty of only 1-2 locations would have been enough in itself, especially with appeal to kids even from movies or TV shows etc when I was 5-6 I was well aware what Dunkin Donuts was.

I think the key thing here was not the donuts (Boston Creme's were just gorgeous) - it was the lack of coffee sales.

With Grafton st rents you just wouldn't make it profitable by just selling donuts alone; you need the coffee sales to go with them; that's where the profit was and there just wasn't enough coffee aficionados around back then.

Also, the Celtic tiger hadn't taken off at that point. Going out for lunch was seen as a luxury in most offices at the time. people brought their lunches in with them (I know many still do but back then it was most people) and coffee was Nescafe or Maxwell house.

Sarn · 21-10-2017 04:52PM

DaveyDave wrote: »

There was a nice one in Arnotts that to be fair was the freshest I've had but it's gone, because we don't need donuts on every corner.

The ones in Arnott's were pop ups only. Aungier Danger followed by something else.

simonphoto · 21-10-2017 04:55PM

Yes popping up like wild fire. Just like Dunkin Donuts in the 90's. Give it a year and see how many are left. They'll be replaced by the next fad. Potato Smoothie shops is my guess

dr.fuzzenstein · 21-10-2017 05:40PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

What Ireland do you live in? People have long since moved outside that template. “Gourmet” donuts are just gussied up things that look a lot better than they taste. And having a discerning palette is what would help someone realise that.

You obviously never had a blueberry crumble in the Dunkin Donut shop in Rathgar. To that you average Irish ring or jam donut is like Waynetta Slob to Posh Spice. And sadly the shop went around the time that reference was relevant.

So yes, the Ireland I refer to was in the dark ages. All that fancy stuff is only around since the Noughties. Before that takeaway coffee at petrol stations was some Maxwell House in a Styrofoam cup. Lids hadn't been invented.

seachto7 · 21-10-2017 05:49PM

****e riddled with palm oil.

Permabear · 21-10-2017 05:52PM

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DoozerT6 · 21-10-2017 05:58PM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

I hope they do, I have fond memories of the lunch deals in the one on Grafton St back in the day. Remember the THICK doorstep bread they used for their sandwiches?

Permabear · 21-10-2017 06:11PM

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DaveyDave · 21-10-2017 11:32PM

Lots of Dunkin Donuts in Spain, really surprised someone isn't franchising one in Dublin.

The coffee is great though. Very popular in the states, the fact that many people swear on it Vs corporate Starbucks is surprising. I lived on it when in Orlando for two weeks.

Brought back a bag of the stuff to try, French Vanilla for the coffee press, amazing stuff. Their original blend is lovely too. Wish I knew people going to the US to get me more, I've had 6 bags of their coffee this year! Well over a month out of an $8 bag.

My ma used to work at the one in The Square, fond memories of her bringing back boxes of left over donuts as a kid

JupiterKid · 21-10-2017 11:36PM

I remember Dunkin‘ Donuts in Dublin. They came here around 1992 and pulled out about 1997. Ireland was just not ready for them at the time. As someone else opined, the coffee culture had yet to take off and having lunch in a cafe on a workday was a special treat, not the norm like it is now.

There would certainly be demand for Dunkin‘ Donuts now.

Realt Dearg Sec · 22-10-2017 01:04AM

DaveyDave wrote: »

many people swear on it Vs corporate Starbucks

As opposed to small independent Dunkin Donuts?

Pwindedd · 22-10-2017 01:30AM

Every now and then one of our clients sends in a few boxes of cronuts for the staff. Bun fight does not even begin to describe it. All sense of propriety goes out the window. Many a time I've had to make so with the scrapings of icing from the hastily emptied box. They're epic treats.

_Dara_ · 22-10-2017 03:27AM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

You obviously never had a blueberry crumble in the Dunkin Donut shop in Rathgar. To that you average Irish ring or jam donut is like Waynetta Slob to Posh Spice. And sadly the shop went around the time that reference was relevant.
So yes, the Ireland I refer to was in the dark ages. All that fancy stuff is only around since the Noughties. Before that takeaway coffee at petrol stations was some Maxwell House in a Styrofoam cup. Lids hadn't been invented.

I’ve had an Aungier Danger blueberry donut. Twas a disappointment. C’mon, blueberry hasn’t been a high falutin’ foodstuff in Ireland for a loooong time now. Blueberry muffins have been on these shores since the ‘90s. Nobody wonders at the blueberry. People might actually just, ya know, not really like them? Crazy, I know!

And sorry but a freshly-fried sugared ring donut is a thing of beauty and beats that Aungier Danger blueberry one I had any day. More simple doesn’t mean inferior. It’s actually easier to mask mediocrity the more ingredients there are. Simplicity has nowhere to hide.

I think Dunkin’ Donuts would do well though. Much more reasonable prices than the gourmet donut places and a more simple, classic product line.

Boom_Bap · 22-10-2017 11:44AM

My missus got me a vegan donut yesterday, it was delicious.
I. F*cking. Love. At. Least. One. Type. Of. Vegan. Donut.

....yes, it was from one of the new pop up shops

Peatys · 24-10-2017 08:08PM

Good news op

https://lovindublin.com/food/this-beloved-dublin-doughnut-company-is-closing-down-this-weekend

joe stodge · 25-10-2017 03:18PM

Peatys wrote: »

Good news op

https://lovindublin.com/food/this-beloved-dublin-doughnut-company-is-closing-down-this-weekend

The donut bubble had to burst sooner or later...

davo2001 · 25-10-2017 03:23PM

Does anyone know where to get a gluten free donut?

The missis is a coeliac and I know she'd love to get one!

Realt Dearg Sec · 25-10-2017 03:24PM

joe stodge wrote: »

The donut bubble had to burst sooner or later...

They've come full circle.

bot43 · 25-10-2017 03:26PM

Places in Dublin

Boom_Bap · 25-10-2017 03:46PM

davo2001 wrote: »

Does anyone know where to get a gluten free donut?

The missis is a coeliac and I know she'd love to get one!

Antoinette's Bakery looks to be the only place.

Mokuba · 25-10-2017 03:47PM

Most of these recent Irish places make a bad donut. It's more like a cake than anything. Not one fried option anywhere either. The majority also have the same cream based filling, but with different flavouring. About 10 things on or in them also, which is just pure muck. They also think bigger is better when it mostly isn't.

Simple and human sized does the trick.

If Krispy Kreme or Dunkin came in they would make a killing as they actually know what they are doing.

Off topic a little, but - As for the best tasting donut, this crowd in Philadelphia make the best donut you will ever have - https://www.beilersdoughnuts.com/menu.

Sabre0001 · 25-10-2017 03:48PM

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Antoinette's Bakery looks to be the only place.

Closed now, unfortunately.

Boom_Bap · 25-10-2017 03:48PM

^ KK are coming soon.

Boom_Bap · 25-10-2017 03:48PM

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Closed now, unfortunately.

That's a shame

ohnonotgmail · 25-10-2017 04:32PM

Mokuba wrote: »

Most of these recent Irish places make a bad donut. It's more like a cake than anything. Not one fried option anywhere either. The majority also have the same cream based filling, but with different flavouring. About 10 things on or in them also, which is just pure muck. They also think bigger is better when it mostly isn't.

Simple and human sized does the trick.

If Krispy Kreme or Dunkin came in they would make a killing as they actually know what they are doing.

Off topic a little, but - As for the best tasting donut, this crowd in Philadelphia make the best donut you will ever have - https://www.beilersdoughnuts.com/menu.

Dunkin were here at one stage. I worked for them for a short while. Never got the big deal.

ohnonotgmail · 25-10-2017 04:34PM

I've now got a hankerin' for a cake donut. they were always my favourite.

whisky_galore · 25-10-2017 04:43PM

conorhal wrote: »

And that depressing time has come!

https://lovin.ie/travel-food/cities/cork/brace-yourselves-a-doughnut-burger-is-now-available-in-ireland

Still better than the annoying cupcakes fad of a few years ago.

Having a heart-attack just looking at it.

Mokuba · 25-10-2017 04:43PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Dunkin were here at one stage. I worked for them for a short while. Never got the big deal.

Decent coffee and a regular sized, nice tasting, simple enough donut that you don't need 2 hands to hold or 2 pages on which to list the toppings and fillings.

Ipso · 25-10-2017 04:49PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Dunkin were here at one stage. I worked for them for a short while. Never got the big deal.

I worked in Boston for a summer, my breakfast was always a coffee and two coconut donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Loved it, the donuts that weren't full of cream were not too much.

Donut shops, EVERYWHERE!

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