Hidden in the Heart of Duluth

I’ve been coming around Historic Duluth for quite some time and I love that there are so many options for unique eats such as Maple Street Biscuit Co., Truck and Tap and others. I have always walked past this small donut shop called “Simply Done Donuts” but never stopped to check it out until today. The hours here are a bit strange so usually, when I am passing by, it is closed since normally they close at 4 PM on weekdays.

I was finishing up a video review at Maple Street on Saturday and decided to stop by Simply Done Donuts and give them a try. When you first walk in, you’re greeted by a wall of pictures of the donuts they offer. Don’t get too excited, this place specializes in “mini-donuts” so you’re not going to get a Krispy Kreme sized donut but you are going to get something heavier and freshly made.

I would say that despite the size of these donuts they are denser so your probably getting the same value.

The Growth of the Mini Donut

There is a donut sample in the front of the counter to give you an idea of how large the actual donuts are so that there isn’t any confusion. If you’re like me and are drawn to the wall, you could easily miss this though. Still, people that are close to me have raved about this place so I had to give it a try. It is funny to me how the donut craze is growing here in GA and in the foodie world in general. In atlanta, you can get a dozen donuts and easily drop $25+ for it. (Read the rise of the donut craze)

How this concept works, is that the main donuts are made fresh consistently. You choose your toppings and they are topped after your order giving you something that is freshly made. If you are thinking about customization, it would be better to call in and customize a dozen or more so that you give them a heads up. Otherwise, they try not to deviate from the menu due to cross-contamination issues that can be caused by on the spot changes.  That said, if you have a peanut allergy, you can feel safe at Simply Done Donuts that they keep these things in mind.

Loving the Donuts at First Bite

To be fair, I got the “Plain Jane” and the “Smore” which is covered in marshmallow drizzle, chocolate drizzle and crushed graham crackers. I tried the Plain Jane first to be fair and loved that it was crispy on the outside and had a strong and dense flavor.  The smores was done very well (I have a thing for smores anything).

To be honest – at first glance I was thinking to myself “is this worth the 1.50/each” but after enjoying both donuts I immediately felt appreciation for this and wanted to try different ones. The smore’s donut did not cut corners and had a very strong flavor. They also didnt hold back on the frosting and even the hole itself was filled.

Drinks worth talking about

Let’s talk about the coffee: I saw that the sign said “Best donuts and coffee,” so naturally, I wanted to put that to the test. They use a brand called Three Tree Coffee Roasters.

The coffee and drink selection here is pretty large featuring a wide variety of coffees, tea, juices, sodas, and milkshakes.

One thing I loved about the latte that I ordered was that I got the choice of how sweet, what type of milk (made mine with Almond Milk) and this did not come with a separate charge. It is a place I wish was open more often because I got more joy from the coffee then the donuts.

Altogether, my stay here was alright. I wouldn’t say that it’s at the level of sublime donuts or other spots I’ve been to. My take would be to make another menu with larger sized donuts. When it comes to drinks, I am sold and wish this place had a cafe like hours.