As the sunrise glows through Midpoint Park and Eatery, the Parlor Doughnuts food truck sits with its blue-and-white bald eagle logo. Amid lawn chairs and hammocks, college students and families chew on doughnuts and sip coffee.
In 2019, two partners, Darrick Hayden and Josh Tudela, set out to challenge the makeup of the doughnut. To do so, they used layers by rolling out chilled yeast dough several times with butter and letting each doughnut rise before frying. The concept expanded from a coffee shop in Indiana to franchises across the nation.
The store’s first location in Gainesville opened in October, taking a slot in the food truck park on Second Avenue between UF and downtown Gainesville. It’s the 23rd location in the state but the first food truck for the franchise, joining shops that stretch from coast to coast in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Pensacola.
Parlor Doughnuts offers layered doughnuts made fresh in small batches throughout the day. The shop also has vegan and gluten-free treats, breakfast items and coffee.
I was excited to hear Parlor Doughnuts would come to Gainesville, having tried them before in Orlando. However, I wanted to find out for myself if the quality would be the same out of a food truck.
After seeing videos on my feed about Parlor in Orlando, my best friend and I decided to go and see what the hype was about. My favorite flavors were Raspberry Pistachio and Coconut Cream. We sat by the window and chatted, transported back to a parlor from 1776 with the comfortable seats and patriotic decorations.
At the Gainesville truck, I ordered a four pack of the Famous Layered Doughnuts, and each one cost $3.65. As a coffee addict, I also ordered a Honey Cinnamon Cold Brew for $4.75.
It’s difficult to make delicious baked goods and offer vegan and gluten-free options, so let’s dive into my rankings.
4. Cookies and Cream
Everyone loves the classic cookies and cream flavor. This doughnut looked enticing, loaded with whipped cream, velvety white frosting, cocoa crumbles, vanilla glaze and a chocolate drizzle. But as I bit in, I was disappointed.
Although the topping tasted great, the depth of flavor didn’t compare to the other doughnuts. There seemed to be more dough in this doughnut, which could have been broken up with a cookie custard filling.
The doughnut had less flavor than the others. I wished there was more cocoa in it. It didn’t contain the same creaminess or depth.
3. Carnival
With browned, candied dough and a glossy finish of vanilla glaze, the Carnival doughnut had a playful flair. Usually, the sprinkles are rainbow-colored. But for Gator Nation, Parlor used orange and blue sprinkles.
A caramelized sugar crust adds a crunch like a funnel cake. The flavor was simple yet delicious. The floral note from the vanilla with the sugary texture of the sprinkles worked well. It could have used another dollop of the vanilla glaze, which added a creamy finish.
2. Bourbon Caramel
I’m trying to savor the last moments of fall, so I knew I had to try the Bourbon Caramel flavor. The buttery, fried layers were glazed with rich caramel and a note of oaky vanilla.
My only note would be to make the caramel sharper or add some powdered sugar to give the flavor more depth.
1. Strawberry Shortcake
I didn’t expect to enjoy the strawberry shortcake doughnut the most. The light dough reminded me of the consistency of a puffy shortcake, complemented by creamy strawberry frosting.
Garnished with a sliced strawberry and a swirl of whipped cream, the doughnut’s flavors rested in the details. It’s classy and pink on the outside but full of tart pillowy sweetness on the inside.
And, of course, I can’t forget my Honey Cinnamon Cold Brew. Baristas sometimes struggle to pair the acidity of cold brew with a subtle sweetness, but Parlor Doughnuts did just that.
The rich, bold coffee is cut with a splash of whole milk. The golden honey pairs with a ribbon of gentle spice from the cinnamon.
On ice, the cold brew provides the toasty comfort in autumn in Gainesville.
Although the food truck had less flavors than the brick-and-mortar locations, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the doughnuts and the coffee.
Contact Summer Johnston at sjohnston@alligator.org. Follow her on X @summerajohnston.
