By Jayden Richardson, Staff Writer

Parlor Doughnuts, a shop located in Forestville, Ohio about 20 minutes away from Xavier, is known for their famous layered donuts.

Upon entering their establishment, I was greeted with a nice, serene atmosphere; the music adding to my appreciation of the place even more. I came across over 20 types of doughnuts, ranging from French Toast and Plain Jane to Cookies N’ Cream and Sandy Beach. For people who cannot eat gluten or are on a different diet, they offer vegan/gluten free and keto doughnuts; there are also sweets for dogs called Pawlor Doughnuts. 

The customer service from the staff was excellent as they were patient, gave me food recommendations and asked me about any preferences regarding what I ordered. When I sat down, I admired their décor, aiming for the customers to feel relaxed and have candid conversations about various topics. I bought four items on the menu: The Sausage Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich, Acai Bowl, Hibiscus Tea and a Honey Glazed Donut. 

The breakfast sandwich had a flaky biscuit with a sausage patty and sweet fig jelly evenly layered on top of the sausage. The jelly brought out the flavor of the sandwich, giving it a unique taste that leaves you wanting more. 

The Acai Bowl had an acai berry blend base topped with granola, almond butter, strawberries and bananas. Toppings like Chia seeds, Gogi berries and other flavorful, healthy additions came with it as well. The bowl was packed and had the right amount of each ingredient; the almond butter and cacao nibs stood out the most, elevating the overall taste with their creamy and crunchy textures. 

The Hibiscus tea can be ordered iced or hot; I ordered the hot version with sweetness added. Various additions such as types of syrup, milk and levels of sweetness can be requested to one’s liking. When the drink came out, it was so hot I had to let it cool down for a bit. The taste of it was bitter with a little sweetness, which allowed the beverage to not be overpoweringly tart. 

The star of the show was the Honey Glazed Donut, which had a glaze with honey as well as the crispy exterior. The glaze on the doughnut was sweet, with the hint of honey complimenting the doughnut. The airiness of the sweet allowed me to enjoy every part of the doughnut. 

Overall, the menu items were fresh, delicious and decadent, making me want to go back as soon as possible. Parlor Doughnuts has an autumn menu right now, which consists of Apple Pie filled layered doughnuts, Butter Pecan Praline doughnuts, Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and more. Delivery and catering options are available if people would like them delivered to their house or for an event. If you are looking for a seasonal drink, love doughnuts or want to try something new, check out Parlor Doughnuts.