Selecting Riverfront Times' Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we are chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists and download the Riverfront Times Best of St. Louis mobile app, visit our Best of St. Louis homepage.
In far too many cities, there are plenty of places to get doughnuts, but only one name to know: Dunkin'. St. Louis is not one of those places. Here, from the many independent doughnut shops, are some of our favorites:
Eddie's Southtown Donuts (4701 South Kingshighway Boulevard; 314-832-1200) Eddie's Southtown Donuts on Kingshighway opens early, and early really is the best, if not only, time to pop in and pick up a fresh, warm doughnut of just about any variety. The closer you can get there to 5 in the morning, the tastier your treats will be, whether you choose a light, delicate glazed, a crumbly cake, an iced long john or a perfectly spiced and braided cinnamon twist. Eddie's also fries up more than just dough, with their gooey-filled fruit pies and creamy cheese pockets. Eddie's even takes special orders, and if you call ahead you can get your doughnuts brought out to your car; isn't that sweet?
Donut Stop (1101 Lemay Ferry Road, Lemay; 314-631-3333) The "Cinnamon Glob" at the Donut Stop on Lemay Ferry Road might not sound like the most appetizing pastry. In fact, the large, shiny brown-and-tan lump might not look too appetizing either. But where the eyes may deceive, the taste buds will thank you. Not a glazed doughnut and not a cinnamon bun, the folks at the Donut Stop combine the best of both in this large ball of sweetness, with a slightly crispy outside and dense and buttery inside. If something a little different doesn't entice you, worry not, as the glazed doughnuts at the Donut Stop are picture-, and taste-, perfect examples of the treat. Just ask the connoisseurs of Bon Appétit, who named the spot one of the top ten best places for doughnuts in 2010.
Donut House (8500 Morganford Road; 314-638-5828) For your consideration: doughnuts for dinner. While this may seem a little unorthodox, at Donut House, guests can enjoy doughnuts for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime in between. The friendly staff serves up a wide variety of doughy goodness 24 hours a day, so when that craving hits, and the only cure is an apple fritter or perhaps just a simple glazed goody, Donut House is there to sate the need. Their doughnuts are light and airy, never spongy, and with hardly any hint of frying. The dough is just sweet enough so that each bite combines with the glaze or icing to create a satisfying and never-too-saccharine treat. If for some barely conceivable reason doughnuts aren't your thing, Donut House also offers delicately crafted cream horns and toothsome little Danishes.
Mini Donuts, etc. (730 Carroll Street; 314-622-4180) Shopping at Soulard Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning is as much a St. Louis institution as thin pizza, birds on a bat and the number "far." Nothing pairs better with a stroll around the stalls than one arm full of groceries and the other with a little paper bag from Donut Man Stan's Mini Donuts, Etc. You can pop those warm little buggers into your mouth while mentally debating whose tomatoes look best today or while sitting at the tables near Ninth Street and savor the sweetness of a treat whose creation you watched. At Mini Donuts, Etc., those itty bity rings aren't waiting for you on racks. Rather they float along in a hot oil bath while you watch them transform from batter into plump, golden delights then take a rest, only to be put in your bag on their way to your mouth, most likely before they are cool enough to do so. The aroma of these delicious fried morsels takes over your senses before you get to much of the market's produce, and a bag of them in your hand will ensure that you're not buying food on an empty stomach. Those unfortunate enough to not frequent Soulard on Saturdays just might be lucky enough to find Donut Man Stan's scrumptious little bites out amongst the rest of our town somewhere; he also caters parties and events thrown by those with a most refined sweet tooth.
