Donuts (or lack thereof) (Pittsburgh, Oakmont: restaurant, cost, rated)

[WPANative]

Originally Posted by sskink

Maybe it's mostly the South Hills that's anti-donut. There's not much in the way of donuts here outside of supermarkets. But honestly, even meetings I've been to in the city - no donuts.

In my eyes, there is a huge health conscience movement in this region. More and more people running in the marathon and races in general. If I'm correct, this may have more to do with it.

[Herodotus]

There's a DD on Brownsville Rd., and another on Rt 51, less than a mile away, plus another donut shop on Brownsville, across from Long John Silver's. You're not looking hard enough. Plus every convenience store has donuts as well. I miss Jenny Lee though. I loved their glazed, as well as their lemon meringue pies and tarts.

[WPANative]

Overall, I think shops like "Dozen" and so on don't have lasting power. There is a market for things like that here, but not a big enough market for staying power. My wife and I were in Gaby Et Jules in Squirrel Hill yesterday. Definitely some delectable looking desserts,and you can watch the bakers through the glass in the back. But I'll give them a year and will be surprised if they are still there. The desserts are in my opinion, very expensive.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by WPANative

In my eyes, there is a huge health conscience movement in this region. More and more people running in the marathon and races in general. If I'm correct, this may have more to do with it.

IMO, the only huge health conscience issue here is the UPMC vs. Highmark vs. Obamacare and where to put your money. Yes, there are some new healthier places that have opened, but they're the minority and generally in specific wealthier business districts. With all the other new places that have opened up in the past five years serving unhealthy crap, it just seems odd that donuts are the odd man out.

Wings are everywhere. I'm sometimes surprised I can't get wings in Walgreens :-)

I'm not saying there aren't donuts here, but nothing near the concentration I'm used to back east or in many other major metros. Maybe Pittsburgh is just on the leading edge of Paleo without knowing about it.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by sskink

Maybe Pittsburgh is just on the leading edge of Paleo without knowing about it.

Are potatoes paleo? Because if not, I've got some perogie and a salad with fries as a rebuttal.

[WPANative]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I had a Napoleon/millefeuilles there and was disappointed. They used whipped cream instead of crème pâtissière, as well as a crunchy pastry in place of regular puff pastry. I was not a fan. If it had been wonderful, I wouldn't've minded paying $6. But it wasn't. I am not rushing back.

Also, they didn't have a table and chairs where you could sit for a minute and eat your pastry. We ended up sitting on one of the benches on Forbes Avenue.

Like I said, I give them a year, maybe not even that.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by sskink

IMO, the only huge health conscience issue here is the UPMC vs. Highmark vs. Obamacare and where to put your money. Yes, there are some new healthier places that have opened, but they're the minority and generally in specific wealthier business districts. With all the other new places that have opened up in the past five years serving unhealthy crap, it just seems odd that donuts are the odd man out.

Wings are everywhere. I'm sometimes surprised I can't get wings in Walgreens :-)

I'm not saying there aren't donuts here, but nothing near the concentration I'm used to back east or in many other major metros. Maybe Pittsburgh is just on the leading edge of Paleo without knowing about it.

Theres plenty of donut shops/eaters. You live too much in the past of where you used to live. You should go back "in the day" there or get "in the game" here.

Now get this pizza thing going. Can always use another pizza shop.

[AnneWest]

Better-Maid Donut Co - Crafton Heights - Pittsburgh, PA | Yelp

/drool

Go very early in the morning. They open and sell what they've got, then close for the day. They go fast.

[WPANative]

Originally Posted by AnneWest

Better-Maid Donut Co - Crafton Heights - Pittsburgh, PA | Yelp

/drool

Go very early in the morning. They open and sell what they've got, then close for the day. They go fast.

This place was featured on a WQED Pittsburgh special. It looks like it's mobbed with business no matter how early in the day and the donuts are often gone by 6am. But the donuts they offer are what Pittsburgh wants, obviously good tasting and a good value.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by WPANative

This place was featured on a WQED Pittsburgh special. It looks like it's mobbed with business no matter how early in the day and the donuts are often gone by 6am. But the donuts they offer are what Pittsburgh wants, obviously good tasting and a good value.

That's the West End one I was referencing in the OP. I guess that's what I don't understand. That place appears to do huge business yet there aren't similar places elsewhere in the region - or far fewer than it would seem the market could support. It's odd in any market with any product where you've got one place with lines out the door and no imitators trying to cash in on that popularity.