One of Granville Island's oldest vendors. Handmade donuts in a great setting.
Suggest changes to this restaurant listing.
Reviews
Added Jul 15, 2008 by poulet of Vancouver (14 Reviews) Homemade and Homegrown
I remember the olden days when my mom use to come home with a dozen donuts from Lee's and they were always so FRESH. I took my kids to Lee's to see how donuts were made and the supervising staff were welcoming and accommodating. Their cook, Alvin, is just a wonderful fellow with a big smile and he kindly displayed every step of donut-making with tremendous patience. I understand Alvin's been with Lee's for 25 years so they must be doing something right in terms of consistency through the years, albeit I suppose they have had "off" days according to the first 2 reviews.
I enjoy Lee's different from Krispy Kreme because they have more substance and bite when you want something more substantial. I can pop an awful lot of Krispy Kremes and get a toothache from the sugar before I get full.
I commend Lee's for making their donuts truly fresh from scratch every day. The outcome is a homemade tasting donut without the synthetic stamp of some chains. Plus, their ambiance is all about the small shop being located in the Public Market and having a large outside window so that onlookers can peer into their kitchen and be engulfed into the world of donuts. |
 |
| Food: |
 |
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
 |
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added May 8, 2008 by Russ of West End, Vancouver (4 Reviews) Good Donuts
Lee's Donuts is still the best in Vancouver that I am aware of. The cake donuts have a good quality batter, not chemical tasting like some commericial chains. They are good donuts. Fritelli's Donuts of Beverly Hills California look to be one of the best as can be seen in the link below. They put lots of sprinkles like cranberry or coconut on top of the icing. They would be the rolls royce of donuts.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1327/1103661398_9a9c645f5f.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124349872%40N01/1103661398/&h=375&w=500&sz=112&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=DWKoomgW5a8paM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrittelli%2527s%2Bdoughnuts%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1T4GGLJ_enCA240CA243%26sa%3DN |
| |
<More reviews below advertisement>
| Added Apr 8, 2008 by homer-jay of kits (3 Reviews) Awesome, sweets!!!
Not everyone agrees with the first two reviews. Ive never gone there on Weekends, but ive never had a problem with the service or the doughnuts on the weekdays. All around, you get what you pay for, and its definately better than Tim Hortons, dry & chewy doughnuts. Were not going to even discuss Krispy Creme. The place over all seemed fine with me. I spotted the staff washing up before a customer ordered a crepe my last trip there. The crepes are made to order I might add... I was happy with that. Id say my favorite donut would be the Honeydip or the Jelly. The fritters are huge to, Ive never purchased one, but I will one day perhaps.
It does get busy from time to time so I understand the service cant be 100% ALL the time. I was never asked "What do You Want?" I cant see that happening there, not recently anyway.
I love the place and like the fact its in my neighbourhood....
From what I understand its been here for years.
ROCK ON!!! lees!
|
| Added Jan 29, 2008 by JonJ of Kitsilano (20 Reviews) Inferiour Donuts & Dirty Kitchen
I have to agree with the previous reviewer. We were there last weekend. Around 1pm and they only had 1/2 a dozen flavours to choose from. Most shelves were empty, and this is on a Saturday.
The service was ridiculously rude, "What do you want?" She rudely yells at me over the counter. I got one of their bon bons, the chocolate glaze had no taste of chocolate, just of sugar. The custard also tasted like sugar water. The donut itself was dry, chewy and salty.
You could see the kitchen, dirty and disorganized.
This is certainly a very poor product, and poor presentation. I most likely will never get a donut here again. |
| |
<More reviews below advertisement>
| Added Dec 19, 2007 by artfuldodger of False Creek, Vancouver (25 Reviews) Another One Bites the Dust
I have lived in False Creek for most of my life. As a child, I loved to hit Granville Island for snacks and desserts. Up until about four years ago, Lee's used to be a highlight of Granville Island. Their donuts used to reflect their family-run image.
The changes at Lee's began with their staff. Owner-operators were replaced with lazy, rude teenaged girls. Then, fewer varieties were appearing on the donut shelves. Thennn, the donuts themselves began to taste greasy and slightly burnt. THEN, I stopped patronising this establishment.
Vancouver's donut scene is dismal. I was recently in New York and found a life-altering donut shop: pistachio, mandarin and toffee glazes...fluffy dough...crispy, non-greasy exteriors. We need better donuts.
I used to be able to brag about Lee's, and now I only disavow it. Let Lee's know how disappointed you are! |
|
|
