The Donut Stand fills a hole in Hopkinton

Disappointed by a late-morning trek to The Donut Stand in Southborough only to find a “Sold out until next time, thank you!” sign on the door? Don’t worry, there’s a new location in Hopkinton. It’s worth the drive. The shops are run by Mike and Hanna Lombardi, both trained chefs and bakers who honed their skills under prominent chefs like Ana Sortun, Jody Adams, and others. Mike once apprenticed at the renowned Chez Panisse. During the pandemic, the couple began selling their homemade doughnuts in the parking lot of The Vin Bin in Marlborough, a chain of wine and cheese shops owned by Mike’s family. They later set up a permanent pop-up with a neon sign within Vin Bin’s Southborough store. The bakers make and cut the dough by hand and use dairy and fruits from local farms to craft yeast-raised and cakey doughnuts, some filled with homemade jams and jellies, drizzled with icing; others are giants elaborately crowned with toppings. A line often snakes out the door. “We try to elevate the doughnuts and use the best ingredients that are not ultra-processed products,” says Mike. Their own shop in Hopkinton has a counter and stools and a patio for indulging outside when the weather warms — and an expanded kitchen space for churning out more doughnuts. If you visit, you’ll find it hard to choose between classics or a selection that changes as the Lombardis experiment with new flavors — perhaps a tender brioche circle adorned with brown butter Rice Krispie treats swathed in ganache, or an old-fashioned chocolate made with sour cream and Valrhona cocoa. Others are piped with house-made jams and jellies where the fruit flavors come through, and the pastry is surprisingly not overly sweet. If the doughnuts are sold out, alas, there are reasons to stay, for there’s also a menu of soups, salads, and hearty sandwiches. “It’s all comfort food,” says Mike. 154 Turnpike Road, Southborough, and 22 South St., Hopkinton. For more information and hours, go to thedonutstand.com.