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There are doughnut shops and then there are doughnut shops. And sometimes it's those small, unassuming shops that seem to hold the greatest appeal with the siren aroma of fresh doughnuts. You know, the sort of place you might find on a beach boardwalk of days gone by.

Such is the feeling when walking into Donut World (5561 W. Market St.; 315-0202) at Guilford Station.

The aroma of fried dough doesn't waft out on the sidewalk like it does on the boardwalk, but walk inside this small shop at West Market and Meadowwood streets (near the N.C. License Plate Agency) and there is no mistaking the experience.

Old-fashioned cake. Crullers. Buttermilk bar. Cinnamon rolls. And even Apple Fritters the size of a panther's paw. There's a doughnut for just about every taste.

The shop is owned and operated by Lean Ly and her husband. Ly moved to North Carolina from California two years ago. Out there, she says, several members of her extended family operate doughnut shops. Ly says she has been making doughnuts for seven years.

Standard doughnuts in a variety of flavors are 85 cents each, and buttermilk bars go for 90 cents. Apple Fritters and Bear Claws will cost you $1.45 each.

Ly says she has sold as many as 50 Apple Fritters in a day.

A dozen doughnuts costs $7.50 and a half-dozen is $4.50.

Ly says the shop makes its own frostings, such as glazed, chocolate and maple.

The shop also offers coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate and assorted bottled beverages.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Filipino eatery opens

Purple Yam has opened at the food court of Fanta City International Mall (4925 W. Market St.; 235-2088) in Greensboro and is serving traditional dishes from the Philippines.

Items include Crispy Pata ($9.95), fried pork shoulder served with sauce; Lechon Kawali ($6.50), fried pork belly with sauce; and Kare Kare ($7.50), ox tail and beef tripe stew in peanut sauce with vegetables.

Purple Yam also offers stir-fried noodles and authentic Filipino adobo, meat stewed in vinegar.

Daily specials offer a choice of one ($4.95) or two ($5.75) entrees with rice and soup. Traditional Filipino entrees change daily but include items such as beef in coconut milk, chicken in tomato sauce and pork in brown sauce.

It also features exotic ice cream such as Coconut Macapuno, Purple Yam Suman, Magnolia and even Mais Queso, a frozen treat made with corn and cheese. A Hal Halo is a refreshing treat with tropical fruit, shaved ice and milk.

Purple Yam offers Filipino breakfast items such as Tapsilog or Longsilog ($5.95), sliced beef or sausage with rice and fried egg, and Garlic Fried Rice ($1.25). These items are offered all day. Gyros, sandwiches and pizzas are also available.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when the store is closed.

Breakfast pizza

Bill's Pizza Pub restaurants at 5200 Randleman Road (674-0114) in Greensboro and 1431-A N.C. 68 (644-1540) in Oak Ridge are offering breakfast starting March 1.

Along with items such as eggs, biscuits, grits and hash browns, both locations will serve a Breakfast Pizza with a buttered crust topped with scrambled eggs, a selection of breakfast meats and cheddar cheese.

A Breakfast Feast Pizza includes additional items such as onions, green peppers and other toppings.

Some may remember Bill's Breakfast Pizza. Donna Spencer, who owns and operates both locations along with her husband and their children, says her dad, the late Bill Rogers, offered the Breakfast Pizza many years ago.

Breakfast is offered from 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday at the Randleman Road location.

The Oak Ridge store offers breakfast items as part of a brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday only.

Short stack for a cause

Applebee's (4406 W. Wendover Ave.) in Greensboro is holding a Flapjack Fund-raiser starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to benefit the National Society of Black Engineers of Greensboro.

Admission is $5 and includes a short stack, sausage, milk, juice and coffee. Call Celeste Paylor at (919) 384-5303 for tickets.

Restaurant closures

Greg Thompson says business was steady but not good enough to stay afloat in the current economy. So after two years of service, Thompson closed the doors on Beef O'Brady's (3606 N. Elm St.), a former sports pub in Greensboro.

"It's not where I needed it to be," Thompson says of the economics of owning a restaurant. "I have a family to feed."

Thompson says he'd love to do a restaurant again if the time is right. But for now, he has decided to go back to his other love, coaching high school sports.

Also, Fargo Cattle Company (3501 High Point Road) has closed after only a few short months.

Owner James Reynolds says it just didn't work out. He has no plans for the space.

Reynolds says a sister restaurant in Zebulon is doing well.

And Gate City Deli (106 N. Westgate Drive) in Greensboro has closed according to the restaurant's Web site.

Chris and Bonnie Kays of Cincy's Downtown took over the restaurant a year ago.

Cincy's Downtown (115 E. February One Place) continues to serve soups, sandwiches and Cincinnati-style chili.

Mexican-inspired specials

El Camino Real (4131 E. Spring Garden St.; 632-0003) in Greensboro is offering some new daily specials, and they aren't your average Tex Mex combos.

Soups such as rich and creamy Chicken Fajita or Posole can be paired with two tacos for $5.50. Three fried fish tacos cost $5.50, and rotisserie chicken is $5.99. Or try two Mexican Hotdogs topped with bacon and jalapenos for $4.99.

Lunch combinations start at $3.99 Monday through Friday, and daily dinner special combinations start at $5.99.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are $1 taco days. Margaritas are $1.99, and domestic beer and wine by the glass are $2.99 every day.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Triad to get yogurt chain

One of the nation's fastest-growing retailers of all-natural nonfat frozen yogurt, Red Mango (www.redmangousa.com), is coming to the Triad.

The chain has signed a multiunit development agreement with Steve Mosh of Greensboro, who has founded Carolina Mango

Mosh expects to open his first store in Greensboro this summer. Other stores are planned for Winston-Salem, Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh.

Pizza deal

You just can't beat this meal deal. Hungry Howie's Pizza at 1608 W. Friendly Ave. (333-9393) and 5710 High Point Road, Suite JJ (333-3340) in Greensboro is offering a medium, one-topping pizza for just $5. The offer is good for carryout or delivery.

Hit cheesesteaks added

Tito Rodriquez is now offering cheesesteak subs and burgers at Georgios Pizza, Burgers and Subs (180 Burlington Mall; 584-6997; www.georgiospizza.biz) in Burlington.

Many remember Rodriquez from Monk's Cheesesteaks at the late Carolina Circle Mall in Greensboro.

Subs range from $6.99 for New York Cheesesteak to $7.49 for a Chicken Cheesesteak. Burgers include a Mushroom Swiss ($3.29), Spanish ($2.89) and Shrimp ($3.89).

Check out the combination specials that range from $4.99 for two pizza slices and drink to $7.99 for a cheesesteak sub, fries and drink.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sunday.

Breakfast items

Cattitude Cafe (718 W. Market St., Greensboro; 617-8354) is now offering breakfast items such as bagels and muffins. The cafe is also offering cheesecakes and fruit turnovers from Cheesecakes by Alex.

Bread rolls into eateries

You've seen them at the Downtown Farm Market (505 N. Greene St.) in Greensboro. Sweet Basil's (620 Dolley Madison Road, Greensboro) has been serving them for lunch and dinner.

Now, chef Jay Pierce of Lucky 32 (1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro) is serving his Whistle Bites, pork belly sliders, on the soft, succulent sweet rolls by Anna Mae Breads.

Holy cannoli!

Pierina Cangialosi, daughter of Giacomo Cangialosi of Cangialosi Specialties in Greensboro, is offering Italian cannolis through an online mail-order outlet, Holy Cannoli.

Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson@news-record.com