723 West M 21
989-723-6111


Average Overall Rating:

(2 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(4 out of 5)

(1 out of 5)

Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 7/6/2009

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Benny's is not your typical yuppy/preppy upscale environment. It is more like an actual diner from the 50's that has a few tables available for just sitting and chatting over a cup of coffee. It is a coffee shop. The regulars enjoy the overall atmosphere, or they wouldn't be there. While it may seem like the break room of a factory than any usual restaurant or donut shop, it suits the locals just fine. It is one of the few places that still allows smoking - so, if you don't like smoke, go somewhere ELSE. In any given morning 4 of the 5 occupied tables have cigarettes lit.

Benny's was called Betty's at one time. The name changed when it passed from a sister to a brother - otherwise, the same delicious donuts (using the same time-honored family recipes) are still being used today.

The selection at Benny's is ample in the early morning hours and will dwindle to being pretty poor around 11:30 AM (a signal that they are freshly baked) - so get there EARLY! There are many different donuts to choose from, with the selection changing daily. The blueberry-filled donut dusted with powdered sugar (aka a "Bismarck"), when available, is the best.

Owosso was a donut town. At one time, a Betty's II was located right downtown. In the past, there were two shops of a strangly named (now closed) bakery called Itchy-Bon donuts ("Itchy-Bon" is Japanese for "Number One" By the way). The junior high school was only blocks away from an Itchy-Bon bakery; it is true that on hot days, when the school windows were open you could smell the donuts in the wind. Earlier yet was White's Bakery, long since closed (with many of the same donut varieties now available at Benny's).

Today, Owosso has Benny's, which delivers to many of the stores in the Owosso/Ovid/Elsie area. They can be had and enjoyed as far away as Frankenmuth and Saginaw.

Although historic downtown Owosso seems like a veritable ghost town these days, it is being revitalized into the small town it once was. With the rebuilding of the theater (in progress), the reopening of Freddy's Market (November, 2009) and the many parks and historical areas being revamped, Owosso is regaining its former glory.

Come back to Owosso - and even if you don't stay at Benny's, be sure to sample its delectable wares! Have a coffee and a donut, and taste a bit of authentic Owosso history - you'll be glad you did!

Award Nomination: Best Bargin Breakfast

Review #17382Review by: Mr Breakfast on 8/6/2006

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Doesn't Apply

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Benny's is pretty grungy place. I think even the regulars would admit that. The atmosphere is closer to the break room of a factory than to any decent restaurant or donut shop. If you don't like smoke, you'll want to avoid Benny's. This morning 4 of the 5 occupied tables had cigarettes lit.

When I was a kid, Benny's was called Betty's. I remember going there with my dad and loving the smell of coffee, baking donuts and cigarettes. It was cleaner back then and I'm sad to report that the donuts were much better.

The selection at Benny's was pretty poor during my visit. Around 11:30 AM, they had about 8 different donuts to choose from. I had a blueberry-filled donut dusted with powdered sugar. It was average at best.

It makes me sad to return to my little home town. During my formulative years, it was a donut town. Betty's was so rightfully popular that a Betty's II opened. People would travel to Owosso from other towns to get a baker's dozen box of donuts from a strangly named (now closed) bakery called Itchy-Bons donuts. The junior high school was only blocks away from Itchy-Bons. On hot days, they'd open the school windows and you could smell the donuts in the wind.

Today, Owosso has Benny's and a Krispy Kreme connected to a gas station. There may be other options by Wal-Mart and the other business up the highway (that turned historic downtown Owosso into a veritable ghost town). If so, I'd love to know. Please submit a review on MrBreakfast.com. I hate to think my childhood donut town is dead.

Award Nomination: Hugest Dump

Review #8181


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Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Owosso, Michigan - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Benny's Donuts.