doughnuts?

[captain313]

any recommendations for delicious doughnuts- besides dunkins? also, ive never had an apple cider doughnut before, and hope to try one this fall!

thanks,
a.

[mikexindy]

where can i find hot yeast donuts? im originally from indianapolis, and id go to a place at 5:30am for the hot yeast ones... unreal!

[sollym73]

I think the beast donuts by far is TOP DONUT 2 locations in Lawrence and 1 in Lowell on rt 110 I live 500 yards from Heavenly donut and drive to Lawrence for top donuts most weekends heavenly can't compare.

[bachslunch]

Have been to Verna's, Kane's, and Donuts with a Difference, and will second all these. Depending on how far afield you want to go from Boston, you can also include Butler's Colonial Donuts in Westport, MA in such a list. They're excellent, and they fill creme filled ones fresh when ordered.

Heresy perhaps, but I actually like the donuts they serve at Boston area Starbucks outlets. They're supposedly made by Top Pot Donuts, but these folks are based in Seattle. Not sure how that works.

Dunkin' Donuts stink. Worst I've ever had.

[Bob Dobalina]

Remember when DD used to be pretty good, when they made the donuts at each store? They were yummy back then.

[pollystyrene]

Why, thank you. My very first job was filling those donuts with the filling pump, and I'd always put in extra. I haven't had a DD since they stopped making them at each store. Are they really that bad? How do they compare to Honey Dew? I ask because I'm going to need a bunch of donut holes soon (strange, I know) and assume these finer donut purveyors don't sell them. Am I stuck with Dunks or Honeydew? If so, is one worse than the other?

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

Yes, DD donuts *are* that bad. Horrible. I went to HoneyDew once in the hopes of finding better products, and to support a place that doesn't have 4 locations on every block. But sadly, honey dew stinks too.

Gotta go out of your way to the indie places mentioned in this thread!

[Bob Dobalina]

Munchkins never change. I do not detect any difference from munckins of old, so long as they are fresh.

The donuts on the other hand - They are that bad. But then, it's not really a surprise - DD "regular" coffee at the store is like brown-colored sweetened water - I challenge anyone to get a "regular" coffee in a blind taste test and tell me that it tasted actually like coffee. It doesn't. It's just that we conditioned to *think* it tastes like coffee. The donuts fall into the same trap.

[pollystyrene]

Thanks, Bob & Ralphie. Now Bob, while I do appreciate your encouraging adage: Munchkins never change, how can this be, if the donuts are now bad, and the munchkins are the holes salvaged from the donuts? Can this supernatural munchkin phenomenon be explained?

[Bob Dobalina]

That's a really good question, Polly. Maybe there are changes, but perhaps they are too subtle to be detected in 1.7 bites.

[bear]

I'm a big Donuts with a Difference fan, but I haven't tried Verna's or Kane's. I'm not in love with Linda's. Gail Ann's are pretty good, but I'd much rather go the extra distance for Donuts with a Difference.

backslunch, I haven't been able to bring myself to try the Top Pot donuts at Starbucks. It just seems crazy to ship something so perishable so far on a daily basis. I do wish they would use some locally-sourced baked goods, although I can't say I'd be thrilled if they started selling Dunkin's there.

[Joanie]

Top Pot are some of the best donuts I've had anywhere, old fashioned maple topped are killer. I'll give it a shot.

And the best ever if you're going to RI, Allie's in North Kingstown.

[bear]

Guess I should break down and give them a try.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

Another good thing about Starbucks donuts is they dont' have transfats.

[bear]

Actually, Donuts with a Difference uses transfat-free oils now, too. They changed a couple of years ago. The donuts are still really good, although I didn't eat them much before the switchover.

[Karl S]

A lot of doughnuts that are transfat free stink. Sorry. Eg, Dunkin Donuts took a definite decline with the shift to no transfat. So no transfat may sell for health, but it's always an open question re deliciousness.

[bear]

You'll get no argument from me on that. As I said, I wasn't familiar enough with the D w/ a D donuts before the change to know if there is a big difference.
I almost never use the hydrogenated stuff at home, but I don't mind when I'm out. I don't eat enough to feel like it's a threat to my health, and I'd rather have a choice, not an indiscriminate ban.
Sounds like a broader ban is in the future, though.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

Driving through Allston/Brighton over the weekend I passed by Twin Donuts and realized that forgot to mention them here.

Not as good as Linda's or Verma's, but still way better than Dunkin's (but what isn't?). Friendly folks behind the counter too.

[cornFusion]

I just had to chime in .... If you happen to be driving by Nashua NH (and it may very well be worth taking a detour), there is a small family-run bakery called "The Crosby Bakery". It is on a side street perpendicular to the main street. One of New Hampshire's famed farms is "Lull Farm" - another side trip may be worthwhile since they make a very good cider from their own apples. Lull makes the cider, Crosby makes the donuts. And what a glorious combination it is! I prefer to go to the bakery since the donuts there have this crisp (dare i say "etherial") quality about them. Since they are only made in apple season, I recommend you go there soon. I become a donut crazed regular at Crosbys this time of year myself.

[Joanie]

I can tell you that you'll never get an awesome donut from Donna's in Roslindale again. I was there a few weeks ago for the first item in ages and sheepishly asked the donut question. He only ever made them on Sat. and even that one day a week was too much for him. I guess he felt like a huge weight was off his shoulders when he couldn't make them one day and never looked back. The woman telling me this must get asked the donut question a million times. It was the best in the immediate JP/Rozzy/West Rox area (if not further beyond). Anna's isn't bad but these were a million times better, and cheaper.

[Chris VR]

This seems like a good place to try out the new lists feature. Here's my list of recommended donut places (mine and others mentioned in this thread):

http://www.chow.com/lists/62

[itaunas]

I don't have enough to make a complete list (Demets, Linda's, Verna's, Kane's, Donuts with a difference etc), but one indepenent that isn't mentioned in the thread or on the list is Gail Ann Coffee Shop in Arlington Center. I would go to Linda's or Demets over it, but is gets close to some of the others on the list and doesn't ever get mentioned here.

[Chris VR]

Sounds good, added it to my list!

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

Good to know; i've tried the other pastries at Gail Ann and liked them, but have never tried their donuts....probably out of subconscious allegiance to Verma's and Linda's!

[autopi]

i was in lyndells the other day doing some cupcake research (verdict: i prefer the ones at kickass, but the lyndell's have the benefit of being more authentically nostalgic), and noticed they had donuts as well. anyone tried them, or will i have to do some more fieldwork?

by the way, already noted above, but i can re-confirm that gansu girl is definitively wrong about verna's--had a great plain donut from them the other a.m.. whew!

[WilliamTheFoodie]

Where is Lyndells?

[autopi]

720 broadway, in ball square. next to soundbites.

[fredid]

Thanks, Chris!

When you click on the number on the map, it gives you Minneapolis!!! Will report....

[Christina216]

You can get a good Apple Cider donut at Bolton Orchard's in Bolton, MA. The guy makes them right there in front of you when you order and they're about 50 cents each. They have all kinds of seasonal food set up this time of year.

[macadamianut]

I like Bolton Orchards al lot. They have a nice selection of prepared foods, fresh pressed apple juice and strawberry milk.

[ipsofatso]

Kane's is great but I was duly impressed with Heavenly Donuts in Methuen, MA. I am betting that place has its legions of fans...best cider donuts at Russel Farms, Ipswich on the road to Crane Beach.

[Eatin in Woostah]

You're speaking my language. Heavenly Donuts for honey dipped (yeast with glaze) and Russel Farms for apple cider donuts, till hot from the fryer. Mmmmmmm.

[Karl S]

I wonder if that Heavenly Donuts in Metheun is a successor to the similarly named place in Melrose that got killed when our alderman allowed a DD to open one block away over a decade ago.

[Eatin in Woostah]

I don't know - I moved to Methuen in 1980 and it was there at that point. Maybe they tried to expand to Melrose?

[mem53]

Someone at work brings in Linda's Donuts from Belmont on occasion. I am not a big donut eater, but these things are practically gifts from God- light, moist, delicious goodness. They are absolutely irresistable.

[butterfat]

2nd Linda's Donuts. Try the HoneyDip and the HoneyDew (one is a cake donut, the other is a yeast donut, and they both have a sweet glaze) to start and then branch out from there. It's best to go SUPER early when the donuts are painfully fresh and warm.

-----
Linda's Donuts
247 Belmont St, Belmont, MA

[gansu girl]

I third Linda's. I cannot control myself when these things are in the house. We live nearby, and even if we didn't, we'd go out of our way for those tasty treats. It is great to get them warm, but you have to get there early . . . .

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

Another vote for Linda's. in addition to their "honey" varieties, i also like their boston cream, and sometimes they have one called "buttercrunch" which is great but they run out early!

[KingCarnivore]

Kane's schmanes! I heart Linda's in Belmont!!! 7am is about the optimal time to get em still hot and have your pick of types. Honeydew (cake donut w/ glaze) and the jimmie donut (plain donut with choc frost and jimmies) are my faves. Be warned their coffee is horrible but the doughnuts are the best I've had - and believe me, I've had alot!!!

[scorp508]

I live probably just over a mile from Kane's and it is hard to drive by on the way to work without wanting to stop there every morning for a nice disgustingly good donut or dinner-plate sized coffee roll. Mmmmmm....

[catsmeow]

Definitly Betty Anns. Flour on Washington St on Sunday mornings are good too.

[Prav]

Try searching the board for "donut"; I think you'll get better results than with "doughnut".

Some favorites are Kane's, Donuts with a Difference, Betty Anne's in East Boston, and the one in Arlington - Verna's?

[captain313]

thanks for the recs and tip!

[JoJo5]

Hi,

That's Verna's Donuts in North Cambridge:
2344 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140

Joanne
[phone]

[gansu girl]

Verna's is closed. Sad but true!

[autopi]

really?! when did that happen? i was there about a week ago and had a great chocolate frosted. oh i hope i really hope they're still open!

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

I drove by there last week and they seemed open then as well...can anyone confirm, this is upsetting. The zoning braintrust in Cambridge recently allowed the opening of ANOTHER &#(^@ Dunkin Donuts nearby not too long ago, and I hope that's not what did them in if they did indeed close.

[voodoocheese]

I just called the phone number on their website, and I was told they are open today until 6pm. I'm going there in a few hours, will report back!

[Splendid Spatula]

Perhaps you are thinking of the near-closing of Verna's a year or more ago?

[Bob Dobalina]

I call BS too - they remodeled the place this year, expanding the seating area. And I got a donut from there a couple of weeks ago.

[Prav]

Yeah, I think someone was just misinformed from the closing-scare Verna's had a while ago.

EVERYONE! VERNA'S IS INDEED OPEN! GO HAVE A DONUT! :)

[voodoocheese]

I was there this afternoon and scared the nice lady behind the counter when I told her the rumor. My first time there, and it was great! The "famous" honey dipped was very good- I would love to try it in the morning.. I loved the vanilla cream donut, although I know that one might be a little too sweet for most tastes. I didn't try the coffee- is it any good?

[Bob Dobalina]

I like the coffee, but it is standard doughnut shop coffee, which is to say 10x better than Dunks.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

Amen to that Bob. ! needless to say the donuts are 10000x better than dunks.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

hooray! Will make it a point to drive by there on my next opportunity.

[rustichef]

I live less than 300ft from Verna's. They are open and doing well. I smell the doghnuts being made every night... I have to use the other side of the street when I walk by, otherwise I'd be 400lbs. My girlgriend loves the bagels too.
Stop in, they are great folks!