I have always kind of liked donuts. These have ranged from chocolate covered little donuts that no one ought really to eat, but are binge-worthy to . . . well, donuts at a now-defunct restaurant in Chicago called Lightwood which really blew the top off the idea of a donut. But today, I am writing about 3 donut places, one of which is a national chain and the other two of which are. . . Chicago.
First: Dunkin Donuts. Yes, the chain. And yes, the plans vary tremendously in their quality but in terms of the food they provide and the . . . ambience. I have had donuts in hospitals in both Canada and the US, in airports on occasion, and in the local Dunkin' Donuts in Geneva, NY. I have, in fact, a favorite donut from Dunkin' Donuts, and have been known to stop because i am pining for that donut. What is it? A cinnamon coated apples filling donut. I have no idea what it is called, but I know this: I like them. Dunkin Donuts are light and fluffy and now very serious as donuts go, but they do have something unnameable going for them. I think it might be called the Apple 'n Spice donut.
But really, in Chicago, the place I first fell in love with donuts was Do-Rite Donuts. The main joint is on Randolph Street (and once upon a time they were available in the South Loop). It is the first place I had a gluten free donut (and they turn out to be good there), and I have a fondness for their chocolate covered donut (yes, Valhrona Chocolate). Once in a while they have a special to die for -- and they do in fact know that bacon is good in everything, including a donut. (As a side note, they do chicken in their other location. I have never had it.) An important thing to know is that at the little "hole in the wall" on Randolph, when they are out of donuts, they are out of donuts. They are open from 7 am until around 2 pm. Go early-isa.
More recently, a Stan's Donuts opened near the Roosevelt Road el stop. And yes, I go there too often, as I walk right past it each and every day. They are not quite as good as a Do-Rite Donut, I admit, but they are pretty darn good. I have tried a range including cinnamon cake donuts, chocolate covered glazed donuts, apple fritters, and . . . well, you get my drift. I ought not do so quite as frequently as I do, but I do (it turns out) like a donut. One important thing to know about Stan's is that if you dislike the color pink, you are out of luck unless you can ignore the pink everywhere. But that never stopped me from eating a donut.
Rumor has it that Glazed and Infused are the best donuts in Chicago. Never had one. I do like the Rosie the Riveter on their website. Hmmm.
Or click here for a review of a whole raft of places, including three of the four places I mention here and a line up in case I decide to start wandering Chicago in deliberate (rather than inadvertent) search of the best donuts.
