The Reader’s Choice: Old Fashioned Donuts
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This Roseland shop gives the magical Dat Donut a run for its dough, with artisanal classics sold in an atmosphere more amenable to the appreciation of fine fried cake. Here the bulletproof barriers are almost an afterthought—you can reach over and shake hands with the baker, who will alert you to a new batch of fresh, shiny glazeds about to be unspooled in the display case. These dunkers are lovingly hand-cut in the window and “Fried in Pure Vegetable Oil,” as the sign says. The blueberry is riddled with bright constellations of something that tastes suspiciously of real fruit; other flavors include pineapple and caramel frosted, buttermilk and honey wheat, and coconut and toasted coconut. But the crown jewel is the apple fritter—not a doughnut per se, but a six-inch discus of crispy, chewy, soft, sweet, spicy, fruity synergy. 11248 S. Michigan, 773-995-7420. —Mike Sula
