Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
Biscoff Pocket
Nutella Pocket
Blueberry Old Fashioned
Apple Fritter
Pretzel Twist
Maple Caramel Pecan Bacon Bar
Imported from Los Angeles and all dressed up for a Chicago debut on Damen my early morning stop at Stan’s Donuts after a thirteen mile run was assured on entry to be a decadent one but having already experienced the tiny Angeleno original with mixed results nothing could have prepared me for just how good the Windy City storefront would be, each of my half-dozen selections proving nothing short of delicious while friendly service smoothly assisted a trickle of traffic that never seemed to stop rolling through the door. Artfully designed with large windows facing the street and a small seating area to the right of a counter and kitchen where doughnuts are fried fresh to restock supplies nearly fourteen hours each day it was with one eye towards indulgence but the other on an upcoming brunch that I perused the days options and eventually settling on an even half dozen my pastries were soon boxed to the tune of $14 after tax and tip, all but the two filled options still warm with the fritter still too hot to handle without a napkin. Beginning first with a yeasty raised twist beneath a shiny lacquer tinged with cinnamon and then progressing to the reference standard ring of blueberries amidst savory cake infused with buttermilk it was with high hopes that I moved along to the aforementioned fritter and with crispy edges plus loads of apples it seemed as though things couldn’t possibly get better – an assumption that would soon be proved wrong by the cookie-butter filled pocket and a sweet-meets-savory buttermilk bar that somehow managed to remain balanced despite a quartet of toppings including briny bacon that came across up front only to dissipate in smoky notes of pecan and surprisingly natural tasting flavors of maple syrup on the finish.
RECOMMENDED: Maple Caramel Pecan Bacon Bar, Biscoff Pocket, Apple Fritter, Blueberry Old Fashioned.
AVOID: Certainly not bad but extremely heavy with at least two full tablespoons of hazelnut spread inside the additionally topped pocket suffice it to say that the Nutella Pocket is an item best shared…or at least not ordered along with five other items.
TIP: Located just steps from the CTA Blue Line I’ve heard many rumors that lines at Stan’s often extend past thirty minutes around 7:00am on weekdays and even longer at 9:00am on weekends so those in a hurry should plan accordingly or be ready to settle for the consolation prize of a Glazed & Infused window directly across the street.
http://www.stansdonutschicago.com/
