Rumit P.
Yelp
This Dupont location is smartly placed right outside the Dupont Circle South Station. Everyone knows this location and loves/hates it for hypnotically luring customers in with its charming promise of smiles and whispers of ephemeral satisfaction.
It has weathered the rise and decline of surrounding businesses over the years and quashed the competition, which was never really a competition, of Fractured Prune, GBD Fried Chicken and Donuts, and Zombies. Dunkin Donuts is no competition.
The boutique donut shops are good ventures, but they don't have the business acumen and brand recognition of Krispy Kreme, nor are they priced well.
This location is not big, but its iconic Hot Now sign is familiar to many: fresh doughnuts have just been made!
7:45pm, Wednesday, dark skies, no rain, and a glow in the distance.
The sign was on, I was across the street, and suddenly I teleported to the bakery display after two blinks and had no choice but to choose the classic donut when asked for my order.
The crew member, a smileless blonde teen with robotic hands and a mechanical voice, plucked a classic glazed donut from a metal tray he had just nearly tucked into the display case and slid it into a paper sleeve, dropping it off at the front counter, and, like a classic Tinder conversation, disappeared without a further word.
The store was clean, brightly lit, and not crowded. A handful of customers were swirling around, and behind the counter were weary staff.
There was confusion at the register, further obfuscated by a customer who I acknowledged was to be helped before me but whose order was not compete. My being generous resulted in waiting for his whole order to be readied and paid for.
I couldn't wait. I wanted my donut on the spot. No photo for Yelp. No wait to take a seat. The donut was practically melting in my hands because it was insanely fresh.
I consumed it in two gluttonous bites then what felt like an eternity but was really about 40 seconds, I paid with credit, got the paper evidence of the cost of my misdeed of eating a donut only hours after lamenting my clothes don't fit because of my unhealthy eating, and quietly departed hoping I hadn't been seen.
These kinds of slip-ups occur only once in a while. I haven't been to Krispy Kreme in at least a year, so I give myself credit for inconceivable restraint.
Yesterday and today, though, are buy a dozen donuts get a dozen donuts free. So later today I might be updating this review with a photo of 24 glazed donuts.
I highly recommend this location.
