CLIFTON PARK — Fancy doughnuts have had their quarter-hour of fame — they usually’re nonetheless going.
I don’t imply the variability field of Entenmann’s, the orchard cider doughnut and even the superb bakery ones accessible at Schuyler in Watervliet or both Bella Napoli location. And, you recognize, Dunkin’.
I assumed I knew all there was to find out about doughnuts till boutique doughnut outlets started showing in our space with their maple bacons and key limes and créme brûlées.
Flash within the pan, I assumed. Then I went to a marriage, and as an alternative of cake, the pleased couple opted for — you guessed it — doughnuts.
Occasions change and now I’m the dinosaur. Fancy doughnuts are right here to remain. With that in thoughts, I requested Sheryl, who likes fancy doughnuts very a lot, to come back with me to 518 Donuts in Clifton Park. It opened on the finish of 2021.
They’ve added one other, in downtown Troy in August of this 12 months, which has exterior seating. When it’s open it’s fairly busy, however staffing has been an issue. Hopefully they’ve acquired that straightened out.
So, it’s doughnuts and fried rooster. I don’t assume you’re alleged to eat them collectively, like rooster and waffles, however you will get them in a sandwich field.
They’ve acquired breakfast sandwiches too. An egg and cheese sandwich is $4; add a bit extra for bacon and sausage. And you will get it on a gluten-free bun.
Their on-line menu for the Clifton Park retailer lists 5 sorts of fried rooster sandwich packing containers, together with the Federal ($17), with pickles, spicy 518 sauce and American cheese. Containers embrace the sandwich, fries and a plain doughnut.
Menus for each places checklist 13 widespread doughnut flavors, accessible on a regular basis, although some cycle out and in seasonally. They vary from the pedestrian chocolate-frosted to the extra uncommon French toast and strawberry cheesecake. Costs are $2.50 for one, $12 for six and $22 for a dozen.
There are gluten-free doughnuts for just a bit extra.
There have been greater than 13 sorts of doughnuts, which, by the best way, are all of the cake-y variety, within the case on the Clifton Park retailer after we visited. They have been offered fantastically on white china plates and beneath LED lights, a show that may not be misplaced in a high-end division retailer — besides these have been doughnuts, not jewellery.
The shop is brilliant and cheery, with a plate-glass window dealing with the parking zone. The partitions are tiled and all the pieces appears spotless.
The fried rooster is gluten-free, too, they usually have a devoted gluten-free fryer. The common doughnuts are fully made by the doughnut robotic within the entrance of the shop, so the kitchen within the again is totally gluten-free.
So we went to style doughnuts and fried rooster. A sandwich board confirmed specials, together with $3 off a nine-piece nugget combo. That’s what I ordered; 518 has specials on different weekdays as effectively.
However wait: They solely serve breakfast till 11 a.m., and you’ll’t get rooster till after 11 a.m. We occurred to point out up simply earlier than 11, and acquired each.
Sheryl began with a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a tough roll ($5) earlier than 11 a.m. I acquired a rainbow-sprinkle frosted vanilla doughnut.
We every took a stool at a counter alongside the wall, throughout from the place all of the enterprise is dealt with. Assist your self to napkins and accoutrements on the station within the entrance.
I minimize the doughnut into items and picked at bits that got here off within the course of. The vanilla icing glued rainbow sprinkles collectively, very candy however nice. I might style the sprinkles, which have a light taste I take pleasure in.
Sheryl handed over a wedge of sandwich, the half with the bacon hanging out, as a result of she is an effective buddy. I favored how the egg was partly scrambled, and the bacon was cooked excellent, however not as salty or smoky as I’d like. The laborious roll, topped with cornmeal, belied its title by being gentle, even the crusty half. I might style black pepper, which I favored.
Your customary egg sandwich, then. Sheryl loved it, and it was freshly made. You will get a gluten-free roll for a bit extra.
After 11 a.m. we every ordered a nugget particular ($14), mine with barbecue sauce and Sheryl’s with scorching sauce. We cracked open our compostable brown packing containers and admired the golden fries and nubby nuggets.
The nuggets have been addicting, with good taste and many super-duper crunchy coating. The rooster was actual chicken, juicy and tender.
“They’re scrumptious,” stated Sheryl.
The recent sauce tasted like a mixture of mayonnaise and Frank’s scorching sauce, Sheryl stated. I had the barbecue; there’s additionally ranch and spicy 518 sauce.
We each favored the nuggets rather a lot, although I assumed the coating was a bit too crunchy. Sheryl disagreed.
“There may be quite a lot of coating however it’s good and crunchy all over, not mushy inside,” she defined. I feel the quantity of coating can be higher suited to a sandwich-sized piece of rooster, providing a greater crust-to-meat ratio.
The coating is gluten-free and I couldn’t inform you what it’s manufactured from, however it’s seasoned and tasted good. On-line I discovered recipes for fried rooster utilizing gluten-free all-purpose flour, so maybe that’s what that is.
The useful individual on the counter advised us the rooster is available in frozen, and requested how we favored it. I offered the very crunchy argument, Sheryl the opposite facet. The steadfast worker thoughtfully answered that she’d mess around with the cooking instances to attain optimum crunch.
The place makes an enormous deal about its rooster and doughnuts, however it must be speaking up the fries, as they’re wonderful.
They’re known as dipper fries and are skinny slices of skin-on Russet potato, deep fried and seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika. Some are so skinny they’re chips; all of them are scrumptious. The form helps people scoop up the sauces.
We took residence many of the meals. Frank sided with Sheryl: He actually favored the crunch. And he very a lot favored the strawberry cheesecake doughnut she introduced him.
Eric had solely the a part of the vanilla sprinkle doughnut I didn’t end as a result of I forgot to convey him one. Whoops.
The full for our breakfast/lunch got here to $24.61 together with a cold-brew espresso for Sheryl, which she stated was superb.
A flowery doughnut authority, she gave a thumbs-up to 518 Donuts. We each loved the rooster and fries. The workers have been pleasant and useful.
The domestically owned and operated 518 Donut helps the native baseball workforce, and on Oct. 28 will provide free espresso and a doughnut to first responders.
So subsequent time you might be craving a elaborate doughnut and a few rooster, give them a strive.
Caroline Lee is a contract author who lives in Troy. Attain her at [email protected].
518 Donuts
WHERE: 7 Southside Drive, Clifton Park; (518) 933-6688; 518donuts.com.
WHEN: 7:30 a.m. to three p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday
HOW MUCH: $24.61, together with a espresso
MORE INFO: Bank cards: Mastercard, Visa, American Specific, Uncover. Additionally Apple Pay and Google Pay. Parking in lot. ADA compliant.
Extra from The Each day Gazette:
Classes: Food, Life and Arts, Life and Arts
