I have to admit I was pretty excited to try this place out. I had heard a lot of good things about Dunkin Donuts. But now I'm wondering what all that hype was about.
My first trip there, I ordered a jelly donut and a large decaf iced vanilla latte. I got my donut, paid, and was told to go to the end of the bar and my drink would come out down there. To my surprise it came out pretty quickly. The donut was pretty good for a chain, but not as good as the local places (which was expected), but the coffee. The coffee was awful. It had almost no coffee taste, but I knew it had coffee in it because it had a strange "burned" and bitter flavor. It was very milky with a hint of artificial vanilla. Now, I wasn't expecting the vanilla to be all natural or anything, but it just tasted cheap and fake (and for the price I paid, nothing about it should taste "cheap"). I could get a MUCH better tasting Vanilla Latte from another certain coffee chain (you know, the one that's on every corner) for just about the same price.
I thought that since that was the first day the store opened, maybe it would be better a couple of days later. Wrong. I went in to order a half dozen donuts and two of the Mango Pineapple Iced Tea with Peaches. I approached the register and mentioned that I would like a half dozen donuts, and the cashier said Okay and just looked at me. Unsure what to do I started to name off the donuts I wanted in my half dozen, until Imwasminterrupted by a man standing behindher who asked if I wanted any drinks. I told him about the iced teas that i wanted. He then informed me that Inwould have to pay for my donuts and drinks, then step away from the register so the next person could begin ordering. So I paid and stepped away from the register, but was unsure where to go because the store was pretty full. I (and many others) ended up shouting my donut order to this guy from halfway across the store because it was so packed. Again, donuts were good, but the drink was terrible. It tasted like the syrups they used were sweetened with aspartame. Very bitter, artifical aftertaste.
A couple days later a friend wanted to go. I went along for the ride not expecting to order anything, but i had gotten a free drink from the app for signing up so I decided to try a frozen hot chocolate with mocha sauce. It. Was. DELICIOUS. "FINALLY!" I thought to myself "Something from their menu that I actually LIKE!" Well, so I thought. I came back the following day and irdered the exact same thing. Except this one just tasted like straight up ice, and it was super chunky, not smooth like the previous one. So I told them and they happily remade it. I tasted the second one and it was better, but not quite the same. I couldnt quite put my finger on what was different until I was halfway home and realized she had made me a frozen coffee, not a frozen hot chocolate. So I ended up having to dump that one out because I can't have caffeine. I also ordered an egg and cheese bagel and hash browns. They were pretty good.
So, there it is. FOUR trips to this place, and not a single one was exactly pleasurable or memorable. I'll stick to my regular coffee chain lattes and local donut shop. They're right across the street from each other, so I have no problem making the two separate trips if it means I will be a satisfied customer. read more