Why: Dungeon Donuts recently opened in the renovated and retrofitted basement space of Old Town Battle Grounds coffee shop and deli. The doughnut shop is an extension of the coffee shop. It is closed on Monday but open the rest of the week for an early, fresh-made doughnut fix.
What I tried: I sampled a dozen classic doughnuts, fritter and fancy doughnuts. I asked if there were any Bavarian cream-filled doughnuts; although they did not have any made, they made one for me on the spot! The chocolate frosting on the doughnuts tasted like a chocolate bar. They were super fresh and moist. The cake variety had a classic nutmeg taste that lingered. I got a maple and bacon bar that was every bit as good as Voodoo’s in Portland. The fritters were not overly greasy, and they were big, which was also true of most of the doughnuts I tried. Overall, the selection was varied enough to get a little bit of everything in a dozen pick.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Several sprinkle options will be among the kids’ favorites. Instead of filling the doughnuts (lemon or raspberry), the filling is placed in the center on top. There are chocolate and regular cake doughnuts. Frostings on the morning of my visit were mostly chocolate and a lavender, though the lavender did not taste of a purple flavor such as grape. Glazes are applied without saturating the doughnut.
Atmosphere: Entrance to the doughnut basement is to the left of the coffee shop’s main entrance. At the bottom of the stairs, the left door welcomes doughnut seekers into the shop. A chalkboard menu on the wall boasts a couple of life-sized Jake and Elwood figures, which add an artistic flair to the space. Doughnut selections are behind a glass partition. There is also an electric fireplace, a coffee station and a drink cooler filled with a selection of bottled juices. A few high windows remind you of the ground level. A different door provides an exit out and to the left, up an opposite stairway from which you enter.
