Top Pot Doughnuts

Related:	king pin donuts
Category:	Donut Shop
Address:	2124 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
Phone:	+1 206-728-1966
Site:	toppotdoughnuts.com
Rating:	4.4
Working:	6AM–7PM 6AM–7PM 6AM–7PM 6AM–7PM 6AM–7PM 7AM–7PM 7AM–7PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 7

Jarion Monroe

Environment was pleasant enough, and I was there for the doughnuts to truly test them against other doughnuts in the region. I am a bit of a donut maven, have been most of my life, and have become much more frugal with the caloric expenditure required to consume these delightful globs of fried dough in my latter years. Im a good cook myself with an excellent palate for wines, whiskies, sauces, and Donuts. The all time best donut concoction ever conceived was by one Frank DeVito, owner of the now-defunct Copper Kettle in Campbell, CA. His secret formula for a bittersweet chocolate glazed raised donut iced with Belgian chocolate and sprinkled with chopped peanuts was lost when he took it to his grave and his son refused to carry on the business; much lamented by local news and some Hollywood directors who would have these perfect delicacies shipped to wherever their locations were. And so my search for a new source of donut heaven began back in the seventies. Everyones tastes are, of course, different but freshness, warmth, subtle raising of the dough, quality of oil as well as the age of the oil, sweeteners and adornments (icings, etc) all play key roles in the sensations related to eating and enjoying an excellent donut. Based on this criteria, I would rank Top Pot number three on my all time list of best donuts, Voo Doo of Portland, OR number one, Rolling Pin of San Bruno, CA (near South San Francisco) number two, and Dream Fluff of Berkeley, CA, number four (although theyre actually on a par with Top Pot most of the time as they seem to be fresher out of the hot oil more often than not). These are my rankings based on my particular taste and palate. Factors of sweetness, textures, and ingredients are crucial to the underlying fabric and synthesis of flavors that go into these babies, and the percentage of potato flour is always a delicate balance as is the quality of yeast and raising time (some have no potato flour at all). Something like Krispy Kreme is not a true donut in my opinion, or a very poor one at best with no flavor except for the taste of sugar, and probably beet sugar at that. Their gimmick was their heat. Not worth the calories!

A Private User

The finest donuts I have ever eaten have been Top Pot donuts. In my several hundred visits, munching on probably a couple dozen different varieties altogether, I have never had a mediocre pastry, and most have been superb. The Top Pot chocolate French crullers are simply the best donut in the entire history of the human race. (Considering how long I have been eating donuts, how many places I have been and how many donuts I have had, I should know.) Their donuts, though, are actually not the highlight of what Seattle’s downtown Top Pot has to offer. The coffee drinks are incomparably good. The atmosphere is outstanding. Above all else, the staff makes Top Pot worth the visit. The Top Pot employees, have almost always been professional, considerate and kind. They are great people giving great service, even when the place is packed to the windows with customers. My father always studied the employees first, whenever he went into a café. He was in the restaurant business for forty years, and he was a perfectionist. Many times, I have wished my father was still alive, so I could take him to Top Pot. I know he would be impressed. If only he could have a chocolate French cruller...

Debra Kay

Top Pot has a good reputation but the quality and customer service is hit or miss, sometimes in the same visit. Because I had time to burn before a hair appointment a week ago I stopped at the 5th Ave store on the spur of the moment for espresso and a donut. The espresso was on the bitter side but the cinnamon sugar donut was perfect. It was soft with good cinnamon flavor, customer service was ok. Stopped there yesterday before an appointment to pick up coffee, scone and donuts. Coffee was bitter, cinnamon sugar donuts & parmesan dill scone were dry and two of the three people at the counter apparently left their customer service skills at home. Only one of them bothered to smile and the female with the short brown bob haircut was just surly. I realize it was a only 830am on a Saturday but she chose that job. Anyway my nail person was really nice and thankful for "treats" and coffee but I noticed she only took one bite of the donut while I was soaking and put it back and a couple of drinks of the coffee before she covered it up and put it aside.

Sarah Bolmarcich

My guidebook and Internet reviews praised this place to the skies, so I walked over from my hotel one morning. The positive reviews unanimously praised 4 things: 1) best donuts ever; 2) good customer service; 3) big donuts; 4) value pricing. The customer service is good, even at 6 am. The place looks nice, though I didnt stay. The prices are not very good; I got half a dozen donuts for almost $12. $2 a donut might be worth it if they were the best donuts ever, but theyre not. Theyre good, dont get me wrong, but theyre not worth $2 each. Id say slightly better than Krispy Kreme and pretty much the same as Dunkin Donuts. Theyre also not any bigger than donuts available at Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, or even your local supermarket bakery. I didnt finish the half dozen in one day and they tasted better stale. So theres that.

Daniel Aller

Just came out of motivational talk by Ross Bernstein riding high on customer service and having a unique brand currency. Having heard of Top Pot from my family I was excited to walk 7 blocks for my donut experience. When ariived I was going to order the special on meu "ANY" 6 for $12.99. I was immediately informed any really did not mean any despite there being no * or exceptions listed. Bacon maple was not included. The staff chose to not do the right thing by the customer and stick to a hard an fast policy that was apparently an unwritten rule. Needless to say I cancelled my order and my much anticipated great experience was quickly an awful one. I was told by multiple employees to take it up with ownership who by the way is no where to be found in that store. Thank you.

Thijs B

What made me dislike this place is the weird, or lack of service. I might be spoiled being from Melbourne where there is table service in most coffee places, but shouting out my coffee and then putting it in a spot where I cant even see it, is kinda weird to me. There were three people behind the counter who all couldve handed me my coffee, or at least put it near me, but all they did was repeat my order and nod their heads in the direction where I was supposed to pick up my order. I guess when it is busy there is an order / system, but since this was my first (and only) time and there was no one else in line I could follow, I had no clue. It felt very awkward. Donuts were good, but noting special, not sure why this place is so highly rated.

Richard P

Lawsuit waiting to happen-- coffee was at least 30 degrees above what it should be according to state food licensing (the cup was starting to burn me through the cardboard cozy), and faulty wiring blew out the lamp (literally blew it out; sparks and potentially broken shards of glass) I was sitting near when they re-engaged their breakers for upstairs. Pricey too for two mediocre doughnuts and a large, bland (and burnt) coffee ($8). Additionally for as popular as it is, the store is also woefully understaffed for the morning shift, which accounts for mediocre service. Even though Top Pot is the only doughnut shop in the downtown area, I dont think Ill be returning, even giving them the benefit of the doubt on two prior occasions.