Epic Denver Sandwiches To Eat Before You Die

by Sirvo Team | Nov 13, 2015 | IndiNews

Some of these are old, some are new, some are pricey, and some cheap, but all of them are worth trying at least once. They are as diverse as it gets- from the Vietnamese banh me and lobster roll to a Cubano and all-American prime rib creation- and they best represent the sandwich culture in Denver. Dig in.

1) Bahn Mi @ Ba Le Sandwiches

The traditional Vietnamese sandwich shop and bakery is as no frills as it gets. Order at the counter and, make no mistake, you won’t go wrong with any of the choices for your banh mi sandwich. A must try is the Korean barbecue.

1044 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219

2) White Truffle Egg Salad @ Masterpiece Deli

A twist on a classic egg salad sandwich, this version gets a white truffle flavor boost. A crisp romaine lettuce accompanies the rich salad, all served between two slices of olive oil toasted white bread.

1575 Central St., Denver, CO 80211

3) Lobster Roll @ Steuben’s

If you crave a lobster roll in Denver, Steuben’s has you covered. At a peppered $23 a pop, this traditional lobster roll is made on buttery baked bread filled with a mound of lobster chunks.

523 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203

4) The Curtis @ Curtis Park Delicatessen

Now a classic, this small shop in Curtis Park made its mark. The deli’s signature sandwich is made on freshly baked ciabatta bread with corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, all dressed in housemade thousand island.

2532 Champa St., Denver, CO 80205

5) Spicy Frenchman @ Cured

The Spicy Frenchman brings together brie, butter, ham, and a fig compote. It’s an irresistible combination.

1825 Pearl St. Ste B, Boulder, CO 80302

6) The Frankie @ Salt & Grinder

The Highland deli serves this meaty creation that includes prosciutto, coppa, ham, burrata, arugula, tomato red wine, and vinaigrette on a grinder roll. 10.00 FULL / 19.00 DOUBLE

3609 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211

7) Prime Rib @ Snarf’s

The sandwich is made on ultra crunchy bread and additions like the provolone, hot peppers, horseradish sauce make it the go-to for many sandwich lovers. Available at all Snarf’s locations.

891 14th St. Unit 160, Denver, CO 80202. Photo Credit: Serious Eats

8) Tuna Sandwich @ Vert Kitchen

A sandwich map would lack a little something without a tuna item and the one at Vert Kitchen won the hearts of Denver. The albacore with a healthy squeeze of lemon, chervil, cucumber, and Greek yogurt served on a crusty baguette with the day salad rocks.

704 S Pearl St., Denver, CO 80209

9) Cuban Mix @ Buchi Cafe Cubano

There are several attractive sandiches at this eatery in North Denver but the Cuban Mix is a must. It combines Cuban roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, onions, and mustard.

2651 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211. Photo Credit: Peach Melba Toast

10) Reuben @ Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen

The Five Points Deli brings together hot housemade corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss, and 1000 island dressing and serves it all on a pumpernickel bagel.

725 E 26th Ave, Denver, CO 80205

11) Cedar Plank Salmon @ Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery

Cedar plank salmon is garnished with cucumbers, pickled red onions, arugula, dill yogurt spread, and lemon vinaigrette, and served on a housemade roll.

1900 16th St. Unit C, Denver, CO 80202

12) Tri Italian @ Mondo Market

Stacked high with three deli meats including Capicolla and topped with spicy giardiniera, this well-balanced sandwich will make you coming back for more.

3350 Brighton Blvd Ste 110, Denver, CO 80216

This article was originally published on Eater.

Serving Hacks Part 2: Serving with Personality

by Sirvo Team | Nov 11, 2015 | Career

Every server has their own tricks of their trade, and as one myself, I’ve always believed that your personality is a quintessential part of your success with customers. So, for part two of the series, I’ll run through some ways I try to add personality while serving, plus share a few of the tricks I use to sway guests to my favor.

Honesty is the Best Policy

I believe honesty is always best. But sometimes serving requires a little creativity when it comes to truth-telling. One of the hardest parts of being a server is being asked a question you either don’t know the answer to or one you do, but it may cost you valuable points with the table.

Some people flat out lie, which if you’re an expert BS-er might work, but I don’t recommend it.

When the tough questions are asked, some people flat out lie, which if you’re an expert BS-er might work, but I don’t recommend it. Instead, I suggest evasion.

For example, let’s say that you’re drawing a blank when a table asks about the ingredients in a certain dish. Instead of making up a lie, which can be dangerous, or admitting that you don’t know, which can look amateur, go with something like, “We actually just changed that on the menu, so let me check with the kitchen.” This way, you’re providing the correct answer without sacrificing your morals or your tip.

Pro-tip: Keep your cool no matter what. It’s all about retaining confidence while finding the best way to avoid showing incompetence.

Greeting Your Table

Taking control of your table right off the bat is a great way to connect with your customers and be more efficient. So, when I greet a table, the first thing I say is “Hey y’all, is this your first time joining us at [insert restaurant name here]?”

If the answer is YES, I follow up with: “if you’d like me to run over the menu I’d be more than happy to give you some suggestions or guide you on how to best access the menu.” In doing so, I’m being helpful without seeming too pushy and offering the table the option of being autonomous.

If they do want help with the menu, I start by offering a few options from each section (appetizers, entrees, desserts, drinks) that I personally enjoy and know well enough to elaborate on. By making the first move and providing suggestions you’re comfortable with, you’ll come off as knowledgeable and be providing great customer service. This is a great way to set yourself up for success.

I’m being helpful without seeming too pushy and offering the table the option of being autonomous.

If the answer is no, and they’ve been to the restaurant before, I take a more passive approach and mention, “Well, if you need any suggestions or have questions, I’m here for you.” It may seem simple but using the right verbiage here is key. You want to them to feel like they’re being taken care of without coming off as intrusive.

It seems simple, but just by peaking their interest in you, you’re building a relationship beyond guest and server. This is a prime example of using your personality to your advantage.

Relatability is Good Service

For me, good service is about the experience for the guest. By bringing a strong, vibrant personality to every table, not only are you going to enjoy your job much more but the customer will also be more likely to relax. If everyone is happy and kept entertained, it makes for easier service and makes mistakes (if they happen) more forgivable.

If everyone is happy and kept entertained, it makes for easier service.

First, I like to gauge the table. If they seem pretty carefree and I feel relatively comfortable around them, I know it’s okay to be relaxed in my service, meaning I let a bit more of my personality come through. On the flip side, if the table seems stiff or uptight, I’m much more formal in my service. This will definitely take some practice to develop, but using how you feel around a table is a good place to start.

For those more relaxed tables, a joke I sometimes like to play on someone who spilled their drink is bringing their new one in a kid’s cup. It’s simple but it’s a hit and the table will love you for it.

Dealing With Difficult Customers

Be sure to give these guests extra attention and go out of your way to show that you are giving them that extra effort. Be obvious about it because, usually, they just want to be treated better than anyone else.

Make sure to highlight what special actions you’re doing for them. For instance, “Miss, I went ahead and put the sauce on the side in case you didn’t want this dish to be too spicy.”

Taking special care of difficult guests, or the person who is paying or in charge will ensure your success, their trust in you and most likely will lead to a higher tip average.

When a customer is overly rude or extremely needy, kill them with kindness.

When a customer is overly rude or extremely needy, kill them with kindness. Be OVERLY apologetic and kind. For instance, if a customer were to say, “Um, excuse me, I asked for a LIME, not a LEMON in my vodka soda!” My response would be, “Oh my god, miss, I am SOOO sorry. That is ENTIRELY my fault, I’m so sorry, I’ll get that for you right away.”

You still want to seem genuine but take an overzealous approach. It’ll either cater to their ego or make them feel a bit ridiculous for fussing about something so minute. Either way, you’ll come out on top!

Dropping Checks

Dropping the check is a scary, crucial part of service. First and foremost, you must be careful not to make your guests feel rushed, but also make sure you’re not dragging your feet.

Check for cues, like napkins on the table or pushed away plates. Another sign that the table is ready for the check is if one, or all, of the guests at the table are looking around the restaurant. They’re probably waiting for you!

Also when dropping the check, I like to say a little something nice.

Also when dropping the check, I like to say a little something nice. Depending on the table, I add “Thanks for not sucking,” or “If all my tables were like you then I’d have a very easy job.” For a more formal approach, I go with “You were a delight, I truly enjoyed having you.”

There is a great range of things to say to your guests at this point, but remember, it’s crucial to first read your table as to appropriate the right choice of words.

It must be noted that these are my personal tricks and are catered to my personality. It is important to find what works for you and how to best pair your personality with your tables’. I hope these tricks and lessons help you be the best server you can be!

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Experience Sirvo for yourself

Sirvo ‘Goes Public’

by Sirvo Team | Nov 10, 2015 | Company News

Say hello to a brand new Sirvo!

We redesigned Sirvo to make your experience the best it can be, which includes some great new features!

✓ We’re public!

We’re no longer in private beta. Sirvo is now open to the public making the onboarding process much smoother. Now it’s not only faster to get on Sirvo but it’s also easier with Facebook and Google+ integrations.

✓ New account system

Instead of signing up as either a business or a user, everyone on Sirvo is now a user with their own personal profile and anyone can make a business page.

✓ New look and feel

Navigate between profiles and pages using the left navigation menu and profile dropdown. We also hope you like our new color scheme and design.

New features exclusively for business pages

✓ Multi-admin

Page admins can now invite other users to help manage their page, job posts and applicants.

✓ Individual settings

Each admin of a business page can customize their own notification settings.

Even more features coming soon…

Screenshots

Use your personal account to create and manage company pages:

Invite admins to manage company pages:

Edit the profile header and resume sections on the profile page:

See your changes immediately:

Research Shows Excessive Drinking Cost US Economy $249 billion

by Sirvo Team | Nov 9, 2015 | IndiNews

The research, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed that over-consumption of alcohol cost the US economy approximately $2.05 per drink in 2010, a marked increase from $1.90 in 2006.

Equating to $249 billion overall, the majority of these costs were incurred through reduced workplace productivity, crime, and the cost of treating people for health problems caused by excessive drinking.

While the federal governement paid for just over 40% of these costs, the median cost per state was $3.5 billion, ranging from $488 million in North Dakota to $35 billion in California.

Furthermore, the study determined that excessive alcohol consumption causes approximately 88,000 deaths each year, including 1 in 10 deaths among working-age Americans aged 20-64.

Robert Brewer, head of CDC’s Alcohol Program and one of the study’s authors, shared his thoughts on the study’s findings:

“What surprised us in this study was the extent to which that public health impact was focused on working age adults.”

He also noted that “effective prevention strategies can reduce excessive drinking and related costs in states and communities, but they are under used.” This includes increasing alcohol taxes and limiting alcohol outlet density, among others.

The researchers compiled their cost estimates based on changes in the occurrence of alcohol-related problems and the cost of paying for them since 2006. However, the authors believe these costs have been underestimated because information on alcohol is frequently underreported or unavailable.

For the study’s full text, click here.

The Best Doughnuts In All 50 States

by Sirvo Team | Nov 5, 2015 | IndiNews

Homer Simpson isn’t exactly known for sage thinking, but he did create one important mantra: “Mmm donuts.” Clearly he knew something we didn’t, because 23 years after the insatiable patriarch first uttered his signature line, everyone is outright obsessed with donuts.

A new artisanal shop with locally sourced jellies and Nutella bacon glazes seems to open every week now, and with all that new real estate, it can be hard to determine what’s really worth it. But it’s not impossible! That is why we determined the best donut destination in every state in America just for you.

Alabama

Loyless Donuts (address and info)

Cowarts
Don’t expect to find a s’mores donut or a maple bacon cruller at Loyless — this old-school shop is all about simple, hand-made, hand-iced classics. These basics sell out at the crack of dawn, though, so make sure to show up by 7am sharp.

Alaska

Dino’s Donuts (address and info)

Anchorage
Donuts were never exactly the purview of dinosaurs, but Dino’s sticky treats and espresso are sold under the banner of a green cartoon Brontosaurus who apparently loves eating jelly-filled pastries a whole lot more than prehistoric plants. Most of the donuts, and the “dino bones” are only $1.30 a pop, which is damn good price in the current fancy donut market.

Arizona

Young Donuts (address and info)

Tucson
Some brother and sister combos are fraught with agitation. Others, like Sophy and Keng Se, can move beyond sibling rivalry and come together to launch delicious donut shops in Tucson. Their Young Donuts opened just four years back, but it’s already built quite a name for itself, even with almost no online presence. Maybe it’s because they strategically opened next to a children’s dentist office to hook their clients young, and holy shit… that might be where the name comes from.

Arkansas

Mark’s Do-Nut Shop (address and info)

North Little Rock
If practice makes perfect, Mark is pretty much a demigod at this point. This unassuming spot has been rolling dough since 1978 for hungry Arkansans. Little has changed, as you can see from the faded sign out front, but when you’re making cream-filled and coconut-coated donuts that are this spot-on, you don’t need to flip the script.

California

Donut Bar (address and info)

San Diego
Donut Bar has attracted rabid press attention pretty much since it opened, and a quick scan through its Instagram explains why. Monte Cristo donuts! Crème brûlée donuts! Whole Snickers bar donuts! If you dream it, this place probably already did it, like, six months ago. And yes, of course there’s actual booze in its bourbon maple creations. It’s a bar.

Colorado

Glazed and Confuzed (address and info)

Denver
Alright, get your lazy McConaughey impression over with now. You done? Good, because there’s a lot more to this Denver shop than movie puns. Like donuts with Mediterranean sea salt caramel glaze and cups of joe from local favorite Pablo’s Coffee. (Specifically, the “Danger Monkey” kind.)

Connecticut

Dottie’s Diner (address and info)

Woodbury
Alright, fine: Dottie’s Diner isn’t technically a “donut shop.” It’s a confirmed greasy spoon, but we had to make an exception here because the donuts here are too fantastic to deny. The fresh-daily roster includes plain, powdered, cinnamon, jelly, or chocolate-dipped. Don’t order breakfast without them.

Delaware

Sweeney’s Bakery (address and info)

Wilmington
Three generations have passed through Sweeney’s doors, and all of them knew how to roll a damn fine donut. Sweeney’s is perpetually picking up local awards for its treats, which tend to err on the classics side, but occasionally veer into trendy territory. (Yes, there are cronuts.)

Florida

Mojo Donuts (address and info)

Pembroke Pines
Strip mall food is definitely questionable, but you’re in good hands at this Pembroke Pines shop. Mojo Donuts opens every day at 6am and closes when the last donut is sold, so make sure to claim your Key lime pie or s’mores early, lest the hungry hordes beat you to it.

Georgia

Revolution Doughnuts (address and info)

Decatur
Like most revolutionaries, the bakers here have bold ideas. Donuts need to be one contained circle of dough? Screw that, they cut one open, stuffed it with peaches, and called it a slider. Pistachios are uninspired? Well, they sprinkled some on orange icing and it’s transcendent. If the Bolsheviks were peddling stuff like this, we’d all be carrying sickles.

Hawaii

Leonard’s Bakery (address and info)

Honolulu
You don’t meet many “Leonards” nowadays, but this particular one is doing his best to associate the name with tasty, sugar-filled treats. The goods here are Portuguese-style malasadas, which means they have no center holes. But that just gives you more fried dough (and custard and cinnamon sugar) to tear through, so well done, Lenny.

Idaho

Guru Donuts (address and info)

Boise
Guru Donuts co-owners Kevin and Angel Moran are to be admired — and it’s not just because they make excellent pastries. The Morans weren’t serious bakers until they realized Boise needed a gourmet donut shop, and since no one else stepped up, they asked a neighbor to teach them the delicate art of frying dough. Bless their can-do spirit, and bless that anonymous neighbor, who’s indirectly responsible for creations such as the Charlie Brown, a pumpkin donut with a root beer glaze.

Illinois

Doughnut Vault (address and info)

Chicago
Some like their vaults stuffed with cash, but we’ve always preferred ours to be piled high with fried dough confectioneries. At this Windy City institution, the staff is happy to ring up a triple chocolate or lemon poppy seed for you on the old-timey cash register, so long as they’re not sold out. If they are, try your luck with its new food truck/pastry van.

Kentucky

Nord’s Bakery (address and info)

Louisville
Unseasoned donut eaters might get confused when you tell them the long johns at Nord’s are incredible, but pros know you’re not eating a cozy undergarment — you’re eating a super-sized donut. And the ones at here come with bacon on top.

Louisiana

DISTRICT: Donuts. Sliders. Brew. (address and info)

New Orleans
Some people will tell you to get a beignet at Café du Monde and consider their work done. But we don’t feel comfortable basing a pick solely on beignets. Yes, it’s deep-fried dough, but it’s not technically a donut. For something more traditional, head to DISTRICT. The two-year-old shop offers donuts “simple,” “fancy,” or “extra fancy,” but the Dough-La-Mode with Creole Creamery ice cream in the middle is the move you want to make.

Maine

The Holy Donut (address and info)

Portland
Portland, ME, has a similar spirit to Portland, OR, so of course one of the city’s most beloved donuts shops insists on making its pastries out of local potatoes. This isn’t some hip nonsense, though. Holy Donut’s spudnuts are just as delicious as the flour-based treats you know — arguably more so when they add that coffee brandy icing.

Maryland

The Fractured Prune (address and info)

Ocean City
Fries and ice cream tend to hog the boardwalk cuisine spotlight, but anyone who’s frequented Ocean City knows The Fractured Prune is the real star. The marshmallow-, mocha-, and honey-glazed pastries are the kind of thing you will fight an enterprising seagull over, and lucky for America, the mini-chain is expanding to new coastlines.

Massachusetts

Union Square Donuts (address and info)

Somerville
For those raised on Dunkin’ Donuts, the prices at Union Square Donuts might seem steep. But when $3 is all that stands between you and a Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch or “FluffaNutta” (OK, that one’s $3.50) pastry, you swallow the deluxe cost. Along with a mouthful of peanut butter pastry cream.

Michigan

Sweetwater’s Donut Mill (address and info)

Kalamazoo
This Michigan mill has a bountiful selection, but its candy bar series is probably the most impressive. The Reese’s Donut, Snickers, and Mounds of Coconut are all based on deconstructed and remade versions of your favorite treats and are rebuilt into a new pastry. The final products are, like, three times bigger than the original candies, so make sure to pay your compliments to the chef. And schedule a dental cleaning immediately thereafter.

Minnesota

Glam Doll Donuts (address and info)

Minneapolis
In case you were wondering, the glam dolls in question are co-owners Teresa Fox and Arwyn Birch. These ladies teamed up to create a vintage-inspired shop with one seriously inventive menu. Everything is made from scratch — and the dairy is locally sourced from the Hope Creamery — so you know they aren’t messing around. Another sign they’re serious? The peanut butter and Sriracha Chart Topper.

Mississippi

Tato-Nut Cafe (address and info)

Ocean Springs
Like its pal over in Portland, Tato-Nut Cafe is mighty proud of its potato dough. So much so that it bills itself as home of “the only real donut.” The blueberry cake variety is the attraction here, but the Persian (a sort-of glazed cinnamon bun) is also pretty popular.

Missouri

The Donut Stop (address and info)

St. Louis
Offering a a dozen donut flavors is fine, but 103 — the amount you’ll find on this landmark menu — is incomparable.

Montana

Granny’s Gourmet Donuts (address and info)

Bozeman
On the one hand, Granny’s Gourmet Donuts is a filthy liar. It’s run by Robert McWilliams who, last we checked, does not answer to Nana. But on the other hand, it’s got several donuts with fresh fruit on the inside and out, plus an orange cream one to complement the Boston cream. So we’ll let the transgression slide. Just this once, Bob.

Nebraska

The Doughnut Hole (address and info)

Lincoln
Nate and Lucas Gingery started their careers as male models in New York, but the brothers soon decided male modeling was kind of the worst, because it put a serious cramp on their donut fixation. So they did a grand tour of NYC’s pastry scene before they moved back home to Lincoln to start The Doughnut Hole. Originally just a farmers market stand, the spot now has its own brick-and-mortar location to house so, so many churro donut holes. Pay close attention to the Facebook page on Friday, when the brothers Gingery post weekly giveaways.

Nevada

Pink Box Doughnuts (address and info)

Las Vegas
It takes a certain amount of flash to get noticed in Vegas, and the massively popular Pink Box Doughnuts has it in spades. (See what we did there??) Donuts topped with Cocoa Pebbles or a chipotle caramel glaze exist right alongside the traditional picks, which are pretty spectacular on their own. Also, because this is Vegas, you can obviously order a Fat Elvis, a peanut butter-filled pastry topped with chocolate and a banana slice.

New Hampshire

Muriel’s Donuts (address and info)

Lebanon
Life-long Lebanon residents will wistfully tell you about skipping out of Muriel’s as a kid with a greasy paper bag full of hot donuts. It’s such an integral part of the city, there were practically riots when Muriel and Francis Malville closed the shop temporarily in 2007 for health reasons. That might sound extreme, but one bite of a Muriel’s jelly stick (that’s a jam-filled cruller) and you’ll understand. The mayor certainly does — the place is now an officially recognized historic landmark.

New Jersey

Uncle Dood’s Donuts (address and info)

Toms River
Pro tip to prospective business owners: if you can’t come up with a name, consult the children. When Dominic Livolsi opened Uncle Dood’s two years back, he used the nickname his nephew gave him to sell the place. From the looks of it, his plan worked, although we do think his wild donut creations had a little something to do with his success. Those include the Nut Tellin’ Ya (Nutella icing and cinnamon sugar), Bed Rockin’ (vanilla frosting and Fruity Pebbles), and Vermont Swine (maple icing and bacon bits). Clearly, this dude is just good at naming things across the board.

New Mexico

Whoo’s Donuts (address and info)

Santa Fe
Finding a dark chocolate-glazed donut is a non-issue. Maple bacon? Also a cinch. But Whoo’s has both those things on the same donut plus chili brown sugar. There’s no way you’ll find anything like that outside of Santa Fe.

New York

Dough (address and info)

Brooklyn and New York
You know you’re doing something right when The New Yorker, which is typically more concerned with publishing jokes Frasier would love than anything about donuts, devotes an entire feature to your shop. Fany Gerson opened in Bed-Stuy five years ago and Dough utterly exploded. Now, it’s got three additional Manhattan locations and a Smorgasburg residency. It’s impossible to go wrong with any of its creative flavors (oh hey, chocolate with Earl Grey), but if you ever stumble across an available blood orange, get it immediately.

North Carolina

Monuts Donuts (address and info)

Durham
It’s frankly shocking Wes Anderson hasn’t made a movie about Monuts Donuts yet, considering it started out as a tricycle-operated stand in a farmers market. The current chalkboard boasts autumn-friendly selections like Apple Cider and Orange Velvet (that’s pumpkin and cream cheese), plus beer nerd-friendly flavors like Double Chocolate Stout. Which you can drink with real beer, since Monuts has its own beer and wine menu.

North Dakota

Sandy’s Donuts (address and info)

Fargo
Remember those “dirt” pudding cups with gummy worms from when you were a kid? Sandy’s has a Dirt and Worms donut to make your feel young again. But if you’d rather not eat gummy worms before noon, and want something, you know, more reasonable, there are still plenty of glazed and marble cake options at your disposal.

Ohio

Bill’s Donut Shop (address and info)

Centerville
Two words: pretzel donuts. A few more: they’re the most famous item at Bill’s, they’re hand-twisted, and you need to get your hands on one, pronto.

Oklahoma

Polar Donuts (address and info)

Oklahoma City
Don’t worry, the pastries at this OKC shop are anything but frigid. Polar Donuts serves buttery, pipping-hot spudnuts every day starting at 5am. The place is run by Younts Waters, an Air Force vet who served in the Gulf War before pooling his life savings to open his own donut haven, which now boasts trademarked originals like Strong Pimp Hands (a sort-of bear claw with apple-cinnamon filling) and Camel Toes (two fused donut squares with cherry filling).

Oregon

Blue Star Donuts (address and info)

Portland
Plenty of people will still insist that Voodoo is the Portland place for donuts. Those people have never been to Blue Star, whose Facebook cover image alone is enough to make you a lifetime convert.

Pennsylvania

Federal Donuts (address and info)

Philadelphia
Federal Donuts makes wonderful coffee, donuts, and chicken, but only one of those things made the name. There are several reasons for that: the grapefruit brulee, lemon ricotta, and strawberry lavender donuts, to name a few, but we also appreciate the delicious ode to Dale Cooper the place mounted last year.

Rhode Island

Allie’s Donuts (address and info)

North Kingstown
Before we sell you on how excellent Allie’s is, we must issue a disclaimer: the shop is currently closed while it undergoes state-mandated construction. There’s no official reopening date yet, but Allie’s is hoping to be back in business by Halloween. Now that we’re sure you won’t go pounding on the windows just yet, here’s why you should once things are in order. Allie’s takes its sprinkle game seriously, as you can see in this blindingly pink image above. If you believe the hype, the best Boston cream donut here is the best you’ll ever eat in your life. Plus, there’s beer here.

South Carolina

Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts (address and info)

Charleston
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of Charleston, Allison Smith could’ve taken her career a number of different ways. Ultimately, she decided to open this donut shop, and the world is better for it. Smith has managed to distill already-popular foods like lemon meringue pie, French toast, PB&J, and tiramisu into fried-dough form — and she’s also not afraid to get a little edgy with curried cocoa and Chinese 5 Spice.

South Dakota

Jerry’s Cakes and Donuts (address and info)

Rapid City
The family-owned bakery has been going strong for 20 years and with any luck, it’s got another 20+ left in the tank. After all, the people of Rapid City need their Oreo donuts.

Tennessee

Fox’s Donut Den (address and info)

Nashville
Nashville locals have fallen so hard and fast for Fox’s, they’ve even taken engagement photo shoots there. And although both parties in that couple were human, you might be inclined to straight-up propose marriage to a baked good once you’ve eaten a Fox’s apple fritter. Or Simpsons donut. Or hazelnut. Or…

Texas

Gourdough’s (address and info)

Austin
Gourdough’s takes the concept of savory donuts to dizzying levels. Of course there’s this bacon-topped business (the Flying Pig), but for something truly different, try one of the “donut entrees” like the Mother Clucker, an outrageous combination of fried chicken, honey butter, and freshly fried dough.

Utah

Banbury Cross Donuts (address and info)

Salt Lake City
You can’t eat just one of these donuts. Maybe one cinnamon crumb, followed with one strawberry frosted, and then one old-fashioned to balance it all out. You could get a coffee for dipping, but the chocolate milk is a far superior option.

Vermont

Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts (address and info)

Manchester Center
The quaint, old-school vibes (the letters out front are even mismatched) might have something to do with how far and wide this name has spread, but we have a sneaking suspicion it’s the cookies and cream cake donuts that keep luring people into Manchester.

Virginia

Sugar Shack Donuts (address and info)

Richmond
The upcoming opening of Sugar Shack’s sixth location in Corona Beach, FL, is exciting news for the many fans who’ve been admiring the VA chainlet from afar, so as it expands along the East Coast, let’s take a moment to appreciate its ample talents: Sugar Shack understands that crushed candy bars, sea salt, and shredded coconut all have their places atop the right donut, and also knows how to mark an occasion with themed donuts — a Tequila Sunrise for Cinco de Mayo and a Cadbury Egg for Easter. Between this and Shake Shack, we’re starting to think we should get all our food from shoddily-built homes!!

Washington

Daily Dozen Doughnut Co. (address and info)

Seattle
Wander into the Pike Place Market anytime between 8am and 5pm, find Daily Dozen Doughnut Co., and plop yourself in front of its Donut Robot, Mark II. (No really, he has a name.) Mark II churns out freshly formed dough, which then hits a bunch of hot oil, and travels on through the conveyor belt to a multi-tiered donut tree. The whole process is more soothing than a damn babbling brook.

West Virginia

JR’s Donut Castle (address and info)

Parkersburg
JR’s Donut Castle boasts 34 different types of donuts, but devoted customers are quick to recommend the Maple Cream Fill. Also, while you’re there, you might as well get a pepperoni roll, because people are equally crazy over those meat treats.

Wisconsin

Manderfield’s Home Bakery (address and info)

Appleton East, Appleton West, and Menasha
Originally started in Frank and Marie Manderfield’s home kitchen in 1934, Manderfield’s has become a locally famous, three-location brand, with help from Frank and Marie’s kids and grandkids who’ve continued the baking tradition in various forms. This is due in large part to the raised donuts, which sell out so fast the Manderfield’s recommend you call at least a day ahead to reserve yours. Trust them — they’ve been doing this for a while.

Wyoming

Cowboy Donuts (address and info)

Rock Springs
Jay and Penny Hammond and Derek and Michelle Johnson opened the shop back in 2011, when the local donut scene was rather bleak. Their brainchild’s made the scene a lot brighter now, and even got a hot cameo on Food Network Canada’s Donut Showdown.

This article originally appeared on Thrillist.

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