Underwest Donuts

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I love donuts. Like, so much. I tried to go to Underwest Donuts about a year ago, when they first opened. However, I made the mistake of arriving a little tardy for the party, and they were all sold out of donuts. Saddest day. And while it’s taken me an eternity to get back there, I finally made it (cue the noise makers and confetti). 

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So, one of the things that makes them unique and noteworthy is their location. They’re right inside a carwash, so, you know, get your car washed and snag an artisanal cake donut while you’re at it.

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I tried four of their flavors (clockwise from upper left), Halva, Maple Waffle, Carwash Donut, Brown Butter.

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First up, we’ve got the Carwash Donut, paying homage to it’s location. It has a light flavor, the simplest of the bunch, and a nice texture, a balance of airiness and density from the cake consistency.

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Up next is the Maple Waffle. You immediately smell the warm maple scent. The maple flavor itself is subtle, and I enjoyed the addition of texture from the crumble on top, along with the Stroopwafel, topping it off like a little angel on a Christmas tree. 

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Then, I had the Brown Butter. I really liked this one, you get the brown butter flavors, and the shaved almonds on top add a nice contrast of texture and added flavor. 

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Finally, I had the Halva, which was my favorite of the bunch. Topped with halva itself, the sweet sesame flavor is on point, delivering one delicious cake donut. 

The Shorts:
Name: Underwest Donuts
Location: 638 West 47th Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Even though I don’t have a car, I’d come back for the donuts. Grab a little bag of them and head across the street to the Intrepid to snack with a view.
Would I recommend it? While the location isn’t the easiest to get to (if you’re not driving), it’s definitely worth the trip. 

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Music City Tippler

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Upon entering Music City Tippler in Nashville’s Midtown, I thought to myself, this place, contrary to many of the very Country bars on Nashville’s Broadway, could do well in NYC. Well, go figure, it’s actually sisters to NYC’s very own Tippler that I reviewed months ago. So, it was no surprise that I liked the place. 

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You can notice similar aesthetics in the decor, the bar, and the cocktails. Country music not particularly your thing? No problem, because you won’t hear much, or any, of that here. Playing hip-hop, top 40, and some club bangers, the vibe here takes you outside of Nashville, but keeps you around all the sweetness and politeness. Ideal, right?

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To drink, I had their Del Rio (Vida Mezcal, St. Germain, lemon, maple, The Bitter End BBQ Bitters). Mezcal never really seems to disappoint me, and certainly didn’t in this drink either. You definitely get the smokiness, which is pushed further with the BBQ bitters, but then a nice sweetness from the elderflower and maple. 

The Shorts:
Name: Music City Tippler
Location: 1922 Adelicia Street, Nashville 
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Yes, Nashville is awesome, but this bar gave me a little piece of NYC.
Would I recommend it? Definitely. Good crowd, good tunes, good drinks.