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The Salty Donut, a donut shop/cafe has recently opened their first Tampa location in Hyde Park and is certainly making an impression. They’ve had lines out the door consistently since their opening on Friday, Sep. 15, and I don’t doubt this is due to their aesthetically pleasing advertising and appearance. But disappointingly, I found that the hype didn’t match the product.
Walking into the donut shop, I was immediately thrown off by the vibe. People were rushing around each other to snag one of the few crumb-covered tables in the small building while others crowded around the entrance waiting for their orders to be called. Granted everyone was grumpy due to it raining outside, I found myself eager to just get my donuts and leave.
Despite the claustrophobia-inducing environment, I held on to the hope that walking through the rain and being crammed in the shop with what felt like the entire population of Tampa would be worth it once I got my donuts that everyone raved about.
I was wrong.
I ordered three donuts along with two iced lattes and a tea for a total of $39.84 (including tip). The first donut I tried was the traditional glazed. There’s not much to be expected of a glazed donut so my expectations weren’t necessarily high, but I would describe it as just average. It wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet and the glaze was light and balancing, but the texture was a bit doughy. This donut wasn’t bad, but you can get one of the same quality at Dunkin.
The highlight of the donuts I tried was definitely the Brown Sugar Saltcake Donut. It was the only one I tried that offered something new to distinguish it from other donut places I’ve visited. It’s a vanilla bean cake donut, so the texture was satisfyingly firm, and the flavor was a pleasant surprise. It was sweet, warm and balanced out with the salt flakes sprinkled on top. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique donut flavor that’s not completely out there.
As far as drinks go, I would stick with water. I tried a matcha latte with oat milk, a salted caramel latte and a black tea lemonade. They were all slightly sour and bitter, and just not worth the money.
Although The Salty Donut wasn’t a complete disappointment, I’d save yourself the trip. The quality didn’t match up with the prices and it’s not worth the hassle and wait.
