Congdon’s Doughnuts Family Restaurant & Bakery

Muffins are the reigning morning pastry throughout much of Maine, but Congdon’s gained its fame for donuts (here spelled doughnuts). It’s not only a donut shop. There is a full breakfast menu, and from what we’ve seen, it looks good. (Who doesn’t like a place that will include a pot of baked beans with the meal?) Highlights include Maine lobster Benedict, Honey-bun French toast, chocolate-covered bacon, homemade corned beef hash, and an eggs Benedict breakfast sandwich. Whoopie pies (here spelled whoopy pies) are a specialty, available in single-serving size or cake-wide, feed-a-family size.

But about those donuts: Bavarian creams, sugar twists, cruellers (yes, that’s how they spell cruller here), apple cider donuts, and maple bacon fritters all are outstanding. Plain honey donuts are archetypal: fluffy, fresh, and rich, sturdy enough for dunking, but not so heavy that that three or four aren’t a reasonable number for breakfast.

Seating for meals in two dining rooms is at tables and booths. For quick donut pick-ups, there are a drive-through and a stand-up counter.

Congdon’s is open Thursday through Sunday; weekends only during winter.