Randy’s Donuts

Even if you’ve never been to Randy’s Donuts, you’ve probably seen it before. A favorite location for movies and TV shows that want a background of extreme roadside kitsch, Randy’s is a vestige of 20th century vernacular architecture — a term that refers to buildings shaped like the food they serve. In the East, The Clam Box of Ipswich, Massachusetts, is shaped like the trapezoidal box in which clams are packed for take-out orders.

So, what’s the specialty underneath this huge round oval that in fact looks something like a single Cheerio from a planet where everything is 10,000 times bigger than on earth? Yes, donuts are the thing to eat, although Randy’s also offers exemplary cinnamon rolls, apple fritters, and bear claws. The varieties of donut include the basic (and best) honey glazed regular, chocolate-covered, jelly-filled, powdered, frosted, and filled with crème. Glazed twists and sugar twists are a bit lighter than the standard sinkers, and the maple bars are superb. Bagels are also on the menu, but somehow it seems wrong to eat a bagel under a giant donut.