The Battle is On!

It's the battle of high-priced, hybrid baked goods!  In a visit to the Doughnut Plant this morning I saw that they were now baking something they call a butterfly roll.  I haven't been there in months so this may not be news, but it was news to me.  Anyway, the butterfly roll is a buttery rolled yeast dough that's been sliced to look like a butterfly.  The roll was weirdly like a cross between a croissant and a pretzel, with a little cinnamon roll style thrown in.

Finding the butterfly roll inspired me to stop at the City Bakery for their pretzel croissant so I could conduct a taste test.  The City Bakery has three signature items:  hot chocolate, tarts, and the pretzel croissant.  The pretzel croissant is pretty much exactly what it's name implies -a cross between a soft pretzel and a croissant.  It's one of the city's great baked goods.

How do they compare?

Taste:  both are good, but the pretzel croissant is outstanding.
Price:  butterfly roll - $2;  pretzel croissant - $3.  Much more dough for your dough at the Doughnut Plant.
Customer service:  the guy at the Doughnut Plant is unfailingly pleasant.  At the City Bakery service is inconsistent.  This morning I had to listen to three people behind the counter discuss bathroom inventory issues in dramatically exaggerated tones before they took my order.
Atmosphere:  Doughnut Plant is mostly take-out and is usually uncrowded.  From late-morning on City Bakery can be  a real zoo.
Drinks:  Blueberry-lemonade at Doughnut Plant is awesome.  City Bakery didn't have their much-hyped lemonade, which, frankly, I don't care for anyway.
Website: both are horrible in their own special way.  Doughnut Plant's hasn't been updated in years and is mostly text.  City Bakery's has lots of pointless Flash animation but precious little information (this is especially true for the pretzel croissant link above).
Travel:  Doughnut Plant is a long way from Harlem.  City Bakery isn't close to Harlem, but it seems much closer since I don't have to switch trains and the walk is less than two blocks.

Comments

[tamasha]

I live around the corner from Doughnut Plant but haven't been in a bit - this looks like a new addition. I have to agree on the service comparison, and the blueberry lemonade IS delicious!

[Joe]

the butterfly roll was pretty good, you better go in and try one!