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Community Corner

America Runs on ... Sausage, Egg and Cheese Croissant

Dunkin Donuts on Route 22 offers smart breakfast options, as well as several not-so-smart options.

Springfield has its share of breakfast options, from to , from to . Some are quicker and more convenient than others.

A few months ago, when we had some time to kill before work after dropping a friend at the airport, we enjoyed a This week, we return to the most important meal of the day, but with a meal better suited to those of us who don't have an hour to kill before work – a sausage egg and cheese croissant from Dunkin Donuts on Route 22.

But before we get to breakfast, let's take a look at the lunch options. Last year, we checked out the . Several varieties are offered, from the palatable ham and swiss, grilled cheese, and turkey, bacon and cheddar, to the not-so-appealing-looking chicken parmesan.

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The sandwiches are designed for minimal mess, according to the chain's website, and we found that to be the case. In the end, we called the turkey, bacon and cheddar sandwich quick, inexpensive and a little better than expected. The oven-toasted flatbread was warm and crisp, and the cheddar flavorful, like a good sharp variety. The bacon was typical of what one would find on an inexpensive fast food burger: thin, not so crisp, but salty.

Back to breakfast: The Dunkin Donuts on Route 22 is much newer than the Mountain Avenue location, and it shows. The store offers free Wifi, and on my visit early this week, someone was taking advantage, seated at a table using a laptop. The store has three tall tables and four regular tables, but most people filed in and out, taking their coffee, donuts and breakfast sandwiches with them on the road.

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As is usually the case at Dunkin Donuts stores, the staff was quick and efficient in filling orders, almost as if they, too, run on the Dunkin Coffee (which the chain sells 1 billion cups of every year). When I walked in, I was one of three customers in the store. Within five minutes, I counted a dozen people in line.  In retrospect, I should have been healthier and ordered an egg white sandwich on flat bread from the “smart menu.” Instead, I fell for the sausage, egg and cheese croissant (690 calories, 48 grams of fat – ouch), along with a medium coffee with cream and sugar.

The first thing I noticed when the croissant was served was its color. Instead of the usual golden color one would expect in a flaky croissant, the color was a darker, drab brown—not that I was expecting fine French baking at a national chain known for donuts and coffee. In terms of flavor, this is similar to what one would get from any fast food joint. The sausage had a spicy kick to it, the egg was tasteless, and the cheese mild, with a little flavor.

The sandwich was not as easy to eat on the go as the flatbread lunch sandwiches, and the croissant left a buttery film on my fingers. It's not what I wanted on my steering wheel, but that butter added to the flavor of the bread, I'm sure.

Some indulgences are worth the fat and calories. This was not. I'm curious to try the healthier morning fare – though there's always the tried-and-true guilty pleasure: a Bavarian kreme donut and a cup of coffee.

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