Best doughnut to go

Hungry for a challenge? Say the phrase "unique franchise" and try not to feel like a doofus. (Been to an especially memorable Arby's recently? We didn't think so.) But stop by the Winthrop Square Dunkin' Donuts on a weekday morning, and you might just find yourself speaking in oxymorons. Part of what makes this place stand out is its size. Shoehorned into a tiny outbuilding at the end of an alley, the shop is just big enough for two employees. From the outside it looks like a model or a toy; from within, like the kitchen of a submarine. There's so little storage space that the shop receives doughnut shipments twice daily. Toasted bagels are out, as are croissants and other high-end menu items. But this doesn't stop a loyal crowd of regulars from lining up each morning, as many as a dozen deep. When asked why customers visit his Dunkin' Donuts instead of one of the two others nearby, the attendant replies simply: "This is a special place." The couriers, cops, and suits in line nod their agreement.

Dunkin' Donuts, 10 Winthrop Square, Boston, (617) 426-8025.