The morning after

Early on Saturday, July 4, a persnickety little poopface disguised as a gunman robbed the Golden Donut on Governor Drive in University City, taking cash from both the register and the hapless clerk’s wallet. The thing is that some of the money in the register might well have been mine, because I was there the day before. Nothing says nirvana like a freshly baked doughnut and a soy chai latte, so I stopped in for three seconds to complete the pastry part of the equation, never dreaming that my hard-earned scratch could possibly grace enemy hands less than 12 hours later.
But the Donut will survive this idiot’s perverse concept of the world, and handsomely so. You get to watch the baker work his magic up close and personal, as he’s stationed right behind that ill-fated register; for me, that alone dispels the smarmy image that would materialize the next day. And the fare is so aromatic you’ll think you’ve walked into a perfume factory by mistake—the delicious apple fritters actually smell like real apples, and even the colored sprinkly stuff has a sensory appeal all its own. Meanwhile, if you think you hear your name being called, you’re right. About a billion selections beckon from behind a pristine glass case, defying you to choose your favorite flavor in less than 20 minutes. A couple pastries and a cup of coffee add up to breakfast for $2 or so; some of the doughnuts sell for as little as 70 cents.  

If you’ve heard of this place before, it’s probably because it also has franchises in North Park and National City. Right now, though, the cute little UC location, at 4041 Governor Drive, could probably use some extra help, especially between 4 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day (the number’s 858-455-6844). Your kindly visit will do wonders in lifting a spot of unpleasantness incurred this past Fourth of July, when a persnickety little poopface disguised as a gunman apparently confused America’s idea of independence with his own.