Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Burger King Philly Melt

Karen 13 Comments

I’m a fan of melts in general. Creamy, indulgent cheese smothering an unctuous protein, all wrapped in a warm cocoon of toasted bread, is hard for a tummy-focused girl like me to resist. While my favorite melt of all time is the tuna melt (Let’s hear it! Tuna Fish Protein Supremacy!), I like a good patty melt once in a while, too. Unfortunately, the latest offering from a certain corpulent monarch, the Burger King Philly Melt, is not all that great.

According to BK, the sandwich features two Whopper Jr. patties topped with peppers, onions, Swiss cheese, and Savory Royal Sauce on Toasted Bread. However, there are a couple of problems here.

First, the bread is the biggest disappointment. It looks like the top is toasted to buttery perfection, but looks are deceiving here. The bread has virtually none of the texture of toasted bread and not much flavor; the look is just for aesthetics. I don’t know if they somehow failed to toast it or just toasted it very lightly, but it’s not quite right. Considering how dominant the cheese is here, having that contrasting, crisper texture would have added a lot to the experience.

Second, the Swiss cheese and the “Savory Royal Sauce” blur together to the point that I didn’t realize they were two separate entities. The overall flavor of Swiss is nice, and while it’s mild, it overpowers the sauce.

The peppers and onions were too soggy to add much texture, but to be fair, I did have to wait until I got home to eat the sandwich; maybe if you get the Philly Melt fresh off the line, the veggies will be a little crisper. I could experiment with this, but to be honest, I don’t feel curious enough to order it again. Flavor-wise, the vegetables break up the wall of cheese a little with a fresher flavor, but it’s fairly subtle; the onions don’t taste caramelized, and the green pepper is neutral as can be. Maybe the flavors would have been stronger if the pieces had been chopped larger, especially the green pepper, but as it stands, they don’t add as much as one would hope.

Obviously, the big draw here is the cheese, and in that department, Burger King delivered. The Swiss flavor is pleasantly mild, and having every bite enrobed in the cheese sauce gives you your money’s worth. They may not have nailed the Philly Melt, but they got the key component right. The only problem with the cheese is that, because it’s so mild compared to the beef, the taste of the flame-grilled patties is very prominent.

Burger King may have reached for the moon with the Philly Melt, but they didn’t land among the stars. They did, however, hit a low-altitude asteroid cluster, so it’s not all bad news. If you love patty melts, this will probably not be an incarnation that will knock your socks off. But taking a pleasant, veritable swim in a pool of liquified Swiss cheese is enjoyable enough that it’s worth a shot.

Purchased Price: $5.49
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 590 calories, 38 grams of fat, 16.1 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 100 milligrams of cholesterol, 970 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 28.3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Vanilla Frosted Donut Signature Latte

Julie Leave a comment

Dunkin’s summer menu takes inspiration from the fresh, delicious flavors of the season, like watermelon, blueberry, and…donuts? Donuts are an unconventional choice for summer only if you do not celebrate National Donut Day on June 7. If you need a better reason to embark on the spiritual journey known as Hot Donut Summer, reach with me: think of the shape of inflatable pool rings, or the treat you enjoy at work while counting down the days to your beach vacation.

The Frosted Vanilla Donut Signature Latte is a tribute to that besprinkled beacon, reminding you that better times are ahead—even if those times involve only the caffeine-and-sugar-induced euphoria that comes with treating yourself. Available hot or iced, the latte is made with rich espresso, milk, and two kinds of sweet flavoring: vanilla and Donut Swirl, described on Dunkin’s website as having “notes of vanilla frosting, pastry, and donut sugar.” The signature drink is topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and rainbow sprinkles.

I ordered a hot Signature Latte on a chilly day. Removing the drink’s lid revealed fluffy whipped cream, melting against the coffee’s heat and decorated invitingly with caramel and sprinkles. In appearance, it reminded me of an ice cream sundae (foreshadowing established) with a strong vanilla aroma.

After a few sips, my notions of Hot Donut Summer had melted away just like the whipped cream. If I hadn’t known the intended flavor, I would have thought I was sipping on an Ice Cream Sundae Latte. The drink was very richly creamy and sweet—a little too sweet, especially where pockets of unmixed flavor syrup lingered at the bottom of the cup. The drink’s vanilla flavor and general sweetness were the most pronounced flavors, although the coffee wasn’t lost. Lacking any bitter notes, the coffee flavor seemed equal in ratio to the vanilla creaminess, which together reminded me of coffee ice cream. I could have dumped my cup’s contents into an ice cream maker, churned for a spell, and transferred the results to a waffle cone for a nice dessert.

As I envisioned this experiment, my mind’s library of useless knowledge released from its archives a lyric from a Beastie Boys song: “I like my sugar with coffee and cream.” If you share the sentiment, the Dunkin’ Frosted Vanilla Donut Signature Latte will be a good match for you: it is sweet, creamy, with elevated vanilla flavor, with extra sweet toppings as the icing on the alleged donut.

Don’t let my ice cream tangent make you think I forgot about the unfulfilled promise of the donut. While combining the longtime colleagues of coffee and donuts into a latte is a fun idea, the resulting product doesn’t remind me of the pastry at all, save their like sweetness. While it may be a sweeter, more dessert-like twist on your usual coffee beverage, the Dunkin’ Frosted Vanilla Donut Signature Latte feels like a missed opportunity for a unique seasonal treat to bask in the summer spotlight.

Purchased Price: $4.39
Size: Small
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 300 calories, 11 grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 39 grams of total sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Kiwi Watermelon Refresher

Marvo 14 Comments

“Can I get a Kiwi Strawberry Refresher?”

That’s how I ordered Dunkin’s new Kiwi Watermelon Refresher in the drive-thru, thanks to my mouth, which has said kiwi strawberry or strawberry kiwi so many times that it’s apparently developed muscle memories for saying them. However, despite my mouthy mix-up, the person taking my order didn’t correct me, and I ended up with the correct verdant green-colored beverage.

As I sipped on the new Dunkin’ Refresher flavor, I realized that kiwi watermelon is a rare fruit combination in the beverage world. In fact, I couldn’t even recall a product that had the two-fruit combo. This curiosity led me to delve into my extensive photo library of 26,667 Spotted product images, but my search came up with zilch.

Dunkin’s Kiwi Straw…I mean, Kiwi Watermelon Refresher is available with either green tea or lemonade. I went with green tea because my body doesn’t function well without caffeine; hence, perhaps it’s the reason why I mouthed “kiwi strawberry” instead of “kiwi watermelon” since the beverage was my first kiss of caffeine of the day. Oh, for you lemonade fans, Dunkin’ announced that it’ll now be a permanent offering. So pucker up! A large size with green tea has 132 milligrams of caffeine, which is surprisingly high for something with green tea. I wish Arizona Green Tea had that much.

The grassy green color without a hint of red watermelon gives a clue as to how this beverage tastes. The dominant flavors are kiwi and green tea, and I’m not sure I ever noticed the watermelon. Although there’s a slight sourness, which could’ve come from the kiwi or watermelon. Even though it tasted like it was missing the melon flavor, I thought it still was a delicious and refreshing drink. A kiwi and green tea mix is quite good.

If you need a sweet, tasty beverage that color coordinates with Dunkin’s new Green Goddess Wrap or a pick-me-up that quenches your thirst, Dunkin’s Kiwi Watermelon Refresher is a great option.

Purchased Price: $5.59
Size: Large
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 160 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 37 grams of sugar (including 37 grams of added sugar), 1 gram of protein, and 132 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Green Goddess Wrap

Marvo 9 Comments

I’m not a goddess. Nor am I a god, so trying Dunkin’s new Green Goddess Wrap feels weird. But, then again, you can’t spell Goddess without odd, which I absolutely am, as you can tell from this nonsensical introduction, so I guess I shouldn’t feel weird reviewing this.

According to Dunkin’, the Green Goddess Wrap has a satisfying mix of egg whites, farro, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, feta, and green goddess dressing, all wrapped in a verdant green lavash.

Let’s start with that spinach lavash, which doesn’t have much flavor and comes in a green color that’s not very verdant and appears more brown if the light is right. But when it’s green in my eyes, I can’t help but think it looks like a hemp wallet. Unfortunately, unlike all wallets, it didn’t do a great job at completely keeping in its contents. The Green Goddess filling squeezed its way out of the wrap through any possible opening. So eat over a plate or keep it in the sleeve it’s served in.

After a 24-minute drive home from my nearest Dunkin’ location, it retained a decent amount of warmth. Full disclosure: This is my first time with a Dunkin’ Wrap. Because this was my first time, I was surprised by its almost square shape. When my head thinks of wraps, foodstuffs shaped like burritos, not wallets, come to mind.

When I cut open the hemp wallet, my eyes could point out the sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, some farro, and egg whites. But I was a bit disappointed that the filling didn’t have a green tint to it from the green goddess dressing. But that could be forgiven because this wrap is tasty. My taste buds mostly noticed the garlic and basil in the dressing, and they also tasted the sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and egg whites. However, the feta didn’t contribute much flavor. But that doesn’t matter because I thoroughly enjoyed what this hemp wallet offered. Overall, the filling’s flavor kind of reminded me of a spinach artichoke dip but slightly milder.

If my review convinced you to try Dunkin’s Green Goddess Wrap, and it’s between May 15-31, 2024, Dunkin’ Rewards members can try it for three dollars. Definitely worth it if you get it for three bucks, but not so much if you happen to pay almost seven smackers.

Purchased Price: $6.89*
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 260 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 900 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 1 gram of added sugar), 15 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Domino’s New York Style Pizza

Tiffany 15 Comments

Where can you find Domino’s hometown, Joe’s Pizza’s first non-NYC location, the OGs of Detroit-Style pizza, AND Little Caesars’ hometown within a 30-mile radius?

The lower “thumb*” area of Michigan, of course! And I just happen to reside in this microcosm of pizza. So when Domino’s introduced its New York Style Pizza, I felt particularly compelled to try it because of Domino’s hometown roots AND because there’s a legit NYC institution (Joe’s Pizza) down the street.

Domino’s offers five types of pizza crusts: pan, hand tossed, crunchy thin, gluten free, and now New York Style.

Ordered as-is, the New York-style pie was an X-large 16″ pizza with the standard “Robust Inspired Tomato Sauce” and a cheese blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and provolone. It was also cut into six slices, rather than eight, to enable folding.

Compared to the regular hand tossed, it was noticeably flatter and less seasoned looking. This wasn’t surprising as the hand tossed crust includes a garlic-oil seasoning blend. Unfortunately, this visual translated to a lack of flavor. It was rather bland and cardboard-like, especially with the thinner nature of it. Also, despite the robust tomato sauce (rather than the hearty marinara sauce), it didn’t impart any robust flavor.

Domino’s achieved the texture, though! It folded nicely, stayed firm, and wasn’t super greasy. I must mention that I clearly did not test it with any other toppings except for cheese, so the foldability was not rigorously tested. While I would test this further, none of the other toppings really interested or screamed NYC to me. Like, where’s the white pizza at?!

However, if we’re really nitpicking here, while the texture was foldable and structurally sound, it lacked that slight chewiness and springiness in the classic NYC crust.

If you want to switch up crusts, why not try the New York Style? I won’t stop ya. But if you’re on the fence, I don’t really find it worthy of replacing your go-to order.

*Because the physical state of Michigan is shaped somewhat like a mitten (Mitten State!), Michiganders use their hands to show where they generally reside – e.g., the thumb area, the palm area, the fingertips, etc.)

Purchased Price: $13.99
Size: XL (16”)
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (199g) 510 calories, 24 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 1050 milligrams of sodium, 48 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 5 grams of total sugar, and 23 grams of protein.