When it comes to the Greenpoint donut scene, there are two big players: Moe’s Doughs and Peter Pan Donuts. Both serve up a delectable selection of yeast, cake, and filled donuts, and both have super reasonable prices with most options under $3.
And there just so happens to be a bitter rivalry between the two…
Which reigns supreme? I grabbed my foodie friend Jordan for a Greenpoint donut showdown to find out.
But first, a Bit About Peter Pan Donuts…
Peter Pan Donuts has been serving fried joy to Greenpoint since the 50s, and it’s the epitome of a “neighborhood establishment.” On any given weekday morning, you’ll see a squad of retired-aged patrons lounging on the bar stools sipping coffee and noshing on a treat. I like to imagine them chatting about the “Good Old Days” whilst opining over the latest luxury high rise down by the water. On the weekends, expect a modest line of families stretching out the door, excited for their weekly donut tradition.
The menu boasts yeast donuts, baked donuts, filled donuts, and various baked goods along side breakfast sandwiches. Many of the donuts are baked using the same recipe Peter Pan Donuts used 70 years ago. But the current owner, Christos Siafakas, had sprinkled in some of his own creations to keep things fresh.
Many talented doughnut makers have cycled through Peter Pan Donuts, including Mohamed Saleh, who worked there for 16-18 years (depending on who you ask). In 2014, Mr. Saleh decided to enter the donut game himself. To the Siafakas’s chagrin, he opened his brand new donut shop right down the block…
Which leads us to Moe’s Doughs.
Stroll down Manhattan Ave and up Nassau, and you’ll get to Moe’s Doughs. The shop also has old school vibes, but it’s more “grungy hipster” than “old school diner.” The menu has a huge range of donut options, many of which the Siafakas’ claim he stole from Peter Pan Donuts. While many of the donuts are similar, Moe’s Dough has distinctively unique options that match current trends, i.e a Dubai Chocolate donut.
Even though the two shops are quite different, the rivalry lives on. Read more about it in this New York Times article).
But which reigns supreme? Let’s put these Greenpoint donut shops dough to dough…
Battle of the Classic Honey Dipped
Moe’s Doughs: Left. Peter Pan’s: right
Both classic honey dips were similar in height and circumference, they both had an even glaze, and both had a sweet yeasty flavor. Peter Pan’s, however, was a tad dry and a tad “bready” whilst Moe’s was softer with a more “melt in your mouth” sensation. The difference in texture could be attributed to freshness. However, based on this experience….
The Winner is…. Moe’s Doughs.
Battle of the Cruller.
Left: Moes Doughs. Right: Peter Pans Donuts
A cruller is a deep fried choux pastry that’s formed in the shape of doughnut. It has deep ridges, and is typically light and airy. Both crullers were similar in size and shape, and both were delightfully light with an almost eggy texture. The one from Moe’s Dough had a distinct hint of nutmeg, while Peter Pans was standardly “sweet.” Both were delicious, but I appreciated the flare of spice so….
The winner is… Moe’s Doughs.
Battle of the Wildcard….
Left: Moe’s Doughs. Right: Peter Pan Donuts
For the “wildcard” Greenpoint donut showdown round, we chose a creme brûlée donut from Moe’s Doughs and an Old Fashioned from Peter Pans Donuts. I must admit, we made a grave error in choosing such different donuts. A yeast, filled donut can hardly be compared to a baked, cake donut.
But I shall review them both nevertheless. The creme brûlée donut was the worst of the day. The filling was fairly bland and hardly tasted like creme brûlée. The old fashioned donut, however, was practically perfect. It was cakey without being dry, and had a lovely glaze to make it sweet without being too sweet.
The winner is….Peter Pans Donuts
Wrapping up this Greenpoint donut showdown…
Both Moe’s Doughs and Peter Pan Donuts are pumping out delicious donuts for very reasonable prices. In this showdown, Moe’s Doughs wins 2 to 1. However, it was by no means a home run. I think that the answer could easily change depending on the day and how fresh the donuts are, and there’s a reason why it’s such a hot debate in the Greenpoint community.
So the ultimate winner is me for getting to each so many donuts! Cheers to another foodie adventure, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.
Hungry for more Greenpoint eats? Check out a food crawl HERE!
