Seattlest Thunderdome: Top Pot vs. Cupcake Royale

Forget hot vs. not, flight vs. invisibility, and left hand vs. right hand. We've settled a far more epochal question: which beloved local pastry institution is better, Top Pot or Cupcake Royale?

It's a cruel choice, but we are cruel people. And we have voted. Two local indulgence vendors enter, one local indulgence vendor leaves: by a vote of 8-3, Top Pot reigns supreme.

Who voted for which, and why:
Michael: Top Pot rules and here's why: doughnuts and coffee go together like mashed potatoes and peas. Mmmm! Their old-fashioneds make me feel like reading Mutt 'n' Jeff. And that's old-fashioned. Whereas Cupcake Royale is a nice place for Kirkland moms to park the SUV and chat after yoga, before picking up the kids from the nanny. "Oh no, not a whole SLICE of cake! A cupcake? Let's split it!"

Courtney: Cupcake Royale. Some flavors of donuts might have icing, but cupcakes always have frosting. Frosting that you can lazily lick off with your tongue, or scoop up and slowly suck off your finger while staring at a stranger on the other side of the store.

Eating a donut is like going to the Deja Vu—it serves its nutritionally-bereft purpose and then you’re done, back out on the street blinking through the bright sunlight at SAM. A cupcake is a lapdance at home from a well-known lover—it takes longer to get through and you’ve got so much more to relish, starting with that wrapper you’ll have to carefully peel off it.

James: Cupcake Royale's cupcakes aren't bad, but I'd just as soon scrape off their frosting -- and the frosting is supposed to be Royale's ace in the hole. On the other hand, I have to deliberately pace my visits to Top Pot lest I end up extra bloated. I've had homemade cupcakes better than Royale's, but making doughnuts as good as Top Pot's...well, it's beyond my capabilities, at least. Top Pot beats Winchell's, Top Pot beats Krispy Kreme, it beats Cupcake Royale, and nothing beats their cinnamon old-fashioned.

Gina: Got to go with Top Pot. Recent jaunt to Ballard Cupcake Royale reinforced initial inkling that they were attempting to be nothing more than a second-rate Magnolia West. And no doubt, this bakery does not have all the bomb frosting. Double true. They need to spend less time on perfecting logo-emblazoned merchandise and work a little on their recipes. On the other hand, who ever really gets a hankering for an ovaltine latte?

Margaret: Top Pot! The doughnuts are always delicious. Handcrafted, flavorful, dangerous. Also, doughnuts aren't something I can make at home, but I can totally whip up a batch of cupcakes. Plus, the name is a palindrome!

The cupcakes at Cupcake Royale are often dry. And the frosting doesn't go all the way to the edge! I haven't been as enamored with these guys as I am with Top Pot.

Interesting side note: both companies have a Starbucks connection. Top Pot doughnuts are being sold at local Starbucks locations, and Cupcake Royale was started by a woman who used to work at Starbucks.

Donte: Royale. the cupcakes are tasty, as are the employees (in the visual sense).

Don: It's like asking "Who do you like better--The Pixies or John Tesh?" I would always choose the heavy, wholesome heartiness of Top Pot over the light mix-like cakes of Cupcake Royale. There's just a whole lot more personality in the Top Pot treats.

Steve: Top Pot, easily. Mainly because their shop on Summit is walking distance from where I live, which is fortunate 'cause I strongly prefer donuts to cupcakes anyhow. Plus, the interior design is awesome. I especially dig the downtown location, where the monorail whizzes by every few minutes (at least when it's actually in service). Top Pot!

Audrey: Cupcake Royale is far better in theory than execution. The idea of buying little cupcakes is certainly novel, but in practice, their confections are over-priced and sub-par. Meanwhile, Top Pot's donuts (I'm a fan of plain ol' glazed) have never let me down.

Jack: TOP POT. Because I attended a Three Imaginary Girls wedding party once, and it was catered by Top Pot -- Making them inherently awesome.

Dan: Actually I'm not blown away by either of these because I'm not a huge fan of cake. Top Pot are very cakey as far as donuts go and Cupcake Royal serves cakes in cups. On the strength of dry cake being worse than moist cake I have to give it to the cupcakes, though. Cupcake Royale wins.

Post-matchup commentary:
Cupcake Royale, you've got two options: you slink out of town with your tail between your legs, or you can roll up your sleeves and concoct better cupcakes. We recommend option #2. This town is world-class enough for the both of you.

Seattlest has spoken. Laud our discerning palettes, question the functionality of our taste buds, or suggest future Thunderdome matchups in the comments.