When I was younger, this shopping strip at the corner of Dan Jones Road and U.S. 36 was one of the…read morevery few strips around this area. Yes, that means I'm old. However, I was feeling a bit nostalgic during this past weekend's trip to Putnam County and decided to stop and really check this retail strip out. I spied The Fudge kettle and knew I had to stop. The Fudge Kettle was started in 2020 - what a time to start a new business, eh? Despite the challenges, it thrived in a different location before locating to this spot in 2023. This is a former Jack's Donuts and it reportedly offered The Fudge Kettle about twice the size of its previous spot along with a variety of other perks. In case the name isn't obvious, The Fudge Kettle specializes in candy, fudge, local crafts, and a variety of other products. Despite being an older strip center, accessibility is pretty strong here with ample parking and curb cuts. The double-sided glass doors are pretty manageable. I found the interior to be nicely designed. I'm a fan of fudge and definitely had to try the fudge while here. Absolutely a delight. You can also get chocolates, freeze-dried candies, and some national brands like Pez, Necco Wafers, Buns, Boston Baked Beans, Rock Candy, Candy Cigarettes (Yes, I'm old enough to also remember when candy cigarettes were considered cool), and more. Local crafts include candles, keychains, t-shirts, wreaths and more. I'm a huge candle fan and I definitely prefer supporting local. So, this is a great find. I will note that new owners took over - I believe in 2023. It seems like there's some shifting going on and the website indicates that new products are coming soon. However, I liked what I saw here and the employee I dealt with was friendly and helpful. I found the prices to be fair, the quality to be amazing, and this just feels like a really welcoming spot. This shopping strip is a little more off the road than most. You really have to look to see The Fudge Kettle, however, it's definitely worth looking for and making a quick stop. Will I return? Absolutely.

I love this shop so much! Very welcoming and a large variety of items! The owner is very caring and…read morehelpful! Love the warmed candies pecans for sale by the register! Plenty of sugar free options. Love the selection of honey spoons for teas and coffee and they recently started selling boba to place in your favorite drink! Chocolates, fudge, taffy, rock candy, the list goes on as to what you'll find here! Earring, travel mugs, so many things I can't list them all. Did I mention the cherry lime twist whip that's dairy free gluten free and vegan!? Yum!!! Be sure to grab a basket when you enter the shop!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE! I have tried everything on this menu and it's delicious. So much flavor and spice!…read moreI love the buffalo Mac and cheese and the avocado chop salad! The Piada's are so good and filling. The place is always clean and the workers really love their job. Will be coming back!

Tried Piada for the first time recently and was pleasantly surprised! The pastas we ordered were…read moreflavorful and satisfying, and the Loaded Mac & Cheese was definitely my favorite. The portion sizes were generous for the price, which made it feel like a great value. Service was also quick and efficient, even though we stopped in near the end of the day. While the dining area wasn't at its absolute cleanest at that hour (which is understandable), we were still able to find a clean table and enjoy our meal without any issues. We will definitely be back to try more of the menu!

Carrot cake ice cream…read more Banana pudding cheesecake Strawberry shortcake cheesecake Churro sundae Always friendly service and we love to try the new, unique flavors. Popular place for good reason and always clean inside.

We thoroughly enjoy Danny's Mexican ice cream! I couldn't tell you how many times we've been to…read morethis place. It's always nice to go to a place where they give you the option to try their menu items. There are typically 40+ ice cream creams to choose from so sometimes taking a sample is great. My favorite is the coconut ice cream! It's creamy and dreamy and something I want every time I go. They do not have it every time. Today was one of those times. I decided to go with the Nutella and peanut butter. Of course it did not disappoint. They are always friendly and the service is quick. There are a few tables inside and a couple outside if you want to enjoy your ice cream on location. If you've not, tried them yet run and get your ice cream today!

My daughter has ordered cookies from here before and I was driving past and decided to stop in…read more They have a welcoming, friendly staff and loads on offer. I got two cookies - snickerdoodle and chocolate caramel and a cheesecake. The inside of the store is bright and fresh and doesn't feel too crowded. I almost forgot to get a picture of what I got but I can say the cookies were great, not too sweet and the cheesecake was the perfect texture.

An amazing selection of goodies all through the year! Helpful and friendly staff! I stop in…read morewhenever the mood strikes me day to day, or for holidays and special occasions. And I always manage to find a new and intriguing product which I must try, even if it wasn't what I came in for. I love to browse!

Let me count the ways I love working with Marsha! She's so accommodating! I chose her from my…read moreexperience of meeting her from a previous Yelp event. I loved her story and I wanted her to be part of the non profit conference I was putting on for women. She made everything so easy and communicated with me the whole way. I never had to worry about anything! They were on time for breakfast and lunch and everyone raved about their food!! And her cookies? The very best!

Marsha is the absolute sweetest! The cakes are beautiful and so tasty. Highly recommend supporting…read moreher business!

I've joked about the donut wars going on in Avon, Indiana as my life has taken me through Hendricks…read moreand Putnam counties quite a bit lately. Avon has at least four donut shops within 1-2 miles of each other - Parlor, Dunkin, Pana, and Carl's. Of these, Carl's is clearly the "local" shop. It has the look and feel of a gathering place. While the others do offer sit-down dining, especially Parlor, Carl's feels like a smalltown donut joint with its simple but pleasant decor, lower pricing, and comfortable but pleasing service. Carl's Donuts & Bakery is a locally owned donut shop (Pana is also locally owned, though a growing chain). Carl's also doubles as a cafe and also serves other breakfast items alongside its donuts. The major plus to this approach for a guy like me is that fountain drinks are available including iced tea. I'm constantly dismayed how hard it is to get iced tea in donut shops. I was dismayed to read Jen F's review noting poor customer service as my experience was quite the opposite with customer service being a key strength. The basics: Carl's is located in what looks like a small office complex with a mix of retail and personal service type businesses. It's toward the back. There's some accessible parking and appropriate curb cuts. There's a double entry with glass doors that were pretty easy to manage. As you enter, a dining area is directly to the front of you and to the right side. To the left is the ordering area - I think I goofed up at entry - you begin toward the back and then exit out the front path. I went in through the front, though there wasn't a line and no one said anything. The employees asked if I was ordering breakfast or donuts. I typically get 2-3 donuts and a drink. I stuck with this plan, however, given the comfy atmosphere opted to dine in. I haven't had much time to rest recently and it was nice to sit down. I felt a little out of place (everyone else was clearly local), though everyone was friendly. I ordered chocolate covered yeast donuts and a fountain unsweetened iced tea. They offer discounts, it seems to military, teachers, and first responders. The donuts had a slightly thicker yeast than some that lean toward fluffy. These were more substantial. The chocolate reminded me of Titus Bakery. The iced tea was great - no clue on brand. I could have stuck with two donuts instead of three and been satisfied. The service was a top feature here for me. They were friendly, helpful, and patient as I figured things out. I watched them easily serve a group of senior males gathering in one corner (pouring coffee, etc.). Carl's does not have a drive-thru. Their Facebook indicates they offer curbside pick-up. In future visits, I'd likely experiment with donuts. This particular chocolate is not a favorite for me. I enjoyed it, but I'd easily experiment. There's no doubt I'd return for the service. At a time when I've recently lost my last family member, it was nice to be in a comfortable, welcoming, and warm environment. It did my spirit good. I would also love to return to enjoy a meal here. Carl's wasn't packed, but it was steady throughout my visit and it's clear that Avon loves its donuts and it loves its smalltown gathering spaces.

Carl's is a locally-owned combination cafe and donut shop located in a little strip mall in Avon…read more The donuts are no secret as we followed a line of cars into the parking lot on a Sunday morning. There was a line of people waiting patiently to select their donuts when we walked in. There were many cases filled with fresh donuts, fritters, danish, turnovers and more. Two clerk were assisting customers, most of whom were buying several dozen donuts. I got a glazed donut and my husband got an apple fritter. The fritter was bigger than his head. My glazed donut was a cake donut. It was light with a perfect glaze. The apple fritter was like a coffee cake with lots of apples and a glazed topping. He shared the fritter with our granddaughters. There was plenty to go around. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have daily meal specials. The lady in line ahead of us said the pork tenderloin is the best in town. Pork tenderloin is only served Monday-Thursday. We'll have to come back. They have about 20 tables for eat-in dining. There is a unisex restroom. Stop #4 of the donut trail will require a return visit.

the APPLE FRITTERS !! best in all of Marion and Hendricks…read morecounties ! great donuts (cake, old fashioned, glazed, etc) but the APPLE FRITTERS !! Did I mention the APPLE FRITTERS ! ?? go Early ! APPLE FRITTERS ! your welcome : )

I have been at this location several times and have always received very friendly and fast service,…read morewhich is more than I can say for some of the other locations. My top contenders hers are the Cronut, the apple fritter and the old-fashioned glazed. And since I can never decide on which one to get, I tend to get all 3 and eat them all even so I probably shouldn't.