Charbonos — Restaurant in Avon

Overpriced, terrible food, and terrible drinks. I really hate to say something like that, but that's the experience I had tonight (21 Oct 2020).

When we arrived and placed our drink orders, the server wasn't able to bring us bread until probably 15-20 minutes later. And she forgot the oil and spices mix, which she said she would go and get right away. Which she did not. The bread itself was under-cooked and slightly gooey inside.

My wife had a wine, so no comment there. But my drink was supposed to be an old-fashioned. Hands down, the worst old-fashioned I'd ever tasted.

Eventually, 30 minutes after we'd arrived, or entrees arrived. I had ordered the chicken parm, and basically EVERYTHING was wrong with it. First, the chicken was more like an overcooked tough chicken-fried-steak. Second, they put maybe a teaspoon of marinara on each of the two pieces of chicken, and another teaspoon on the pasta. It's like they ran out of marinara in the kitchens or something, and were rationing it like we were in Leningrad 70 years ago. Third, where the heck was the parm on my chicken parm!? Chicken parm is supposed to have a layer of gooey cheese on it, but here they probably had a teaspoon of shredded parmesan from the grocery store just sprinkled on top. At this point I realized they were very clearly being stingy with the ingredients. Finally, my side dish of mushrooms and spinach was absolutely horrid. They'd clearly just popped open a cat-food-sized can of mushrooms from the grocery store and mixed it in with some blanched spinach. It was gross.

As for my wife, she ordered the scallop pasta. And they put 3 scallops in it. I mean, I get it, scallops are expensive or some such. But only THREE scallops? In a dish that costs 28 dollars?! Give me a break, dudes. Our entire dinner feels like they're taking every single measure they can to cheap out on us.

So at the end of the day... two entrees and a side, an appetizer, and two drinks, brought us to an $81 meal, pre-tip. I honestly felt completely robbed.

I'm not going to say that this experience "ruined my birthday". We actually ended up laughing about how bad the food was, and found it very amusing that after being diligent and avoiding public spaces for the past 9 months due to COVID, when we FINALLY decided to go out for a rare celebration, it ended up being a complete crud-shoot.

Yeah. We're never...

Charbono’s in Avon, IN - Five Stars!

As an over-the-road truck driver, I've eaten at countless places across the country, but Charbono’s in Avon, IN is a true diamond in the rough. This place is a trucker's dream come true, and I can't help but give it a glowing five-star review. 🚛💨

Charbono’s is the perfect pit stop for any trucker looking to refuel both their rig and their stomach. The food here is so good, it makes my engine purr! The steaks are tender enough to make you forget about all those potholes on I-65, and the pasta dishes are smoother than a freshly paved highway. 🍝

The service at Charbono’s is top-notch, and the staff is friendlier than a CB radio on a lonely stretch of road. They know how to keep a trucker happy, and they always make sure my coffee cup is as full as my fuel tank. ☕️ The ambiance is cozy and welcoming, making it the perfect place to unwind after a long haul.

One time, I was hauling a load of inflatable pool toys (don't ask) and decided to stop at Charbono’s for a bite. As I was enjoying my meal, I overheard a couple of locals talking about a "leak" in their pool. I couldn't help but chuckle, thinking about the irony of my cargo. 🦆

After a delicious dinner, I headed back to my rig, only to find an inflatable flamingo had escaped and was sitting on the hood of my truck. I guess it wanted to join me for dinner! I took it as a sign that Charbono’s is the place to be, whether you're a trucker or an inflatable flamingo. 🦩🚛

Steak: Cooked to perfection, juicy, and tender enough to make you forget about all those rough roads. Pasta: Smooth and flavorful, like a ride on a freshly paved highway. Desserts: Sweet enough to make your taste buds dance, and the perfect ending to a great meal.

The staff at Charbono’s is incredibly friendly and attentive. They always make sure my coffee cup is full and my meal is just right. Their hospitality is as warm as a truck cab on a sunny day.

The atmosphere at Charbono’s is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect place to relax after a long day on the road. The decor is charming, and the seating is comfortable, providing a great spot to unwind and enjoy a delicious meal.

So, if you're ever rolling through Avon, IN, make sure to park your rig at Charbono’s. It's a trucker's paradise, and you'll leave with a full stomach and a smile wider than the open road.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Keep on...

First of all, I will say that I am a Cunningham restaurant group fan and VIP member. Love to support local business over national chains. Having had nothing but good experiences with CRG locations in metro Indy, I thought we should give one of their other locations a try for something a little different. With that being said, I would not go here expecting the same service and sophistication of a Vida, Provision, or any of their other excellent restaurants (I personally would not go back to this place again, ever).

Made reservations to celebrate my birthday and ended up seated in the bar with my family (I would expect walk-ins to get bar seating). Overall, food was decent, though the scallops in my pasta dish were translucent and undercooked (probably marginally better than overcooked and chewy). Service was decent. Again, nothing was particularly bad, but not the level of service and "wow" factor I have come to expect from CRG.

The biggest disappointment was the dripping water splashing on my family. Rains were heavy the day of my visit, and the roof is apparently leaky. If you go, visit on a dry day, as the server informed me the manager was dealing with at least one other leak. I alerted my server and others several times to the situation, and ended up having to remedy the situation myself by placing a napkin(s) to catch the water and stop the splashing of the drops. Never a visit from the manager, no offer for another table, and no real apology for the situation. The waitress did comp us a few deserts on a $220 bill, so I guess there is that.

Overall, if you are looking for a slight upgrade from Olive Garden, then Charbonos will likely fit the bill. However, if you are choosing Carbonos based on your CRG experience at Modita, Provision, Livery, Mesh, etc., like me, you will likely be...