Carl's Donuts — Restaurant in Paradise

Carl's Donuts: A Legacy of Culinary Craftsmanship

Along Sunset Road, Carl's Donuts stands out as a family-owned bakery that blends traditional techniques with innovative practices, rooted in a rich history dating back to its inception in 1966 by Carl and Lyn Sanders at the Wonder World variety store. What sets them apart is their commitment to quality and our ability to balance time-honored methods with contemporary culinary trends. Currently, the third generation of the Ramsay family, Amber and Brock, meticulously uphold the bakery's heritage, ensuring that every product we offer is a testament to our culinary craftsmanship.

First Impressions & Atmosphere Upon entry, the bakery welcomes patrons with a complex olfactory profile that combines notes of sweetness and warmth, evoking a sense of nostalgia. The design ethos is characterized by minimalistic elegance; carefully curated display cases showcase a selection of pastries, while the customer service area, designed to foster a welcoming environment, makes you feel right at home. A transparent view into the operational kitchen enhances the experience, allowing guests to observe the meticulous production processes that define the bakery's offerings.

Culinary Mastery: Donuts & Pastries Carl's Donuts showcases a carefully curated menu that emphasizes quality over quantity. Signature offerings, including the classic glazed ring—characterized by its delicate structure and balanced sweetness—are complemented by other traditional varieties such as glossy maple bars and the visually appealing pink sprinkle doughnuts, which pay homage to the bakery's nostalgic roots.

Innovation plays a crucial role in the bakery's evolution. Seasonal and monthly specials, such as the crème brûlée raised doughnut—which features a torched sugar crust that offers a tantalizingly contrasting texture—and the toffee-crunch bar enveloped in dark chocolate with English toffee accents, highlight the establishment's commitment to creative culinary expression. The incorporation of flavors like matcha and chocolate in a filled doughnut exemplifies an understanding of flavor profiles and ingredient synergy.

Beyond donuts, the bakery excels in creating high-quality pastries. The almond croissant is a prime example of laminated dough mastery, filled with a rich almond paste that enhances the flavor profile. Their quiches offer intriguing flavor combinations, such as spinach and jalapeño-turkey, known for their creamy consistency and layered textures.

Final Verdict Carl's Donuts serves as a paradigm of how disciplined craftsmanship and respect for culinary heritage can elevate comfort food into a sophisticated art form. Each product, from the iconic apple fritter to the avant-garde crème brûlée donut, reflects decades of dedication, interwoven with contemporary innovations. Pairing their pastries with meticulously brewed nitro cold brew coffee further enhances the experience, offering a timeless connection between tradition...

Update: Baker’s Dozen is gone. So is their tip. This place is not worth it. Don’t take my word for it, try it out and you decide. Over rated. Below is my original review.

This was very hard to rate and give 2 stars vs 3 stars. First off, the donuts are “good” they’re not “great” or anything to write home about. I’d put this joint right with Krispy Kreme donuts since the size of their donuts are about the same if not smaller for their “classic” donuts. I came to visit because some influencer on Instagram posted that “if you want to visit a place that offers great donuts WITHOUT a back story or fancy gold leaf covered donuts, this is the place.”

Well, they DO have “specialty” donuts for an extra $0.60 up charge per donut and those donuts DO look like they come with a back story. I got 3 just to test them out and again, nothing to write home about.

Pink Box is no better and honestly, this place is just like Krispy Kreme. The other things I didn’t like is the location is DEFINITELY not easy to get in and out of so be mindful of that and be mindful that’s it’s dangerous getting in and out of their location due to where it’s located at (if you’re exiting, go right and don’t be a hero to try and turn left).

The cashier reminded me of Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad with his “what up Yo!” And the cashier also made me feel awkward when I tried tipping $1 vs 10%, 15%, 20%. I don’t know about you but this tipping business to get my donuts is a bit out of control. These kids are spoiled, even Starbucks says a sincere “thank you” when tipping them $1 and they’re getting your drink! So when the cashier got offended at the $1 tip, it reminded me of the Instagram reel “tipping in 2023”.

If you’re a person that uses phrases such as: “This is FIRE!”, “Why are you being Sus Bro?!?”, or “This is Delish (because saying delicious is incredibly long)” then this place is...

I went here to purchase donuts for a special occasion at my job, I had been searching all over the internet for a place that was different, unique and better tasting than the other well known place. I waited a week before posting this review just to make sure I wasn't still in my feels about the transaction that day. I ordered almost $100 dollars worth donuts got lack luster customer service but still kept a smile on my face but when I get to my car I discovered the individual donuts I ordered (outside of the over 4 dozen) was incorrect. The young lady realized she had made a mistake but didn't have time to take care of correcting the issue, no apology only "I'll give the correct donuts at no charge but the cashier still has to ring this up. I'm like "hmm, Okay" Cashier has to take care of the people in front of me first, Now mind you I've got over 4 dozen donuts sitting in my car. When she finally get's to me she tells me the cost and I explain to her that there shouldn't be a charge. She tries to locate the other girl but to no avail so I said just forget it I'll just pay for them (got over 4 dozen donuts sitting in a warm car!) Then poor thing couldn't figure how much cash I should get back, I felt sorry for her but had to go so I told her just keep the change. And the kicker is they tasted like any other donuts I've had. Co-workers were happy to get them and said they'd always wanted to try them but they weren't as impressed as they thought they would be. Probably won't be going back although they are near my job they open the same time my shift starts. But hey the OTher place is also nearby. Thanks for the...