Tips for Dining, Eating and Food Shopping in Ontario (including Toronto and Ottawa)
Start New ThreadCan't wait for this to happen. Coming soon to Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto and Pickering.
I understand the ice cream is very good, so I'm looking forward to the Pickering location. Most likely either at Liverpool and Bayly or Whites and Highway 2.
By paulcol
on Jun 15, 2009 12:26 PM
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Actually it's a co-branding with Tim Horton's. I guess you can't wait for this to happen because you like the ice cream and options? The couple times I've had it in the U.S., I've found it to be way too sweet, almost sickly sweet base, and then adding toppings just takes it over the top. Ice cream shops just don't fly here that well year round, so I'll be watching how this plays out. They'll probably be busy in the beginning cause their schtick is entertaining for first-timers, but then I think it'll fade. Just like Krispy Kreme.
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Oh, HOW IS WISH our Cold Stone Creamery in Las Vegas has a Tim Horton's with it!!*LOL* Actually, CSC can be good, but it's rich and quite sweet. My fave is the sweet cream, mixed in with graham cracker crumbles. Delicious!
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Greg's has been doing mix ins for something like thirty years. I doubt that many people ask for it more than once.
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They are a little late to the game too...Marble Slab are popping up every where.
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went to the Marble Slab on Saturday in Markham. All I wanted was a 2-scoop cone. They didn't seem to understand what I actually wanted.
The ice cream wasn't that special, and the waffle cone was a little stale. Cost me over 5 bucks for the 2-scoop waffle cone (including tax).
I won't be back.
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We tried the one in Brampton last night.
My friend and I both thought that the 'chocolate swirl' tasted like chocolate pudding that you buy in small tubs for kid's lunches.
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Where is the one in Brampton?
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4-2880 Queen Street East.
I am not sure of the cross street as I am not familiar with the area and our friends were directing me.
Would you like me to call my friend and ask her?
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Thanks allanc
I will google maps it and see where it is
I live in Brampton and have been curious to try it since I've never tried it or Marble Slab etc. before
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Hello Duckdown,
According to my friend:
'Closest to Airport rd & Queen St. Past Chrysler Drive.'
I would be interested in your comments as to your experience there.
Enjoy.
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I am excited. I love Cold Stone and have been wanting it to come here.
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I went to Cold Stone once in California. I didn't like it at all. I agree, with GK, it was way too sweet and i didn't think the quality was very good.
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the novelty of it is fun but the quality of the ice cream isn't tops (i wouldn't expect it to be. think baskin robbins if even that), give me a cup of super premium gelato anytme but sometimes i just want sweet cream ice cream mixed with oreos, strawberries and almonds.
WON
http://whatsonmyplate.wordpress.com
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Tried an ice cream creation tonight with Sweet Cream as the base. I'm not too picky on ice creams, but it was really quite bad. Waaay too sweet - and I sampled the cake batter vs sweet cream first to make sure (cake batter ice cream is even sweeter).
On the other hand, I'm quite addicted to the Sinless smoothies. The only problem is there's quite a bit of inconsistency around what's in them depending on who makes it (referring to the Danforth location).
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this makes me so happy!
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does anyone know where in toronto the store(s) will be?
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There's one open now in the Tim's at Danforth/Logan.
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There was a 2 for 1 coupon in last week's local paper (The Mirror?) that gets delivered with all the flyers. Guess I'll be taking the kids!
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Tim Horton's on the Danforth is now serving...
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Tim Horton's at Bay/Bloor.
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Marble slab Creameries are starting to drop all over the place, the one opened in my area is packed all the time (Major Mac and Woodbine)
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No idea where they will be - here is the press release..
http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/asse...
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On on Bay SOuth of Bloor across from Manulife in the Timmys...
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Yes! And they're now serving, today? Thanks for posting.
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Mall schlock-style wretched excess in the same league as big-as-your-head cinnamon rolls. Blech!
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I am happy to report the Cold Stone location in Missisauga. It's inside the Tim Horton's at the corner of Lakeshore rd and Mississauga rd. Went last night... not too busy, I guess word hasn't traveled as fast. I agree that the signatures ice creams are too sweet, but if you were to pick your own mix-ins it's very delightful.. looking forward to making my own mix-ins this summer
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There's a Tim Horton's at Lakeshore & Mississauga Road?
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Is the one in Pickering open yet?
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Sorry - I mean Lakeshore and Clarkson Rd.
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i also went to one in california and was not impressed. it was so sweet it made me feel ill. give me film buff ice cream (roncesvalles and queen) any day!
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I heard there is a location in the Tim Hortons in Bronte (Oakville)... Lakeshore between 3rd Line and Bronte (close by the Shopper's Drug Mart/Pizza Pizza). Not 100% if it opened yet or not. I will probably try it out once but I have started getting into making my own ice cream so much funner to play with own flavours. For the times I like going out, I usually hit up the Gelato place on Kerr Street in Oakville
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Anyone have anything to say about their smoothies? Thinking of grabbing one later today.
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Just curious--how are the mix-ins different than a blizzard from DQ?
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So different!
The mix-ins are mixed in by hand and the ice cream isn't soft serve. They also have a TON of mix-in options. At least 20 and probably more.
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Huh. OK, thanks for the info.
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What are the prices like?
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Walked by Danforth and Carlaw on Saturday night and noticed that it was already open in the Tim Hortons, but didn't have an appetite to give it a try at the time. Looked like they didn't have as many flavours as they do in the U.S.
And yes it's sweet, just like all the other chains, but the fun is in choosing your own ice cream combination and the mix'ins.
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We got a buy 1 get 1 free coupon in markham this week. So we may try it out.
We have tried it in Texas and LA. Overall, my kids still liked Pinkberry yogurt over Cold Stone or Marble Slab.
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According to the ad in the Pickering paper, grand opening is for July 7. The address is 1725 Kingston Rd, same plaza as the Mandarin and No Frills, east of Brock Rd
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Anyone know if they offer their Sinless IceCreams and do they carry the fresh brownies as a mix in?
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You've got to be kidding me! In a city with so much variety people are EXCITED that another massive chain is invading the local industry??
I'm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where we have a few CSC's. It's to be expected in a town like BR, with no metropolis, no entrepreneurial feel, etc. In Baton Rouge, one scoop with a couple toppings mixed in ran about $6, which can purchase a whole gallon of ice cream at the grocer.
For people from Toronto, a huge city with tons of mom-n-pop places, to be looking forward to getting yet another faceless chain, is sad. Do not take for granted all the variety you have here, in favor of yet another chain...
By the way, their ice cream is not even very good. And for one scoop you will spend enough money to get a whole tub of ice cream at the store. Better to make your own sundaes at home.
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I tried Marble Slab and I didn't like it, much rather go to Baskin and Robbins any day.
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Like which mom and pop places for example? Any within a quick walk from bay and bloor? I thought the ice cream was very good. Obviously you can buy cheaper at the grocery store, but that's hardly the point.
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there's the dessert lady on cumberland east of bay. on the weekend i had a scoop of their fig vanilla ice cream that was tasty. they usually have around a dozen or so flavours that they change up often.
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There's a video store (can't remeber where) that has amazing ice cream. I don't know where it is because I went there when I first visited TO and didn't know where the heck anything was.
I've seen plenty of other places around town too; too many places to name. Just because a place doesn't have a big neon sign doesn't mean it's low quality or non existent.
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I think you probably went to The Film Buff. They have 2 locations. Their ice cream is supplied by Maypole Ice Cream in Etobicoke. It's also a good place to find independent and foreign films.
www.thefilmbuff.com
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Film Buff East
1380 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L, CA
Film Buff
73 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R, CA
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You're right, it was the Film Buff. There's also a cute little ice cream place on I think Dundas? Really wish I could remember where it is...
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Did they also sell chocolate? There is a place in the Junction called Delight that sells fair-trade organic ice cream and chocolates.
http://delightchocolate.ca/
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Delight Chocolates
3040 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P, CA
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Oh my gosh. I ADORE the Film Buff ice cream!!! Although the one on Roncy doesn't seem to have my favourite, Bullwinkle, anymore. Which is totally terrible.
Know what American fro-yo chain I would sell a kidney to see in the T-Dot?? PINKBERRY. I would truly sell one of my kidneys.
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Have you tried Cefiore yet?
http://www.cefiore.com/
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Ce Fiore is good - great texture! All the fruit topping looked fresh, not frozen too! I tried the acai yogurt and would get it again.
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I haven't but it looks amazing!!!
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Summers - downstairs on Yorkville "99 Yorkville" I think? easy walk from Bay and Bloor and great ice cream and sorbets, home made waffle cones and topping options..
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Isn't Summer's pretty close to there? Oops, just read OnDaGo's post.
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I would agree with you almond3xtract. I would take a carton of Haagen Dazs 5 any day over Cold Stone. I've tried it out in Boston, and their ice cream is pumped full of air. Mix-ins definitely are a novelty, but one does get over it after the first try. (though the sweet cream sounds good and perhaps worth a try).
Also, I find their pricing quite high given the quality. Huge portions though over in the US, is the Canadian version just as generous? I find everything in Canada is like a mini-me version of anything in the US (at the same price). What a shame!
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I'm not a big fan of Cold Stone but there is a new shop that offers an Interesting Asian twist on the concept. It's stir fried ice cream with various mix-ins.
http://gusta.ca/marbolicious/
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Tried a milkshake today at the one at Bay and Charles. It was delicious, and not much more expensive than the BR ones. Will definitely be going back/
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Went to the location at Bay and Bloor and really enjoyed it. For those with issues of things overly sweet, the Sweet Cream ice cream is your best bet. Despite the name it's not too sweet.
The big difference between this and what I experienced in California when these broke out around 8 years ago is the show. The Cold Stone folks in California would put on a Benihana style show doing the scooping and the mix ins on the marble slab which was kind of fun. Here it was just service and the girl taking my order seemed to be having a really hard time with the whole process and looked misreble. It still tasted the same though!
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hit up the mississauga one today (in clarkson) and i was the second in line. it seemed right when i got there, a lot of people came in right after, so good timing for me i guess ^_^
i got at small Oreosomething for $5.07. it had sweet cream ice cream, chocolate chips, oreo and chocolate sauce. and it tasted... just like ice cream w/chocolate chips, oreo and chocolate sauce. its okay, but i think a bit expensive for me.
lots of flavours of ice cream as well as toppings.
i did over hear the person mixing say that the ice cream is made fresh everyday, so that's a plus.
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I heard they're opening a Tim Horton's/Coldstone Creamery on Avenue Road where the Second Cup/Great Canadian Bagel used to be. As far as I'm concerned, they can bring it on baby. CSC is good ice cream - maybe not haute gelato quality but definitely good stuff.
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Yay! That would be great.
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Just was that site needs, another crappy chain.
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Well, the area has more than its share of independant places, most of which are completely uninspiring, or just so dated that it is difficult to work up enough enthusiasm to even try it. So any decent place, chain or not, is more than welcome in my opinion.
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I am probably not as down on chains as most of you but I don't get the hype surrounding this particular place.I would choose pretty much any ice cream joint to this place, tastes too artificial and sweet for me!
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I first experienced coldstone in Tokyo and I guess because I was on vacation I tend to enjoy more of something new.
When I went to Taiwan I saw it again and wanted to try another flavour but this time the staff their were really enjoying their job and were passing the ice cream around to each other in the air like a juggling act.
The ice cream isn't bad, but to me it's about the atmosphere and environment. The staff at the Taiwan store looked like they love their job and made me feel like I was in my youth again having sweet ice cream.
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Tried it a couple of years ago in Florida. Pretty good. Does anyone know if the ice cream here is kosher?
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It's probably not certified Kosher. Only a few locations in the US are.
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No it does not carry a hechsher .nor does marble slab , even though they say it is kosher
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Went to the one in Pickering last Saturday . . . I agree with reviewers that thought the ice cream was quite sweet. The banana one was good though, and not as sweet. Didn't bother with the toppings, liked that you could get two flavours in the smallest cup size, thought the price was okay ($2.99 for a small), portion size was on the big side, selection was pretty good (about 12 flavours, I think for ice creams and more than that for toppings). Don't know if this can really fly with our climate though, but maybe it will benefit from accessibility? It'll be interesting to see.
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omg i'm so glad you posted this... now i can get super fat on ice cream! i didn't absolutely love cold stone creamery when i was in NYC, but maybe it'll be different here (like subway is). marble slab looks pretty good and they seem to pride themselves on the quality, so i'll try to hit that up too!!
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Marble Slab compared to Stone Cold - Globe and Mail 'Globe T.O. Section' - Page M1 - Enjoy!
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Here.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/n...
DT
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It's this year's Krispy Kreme with all the attending hype and breathless salivation.
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Personally, we tried it once and that was enough.
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that's exactly how i feel!
WON
http://whatsonmyplate.wordpress.com
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I love CSC- give me the cheesecake or cake batter icecream with strawberries and I'm a happy woman. Yes, there are all the mom n pop places with their pretentious-sounding flavors that are always one-ingredient-too-many (for me, that happens to be whatever nut they decide to throw in, but I digress), but for those of us who sometimes just wanna enjoy a sweet treat with no pretensions of greatness, this is a good place.
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Tried CSC at the Danforth Tim's recently. It is on par with Baskin-Robbins for quality and they have a cool concept going for them. But their ice-cream is definitely whipped with air and not worth the steep price tag.
Give me Ed's any day of the week.
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I'm not particularly interested in anything that comes out of a Tim Hortins, but to humour my gf we, tried the danforth location a couple of weeks ago. Overpriced sickly sweet garbage whipped up by an underpaid unenthusiastic mope. You can have it.
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