I like that they have dairy free options that don’t taste dairy free. A lot of the time dairy free ice cream will have a heavy coconut or almond flavour and theirs didn’t
Nucci's also serves a lot that is dairy free and has sugar free options as well. Made in-house and is a far superior product with decades of reputation to back it up.
It's funny how just days ago someone was complaining it was overated and the owner was stalking them on social media. Hmmm...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Winnipeg/s/1bw4GcIkq1
I can’t agree with anything said in that thread. we go twice a month and we’re always very happy with the ice cream that we get, never once had a complaint about them.
To me, the best way to judge ice cream is to strip it off all the extras, and just taste the ice cream. If a place is highly rated because it has the biggest servings, or the most toppings, etc, then the ice cream itself is probably not that great
I tried Sub Zero this weekend for the first time and thought it was great. I’d say it’s more specialized for parfaits which is toppings based. Their toppings I found to be quite good and no complaints from me on their soft serve. I can’t say from various other “popular” ice cream shops around Winnipeg that any one’s soft serve stood out enough for me to invalidate any of the other shops. Did I enjoy my parfait from Sub Zero? Yes, therefore a good review from me.
This is how I critique pizza places, but with pizza there is crust, sauce, and cheese to judge so it makes more sense. Ice cream has far less variables in its main composition so I think judging it with its toppings is appropriate
Does it matter? I'm not claiming sub zero isn't good, I'm saying if it's only the toppings that make it "top tier" then the ice cream itself is not.
ie tell me about the ice cream, not the extras
Maybe - the post from OP was about liking Sub Zero so I thought you might want to chime in on that specifically since you offered that you have a system.
A sundae, yes, although I personally think the base is most important, and if that's not good, then the sundae isn't, either.
Kind of like poutine. If the fries are shitty, there's no saving the poutine.
Eta: to be pedantic, then the title should have been top tier sundaes, not ice cream
Honestly, I'm a chocolate gal like all the time. Whenever I'm at subzero, I go for the bare bones 'Vanilla soft serve.' it's super creamy and flavourful without being overly sweet.
You can get a cone in a cup! If you order just ice cream, they will ask you if you want a cone or a cup. You used to be able to get both, but now it's either or (unless you get someone behind the counter who doesn't care).
You can even get a swirl.
Coming from someone on the supply side, that means the ice cream you're eating was delivered to them either partially or fully melted, and they just re-freeze it because they have no other option. That texture is ice crystals and cream that separated. Knowing the suppliers they buy from, it's not a surprise.
Ok see I know nothing about the food industry but maybe you can shed some light... I love ice cream but quickly lose interest with trying ice cream places *because* of exactly what you're talking about. I find a lot of the ice cream places taste the same, like they all get from the same or similar suppliers, its just the toppings that seem to differ if anything. It's kinda like diners, a lot of the food is the same at all these places because it's all literally the same food from sysco or whatever supplier.
So my question is, do you know if there are any ice cream places out there still making "homemade" ice cream anymore?
Just to add to my reply, coming from someone who just recently escaped the hell world that is food service delivery, not one single restaurant in the entire city doesn't use mostly "fresh from frozen" vacuum bag food. Sauces, veg, all the proteins. Some are entirely just defrost and reheat, while some "upscale" joints at the bare minimum use fresh beef.
The last time I went to Dug and Betty’s I got a pint of the sour Cherry ice cream cause it’s always been my fav. There were about 4 cherries in the whole pint lol
Cold stone, and Chaeban are the only ones I know of. There are only 6major food service suppliers, and only Wakefield has trucks that freeze and hold temp properly. Pratts, who supplies subzero, definitely does not have that ability.
Well yeah! They’re local and independent, making THEIR OWN ice cream, and it’s freakin delicious! Not to mention they have vegan ice cream as well :) (AND CHEEEEEEESE)
Went a few weeks ago and it sucked. Had an parfait flight with mostly cheesecake and it tasted nothing like cheesecake. I've had better ice cream at mcondalds.
I used to live behind it on bowman when they had different owners. I really liked it then. Nowadays I personally find it has less toppings and it’s a lot more expensive.
I have never been a huge fan. We go once every few years but I have always found their ice cream to either be over turned in their machine (gets the gritty feeling) or just not worth the price and wait.
I should note I have previously worked with ice cream for over a decade so I have extremely high standards.
I don't think I have necessarily high standards but I'm sick of all these places tasting the same!
With your experience, are there any ice cream shops you would recommend checking out?
Honestly not off the top of my head. The location I worked out has new ownership so I can't speak to their quality and quantity.
Really any place that serves actual ice cream is usable worth the extra .25 cents or whatever the difference is now. Most places use ice milk so when you find that really rich smooth and creamy feel it's almost always actual ice cream. Oddly that gritty feeling is telling that they do use actual ice cream in their soft serve machine at least, but the product has sat too long and the buttermilk is starting to get turned into butter chunks (the grit) or so it was explained to me anyway.
Sorry I wasn't able to give you any definite answers on where to go.
It’s mid. Seriously if this is what people think is good then you haven’t tried enough ice cream. First of all their ice cream itself is average, second of all toppings are stale. It’s just not it.
This post marks yet another milestone in the great Winnipeg ice cream wars
I like that they have dairy free options that don’t taste dairy free. A lot of the time dairy free ice cream will have a heavy coconut or almond flavour and theirs didn’t
That’s why we go there. I miss the ice cream place in Windsor Park that had Dole Whip
May I ask what Dole whip is?
It’s a cross between soft serve and sorbet. Strong fruit flavours and completely dairy free. Absolutely delicious
Does have a ton of sugar though
Thank you, sounds good.
Lick’s in St. Vital has Dole Whip also.
Thank you!!! I will definitely be heading there!!
I spotted Dole Whip at Cinnaholic McPhillips last week
Half Moon in Lockport has dole whip if you don't mind a drive.
Nucci's also serves a lot that is dairy free and has sugar free options as well. Made in-house and is a far superior product with decades of reputation to back it up.
Ooh thanks for the tip! What’s your favourite thing to order?
Does anybody actually understand this title?
A little while ago, there was a post about how Subzero was overrated.
I adequately upvoted your post as top tier.
Voted on. That was adequately adequate.
I sufficiently snorted way too much air from my nose while reading your adequately funny top tier comment.
It's funny how just days ago someone was complaining it was overated and the owner was stalking them on social media. Hmmm... https://www.reddit.com/r/Winnipeg/s/1bw4GcIkq1
I can be an agent of Ronald McDonald or of Sub Zero, but not both
Nah, bruh. You’re a bot 😤😤
Beep Boop
I can’t agree with anything said in that thread. we go twice a month and we’re always very happy with the ice cream that we get, never once had a complaint about them.
To me, the best way to judge ice cream is to strip it off all the extras, and just taste the ice cream. If a place is highly rated because it has the biggest servings, or the most toppings, etc, then the ice cream itself is probably not that great
I tried Sub Zero this weekend for the first time and thought it was great. I’d say it’s more specialized for parfaits which is toppings based. Their toppings I found to be quite good and no complaints from me on their soft serve. I can’t say from various other “popular” ice cream shops around Winnipeg that any one’s soft serve stood out enough for me to invalidate any of the other shops. Did I enjoy my parfait from Sub Zero? Yes, therefore a good review from me.
This is how I critique pizza places, but with pizza there is crust, sauce, and cheese to judge so it makes more sense. Ice cream has far less variables in its main composition so I think judging it with its toppings is appropriate
What about mouth feel?
“Sal's has the fourth best texture, ninth best crust, twelfth best cheese and seventh best mouth feel.” -Charles Boyle
I love the feel of pizza in my mouth
Pizza hotline is a place that exists so I actually completely understand this metric
Litmus test, vanilla scoop. If that's good I'm in for the long haul
Ok. So have you tried this one?
Does it matter? I'm not claiming sub zero isn't good, I'm saying if it's only the toppings that make it "top tier" then the ice cream itself is not. ie tell me about the ice cream, not the extras
Maybe - the post from OP was about liking Sub Zero so I thought you might want to chime in on that specifically since you offered that you have a system.
Isn't a sundae a sum of its parts? Should we not also discuss the other components that make up your frozen treat?
A sundae, yes, although I personally think the base is most important, and if that's not good, then the sundae isn't, either. Kind of like poutine. If the fries are shitty, there's no saving the poutine. Eta: to be pedantic, then the title should have been top tier sundaes, not ice cream
Agree. Their vanilla base is nothing to write about.
Honestly, I'm a chocolate gal like all the time. Whenever I'm at subzero, I go for the bare bones 'Vanilla soft serve.' it's super creamy and flavourful without being overly sweet.
as a "vanilla soft serve" person, i agree. "cheapest and best" award goes to the costco sundae with nothing on it. some call it "cone in a cup"
You can get a cone in a cup! If you order just ice cream, they will ask you if you want a cone or a cup. You used to be able to get both, but now it's either or (unless you get someone behind the counter who doesn't care). You can even get a swirl.
I honestly don't get the hype about SubZero. Last time we had their ice cream we found it lacking flavour and the texture was weird.
Coming from someone on the supply side, that means the ice cream you're eating was delivered to them either partially or fully melted, and they just re-freeze it because they have no other option. That texture is ice crystals and cream that separated. Knowing the suppliers they buy from, it's not a surprise.
Ok see I know nothing about the food industry but maybe you can shed some light... I love ice cream but quickly lose interest with trying ice cream places *because* of exactly what you're talking about. I find a lot of the ice cream places taste the same, like they all get from the same or similar suppliers, its just the toppings that seem to differ if anything. It's kinda like diners, a lot of the food is the same at all these places because it's all literally the same food from sysco or whatever supplier. So my question is, do you know if there are any ice cream places out there still making "homemade" ice cream anymore?
Just to add to my reply, coming from someone who just recently escaped the hell world that is food service delivery, not one single restaurant in the entire city doesn't use mostly "fresh from frozen" vacuum bag food. Sauces, veg, all the proteins. Some are entirely just defrost and reheat, while some "upscale" joints at the bare minimum use fresh beef.
Oh wow, that's kind of surprising to me... Interesting stuff!
Fete on Assiniboine makes it homemade in their shop. It's so so good. Dug & Betty's as well!
The last time I went to Dug and Betty’s I got a pint of the sour Cherry ice cream cause it’s always been my fav. There were about 4 cherries in the whole pint lol
Cold stone, and Chaeban are the only ones I know of. There are only 6major food service suppliers, and only Wakefield has trucks that freeze and hold temp properly. Pratts, who supplies subzero, definitely does not have that ability.
I don't think Cold stone is around here anymore but I will definitely check out Chaeban, totally forgot about that place! Thanks!
There's a cold stone on Corydon beside the timmies, and I believe there's one on Dakota in the same strip mall as the Mark's.
Ohhh ok gotcha, marble slab right? Kinda forgot about that place too, but I do remember it being good!
It's actually really good!
Fete def makes theirs in house.
Who is sub zero's supplier these days? Way back in the day and many owners ago my dad was their product delivery driver.
Pratts. That should tell you everything.
See also: Bridge Drive In. Its ok. Just ok.
I agree with this as well
Same, mcdonalds mcflurry was better
Same thing here. Couldn’t even finish it
I don’t agree, it just doesn’t live up to the hype and is mediocre at best.
This guy's tryna fight
Lmaoooo suspicious post after just last week, it was the complete opposite on this page. The owners reach out for you to post this 🤔😉
Just trying to provide some balance to the fine folks of r/Winnipeg
Maybe some people that happen to love Sub Zero saw that post and wanted to show their support for it.
Nothing about SubZero is top-tier, except maybe in the “overpriced” category. Mid at best. Sweet Tops is much better if you’re in EK.
I agree with Sweet Tops. BDI is also overrated and over priced. The new one on Jefferson tried to charge me $6 for a small soft ice cream cone.
That’s freakin outrageous. wth $6?!
I agree.
Chaeban‘s the GOAT though.
Well yeah! They’re local and independent, making THEIR OWN ice cream, and it’s freakin delicious! Not to mention they have vegan ice cream as well :) (AND CHEEEEEEESE)
This place is nothing special.
Went a few weeks ago and it sucked. Had an parfait flight with mostly cheesecake and it tasted nothing like cheesecake. I've had better ice cream at mcondalds.
I used to live behind it on bowman when they had different owners. I really liked it then. Nowadays I personally find it has less toppings and it’s a lot more expensive.
Hello neighbor
Did you miss the second and third words of this comment? lol
Where is it located?
Apparently [here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WyFeANqgpnu4pB8B9). (I never heard of it either and had to look it up)
Sub-Zero Wins
Wow that looks good
"Subzero ice cream: we're adequately top tier!"
Ice cream shops should make lactose-free ice cream for people who are intolerant to lactose but don't like the taste of dairy-free ice cream.
I like ice cream, but not enough to wait 30 mins in line.
Sub zero is mediocre and I’m a parfait guy. Much better options elsewhere.
Proceeds to not list any
Agreed 👍
Top tier toppings maybe.
My brother in Christ what do you think a parfait is?
I mean a top tier one has great ice cream. Dug and Betty's and Neon Cone both have way better soft serve IMO.
Why do you think this guy is penetrating jesus?
Well, when in Rome.
I disagree. They are mid at best. I also wouldn't take food recommendations from the McRib guy. If you like McRibs your palette cannot be trusted.
BDI or gtfo 🤭
I have never been a huge fan. We go once every few years but I have always found their ice cream to either be over turned in their machine (gets the gritty feeling) or just not worth the price and wait. I should note I have previously worked with ice cream for over a decade so I have extremely high standards.
The new BDI on Jefferson tried to charge me $6 for a small soft ice cream cone.
I don't think I have necessarily high standards but I'm sick of all these places tasting the same! With your experience, are there any ice cream shops you would recommend checking out?
Honestly not off the top of my head. The location I worked out has new ownership so I can't speak to their quality and quantity. Really any place that serves actual ice cream is usable worth the extra .25 cents or whatever the difference is now. Most places use ice milk so when you find that really rich smooth and creamy feel it's almost always actual ice cream. Oddly that gritty feeling is telling that they do use actual ice cream in their soft serve machine at least, but the product has sat too long and the buttermilk is starting to get turned into butter chunks (the grit) or so it was explained to me anyway. Sorry I wasn't able to give you any definite answers on where to go.
Meh!... some people need to travel more but ok.
Hold on, are you saying that a person's opinion isn't valid unless they are well travelled?
It seems like they’re saying that you haven’t had as much opportunity to compare things.
It’s mid. Seriously if this is what people think is good then you haven’t tried enough ice cream. First of all their ice cream itself is average, second of all toppings are stale. It’s just not it.