Big Scoop Ice Cream Parlour — Local services in Alberta

I will start by saying that the ice cream was top notch and the waffle cones were superb but please read on if you want to feel like a respected customer and want your family to be safe during this pandemic. We have canceled a lot of our travels and decided to stay in Alberta and make outdoor vacations and Waterton was on our list to visit and enjoy some safe social distancing family fun hikes.

I wish I would have read the recent reviews before deciding to bring our family to this establishment. I assume that they were closed for a portion of time during the pandemic so would have thought there would be some enthusiasm to welcome people back and enjoy families coming in to treat their little ones to some ice cream goodness. Instead we felt rushed and hurried with three kids under 7 that, let’s be real, are not the quickest at deciding on a flavor. The store warns to be ready to order but there isn’t much opportunity to see what they have until you’re about to order. The older gentlemen was rude and the other two Caucasian ladies were only slightly better. My assumption is that working for an inconsiderate colleague (or owner) doesn’t help with their morale. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt here. Unfortunately my 5yr old doesn’t have the steadiest of hands and dropped his ice cream out of his cone and was belittled by the older gentlemen as he cleaned it up. It would have been no problem for us to pay for the extra scoop but I didn’t feel obliged to poor more money into this experience than was necessary.

The previous reviewers concerns regarding Covid precautions are completely valid. Although sanitizer is available at entry and there is a sign that urges customers to use it before continuing through. What the F is the point if masks are not being mandated by both customers and employees. Although the staff and some customers did not wear masks we kept all of ours on and unfortunately felt treated differently perhaps because they were unable to see our facial expressions. Regardless we are in a pandemic and to have employees, old man again, bypass the plexiglass to get in your face and tell you to decide already is unreal. Why don’t you just lick my face. We are all struggling to figure these new habits out and although wearing a mask is uncomfortable at times especially in 27 degree weather I’m glad I was wearing mine and made sure to wash it as soon as I got back to our home away from home.

It’s obvious the owner is not paying attention to Google Reviews with so many recent ones highlighting poor customer service and adherence to Covid 19 regulations. Perhaps this business should be flagged to Alberta Health so a formal review can be made. Until then I would urge others to stay clear, I know if I had read some of these I would not have taken my business there and tried out the Beaver Tails...

As a customer, I expect food safety to be a priority and for this ice cream parlor, their priorities were not food safety at all.

According to the Alberta Health Services Food Retail and Food Services Code under category 3.5 Preventing Contamination: 3.5.1 Microbial Contamination C) Food handlers shall avoid contact with exposed areas of ready-to-eat food with their bare hands and use, as much as practically possible, clean and sanitized utensils such as tongs, spatulas, disposable gloves or other food dispensing apparatus.

There was a worker who seemed to be the owner of the parlor that was cleaning the glass with a rag and rushing customers to order in a distasteful tone. After touching the contaminated rag, my group and I the watched the same worker scoop ice cream while grabbing a chunk of ice cream from the container with his unwashed bare hands and putting it inside his mouth and continued scooping as if he did not contaminate the whole container of ice cream. This clearly endangers everyone as microbes can be spread easily this way and cause food borne illnesses.

Please note that this happened on Aug 1st 2020. We’re in the middle of a pandemic here. None of the workers were wearing masks and social distancing at least 2 meters was not enforced at all. Food establishments should be following proper cleaning protocols and ensure safety of their own workers and customers.

I would recommend visitors to go elsewhere in Waterton Park as there are many wonderful food establishments that are following proper food safety protocol. Otherwise, you’d be getting a big scoop of contamination topped with sprinkles of...

Ice cream was really good for the price. However, the customer service was some what sub par. I lined up since they were not opened. When they did open the senior working their said come on in, but my workers just got in. Made me and my wife feel like he didn't want to serve us. Next time tell your customers to wait if you need your workers to settle.

Then the whole experience while being served seem like they appeared to want to get us out quickly as they can. I felt unwelcomed. Also, doesn't help if a "Karen" was behind you making back handed comments on how slow me and my wife are choosing flavours (ever heard of kids and seniors being part of your party)

I dunno if it was the smoke filled air making the people upset.

I'll probably come here again after...