Handel's Homemade Ice Cream — Restaurant in Peoria

On Sunday November 17 around 9 pm, 3 of us friends went to get our ice cream on! I have never had a serious problem with Handel's, until this day! I ordered 3 banana splits, 2 small dishes and 1 large dish. My large dish (CCCD) that I was charged for, actually was a small. Unfortunately I did not notice this, until I got home and took it out of the bag! This was not the biggest issue though! It was with my banana splits! I don't know his name but it was the only male working (tall, blonde young male). When I first was walking up to place my order, this young male was outside emptying the trash cans. Next thing I see myself is him walking inside and he began making my banana splits! He NEVER washed his hands, after the trash cans and to make matters even worse, he actually put the banana on his BARE HANDS to slice it, and I dont mean that the banana was on the peel, it wasn't, it was the banana itself, that was on his bare hands! He then put it on my ice cream!! He actually sliced the banana on his BARE HANDS! I was nice enough to not bring this up to him, in front of all the other customers and brought it to his attention, at the pick up window! He was not apologetic about it at all and in fact when I told him I wanted all the banana splits to be remade, he actually was very rude about it! No sorry, no nothing! I did not think it was rude at all for me to ask to have my banana splits remade. Very...

UPDATE: In response to Handel's response, thank you for the history lesson. That explains the similarity of the layout and experience of ordering. However, that does not explain the difference in quality and freshness. Again, I am comparing this shop to a Bruster's in PA since I have not tried a Handel's in PA or a Bruster's in AZ. As I stated below, I plan on trying your ice cream again...maybe the experience was a one-off. But, if you do not believe so, and this is your standard for quality and freshness, then so be it. Thanks again for the history :-)

Meh. I gave 3 stars because the employees are beyond awesome, and the blueberry cobbler ice cream was good but not more than that. The mint chip went directly to the trash. Not minty at all and a gummy texture. Their waffle cones were overly crunchy and tasteless. This said, I am comparing them to Bruster's. We had the pleasure to try the original in PA, and OMG they are amazing. I cannot speak for the Bruster's in Glendale. I am not one to try a place just once...it could have just been a bad ice cream day. So I will try again, and I am hopeful it...

Excellent ice cream, but I didn't like the experience. They've embraced this "new normal" post-pandemic mentality, where it's not about creating a friendly, relaxing environment as much as it is a small window you're handed ice cream through, after which you're supposed to go away ASAP. To be clear: you're not allowed inside the premises anymore. And this is an ice cream shop. IN PHOENIX. There are a few slightly shaded tables across the way, not supplied by Handel's. So, if you go during the third of the year when it's over 100°F, your choice is to sit there outside and watch your ice cream melt, or run elsewhere while your ice cream melts. I thought about deducting two stars for this .... but that ice cream really is tasty.

EDIT! My feisty rant on the issues present in many establishments was hasty and mistaken and entirely inapplicable, based on Handel's prompt reply. My apologies! It's a space issue, nothing more. Still, your ice cream will likely melt between May and mid-October, unless you can eat it really fast. It's too bad, because it really...