Big Olaf Creamery — Restaurant in Sarasota

RUDE!!!! Unbelievable. We walked in here in a perfectly wonderful mood, on a beautiful evening, hoping to get ice cream for dessert after a nice birthday dinner. We hadn’t been to Big Olaf before, so we decided to give it a try. Big mistake, apparently. We asked how much a small cup is. The Latino guy behind the counter uttered (in a very condescending tone) “it’s clearly written right where you can see it” without actually turning and indicating where we should look. Flabbergasted, we immediately lost our interest in supporting this business and walked out, because I don’t appreciate being talked to like a child when I’m a 40 year old man being served by someone half my age, nor should someone receive that kind of treatment on their birthday. I wasn’t about to cause a scene and ruin the night... especially since my complaint would obviously be lost on someone with so little regard for respect and decency. So, naturally, I decided to retort online where it is most effective. First of all, we were not even in there twenty seconds before we were insulted. Second, there’s so much going on behind the counter, it’s sort of unclear where to look. Between the three of us, we saw some cups labeled with sizes and scoops... but not the price. And third, we were asked what we wanted before we actually found the price, so it stands to reason that our natural response was to ask for the cost upfront. But regardless of where the information is on display, consider that maybe it’s hard for some people to see. What if someone comes in who has forgotten their glasses? Do they deserve that kind of treatment? It’s literally your job to answer that question without the unwarranted snark. You have like two responsibilities: you give me ice cream and a price... and I pay you. That’s how the transaction works. As a business owner myself, I was horrified for whoever employs this man. I would never allow someone like that to represent my business. We are three upstanding citizens who came in wearing pretty formal attire after a pretty formal dinner; we remarked that the ice cream looked delicious and asked a single question — so talking down to us like we should be grateful to be in your establishment is absolutely appalling. Any decent and polite business would happily show their cups and sizes to a potential customer and gladly tell you the price. Because guess what?! THERE ARE FOUR OTHER ICE CREAM PLACES ON THE BLOCK! As such, we gladly took our business to Settimi’s Gelato and then to Ben & Jerry’s where the staff were so gracious and pleasant, and engaged in friendly conversation with us on such a lovely evening. We will NEVER return to Big Olaf and can not recommend it purely based on...

Let me break it down for you. I am from a small town in Middle TN. I am currently on vacation here in Sarasota. My family and I stopped into this establishment on our way back to the hotel after dinner. The young man that got our ice cream didn't even bother to pay half attention to our order, never asked us how many scoops, and the only time he spoke to me was when he let me know how much money I needed to give him. We sit outside to enjoy our ice cream, and another family goes into the place after us. We can hear them laughing and cutting up with the server from our seat outside, they come out still speaking with the guy. What was the difference in our two families, some may ask? I came in in shorts and a tee shirt, this guy after me, dressed in fancier clothes and had a well together family. I wonder if the server knew that my small business raked in about 10000 dollars last week, if he would have treated my family a little better. The ice cream was...

Big Olaf Creamery, Sarasota: Delicious Ice Cream, Best for Takeaway! Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota is a popular spot, and for good reason: the ice cream was great! They offer a fantastic selection of flavors, and each scoop was rich, creamy, and exactly what you crave from a classic ice cream parlor.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind for your visit. It can get a little crowded, especially during peak times, and the seating area is quite restricted. If you're looking for a leisurely sit-down experience, you might find it a bit tight. Also, be prepared that they only take cash, so make sure you have some on hand before you go.

Despite these minor points, if you want your ice cream to go, this is definitely the place! The quality of the ice cream makes any small inconvenience worth it. Grab your favorite flavor (or two!), enjoy a stroll, and savor a truly delicious treat from Big Olaf Creamery. We'll certainly be back for more...