Icki Sticki — Restaurant in Verona

I have been to Icki Sticki many times since they opened their location in Verona. Every time I have gone prior to my last experience, they were incredibly accommodating of my severe peanut/nut allergies. I am aware that no place is perfect and they can only do so much but at Culver’s, they’ll run a new batch of custard, at the Union at UW-Madison, they’ll open a new bin of ice cream and use a fresh scoop - but ultimately, I assume the risk.

Every time prior to my last experience at Icki Sticki, the employee would open a new bin and use a fresh scoop. However, on July 7th, this was not the case.

There were 3 employees working behind the counter including a new hire. The new hire was incredibly kind and the only reason why this is even getting a star. I let her know about my allergy and she had to ask another employee, a girl with short curly black hair, what the protocol was. She advised the new hire to do NOTHING.

This was not customary for Icki Sticki. I mentioned that previously, they were able to open a new container but the curly haired employee said no this time.

I was concerned for my safety but the new hire did everything she could. She also mentioned that the curly haired employee was difficult to work with.

Later when we were checking out, the curly haired employee was incredibly rude to the child that was with me about using a VISA gift card and begrudgingly snatched it out of her hand and 5 seconds later said it wasn’t going to work without even swiping it.

I am incredibly unhappy with this employee and will not be back as I have also shared this experience with other families, especially with those who have food allergies as they will not be met with compassion.

Do better please. Food...

"Icki" is right-- I don't recommend coming here at all until a few changes have been made. I would be shocked if there were not any health code violations.

Workers scooped out ice cream without gloves on, touching it repeatedly with their bare hands, wrists, and arms. I did not observe staff washing hands at any time, even between tasks, touching countertops, themselves, or customers.

A single pair of tongs was used for all toppings and was kept out DIRECTLY on the countertops. The tongs were not replaced or sanitized at any time during our visit. We watched as several orders had their toppings roll off of the ice cream, right back into their storage containers. You could see melted ice cream gunk sticking some of the toppings together in the bins. Gross.

Furthermore, the shop was noticeably understaffed with only 3 employees running frantically between cooking food in the kitchen, getting frozen treats, making coffee/boba/etc., and manning the drive thru at their busiest hour. The shop was so full of people that you couldn't so much as turn your body without bumping into someone. The staff and customers were all visibly stressed.

I feel horrible for the staff. Whoever runs this business isn't, at this time, doing enough to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment. Nor customer experience.

tl;dr - If you have any allergies or dietary needs, this is NOT the place for you. If you're concerned about even the most basic sanitization, social distancing, and/or food handling procedures, this is NOT the place. If you care about supporting safe and fair work environments, this is NOT the place. Please save yourself some time and go...

Too loud, too slow, grumpy staff.

Took about 15 mins to get my coffee and about 45 mins to get food.

Food was burnt. Hard to eat croissant rhat is charred so badly whilst standing but they dont have enough tables here. What they do have have games on the so is full of loitering kids.

My daughter had an even harder time eating topped waffle standing.

Because food took so long drinks were long since finished. My first and last time here.

Edit: in reply to reply about what would I suggest (thank you for the response btw)....

1. on weekends when crowds might be expected I would think having enough staff to handle the crowds would be the obvious best move.
2. what many places that serve food/drink do is warn people if there is a unusually long wait. I felt trapped because I had already paid but then had to wait an inordinately long time. This made me very resentful about being there (rather than me coming back another time when less busy). Honestly, if I knew it would take as long as it did, I would have moved on and maybe come back next weekend to see if a little quieter.
3. I think reserving a couple of tables for people who actually consuming food or drinks would be nice. Most of the tables were full of people just chatting or playing games and were no longer consuming anything.
4. a simple acknowledgement of "sorry you had a long wait" when receiving my food would have perhaps made me slightly less irritated at the situation.... Even better, let me know you're working on order somehow so I don't stand around forever wondering if the computer screen took my order correctly or just charged me $40 and disappeared...