Restaurants
Cool Hand Luc
Cool Hand Luc is a new ice cream shop bringing a bit of colourful glee to an otherwise sort of stiff and trendy stretch of King West. If there's any question as to its mirth; Luc's background mural includes a cartoon blob of ice cream vomiting a rainbow of Mike and Ikes. Enough said?
In a lower-level space on King between Bathurst and Spadina, the new shop was named for its owner, Luc, who went by the name "Cool Hand Luc" as a kid. Previously working in aviation, Luc tells me he went through a career crisis of sorts a few years ago and took a job at an ice cream store outside of Toronto. He became devoted to the job, and decided to open up his own place here in the same building he actually lives.
"This was two years in the making," Luc tells me. "There was nothing like this around here, and we really wanted to bring in something fun."
The fun comes in several freezers, with flavours such as Chocolate Peanut Butter, Moose Tracks, Cotton Candy, Crème Brulee, Black Forest Cake and more, all sourced from Kawartha Dairy. Cool Hand Luc also has a variety of 100% all natural, fat-free, vegan fruit sorbets from a company in Montreal, which come in flavours such as Mango, Raspberry, and Lemon.
Luc says that toppings are on the way, but in the meantime, customers can opt for a kiddie scoop ($2.43), regular scoop ($3.76), two ($6.64) or three ($8.19) in a cup or a cone. I opt for a scoop of raspberry sorbet in a cup, which is rich both in colour and flavour. The size of the cup leaves some to be desired, however, but the sorbet is perfectly sweet (no sugar added), and just a little tart, with the odd raspberry seed kicking around for good measure.
While many ice cream shops in Toronto reduce their hours or shut down altogether during the winter months, Luc has an unconventional plan for keeping the lights on during December.
"Soup," he tells me. "We already have the displays for it; just switch out the scoops for ladles." Cool Hand Luc plans to gradually replace some ice cream flavours with soup (supplier to be determined) as the weather gets cooler. "It's fast and to go, the same sort of concept."
But for now, Cool Hand Luc will be offering ice cream for the next couple of months (or more--*fingers crossed*) from 11 a.m. until late.
Photos by Dennis Marciniak
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Literally.
This place will NEVER survive.
He wants to do soup in the winter? Isn't that why you'd go to Ravi's?
Not to some place that does 'ice cream and soup'.
Remember Ben + Jerry's retail location at queen and john?
Nah, didn't think so!
Bonne chance, Luc, but I'm afraid you haven't thought your plan through.
I'm not saying I won't try once because I live in the neighborhood, but it better be creamy, and it better be cold! (shaking fist).
O and by the way, Canadians eat ice cream all year round!
But I've got sadly say the pricing is whack.
Lovin' the illustration behind the counter however.
When I stuck my head in the door, it looked a bit unfinished and not very "king west" which is fine if the ice cream was their own (like Ed's Real Scoop or Greg's) but I don't think it is.
If it was a soft serve frozen yogurt joint - I'd probably be there the second it opens every day. Why hasn't anyone opened up a Pink Berry in Toronto yet?
The biggest thing that put me off was the ATM machine right when you come in - i'm assuming they don't take debit? So I want an Ice Cream, don't have cash - use the ATM, get charged $2 or more plus the cost of the ice cream....sounds like an expensive scoop.
I'm taking my girl. She wants to the the mural. I have such a craving for this.
After that I had a hard time deciding on what flavour to chose so I sampled quite a few. After trying the Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake that was it for me - Delicious!!! I need it again.
It didn't hurt that Luc himself was serving me and was quite charming. Reminded me of a James Dean type in a classic ice cream parlour.
I almost got the guilt-free all-fruit raspberry sorbet, but the ice cream stole my heart.
Luc told me that they are always rotating the atypical flavours, to make sure that people can try everything.
All I can hope for is that they have the chocolate cherry cheesecake the next time I come back... and I will be back soon! -Thats for sure, and I hope Luc is there again ;)
p.s. torontoeats - you missed out. (you're not going to save too much on your possibly freezer burned Haagen-Daas. Where's the satisfaction in that??!
YAY Cool Hand Luc!!! Summer just got better!!! :)
prices are inflated all over TO, and King St West is no exception. I mean why pay $9 for a pint of Keiths at The Bier Markt when you can get a whole pitcher of it from The Bullocks for $12.
This may be hard to believe, but prices are different everywhere. Go where you want to go, pay what you want to pay. It's pretty simple.
I think Greg's Ice Cream would be a good consideration for a supplier. I know they sell Greg's at White Squirrel Cafe.
Don't be so damn quick to judge from your tiny offices, get out, try it, then maybe it might change your tiny mind.
BTW a scoop of Laura Secord ice cream is $3 and a blizzard from DQ could cost you up to $8. And really, if I was on King West and Bathurst, I'm not going to trek up to some Pinkberry knock off 20 blocks away... just saying. Don't be pathetic people.
Also a great note about this place... they sell amazing Grilled Cheeses!! and they definitely have debit.