07/22/08

What has happenned to Carvel??? pros - nice wallpaper, cons - a quality name bites the dust

by QualityNOW

This former New Yorker took his Mother to this location for a taste of his youth in Manhattan.

What we were greeted with was anything but. The manager who was the only person woking, was absolutely unbearable. He was Rude, dismissive and just plain miserable. The Ice Cream seemed to be somehow processed in a manner that fluffed up with air or something to take more space in the cones. After, we decided to buy the Flying Saucers and took a package up to the counter to weather through an additional encounter with this disgusting man. There were no prices marked on anything so we had no idea what the item was going to cost. He rang it up and said that will be $10.00 and some change. FOR PREPACKAGED ICE CREAM SANDWICHES. I was in shock. What a scam, they sell this exact product at the supermarket 2 for 2.99. I told this clown to take the Saucers and shuffle himself back to the freezer for a restock.

When I returned home, I noticed the high praise from others on this website regarding this place and was absolutely PUZZLED! Then I noticed the reviews were extremely similar in writing style and even the names are the same. Apparently the time this guy should be investing into quality customer service is being devoted to writing his own reviews! Classy! Eh Sam?

Steer clear of this dog and pony show, you'll be glad you did.

• Pros: wallpaper
• Cons: not what I remembered

03/12/08

Best Ice Cream in Los Angeles

by sammy98

I went to this Carvel on santa monica blvd to buy a valentines cake and some flying saucers , it was excellent!. While there ,I had a vanilla and chocolate soft serve cone rolled in chocolate crunchies, which was heavenly! It tasted just like I remember.The owner was very helpful, courteous and friendly. All the cakes are made on site, so I strongly recommend if you need a birthday cake, to go to this store. They are the best!

I bought a six pack of flying saucers and within minutes they were devoured! They are so good you cant just eat one.

02/18/08

Disappointing Ice Cream, Rude/Grumpy Carvel Owner - Not like when I was a kid...!!

by sslaak

We were so excited to see a Carvel open down the street since we are from New York and we grew up on the stuff. We went two years ago when it opened an it was disappointing. But I was driving by today and decided to give it another shot. Oh my...what a huge waste of time and money. First - the owner who is also the only person working there is rude, grumpy, and has no patience while you try to decide what you would like to have. But I smiled anyway and order a small chocolate cone w/chocolate crunchies to eat which was tiny, and poufed with air so it tasted like nothing. The choc crunchies (all 3 of them) were old and stale. I also got my husband a large cup of no sugar added vanilla ice cream. When we got it home it was old, chewey, and freezer burned. I also bought a six pack of low fat ice cream sandwhiches (kinda like a flying saucer). They were 9 dollars and tasted old and freezer burned. $16 dollars later I was so disappointed that my childhood favorite has turned in to a poorly run franchise that is a Carvel in name only. I'm told the cakes are still good --- but I'm also told that those come from the factory and are not made on site, which would explain why they are still good. Basically - AVOID THIS CARVEL. I could ignore the grumpy owner if the ice cream was any good, but the bottom line is that iIt is overpriced and the product is terrible. I have a feeling this particular Carvel is not going to be able to stay in business much longer. (and of course, I was the only customer in there...)

• Pros: Hmmm... Good Parking?
• Cons: Rude/Grumpy owner, Crummy air poufed soft serve ice cream, overpriced