Jack Frost Ice Creamery

31 Division Street South, Kingsville, 519-733-5070

Date visited: August 28

We stumbled on Jack Frost Ice Creamery during a drive through Kingsville and just had to stop: its setting in a grand old house was irresistible, and a giant sign screaming ice cream seemed like a good omen.

Unfortunately for our purposes, ice cream is a red-headed stepchild here, taking a back seat to the gastropub side of the business. We arrived about 2:30, which we thought well after the lunch rush, but when we told the hostess we were just there for ice cream, she frowned and relegated us to some sofa-style seats outside the fence rather than a table on the patio or porch that we coveted. Maybe we were outside the time staff expected us; a notice on the website promises ice cream from 5 to 9 p.m., “all week long.”

Jack’s serves a variety of London Ice Cream flavours that changes each week. When we were there, the nine offerings included kid-friendly Spiderman as well as more sophisticated Old Tyme Butter Pecan.

We chose a cone of Blueberries & Cream and one of Acadian Vanilla. Both were good although they melted fast in the heat. The vanilla in particular was flavourful; the blueberry really lacked much blueberry. A single is $3, a double is $4, and Jack’d Up is $5, add 50 cents for a sugar cone or $1 for a waffle cone.

Jack’s ice cream menu also boasts a crème brulee, cupcake a la mode, banana split, a chevre brownie, sundaes and floats made with Pop Shoppe pop. By the way, when did Pop Shoppe go from the discount brand to premium?

Bottom line: We think we might want to visit another time for a meal, but wouldn’t recommend dropping in for ice cream until we figure out what went wrong on our visit. Their signage (see photo) raised our expectations.

Marta’s notes: I was disappointed that they didn’t have an ice cream bar, but I liked the ice cream.