Lake Side Scoop

This was, hands-​down, the worst restaurant experience I’ve ever had.
My friends and I (party of 4) drove up to my cottage on Lake Simcoe. Deciding we wanted to grab something quick instead of cooking when we got there, we stopped off at Lake Side Scoop, a few minutes away from the cottage.
When we showed up, the lights were off in the restaurant part of the store, so we initially thought it was closed. Within a few minutes three separate people asked us what we wanted. Seemed odd.
We decided to just split a few items since we weren’t starving and one of us wasn’t eating. We ordered a medium pizza and penne with meatballs. The lady behind the counter told us she couldn’t make a medium pizza. Again, odd, but no big deal. We said we’ll split a large.
This is where it takes a turn for the worse.
The lady tells us we can’t split. Telling us that each plate is for one person only. I laughed thinking she was kidding. But she was adamant. We should have left right then and there.
We go to take a seat outside and the server (who I think was also an owner) tells us to sit just outside the store at a 2 seat table. Weird. Why would 4 people do that? Oh, because they could make sure we don’t split the food.
After sitting at a picnic table, I ask the server for more than one set of cutlery. He refuses, saying that splitting food is «a set up.» He then goes on a tirade saying that they have to run a business and we would have to be given a cover charge of $ 3.50 a person to bring more cutlery. We refuse, straight out of principle. He made us feel like we were criminals in his establishment.
The best part? He told us, «if we want to split food, we should have cooked at home!»
The food comes and I can tell you without a doubt, that we could have easily split them amongst four.
It’s a shame some of the reviews below are considered, «not recommended» because they accurately describe this restaurant.
So how did the food taste? It doesn’t matter. When you’re eating angry, nothing tastes good.

Amazing food and snacks, wonderful atmosphere and Great Espresso!
I’ll often stop by when I’m in the area just for an Espresso pick me up.
There are plenty of places within a 20 km radius that claim to offer «Authentic Italian» fair but this is by far the only establishment that delivers.
Nothing but good things to say.

The wife and I love this place. Very friendly and great food. We always make a quick pitstop here when we cycle.

You may think it’s a ice cream place only but this is a great place to eat as well! The pizzas are amazing and the owners are true Italian. I DEFINITELY will be coming back.

very delicious pasta and gelato that you can’t miss staying around Jackson’s Point! never had a clams and mussels linguine which was so full of fresh flavoured ingredients. we were very impressed! very friendly and nice owners. don’t forget to get their gelato before you go too, i was surprised by the crispiness of the waffle cone as well! love this place and the people. would definitely come back again if we stay around :)

Last night my wife and I decided to go out for dinner at a new local restaurant in Jackson’s Point, Lakeside Pizzeria & Gelateria as we were told they make great sandwiches. So we ordered a Caprese Salad for starters and a Veal Panino. The salad was very good and then came the sandwiches with ‘big’ bread. Well my wife does not like to eat that much bread so she takes the top off the sandwich to eat the Veal and the bread on the bottom and asks the waitress for a fork+knife to eat this with, to which she responses «no sorry, you can’t have a fork + knife with a sandwich» and walks away. So I go find the manager (owner) and tell him that my wife would like a fork+knife to eat with and he comes over to the table to says that she can’t have them for a sandwich as you have to pick the sandwich up and eat it that way, not with a fork+knife. She explained to him that she preferred to eat her sandwich this way and he said that if she wanted to use a fork+knife she should have ordered the Veal Dinner instead and walked away. Now we are very upset with this type of behavior and (lack of) service so I just tell him to wrap our sandwiches up and we will eat them at home with a fork+knife. I paid the bill (NO tip!) and as I walk away he said «Thank you and see you again soon» … I just turned to him said «you will never see us again … never mind soon!» and left.
As my wife said, glad this wasn’t a Japanese restaurant and you asked for fork!!! Heaven for bid …

Prayers answered for a nice take out place in Jackson’s Point. A wonderful Italian couple beaming with pride of ownership and putting every bit of care and attention they can muster into their shop and cuisine. Delicious biscotti, veal sandwiches and real gelatto. As with the previous reviewer, the Maple Leaf Dairy Bar is still tops for ice cream, but for good food, this is our new spot.

My husband and I hosted a dinner for 12 and wanted someone else to cook it. We popped into this casual eatery a few days before and tried three dishes: penne ala vodka, penna arabiatta and a chicken/​pasta dish. All three were exceptional (arabiatta was nice and spicy) but it was owner Leo’s personality that really drew us in. We ordered from their catering menu and had trays of penne a la vodka plus meat ravioli to DIE for! Their bread and salads are also well worth it. For a tiny spot in a small town, Lake Side Scoop is a TRUE gem. We’ll keep working off those carbs and pop by for more pasta and/​or gelato, for sure. (The coffee is extraordinary, too).

I love a good veal sandwich and so I was delighted to find that a genuine Italian sandwich shop was opening around the corner. Last week I grabbed the wife and kids and we walked down to Lake Side Scoop for some bona fide veal and chicken panini. I can’t comment on the chicken as I didn’t have it, but the veal is everything a veal sandwich should be: extremely tender veal (no biting and fighting it), succulent sauteed veggies on a soft bun (no crusty mouth cuts). My only disappointment was that there was no cheese on the sandwich. Maybe it’s my fault — does a bona fide veal sandwich have cheese on it? Every veal sandwich I’ve had in Toronto came with cheese, no questions asked. Anyway, I’ll ask next time.
Apparently Leo, the owner, is expanding the space to include a full-​on pizzeria in the adjoining building. Expect some updates on Lake Side Scoop, since the menu includes mouth-​watering promises like meatball and steak sandwiches.
Incidentally, the «scoop» in Lake Side Scoop refers to the ice cream they offer on site, but in that department my loyalties are firmly placed with the Maple Dairy Bar, aka «the pink ice cream store» up the street. Sorry, Leo — your veal sandwiches are still the best in town. :D