An ice cream sundae is the pinnacle of gluttony and delight. And MooTime Creamery has the most decadent sundae to start this blistering summer — or the middle of summer, or even the end of summer.
I ordered the Monkey Love sundae, a favorite of mine back when MooTime was still at the Hotel del Coronado. The sundae is supposed to come with vanilla ice cream layered with peanut butter, hot fudge and bananas, then topped with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and a cherry. This time, I swapped the vanilla ice cream for brownie batter.
Unfortunately, my order did not match the description. What arrived was closer to a traditional sundae, with nuts, chocolate sauce, caramel, ice cream and a cherry on top. After taking a few bites, I realized the peanut butter, one of the defining parts of the Monkey Love sundae, was missing entirely.
But on a hot summer day, with chocolate sauce and gooey strings of caramel dripping from my chin, I couldn’t complain. The varying textures and temperatures — hot chocolate fudge, delicate caramel ribbons and fresh whipped cream — made up for the lack of crunchy peanuts I craved.
The 1998 ice cream shop was originally intended to be named MooTown Creamery as a nod to the Motown record label. Owner David Spatafore of Blue Bridge Hospitality renamed it MooTime after deciding he didn’t want to be limited to Motown music and couldn’t trademark the original name.
The sundaes are just one of the many colorful creations. Scoops range from $5 for a kid’s size to $10.75 for a three-scoop Big Moo. The shop offers 30 classic ice cream flavors, including unique combinations like Islander Crunch, made with toasted coconut, chocolate ice cream and macadamia nuts. Customers can also choose toppings like cookie dough, graham cracker and butterscotch, which can be folded into the ice cream or sprinkled on top. It’s basically a kiddieland, but one that adults want a part of too.
Mounted above the entrance, a retro sign with neon lettering pays homage to a 1950s ice cream parlor, while an Elvis Presley statue welcomes vacationers and local families alike.
Inside, retro bottled sodas are lined up — Coke, root beer, Fanta and others — waiting to become the base of an ice cream float. Nearby, ice cream tubs, fresh waffle cones and classic candy toppings like Kit Kats, M&M’s and Heath bars line the counters. Customers order towering sundaes piled high with hot fudge, whipped cream and maraschino cherries. Here, sugar can come in many shapes and sizes.
And if those reminiscent candies weren’t enough to ignite deep subconscious memories, they also put their own spin on Choco Tacos. These ones are called Mootacos — freshly made waffle shells filled with ice cream and dipped in chocolate. Those long-lost days of retro Americana may be fading, but Coronado keeps the nostalgia alive with places like MooTime.
The young women behind the counter all seem to be rollicking with joy, their toothy smiles and casual banter adding to the atmosphere. As I walked in, one stood outside warming her fingers after scooping ice cream and said, “Sorry, I’m thawing. Time for ice cream?”
MooTime Creamery is at 1025 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118, and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
