Discover your new favorite flavor of ice cream, handcrafted on the Central Coast
—The coolest place to take the kids in San Luis Obispo County this Summer has to be “Best of SLO” Award-Winning Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab. The sweet, cinnamon aroma that hits your nose as you walk inside any of Doc’s parlors is enough to tempt the strongest of us. Once you taste their freshly baked waffle cones, paired with their deliciously innovative ice creams, you just might wonder how you ever lived without it. Treasures, treats and fun await all visitors to Doc Burnstein’s, who are transported back in time to a special place we could only dream of in childhood.
Doc’s has three parlor locations on the Central Coast, in San Luis Obispo’s historic and beautiful downtown, the Village of Arroyo Grande, and Santa Maria’s Enos Ranch Development (coming late May). With around 32 flavors of ice cream at any given time, and seasonal limited-editions, Doc Burnstein’s keeps customers on their toes, ready for the next creation Doc Burnstein’s has a passion for creating ice cream treats that are fully loaded with the most decadent, highest-quality ingredients. Their highly sought-after “Motor Oil”, originally made for the Pismo Beach Classic Car Show, features dark chocolate and Kahlua ice cream with ribbons of fudge, and celebrates everything that is ultra chocolate. Another favorite flavor is the super popular “Merlot Raspberry Truffle,” which uses a local premium merlot wine with black raspberry swirls and chocolate chunks. Every parlor features its own exclusive flavor, inspired by the spirit of their local community. San Luis Obispo loves its “Jack n’ Coke,” featuring a touch of real Jack Daniel’s whiskey and a Coca-Cola swirl. Arroyo Grande has “Rooster Tracks,” vanilla with peanut butter cups and a fudge swirl, and Santa Maria enjoys its favorite “Orcutt Crunch,” a marshmallow ice cream with caramel, pecans, chocolate chips, and toffee.
Doc Burnstein’s parlors are warm, welcoming, and extra fun for the little ones. Their nostalgic Arroyo Grande parlor inhabits a beautiful 100-year old building. While you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for the model train! Their San Luis Obispo “Wonderland” parlor features a Willy-Wonka inspired wall of flavors. Coming to their Santa Maria location late May, the Lab Experience will bring “Doc’s Secret Ice Cream Laboratory” to the public. The life-sized Lab Experience features an interactive lights display, bursts of fog, and a four-foot “Frankencone” that comes to life! The best part? It will be available all day, every day.
This is a place that is invested in families and the community. Doc Burnstein’s is a California certified benefit-corporation as well as a community-owned business, which means it puts shares of its company in the hands of the community (even children can own a slice!) They have a 10-percent “Giving Back Pledge,” and with their recent charity work and fundraising efforts, the positive impacts on so many people is plain to see.
This year Doc’s will enter their 4th year partnering with Make-A Wish Foundation, where one special Wish Kid creates an exclusive Make-A-Wish “fund-flavor” that is featured through July 31st. This year they teamed up with Maysie (5) and brought her magically delicious flavor “Unicorn Swirl” to life, a white cake ice cream with a luscious strawberry swirl and pieces of real pie crust. 25 cents of every scoop sold is donated directly to Make-AWish Foundation, and everyone is encouraged to donate at the register. To date, they have made 6 children’s wishes come true and raised over $30,000.
At Doc Burnstein’s, there’s always a little magic around the corner, and they love to share their upbeat attitude about life through a variety of fun events. Amazing ice cream aside, they put their hearts into amazing customer service and creating spaces that inspire joy and togetherness. Their true purpose, you could say, is making incredible memories.
Doc Burnstein’s is a go-to destination for birthday parties, and they cater private parties of all sizes. They even offer Factory Tours at their Grover Beach production facility, where you can meet the Doc, discover his ice cream secrets, and if you’re feeling brave, stroll through the ultra-chilly “Cryo Bunker.” For more information, hours and locations visit www.docburnsteins.com.
-Cassandra Frey
