Tim Hortons

One of the many locations of the infamous Canadian Tim Horton’s chain. I don’t frequent here often, and when I do, it’s never for the coffee unless I’m seriously desperate. It’s just not my taste.
What I do come here for is the ice cream at Cold Stone. It’s not unreasonably priced for what you get and the ice cream is damn delicious. I don’t tend to go big on the topping add-​ons which is where your price tag starts to go up. Although my visits may be infrequent, it has yet to disappoint me.
I also have a soft spot for TH’s sour cream glazed donuts. There usually isn’t anything else in the case that will tempt me. And bonus option is the timbit version of my favorite donut. But I know most of us have our very own Tim Horton’s temptation when it comes to donuts/​timbits.
I’ve always had great service at my infrequent visits to Tim’s at this location and can’t complain. The washrooms have always been in a reasonable state of affairs, and the recent addition of free wi-​fi makes the visit all the more enjoyable.

This place is definitely one of my favourite haunts, but it does have its flaws.
By no means is this a terrible location, but service can be sluggish on either side (Cold Stone or Tim’s) depending on which side is getting more traffic, and having a couple different entrances can cause a bit of a mess when it comes to forming lines (one wanting to branch out the parking lot door, while people coming from the Quinpool door try to get in on the action).
There’s definitely tons of natural light during the day, which is nice, and while it does get busy, I’ve never had a problem finding a spot (unless you get a group of morning runners or otherwise that join tables together for a chat).
Not great, not terrible, just «meh».

I know it’s a risky move to give Tim Horton’s (a Canadian icon) a two star rating, but let me explain that it only applies at this particular location.
Any Tim Horton’s that is not open 24 hours and doesn’t have a drive thru is less than perfect in my books. Add that to the inconveniences that Tim Horton’s stores normally present (they don’t take visa or debit, and there is very limited seating) and you have a hot mess that is the Quinpool Tim Horton’s. The biggest inconvenience was the recently added Cold Stone Creamery counter, making my wait in line double. When I finally decided to try out the new confection, I was disappointed.
Now I’m no expert, so correct me if I’m wrong on this, but aren’t the little chocolates and sauces that you choose suppose to be mixed or «paddled» fairly evenly throughout the ice cream? That is the impression I was under after years of eating homemade ice cream at other establishments. When I was handed my Cold Stone Creation I noticed a huge mound of Reese’s Peanut Butter cup bits on top, and a pool of caramel underneath. Eating this ice cream was like eating three separate meals; the candy, the sauce and then the plain ice cream.
You might accuse me of being too judgemental for taking one ice cream related incident to seriously, but I’m very particular about my food (especially my ice cream). Know your strengths Tim Horton’s, stick to the coffee.
Hot Hint: Cold Stone Creamery also makes frozen ice cream cakes and can create family sized flavours of ice creams to take home. Just ask for it double mixed.

I’ll admit, at first I was enthralled at the idea of a Cold Stone Creamery — Tim Hortons partnership, especially since it is a short walk away from my house. The novelty passed quickly though, and the issues I’ve always had with this Tim Hortons came back into focus (and new issues arose as well).
For starters, this is the only Tim Hortons in my experience that isn’t open 24 hours. When I was in university it was common for students to use the local Tim’s as a exam time solace and paper writing late night aid. This location unfortunately closes at 10, which I was bummed to find out during a failed attempt at a late night hot chocolate run.
The night owls aren’t the only ones out of luck, the vehicle owning elite should also be wary that there isn’t a drive through at this location (one can only assume due to the Quinpool traffic). With a 10 car parking lot capacity, you might be hard pressed for your caffeine fix.
If you want Tim Hortons, I would suggest another location since the addition of the Cold Stone Ice Creamery, wait times have been longer at the counter anyway. If it’s just coffee you need, why not support another local café that our fine city has to offer.

Don’t look now! They have a Cold Stone Ice Cream!
Well the day has arrived. Cold Stone Ice Cream is now in Halifax Nova Scotia! And what better place to put it in then the Iconic Canadian Coffee and Donut shop Tim Hortons.
But lets start with the Tim Hortons part of this store. They are the same as all the other Tim Hortons which is a plus in my book. If there is one thing I don’t like it is a lack of consistency when it comes to a chain of stores. But the staff at this particular Tim Hortons has always been friendlier than most others. They really like to make sure they enjoy their jobs and there is a sense of a «team» environment every time I go there.
The food and drink is the same at this Tim Hortons. It’s not Starbucks but it gets you the coffee you so desperately need or the Donuts you have been aching for. And lets not forget their Iced Cappuccino’s! An amazing invention that has taken off like a rocket!
The location for this store is perfect! Its very close to major bus routes, The Oxford Theatre, grocery stores and other places of interest.
But enough about a store I can easily compliment and lets talk about another one I can easily compliment… Cold Stone Ice Cream!
Now I haven’t gone on the Tim Hortons website to understand why they are now teaming up with Cold Stone but in my opinion it is one of the best choice’s Tim Hortons has ever made! For those of you unfamiliar, Cold Stone Ice Cream is not just an Ice Cream store. It is a legend! They put so many items into their ice cream that I also asked for a side order of a Diabetes test just to make sure I could get through their Fudge Brownie chocolate concoction.
Somehow they found room in the store to put Cold Stone Ice Cream in there. The staff that work that particular section are hilarious and laughed at my Diabetes joke, probably out of politeness. But they definitely get a star for laughing and thinking I’m funny.
Tim Hortons is a Canadian Iconic symbol. In my mind, the symbols of Canada are as follows: Hockey, Moose, Beavers, Great Beer and Tim Hortons. They have definitely added icing to the cake by bringing in Cold Stone Ice Cream to one of their stores. That is why they deserve the five stars I am giving them today.