You couldn’t pick a more appropriate opening day for Daisy’s Ice Cream (5614 Fleet Ave., 216-727-1935) than the first day of summer. Walter Hyde, who purchased the iconic 40-year-old neighborhood ice cream shop in early spring, has been working hard to ready the shop for its grand reopening.
For four decades, Daisy’s offered sweet relief for Slavic Village neighbors of all ages throughout the sweltering summer months. Owners Ray and Daisy Pudelski ran the iconic walk-up shop on Fleet Avenue until 2015, when they decided to retire. Thanks to Hyde, their legacy will live on in the form of “Daisy’s 2.0,” an ice cream shop with a little kick.
The 2,500-square-foot building is set up exclusively for walk-up service, but there is a seating area with picnic tables and umbrellas.
In terms of ice cream, there are soft-serve cones that come sprinkled with sweet and crunchy toppings alongside sundaes, parfaits and banana splits built around hand-dipped ice cream. Shakes and malts come in a dozen different flavors, as does the wide assortment of refreshing floats, slushies and razzles, a Blizzard-like confection.
Thanks to a beefed-up menu of savory foods, Daisy’s will add a nice new lunch option to a neighborhood short on supply. All-beef hot dogs come naked or dressed with slaw, kraut or chili and cheese. Polish or Slovenian sausage sandwiches come topped with sautéed cabbage and onions.
Pierogi come smothered in buttery onions or crunchy kraut, with fillings that range from basic potato and cheese to creamy mac and cheese. You can also enjoy those typically savory Polish dumplings in a sweet concoction of warm apple strudel stuffed pierogi, ice cream and whipped cream.
No surprise, given Hyde’s barbecue background, that there are sandwiches built around smoked, pulled chicken and pork. A dozen sandwiches ranging from $2 to $5 are available. Pair those sandwiches with chili, bbq and cheese-covered nachos or a simple cup of coleslaw, potato salad or kraut.
Starting tomorrow, June 21, Daisy’s will be open every day from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
