January 2, 2009
5 stars for It Must Be Heaven
Ginger Warder makes a visit to It Must Be Heaven and says that “if you love gourmet ice cream, the name is true.” The 5-star review has great things to say about the soup, too:
What surprised me was not the great ice cream, but the great soup. Owner Stan Jones (she’s a woman by the way) has a killer recipe for Jumbo Lump Crab Soup. Made fresh daily, the peppery and piping hot soup is loaded with big chunks of delectable crab and served with a warm piece of garlic bread. Pricing is by the ounce ($1 per) and my eight-ounce bowl was worth every penny. Stan also offers a chicken muddle soup, as well as a potato, bacon and cheddar and a mushroom, and after my delicious bowl of crab, I’ll be dropping by to try all of the other varieties.
43 Responses to “5 stars for It Must Be Heaven”
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An $8 bowl of soup? In this economy?
ok, i just gotta say it. as nice as the folks are at “heaven” they completely ignore vegetarians for lunch. i stopped by the other day, and all that was available (other than ice cream) was beef hot dogs and crab soup or the soup with bacon.
c’mon…whats so bad about a veggie black bean or mixed vegetable soup (no chicken or beef stock?) we walk by there time and again and the place is empty. i’d love to see them succeed, but at my age, i can’t make a daily diet out of ice cream.
Yeah, that’s what I thought too…it is jumbo lump crab though. Perhaps the other soups are a bit more affordable…
There is absolutely zero atmosphere in the place – extremely stark and bare which is not very inviting. And if you are going to charge those kind of prices you need some sort of draw.
As for veggie… that is a dying breed and not profitable to have seperate items made up on a menu that will only go to waste on one or two customers. At least that is my take on it.
Steven,
I’m not a big fan of the veggie movement but I don’t see why a nice veggie soup or something like that wouldn’t go over well. As far as entrees and such, I agree with you but even a nice salad would probably be welcome at such a shop.
I think this place is far and away better and more friendly than expected. Ice cream parlors are supposed to be stark.
“It Must be Heaven” is a work in progress. They’ve invested a lot going into the project, have had to overcome some issues regarding parking and such. It’s come a long way, is still in the growing stages and I’m sure will be closer to everyone’s idea of “Heaven” come spring time. UnionHill RVA – please mention a veggie soup/veggie items to Stan. She’s a wonderful business person and open to comments/suggestions. She’s there to succeed and community input and support is important.
I too love the “It Must Be Heaven” jumbo lump crab soup however, when I asked about the recipe, I was told that it is not made from scratch. They add huge amounts of jumbo lump crabmeat to a high quality frozen crab soup.
Nothing beats real jumbo lump crabmeat.
Often restaurants will claim jumbo lump on their menu but will really serve you an overly seasoned shredded mess mashed into a patty or a pasty soup with crab strings.
I agree wtih Deanna. I think Stan is very open to suggestions and wants this venture to work.Remember thought she has had some obstacles to overcome with opening this shop and I can see why she would only want to offer a few things until these are overcome. I, for one, think she is filling a little void in our neighborhood.
I guess when I think of an ice cream parlor I’m thinking more of a 1950s “Happy Days” style soda shop with jukebox, etc… that served ice cream. I am not thinking of Baskin Robbins or Highs Ice Cream (remember them?) as they didn’t serve food but only ice cream as where a soda shop did.
Vegetarians a “dying breed”!?? Ha-ha, that’s a laugh.
Just that I have seen several people who were Vegetarians that are no longer so and rarely run into anyone who is – at least in the circles we run with. Isn’t it only 3.2% of adults that follow a veggie diet per a Vegetarianism in America study – and that figure may be bias?
Sorry, hit the send button before I could validate myself. If the 3.2% figure is correct, that means you have 3.2 customers per every 100 that would be vegetarians. That is a “national average” and various sectors of the U.S. would have heavier concentrations (like California or Florida) where diets are big business and other areas that have close to zero (like beef states of Iowa, Texas, etc…). So, I am sure the parlor doesn’t top 20-30 customers per day in this early stage so even “if” Church Hill meets the national average that means they would only encounter about 4 or 5 vegetarians per week. I am sure the average in Church Hill is lower. Is that justifiable to have a special menu in these cost cutting times?
Even folks who are not diet restrictive enjoy light meals on occasion. Not everyone wants to eat hunks of meat with each meal, even if they do enjoy meat sometimes.
In my experience, dry stats don’t always apply when it comes to personal preferences.
Shannon, “stats” apply with business owners who have to spend money daily making things fresh only to throw out because no one buys it up. A wast of profits in these hard times.
RE: post 15 – I’m just saying that even carnivoires are capable of enjoying a good, veggie-stock based, minestrone. The market for this fare may not be as narrow as your statistics seem to indicate. It doesn’t have to be a “special menu.” Maybe just a little more variety in a direction that they hadn’t yet considered.
I’m with Deanna. This place rocks, and I am sure that the owners are open to suggestions that make their menu more inclusive.
I am not a vegetarian, and I look forward to trying the crab soup. That being said, I often (if not usually) prefer vegetarian or light fare for lunch. So I definitely agree that offering something that would suit vegetarians and light-lunchers alike is a great idea.
BTW, I personally know 3 vegetarians: my husband, my daughter, and a family friend. So I don’t think it’s a dying breed. I think it’s just a lifestyle choice and people aren’t doing it to be cool anymore.
Having been a vegetarian for 14 years (had to give it up during a prolonged respiratory illness) I know it’s hard to eat out. However, I find it easy to please my carnivore and vegetarian friends (and myself) just by keeping the basics of a very creative sandwich around; sprouts, fresh cucumbers, creative greens, hummus, tomatoes, roasted peppers in olive oil and great bread or a tortilla on hand. Serve plain, slam a veggie burger on there, or add a slice or two of roast turkey, ham, or roast beef, and you can please just about anyone who drops by.
Those items keep well and translate to a good salad too. All it might take to please is a really good signature sandwich, easy to switch up with meat or veggies, and a pot of Minestrone on the warmer next to the crab, chicken, etc. Simplicity, consistency and adaptation are the keys. It was a VERY smart move to bring on the soups (winter comfort) considering the timing of their opening and their staple being ice cream (a summertime staple).
Soon it will be, “the place to go for this… or you’ve GOT to try that sandwich”. They’ll get there. Gotta go. For some reason… I’m hungry ;)
At VCU, there is a cafe that serves only vegetarian and vegan food and the place is packed every time I walk in there.
Also, Americans are eating more vegetables in general, though they may not consider themselves vegetarian. I don’t have the stats on that, it’s just what I read on CNN some time ago.
Okay, I have a few issues with the place….
For starters, it’s just well, stark, white, plain and boring. Nothing about the place jumps out at me or even looks remotely inviting. I was however, pleased to see some cute signage placed in and around the shop’s area recently.
My only experience with them was during the Italian Festival when I paid $4.00 for the smallest scoop of Raspberry Sorbet (was more like ice) I have ever seen….I’m talking like a small child’s portion. A shockingly small size. Granted, the stuff was better than avergage, but I could only imagine what the medium or large would have been?????
Finally, the service was aloof and indifferent at best and the menu seemed limited. I walked away with a less than desirable impression. If Jumpin J’s and Acapella couldn’t make it, then what makes you think IMBH will?
This conversation just boggles my mind. You are bitching about how stark the store is and how they don’t cater to your every whim (vegetarian). When we should be thankful that it is a business that is remaining open in this economy. This site is very negative and seems to never have nice things to say. In this new year would it be possible to be thankful for businesses to open up on the hill rather than closing and leaving us with store fronts that are boarded up or buildings that are falling down.
RE: “the service was aloof and indifferent at best”
Never when I’ve been there. I’d say a polar opposite; service with a smile and yes, hugs too and “Have a great evening”, from everyone as I’m walking out the door. I do make a point of engaging people and asking how things are going. I know how difficult a start up business can be at times. It’s good to give someone a voice and toss ideas around, especially with a customer; the people you want to come back.
The prices are a bit higher than say, a Baskin Robbins or a McDonalds $1 hot fudge sundae down the street, but you’re paying for that better than average. Remember the advent of DVD player – when it was first on the market it was a high ticket item – demand/volume brought the price down.
Feedback is important. If you think the sorbet was less than desirable – tell her! I’m sure she’d surprise you with a better sorbet next time around. Drew, I’ll bet you a dollar she’d recognize you as soon as you walked in the door and hand you a cup for a taste test.
Stark yes, but remember, it is a work in progress. Personally, I never show a painting or drawing to a client before it’s done. There were delays. Delays cost money. That can affect plans. She has great plans. Give her time. Speak if it is not perfect so she can make it better.
Becoming a success in life or in business has many parts to it and no one does it alone. It’s a neighborhood business – treat her like a neighbor. If you’re raking leaves in front of your house do you just do yours or do you take care of the neighbors next to you too? I do. A business like hers, on this smaller scale is “personal”. You are just as much a part of IMBH becoming the best little ice cream shop in Church Hill as she does. I personally believe IMBH will make it because of Stan’s intelligence, drive and determination. I told her to take notes… with what she’s gone through she’s got a movie of the week on her hands.
@Deanna and newgirl- hear hear!!!!
I just returned from a visit to IMBH and it’s everything people have said it was and wasn’t. Stan was very nice and so was the ice cream, but $3.99 a scoop is a little steep. I wish them every success. Hopefully they will get the kinks worked out after working so hard just to get the doors open.
newgirl said:
“This site is very negative and seems to never have nice things to say.”
BS. Read the thread again. I think you’ll find it’s a solid back and forth discussion with healthy criticism, worthy praise, and a dose of reality.
Let’s face it. The real world isn’t sitting around the campfire all day singing Kumbaya. If people aren’t telling you whether or not you’re doing anything wrong, how are you supposed to get anything right? Luck? Blind faith?
People want this business to succeed. The criticisms I’ve seen on this thread have included recommendations on how to broaden the business’s appeal (e.g, offering non-meat options) and increase its potential customer base by making prices more reasonable in tough economic times.
Well Said… Concerned Citizen!
#24 Agreed. No one’s ice cream or sorbet is worth $3.99 a scoop…..and I’m the guy that doesn’t mind paying for good quality……No, I don’t want the $1 sundae at that terrible CrackDonald’s but IMBH’s product just wasn’t NEARLY worth $3.99 a scoop.
That’s all I’m saying. I’m sure Stan’s a nice lady. I’ve already said I love the signage. I love her desire and passion to succeed….I’m just saying that I’ve seen many places like hers fail while ignoring some very basic techniques to survive.
How about Bring a friend day? How about distributing some coupons? Maybe getting in those discount/enteratinment books? Drive traffic through the door….take a little bit of a loss at first but if the food is as good as you say it is, eventually there will be a demand for it and she can charge whatever she wants.
I’m hungry and my choices on the Hill are Hill Cafe, Patrick Henry’s Pub, Captain Buzzy’s and IMBH?
Sorry, IMBH comes in third at best.
Wait until the heat of summer guys after a walk to Libby Hill in the evening light. That icecream is going to hit the spot.
re#28, you forgot about Alamo BBQ.
Ramzi, #31 – didn’t you have a bad experience with stale ice cream last summer at this place? And yes I agree, Alamo certainly makes for another choice up here!
everyone has been delightful and friendly each and every time we have been there and their gelato is delicious!!!
Karen #35 – I know someone who bought the over priced ice cream there sometime in the last few months, and said it tasted so stale that he threw it out in spite of how much he paid. The better part of five bucks for one scoop of ice cream is a bit steep in any economic climate, to say nothing of this one. If you are on unemployment or not paid much, it’s not affordable at all. I don’t care how supposedly “friendly” the staff is, if the prices are that high it’s not worth it.
Ramzi #31 -Alamo, that’s a different story – their prices are affordable, and the food is delicious. And they aren’t a front for anything!
whatever
We went there this summer. I hope they step it up to stay aliv. We thought the ice cream was awesome. However, it would’ve been nice to have the flavors shown somewhere on the cases AND the prices would’ve been nice to know. It was uber expensive, but in line w/Cold Stone Creamery.
Ok, no judgement, I know it’s expensive to run a small business. But we paid $11 for two small ice creams. ELEVEN DOLLARS.
I have no plans to go back.
Has anyone seen the sign in the front windown advertising sausage and egg biscuits? Perhaps they sre cooking something there…I guess they coul be pre-packaged but why get one there when you can hit the McDs down the block and know it was cooked fresh (not that I’m a huge fan of McDs but…)
I wouldn’t negate the value of the public interaction experience, in any form. It’s actually the backbone of a successful business, and fostering this ability in others can be an awesome gift if there is a genuine desire to learn the skill. One thing is for sure – friendly and helpful staff is always a plus when a person is being asked to swallow a hefty “specialty-product” price tag.
Regarding an unsatisfied friend – if you buy something and it sucks, take it back – no matter how much it costs. If you don’t make that effort, who is to blame?
I haven’t been to this shop since I am not a fan of gelato. Just wondering do they give a sample taste like BR does? If so I could try to see ig I like their brand of gelato and / or see if it is stale or freezer burn before I bought the product.
The few times that I visited IMBH the ice cream was ok but the service was terrible. We were either the only customers in the place or the second and it took FOREVER to get waited on and served. I waited 45 minutes for food one day and had to leave to get back to work, I don’t know if the person in front of me every got their lunch.
The lady behind the counter did not handle this well and left such a sour taste that I’ve never been back. Coldstone is close enough thank you very much.
they have always let us sample when we have been there.
I paid 5.83 (including tax) for an ice cream cone with one scoop that couldn’t have been more than 4-6 ounces of ice cream. I remember the exact amount, because I only had a 5.00 bill on me and had to walk home to get .83 to bring back to the store. Is it an extra 2.00 to get a cone instead of a cup?
Also, it would be nice if the prices were posted.
Good news! Just got back from our Friday ice cream and Just Like Heaven is now selling a smaller size waffle cone for about $3. It’s the perfect kid-size serving (and probably a more appropriate grown-up size). I was happy to be able to indulge and reward the little-one for a good week at school without breaking the bank!