Orléans Food Spot Review - Chris's Ice Cream

Some of the best food finds don't come from polished storefronts; they come rolling up in a graffiti-wrapped trailer in a parking lot. That's exactly the case with Chris's Ice Cream, a small-batch operation that has spent years building an Ottawa following before recently planting itself in the Heart of Orléans. We stopped by to put the hype to the test, sampling scoops on-site and hauling home a couple of pints to see whether the "Big Flavour, Small Batches" tagline holds up. Spoiler: for the most part, it absolutely does. Here's our full breakdown of the vibes, the offering, and whether it's worth your visit.

Chris's Ice Cream operates out of a vintage trailer parked at 3003 St. Joseph Blvd., in the Topteck Automotive parking lot. You won't miss it. The whole rig is wrapped in a riot of hand-painted cartoon graffiti, with everything from ice cream cones and pineapples to a Canadian flag, dogs, and cats sprawled across the panels in pastel blues, pinks, browns, and yellows. The "@chrissicecream" handle is tagged on the back end, and a service window with a little "Tips" chalkboard faces the lot. It's playful, and clearly the work of someone who cares about presentation as much as product.

The brand identity carries through nicely. A walking, bow-tied ice cream cone mascot appears on the A-frame signage and on the lids of the take-home pints, under the tagline "Big Flavour, Small Batches." A pink chalkboard sandwich board lists the day's flavours, and a separate sign posts the shop hours. Note that the hours on the trailer's current website differ slightly from the printed sign on site, so it's worth checking their social media, since flavours and hours update daily. The setup is small, but the energy is big and welcoming. It reads exactly like what it is: a local, owner-run passion project.

I should also note that there is a small area across from the truck where you can sit in the shade at a few picnic-style tables.

Owned and operated by Chris Levesque, Chris's Ice Cream has been building a loyal Ottawa following since 2019, and recently rolled into the Heart of Orléans with this new trailer location. The business grew out of a homemade watermelon sorbet Chris made for a charity dinner fundraiser, eventually becoming a full operation built on creativity, community, and the goal of making people happy.

The product itself is what they call Philly-style premium ice cream. As the website explains, that means a base of just milk, cream, and sugar with no egg, churned with very low overrun (little added air) for a dense, rich texture. Everything is made fresh from scratch in small batches, often using local ingredients and collaborations with nearby producers, with a focus on nostalgic and hard-to-find flavours. Chris will even do custom flavours for gifts or events, often within days. The menu leans into that nostalgia, with options like Vanilla Bean, Cookies and Cream, Moon Mist, Orange Creamsicle, Coffee Crisp, plus vegan-friendly Mango Sorbet, Watermelon Sorbet, and Lemon Ice. Cones, cups, and ice-cream sandwiches all run a very reasonable (I’m looking at you run-away-food inflation!) $6 (new prices as of June 7th), and take-home pints are available too. They also offer ice cream cakes, gift cards, and a club card.

Now, the important part: how it tastes. We tried four flavours, and the results ranged from solid to spectacular.

The Vanilla Bean was good, but not a standout. You could see the real vanilla bean speckles throughout the scoop, and the texture was creamy, but it didn't quite reach the heights of the others. A respectable 4.0 out of 5.

The Moon Mist was a different story. That classic Maritime-style blend of flavours was really well executed, nostalgic, and genuinely delicious. A strong ⭐️ 4.6 out of 5.

We also took home two pints. The Orange Creamsicle was, frankly, out of this world. It nailed that dreamy orange-and-cream balance perfectly and tasted like the best version of the childhood treat it's named after. A perfect ⭐️ 5 out of 5.

The Mango Sorbet was nearly as impressive. Vibrant, fruit-forward, and refreshing, it's a fantastic dairy-free option that doesn't feel like a compromise. A delicious 4.8 out of 5.

⭐️ 4.6 stars out of 5

Averaging our four flavours lands right around 4.6 out of 5 overall, and that feels about right. Chris's Ice Cream delivers exactly what the mascot promises: big flavour from small batches. The dense, premium Philly-style base sets it apart from the fluffier, air-heavy scoops you'll find elsewhere, and the rotating nostalgic flavours give you a reason to keep coming back. While the Vanilla Bean was merely good, the Moon Mist, Mango Sorbet, and especially the showstopping Orange Creamsicle prove this is a kitchen operating at a high level.

Add in the more than fair $6 pricing, the charming graffiti-wrapped trailer, the daily-changing menu, and the clear community-first ethos behind it, and Chris's Ice Cream is an easy recommendation. If you're in Orléans, do yourself a favour and stop by, just maybe grab a pint of the Orange Creamsicle before it sells out. As Chris himself puts it, he's in the business of making bad days good and good days better. Based on our visit, he's succeeding.