Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

CRUNCHY GRAVEL  (RM9.60/USD3.20) – Almost like the (Banana)Split, but not quite. They do have a Banana Boat/Split variety with a split banana (duh!), cornflakes, Coco Crunch, cherries, crushed peanuts and chocolate sauce.

For 21 years (a reasonably lengthy period for myself, and I’m sure some of you readers were not even born yet!), an ice-cream lounge has set foot in Ipoh Garden and has not budged an inch since then. The setting; featuring an ambient, almost dreamy-like interior with a brush of nostalgia, soft lighting and paraphernalia infused with a lingering sense of old-school feeling; has successfully lent the cafe an irresistible charm.

So effective was this combination of elements that you’ll always be assured of the same wave of feelings washing over you as you step into a lounge like how it has always been since the 90′s.

Sidewalk Ice-Cream Lounge @ Ipoh Garden

Fancy names bestowed upon their ice-cream creations may sound cheesy at this point of time, when designer concoctions and gelato has seemingly overtaken the confectionery world, yet can you help but not smile when you’re tucking into a Rocky Road Sundae, Tropical Blues or the classic Banana Split?

Sidewalk Ice Cream Lounge could have transformed into a relatively chic and modernized cafe by omitting the road less travelled and move on with the times. Thus, like how you’ve seen replicates of the commercialized desserts cafes and ice-cream parlours/frozen yoghurt/gelato stands in any shopping malls.

But Alvin Lew; the man behind the counter has opted not to. And since 1991, the lounge has only been serving good old classics; a variety of ice-cream flavours (not made in-house) in differing quantity of scoops topped with a colourful combustion of toppings that kids nowadays can only imagine.

Or duplicate in games like Ice Tycoon.

Many skeptics/detractors will wonder why should they pay close to RM10/USD3.30 for a serving of ‘generic’ ice-cream with toppings that they can easily duplicate at home.

The answer could be …. for the authentic ice-cream parlour experience.

I am sure you carry with you the memory of your toddling years; of walking to the store hand-in-hand with Dad or Mum, and picking your favourite scoop of ice-cream. A ‘reward’ for being good during the terrifying dental visit. Or the first string of A’s in your semester exam.

The mere sight of rainbow-coloured ice-cream behind the glass display, and the affable uncle ever willing to sprinkle a tad more of the chocolate rice, strawberry sauce or chopped cherries. Although some kids could have hated the taste of candied cherries for the close resemblance to cough syrups!

Paradise Valley (RM8.60/USD2.90)

Sidewalk offers slightly more than 30 options, if I remember correctly. Basically, you start by deciding on how many scoops of ice-cream you can handle. Or crave. The indicator for scoops in each serving are shown beside the fanciful names.

Then, from the colourful pictures in the menu, you decide on what toppings you desire. The combination can lead to a daunting task to decide upon, as they have everything from fresh fruits, canned pineapples, cornflakes, variety of nuts, raisins, wafers, etc.

That’s not all, you need to decide on the flavour(s) of ice-cream that go into your serving. Almost 20 choices(!) in total, from the classic chocolate, strawberry and vanilla to the funkier stuff like durian, rum & raisins, pistachio, mango and sherbet.

Chocolate Brownies with Vanilla Ice-Cream

Sometimes, the wait can be slightly infuriating. You see happy couples and families chatting away merrily while gleefully tucking in into their melting desires. While you brace the 10 minutes or so wondering how could they have taken their own sweet time whipping up something that needs NO cooking?!

My dear, there’s no rush here at Sidewalk. Why should you hurry when the precious time waiting while being serenaded by an atmosphere of cheerful camaraderie can be put to good use?

Reflect on the good times when life was tough … yet so much simpler. Catch up over lost moments with your loved ones. Time flies and relationships suffered because of distance and the strenuous pace of life. Mend the broken bonds.

Sidewalk is a fascinating place indeed. Amidst the intense challenge from newcomers, they have stood their grounds and proved that there IS still a market for a no-frills, classic ice-cream lounge.

SIDEWALK ICE-CREAM LOUNGE
26, Lengkok Canning,
Ipoh Garden, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Tel No : +6016-562 6844
Location : Opposite of Medan Aneka Selera (Tung Koo Thing) and Woolley Food City in Ipoh Garden.
GPS : 4.611091,101.11064
Business Hours : 7.30pm onwards daily. 

*There was another ice-cream parlour in Ipoh Garden East that made their own ice-cream named Marco Polo. Sadly, they went out of business a few years ago.