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Gray Whale Ice Cream & Deli
Review
About
We serve organic fair trade coffee, espresso, a wide variety of speciality teas, hot chocolate, fruit smoothies and frozen yogurt. We offer fresh sandwiches, pastries and fresh baking from family recipes. Eat in - Take out, Gluten free and vegan options available, Patio Seating, Wheel chair Accessible, Food Safe certified. Our philosophy is "Giving back". We support our community events and fundraisers including the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, Ukee Days, Scouts, Parent Advisory Council, Ucluelet Elementary School, Ucluelet Secondary School, soccer, wrestling, Harbour Lights Sail Past, Canada Day, etc..
Features
CUISINES
Cafe, Canadian
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch
PRICE
$
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wifi
Highchairs Available
Parking Available
Seating
Takeout
Location
Parking Available
Is this a fast food place?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 5:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday
6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Contribute
4.2
94 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
39
Average
17
Poor
0
Terrible
1
S F
Ucluelet1152 contributions
Feb 2025 • solo
Gray Whale Ice Cream & Deli makes one feel good on all levels, as while one is enjoying a fine coffee, or, other of its offerings — such as in-house backed goods, delicious fresh made sandwiches or its ice cream — one knows one is spending one’s money with a business which follows ethical practices & states its business philosophy as “giving back”.
As a fairly new resident in the stunning ocean village of Ucluelet on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, I love to go into this eatery as often as I can.
The combination of great welcoming service, organic fair trade coffee, food safe procedures, tasty food & beverages, & the fact it gives back to the community in which it is located — which locals refer affectionately to as Ukee —-is a winning one for me.
It casts is “giving back” net widely. Sponsorship includes the two wonderful Ukee schools — both Elementary & Seconday.
My two grandchildren are pupils @ these two inspiring schools, so when I am thinking of having a coffee or the like, Gray Whale comes to mind as a place I want to support.
It also supports the local whale festival coming up in March, & then following it Ukee Days, among other events.
It uses family recipes for its baked goods as well as quality ingredients, ethically sourced.
It is open from 6 am to 5pm & even earlier from 5 am in the summer months — longer hours than a fair number of other places in this ocean village.
Its very early hours attracts many who wish to make an early start for necessity or inclination.
There are many good reasons to support Gray Whale.
I am glad I discovered this Ukee gem early on when visiting Ukee where my son & family have been living for 16 years.
I highly recommend this community minded eatery, well located on Ukee’s main commercial road of Peninsula.
Posted by S Fuller.
Written February 3, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S F
Ucluelet1152 contributions
May 2024 • solo
Gray Whale Ice-cream & Deli, conveniently located on Ucluelet’s main commercial road, opens early for early riser by inclination or demand. It is open at 6am month months & even earlier in the summer months @ 5am!
This next month of June it will start at 5am.
It serves a wide range — from delicous gelato, to tasty sandwiches - all of good quality.
Service is good @ parking is readily available.
Posted by S Fuller
Written May 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S F
Ucluelet1152 contributions
Mar 2021 • solo
There are many good things to say about Gray Whale Deli. Its warm welcome is for me the highlight.
Along with the warm welcome & great service, it provides good wholesome food & an array of coffee selections, as well as teas and other beverages.
Its selection of fresh sandwiches are a favorite option for breakfast & lunch, for both visitors & locals alike.
It is located on Ucluelet’s central street, called Peninsula by which one enters this wonderful ocean village, so it is one of the first stops in Ukee — as Ucluelet it is know as by locals — if one arrives famished after a journey, or needs a quick pick up before beginning the journey back through the spectacular pass, which takes one to the first town one reaches of Port Alberni on the other side, about an hour & half away.
Social distanced seating is available inside & on its patio & it is a good spot to pick up take outs to have on a log on one of the nearby beaches or parks. It also sells crackers & the like.
I was hoping to get a particular unleaded bread cracker for my family who live in Ukee, called Matzos. I love it especially with the British vegetarian spread called Marmite. My son & some of his family are also Marmite fans.
Marmite & Matzos — the other M&M — was the lunch I was given to take to school most days, & I continued to love that snack into adulthood.
I wanted to pass on to my grandchildren the pleasure of this most versatile cracker, which comes in fairly large sheets, which can be broken up to the size one desires.
While it is not a stock item, its friendly staff member graciously steered me to another option.
Perfect service. Thank you.
Posted by S Fuller
Written March 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian C
Thank you for your kind review. We appreciate our locals and visitors alike so very much and were happy to try and help you in your search for the Matzos crackers. We hope you were able to find some for your family.
Written April 20, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
littlebug12016
Vancouver Island106 contributions
Feb 2024 • family
Every time we come to Ukee this is a must stop. They put a gummies bear in the bottom of every cone and for my son…this matters! Cute shop with interesting items and a really nice little coffee and muffins area as well. Staff have always been good to us .
Written February 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S F
Ucluelet1152 contributions
Feb 2024 • solo
I felt like a delicious icecream
/gelato as spring started to make its early presence felt.
Gray Whale Ice Cream & Deli was the obvious place to get one.
It sets a perfect tone for the spectacular ocean village, which is Ucluelet, located on Canada’s Wild West coast.
It is one of the eateries one first comes to as one enters what locals affectionately refer to as Ukee.
It offers a good welcome & friendly & helpful service & certainly knows how to made a super sandwich. It offers delicious ice cream, as well as other snacks & groceries.
The Gray Whale signals that one is in a sweet spot of good eating & good welcome.
Ukee’s population is only around 2,000 full- time residents but it is a town where one is likely to find a lot of what one would expect to find normally only in far bigger places.
Ukee has become something of a food Mecca in recent times, rivaling its non- identical twin Tofino, 26 miles north of Ukee.
The Gray Whale’s reputation also stretches back in time, & is one of the earliest places offering good food & beverages in this ocean spot.
Locals know it is a good place to go & those who enter the village & stop at Gray Whale soon learn this too.
Always good to get a mouth-melting scoop of yum gelato or ice-cream.
Posted by S Fuller
Written February 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S F
Ucluelet1152 contributions
Jan 2024 • solo
The Gray Whale Ice Cream & Deli sets a perfect tone for the spectacular ocean village, which is Ucluelet, located on Canada’s Wild West coast.
It is one of the eateries one first comes to as one enters what locals affectionately refer to as Ukee.
It offers a good welcome & friendly & helpful service & certainly knows how to made a super sandwich. It offers delicious ice cream, as well as other snacks & groceries.
The Gray Whale signals that one is in a sweet spot of good eating & good welcome. Ukee’s population is only around 2,000 full- time residents but it is a town where one is likely to find a lot of what one would expect to find normally only in far bigger places.
Ukee has become something of a food Mecca in recent times, rivaling its non- identical twin village, Tofino, just north of it, which has had a culinary reputation of myriad cuisines stretching back further.
The Gray Whale’s reputation also stretches back in time,& is one of the earliest places offering good food & beverages in this ocean spot.
Locals know it is a good place to go & those who enter the village & stop at Gray Whale soon learn this too.
Posted by S Fuller
Written January 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona D
Buxton6 contributions
Sep 2019 • none
Helpful staff and freshly made food - and a great range of muffins ;) Coffee was good too. Good prices and choice of items in the gift section
Written October 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2014SandyR
Ucluelet6 contributions
Aug 2019 • none
I work right across the street from this Deli- it is amazing. Fresh sandwiches, salads (macaroni salad is so good), awesome coffee, ice cream (soft serve too), so much more, gifts...
Written August 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Drew W
New Jersey103 contributions
Jul 2019 • couples
We stopped for breakfast and to buy sandwiches/drinks for a picnic lunch later. The only fresh breakfast option was egg sandwiches on english muffins with various toppings. They were hot and fresh and good. The pre-packaged sandwiches that we bought for lunch were okay.
Written July 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie V
Richmond22 contributions
Jun 2019 • friends
I often drop by for my morning coffee when walking my dog. This Deli is a pleasant experience from the minute you walk in the door. The decor is lovely, coffee and food items are right on the counter area, it is on the main road and there is always service with a smile... eat in or on the outside tables...great food, great service, great people!
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hitchcock2
343 contributions
Aug 2018 • couples
To be honest we only stopped here as it had WiFi and we had got in from Germany two days earlier. However we ended up coming here three times in the two days we were in the area. The staff were amazing, so friendly. Made my husband a huge cappucino and he was in seventh heaven, the carrot muffin was equally brilliant. Only problem was choosing what to eat because everything looked so appetising. There are comfortable chairs to relax in, a real feel good place...and we found a lovely T-Shirt for our granddaughter too in the souvenir and gift shop area
Written October 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bryancrawford54
Crewe109 contributions
Jul 2018 • couples
We were in Ucluelet for lunch time and decided a sandwich would we found this little deli that sold a little bit of everything. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We chose a tuna sandwich which was excellent. It's your in Ucluelet and your hungry this is place for a snack.
Written August 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gray Whale D
Thank you for taking the time to review us! So glad you enjoyed your lunch.
Written August 20, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ally-Traveller
West Yorkshire58 contributions
Jun 2018 • couples
Enjoyed a toasted sandwich here and was also able to pick up useful info on local trails. Staff were very friendly. They also have a good range of ice-creams much to the delight of children and adults alike.
Written July 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gray Whale D
Thanks for your review! Happy we were able to help with some local information about Ucluelet and provide a tasty sandwich!
Written July 6, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
karen h
British Columbia79 contributions
Sep 2017 • couples
Had coffee and a muffin here one morning. The coffee was very strong and hubby likes strong coffee. I had a cappuccino, which I thought wouldn't be as strong.....i had to add 5 creamers and it was still really strong. The carrot muffin was really good. The lady serving seemed quite frazzled, I think she was trying to do too many things at the same time.
Written September 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
P V
Bath45 contributions
Aug 2017 • couples
We had ice cream and milkshakes simply wonderful with patient, helpful staff - what more could anyone ask for.
Written September 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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