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Ashley's Ice Cream Cafe
Category: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
280 York StNew Haven, CT 06511
(203) 776-7744
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for Ashley's Ice Cream Cafe
Review Highlights
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"And the Coffee Oreo is amazing as well." In 17 reviews -
"Cookie dough, and anything with oreo, is delicious." In 5 reviews -
"their waffle bowl cone was perfect too for its purpose." In 14 reviews
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69 reviews in English
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Review from chrissy c.
New Haven, CT
12/21/2011
Hands down the best ice cream you will ever eat. They have nutella chip, coffee Oreo, apple crumb, and flavors that will rock your tastebuds.
They also have frozen yogurt with loads of fresh toppings. There is no reason to go anywhere else for a treat...Ashley's has it all!!
Oh and the workers are really sweet and give samples without complaint...love this place. -
Review from Suzanne S.
West Haven, CT
4/17/2012 1 photo
Excellent icecream. Two words: chocolate raspberry. Extremely delicious, more emphasis on the raspberry than the chocolate, it almost reminded me of the flavor of a raspberry mocha. The consistency of their icecream is very light, almost whipped, yet still creamy. The portion size is fairly large. I got the regular, served in a cup, and it was probably the equivalent of three scoops. My friend got a kid sized cone, it it was actually a decent portion, though noticably smaller and only a dollar less (around $3 as opposed to the $4.50 - tax included - that I paid for mine).
Minus one star for ambiance which is a bit lacking and for the fact that I got skipped over in line. Not a huge deal. It seemed like one guy was training the other and it was busy when I was there. I just can't bring myself to award Ashley's with five stars when I saw a few areas for improvement.
Location is perfect for strolling around mid-town New Haven and stopping in for a refreshing treat. I would like to go back to try some of their other interesting flavors. I saw a bourbon brown sugar icecream on the list that sounded unique and delicious. I'm a big fan of chocolate raspberry which is sometimes an elusive flavor, so I'm sure I'll return since I now know I can get it here. -
Review from Erene M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/14/2012
What can one possibly say to describe a place that serves a million scoops of ice cream on a frisbee dressed to the nines??
This place is AMAZING. I would go here every day if I could! It was the best place for a pick-me-up and an occasional indulgence. The milkshakes are the most amazing thing anyone could ask for. Every flavor was delicious and obviously made with the freshest ingredients. I loved chocolate and butter pecan but would never say no to anything else on the menu.
An absolute must! Not a landmark by any means, but definitely the best ice cream in town and a great place with solid delivery. Yum! -
Review from Marilynn L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's good ice cream. I've been to fancy pants places in Los Angeles where I live and those are a notch better but this stuff is the stuff you want when you're studying late at night and want to splurge. A good cross between gourmet and straight-out-of-the-container kind of guilt-ridden ice cream. I love their Butter Crunch too. Butter ice cream with toffee bits and caramel sauce. YUM
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Review from Michelle J.
Cincinnati, OH
5/9/2012
The boyfriend and I checked this place out after we saw the great yelp reviews. The ice cream was okay, but I have had a lot better in my life. Maybe the good yelp reviews were just made me expect to much, but I really didn't think it was that good. It was also a bit expensive.
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Review from Sherry Z.
Oak Ridge, NC
4/25/2012
I've only had their ice cream here and can't remember being incredibly impressed. They do have a very fun frisbee ice cream option that is wonderful to share with a group of people. Otherwise, your typical ice cream joint.
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Review from Melissa A.
Wallingford Center, CT
4/19/2012
The best lemon sorbet I have ever had!!!
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Review from Joanna C.
3/5/2012
Ashley's is an old New Haven favorite and the frisbees are still fun to do with a group of people (make sure no one is sick!). I really like the oreo ice cream and the coffee one! It's also pretty cheap. However, I don't think Ashley's is worth the hype, and I also don't like the froyo there, especially the coffee flavored one. I do however, like the ice cream cake and Ashley's makes it really easy to get mass quantities of ice cream for events, huge pluses in my book! I don't love ice cream, but I have to say that Ashley's is definitely the best place to get ice cream in New Haven.
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Review from Mattie C.
7/15/2011
With more and more "froyo" stores proliferating in my town of DC, it was refreshing to come here and actually see signs for real ice cream. I feel like small ice cream shops like this are slowly disappearing and was excited to try this place out.
That said, this just seemed like a standard ice cream store to me. The sign outside said it was voted the best ice cream in New Haven, but I didn't notice anything particularly special about my mint chip in a cake cone. If anything struck me, it was that it seemed a little expensive (around $4 for a small scoop in a cake cone). It was delicious but didn't taste any different than a normal old ice cream cone.
BUT normal old ice cream is amazing. I love mint chip, and they seemed to have some unique flavors on offering. Also, they accepted my credit card for a sub-$5 purchase. The ice cream really hit the spot on a hot day and I am definitely a fan of this place. -
Review from Jennifer M.
New Haven, CT
9/6/2011
What can I say about Ashley's Ice Cream? Delicious!!! You can definitely tell that Ashley's Ice Cream is made with good ingredients and care. This ice cream store is old-fashioned and so great. Their chalkboard menu is simple and you just pick what you want. No fuss and no directions needed to satisfy your sweet tooth. Ashley's offers seasonal and staples flavors, as well as cakes and yogurt too.
Love the Coffee Oreo!!! -
Review from Baker L.
Bridgeport, CT
10/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
one of the best butter pecan ice cream i have ever tasted. that nice buttery flavor and that fresh pecan nut...yumms!!
brownie was big too!! just the way i like it too, not too fudgy. -
Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
3/13/2011
Thought from the reviews it would be the best ice cream I've had in a long time.
Granted they were out of the oreo... The ice cream we got was okay, but nothing too special. It's a fun place to stop with friendly service and decent prices. -
Review from Janet X.
11/30/2010
The best ice cream I've ever had. I love their Oreo and Cookie Dough selections; they always get the balance between ice cream and cookie right! Get the child's size, it's usually enough for one person. I also LOVE the fact that they deliberately price things so you don't end up with odd amounts of change!
Line is usually really long on warmer days, so be prepared. -
Review from Clemens W.
New York, NY
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was just walking around New Haven and stumbled upon this place for a break. I love Coldstone and gelato places around the city, and I must admit that this little store is an incredible competitor. Coffee oreo is heaven-sent. It makes me feel like a kid with grown-up taste buds. It was just what I wanted and just what I needed to complete the overall experience of New Haven. If I'm in New Haven again, this is on my to-eat list.
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Review from Steph C.
7/13/2010
One day during my first year in New Haven, I stopped by Ashley's and sampled the butter crunch. I liked what I tasted and ordered a cup. The server made it out and handed it to me, and when I reached into my backpack - I found that I had left my wallet at home. The server cruelly took back my ice cream and I left dejected.
After that day, I developed a butter crunch habit, no doubt due to the enhanced longing engendered by my failed visit. I gained a good ten pounds that spring, and have since made Ashley's a more occasional treat.
Of course, I don't just stick to butter crunch, and over the last few years have tried most of the flavors in regular rotation. The butter crunch is still my favorite, definitely sweet with nice buttery flavor and crunch courtesy of tasty bits of toffee. Other good ones are the strawberry, coffee, and cookie dough. I suppose Ashley's ice cream isn't the most exciting in the world - and I would argue that Haagen Daas does many of the flavors better - but the ice cream is decent, creamy and satisfying. If you add a topping of crumbled waffle cone, you're safely in delicious territory.
If you're dieting, you can also get non-fat or even non-fat sugar-free frozen yogurt. The flavors rotate and tend towards saccharine and vaguely artificial, but if you're just looking for a cold sweet fix, you could do worse.
The place is cute and convenient, with a few tall tables and chairs. There are lines on warm days, but these go fast, and the staff is generally friendly.
I like the place, and it may even be the best ice cream in Connecticut for all I know. I mean, it isn't really special or worth trekking out for, but it's solid tasty ice cream. I won't miss it when I'm gone, but I enjoy it for what it is.
I'll backtrack for a second - I might miss the cakes. If you have any excuse, get one of Ashley's ice cream cakes. You get a choice of two flavors of ice cream layered with your choice of cake, with crushed Oreo on the bottom and whipped cream frosting on top. I've had a few different permutations of these cakes and they have all been irresistible. I made the mistake of taking Claire's Lithuanian coffee cake to a birthday picnic when another guest brought a cake from Ashley's. I ended up taking most of that home when the birthday girl refused to keep all those carbs in her apartment. I ate lots of stale coffee cake that week, and I blame Ashley's. That's two strikes against my waistline, which I suppose for an ice cream shop is a good thing.Listed in: Brain Freeze is My Heroin Rush
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Review from Hungry A.
Buffalo, NY
3/29/2009
"A PLUS Ice Cream in New Haven CT"
**Some of the best ice cream I have had - lives up to it's (huge) reputation.
a.) Great service even when "slammed" - line out the door and the ice cream technician was listening to me only.
This guy was a surgeon with the ice cream scoop....
b.) Awesome selection - almost too many too much to choose but every thing is excellent .
c.) Location - pretty solid - great foot traffic and still a destination ... -
Review from K W.
New Haven, CT
7/24/2007
Four solid stars. Great ice cream.
I've only been here once (so far), but I am sure I will be back for more. I had their chocolate ice cream which was truly outstanding. However, I reserve five stars for my favorite ice cream place: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Here are a few words/ phrases that come to mind: fresh, not too sweet, not too creamy, lasting flavor.
Written by my 7 year old daughter:
I LOOOOOVED the strawberry ice-cream.
It was one of the most delicious ice-cream.
It was nice and creeeammy!
Dictated by my 4 year old son:
I liked my chocolate ice cream. I loved my chocolate ice cream. And I want to kiss my chocolate ice cream. ha ha hee hee ha ha
because... i like it!Listed in: Top Spots near Elm City
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Review from Lis B.
4/12/2010
Ah, Ashley's. Hadn't been there for years, and then I find myself back in New Haven and of course, had to grab some. I'm a sucker for mint chip. Theirs isn't quite minty enough, but has a creamy consistency, good mouth feel and lots of high-quality chocolate chips. I also had some hot fudge on top. It was truly excellent. Bittersweet and rich, it helped make me feel better about the lack of mintiness of the ice cream.
Friends had coffee oreo, sweet cream, chocolate chip and pronounced them good.
There were tons of toppings available - sprinkles, gummy candies, chocolate chips, M&Ms, cookie dough, brownie bits, etc. All toppings were the same price, including the hot fudge.
And speaking of price, it's expensive. My small cup with hot fudge cost over $4. Whoa!
They were training someone while I was there, so it was a bit off-putting to hear the manager say stuff like "fill it to here, not too high, charge them this," and not really pay attention to me. It didn't help that the line was out the door.
Still, a great location and a good experience. -
Review from Katherine B.
Minneapolis, MN
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three different types of coffee ice cream including oreo and heath? Some people are going to have trouble making a decision!
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Review from Amy S.
Tempe, AZ
6/20/2008
Are you crazy? 3.5 stars? Ashley's is the best ice cream in the New Haven area by far, and the downtown store is great. The servers are cool and friendly, and the seating is usually sufficient. The vibe is pretty much the same as the old Ashley's that used to be here when I was a kid. Being and Oreo Ice Cream lover, I absolutely adore all the different flavors of Oreo: Mint Oreo, Coffee Oreo (the two best), Strawberry Oreo, Chocolate Oreo, Raspberry Oreo ... you get the picture. They also have some great other flavors, grapenut is really good, butter pecan, pumpkin ... Compared to other ice cream stores today, the prices are very reasonable and are always generous portion-wise. And their sundaes, mmmmmmmmm ....
Maybe I'm just nostalgic about Ashley's since I grew up with it and being away from New Haven now, but I am just really surprised it only has 3.5 stars. It's way better than any other ice cream in the area. Or so I believe ... -
Review from Lawrence W.
New Haven, CT
4/6/2008
Stopped by Ashley's for Saturday night dessert with the wife. It was packed! Partly because there was a overwhelming demand for ice cream, but also because the service was slow, and somewhat scatterbrained. There were three guys behind the counter, with no real system in place for moving the line along, no real flow.
The wife had a small chocolate-chocolate chip with sprinkles, and she really enjoyed it.
I was not so lucky. I ordered a chocolate shake with extra chocolate syrup, but what I received was more like big, flavorless cup of extra cold chocolate milk. The person who made it seemed determined to scrap the bottom of the ice cream bucket (instead of cracking open a new one), and then over-milked the shake. To add insult to injury, he left it on the mixer for way too long, turning what's billed as an "extra-thick" shake into the thinnest excuse for a milkshake I've ever had.
If you have a car, do yourself a favor and go to Wentworth's (Hamden) or Sweet Claude's (Cheshire), both of whom have superior ice cream IMO, as well as friendlier, more eager-to-please staff. -
Review from Ryan C.
New Haven, CT
7/30/2008
Best Ice Cream in New Haven.
It doesn't get any better than a scoop of Ashley''s base sweet cream. Sure, they've got about 25 other flavors that change regularly and cover the gamut of fruit, crunch, mint, or coffee flavors, and about 10-15 topping to add in, but when the basic stuff is this good, you dont have to elaborate on it. Watch out at the tables though...previous patrons rarely clean up after themselves and the tables are sticky.
Word of caution: stick to a single, or at least complimentary flavors when ordering multiple scoops or the 'downside watson' frisbee filled monster...as no one wants rocky-oreo-banana-peanut-heath-road-mint-bar-grape -butter-nut-coffee-creme ice cream...Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Clark X.
New Haven, CT
4/26/2009
This place is rated Connecticut's number 1 - and, well, it IS pretty good...but not memorable at all.
I have had dining hall ice cream that is pretty much on par with Ashley's. Personally, I think they make it too sweet. That being said, paying like $4 a scoop isn't really reasonable.
The atmosphere is really fun though, and the workers are very very nice. Come here to catch up with friends, but don't expect to sample gourmet ice cream.Listed in: The Yale University list
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Review from Casey P.
Grafton, MA
8/3/2009
WHY DO YOU NEVER HAVE BANANA OREO?! I'm going to pretend it's not pathetic and admit that I have been to Ashley's about five times in one week this month, at various locations, stalking the banana oreo ice cream. And my creeper-self is always disappointed. However, I was informed that for $32 I can buy said creeper-self a whole bucket of banana oreo, if the warehouse decides to make a batch. Great news.
Luckily, they almost always have coffee oreo in stock, and their other flavors are pretty good too. -
Review from Matt G.
New Haven, CT
2/9/2011
This is a fun little ice cream shop at the heart of New Haven. I recently helped a few friends polish off a couple of their frisbees, which are actual frisbees with 7 small scoops of ice cream and 9 toppings. They were fun, but REALLY expensive at $26 per disk! It was a fun experience, but you get far more per dollar with a kiddie cone or any other option. And to keep the cheap frisbee afterwards doesn't make up for it.
If you do choose to get a frisbee, the sour patch kids were a surprisingly good topping (not my choice to put them on), but stay away from the gummi bears! All 12 of us were in agreement on this. -
Review from Jeff C.
San Lorenzo, CA
9/28/2011
My fiance's all time favorite ice cream has to be the coffee oreo here and even though I'm not a huge fan of coffee ice cream, I liked this one. The texture was nice and smooth and I liked that the ice cream was a little heavy, not light and fluffy. There was quite a bit of Oreo blended in, this one was definitely a winner!
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Review from Allie T.
Escondido, CA
6/5/2011
Yum! Ashleys Ice Cream was delicious, the atmosphere was friendly, and the flavor options were great for every taste bud. I had Heath bar and Cookie batter, both awesome. And the Coffee Oreo is amazing as well! Kinda expensive for ice cream, but everyone needs to splurge now and then, right?
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Review from Isabella K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2010 2 photos
Coffee oreo ice cream.
Every time I visit New Haven, I have had Ashley's coffee oreo ice cream... winter and spring, all seasons. After the first time, whenever you think of ice cream in New Haven, it's Ashley's.
Coffee Oreo is actually one flavor, although they give you the option to select two flavors in one cup or cone. They have a choice of sugar, waffle, and waffle cups (plain and chocolate covered). i believe they make it themselves so it's fresh tasting and not stale.
The ice cream at Ashley's is homemade and absolutely wonderful!!! It's creamy, tastes homemade with fresh ingredients, and I repeat, the coffee oreo ice cream is delicious. I'm surrounded by friends and family who are huge ice cream lovers so I get many opportunities to indulge, and the ice cream at Ashley's is SO good that I got my boyfriend an ice cream cake for his birthday- in contrast to the basking robbins ice cream cake that is our tradition. The workers are super friendly and work to make you happy with your cake. I ordered a chocolate chocolate cake and half regular vanilla - the chocolate had extra crispy chocolate crunches inside the cake! What a wonderful surprise! The decoration was simple and I ordered a cup of sprinkles to cover the cake - It only came out to about $20 for the smallest size (feeds 4-6) and needless to say, the birthday boy was ecstatic!
I'm from Los Angeles where there is an abundance of dessert shops and ice cream parlors... but my impression of New Haven was, that there weren't many places to get ice cream in New Haven, but the citizens and students of New Haven are supremely lucky that they get Ashley's for ice cream! -
Review from Jackie B.
Philadelphia, PA
7/9/2010
Ashley's ice cream has simply delicious ice cream. But on top of that, there are other small factors that make it a fun, inviting place that make me want to keep coming back.
It's located right near all the shops on Broadway and York, so it's very convenient to walk by, grab a cup/cone and be on your way around the stores.
The people who work there are extremely friendly, and always willing to have you try out as many ice cream flavors as you'd like before selecting one.
They have a wide array of toppings to put on your ice cream. AND they are EXTREMELY generous with their toppings!
Their ice cream flavors change daily, but always have the favorite available (sweet cream, Oreo, etc).
AAANNNDD they give discounts to me when I wear my lanyard from the summer program I'm working at.
I've been there multiple times this week and don't really see me slowing down. I will tell anyone visiting New Haven to try them out! -
Review from Andy P.
4/7/2008
Good ice cream... solid. However, for how people think it's god's gift to taste buds, it is not. It's good... coffee oreo is good, the other flavors are good. I've just never had anything here I would ever really crave.
To me, 3 stars is for... I would go there happily if someone suggested it, 4 stars is for, I actively want to go there and 5 is for... okay, we all know what 5 is for, but I'm putting this at 3 stars. Good, but it's not like I would climb over a pile of dead bodies to get there...
Now, Wentworth's on the other hand... -
Review from Jenny S.
7/25/2010
Smells like Cold Stone!
I'm a cookie fanatic so I tried the cookie batter and coffee oreo - great pick me ups :) Regular vanilla frozen yogurt was creamy like a perfectly frozen milkshake. Server was pretty generous with Child size for $3.20. -
Review from Zoe P.
Arlington, MA
7/15/2007
Depends. Totally disappointed in the strawberry-oreo, which tasted nothing like strawberry. Sweet cream was outstanding, however.
Now I just go with someone else (someone I know well) and take just a lick or two. This stuff is so rich, I'm satisfied and plenty happy I don't have to eat or pay for the whole thing. The low-fat vanilla soft serve is pretty darn good, too. Tastes like a good VT "Creamee," if you like that sort of thing. -
Review from Art S.
New Haven, CT
Updated - 5/5/2010
Overall, the ice cream here is mediocre. It's nothing special. Sure, there are some unique flavors but, let's be honest, it's fucking ice cream. Of course it's good.
My original issue with this place was that it's overpriced, but now I have a new issue. I went in for some ice cream a couple weekends ago at about 3 in the afternoon. They had three flavors left. THREE.
Three flavors? On a weekend? You're an ice cream shop! How the hell do you run out of ice cream in the middle of the afternoon?? Ridiculous.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/22/2007
Yeah... so... um... yawn.
Wait, I mean, woo! It's ice cream! So, why do I feel like I'm getting… Read more »
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Review from Kimberly H.
Los Angeles, CA
6/21/2010
I love ice cream almost as much as I love chocolate.
As a result Ashley's, you've got a lot of competition in my book with the innovation that is popping up all over the Los Angeles ice cream scene. However, as a small neighborhood business...
*I'm glad that you over cake cones and don't charge extra for them
*I think your floor is dirty...
*Your blueberry ice cream is pretty wild!
*Your coconut one could use some work...needs more coconut
*Your waffle cones shouldn't be so thick -
Review from ronald s.
6/3/2009
Pretty decent ice cream, not cheap - high quality ingredients = high prices.
Ashleys is a little "home-made" CT chain with a bunch of locations. I don't know if they make ice cream at each shop or have a central ice cream factory. doesn't really matter i guess, its decent ice cream and the quality has been pretty consistent between all their locations I have stopped in. if you are here, and its a hot day, and you need ice creamy refreshment it is worth stopping in.
mmmm .. Coffee Oreo is good. -
Review from Philip N.
1/24/2010
Look, a lot of times (not all the time), ice cream is ice cream. And Ashley's isn't exceedingly different from other places.
But there's something comforting about the place. Perhaps it's the care they appear to put in their flavors and quality service.
Or maybe it's just that their ice cream freaking good.
Either way, Ashley's is my go to spot whenever I'm craving some ice cream in New Haven.
Try their coffee oreo or their black raspberry. Best two flavors there.
Or pair the coffee with the cinnamon. Money. -
Review from Andrew W.
New Haven, CT
11/18/2010
Loved the Oreo flavour :)
cheap! -
Review from Neekac D.
New Haven, CT
7/23/2011
Went there & got the lemon sorbet. It was great. Kinda small. Not good for large groups, some might end up standing. Plan on going back :)
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Review from ruby w.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2010 6 photos
Typical homemade ice cream joint. I felt rushed when choosing my ice cream selection with people in front of be blocking my view and people behind me ready to cut ahead of me any second if I did not decide soon.
I didn't even get a chance to see what they had to offer. I sampled 2 flavors and settled for the coffee with oreo simply because I have never seen this match up anywhere and I am a coffee ice cream fan. It was delicious. I liked the unique match and the ice cream was fluffy and not too sweet.
Reading the reviews, seems like they have very interesting flavors. Mmm...... my single scoop was around $3.20. -
Review from Jenny C.
San Diego, CA
4/4/2007 1 photo
About 10 different flavors of homemade ice cream made fresh daily. Extra stars for you, for churning my ice cream. Oh man, this is how it is suppose to be!
Very cute little shop. Just in case you didn't know, awards and articles posted everywhere on the back wall showing they're the ISH!
I can see how the workers can make it be a little downer to your ice cream trip, but hey you only have to deal with them for like what...1 to 2 minutes? Pssh...whatever that doesn't kill my ice cream buzz.
If I remember correctly regular was $3.25. It's homemade, so I let it slide.
