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Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
Neighborhood: MissionMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Awesomeness in a cup (or cone).
Tried the salted caramel and apple pie - deliciously smooth caramel with a hint of salt, and crumbly and cool apple pie. So yummy. Both those were just the samples! I actually had a single of mint chip and cookies and cream. So rich, creamy, and full of chocolate flakes and large cookie chunks. I was amazed at how good the ice cream was. The mint even had a hint of herbal mint (the real deal, not fake artificial mint).
Not much standing room, but very very good, and worth the trek.
This is the 2nd part of CeCe's UYE.
After Ike's, we walked over to Bi-Rite which is about 4 blocks away. Good thing we did because I needed to walk off that awesome sandwich I just ate. When we got to Bi-Rite, no line at all. We let CeCe go first because she was the organizer for this event and I swear that she may of sampled everything they had. haha I did try their Honey Lavender flavor and I thought that I was eating something from Bath & Body Works. I finally settled on two flavors in a small cup, Ricanelas (cinnamon with snickerdoodles) and Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel Swirl. These two flavors definitely complimented each other well and the ice cream was so creamy and delicious. I did try some of the salted caramel. It was good and definitely had a strong flavor.
If you get two flavors in one cup, make sure they compliment each other or you may not enjoy it. I wouldn't if I had Honey Lavender and Cookies and Cream together. I wish that I bought a pint home of the Brown Sugar.
Still a fan of this place!
This place definitely holds up to its reputation on Yelp.
When I first passed by this place, I was…
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EARL GREY TEA ICE CREAM!
We've lived in the area for over a year now and Bi-Rite Creamery is pretty much the crown jewel of our 18th street paradise. We love the seasonal flavors like pumpkin and now earl grey tea!
Bi-rite is arguably the best ice cream in the city. I'm a fan of Mitchell's and Humphrey Slocombe too, but those are two ends of a spectrum from homey, traditional flavors to radical and outlandish...and bi-rite sits squat in the middle, with more tame favorites like coconut, rituals coffee toffee, and mexican hot chocolate...plus their uniquely original ones like salted caramel and honey lavender.
You MUST go by bi-rite if you're in the Mission or Castro, but watch out for the longer lines, even on cold nights at 9:50pm!
Third time to Bi-Rite Creamery. Line was long today Sun 11/15/09 around 4pm.
Tried pumpkin - tasted ok
Got my standard flavors again: ginger & salted caramel single is 1-2 flavors $3.25. I got it in a cup.
Paid cash today, they do take credit cards.
They sell Holiday Pies too:
Pumpkin $16.99
Apple w/ crumb topping $1.699
Pecan $18.99
Hrs:
Su-Th 11-10
F-Sat 11-11
2nd time trying Bi-Rite Creamery. Prices have gone up a bit from the last time I ate here.
Ask for…
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Wow. The best ice cream i've ever had. They have lots of innovative flavors that initially scared me away, but my beautiful gf and i felt adventurous one day and decided to try it out. over a few visits, we've tried roasted banana, toasted coconut, salted caramel, snickerdoodle, and lavender. the banana, coconut, and snickerdoodle are all favorites, but the lavender tastes too much like perfume. The salted caramel is also very good. Would def. go back and recommend to others. I want some now!
*nom nom*
Oh Bi-Rite Creamery, after being an established Pharmaceutical/Local Supermarket for many of those in this side of the Mission. Those artisan flavors of yours that entice us are truly splendid on hot faux summer day (it was the middle of September for crying out loud) gone by. I came here out of pure suggestion and hype from Yelpers, Friends, and Local SF dessert lovers alike. Everywhere I go, after mentioning Mitchell's or Humphry. Bi-Rite Creamery would be a suggestion hanging on the coattails of my ice cream trek gone to an end (at least in the Bay Area). JTS and I managed, to have one free day in the final week before a long awaited departure from the old roaming grounds.
As a side note parking was very tricky (and disappointing considering the outrageous citation courtesy of the Douchebag SF Parking Patrol). So be wary when trying to find a place to rest your car before you get screwed over. In any case, we went inside and like fickle minded children we couldn't decide what to get even after a few samples:
-Honey Lavender (it's like honey dipped onto mellow but sweet flower on a spring day in cream form; redundant, yes but hard to explain)
-Salted Caramel (A lot better than my Fleur De Lys addiction from Haagen Daz, not so much salt but the caramel was decadent)
-Strawberry-Kiwi (vegan style; had no recollection on the kiwi-attribute, it was tart on the strawberry side though)
-Creme Fraiche (Creme Brulee, but more butter than anything, in terms of texture and flavor)
-Chocolate (was consistent in texture and taste but not an avid chocolate fan, as a standalone)
So what we ended up ordering were the following:
-1 Double Scoop on an Ice Cream Cone: Cookies and Cream and Chocolate for JTS
-1 Double Scoop on an Ice Cream Cone: Balsamic Strawberry and Brown Butter Pecan
The Cookies and Cream and Chocolate were consistent to their contenders in the rest of the Ice Cream-dom. Smooth and creamery, with the chunks of Cookies all around the vanilla. The Chocolate, was exactly as I described it as a sample.
The Balsamic Strawberry did disappoint, now I'm no condiment whore on my salads. But Balsamic should have a hint of sour flavor when blended with anything (maybe somewhat dominant in a lot of aspects). But the strawberry was a bit overwhelming for that sour taste, and therefore voided in the creamery confines of the cone. It was as if, I tried only a strawberry scoop without the bits of strawberry chunks. Lastly, the Brown Butter Pecan, was on point. Pecan bits were definitely in full effect, and kind of reminiscent of Scoops' (Los Angeles, Ca.) take on "Brown Bread" for flavor and texture contrast in combination.
Overall, we spent about $12.00 plus tax (no tip necessary). As my final conclusion of this trip, Bi-Rite came at a close second, to Humphry only due to less "unorthodox and more on the conventional flavors." Becoming a more avid gourmet, I feel the need to try stuff that's a bit more "out of the box." Therefore on the spectrum of Ice Creams in SF would be as follows:
Mitchell's For the Tradition, Bi-Rite for the Medium, and Humphry for the Adventurous (more of my preference all thanks to their Secret Breakfast). Thanks for bearing with my delay on this series of reviews, folks! Now is time to play catch up, to inform you all on of the other food spots I've scoured, cheers!
I can't believe that I am just finding about this AMAZING creamery. I ordered a double scoop: salted caramel & butter pecan. Super Yummy! Also, I love the fact that their scoop is moderate in size, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. It's perfect....orgasmic pleasure without the guilty pains.
Also, the price is also really low and affordable for such a high quality product. I can't wait to try the sundae w/ olive oil!
What can I say... I'm a fan! Ricanelas is a must try and is by far my favorite flavor! I just wish there was a Bi-Rite Creamery on the East Bay. The drive is definitely still worth it!
Bi-Rite, how I love thee! The salted caramel ice cream is, to paraphrase Dave Chappelle, this ice cream is the shizniddle bam snip snap sack.
8 bones is a healthy pricetag for a pint of ice cream, but Bi-Rite is worth it...and it's a great way to score serious points with the lady for under 10 bucks.
The brown butter pecan is delicious beyond all belief...My new favorite flavor. Try it now as it might be offered for a limited time.
Looks like I'm the only one in the universe who does not care for the salted caramel ice cream.… Read more »
Prime location across the street from SF's best small park (Dolores), and walking distance from all that is great in the Mission, Bi-Rite Creamery is perhaps the best-located and best tasting Ice Cream Shop in all of the Bay Area.
The obnoxiously long lines are worth the wait and all the hype, as Bi-Rite provides great flavor selections that are well balanced and put a smile on the face and hearts of all its patrons.
People will swear by the played out and over used Salt Caramel, but I would recommend you try many of the other worthy flavor offerings.
Bi-Rite serves the most well rounded ice cream around, providing a nice balance of flavor, consistency, and creaminess.
I would call this place flawless, but I feel that the ice cream is served at too low of a temperature and usually wait a few moments to allow the ice cream to soften up a bit.
The flavor rotation is a bit weak and too safe at times, but why take risks when you don't have to. These people know exactly what they are doing and need not deviate from their successful formula.
But other than that, Bi-Rite is a definite stop on the Ice Cream pilgrimage and is arguably the best ice cream shop in California.
Highly Recommended
Do it right, select 'Mint & Chocolate' flavor!
The 'Coffee Toffee' flavor, well, notice the name...coffee comes before toffee, it is definitely stronger. If you like a pungent coffee taste, you'll love this.
The Malted Vanilla was really good. This would be a nice complement to the 'Coffee Toffee'
Size matters, that's why they give you generous helping. I also love their set cup sizes because it fits the perfect amount of guilty pleasure.
I had to come to see what the hype was about.
I ordered apple pie and salted caramel ice cream.
Whoa mama!!! So freakin' good!!! The ice cream was not too sweet and the texture was smooth and creamy, how ice cream should be! I love the bits of crunchy frozen crust that's in the apple pie ice cream. If I lived by Bi-Rite, I would definitely get waaayy fatty. :D
I'm going to have to agree that Bi-Rite is pure awesome.
The salted caramel is, of course, very good, but I'm partial to the roasted banana, which rivals the best gelato for pure depth of flavor, but maintains its delicious creaminess to be securely called ice cream. I haven't ever been the least bit disappointed by Bi-Rite and it's a favorite spot among visiting friends who want to experience a bit of what SF has to offer.
If you appreciate ice cream, it won't matter whether it's a warm autumn afternoon or a chilly winter evening--you will rejoice in your selection after every delicious tongueful of Bi-Rite's trademark goodness.
AME-MAZING!!
Not one other person in the shop on a sunny Sunday. Cute interior with thoughtful touches of decor. Asked lots of questions and got the insider scoop. Tasted Pumpkin (OK- good flavor), Salted Caramel, and Honey Lavender.
Choose to buy a half and half scoop of Salted Caramel and Honey Lavender... best versions of those two flavors I have had! A half scoop seemed small, but the deep flavor of the ice cream made it filling.
FYI's
* Someone in Seattle opened almost the exact same shop as Bi Rite- with the same flavors... BUT her ice creams taste does not compare to Bi Rite- the Seattle copycat can't get the flavors from being too strong or too lackluster in the unique combinations
* Biodegradable cups with small wooden stick/spoons
* Moderate prices that match the quality
I was warned that the ice cream was really rich because I'm lactose intolerant. But I am lactose intolerant with an affinity for ice cream. =) I had the salted caramel and it was a bit too buttery for my taste. I also had a scoop of the toasted coconut. Now that was YUMMY! I had a taste of my friend's apple pie ice cream and it was like an apple pie a la mode. I should have ordered that one! I didn't like the lavender flavor and the ginger flavor was overpowering. Even though the ice cream was a little too rich for me that I ended up feeling sick, it was worth the pain in the end. Their ice cream is organic and the cones are organic too. WOW!
Overall, it was cool but my heart still belongs to Thrifty/Rite Aid ice cream. Coconut pineapple and chocolate malted crunch will always top my list.
Oh! SO TASTY! We tried both the Salted Caramel and the Malted Vanilla. I -really, really- liked the Malted Vanilla, and the Salted Caramel was quite delicious as well.
I understand there is a war between aficionados of Humphry Slocombe and Bi-Rite Creamery.
OK, people, there's no need to squabble! Both are so, so tasty. Humphry Slocombe is obviously more adventurous with their flavors, Bi-Rite may be a tiny tiny bit better on the quality consistency.
I love them both. Lots. Nom.
This is an excerpt from my blog. For the full post with pictures, please visit http://www.biteandbooz... and follow me on twitter @biteandbooze
We heard about the Bi-Rite creamery on the day we arrived in San Francisco and knew that we needed to find some time to make it over there for some delightful frozen treats. That suggestion proved to be worth every penny because the ice cream was incredible! Bi-Rite had many different flavors including some classics like cookies 'n cream and vanilla, as well as some original and unique flavors of their own. I think I tasted about eight flavors, then ordered a cone with two of them.
Two-Flavor Ice Cream Cone at Bi-Rite Creamery
My sugar cone featured one scoop of salted caramel on top and a scoop of Ricanelas (cinnamon ice cream with snickerdoodles) on the bottom. Both flavors were scrumptious but if I had to pick one, I'd go with the salted caramel. It perfected the combination of sweet and salty that everyone loves in a good ice cream. I could eat it every day so it's probably a good thing I'm not living in the Mission area right now!
I heard about this place and made plans to go. Took 3 months to actually make it there due to my slavery work schedule.
The moment I have waited for finally came true alas - I stood in line which was half way around the block. With excitement I ordered the famous "Sam's Sunday" featured on a episode on the Food Network.
It was heavenly!
The Sunday was topped with a sprinkle of sea salt and some citrus flavored olive oil!!! Who thought of this?! Brilliant!!! I fell in love with this Sam's Sunday!!!!! It was worth the wait! Good things happen for those who wait! YES!!!! It was worth all the wait. I wouldn't change a thing!
SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Which enables a big big smile on my face and brings out my inner child. With the Sunday this magnificent, who needs a girlfriend! forget that! I had a foodgasm over this!
Thank you Bi-Rite! I love you !!!!
I'm a dessert person. I intentionally save room while eating dinner just to have tummy space for ice cream. Steak? yes - I love it ... ice cream though?? I love it even MORE!
I took a nice stroll through the city to get to Bi-Rite (in the hopes of burning off even just a small percentage of what I was about eat) and found myself in total awe at their selection of unique and creative flavors.
In Seattle we're spoiled with Molly Moon's and Bluebird - but dangit' Bi-Rite, you kick butt! Rumor has it that their salted caramel and balsamic strawberry flavors are even better than Molly's. I opted for something totally new and got the roasted banana. Such a great choice! The ice cream was smooth and rich, the cones were fresh, and the service was quick. A line over 20 people long was scooted in and out the doors in less than 15 minutes. Pretty great! For this ice cream, I'd stand in line on a cold winter night anytime!
Ice cream is worth the long lines and wait at Bi-Rite Creamery!
Bi-Rite offers an eff-ton of unique flavors I've never seen anywhere else. Best part, the counter help is totally cool with you sampling many flavors... they even encouraged me to try different flavors I didn't ask! (Also, props for using metal spoons and reducing waste).
Bi-Rite is quality over quantity. The serving sizes are normal. A single scoop really is a single scoop. A double is two. In my opinion, this is so much better than getting a huge portion of uninspired, blah ice cream.
I sampled the honey lavender and ricenalas (cinnamon with snickerdoodle), and ordered pumpkin and malted vanilla with peanut brittle and milk chocolate pieces. The honey lavender and ricenalas were true standouts. Really unique! If you're into herbal and natural flavors, get the honey lavender! The malted vanilla with PB brittle and chocolate wasn't as unique as other options, but reminded me of a gourmet version of Ben and Jerry's. The pumpkin was a good seasonal choice, but wasn't exemplary.
The toppings at Bi-Rite are so unique- I had to try the homemade graham crackers! They weren't very sugary, which was nice. More of a toasted flavor with a nice crunch. Highly recommend it!
So wait in line, because it's worth the unlimited samples and some of the best ice cream around!
salty caramel.. hands down the best flavor here.
the fresh organic ingredients, and interesting flavors. they are very environment-friendly, the spoons are even compost-able! (just like tartine's cups)
anyhow, the salty caramel flavor is probably their most popular, but it IS salty, so if you're not a fan of the savory/sweet combination, u might want to skip out, and just try one of their 'regular' flavors
A mix between gelato and ice cream - not as creamy as ice cream and not a rich as gelato. If you've never been here are a few of my faves:
1. Chocolate - safe choice
2. Toffee Coffee - if you're a mocha/coffee/toffee fan
3. Balsamic Strawberry - tastes better then it sounds and not too fruity
Such good ice cream...probably the best gourmet ice cream shop in the city. Before I quit eating dairy, I really liked the dark chocolate ice cream (or was it the Mexican one?), but you know what, they have just as good vegan ice cream, it's homemade and they use very quality ingredients. They also have baked goods, and the make yummy sundaes. The line is huge though, so get there as early as you can. And yes there's even a line during winter. Amazing!
After lunch at Tartine, my friends and I walked over to Bi-Rite for some ice cream. Lucky for us there was a line so we had time to digest. I got the Balsamic Strawberry and the Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel Swirl. The brown sugar was a bit sweet. Yes, I know it's brown sugar, sugar is sweet... but compared to the Balsamic Strawberry, it was just a tad overboard for me. However, combined it was soOo good I really didn't want to share.
My only gripe... I got two single scoops which cost me $4... however my single scoops really looked like kiddie sizes. I think they need to get some girls with more arm muscle to really dig into those ice cream cause even though it's gourmet and delicious, I can't help but feel a tiny bit jipped. Yah I know, it's not Scoops in LA... but dangit... I really thought they gave me kiddie sizes!!
Still busy!
Still generous with samples!
Still well-priced!
Still diverse with flavors and seasonal offers!
Still yummy!
My friends know what I like.
I'm in town only a couple hours and they're directing me to ice cream…
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So I honetlsy doubt that one more review about this amazing delicious ice cream shop will do any world of difference. every single ice cream that I have had has been totally and completly amazing, my two favorites so far include the cinnamon sugar one (tastes like a snikerdoodle) and the salted caramel. The malted vanilla is also really nice as is the pumpkin. I have never once hit the long lines I have heard about so i feel glad about that, and if you want to spice up your ice cream try thr brownie sunday option it has toated pecans which are soooo sooo amazing!!
While watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Sugar Rush on Food Network, they talked about Bi-Rite Creamery's Sam's Special. I knew I had to give this place a try the next time I was in the SF area. Fortunately, I had such an opportunity when I went to visit my brothers a few weeks ago.
I must say that I was rather impressed with their ice cream. For awhile, I thought that Mitchell's Ice Cream was the best of the best and could not be matched. Well, I stand corrected, Mitchell's certainly has some stiff competition from Bi-Rite Creamery.
What truly makes Bi-Rite Creamery stand out from the rest are their unique flavor combinations. They do an excellent job at blending sweet and savory flavors together. For example, flavors such as balsamic strawberry & salted caramel, which we normally assume would taste odd, in fact are some of their best flavors. Other flavors worth noting are the honey lavender, coffee toffee and brown butter pecan. If you are in an adventurous mood try the Sam's Special. The chocolate ice cream with bergamot olive oil (fruity flavor) and maldon sea salt all pair extremely well with each another.
Final Thoughts
Bi-Rite Creamery's ice cream offers a great balance of flavors and texture from the very first bite to the last spoonful.
We were in the Mission District in search of SF street food vendors, but after an hour of walking all over, we concluded that our search was unsuccessful. On the flip side, we saw Bi-Rite Creamery and I told my friends that they're in the "8 Great Ice Cream Parlors In and Around SF" list according to Gourmet Magazine. It was 60 degrees but there was no way I was going pass up the opportunity to try their ice cream (especially since it was one of the places that I bookmarked to try on my Yelp).
We ordered the following: Cookies & Cream, Vanilla with Raspberry, Chocolate and Malted Vanilla with Peanut Brittle. All of us got the kid's scoop but it was more than plenty. And the ice cream? It was amazing! It was smooth and creamy; you could definitely tell the difference between freshly made ice cream to store bought ones. I haven't had ice cream in a while (I mostly get yogurt nowadays) because I've always felt it was too heavy that gives you a bloated feeling afterwards, but Bi-Rite ice cream was pretty light... I did not feel guilty at all!
Although I didn't get to have my SF street food experience, I was ecstatic finding this place.
Arguably my favorite ice cream shop in the city. The service is really quite good, and the ice cream made here is second to none. I really like the honey lavender (oddly, as that did not sound attractive to me at first).
Try the olive oil and sea salt over chocolate ice cream - definitely an unusual yet good combination.
Bi-Rite Creamery has been on my list of "to try" eateries for a while now. As expected, you yelpers know a thing or two about good eats; Bi-rite did not disappoint! Within seconds of entering Bi-Rite, I got the cozy "old-diner" vibe, which I love. The flavors are handwritten on the glass and everything is organic and local, a few personal touches that add to the novelty of the creamery. All the flavors are silky, rich, and creamy - you really can't go wrong with anything that your heart desires.
DO...
- Try the salted caramel - best seller for a reason!
- Try the coffee toffee if you're a caffeine junkie. Has a rich coffee flavor to it and tastes like actual coffee beans in the ice cream.
- Try the Ricanelas - cinnamon with snickerdoodles. My favorite of the trip! Makes eating your ice cream like a treasure hunt looking for the tasty cookie morsels mixed into the ice cream.
DON'T...
- Feel bad asking for samples to decide on what you want (unless of course there's a huge line of people glaring at you). Kudos to Bi-Rite for being green and using metal spoons for tastings.
- Be deceived by the small cups! I got 2 scoops so I could enjoy two different flavors, and was so full by the last bite.
- Get discouraged by a long line. It's moves pretty fast.
Decent prices for a gourmet ice cream experience! I will definitely be back when my sweet tooth cravings hit!
I should work for Bi-Rite Creamery's PR department, because I pretty much sell this place to everyone I talk to. I have introduced many loyal fans, and still go back every chance I get... I might be addicted to their Salted Caramel.
Seriously, I'm dreaming about it right now. Mmmm
Every flavor is orgasmically good - and I'm not exaggerating here. I have tried just about every flavor they offer, and not a single one has disappointed me yet. Some of my favorites aside from the front-runner mentioned above include the Ricanelas (cinnamon with snickerdoodles), the Malted Vanilla with Peanut Brittle and Milk Chocolate, the Balsamic Strawberry, the Toasted Coconut, the Honey Lavender, the Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel... just writing this list is like porn for my taste buds.
The line is long, but just think of it as foreplay... the wait is definitely worth the end result.
This is one of those places where you wish you knew about a long time ago. Heard all the hype about this place from my friends so I thought i'd try it out myself. At first when we got there, i was tryin to imagine how these flavors would taste because they were not your ordinary flavors. So, i settled for the salted caramel, brown sugar, and ricanelas which is pretty much a snickerdoodle. DAMN. I was shocked with all the flavor this freakin ice cream put out. Brown sugar tho was kinda blah after tasting the other 2. But other than that, it was all good. Also tried the balsamic strawberry (yum), malted vanilla (super yum w/ rice crispies inside), and chocolate coconut. (ok). They take credit card! woo pah!
I look forward to trying out other flavors esp their sundaes and coffee toffee. Definitely would recommend this place to ANYONE who loves ice cream.
with places like fenton's and ici under my belt, it was time for bi-rite. lucky for me, it was close to where i was staying. i tried pretty much all the flavors but only malted vanilla w/ peanut brittle and chocolate truly stood out to me. salted caramel, earl gray, brown sugar were good but i didn't crave it. the ice cream here is much more intricate and sophisticated than fenton's but i still love ici's waffle cones. definitely a must stop for ice cream fans but it just lacked that extra oomph for me. must try humphrey slowcombe for more comparison as well.
It's always good when a place lives up to the yelp reviews hype. This is one of them.
My bf always raves about this place every time we're in the city but we never want to stand in line. We finally came here and barely beat the line and now I can see why this place is always so packed.
We got the coffee toffee, salted caramel, and ricanelas (cinnamon). In order of my favorite it goes: coffee toffee, ricanelas, and then salted caramel. This is a little biased because I always put anything that has chocolate or coffee at the top of my list. Also, I saw a lot of bad things said about salted caramel. I'll admit that I wasn't fond of it at first but it grew on me. Plus, the name itself should serve as a warning that it's not gonna be the best thing you eat.
I don't know what it is about this place. Maybe it's because it was such a nice day when we went, maybe because it's right next to a park, but the ambiance of this area makes for eating icecream outside one of the most relaxing things I've done in the city.
I'll be back to try all the other flavors.
I have to admit that I eat more ice cream than I probably should. It's my "thing." I can't say no when it's in front of me. It shocks me that I've lived in SF for 5 years and last weekend was my first time trying Bi-Rite. I honestly can't think of a time that I had something better. Maybe in Italy?
They have really unique flavors like Salted Caramel and Brown Sugar. When I originally saw these flavors I felt jipped. What the hell is this? Where's my chocolate? Where's my strawberry? When I got to the front of a line I tentatively started tasting... and instantaneously my idea about what was good ice cream, was gone!
It was nearly agonizing coming to a decision. I ended up with coffee toffee and it was like no other coffee ice cream. It was rich and creamy with the perfect balance of crunch. I took it over to Dolores Park, munched away and had a perfect afternoon.
You're lucky you lived up to the hype and surpassed my expectations, Bi Rite. After months of delays of wanting to try this place, I finally made it, and I decided to bring 3 buddies along. Granted the weather was cold and it was damn near 9:30 in the evening, this place was still poppin'. Guess any weather is good weather for their ice cream. I mean there were couples, families, and hungry groups of friends like us. I could easily see why lines can be long during peak hours and hot days.
Now I didn't sample anything before I made my order, but I did notice how they use metal spoons to give out samples. Props for thinking about the environment. With so many damn flavors, it was hard to choose what I wanted, and they all looked good. I'm not gonna lie, I like my plain vanilla, but I didn't come all the way from the east bay to have it here. I like how the sizes they offer have 2 sets of scoops to chose from. For example, the large (which I got... don't judge) allows you to get 2 or 3 scoops. I'm trying as much as I can here, so of course I'm gonna cop 3 scoops.
I ended up ordering the salted caramel, brown sugar, and honey lavender. The salted caramel was good, but kinda strong. I guess its cool that the aftertaste stays on your tongue for awhile. The brown sugar was good too, but wasn't as flavor-packed as I expected. My favorite out of the 3 scoops was definitely the honey lavender. The best way to describe it is like its.... bathroom potpourri in your mouth? Well, that's what I thought it was. Take it as a good thing, honey lavender was money.
I also sampled my friends' ricanelas and balsamic strawberry, and those were rather delicious too. What's funny is that after eating all my ice cream, I didn't feel bloated or guilty haha. It would have been nice to have a bottle of water handy though. Bi Rite has easily become a favorite of mine due to the quality of the ice cream, the variety of unique flavors, and the flexibility in scoops. They also take credit card! I really look forward to my next visit so I can either get more scoops of new flavors or even a sundae. Woot.
Best.ice cream.ever.period.
Salted caramel, coffee toffee (uses coffee from Ritual!!), ginger, etc etc. Soooo good!! And the servers are soo sweet! They have so much patience - they let me try basically every flavor. Hot or cold, rain or shine, I'm always down for some yummy Bi-Rite!!
So here are individual reviews for the flavors I can remember:
Salted Caramel: sounds like a weird combo, but it's reallyyy good. Might also be an acquired flavor.
Ginger: REALLYY good. But I'm also a huge fan of ginger ice cream.
Coffee Toffee: I LOVEEE coffee flavored ice cream, and this is the best I've ever had.
Roasted Banana: Gross.
Brown Butter Pecan: Really good, but you can almost feel your arteries clogging.
Honey Lavender: Not a fan. Kind of tastes as if you're eating soap.
Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel: It's okay. I'd much prefer the Salted Caramel.
Ricanelas: pretty good.
Malted Vanilla with Peanut Brittle and Milk Chocolate Pieces: I can't remember, but I think this might have been good.
Sam's Sundae: So I know a lot of people like this sundae, but I think it might be an acquired taste. I definitely was NOT a fan at all. It's chocolate ice cream with olive oil and salt in it. One of the servers created a small sample for me.
They can salt my caramels and roast my banana anytime they want to.
Finally! I got the chance to taste the infamous Bi-Rite ice cream. It was a cold and windy night in the City. Before hitting up some bars, my gal pals and I had a craving for Ice Cream and made it a point to come here. Parking was a biznatch and walking uphill against the strong gust made our craving for ice cream quite a journey. Nevertheless, I was happy with the end product: Roasted Banana and Snickerdoodle on a sugar cone!
It was amazing...orgasm in my mouth. At that point, I didn't care how cold it was outside, I wanted more!
Other flavors I sampled:
Balsamic strawberry- Nyeh, tasted like regular strawberry to me. Perhaps my taste buds aren't sophisticated enough to pick up on the balsamic part.
Honey Lavender- Great to sample, but a little too overwhelming to have a whole serving.
Cute little place. The staff rocks. Ice cream- heavenly.
Neighborhood: Noe Valley
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Specialty Food
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
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