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Brown's Old Fashioned Ice Cream, Inc
Category: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
232 Nubble RdYork, ME 03909
(207) 363-1277
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
40 reviews for Brown's Old Fashioned Ice Cream, Inc
Review Highlights
"I got chocolate peanut butter frozen yogurt and it was so..."
(in 7 reviews)
"Love the Fat Free Heath Bar Coffee Yougurt."
(in 4 reviews)
"Absolutely huge and stuffed waffle cone for $4.75, going..."
(in 3 reviews)
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Ken M.
Durham, NH
7/3/2011
We go out of our way to come here.
Not to be confused with the ice cream available at Nubble Light. Brown's is just down the road. -
Review from Henry O.
Billerica, MA
1/4/2012
* Great Ice Cream *
This is our go-to ice cream spot for when my family and I visit York. The in-laws typically treat us to some Brown's ice cream. (Everything tastes better when it's free.)
Brown's is a take-out-window style ice cream shop. You wait in line to order from an outdoor window, and then wait on the side to pick up your order. The order lines can get long on the weekends, but they're manageable or small during the weekdays.
Brown's offers great tasting and quality ice cream. They have a large selection of flavors, flavor of the day, and holiday-specific flavors. I have not tried their yogurt or low fat ice cream -- or other stuff that takes the fun out of life -- so I can't comment on it.
* Eat-In Outside *
Outdoor picnic tables are available for customers, but they get filled up quick in the summer. We usually like going during the late summer evenings when it isn't that busy and the lie is shorter.
They are a bit pricey for a local ice cream shop, but the serving sizes are big. Make sure to grab some extra napkins with your order during the summer; that heaping stack of ice cream gets sticky when it melts.
There is also a great ocean view from up the hill there on Nubble Rd. (If you run up the hill to the store you might lose enough weight to make room for the ice cream.)
* Bottom Line *
If you're in the area, then come here to treat yourself and your family to some great tasting ice cream. -
Review from Spenser O.
Worcester, MA
9/5/2011
I hate to use the word "tourist trap" but this place should be the definition of one ( And I mean said statement in the best way possible, it's a good tourist trap)
Conveniently next to the lighthouse that everybody flocks too (The Nubble Light) This place is sure to catch their attention as it is literally right next to the place.
So enough of me rambling on about it's location, chances are you are looking at this review for a, well, review. So here goes.
Brown's is good. very good. pretty effing awesome good. One complaint however, and some advice. The only complaint I can think is is the fact that when you get something like the Tornado (which is awesome by the way) you only get a few toppings, like I think I had like one Oreo crushed up, maybe eight M&Ms, and a few other things, can't complain though, when you dig in to the goodness, It's generally just worth it, although you can I'm sure request more toppings if you please.
Some advice for the tourists or newcomers, come at night. Don't make the mistake I did coming in bright, humid daylight, and if you can't help it, don't get anything bigger than the smallest. Why you ask? unless your a competitive eater you will be sharing about half your treat with the table/ground/seat/whatever. Plus, if you come at night, you can enjoy the ambiance and slight breeze of the Atlantic, plus, it's probably less busy.
S.O. -
Review from Sara W.
New York, NY
6/29/2011
Thank goodness there is a line at this place. All the better to read the long lists of flavors and their descriptions that are on the walls on both sides of the windows. Watch people order, see kids take their first lick - good? Do they jam their face in for another taste right away, or savor? It's excruciating, the flavor decision making process. Oh no, you're next, better be ready . . . AAAAND . . .
Maine Survivor again, you wussy. -
Review from Michael R.
Boston, MA
4/12/2011
The best ice cream in York. Lots of flavors, quick service, even on the busiest of summer nights, friendly staff and reasonable prices. Not to mention lots of free parking.
Forget ice cream on the strip, make the trip up to Nubble instead, it's worth it. -
Review from Melly W.
Central Manchester, CT
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This adorable ice cream shop is set down from the street, and offers up fresh tasting flavors that will delight your palette. The banana is delicious! Watch out though - a 'small' cone has nothing small about it! :)
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Review from Scott V.
7/10/2011
My wife was so excited to eat here, that she ran up the hill. In the dark. On the main road. She was dancing, flailing her arms, and wailing about the triple sampler. They don't have a sign up for the triple sampler, but she asked if it was still available (we had it the previous year), and the girl at the counter said yes. She had peppermint stick, chocolate mousse Oreo, and pistachio. Granted, it could have fed a kindergarten class, but she ate it with glee. My wife is a bit of an ice cream connoisseur, her self-proclaimed passion. She loves this ice cream, and I must admit, I do too. I mean, honestly, where else can you find ginger ice cream? Yes, there are a lot of tourists. But what were we? Tourists! What are you if you don't live here? Tourists. Just accept it, and let it wash over you like a cool breeze.
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Review from Sarah J.
6/19/2010
My all-time favorite ice cream shop. I grew up in New England and my grandfather has lived in York since the 1960s, so Brown's is somewhat of an institution in our family.
Everything is made in house, everything is super flavorful, and everything is HUGE, so beware of getting the large...it's bound to be the size of your head! It's always crowded on hot summer nights but is worth the wait. I'm a big fan of the standard flavors at Brown's (think chocolate, strawberry, mocha chip), because why muck up such great, pure flavors with crazy things like peanut butter and nuts?? Just kidding. Every flavor is good, you really can't go wrong.
There are picnic tables you can sit at to eat, but most of the time we hop back in the car and head down to Goldenrod's to watch the taffy being pulled while we lick our cones. Visiting Brown's always makes for a magical summer day or evening.Listed in: Cheap Cheap, Pahk the Cah
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Review from Hungry Couple N.
New York, NY
1/18/2011 2 photos
Did you say ice cream stand or tourist trap? People who knew we were going to be vacationing on the southern coast of Maine told us we must check out this fixture for a true ice cream delight. Pre-vacation research on the area also found lots of Internet praise for Brown's ice cream. Well, we intended to head to Cape Neddick anyway to see their famous lighthouse and we didn't need our arms twisted to sample some ice cream on a summer vacation.
One vanilla and one chocolate in large chocolate-dipped waffle cones with sprinkles, please! Oh, no sprinkles? OK, we'll take it plain. After all, we LOVE waffle cones and they were good. The vanilla ice cream was very good as well but we'd be hard-pressed to say it beat the Ben & Jerry's cone we'd had the night before or the Sedutto's we enjoy back home in New York. The chocolate was not good at all, however and tasted flat, with little chocolate flavor, like a poor store bought brand.
Chatting later with the gift-shop owner near the lighthouse, we learned that Brown's only makes their vanilla ice cream and buys the rest. That explains a lot. Oh, and $11.00 for the two cones! -
Review from Matt L.
8/10/2010
Another NE ice cream stand, another softball sized "small" cone.
Would I have wanted any less? Not at all.
Brown's was hopping at 8:30, right about closing time. The five or six lines were all about ten people deep, but it moved quickly. Although, it would make sense if it didn't - there were probably 40+ flavors.
I ordered chocolate peanut butter, which had half Reese's cups (and smaller bits) chopped up in delicious homemade ice cream. The flavor was strong, and the chunks didn't overwhelm it. This is very important in my book - I know what Reese's taste like, I want to try your ice cream.
I loved the setting. Not only are you across the street from the harbor and a short walk from Nubble Lighthouse, but the restaurant is set down in an enormous rock outcrop. Very cool. -
Review from Sarah P.
Leesburg, VA
8/5/2011
The best maple walnut ice cream I have ever tasted. Rich and creamy, not too sweet with what had to be a half pound of walnuts in it, and I'm not talking microscopic chips of walnut, these were entire walnut halves. So, so good. Maple Walnut not your thing? They have TONS of flavors available. Outside picnic tables are the only seating (no shade either). There was no parking available down the street at the Nubble Lighthouse so we parked up the hill at Brown's lot, got some ice cream and then walked to the lighthouse for an hour or so. Not sure if that is technically 'allowed' but I figured, their parking lot was almost empty, we patronized their business, and we were only there for a short while.
I'm glad I live 700+ miles away or would weight 500 pounds from eating their ice cream too often. -
Review from David B.
Mocksville, NC
5/16/2009
There is no better Ice Cream in the Eastern US period.
Been a loyal customer since around 1980 and it is the best part of any trip to Maine.
Grapenut is always a treat -
Review from Hello K.
Fremont, CA
9/28/2009
When I visited Maine years ago I can distinctly remember coming to Brown's every night after dinner for some ice cream.
I loved the variety of flavors they had and the quality and richness of the taste!
Definitely a happening place at night just be careful of bugs flying around! I hated heading buzzing noises near my ear as I was eating my ice cream (!)
Definitely worth the trip and wait though :) -
Review from Sara P.
Horsham, PA
7/2/2011
Amazing ice cream! The portion sizes are huge so do not get turned off by the price. I had the Kahlua chocolate brownie (or something like that) and it was so creamy and yummy! Definitely stop here while in York!!
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Review from Dimitri D.
Worcester, MA
8/26/2010
A Review of Brown's Old Fashioned Ice Cream. By Dimitri D.
This review is going to be very simple. I like Brown's very much. The people are very nice and friendly, and the ice cream selection is very wide and excellent as well. Especially the Tornado. If you ever come hear and are having a difficult time deciding what you want, you CANNOT go wrong with the legendary Tornado. It is regular vanilla ice cream swirled with M&M's, oreo crumbles, Heath bar, and chunks of Reese's peanut butter cups. I've tried many other flavors but none have come close to level of excellence that is only achieved by Brown's Tornado. There are so many damn good ice cream shops in York, but you gotta try out Brown's. -
Review from Danwen C.
Manhattan, NY
8/14/2010
WOW!
First, let me start off by saying I LOVE ICE CREAM. I thought I had found the ice cream of my dreams with Emack and Bolio's, but I was WRONG. My friend's boyfriend brought us to this place during a weekend trip to Maine, and OH. MY. GOD. The menu was unbelievable. The quality was unbelievable. The lines were unbelievable.
Apparently they are never not busy, and I can see why. We got ourselves a spot between 2 lines so we could hop between whichever one went faster. Despite how long the lines were and how many people were waiting, the lines moved fairly quickly. I was reading whatever I could see of the menu right up to the window. And that wasn't even the full menu. They had about 10 boards each with about 20 flavors on it. That's just my estimate, and I'm very bad at estimating.
When I got to the window, I decided to go with "The Big Bang" (partly because it included a crapload of stuff, partly because I had just started watching The Big Bang Theory). I was told I couldn't go wrong with any flavor, but I'm SO glad I picked this one. Loaded with all sorts of chocolate and other shit in vanilla ice cream, I was in heaven for the next 15-20 minutes it took me to eat this. As soon as my waffle cone was handed to me, these guys behind us in line started yelling "Hey! What's that you got? Big Bang? LOOKS AMAZING!" -
Review from Elisabeth S.
Boston, MA
1/25/2011
No trip to Maine is complete without Brown's! My favorite ice cream is SO hard to find. Good old Peanut Butter. Its perfecto!
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Review from David V.
9/13/2009 3 photos
We got here about 1 hour before the ice cream shop opened on a sunny Sunday morning. A man, who we think may be one of the owners, was cleaning up outside and decided to serve us and open up a little early. For that reason alone, we love this place! He also let my wife try two samples of ice cream (pumpkin and blueberry), which were both delicious (she chose the blueberry). I had the sherbert freezer, which is sherbert and Sierra Mist, and it was tasty!
This is a great place to visit in the York Beach area! -
Review from Katy W.
San Jose, CA
4/17/2007
I'm sorry Brown's but those golf-ball sized mosquitoes that frequent your establishment make it difficult to give you 5 stars! Going to Brown's is part of our yearly family renunion in Maine, but I always groan internally when we get ready to go. You can't say no to their delightfully delicious ice cream (strawberry w/totally excellent real strawberries), but getting eaten alive by bugs is painful.
I discovered the difference between adulthood and childhood when I went last year: you are actually allowed to eat your ice cream *IN* the car as opposed to being locked out because you'll make a mess on your uncle's new upholstery. So adulthood does have its perks! You just have to look hard for them. . . -
Review from Dennis L.
Wellesley, MA
7/7/2009
Absolutely huge and stuffed waffle cone for $4.75, going three scoops over the top of it. The Irish cream with Oreo was very good, being filled with chunks small enough to nibble well with the ice cream without the sensation of gritty mashed oreo with smooth ice cream that you get from some places. Not that much 'Irish cream' taste in it, however. There are a large variety of 'chunky' flavors that my friend with me took a good 15 minutes or so to decide between the selections and asking the numerous staff at the windows questions on what the specialty flavors were. Wish there was detail on them without needing to ask. The line was minimal since there were so many staff attending to the stand that day.
It is on the road, going straight instead of turning right to the Nubble Light, up a twisting passage. I came here last summer and made the mistake of getting a sugar cone. The ice cream here is very high in milkfat, making that a poor selection on my part. There are a few picnic benches, and the stone path down is definitely not wheelchair accessible. Decently large parking lot, separated a ways from a direct view of the water with the houses nearby, but a good oasis nonetheless for a mid-day dairy fix. Just an old fashioned ice cream stand with frappes and such available, and it felt much more tranquil here than the packed tourist strips. -
Review from Cat C.
Washington, DC
12/31/2009
"Hello, I would like a Kid Sized Cone please"
What was handed through the small take out window was a sugar cone with an ice cream scoop that rivaled a small infant's head.--is that what they meant by "kid sized"?
I was almost afraid to ask for a "regular" let alone, "large".
They have an exhaustively long list of flavors--I chose "Grape Nut" and my companion chose "Blackberry".
I am going to have to say.... Blackberry definitely trumped Grape Nut.
Their ice cream consistency is good- creamy, rich, not overly aerated.
Ask for samples before deciding. -
Review from Stacy A.
Somerville, MA
6/7/2009
Maybe it was the flavor I chose, or I got up on the wrong side of the bed, or I was just plain not in the mood. (I don't care what they say, sometimes you're just not in the mood for some lactose lovin'). It was just o.k.
After reading reviews on Yelp and other places, my boyfriend and I were psyched to stop in for a scoop. I'm sorry to report that I've forgotten what I ordered. BF forgot what he got too, which tells me that our ice cream was less than memorable.
Next time I'm in the area, I will try again. Given the number of flavors they serve here, I'm sure I'll find something to rave about next time. -
Review from Erica C.
Portsmouth, NH
7/18/2010
I have no reason NOT to love Browns. Great selection. Huge sizes. Tonight was super crowded, but we didn't even have to wait in line for very long. I got chocolate peanut butter frozen yogurt and it was so rich. bliss!
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Review from Zarina K.
Lee, NH
5/8/2009
Love It
Love It
Love It
Love the Fat Free Heath Bar Coffee Yougurt
Enough Parking, Thank Goodness!!! -
Review from Janie W.
York, ME
8/1/2010
The ice cream at Browns is pricey but you sure get a whole lot of it! My recent venture into a peanut butter cup was very tasty, its definitely worth trying. I also like the large variety of flavors.
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Review from Tessa M.
Medford, MA
11/11/2010
Their ice cream sodas are huge!!! I've been coming here forever and never had a bad experience. Great views are around, although it is kind of a hike to find this place. Good ice cream selection, although I have had better quality ice cream.
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Review from Rich B.
Salem, MA
7/9/2011
12 dollars for 3 cones I was skeptical. But it was great
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Review from Jackie G.
Boston, MA
7/18/2006
Best Ice cream ever!! Until I graduated high shcool I used to go to York Beach every summer, now I only make day trips to taste this delicious ice cream (ok and to lay on the beach). If you are ever in York Beach, you need to go, try the Snikers ice cream, its all home made and divine!!
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Review from Bethann N.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/15/2009
Wonderful! Black Raspberry ice cream, yum!
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Review from Emily C.
Arlington, MA
8/2/2010
This ice cream is so incredible. The small was big enough to satisfy your ice cream craving for the entire summer (which I never thought possible). The flavors were incredibly rich and creamy and we left thinking we'd never had ice cream similar to compare. I didn't find them to be that pricey... it's a touristy ice cream spot by the lighthouse, it is what it is! Worth every penny!!
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Review from Erica S.
Media, PA
8/26/2008
Simply delicious. And huuuuge! (Order a small!) And plenty of cute boys to take your order. :-) It's well worth the trek up the hill-- skip all those other ice cream spots down by the water, and get yourself up to Brown's!
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Review from Kevin W.
Revere, MA
8/22/2010
Cant think of a better place to watch the sunset on a hot summer night with a Checkerberry
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Review from Joseph C.
Trumbull, CT
10/11/2010
This place is average at best. Nothing special other than the road it's on. There's better ice cream on long sands beach!
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Review from Shani L.
Somerville, MA
9/8/2010
I gave this place 2 stars because the rating apparently translates into "Meh, I've experienced better," and that was definitely how I felt after my experience here. Me: "I'd like a kiddie size in a waffle cone with chocolate jimmies" ... Them: "you can only get a waffle cone if you order a large. oh, and we don't have jimmies here." WTF?? This is New England, what do you mean you don't have jimmies? I didn't actually say this in words but I think the shock on my face got the point across. *sigh* Fine, sugar cone and jimmie-less it will have to be. Not a good start.
Once I got my cone, I was less than impressed with the flavor I got (sorry, I can't remember what it was, something with a crazy name)...there was a ton of stuff listed in the description (peanut butter cups, heath bar, etc) except that there was little of this to be found in the actual ice cream. To be fair, my friend got a different kind with pb cups and peanuts and her flavor was chock-full-o-stuff...so maybe I made a poor selection or got the start or end of a batch, I don't know. But I can only review what I do know so there it is.
Oh and for all the people who said the portions were HUGE - they were okay at best and very inconsistent. 4 of us went to 2 separate windows - 3 of us got maybe slightly larger than average kiddie sized cones and one got a very large kiddie size...hers was significantly larger than the other 3, and we all ordered kiddie sizes. Strange.
Maybe it was an off day, maybe I made a poor selection with my flavor (I definitely wouldn't get it again), maybe I got a teen with 'tude dishing out my sugar...who knows. No waffle cone option and no jimmies, however, is inexcusable. Anyway, whatever it was, it was...."meh." -
Review from Arik C.
Arlington, MA
7/31/2005
An instituition in York ME, right near Nubble light. Real home made ice cream with a wide variety to choose from. A great way to wind down and watch the sunset ont he ocean.
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Review from Amy B.
Charlestown, MA
9/7/2006
I have been spending my summer vacation in York Beach, ME since 1982 and frequenting Brown's for all 24 years. Don't be fooled in to getting ice cream right at Nubble Light (I think the place is called Fox's and it's over priced and not nearly as good.) I don't know what else to say other than that their ice cream is amazing, the flavor selection is vast, and it's worth waiting in line for.
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Review from Andrea C.
Arlington, MA
8/21/2006
It's got great location and great ice cream. Just don't get the one with orange sherbert and brownie chunks, it's gross (as if you wouldn't predict that). my only complaint is that i usually order coffee heath bar yogurt and they either give me plain coffee or there are ZERO heath bar pieces in it.
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Review from David S.
Boston, MA
9/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I used to go here every year as a kid (25+ years ago) on family trips. And now I make the trip to the Nubble Lighthouse area usually a few times a year and always stop here for ice cream. One of my favorite ice cream spots anywhere.
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Review from Julie W.
Mountain View, CA
6/18/2010
Two years later, I'm still dreaming of the chocolate frozen yogurt I had at Brown's on vacation. The cacao content was enough to keep me awake for quite a while (which is saying a lot). So if you're susceptible to caffeine attacks, don't order the chocolate. If you want something so rich you'll never forget it, order their chocolate frozen yogurt.
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Review from Sue A.
Boston, MA
8/6/2008
Get the MAINE SURVIOR! Portions are huge and so are the prices, however with location it is mostly worth it. Same ownership as Fox's Lobster House, however Brown's ice cream is about 50 cents cheaper for everything than Fox's. : )
