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Cold Stone Creamery

3.5 star rating
based on 38 reviews

Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Wicker Park
1924 W North Avenue
(between Elk Grove Ave & Winchester Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 235-8476
  • Nearest Transit:

    Damen (Blue)

  • Price Range: $
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

38 Reviews for Cold Stone Creamery

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Photo of Ricky N.

Elite '08

6

44

Ricky N.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
06/17/2008

'When really good ice cream ..happens to really broke people' Like i said about miko's  italian ice ..i refuse to pay this much for ice cream ..unless A.someone else is paying B. Im REALLY craving the shit  C.. im in the dog house and my girl wants it REALLY  bad ...otherwise im walking my ass to the mini mart and buying a .99  mini box of ice cream and listen to the crack heads on the way there  sing for me for free  ...(although they may expect a tip too) .

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Photo of E. V.

 

82

112

E. V.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
06/10/2008

Looking at the reviews, people either love Cold Stone Creamery or hate it.  I'm in the middle.  Their ice cream is definitely thick, rich, and sweet.  I wouldn't call it "premium" ice cream, though, because they use emulsifiers and stabilizers.  I like my ice cream made simply with cream, milk, and sugar.  Sometimes with egg yolks for frozen custard.

With that said, I still like their ice cream from time to time.  I've been known to order the combination of cake batter ice cream, cookie dough, and caramel... ::hangs head in shame::  
Yes, the ice cream is on the pricey side, but I've been taking advantage of the 50 percent student discount on Tuesdays.  Not sure how long that special goes for, though.

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Photo of Brett G.

Elite '08

15

153

Brett G.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
06/09/2008

2 1/2 stars.

The ice cream is good, lose a half-star for not having peanuts as mix-ins.  I asked for a medium.  I would not conform to the "like it", "love it" sizes.  I mean a medium is a medium people.  It's the size between the small and large.  Shouldn't be too hard to figure that out.

However, for the price, I should have gotten an extra large!  Holy moly.  Yummy ice-cream cold goodness on a hot day - excellent.  Price that could also have bought me an entire foot-long sub from Subway - hmm.   Each trip should result in a cost-benefit analysis.

Won't stop me from going back, but I might have to have a bag of chips or something similarly cheap for dinner on those occasions.

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Photo of Miss M.

 

0

11

Miss M.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
05/20/2008

I hate their terminology.  I hate how expensive it is.  I hate that they sing.
I love their strawberry ice cream with yellow cake and pineapple mixed in and would eat it every day if I could afford it.

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Photo of Vaughn C.

Elite '08

112

65

Vaughn C.

IL

1 star rating
03/04/2008

My first visit to Cold Stone Creamery was on impulse. I mean, that's the whole point of ice cream, right? To relive those moments of post-baseball socials, scandalous single digit birthday parties, and Daddy's Sober Anniversaries--all nostalgic memories associated with such a simple treat.

When the cashier rung up my chocolate ice cone, my total was over $5. The memory loop shattered and fell from my vision like a cheap video filter. I was shocked. Appalled, even! I wanted to return the cone into whatever golden egg it hatched from, and tiptoe my way out of the store, with both middle fingers extended. Instead, I sat down and ate my ice cream in seething disappointment. You know what that's like? Watching Sesame Street with homicidal impulses--not fun.

I've reluctantly returned a couple more times, obligated to other sweets-craving buddies. On my third visit, we witnessed a father bringing his kid into the shop. After a few minutes, the dad sheepishly says, "Son, we gotta go. We can't afford to eat here." The kid was understanding, but it was still a heartbreaking moment.

Sure, Starbucks did it with the coffee cup. But adults are big jerks who care about status and often willingly kill each other for money and power. We deserve to reap in what we sow. But, to have this sort of manipulation get handed down to something that kids relish?

Cold Stone Creamery, you are the destroyer of fun. You are the evil clown that approaches kids at the carnival, pops their balloons, throws their lollipops into the dirt, and then taunts their tears with seltzer water to the face. You are a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic mascot who sets fire to the first row with Korn as your soundtrack, cackling merrily with your sadism. I detest you and your mirage of obliterated dreams!

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Photo of Katie H.

Elite '08

21

198

Katie H.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
03/04/2008

No.

I don't "Love It." I want a motherfucking medium, you twat. Oh so you're going to sing if I tip you? Christ on a cracker... if that isn't all the motivation I need to be stingy.

You're lucky I like ice cream as much as I do.

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Photo of Julia A.

Elite '08

30

245

Julia A.

IL

2 star rating
03/29/2008

Holy overpriced crap!

I've only been to Cold Stone twice, and although their original creations are pretty delicious, I can't justify paying over $5 for one freaking scoop of ice cream on a regular basis. Their concept of mixing the toppings in with the ice cream is cool, but $5 for a small (excuse me, a "like it")... yikes.

Try the Strawberry Shortcake or the Birthday Cake mixes.

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Photo of Jenny R.

Elite '08

120

179

Jenny R.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
02/05/2008

I took my 5 yr old nephew off my brother's hands for a day and brought him here for a tasty treat, and also to teach him an important lesson about "inflation."

Also, there are pod people who work here. I don't like my ice cream to be served to me by shells of people.

There is a picture for your viewing pleasure.

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Photo of Jessie B.

Elite '08

71

96

Jessie B.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
02/29/2008

Went here the other night.

My friend Jessica was craving sweet cream ice cream with extra sprinkles, myself on the other hand wanted some guacamole. Too bad Cold Stone doesn't sell them both, but not together of course.

Didn't expect fantastic customer service at 8:45 PM on a Monday night, but seriously the guy behind the counter was a complete jerk. He was very irritated that we came through the door. We tried to engage in a conversation, "Slow night, eh?" We just got a smirk. Whatever dude, just pass the sweet cream.

Never again. I'm not a fan of jerky people. I rather go to the location on Webster. They are way cooler anyway.

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Photo of Manuel W.

 

0

9

Manuel W.

Franklin Park, IL

4 star rating
03/30/2008

Cold Stone on North Ave is a great shop, I was amazed by the amount of space this location has enough for you and a few friends to cater to that sweet tooth and not have to stand to the side and be pushed around by others, cute tables great staff only down fall they dont open till i beleive noon on weekdays. The OWNER IS GREAT!!!!

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Photo of Debbie M.

 

82

50

Debbie M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
01/14/2008

Yum!  This place is so good!  I love the "like it" size simply chocolate with PECANS!  The Birthday Cake ice cream is great too!  The only thing that bothers me is if you order a "like it" and they make too much, they overload your cup......which I like and all but its a treat to just have it and anything more than the like it, I just dont need!!  But hey I shouldnt complain about them giving me more than what I pay for!  The staff are nice and the place is always super clean and busy in the summer!!

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Photo of Steve K.

 

19

98

Steve K.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
01/14/2008

I hate this place and all the bullshit hype that surrounded it upon its arrival to the Chicagoland area a few years ago. The consistency does not resemble ice cream whatsoever. It's really thick and stringy and feels like I'm eating cold lard. I get that they sing and mash toppings into it on a cold rock and everything, but rather than wait in long lines (in the summer) and eat gross shit for a lot of money, I'll go buy a pint of good ice cream from the grocery store and smash some candy into it... or just go to one of many delicious, non-chain ice cream places.

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Photo of meredith s.

 

7

23

meredith s.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
04/29/2008

they don't have lemon anymore, therefore i cannot justify anything over 3 stars.  ridiculous!  the staff is usually pretty good, and they now offer delivery.  but it's pricey, so don't get too excited.

when when when will yelp allow 1/2 stars to be given???

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Photo of M M.

 

38

52

M M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/14/2007

Can I just say YUMMO!!!! I use to work in Wicker Park and as a treat on a warm day I would go on my lunch hour and have a tasty treat...I love this place!

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Photo of Sarah S.

 

5

23

Sarah S.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
09/21/2007

I don't get why everyone is so crazy about this place.  Every time I come in I get all wet over the idea of making my own special ice cream and toppings and inevitably whatever I request is odd tasting and displeasing.

I'll stick to Ben & Jerry's from the Always Open.

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Photo of Kristen S.

Elite '08

29

169

Kristen S.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
11/17/2007

I guess I should preface this by saying I don't eat ice cream here. My husband does. I will get the raspberry sorbet with dark chocolate shavings.

It's very good, but it costs an arm and a leg - $10 for two scoops of ice cream. It's a once in a great while type of treat. I think we come here maybe once a year, and always in the cooler months (which doesn't make sense!).

My husband gets the white chocolate ice cream with dark chocolate shavings. I have also gotten the lemon sorbet with raspberries.

I love the idea of the mix-ins. I love the unique flavors of ice cream. But I cannot justify the price.

My husband got me a red velvet strawberry ice cream cake from here once and it was wonderful. He had to reserve it weeks in advance, though. So tip for the wise: reserve your cakes!!!

Parking is difficult in this area. My husband and I usually walk here.

Service is actually a bit slow and less enthusiastic than some other coldstone locations.

Stop by for a treat!

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Photo of Vamsi V.

Elite '08

97

243

Vamsi V.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
07/04/2007

I have to have dessert every night and decided to try out Coldstone few nights ago. I went there with 3 other people after having dinner at my house.

We each got different items. I got the chocolate ice cream with almonds and chocolate chips on top (I am a chocolate fanatic), my partner got the mint chocolate chip with fudge and pecans, our friends got a watermelon sorbet and cake batter ice cream.

My chocolate ice cream was the only one that tasted reasonable. My partner's mint chocolate chip tasted (and smelled) like mint syrup with chemicals. He threw it in the garbage after eating 2 spoons. One of  my friends liked her cake batter. I tasted and thought it  was too sweet for my taste. My other friend said her watermelon sorbet was OK. I tasted it and found it just OK.

The service was good, the guys behind the counter were quick and helpful with suggestions.

I will not go back unless I have exhausted all my options to find dessert.

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Photo of Samantha S.

Elite '08

12

234

Samantha S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/01/2007

I'll admit it, I like this place. But I don't come here EVERY time I want ice cream because it's really rich, and you'd have to be rich to pay for it.

But when I really feel like splurging, I get the cheesecake-flavored ice cream with brownies and strawberries mixed in. It's my comfort creation - I get it every time.

But I'm really a bigger fan of Oberweis, which is right down the street from me, and it doesn't hurt my wallet as much. Sometimes I just want chocolate chip ice cream on a cone, and sometimes I want a big gooey Cold Stone mess.

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Photo of Allison B.

 

5

35

Allison B.

Oak Park, IL

2 star rating
03/14/2007

I used  to work at a coldstone, and I never understood why it was so freaking popular. The ice cream is incredibly rich (to an almost sickening degree) and really overpriced. You get more add-ins with Ben and Jerry's by far. Also I must add that it's disgusting how much fat goes into this ice cream. The portions are also HUGE; if you get a "Gotta have it," the largest cone/dish size, you are eating more than a pint of ice cream.

That said, some people just have crazy tastes when it comes to ice cream, and if you want some strange add-ins, this is the place to go. I remember making some nasty coffee/banana/mint concoctions, and one girl who wanted some whole milk poured over her vanilla ice cream.

Personally, the only ice cream from here I liked was the cheescake and various sorbet flavors. I haven't been back here since I stopped working here, simply because it's not good and not worth the money. I'd take ben and jerry's or even baskin robbins over this place anyday.

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Photo of bill s.

 

9

274

bill s.

Hammond, IN

5 star rating
07/12/2007

This place is frickin' awesome!! My only complaint is that i was looking forward to trying Dairy Queen's new Waffle Bowl Sundaes(or whatever they are called), but I didn't try theirs until after having one at Cold Stone, and the Dairy Queen one ended up not being all that good. I think had I not had the Cold Stone one prior I would have loved the Dairy Queen one, and thats my only real complaint.

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Photo of Laura R.

Elite '08

57

127

Laura R.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
10/23/2006

Am I the only one that thinks that cold stone has kind of crappy ice cream? I like the idea of all the combos in the ice cream but the ice cream itself is just not that tasty or high quality. Premium brands of grocery store ice cream are much better, and you can get a pint of ice cream for the price of one tiny cup here. Even if the ice cream was great I'd take off a star for the INSANE prices.

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Photo of cara r.

Elite '08

20

141

cara r.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
06/08/2006

Cold Stone isn't the kind of ice cream you could eat every day, but it's a great treat when you're splurging or craving something rich. I stick to the "Coldstone Creations" because every time I've tried to make my own, it's just not as good :).

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Photo of Vanessa M.

Elite '08

131

351

Vanessa M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
07/31/2006

Nothing like ice cream on a wicked hot day! One of my fave combos is: banana ice cream, yellow cake, strawberries and chocolate chips.  I always get the medium size b/c I can never finish it and that way I'll have some for later!

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Photo of adam d.

 

14

58

adam d.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/01/2006

This place is genius...I didn't think ice cream could get any better, but it has with cold stone creamery.  There are so many different options to try that I just can't get enough.

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Photo of Andrea R.

Elite '08

1784

1083

Andrea R.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
01/29/2006

Cold Stone Creamery is one of my favorite places in Chicago and I'm lucky enough to live right across the street from one of them.  The lines get a little long in the summer time, but it's well worth the wait.  Cold Stone novices should try the cake battered ice cream...nothing tastes this good!

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12

244

Patrick F.

Hoboken, NJ

4 star rating
07/24/2005

I first learned of Cold Stone while on a vacation to Phoenix. It seemed like it was only months later that there were half a dozen locations (or more?) within a 10 minute drive. It's easy to see why they're taking off, however. Cold Stone takes basic flavors (chocolate, vanilla, cake batter, etc) and let's you mix-in any number of toppings to create your own variety of ice cream (various fruits, candies, cakes, brownies, and nuts are just a sampling of choices). The staff mixes it with machete-like spatulas on a freezing cold stone top counter (from which the store draws its name). In the end, you end up with a delicious ice cream treat - yes!

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4

51

Ashley W.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
04/20/2006

I forgot how busy this place gets when it's warm outside. It was absolutley packed, but I could resist stopping in there for some ice cream after dinner tonight. I had some mint ice cream dish from their menu and it was delicious! The perfect dessert for a warm night in Chicago!

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2

50

kiki h.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
06/04/2006

My friends and I ran here at 11 last night to get some cold stone before it closed...just can't get enough of this place! I try to get something different each time and it's always delicious. Last night I had the cheesecake mix (can't remember the exact name) and it was so good! Yum- I"m craving it again just writing about it.

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Photo of Kelli M.

 

0

100

Kelli M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
07/31/2005

Cold Stone Creamery is good no matter what location...and this is no different.  The ice cream is great, and although it's crowded, the service is fast.  Enjoy while walking around window shopping in Bucktown.

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15

189

Christine R.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
07/31/2007

Heaven. Seriously, I love cold stone. But it's a bit pricey

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Photo of Liliana S.

Elite '08

31

656

Liliana S.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
08/02/2005

I hate Cold Stone. Its overrated and definitely overpriced!! I dont understand what the fuss is all about with this place. I prefer other ice cream shops to this one. Just my preference.

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Photo of Jason K.

 

8

56

Jason K.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
02/23/2006

One of my favorite things about summer - cold stone creamery! Unfortunately everyone seems to feel this way because the line is always out the door during the summer.  I usually just come up with my own recipes and try something different every time. I've never been disappointed- everything is so good!

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Photo of Julia B.

 

4

804

Julia B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
07/27/2005

If your not watching your weight too much then stop in here and try one of their amazing ice creams. They mix your ice cream w/ one of their amazing toppings on a marble slab. It is so great! They also have something called "sweet cream" for those people that are watching calories.

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Photo of Oscar the Death Cat B.

 

28

362

Oscar the Death Cat B.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
10/28/2005

When I visited Cold Stone for the first time, I was quite eager to try some of their ice cream creations - some of their flavor combinations looked very good in print but when I actually tried them, I ended up being unimpressed, I've had many plain-vanilla dishes & malts from Oberweis that I enjoyed much much more.  Maybe I should have stuck with simple ice cream flavors with no add-ons.  I will praise Cold Stone on the enthusiasm of their staff, and their chocolate-dipped waffle cones are delicious, last time I stopped in I seriously considered forgoing the ice cream & just munching on an empty cone!

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6

57

Madeline L.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
03/07/2006

Even with the line out the door in the summer time, it doesn't get much better than this.  My absolute favorite is the cake battered ice cream and I get it almost every time- it's just too good not to get!  I just can't survive a Chicago summer without Cold Stone!

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Photo of todd s.

 

1

4

todd s.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
09/16/2005

This particular location is always packed.  Dont even try on a weekend in the summer.  Besides it being trendy and the next hot thing, it actually is damn tasty.  A little pricey, but to  treat yourself every once in a while it is definitely worth it. Just have patience if it is crowded.  And don't go there stoned cause then you will order too much.  The small one is big enough.

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Photo of Stephanie M.

 

7

334

Stephanie M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/29/2005

This place has good icecream. Dulce de leche is kinda too sweet. The regular sweet cream is perfectly delicious. There's so many choices. There's mix-ins and they even do cakes. Seasonal flavors are a good thing. I tried the blueberry. It didnt taste too berry-ish like a smoothie, but its icecream so it tasted subtle and sweet.

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Photo of Kristi C.

 

2

32

Kristi C.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
04/04/2006

I'm usually a Dairy Queen Blizzard type of girl but Cold Stone is the first runner up in my book.  Great variations of the basic flavors and awesome toppings.  Apparently they have something called "sweet cream" if you are watching  your waistline, but I prefer the fattening stuff- it's so much tastier!

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