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Categories: Candy Stores, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Bucktown, Logan SquareWestern (Blue O'Hare)
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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Old school soda fountain with a MILLION ice cream sundae combinations. Don't get overwhelmed... just relax and take your time (you'll have plenty of time while you wait for a seat!) after you are done drooling over the choices just dive in head/stomach first!!
If you get anything make certain you get HOT FUDGE sauce. It is like brownie batter and will change your life! YUM
MARGIES!!!! I have passed this place so many times that I dragged my hubby here to finally taste the ice cream. So delicious. We came here late one night and still had to wait for a table. I'm talking about 10pm late. The menu is overwhelming with all the different treats you can get. One huge plus is that you can get any kind of ice cream they have available. You don't have to stick to what is written in the description. My favorite is the New York Cherry. It is chock full of cherries and very creamy.
The place is old and may not have changed much in it's existence. Service is quick and I love the dishes the ice cream is served in. Prices are ridiculous! For a three scoop banana split it's around $6. So inexpensive that it doesn't hurt the pocket book to come here once a week. Or twice a week! Just get there!
My only complaint about Margie's? There really aren't any small desserts. I realize that it not much of a downside but if you have just come from dinner and want a plain scoop of pistachio, Margie's is not the place to be, son.
Needless to say, the atmosphere is excellent... it's like having ice cream in my Great-Grandmother's living room... out of date decor, photographs of strangers... teddy bears. I don't know if the little juke boxes on the table work (and I'm a little too cheap to throw in fifty cents just to find out they don't) but I haven't seen those in years! Awesome. Also awesome? They hit you with a glass of water as soon as you sit down. Bonus.
Last time I went I ordered a small 2 scoop sundae (smallest thing I could find on the menu) with one scoop of pistachio, one scoop of butter pecan. Butterscotch, whipped cream and the homemade chocolatey fudge sauce in a tureen on the side! The simple fact that all the sundaes, splits and treats come in those clam shell dishes makes it worth going. Seating is limited but well worth it. Take your girlfriend, ya bum!
This place is great! Can't think of one small negative thing about Margie's. Expect maybe if there is a wait but it just goes to show how good it is. Prices are great, service is great, the menu is great, and the product it self is great, along with the inside decorations are great. Very impressed and I'm not even a big sweets person.
The sundaes here are fantastic and very reasonably priced - most are huge and under $5. I had a banana split with 3 scoops of different ice creams, covered in whip cream with a cherry on top. The thing that sets Margie's apart is that sundaes are often accompanied by a gravy boat full of hot fudge or caramel or butterscotch. Mine was hot fudge - which was the best part of the sundae. It also came with a big vanilla wafer cookie which is excellent dipped in the fudge.
The only reason I give this 4/5 stars is that the ice cream itself isn't that great. I had pistachio, cheese cake and coconut. The coconut was the best of the lot, but all seemed to be pretty low quality ice cream. Coldstone's is much creamier, and it's nothing compared to Ben and Jerry's. Still, when you add in the Sundae toppings it's a pretty awesome experience overall.
Imagine if your grandma served delicious ice cream in her cluttered, somewhat creepy basement. That's Margie's.
This place has been around forever, so it's not really built for the girth of today's jumbo-sized humans. It's very tiny and almost claustrophobic. But as long as you can clear your modern-day mind of its doubts, you'll enjoy the experience.
I had a hot fudge sundae with cheesecake ice cream. (It didn't really taste like cheesecake, but it's a fun notion.) I appreciated that they brought the hot chocolate in a separate gravy boat so you could moderate your own chocolate dispersal. It came with a pair of sugar wafers - a delicious addition. I added some chocolate-covered honey chips to my order. Those were especially tasty and sweet.
Service was friendly and efficient. The woman running the register was kind enough to break a dollar so I could pay the meter outside.
I bought of box of assorted creams and they were pretty good, but not worth the astounding cost. My girl said they tasted "old."
If you look up, you'll see cobwebs, dust and mold. If you walk into the bathroom, you'll find a horrifying scene. If you drive there, you will find only three metered spots.
...but if you're going for the treats and nothing else, Margie's is worth the trip back in time.
Fannie who??? This place beats the pants off of all the other candy stores. If you want real, homemade chocolates such as turtles, or any other kind of box candy, go here! They make their own chocolate candies, and they are fantastic. Valentines day, Mother's Day, or any day as far as I'm concerned is a great time to go here to buy a box of their tasty chocolates.
Not only do they have the BEST candy, but they serve delicious ice cream desserts. You can order from their menu and sit there in the old fashioned booth to enjoy. The hot fudge is also made here, and is the best I've ever had. It comes in a dish on the side so you can pour as much or as little as you'd like. If you'd like a grilled cheese sandwich or egg salad sandwich, or other such thing to eat, that's on the menu too.
This place is small, so you might have to wait a while to sit down, but it's worth it!!!
There is at least one other location that I know of on Montrose, but the one I'm reviewing is the original. This place has been here since 1921. If you do intend to go here for Valentines Day, or Mother's Day, to buy a box or two, go early. This place is known to have long lines out the door during these times.
If you are looking for a real old fashioned ice cream parlor experience, this is it!
Ahh...Margies.
You're tiny and the lines to get inside of you in the summer are ridiculous. Lucky for me I'm a fan of eating ice cream in the winter and that's when I pounce.
I've had a variety of things and have hit the jackpot every single time.
And don't get me started on the homemade fudge.
Delish!
Been twice so far in the 2 months I have lived here. The sundaes are scrumptious, huge, and one of a kind. Homemade chocolate syrup comes on the side. The menu is mostly of sundaes but they do offer sandwiches as well. Though there seems to always be a wait and the place is very small (so claustrophobes be warned) this is worth visiting for the experience and then you will be hooked. Plus the Beatles ate there :)
FYI: Parking is very limited and there is a $2 charge if you share - not sure how enforced this rule is I seem to always want my own sundae.
I stopped here before heading over to Irazu for dinner last night since I had some time to kill before my friends arrived. I really wanted to come here after dinner for an ice cream desert, but we were too full from dinner.
I ordered a few pieces of chocolates. I love creams, and I was excited to see a blueberry cream. It didn't have much of a blueberry flavor (but then again what besides blueberries have a strong blueberry flavor?) I could still taste how could the chocolate and the filling were.
The vanilla creams were AMAZING. I could eat those all day. The chocolate had the perfect amount of sweetness and chocolates. The vanilla cream was soft and smooth and fresh tasting. The vanilla wasn't too sweet and wasn't artificial tasting at all. These are my favorite vanilla creams now!
The maple creams were just okay. I wish I'd bought more vanilla.
I hope they have other flavors of creams in the future, because I love strawberry and raspberry cream chocolates.
I cannot wait to come back and try their ice cream! It looked really great, and prices were completely reasonable.
I grew up only two blocks away from the original Margie's on Western, and have loved it always. The funny thing is that other than the World's largest sundae that i split with 4 friends once, i have only ordered one thing--the turtle split. And i don't feel bad about that since it's pretty damn good.
Not only is the ice cream scrumptious, but the wafers and hot fudge is like none other. I've never had a bad experience and owner is super sweet. While waiting for a table, he once told me about the history and pointed out the tables where the Beatles and Al Capone sat at when they would come in. The kicker--nothing in this place has changed since then. In all the years that I've been here I'm pretty sure that i probably used the same spoon or eaten out of the same dish that Al Capone or Ringo used. But that' what i love about this place--in a city that's constantly changing, i know that i can always come to Margie's and know what to expect.
There are a few of these around town, however this one stands out as the best. You won't find a better place for ice cream and all your desert needs. The marshmallow ice cream actually tastes like marshmallows! The hot fudge is the best I've ever had and their shakes are top notch. My only complaint is the spacing issue. The booths are nice and cozy, however this place can become packed and with that glass counter in the center of the room you are sometimes standing on top of people or people are standing at your table while you eat. Other than that I highly suggest checking this place out.
In addition to all the ice cream treats and shakes, they have a wide variety of boxed chocolates and individual truffles for sale.
It's been two years since my original review, and this place is still FLIPPING AWESOME!
Prices have not changed and more importantly the hot fudge and ice cream still tastes absolutely amazing.
Whatever you order - you must get the hot fudge! This is a true Chicago experience not to be missed.
You can never go wrong with this place! This is my first 5-star and may be one of the very, very… Read more »
Only go if you're inebriated to the point of not really remembering how dirty the location is & how average your milkshake was.
Save your time with the candies. They're $1 a piece for the chocolates & very honestly resembled that dollar store heart shaped boxes of chocolate someone gave you in the 3rd grade - if it were still in rotation.
Yum. You want a sundae? Get it here. Gigantoid if you sit, and even the take-out ice cream treats are absurd.
Old-school decor, rough around the edges. Nostalgic, entirely unironic, but hipsters and neighborhood folks alike eat it up. Pun intended.
Hello my name is Erin and I'm addicted to Margie's ice cream sundaes (mint chip and cookies 'n' cream topped with butterscotch sauce, whipped cream, nuts and sprinkles) I had 2 last week!
How, you might ask, does and impatient person like yourself brave the crowds, misbehaving loud children and chaos that that is Margie's restaurant and waiting area?
Take-out is the key! Although they do not take phone orders, my recommendation to avoiding the nightmare is to drop in, place a to-go order and within 5-10 min tops your ice cream creation will be ready for you to take and eat in the comfort of your own home. Another good good tip is to get the sauce on the side if you take it to go so that the hot sauce does not melt the ice cream on the drive home.
I hope these tips will help you to have an enjoyable take out sundae experience!
We waited 45-minutes for milkshakes... let me say that again... we waited 45-minutes for milkshakes.... TO GO... on a weekday. Yes, there was a line, but it only took about 15-minutes to order. Then, for some reason, it took a good half-hour to make the damned things. And all the time we're standing outside waiting for them to call our number like we're at the freakin' DMV.
I get it though, great things are worth the wait. I've seen that line at Hot Doug's. I know this town can be patient when it comes to good food. Problem is, their milkshake wasn't even good... way too much milk and not enough shake. And their pistachio is that unnatural shade of green... bleh. I thought this stuff was home-made and old-fashioned... best ice cream on earth... that kind of thing. (edit: wtf, just read another reviewer found out they use Kemp's... can you still give this place a 5-star review knowing that?)
And the "charm" of the interior is completely lost on me. It looks like one of those creepy old knick-knack stores you pass on a country road while frantically trying to get back on the interstate. If Norman Bates owned an ice cream shop, it would look like Margie's.
If you want a divine milkshake, made simple, old-fashioned, and delicious, check out Palace Grill on Madison. You'll be sucking 5-scoops of ice cream out of a straw in under 3-minutes, and they'll make all that happen with a SMILE.
God, I hate you Margie...
Margies is like the marijuana of ice cream places. You start with a kid size ice cream and before you know it you are in there alone on a Friday night making the banana split your personal bitch. It is gateway ice cream.
This wafer they give you with your ice cream is such a surprise I thought it was my birthday. I order my vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and gave the angry ice cream lady my $4. She hands me my sweet, succulent dessert and then, out of no where, slips me a wafer cookie like I was an usher at a baseball game getting slipped a $20 for better seats. This wafer needs to be out in the open for all to see. Dip the wafer into your scream for full on indulgence.
For all you new Margie-rs, let me pave the way for you. Regardless of what you go into Margies looking for ..table service, to-go, sexual gratification from the hot fudge, you need to go inside. If you want to stay, put your name on the list. If you want it to go, order at the counter and wait.
My recommendation is to grab a menu and make a smart choice. When it your turn at the counter, you feel like you are more rushed than standing at the trough at Wrigley. I was rushed into a decision and was ultimately happy, but I think my taste buds could have handled more. Safe bet is always just a regular ice cream and a topping, but go big or go home.
Parking is a pain, but suck it up.
On a side note - Is it ok if I ask the man to stick my face in the hot fudge and do a chocolate keg stand? I can see it now - Tomorrows Red Eye: "Man arrested and immortalized after jumping head first into Margies chocolate"
This place reminds me of Zephr's that used to be on Lincoln Ave... outrageous sundaes and desserts, but somehow I don't plan on going back soon. This place is crowded not with people but all the candies and other decoration junk that they have accumulated over the years!
Returned in July 2009 and has not changed ..... THIS is still the ultimate ice cream/chocolate shop! yum yum yum.
Below is my original review from 2007:
Mmmmm . . . defreakinlicious! I visited Chicago for the purpose of catching up with family and such, however little did they know that I had a hidden agenda all along! (insert evil laugh) Ice cream and then booze. Not that this place has booze (that would be heaven) they serve sandwiches, homemeade ice cream, chocolates, etc. YUM!
Everything is cozy and kinda clustered together!
Enjoy...
Mmmmm . . . defreakinlicious! I visited Chicago for the purpose of catching up with family and such,… Read more »
In reality, the 4 stars is just for how enthusiastic my husband is about this place. I like it enough (the kitschy decor and vibe is fun), but I'm not the biggest ice cream fan. We usually end up getting a 3-4 scoop monstrosity with sides of carmel and hot fudge. I'll eat 1/2 - 1 scoop and my husband polishes of the rest. Have to give them a 4 just for that. :)
Oh Margie's,
You came and you gave without taking,
And I ate your ice cream, oh Margie's.
You fed me and stopped me from shaking,
I need you today, oh Margie's!
(Go to Margie's and order their banana split ice cream or their mint chocolate shake. Go right now. Now. Barry Manilow would approve.)
What a gem, in the middle of the city to have this awesome old time ice cream store, with the best ice cream ever. If I could give a billion stars I would. It's cheap, and absolutely delicious. I always get the turtle sudae where the fudge comes in it's own dish to stay warm for less than $4, absolutely amazing. Don't pass this place up.
F**k everybody who says this place is overrated or that they don't serve premium ice cream -- I want ice cream, not iCream! I ALWAYS leave here with a happy tummy. Maybe I'm prejudiced because I've been coming here (REGULARLY!) since I was a pisher, but tell me where you can get better hot fudge! Better yet, don't tell me cuz you'll be LYING!
Mint + Chocolate = Yum
Mint + Chocolate + The Most Kitch This Side of Your Elderly Great Aunt's Basement = Yum Squared
And when I say "mint" I mean REAL mint. The kind you can smell. The kind that permeates every last drop of the melting sundae. That and the sundae was more than big enough to share - $7 for dessert for two. Margie's is recession-chic.
Yeah, the booths are a teensy bit awkwardly-shaped; you'll just have to snuggle up to your ice cream buddies and enjoy. This ain't no Baskin Robbins - the kitch adds to the charm.
This local ice cream shop is guaranteed to take its patrons back to a different era. The overall ambiance is very Ma and Pa and makes you feel like you're right at home.
I was surprised to see that the menu contained more than treats and goodies; there are sandwiches for those who may not have quite the sweet tooth. The wide variety of desserts is more than impressive and the presentation of each dish is top notch. Generous helpings of chocolate/caramel syrups are coupled with delectable homemade ice cream, topped off with a vanilla wafer for added flair.
All in all, a delightful experience. Highly recommended!
Happiness is this whole darn experience!
I randomly say to Miss M I want an old world flavored soda, and we are trying to brainstorm of where to go, she is like I love how you make up this stuff that does not exist how about starbucks? then in the throws of a bad refreshment and dessert decision she says wait I know! Margie's it has old school ice cream and soda I think...
Away we went after heading in I immediately loved this blast from a past long before my time! I had an Egg Chocolate phosphate and we split a banana split with butter pecan, cheese cake, and new york cherry ice cream we went hot carmel with nuts and whipped cream and a cherry (Miss M scooped it up)
The phosphate was awesome I would do it again for sure Miss M was skeptical but actually liked it as well!
The banana split was grand as well although the shell plate was very unstable but that is nothing to worry about just be careful!
The atmosphere was unmatched certainly in a class of its own from what I have seen in Chicago so far, I wont say much more you must check it out and see for yourself! maybe next time I ll try some of the candies!
I know that I'm not going to be able to say anything new that anybody else hasn't already said, but this place is great. Best hot fudge I've ever had and the prices were great compared to the chains.
Love it!
Margie's location is a tiny, almost hole-in-the-wall location, it's always packed, and nothing in there is new since probably the 60's. (Maybe some of the school pictures posted on by the entry are a little younger.)
With all that said, I LOVE it. I love walking through the doorway and being in this time warp, imagining how it must have felt 50 years ago. The ice cream is awesome. I love the swiss chocolate sundae, with the marshmallow chocolate sauce. The same waiters have been working there for as long as I've been frequenting it, and they're just as much a part of the Margie's atmosphere as the old school radios on the tables. This is a legendary part of Chicago.
Yes, there is nearly always a wait. But I think it's worth it.
My girlfriend and I took a month long cross country road trip last summer. One goal, was to find the best ice cream in each city and then decide the best in the country. Very noble cause we figured. So, we looked up all the reviews for ice cream, gelato, frozen custard for the 20 cities we stayed in and went to what seemed like the highest rated.
In the end, there was just one problem with this idea we had. And that was starting in Chicago, home of Margie's Candies. No other ice cream in the country could top it, and all else is a let down when compared to the ice cream you'll get here.
Everything here is so well made and scrumptious. We shared an amazing sundae with homemade caramel sauce and and ice cream soda that was HUGE. All for under 10 bucks. We went at night and luckily had no trouble getting seated quickly.
I hate over-rating places, so let this review just give you the idea that you should check the place out, and then have baskin robbins the night before.
All in all, I enjoyed visiting Chicago but I'm not sure if I would ever choose to live there. But, if my work ever tells me I have to go, I'll have a huge smile on my face knowing at least there's a great old fashioned Ice Cream parlor to go to (which would probably be on a weekly basis).
As fond as I am of my original review, I feel obligated to upgrade them to three stars after "dining" in. Sitting at a table, you get: 1.) A few minutes to decide; 2.) the proper portion of ice cream, served in glass instead of styrafoam; 3.) the pleasure of the hot fudge boat; and 4.) the leisure and comfort to enjoy your sundae in old-school booth seating (unlike the last time, when I ate outside on a dirty plastic chair facing Western Avenue).
Mint chocolate chip is my favorite ice cream, and serving it in a big goblet with delicious hot fudge can only improve the stuff. Whipped cream, nuts, and cherry make it a sundae, but those are irrelevant. $6.95 for a huge, yummy chalice of ice cream and a boat of hot fudge is a good deal.
The interior of this place still gives me fits, and the service is still questionable. Still overrated, but good ice cream is hard to find around here. [shrug]
This is going to be long, sorry. I'm going to do something unusual and open up my lockbox of Words… Read more »
Talk about charming. This place has personality busting at the seams. I love that they've changed almost nothing since the 1940s, it's like a time warp as soon as you step inside. My Papa and Bubby used to own a corner/ice cream shop in Rodgers Park in the 1940-70s that I never got to visit (closed up before I was born), but I like to imagine that it looked a lot like this place.
I love ice cream, but I rarely treat myself to it. However, when I want to go big...I go here because the do NOT mess around. They use all the real and delicious stuff here: homemade ice cream, hot fudge, marshmallow topping, oreos, etc. I try and resist coming here because when I do I'm in it to win it. I usually pretend to share a sundae with whomever I'm with, and then end up hogging the entire enormous seashell shaped bowl for myself.
I've never been here for candy (nor do I know anyone else who has) but if it's anything like their ice cream options, I'm sure it's dynamite. I'm interested in hitting up the location on Montrose, I imagine it's just as good.
This place reminds me of an ice cream place in my home town that my grandma brought me to, with the retro booths, and all the old pictures. It is truly a cute place that is a great stop to curb that sweet tooth craving.
Definitely recommended!!!!!!!!
They give you a wafer with all the ice cream dishes (including shakes) and I just love wafers, so that just sells me.
what can I say... I love the place! the ice cream and chocolates always taste fresh...unlike some places that sell you stale chocolates! me and my wife go at least once a week... the service is good and the prices are great.
Small place...cute chick behind the counter, always a plus!We took our sundaes to go, which sucked because i'm guessing the experience of eating at this place rather than eating your sundae out of a box at the beach is a tad bit better. Either way I must have liked it because i have no idea what i ordered, considering i ate the f*ck out my sundae in record time....so it must've been good.i love the old school "your grandma works here" feel to it.
Love this place. Have I had better tasting ice cream? Sure, but not presented in this fashion! When you order a sundae they bring it out in a big bowl with the topping in a separate huge container for you to put on yourself. Love that! The sundae is yummy and the quaint atmosphere is cool too. Oh and VERY reasonable prices.
My definition of a five star review is thinking of the first place you'd bring an out of towner as well as the first place you'd think of going to when a craving hits. Margie's is that place for ice cream.
There are not a lot of places in Chicago that offer genuine character; Margie's is an exception. Although the place isn't all that big, once you walk in you're charmed back to the 60's with old Beatles paraphernalia, tan leather upholstered seats, miniature jukeboxes at every table and vintage family black and white photos to boot.
Let's be honest, it's kinda hard to mess up ice cream; they do a good job making their dishes their own. They serve their sundaes in white porcelain shells (something completely unnecessary that you'd pick up at a random garage sale). Hot fudge is served in its own stainless steel gravy boat - an amount far too much for the average person unless you like chocolate so much you'd drink it. Finally, a vanilla wafer adds some touch.
Overall, one of the most charming places to bring a date in the city, without any of the pretention.
Note: I'm not sure if the jukeboxes work, but we spent a good latter part of our stay fishing the quarter we put in out of the coin slot.
Wide range sundaes/shakes/malts to make any sweet lover a happy camper.
I got the Pina Colada Sundae which was a-ok ice-cream standard vanilla nothing special. I was looking for more of a coconut/pineapple flavor but it was mostly vanilla ice cream/whip cream and canned pineapple chunks. Even though my sundae was a miss on expectations it was decent due it being a random adventure to fulfill a sweet tooth craving on Sunday at 10:30pm
Yum. Very much yum. The shakes are made with fresh fruit and are really good. It's really nice to go in here in the middle afternoon during the week, or really any off peak time. I'm not much of a dessert person, but when I want something, it's almost always a Margie's shake.
I've only given 3 stars because this places gets gross crowded. I won't ever go after 6 during the summer. Usually I pass this place on my way to bar and at 10 people are spilling out of the door. It's insane and honestly, there's no ice cream worth it.
What's with the low amount of stars for crowds? YES they're almost always packed. That's a GOOD sign.
Amazingly great homemade fudge. Mouth-watering ice cream. Served all in a large, plastic shell. Yes, they have a regular menu, but why bother? Margie's is a Chicago institution. And heck, I'll wait in a long line to eat where The Beatles have any day.
Just... go. Eat. Enjoy the plastic shells, ignore the creepy dolls and put up with the cramped quarters. For a few bucks and a very happy stomach, it's worth it.
Weekly Specials
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Special Offer
Neighborhood: The Loop
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Desserts
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Beverly
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Candy Stores
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Category: Grocery
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