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Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
156 S Main StreetMon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I've read a survey that Richardson's is top 10 best icecream in the nation. They have their own cows and they make their own ice cream. So in terms of freshness, it's a solid 5 star. But it's too thick for my own taste.
I love how you pay so little and they give you more than you can handle. I love desserts and I can eat a lot, but I usually stick with "kiddie" size cup...trust me, you won't even be able to finish that as an adult.
By the way, they have so many flavors so ask for samples. To be honest, you can get full from their samples because they give you a huge portion for a sample....I LOVE IT!! GO RICAHRDSON'S!!! You make fat people happy.
On top of that, they have batting cages, mini golfing and driving range to really make your day a fun one. But the reason for 4 star is that I think the ice cream is way too creamy and thick. I feel like I just consumed like 300% of daily saturated fat....and it's probably true. I dunno, I like my ice cream a bit refreshing.
Anyways, try their apple crisp flavor that comes out in the fall. It's one of the few things I look forward to here in Northshore.
As far as ice cream goes, Richardson's is tops on my list. They have an amazing variety of flavors and each one is creamy and churned to perfection.
This location is the mac daddy of Richardson's ice cream and summer fun, with mini golf, batting cages, a driving range and arcade. It's packed in the summer and you'll wait in line for everything, but the creamy goodness and smiles and fun are all well worth it.
The big 2+1: Taste, quantity and service. The +1 is for service because I can tolerate somewhat bad service if there is a large quantity of very good ice cream! But no need to stress; Richardson's has all 2+1.
My favorite Richardson's flavor is, drum roll if you would please... Grapenut Custard!
If you have read any of my previous ice cream/frozen yogurt reviews you would know that I am a fruit ice cream guy. Following in that vein Grapenuts is an honorary fruit since it does have the word grape in it. Seriously.
Richardson has some great flavors. Check these out: link didn't work...
Some of their flavors are seasonal which only heightens my anticipation for some seasons like summer (blueberry) and fall (apple crisp and pumpkin).
Over the course of 6-7 years I have tried most of their flavors and they are all very good. Now that that particular task is complete I have returned, almost exclusively, to my Richardson's staples: Grapenut and banana, strawberry and banana.
The ice cream here is so creamy and flavorful every spoonful is heavenly. Also, you know how with eating food you use your three senses, taste, feel/texture, and smell, with Richardson's all 3 sense will be in for a treat. It reminds me of my childhood, running around with my friends in the green meadows and my mother calling us home for a fresh batch of homemade ice cream. (This last bit was fictional and a homage to the Japanese version of the Iron Chef).
If you are an ice cream fan give this place a try; I am positive you will NOT be disappointed.
A few words of warning: Avoid going if there is an east to west wind. There is a calf petting zoo behind the dairy. You may want to avoid the smell. ^^;
Richardson's is great as you would expect an ice cream store located on a dairy farm to be. The portions are huge. Personally I don't like standing line for anything so I avoid it during high season. Unless I'm in the mood for ice cream during an off peak hour. I'm on the fence about giving them a 5, but is it indeed, 'as good as it gets'. I dunno, I always hold out for more, so they get a 4. :D
This place pretty much offers everything.
They have batting cages, mini golf and a driving range on one side. Next to that is a huge ice cream shop, which is so tasty. The only downside is the price and the wait. And a little known market is also located in the complex where you can buy eggs, milk and butter. Just be prepared to either write a check or pay with cash.
This place is always mobbed during the summer time but the wait and the price is well worth the fresh, creamy ice cream and shakes and other fun treats you can get here!
And you know it's fresh because they have cows in the back! Large parking lot too!
I really wish ice cream places would offer normal sizes. I don't like ordering the "child" size and not being able to finish. The flavor selection was alright, but fairly standard.
It was pretty good, but definitely not the best. The choice of sitting inside or outside was nice and the proximity to mini golf were big pluses.
I'm not a big ice cream fan, so I'll write about something else: milk!
They have super inexpensive, local milk from their dairy. So great. Worth the stop if you're in the area and need a gallon. It's available at their Jordan's Furniture location in Reading as well.
Yummiest ice cream EVER! So creamy and flavorful, it's hard to decide which flavor to get. Plus you can walk around back and see the very cows the milk is coming from! How many other places can you do that?
The best thing to do is to drive some golf balls and/ or hit some balls around at the batting cages and then walk over for your ice cream treat. So good, so good!
Everytime we come to get ice cream this place is packed. They have to be making a killing. They give so much ice cream for a "small" that we've had to back down to kiddie size just so that we're not busting at the seams from so much ice cream. They have awesome hard ice cream flavors especially the grapenut custard, the german chocolate cake, blueberry, and death by chocolate. The strawberry cheesecake is also a favorite. They do soft serve, frozen yogurt and sorbets as well. I've never had any of their frappes or milkshakes since I can never remember which one is going to be thick and which one is going to have a watery consistency, but i've heard both are good. I'm just used to milkshakes in New York State (Stewart's Ice Cream Shoppes) as being thick, heavenly creations.
They also have mini-golf, batting cages, cows and a driving range. What's not to love?
If there was a 6 star....I'd give it to Richardson's Ice Cream.
Why? Because this place is almost completely self sufficient and has been around for a REALLY long time. Over 300 years for the Richardson family farm. And over 50 years making and selling ice cream.
Those two guys in Vermont...sure, they make good ice cream and they have marketed it great! But if I have my choice, I'll ALWAYS choose Richardson's Ice Cream over those two in VT.
Had the Cherry Vanilla tonight. Cup/cone....cause you know it's gonna be messy....and it was wonderful.
The line was a bit long....which is expected for a semi warm Sat night. The service was top notch.
Probably should have got some milk while there, but wasn't sure when we'd get home.
I may make a quick hit to Richardson's Ice Cream before I head back to California next Saturday.....just because it's that good!
And on my next visit "Home" to the Boston area, Richardson's is always on the list....even in cold weather.
Where does one go for yummy, creamy, delicious-y ice cream on the North Shore? RICHARDSONS!
Giant portions for small prices straight from the cow (pretty much).
I'm talking "fresh squeezed" ice cream here. (ewww. yum.)
Go there. Eat some. Thank me later.
I almost wish I could have gone three and a half stars on Richardson's because I think they're overrated. The ice cream is quite good, the prices aren't too bad. They have their own cows and they don't use hormones, these things are desirable and impressive. They have a stand alone building, a large (but not large enough!) parking lot. The people watching is very interesting.
I used to frequent Richardson's, but there were a couple of things that bothered me about it, so these days I only go twice a year, once in spring for the beer ice cream, and in the fall for the ice cream with Apple Pie. (which unfortunately last fall they didn't have!) There aren't a variety of toppings, just hot fudge. No peanut butter! No caramel! And the fudge has an odd cinnamon-y flavor to it, sometimes it's stronger than at other times. I don't like fighting for a parking space and waiting forever in line. Is it really worth it? Is this place really so much better than anyplace else?
Ok, I haven't been to Richardsons in like, three years but the place is one of those standby's on the North Shore! When I was a kid (yeah, I'm feeling old right now), it was a smallish, summer ice cream stand. Over the years they've added the mini-golf, batting cages and driving range. Working at Richardson's was a rite of passage for high school kids and it was a great place to stop and visit friends while grabbing a great cone.
And while things have changed a lot, one thing has not. They've got phenomenal, fresh ice cream. Maybe not as rich and extravagant as other options in the Boston area but awesome in an everyday sense. I dream of their peppermint stick ice cream which is a wonderful balance of sweet, creamy and mint. In all honesty, I can't imagine a better way to enjoy a warm summer evening than grabbing a cone of peppermint stick at Richardson's, sigh... The cows in back just add to the whole experience. I hope everyone up there cherishes the place because it's one of the few things I miss up in Beantown.
Oh goodness, we used to go here for a special treat when I was a kid. It rocked.
Their ice cream is just pretty flipping awesome and there are a holy crap load of flavours for all. Its in the middle of nowhere middleton, but is such a nice place to go to get away from the city once in a while, play mini golf or something, theres fun for all.
Anyone who's young at heart will have fun here. Really good ice cream, fun minigolf courses, batting cages, driving range... and you can pet the cows. It's pretty much a guaranteed fun day out for almost anyone with a soul.
The only things keeping it from 5-star - the mini-golf course can get really crowded, and when the wind is blowing in a certain way, all you can smell is cow manure.
But still, Richardson's is awesome.
I made my first trip of the year to Richarson's this weekend and it was lovely as always. The mini-golf courses are clean and challenging, and $7 for 18 holes of golf isn't bad, especially considering the lovely scenery which you are amidst. The smells maybe aren't so lovely, but that seems ok when you have so many other things to keep your attention.
After mini-golf, we sometimes hit up the batting cages; this time it was too late, so we just grabbed some ice cream. The ice cream is really good, served in large portions, and they have lots of different flavors.
Richardson's is one of the best things about the North Shore, and I look forward to returning for years to come!
I'm not huge on ice cream, but when I go for it, Richardson's is the place to go. The only downside are the crowds, but pretty obviously, that means its good. I do have to order a kiddie cone, b/c thats about all I can finish. Also those kids working work hard, they do accept tips, tho there's not a tip jar out there - help them out a bit =)
This is an excellent, fresh, gourmet, local ice cream shop. They incidentally sell to many, many local businesses and restaurants.
My grandmother and I love to come here in the summer and down and ice cream each. They have many flavors and all that I have tasted are wonderful...enjoy!!!
This summer I definitely want to take a tour of the farm and pet the cows!
They have been around since 1695 !?!?#%@#^! Wow...even the Union Oyster house hasn't been around that long...
They also sell milk! I've had it and it is as wonderful and fresh as their ice cream, thanks to the cows, MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Have you ever been to an ice cream and thought "gee, there's not enough flavors." Yeah, you won't have that problem at Richardson's. They put Baskin Robbins to shame, both in quality and quantity.
Speaking of quantity, if you want a large, order a small. A small is insanely large and cheap, but that's probably due to having the dairy on hand. If you want a small (which is probably a normal person's medium), order a kiddie size. If you want to feed the whole family, order a large.
Another thing of note is the milk. Extremely delicious and maybe half the price of the supermarket, without that processed flavor. To me personally, the milk has a slightly nutty flavor, which I love.
Richardson's is great because you can actually see the cows that made your ice cream. Well, they didn't make it. That would be some pretty talented cows! The guys who run the farm actually made it. The cows just produced the milk. You can go around back to see them.
There's also a putt-putt golf place to go to and a driving range where you can practice hitting some (golf) balls. There's batting cages as well.
Great place to come for part of the day with family or friends, especially when it's warm but not muggy.
Any ice cream shop that keeps cows out back is probably doing it right. Richardson's is definitely doing it right! Cows in the back, mini-golf to the right, driving range to one side, batting cages around the corner...this. is. HEAVEN.
It's tempting to get ice cream cones in the summer, but I'd stick with a cup when it's hot out -- the last time the BF took me to get a frosty treat to beat the heat, my arm was literally dripping with melted strawberry ice cream by the time we walked 8 feet to the benches behind the shack. And, beware of Richardson's generous scoops -- a "small" is a small mountain, and "child sized" is more than enough for a hungry adult. Unless you want your gravestone to read "brain frozen during attempt to eat own weight in ice cream," just say no to the "large."
Alright, here we go. I will try to sift this through all of the glowing reviews for Richardson's.
-I went tonight with some friends. We went out back to see the cows. A lot of them were chained to their little "houses" with very short chains. So much for letting them stretch their legs and get any exercise. Not nice.
-We went mini-golfing. It was very overcrowded and we felt rushed because of how many people were behind our group waiting for the next hole. Eventually, it just wasn't fun anymore.
-It began to get dark. The lights only cover around half of the 18 holes on the course. We could hardly tell the darker balls apart from each other, let alone where we were putting them. We eventually just rushed through the rest of the course to finish.
-Time for ice cream. We stood in a mess of people for a long time because no one wanted to put the work into organized lines. Once we got to the window they told us they didn't take credit or debit cards. They only took cash and....checks. Checks? Right-o. Because THAT makes lots of sense. No ATMS on the property whatsoever. No ice cream. Probably for the best anyway, since I looked up to see they wanted 7 dollars for a milkshake.
-People were very pushy throughout the golf course and by the ice cream counters. It just seemed like everyone was miserable to be there.
-We got eaten alive by all the bugs so we headed toward the car. Getting out of the parking lot was just as much of a fight as it was to get in. Pedestrians don't pay attention to cars at all and continue walking around in circles so it's a little dangerous trying to navigate through the unnecessarily tight parking lot.
The world is full of dumb people, but I think all of them went out for ice cream at Richardson's tonight.
Not impressed, no desire to return. Ice cream is ice cream.
For anyone in the area who likes mini-golf, ice cream and batting cages, as well as driving ranges, this is the place to go! There are 2 different mini golf courses - Mill Pond and Stonebridge (we did the latter, which apparently is tougher) and both are clean, well-kept and fun.
The ice cream is DIVINE and the selection is HUGE. I ordered a kiddie, but got a small and could barely eat 1/2 of it. It. Was. HUGE! I got the 95% Fat Free Oreo Cookie and could not even tell that it was frozen yogurt or fat free. It tasted like regular, amazing, fattening ice cream. My fiance got the "full fat" Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Twirl, which was SOOOOO good.
I didn't even hate the manure smell from the cows - it's not pleasant, but it adds to the experience, because you're on a dairy farm.
Richardson's is a great place for a date, a family outing or a fun day with friends. Check it out! :)
Been going to Richardson's ever since I was a little kid. They truly have the best ice cream anywhere. Not only do they have a ton of great flavors, but the portions are very generous. Never once have I bought anything bigger than a Small. I've seen the larger sizes, and good lord are they intimidating.
Aside from ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet, they also sell frappes, milkshakes, ice cream floats, banana splits, and raspberry lime rickies. You can buy gallons of both their milk and ice cream to bring home.
Be warned: Richardson's gets slammed in the summer, even with all their serving windows open. The lines stretch into the parking lot, often blocking the front-most spaces. But it's worth the wait, if the line doesn't already tell you that.
There are also 2 mini-golf courses, a driving range, and batting cages to supplement your visit, whether before or after enjoying a frozen treat.
Every summer when we go visit relatives, I take my daughter here because there is a lot more than just ice cream. We showed her where the ice cream came from (cows) and my husband gets to practice his swing (golf). The ice cream is really natural and its just a fun activity overall to go here. Highly recommended and worth the trip from Boston if you are in from out of town on a family vacation.
I'd give them 5 stars, but it is just ice cream.. right. This is the 51rst review for Richardsons. What does that tell you. This is at the very least the best ice cream & frozen yogurt in New England. They have at least 50 flavors, not to mention the yogurt & seasonal flavors. 300 years they have been at the same location! Crazy I know. Great ice cream, great frozen yogurt, friendly service, I don't know how many windows, inside & outside tables, huge parking lot, 2 mini golf courses, driving ranges, batting cages & you can even pet the cows. Lines can be long at night, but they move. Great place. Always has been. I could go on, but its just an ice cream place..right..
The perfect Sunday.
Reason number 69 why people who don't own cars or never leave Cambridge really miss out on all the best New England has to offer.
They never get to see places like this:
The best ice cream ever anywhere in the universe made on a working dairy farm where there are like 300 cows on the premises and calves to play with.
An awesome 36 hole miniature golf course.
Driving range baby. Reasonably priced.
Batting cages.
For full effect, bring very cute kids and play all 36 holes of mini golf.
We had, strawberry cheesecake, mint chocolate chip, maine black bear, and peppermint stick but I also suggest maple wanut and butter pecan.
I bleed ice cream and this place is one of the best. Go check it out.
Unless you don't have a ride. Then go to 7-11's freezer and eat your heart out sucka.
One of the best ice cream places in the world. Their strawberry is to die for. IDK if they have low fat, but to truly experience Richardson's you must go full fat.
This weekend was my first mini-golf game of the season, which I hope will be one of many. I won, which is a semi-rarety. Maybe I shouldn't have beaten my Mom on Mother's Day, but I did.
Golf first. Two courses, nothing to intricate with them, but they're fun and kept clean. This place can get really busy during the Spring/Summer and most of the course is in direct sunshine, so be prepared! Seven bucks for a round of mini-golf isn't bad at all in my book. And even better that you can follow it up with.....
...Ice cream, which is delicious. Huge servings and too many flavors to choose from, but still delicious. Like many ice cream places, I try to go for the kiddie size as I just can't take that much.
On a warm day here you can smell poop. Yup, when the temp gets high and a slight breeze comes through the smell fills the air. I don't have a huge problem with that, I mean I don't like smelling poop, but it's kind of cool to have the cows there and not just have a generic ice cream stand. You can also buy fresh dairy products while you're there.
I've yet to hit the batting cages or the driving range, but this may just be the year that I do. But maybe not, when you have mini-golf and ice cream do you really need more? I'll save all my skills for the mini-golf course, where as of today I'm am the champion...well, at least based on one round of golf against two people....I have hope for the rest of the season though!
UPDATE: I went again this past weekend, I am no longer the champion. That didn't last long...
Sometimes you just wake up in the morning wanting to hit some balls. This never actually happens to me, but my husband has a batting cage jones. And I have an ice cream jones. This is where Richardson's comes in mighty handy for the two of us.
The place is situated rather conveniently off of Route 1 (if you can overlook the horror that is Route 1). On our recent excursion there was no wait for the batting cages (don't know whether this is a rare occurrence), and the ice cream part was hopping, but there are lots of windows so it moves quickly. It's worth noting that the smallest size, the kiddie, is mighty intimidating. Still, I was able to take that bad boy down because it was soooo delicious. They have many intriguing flavors that give me incentive to return soon.
The facility also has a driving range (yeah...no) and a lovely looking putt-putt course that I might be interested in trying out when it's not 150 degrees outside. Once I get a chance to play, it could bump the place up another star.
Go Richardson's!
Great ice cream, lots of staff on hand to take care of the long lines. Ice cream is sold in single servings or packed in gallons to take home. They also sell fresh milk. Servings are large and reasonably priced. There are cows and goats outside for the kids to pet and look at. Mini golf, golf range, and batting cages next door. Nice place to take the kids to spend a few hours.
Five stars because so far I've only tried their ice cream and their milk and I have not been disappointed.
Richardson's has the dairy farm ice creamery gig down to a science!!
Their ice cream, which is homemade, is delicious. Very creamy and tasty. Recently, my boyfriend and I split a small frozen yogurt; not only was the small a heaping portion, but the frozen yogurt was extremely flavorful and creamy. It did not taste like fro-yo.
I also like that you can buy their milk by the gallon or half gallon and not only is it hormone free, but it is MUCH cheaper than it would be at the grocery store.
Tasty. Huge portions. Cheap. Plus the option to go out back and personally thank the cows while you eat your ice cream. What could be better?
Oh yeh. There is a driving range and batting cages, too. I haven't checked them out yet though.... To Be Continued...
I only eat ice cream a few times a year - when I do I want theirs.
Despite the current frigid temperatures, my holiday blubber, and the fact it's not even lunchtime yet...
...I'd still knock an old lady from her walker and trip a disabled child just to be first in line for a Richardson's ice cream cone.
OK ice cream, did have blueberry. 9/07
Probably the creamiest and tastiest ice cream you will find. I miss going here after living in Massachusetts most of my life. Its a fun place to go, reasonable prices a true dairy farm as well. 92/100
Dear Richardson's,
I will dream of your watermelon sherbet with chocolate jimmies all summer. It could quite possibly be my most favorite ice cream this year but I'll have to get back to you after I make my summer pilgrimage to Kimball's.
As much as I loved your ice cream and had a wonderful game of mini-golf, I'm just not sure we're meant to me. The creepiest little kid on the planet was behind us as we played mini-golf and not only was she one of those kids who looks like an older person in a kid-size version, but she scared my friend by standing right next to her and staring at her while she tried to make her shot. Her mother was ignoring her or didn't feel like telling her she was rude, and we had to create our own "barrier" of people until we were able to switch places with another group a few holes later. I really wanted this to work out R but I have my doubts if those are the kinds of things I'm going to encounter. Although maybe I could give you a second chance for the awesome family of 5 in front of us who had the cutest, most well-behaved kids ever.
I just wanted to let you know where I stand. Maybe I just need a little space and we can talk again in a few weeks. Until then, I'm totally ok if you want to see some other people.
xoxo,
C
YUM! We drove out here on a whim a half hour before it closed on a Monday for forty minutes from Boston. What a treat!! A friend and I shared a sundae and had such a hard time choosing ice cream flavors. The berry flavors were great and so was the orange creamsicle-like one. So rich and so delicious. Woohoo!
What a great warm weather retreat Richardson's is. Play a round of mini golf and then go for some awesome ice cream - what else do you need on a hot afternoon?
There are two mini golf courses (and a driving range and batting cage), and I recommend checking them both out. But bring your bug spray 'cause they both have water features and can be a little buggy, especially in the evening. The cows behind the ice cream building can get a little smelly for the further course if there's a breeze, if that bothers you stick to the closer course.
Lots of ice cream flavors and the young people working the counters have always been friendly.
Two short points of interest:
1) Amazingly fantastic, creamy, homemade ice cream.
2) I often find it difficult to polish off a small size. And I like to eat.
Yep- that pretty much sums it all up nicely.
This ice cream is unreal. Not only is it incredibly rich and fresh tasting but the flavors range from delicious classics to tasty innovations. The ginger flavor tastes like frozen fresh ginger, not like ginger bread or ginger snaps, and it is light and refreshing. My favorite part about going to the Middleton location is that you can walk right up to the cows that eventually pump out the milk for the ice cream! Farm fresh is an understatement.
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