The Summer of 2015 Ice Cream Thread
As documented elsewhere on Brooklynian, our changing neighborhood has resulted in a large influx of mediocre Mexican restaurants.
About a year ago, Ms Whynot and I set an ambitious goal of eating at them all, and are pleased to report (with the exception of Yummy Taco on Washington Avenue) that we have achieved success:
-We are well fed.
-Other people and websites have affirmed our perceptions that there are a large amount of such places in our area and that most are mediocre.
As a result of this success, we have surveyed the area and decided to set an equally ambitious goal for the Summer Of 2015: We will create a thread dedicated to local ice cream places, document our efforts to eat at every one of them, and encourage others to do the same.
-Blue Marble on Washington.
-The Local on Classon.
-Elsie's Parlor which will soon open just off Classon.
-Tinto's on Nostrand.
-Natural Treats on Kingston near Empire .
Our dedication is such that we will stray slightly from the bounds of Crown Heights. We will also see how nearby communities are addressing the issue of summer by seeing what happens in:
-Ample Hills on Vanderbilt.
-Scoops on Flatbush near the new tall building some people hate.
-Capitoline Grounds on Fulton near Kingston.
We look forward to posting our research and hope you will contribute yours, so that a solid base of knowledge can be established.
About a year ago, Ms Whynot and I set an ambitious goal of eating at them all, and are pleased to report (with the exception of Yummy Taco on Washington Avenue) that we have achieved success:
-We are well fed.
-Other people and websites have affirmed our perceptions that there are a large amount of such places in our area and that most are mediocre.
As a result of this success, we have surveyed the area and decided to set an equally ambitious goal for the Summer Of 2015: We will create a thread dedicated to local ice cream places, document our efforts to eat at every one of them, and encourage others to do the same.
-Blue Marble on Washington.
-The Local on Classon.
-Elsie's Parlor which will soon open just off Classon.
-Tinto's on Nostrand.
-Natural Treats on Kingston near Empire .
Our dedication is such that we will stray slightly from the bounds of Crown Heights. We will also see how nearby communities are addressing the issue of summer by seeing what happens in:
-Ample Hills on Vanderbilt.
-Scoops on Flatbush near the new tall building some people hate.
-Capitoline Grounds on Fulton near Kingston.
We look forward to posting our research and hope you will contribute yours, so that a solid base of knowledge can be established.
Comments
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My favorite local ice cream option is Tinto's. The vanilla with marcona almonds and the pistachio almondine flavors are divine.
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Love Ample Hills. Both the ice cream and service. They let you sample (actually encourage it) as many flavors as you want and will let you combine flavors in scoops. The Local was just alright. Didn't allow for mixed scoops and I definitely felt uncomfortable asking for samples. Haven't tried the rest.
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I feel somewhat ashamed of myself, but I had a wonderful time at a 3-year old's birthday party at Ample Hills. The party "host" (who is the manager who is ALWAYS at Ample Hills) was full of energy and kept those kids excited and enthralled. Each kid got to ride the "ice cream churner bike contraption" and then there was ice cream and fresh waffles. I ate most of my toddler's portion. In the interest of, um, saving him from a future of diabetes.But I also
Ample Hills. And my kid is totally going to have a birthday party there one day. -
At the moment, I perceive Ample Hills as being the most upscale of those listed.
However, Elsie's Parlor could be a strong contender.
It also would not surprise me if Berg'n/1000 Dean decided that children's birthday parties were a good idea. ...they have cement floors that can be literally hosed down so they are no longer sticky. -
Berg'n also has lots of space for tots to run around, which they love.
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During the winter, the garage portion of 1000 Dean seemed to flirt with the idea of becoming an adult version of Chuck E Cheese.
They are presently looking for a partner, and it would not surprise me if whoever they partner with sets up something with really bad pizza, 2000 calorie banana split sundaes, beer and whack-a-mole. http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/45605/1000-dean-is-looking-to-spin-off-that-weird-garage-portion/p1
The neighborhood's ice cream options are already strong, and poised for further growth.
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tinto's: pleasant to sit at (if mac users arent hogging all the tables), friendly cool guys working there, and nice bought-in pastries and icecream (blue marble i believe).
blue marble: spacious, toy section for kids, nice backyard. and of course blue marble ice cream.
ample hills: crowded, not super-pleasant or relaxing, but best damn imaginative ice cream. havent been to the one in gowanus yet.
brooklyn bell: seems to be doing much better in business. small, good but limited ice cream assortment. nice folks. small but stocked kids table (crayons/paper for coloring). havent been there in a while but remember it was pricey for the size scoops we got.
restaurant alternatives:
- barboncino: gives free ice cream to kids when you eat
- docklands: gives (gave!) free ice cream to kids when you eat
- centanni: inexpensive good assortment of ice cream and nice back yard.
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Glady's gives a small serving of complimentary coconut ice cream after your meal too. It's pretty yummy.
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Ms Whynot and I do not believe one should have to eat a meal in order to eat ice cream.
We will not be visiting places that try to change our beliefs.
BTW, I forgot to include Sweets and Treats (located on Sterling by Franklin) on the above list.
http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44606/ice-cream-returns-to-franklin-ave-sweets-and-treats-now-open-at-653-sterling-near-franklin/p1 -
I guess this is a good a place as any to ask. My SO is lactose intolerant and we're trying to find edible vegan ice cream in Brooklyn. Any one of anything in the area?
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Ample Hills has good vegan options.
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Great we'll try it thanks!
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The Good Batch, on Fulton across from Key Food in Clinton Hill (bet Washington and Grand) is both an excellent coffee shop that makes baked goods in the back, but also specializes in homemade ice cream sandwiches that people literally just come in to pick up to go.
Haven't tried them, alas, as the cookies I eat there already threaten my waistline with sinful guilt. -
I would like to just post to say that it is INSANE that Ditmas Park does not have an ice cream shop. I walk over a mile to get to Scoops. Not worth it. Come on!!
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@xlizellx -
I purport that Mexican restaurants come first. The margaritas they serve are highly correlated to the creation of children, which then is correlated to increased ice cream shops.
As the ice cream shops increase, the Mexican restraurants decline until the local schools complain about Common Core, at which point a sort of equilibrium exists.
I am presently out of town, but Ms Whynot and I will begin posting our ice cream research soon. -
Brooklyn Bell is around the corner and while limited in hours and flavors is a very friendly place and my 3-year-old's favorite. Sometimes, they have standout flavors that approach Ample Hills in execution, but it's not the norm.Blue Marble has a yard and a nice toy section and is often open while Brooklyn Bell is closed. Ice cream is comparable to Brooklyn Bell.Ample Hills is the best ice cream period but I would never try to get scoops there. Too much of a zoo. Just pick up pints of whatever is ready, skip the line, and stock your freezer.
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Place deeper in Flatbush - Taste the tropics USA. Cool Caribbean flavors like: grapenut, sour sop, guinness, etc.. It also has old school flavors like raisin rum, butter pecan, cookies and creme. And all the traditional flavors, choc, vanilla, coffee, mango, passion fruit.Super big floats and shakes for the prices.Only ice cream I'll bother to travel for is Jaque Torres ice cream shop in Dumbo. Everything else is a distant second to quality of the ingredients, recipes, and ability to get correct texture.
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I guess this is a good a place as any to ask. My SO is lactose intolerant and we're trying to find edible vegan ice cream in Brooklyn. Any one of anything in the area?
@newguy88Don't quote me on this but I believe Memes/Healthy Nibbles (on Nostrand between Sterling and Park) has vegan treats and ice cream.
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Blue Marble > Ample Hills, but I am no fan of wacky novelty ice cream flavors.
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Thanks guys! Has anyone eaten there?
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I believe the protocol is that you eat there and then tell us if it was good.
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Ok will do.
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Zen Vegetarian on Flatbush has delicious soy ice cream. We got delivery when I was pregnant a lot.I guess this is a good a place as any to ask. My SO is lactose intolerant and we're trying to find edible vegan ice cream in Brooklyn. Any one of anything in the area?
@newguy88Don't quote me on this but I believe Memes/Healthy Nibbles (on Nostrand between Sterling and Park) has vegan treats and ice cream. -
Place deeper in Flatbush - Taste the tropics USA. Cool Caribbean flavors like: grapenut, sour sop, guinness, etc.. It also has old school flavors like raisin rum, butter pecan, cookies and creme. And all the traditional flavors, choc, vanilla, coffee, mango, passion fruit.
Wait where? I only see it for sale at grocery stores!Super big floats and shakes for the prices.Only ice cream I'll bother to travel for is Jaque Torres ice cream shop in Dumbo. Everything else is a distant second to quality of the ingredients, recipes, and ability to get correct texture. -
Thanks! We'll have to give it a go!
Zen Vegetarian on Flatbush has delicious soy ice cream. We got delivery when I was pregnant a lot.I guess this is a good a place as any to ask. My SO is lactose intolerant and we're trying to find edible vegan ice cream in Brooklyn. Any one of anything in the area?
@newguy88Don't quote me on this but I believe Memes/Healthy Nibbles (on Nostrand between Sterling and Park) has vegan treats and ice cream. -
This evening's selection for us was 2 scoops from The Local, on Classon.
Only 6 choices. We choose choc chip. Paid $5.99. Ate it.
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Update: Ice cream from Blue Marble and Elsie's Parlor has now also been eaten.
The summer is going well.
The following places remain:
-Sweets and Treats on Franklin
-Tinto's on Nostrand.
-Natural Treats on Kingston near Empire .
-Ample Hills on Vanderbilt.
-Scoops on Flatbush near the new tall building some people hate.
-Capitoline Grounds in Bed Stuy
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I just brought two friends to Ample Hills today. Everyone was happy. Salted krack, ooey gooey butter cake and sweet cream and cookies are my top 3 recommendations.
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We went to Ample Hills. Ms Whynot choose Mexican chocolate and cookies and cream. We ate it.
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