A dozen delightful spots for fabulous and
flavorful ice cream
by Josh B. Wardrop
LOCAL LEGENDS
In spring and summer (and fall and
winter, to be honest), New Englanders love
their ice cream—so it’s no surprise the
region has produced so many popular and
enduring local and national chains serving
up frozen favorites. Born in Vermont, Ben
& Jerry’s (refer to
restaurant listing)—home to chilly
creations like the massive 20-scoop
Vermonster sundae—is known the world over.
Other local favorites include J.P. Licks
(refer to
restaurant listing), which boasts more
than two dozen flavors, including Cake
Batter Oreo and Cherry Ortiz, named for Red
Sox slugger David Ortiz; Emack & Bolio’s,
a “rock ’n’ roll” ice creamery (290 Newbury
St., 617-536-7127 and various locations)
famed for custom cones adorned with
everything from Fruity Pebbles to s’mores
(pictured opposite, middle right); and
Herrell’s (15 Dunster St., Cambridge,
617-497-2179; 155 Brighton Ave., Allston,
617-782-9599), a chain of ice cream
shops/cafes famed for sweet treats like the
cupcake sundae (pictured opposite, top
right).
Not a chain, meanwhile, but certainly not to be forgotten is the one-and-only Cabot’s (743 Washington St., Newtonville, 617-964-9200), which has served outrageous sundaes like the Straw-Anna (pictured opposite, bottom left)—a blend of ripe banana wheels, vanilla ice cream, strawberry topping, and whipped cream—for four delectable decades.
ICE CREAM FOR
GROWN-UPS
A sweet and frosty treat may bring
out the kid in all of us, but it isn’t just
the junior set that loves ice cream. Adults
can get their ice cream fix with a more
mature twist at Picco (513 Tremont
St., 617-927-0066), sipping a delightful
adult ice cream soda, which features sweet
Belgium lambic ale poured over vanilla ice
cream (pictured opposite, middle left). Or
sample ice cream flavors with an extra kick
at Lizzy’s (29 Church St., Cambridge,
617-354-2911), which boasts—in addition to
its full range of traditional, kid-friendly
varieties—alcohol-infused flavors like
Bailey’s and a sinful rum raisin (pictured
opposite, bottom right).
FANCY FROZEN FUN
Think ice cream can only be enjoyed
from a take-out window or some beachfront
stand surrounded by seagulls? Think again:
in ice cream-mad Massachusetts, even
high-end eateries get in on the action. The
Beacon Hill Bistro (25 Charles St.,
617-723-1133) earns acclaim for its
housemade ice cream, in flavors like
caramel, banana rum (pictured opposite, top
left) and cassis sorbet. An evening of fine
dining in the Italian-centric North End
isn’t complete without a palate-pleasing
scoop of gelato at Caffe Vittoria
(refer to
restaurant listing) or Gigi Gelateria
(272 Hanover St., 617-720-4343). Om
(92 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-576-2800)
is surely the only place in the area to get
beet ice cream—an accompaniment to its
chocolate beet tarte—and Sonsie
(refer to
restaurant listing) accents its
chocolate truffle tart with sweet cherry
torrone ice cream.
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