The Frozen Scoop: The Best Ice Cream Shops

There is just something special about the simple pleasure of enjoying a cold ice cream on a warm day.  At long last, ice cream season has officially arrived!  As proof, in Katonah begins selling soft serve ice cream this Friday April 29, while Abbotts Frozen Custard in Shrub Oak returns to its on-season schedule (open 7 days a week) on May 1.

Toward this end, we took the input of some of our Patch readers, and then hit the streets ourselves in search of the top ice cream shops around. We found the most innovative flavors and the best old-fashioned style soft serve.  We even found the best locations for those who want to stroll around while eating their frozen treat.   The result – this week’s Patch Picks: The Top Ice Cream Shops.  It was tough work, but somebody had to do it!

1. Abbott’s Frozen Custard (1143 East Main Street, Shrub Oak), Owner Bobby Joachim wants to make it very clear that he does not sell ice cream –  he sells custard, which is much richer and creamier than ordinary ice cream.  We agree.   Most ice cream pales in comparison—which is why, according to Joachim, Abbott’s pulls in a loyal base of customers who travel from all over Northern Westchester and Putnam Counties for a taste of this frozen treat.

2. (25 Katonah Avenue, Katonah).  In addition to their amazing smoothies which are offered year round, NoKa’s starts serving chocolate, vanilla, and swirled soft-serve this Friday. A variety of candy and sprinkle toppings make this an even sweeter choice, but the real draw is NoKa’s location at the northern start of Katonah Avenue.  Grab a cone and walk all the way up the street for some leisurely window shopping and people spotting along Katonah’s main drag.

3. (381 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT).  This old fashioned sweets shop offers both soft serve and hand dipped ice cream.  Located in the heart of Ridgefield’s shopping district, Deborah Ann’s is another perfect spot for ice cream fans who want to enjoy their cone while walking around town.

4. (10 South Moger Avenue, Mount Kisco) offers “a tasty frozen treat with a heavenly twist,” according to its brand logo.  YoGo Berry runs the gamut on flavors, from traditional choices like strawberry to the exotic green tea flavor, and has an extensive and interesting variety of toppings including coco & fruity pebbles, pomegranate, and kiwi.

5. (Cross River Shopping Plaza, Rte 35/Rte 121, lower level, Cross River)

Coming up on its one-year anniversary, Treat is still delivering a delicious and lighter alternative to ice cream. Customers enjoy creamy creations of frozen yogurt available in six flavors with such mix-ins as fresh fruit, sprinkles and granola come in six flavors. Add a hip blue-and-brown decor and free Wifi and you've got plenty of reasons to stop by. 

5. (680 Danbury Road, Ridgefield).  This old fashioned shop has only vintage ice cream machines that slow churn their soft serve for a smoother and richer end result.  The hand dipped ice cream is also a huge draw, available in old fashioned flavors like maple walnut and wilder flavors like the extraordinarily sweet “swamp” flavor (Oreo, butter scotch, chocolate chips, and malt in a vanilla ice cream).

6. (109 Route 100, Katonah).  Opened since 1953, King Kone offers its customers a big dose of nostalgia along with a choice of 18 hand-dipped flavors, frozen yogurt, milk shakes, and vanilla and chocolate soft serve. 

7. (639 East Main Street, Mount Kisco).  Customers can choose from over 70 flavors, including the newest Late Night Snack (Salty Caramel Swirl & Fudge Covered Potato Chip) and AmeriCone Dream (Vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces & a caramel swirl).

8. (103 Main Street, New Canaan).  Although Baskin Robbins’ promise is to have 31 flavors for the 31 days of the month, the company actually has thousands of flavors that are being constantly rotated in and out of stores.   The newest flavor of the month (May’s flavor) is Golden Oreo Goldrush.