Let’s face it. Frozen desserts —ice cream, gelato, sorbet, custard, froyo—are always good. Always. That’s not up for debate.
But in the summer, when it swelters, there is nothing more refreshing to eat than a frosty cone, cup or shake of goodness. You know I’m right.
That’s why we have obsessively catalogued some of the North Shore’s best spots for a frozen feast. I’m leaving out the big, well-known, national chains like Cold Stone Creamery, Ben & Jerry’s, TCBY, Baskin-Robbins and Dairy Queen. But here are some local places (and a few smaller chains) that you will want to discover if you haven’t already.
And if we have another summer like last year (when we lost power three times in two months), at least you’ll have a reference to find a store that’s up and running! I still remember driving through the darkness to Bobtail in Wilmette. It was like a beacon in the night, and we were thrilled to just sit in the air conditioning and slowly eat our ice cream. Ah, summer.
Arlington Heights
Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, 5 E. Campbell St., 847-255-7642
Flavors to Try: Anniversary Cake, Coconut Mania, Bear Claws
Oberweis Ice Cream, 9 E. Dundee Rd., 847-368-9060
Flavors to Try: Dulce de Leche, Chocolate Peanut Butter
Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, 1180 W. Lake Cook Rd., 847-808-1120
Flavors to Try: Chocolate Éclair, Candy Bar Overload, Blueberry Pomegranate
Barrington
Kaleidoscoops Ice Cream, 106 W. Main St., 847-381-0680
Flavors to Try: More Cowbell, German Chocolate Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake
Evanston
Andy’s Frozen Custard, 719 Church St., 847-864-8009
Flavors to Try: Coconut Almond Chip Concrete, James Brownie Funky Jackhammer
Hartigan’s Ice Cream, 2909 Central St., 847-491-1232
Flavors to Try: Rootbeer Twister, Cubbie Blue Moon, Caramel Collision
Linz & Vail Gelato, 2012 Central St., 847-475-1381
Flavors to Try: Frutta di Bosco Gelato, Nutella, Salted Caramel, Cupcake
Red Mango Frozen Yogurt, 809 Davis St., 847-866-0998
Flavors to Try: Pomegranate, Mango, White Peach
Glenview
Glenview Dairy Bar (Soft Serve), 1015 Harlem Ave., 847-724-2029
Flavors to Try: Flavor Burst of Strawberry, Blue Goo, Green Apple
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 1364 Patriot Blvd., 847-834-0426
Flavors to Try: Chai Tea, Chocolate Cake, Green Apple Tart, Peanut Butter Gold
Oberweis Ice Cream, 967 Waukegan Rd., 847-729-8700
Via Gelato, 1853 Tower Rd., 847-729-7088
Flavors to Try: Ferrer Rocher, Stracciatella, Jalapeno-Avocado
Highland Park
Baker Boys, 733 St. Johns Ave., 847-433-0430
Flavors to Try: Red Velvet, Coffee Kahlua, Nestle Caramel Crunch
Frost Gelato, 617 Central Ave., 847-432-2233
Flavors to Try: Caramel Macchiato, Panna Cotta, Tiramisu, Passion Fruit
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 1929 Sheridan Rd., 847-780-4930
Highwood
Sweet Pea’s Ice Cream Parlor, 764 Sheridan Rd., 847-266-1116
Flavors to Try: Heaps of Love, Fat Elvis, Cotton Candy Twist, Chocolate-Raspberry Truffle
Lincolnshire
Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream, 900 Milwaukee Ave., 847-478-1118
Flavors to Try: Caramel Apple, Chocolate Birthday Cake, Key Lime
Swirlcup Frozen Yogurt, 255 B Parkway Dr., 847-229-2200
Flavors to Try: Blue Acai Tart, Ghiradelli Chocolate, Georgia Peach
Lincolnwood
Oberweis, 6469 N. Lincoln Ave., 847-983-4514
Mt. Prospect
Capannari Ice Cream, 10 S. Pine St., 847-392-2277
Flavors to Try: Brownie Batter, Mango Coconut, Blood Orange Sorbet
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 1027 N. Elmhurst Rd., 224-735-2296
Oberweis Ice Cream, 80 E. Northwest Hwy., 847-577-6100
Mundelein
Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream, 3022 N. Route 60, 847-949-7769
Niles
Village Creamery, 8000 Waukegan Rd., 847-965-9805
Flavors to Try: Baseball Nut, Crème Brulee, Halo-Halo Fiesta, Lychee
Northbrook
Red Mango, 2171 Northbrook Ct., 847-559-6473
Yogen Fruz, 1350 Shermer Rd., 847-559-9945
Flavors to Try: Mango Mint Pineapple, Lemonana, Watermelon
Park Ridge
Lisa’s Italian Ice, 10 S. Northwest Hwy, 847-692-3737
Flavors to Try: Citrus Blast, Red Grapefruit, Tripleberry
Oberweis Ice Cream, 101-103 S. Northwest Hwy., 847-692-9840
Skokie
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, 4041 Dempster St., 847-481-5087
Flavors to Try: Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, Strawberry Lemonade, Halley’s Comet
Village Creamery, 4558 Oakton St., 847-982-1720
Wheeling
Yogurtland, 1568 E. Lake Cook Rd., 847-229-3882
Flavors to Try: Almond Midnight Mocha, Blue Lychee Bliss, Mango Pina Colada
Wilmette
Bobtail Ice Cream, 1114 Central Ave., 847-251-0174
Flavors to Try: Signature Sunset, Lakeview Barhopper, Daley Addiction
Homer’s Ice Cream, 1237 Green Bay Rd., 847-251-0477
Flavors to Try: Fresh Peach, Peppermint Stick, Pecan Praline, Coffee Toffee
Did we miss your favorite? Comment below and let us know where else to get our sweet (and cold) treats!
