Best Ice Cream in New England
Travel and cookbook authors Jane and Michael Stern travel thousands of miles for their popular Web site, roadfood.com, so we asked them for their five favorite places to get scooped. Yankee‘s senior lifestyle editor, Amy Traverso, also chimed in with her pick for the best ice cream in New England.
Ridgefield Ice Cream Shop
The vintage soft-serve machines quite simply define chocolate and vanilla at their simple best.
680 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT; 203-438-3094
Gray’s Ice Cream
Gray’s must-haves are ginger and coffee. The former packs an eye-opening bite from bits of ginger root, while the latter is just-right sweet.
16 East Road, Tiverton Four Corners, Tiverton, RI. 401-624-4500; graysicecream.com
Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream
Ah, burnt-sugar ice cream. Seconds must include Mexican chocolate, khulfi, and banana-cinnamon.
1255 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA. 617-492-7021; christinasicecream.com
Bishop’s Ice Cream
Check out “Bishop’s Bash”: chocolate chips, nuts, and brownie chunks in dark chocolate.
183 Cottage St., Littleton, NH; 603-444-6039; bishopshomemadeicecream.com
Hodgman’s Frozen Custard
Big on classics such as a sundae royale featuring hot fudge, sliced bananas, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.
1108 Lewiston Road, New Gloucester, ME; 207-926-3553
Susanna’s Ice Cream
The secret is a rich custard base made with the finest ingredients. What makes Susanna’s ice cream extraordinary is the the hard work that goes into sourcing, prepping, and hand-mixing every ingredient to produce a base that’s both richer and lighter than you’ll fine elsewhere.
Read more about why Amy Traverso thinks Susanna’s Ice Cream is the best in New England.
Sweet Berry Farm, 915 Mitchell’s Lane, Middletown, RI; 401-847-3912;
http://www.sweetberryfarmri.com/susannasicecream.html
Get bonus content not published in the magazine in our premier e-mail newsletter.
Frank’s Bake Shop in Bangor has remarkable ice cream and wonderful flavors, all hand made in the shop. I recommend the ginger flavor. Try some when you are there!
Goose Rocks Dairy on Mills Road in Kennebunkport, ME has great homemade ice cream. Kid size cones are big enough to share!
Rota Spring Farm in Sterling, MA has amazing homemade ice cream and you can sit and admire the herd of cows that helped produce it while you eat! The most unique flavor is Indian pudding. Definitely worth a stop, especially for anyone who is already planning a trip to Davis Farmland as it’s just a mile or two away.
Shaw’s Dairy in Dracut, Mass. has some great Rum Raisin ice cream
Well, I remember when Steve’s opened in Medford, and the ice cream revolution began. These new places sound very tasty. However, now I live in the UK and take frequent trips to Italy – I am afraid there is no comparison to the ice cream (or Gelato) there. What is missing is lemon slush – which seems to be a treat from the North End, but not in Italy itself!
SO I would cast a vote for some authentic Boston North End Slush, please!
What about Ferris Acres Creamery in Newtown, Conn. or Cape Cod Creamery in South Yarmouth, Mass.?
I’ve traveled all over New England and those top my list by far.
Can’t believe you omitted Somserset Creamery on Route 6 in Somerset, MA. Their signature flavor, Cranberry Bog, with sweetened berries, chunks of dark chocolate and walnut halves is the best! Mochachino, with chocolate covered espresso beans is a wonderful 2nd.
Oops! It’s Somerset Creamery, not Somserset!!
Dr. Mike’s ice cream shops in Monroe and Bethel, CT have the smoothest, richest ice cream around. My family always enjoyed the “Chocolate Malt”, “Rich Chocolate” and “Chocolate Lace & Cream” flavors. Priceless!
The best ice cream in New England I ever knew of personally was at ‘The Gran-Val Scoop’ at the Brown farm in Granville, Mass.