8 American Eateries Serving Up Delicious Ice Cream

Places Where You Can Get Great Ice Cream

Fun Facts About Ice Cream

• Americans consume about 23 gallons of ice cream each year, on average
• In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month
• Milk-based ice cream was invented in the 10th century
• The first ice cream cone was put together at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis Missouri
• 10.3% of milk produced in the United States goes to making ice cream
• It’s estimated that every year, the average American consumes nearly 22 pounds of ice cream

The History Of Ice Cream

The 5 Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors

According to a YouGov survey, as of 2018:

1. Chocolate
2. Vanilla
3. Butter Pecan
4. Mint Chocolate Chip
5. Cookies n Creme

The Power Of Ice Cream

In Depth

A cool confection made in an endless number of flavors, styles, and combinations, ice cream is understandably a favorite dessert of many. Whether eaten to beat the heat on a summer day or simply enjoyed indoors, it's reliably satisfying for people of all ages. From scoop shops to sit-down restaurants, the eateries included here, listed in no particular order, all offer their own delectable versions of the classic frozen treat.

Coming in at #1 is Brent's Drugs. Originally opened in 1946 as a pharmacy and soda fountain in Jackson, Mississippi's Fondren neighborhood, this local favorite became pharmacy-free in 2009. It was later renovated to bring it into the modern age, while keeping the soda fountain and classic bar stools from the original location. Today, the establishment also offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all served with Southern hospitality.

At Brent's historic soda fountain, customers can choose from a variety of shakes, sundaes, floats, and beverages. Classics including the banana split and hot fudge sundae are joined by more unconventional creations like a peanut butter and jelly milkshake. Brent's also boasts a cocktail bar called The Apothecary, which has been named one of the best of its kind in the South.

Brent's also boasts a cocktail bar called The Apothecary, which has been named one of the best of its kind in the South.

For #2 we have the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, a family-run operation serving homemade ice cream in New York since 1978. Informed by Chinese tradition, it offers flavors such as black sesame, durian, ginger, lychee, and red bean. The company also makes what it calls "exotic flavors," which include strawberry and mint chip. Customers can look out for special appearances of additional unique tastes like honey lavender, caramel bacon swirl, and jackfruit.

Other offerings include Chinese and Neapolitan ice cream cakes, which are made daily with three layers of homemade ultra premium ice cream. Customers interested in more options can check out the eatery's other locations in the Lower East Side and Flushing. Flavors exclusive to the former include squid ink, horchata, tiramisu, and baklava.

Showing up at #3 is Azucar Ice Cream Company. Based in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, this artisanal ice cream and sorbet boutique is inspired by South Florida's diverse cultures, subtropical climate, and Latin flavors. With an emphasis on quality, all-natural ingredients, it uses locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets and growers.

With an emphasis on quality, all-natural ingredients, it uses locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets and growers.

Some of Azucar's signature flavors are Cuban vanilla, bourbon with cherries, and its famous Abuela Maria, which has guava, cream cheese, and crackers. Seasonal offerings include sugarcane and pineapple, orange blossom almond, and pumpkin flan. The company also has a location in Dallas, Texas, where it serves most of the same unique creations. Making its ice cream daily, Azucar strives to continue to challenge its creativity with new tropical flavors.

For #4 we come to Big Gay Ice Cream, which began as a seasonal food truck in 2009. Today, it has multiple locations in New York City and Philadelphia, where it mixes high-quality ingredients with guilty pleasures to spin a new take on the old-fashioned, soft-serve parlor experience. It serves its own proprietary recipes and utilizes milk and cream from an all-natural dairy farm in Pennsylvania.

Big Gay Ice Cream serves up creations like Dorothy, which consists of a vanilla cone injected with dulce de leche and rolled in ground wafer cookies. Its best-known cone is called Salty Pimp, which adds light salt and a chocolate shell to the same base. Additionally, customers can order floats, milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, and non-dairy Mexican fruit pops. The company does more than just make these delicious treats: it also supports LGBTQ organizations and other community initiatives.

Additionally, customers can order floats, milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, and non-dairy Mexican fruit pops.

At #5 is Purple Door Ice Cream. Owned and operated by wife and husband educators Lauren and Steve Schultz, the Wisconsin-based Purple Door has scoop shops in Milwaukee and Mequon, and also sells to grocers and restaurants. Its flagship retail location in historic Walker's Point features twenty handcrafted flavors that rotate daily. While there, customers are able to look into the production kitchen to see the ice cream being made.

Purple Door's plethora of flavors include classics ranging from chocolate chip cookie dough to peppermint, as well as more adventurous options such as balsamic vinegar and butternut squash. A number of its ice creams use liquor as a prominent ingredient, as in its brandy old fashioned, whiskey, and beer and pretzels flavors. Purple Door maintains a local focus, sourcing its ingredients from many partner companies in Milwaukee.

Next, for #6 we get Henrietta's Table, a farm-to-table restaurant located in the heart of Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its menus rotate daily based on availability from local farmers and artisans, who provide an array of organically grown produce. Customers can come in for everything from breakfast to supper, and can enjoy a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.

Customers can come in for everything from breakfast to supper, and can enjoy a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.

Among the desserts on the menu are house-made ice creams, with coffee, vegan coconut, and pumpkin praline as some of the flavors. There are also sorbet options, plus a pie of the day that comes with vanilla bean ice cream. Other confections for those with a sweet tooth include chocolate bread pudding, maple syrup cheesecake, and a heart-healthy vegan chocolate mousse with a raspberry parfait.

Arriving at #7 is Smitten Ice Cream, which has locations throughout the Bay Area. With its own singular ice cream machine, it churns out scoops in front of customers in 90 seconds. Everything including its bases, cone batter, sauces, and cookies are made from scratch using unprocessed, locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients.

Smitten features creations such as chocolate ganache with Guittard cacao, and Bee Sting, a sweet and spicy offering that combines unfiltered honey with milk, cream, and a blend of four types of chilies. There are also sundaes, seasonal trios, and chocolate vegan pops. Those looking for more custom tastes can use the Design Your Flavor option, which allows customers to create their own pints.

There are also sundaes, seasonal trios, and chocolate vegan pops.

Finally, for #8 we have Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar, located on Cape Cod. Inspired by the classic TV series "Happy Days," founder Nathan Nickerson originally opened the restaurant as a drive-in clam shack with a 1950s theme. Later, the location added a gourmet ice cream stand and an 18-hole mini golf course to complement its award-winning seafood.

Premium ice cream at Arnold's comes courtesy of Richardson's Dairy Farm, which provides over 30 flavors. Classic offerings include a banana split, and hot fudge sundaes with nuts and whipped cream. Patrons can also choose from sherbet, 95% fat-free frozen yogurt, and frappes, as well as Italian ice from Richie's that's kosher and gluten-free.