Cool Spots: local ice cream shops delightDate: 7/12/2021 WESTERN MASS. – It was in 1984 that President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day. This year, National Ice Cream Day falls on July 18. For those interested in celebrating the day with the iconic treat, Western Massachusetts is in no short supply of ice cream shops with an abundance of flavors offered.
The Reminder Publishing staff visited some local shops to have the Western Mass. ice cream experience. While this is not a complete list of area ice cream shops, here are some of our staff's local favorites. We encourage readers to frequent their favorite local ice cream shop.
Ayah’s Ice Cream
456 Front St., Chicopee
Ayah’s Ice Cream opened in 2020 and offers 14 soft serve flavors and 19 hard serve flavors. They have a wide variety of specialty desserts such as sundaes, banana splits and floats. Ayah’s also offers razzles, which are soft serve blended with your choice of toppings, and snowballs, which are flavored shaved ice.
Since their opening, Ayah’s has racked up 5 star reviews on both Facebook and Google. Many rave that the ice cream is creamy, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is perfect for friends and families to enjoy.
Ayah’s is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. They offer online ordering on their website at https://www.ayahsicecream.com/.
Mr. Cone
1048 Granby Rd., Chicopee
Mr. Cone has been a beloved Chicopee staple for years. They offer everything from classic vanilla ice cream to strawberry to Colombian coffee. They have floats, shakes, soft serve, razzles and snowballs for anyone looking for a unique and delicious treat.
Mr. Cone’s menu also features savory items such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders and fries. Over the years, Mr. Cone has established dedicated regular customers all the way from Boston and beyond. Many rave that Mr. Cone has the best milkshakes, great service, fair prices and a clean atmosphere.
Mr. Cone is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. They offer online ordering on their website at https://www.mrconechicopee.com/.
Roger’s Place
1016 Chicopee St., Chicopee
Rogers Place is another Chicopee staple that serves up tasty, creamy and unique soft serve. Roger’s Place has weekly speciality treats which, most recently, was their Blueberry Explosion which was a blueberry soft serve filled with blueberries dipped in crushed acai and blueberry chocolate.
Roger’s Place also has soft serve filled cannolis, dipped soft serve cones and a variety of toppings such as their crushed salted caramel pretzel chocolate and their twinkle nut crunch.
Roger’s Place is open daily from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. More information can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com
/rogersplaceicecream.
JB’s Ice Cream Factory
624 North Main St., East Longmeadow
JB’s is well-known to those who live in the East Longmeadow area. The shop offers dozens of flavors of handmade ice cream. While there are the tried and true flavors that are consistently offered such as mint chocolate chip, chocolate, vanilla and cookie dough, JB’s also offers a variety of new flavors on their rotating menu. Unique flavors offered by the shop include fluffernutter, devil’s cake batter swirl, rum raisin, caramel bananagram and purple cow. Ice cream lovers should be careful when pursuing the flavor board as there’s often at least one joke flavor such as fried bologna, cream of potato, candied yams and parsley.
In addition to making their own ice cream, the shop also makes their own small batch fudge, hot fudge, waffle cones, sherbet and frozen yogurt. The shop has deceptively large servings with generous scoops that ensure customers get their fill of ice cream.
JB’s is open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Labor Day weekend. Flavor options are often posted on the JB’s Ice Cream Factory Facebook page, but can also be found at the ice cream shop in East Longmeadow.
The Depot at
Graham Central Station
64 Maple St., East Longmeadow
The Depot is the newest option for ice cream in East Longmeadow and has plenty of variety, with more than a dozen flavors of Gifford’s ice cream, plus chocolate and vanilla soft serve. Toppings include sprinkles, peanut butter topping, chocolate syrup, crushed oreos, hot fudge and caramel from Ghirardelli.
Cups and cones range in price from $3 for a kiddie size to $5.50 for a large. Pints and quarts are available to take home for $6 and $8, respectively. Milkshakes cost $6.50.
People may come for the ice cream, but there’s another treat inside. The Train Depot at Graham Central Station is decorated in historical memorabilia from the building’s days as a working train station, followed by its time as the Community Feed Store. When the screened-in barn-style doors are opened, patrons have a view of the Redstone Rail Trail while eating their ice cream. People can also take advantage of the picnic tables outside and benches on the deck.
The Depot at Graham Central Station is open 12 p.m.–8:30 p.m., seven days per week. For more information, visit https://thedepotatgrahamcentralstation.business.site.
Mt. Tom’s Homemade
Ice Cream & Candy Store
34 Cottage St, Easthampton
Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream & Candy Store is an Easthampton staple nestled on the edge of the famous Nashawannuck Pond. The establishment, which has been around since 2003, makes all their ice cream on their premises and serves anywhere from vanilla and chocolate to burnt coffee and chocolate fudge brownie. In all, they have around 28 regular flavors of ice cream, three frozen yogurts – vanilla, coffee heath and black raspberry chocolate chip – as well as some no sugar added flavors.
The classic parlor, which sits on a beautiful promenade in the Cottage Cultural District, also serves sundaes, homemade waffle cones, malts, banana splits, ice cream sodas, floats, milkshakes, chocolate chip cookie sandwiches and ice cream pies. One of their biggest items is their homemade ice cream cakes, which are two layers of ice cream with a cookie crunch and fudge in the middle. A white buttercream icing coats the cake, while the cake itself can be decorated any way a customer wants. They can make the cake with any two flavors customers like, but the shop asks for at least two days’ notice for an ice cream cake, and a week’s notice for sheet cakes.
Mt. Tom’s also offers an extensive list of candy, jelly belly flavors and gourmet chocolate including truffles and chocolate-covered cherries. They also serve gourmet coffee and tea from Northampton and South Deerfield respectively.
People can see the full list of what they sell through this link: Mt. Tom's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. - Ice Cream, Candy (mttoms.com). It is open seven days a week from 12 to 9 p.m.
JJ’s Soft Serve and More
336 N Westfield St.,
Feeding Hills
JJ’s Soft Serve and More located in Feeding Hills has an extensive menu with options to satisfy the entire family. With 42 hard ice creams and over 50 soft serves to choose from, JJ’s is nothing short of delicious.
The majority of their hard ice cream is imported from Gifford’s in Maine, along with a few flavor’s from Blake’s. Their most popular flavor is campfire s’mores - a graham cracker base, infused with marshmallow and sweet chocolate chips.
The soft serve is Hood’s brand - either vanilla or chocolate based, with the additional flavor of your choice. JJ’s offers dairy free and gluten free options, along with fat free yogurt. The black raspberry chocolate chip yogurt is a must have!
Ice cream sizes come in kiddies, small, medium and large - all offered in bowls, cake, sugar, or waffle cones.
Toppings vary from your classic hot fudge, peanut butter and marshmallow options, all the way to the sweetened strawberries, pineapples and blueberries. If you’re looking to elate your sweet tooth even more, you can add a cotton candy crunch coat, a cherry dip, or one of their 15 candy options to seal the deal.
JJ’s also offers milkshakes, flurries, and specialty sundaes such as cookies and cream, and the banana boat.
If you’re looking to steer away from ice cream, JJ’s also serves snacks such as mozzarella bites, chicken tenders and french fries.
Inside, JJ’s has an open seating area, along with outdoor picnic tables and umbrellas for those hot summer days.
JJ’s Soft Serve and More is open from March until mid October. They’re open seven days a week, and their summer hours are from 2 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit https://jjssoftserve.com/
Scoops Cafe
495 Springfield St.,
Feeding Hills
Scoops Cafe located in Feeding Hills doubles as both an ice cream and coffee shop. When it comes to ice cream, they offer an assortment of flavors including graham central station, cappuccino crunch, and coconut chocolate almond. Of course, you’ve heard of the infamous moose tracks - but have you heard of mint or chocolate moose tracks? Scoops has it!
Their soft serve flavors are more widespread, such as cheesecake and german chocolate. All ice cream comes in a cup or cone, with a choice of a sugar cone, plain cone, or gluten free cone. Toppings include candies, nuts, sauces, and fruits. In addition, Scoops has cookie dough deluxe toppings and mango, passionfruit or brown sugar boba.
If you’re searching for something that will wow your taste buds, try their candy unicorn shake - cotton candy ice cream with a hint of bubblegum and marshmallow swirl, topped off with whipped cream, cotton candy crunch and a unicorn horn.
Additional treats offered by Scoops are chocolate covered oreos, brownies, and marshmallows coated with sprinkles. If you bring your four legged friends, Scoops has “puppy pies” - vanilla ice cream with a tiny milk bone for their enjoyment too.
Scoops Cafe is open Tuesday through Friday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 9 p.m.; closed on Monday. For more information visit https://scoopscafe.square.site/
Cindy’s Drive In
455 E. State St., Granby
Cindy’s Drive In, located in Granby, is a popular seasonal eatery that offers more than 100 flavors of soft serve ice cream, with flavors rotating regularly. While they offer classic flavors such as vanilla malt, peanut butter, mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream, they also offer a variety of unique flavors. Such flavors include Girl Scout cookie themed ice creams such as Samoa, thin mint and tagalong, fruity pebble, Shirley Temple, Sour Patch Kids, Mexican coffee and creme de menthe.
In addition to soft serve ice cream, Cindy’s also offers hard ice cream with flavor options such as Belgian mocha chip, Andes mint chip, purple cow and toasted coconut. Also available is frozen yogurt, sundaes, milkshakes, floats and flurries, with some flavors being available in a vegan alternative. Cindy’s also offers several grilled food options, being known for their award winning long hot dogs, burgers, grilled sandwiches, fries and grinders.
Cindy’s is also dog friendly, offering not one but two different doggie ice cream dishes. While cash is preferred, Cindy’s also accepts credit cards and offers guests a large array of seating in a grassy area with some playground equipment for little ones to climb on.
Hours and menu options can be found online at https://cindysdrivein.com.
Barstow’s Dairy Store
& Bakery
172 Hockanum Rd., Hadley
Located in a quiet and rural part of Hadley overlooking an open field with cows and trees, Barstow’s Dairy Store & Bakery is a hidden treasure. Barstow’s has a variety of ice cream, with a menu that’s constantly changing. “Every day the menu changes, sometimes it can change within an hour,” said the cashier. While the ice cream isn’t made in-house, it’s still made locally at Maple Valley’s Scoop at the Silo, about 12 minutes down the road.
Barstow’s usually has a decent selection of ice cream including unique flavors like Kahlua fudge brownie and peanut butter Oreo. They also offer classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, as well as sorbets and frozen yogurts.
You may come for the ice cream, but you should take a look at the baked goods and their breakfast and lunch/dinner menu. Their baked goods include cookies, muffins, cupcakes, scones, pies and many more.
Barstow’s is open daily all year round for indoor and outdoor dining. You can find their daily hours on their website https://www.
barstowslongviewfarm.com/dairy-store-and-bakery/.
Maple Valley’s Scoop at the Silo
102 Mill Valley Rd., Hadley
Next to a large white farmhouse sits a tiny brown shack with colorful letters spelling out the words “ice cream.” Maple Valley’s Scoop at the Silo in Hadley is the perfect place to get ice cream on a hot summer’s day and sit on the lawn behind their shop or go to the barn to see their Brown Swiss Cows. They offer fun flavors like sea salted caramel truffle, strawberry cheesecake, and maple walnut among others.
For ice cream lovers who can’t do dairy, Maple Valley offers sorbets and dairy-free coconut ice cream. Can’t stay for a cone? You can buy a fresh pint at the farm store next door where they sell their farm-raised beef, fresh raw milk, and their award- winning raw milk cheddar.
Scoop at the Silo is known for their Facebook posts through which they give away free ice cream to those with certain names or in certain professions. The list of who qualify for free ice cream changes daily.
Maple Valley’s Scoop at the Silo is open weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and weekends from 12 to 7 p.m.
For more information go to https://maplevalley
creamery.com/.
Flayvors of Cook Farm
129 S. Maple St., Hadley
Flayvors of Cook Farm in Hadley has been in the Cook family for five generations, but they’ve been selling ice cream from their working dairy farm since 1998. With over 35 flavors, there’s something for everybody at Flayvors.
Customs can choose between dairy and non-dairy options alike. Some of their fresh dairy flavors include Cow Spots (vanilla ice cream, fudge swirl, mini peanut butter cups), Java Crunch (coffee ice cream, heath bar pieces – contains almonds), and Sally's Coffee Grounds (coffee ice cream, Oreos). Their non-dairy options include raspberry, lime, or lemon sorbet, orange or rainbow sherbert, and various frozen yogurts.
If you’re not in the mood for ice cream, Flayvors also serves lunch, offering mac n’ cheese, tomato cheddar soup, chili con carne, and steamed hot dogs.
Flayvors current hours are Sun-Thurs 12 to 8 p.m. and Fri-Sat 12 to 9 p.m. You can find a full list of their flavors online at https://www.flayvors.com/ice-cream.
Mt. View Restaurant
25 Allen St., Hampden
For over 50 years, this drive-in restaurant has been selling hot dogs, burgers, grinders and sandwiches, seafood and soft serve ice cream to Hampden residents and members of the surrounding communities.
Featuring primarily the same menu the restaurant has been serving for years, former Mt. View Restaurant employee Lyndsay Pelloso purchased the Hampden restaurant with her parents, Billy and Linda Bond, in September 2019. In a former interview with Reminder Publishing, Linda Bond explained, “We wanted to keep the menu the same. We wanted return customers that have been coming all those years, and I think that's why it stayed open, because of their [the former owners Matt and Heather Bean’s] return customers.”
Mt. View offers all of the traditional soft serve staples as well as soft serve twists. In addition, they feature numerous ice cream specials that change, including a unique Pina Colada flurry which features vanilla ice cream, graham cracker crumbs, coconut and pineapples.
For hours or questions, head to mtviewhampden.com or call 566-5376.
Fini’s Ice Cream
1 Fini Rd., Holyoke
Located on the line between Holyoke and Westfield, Fini’s is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it walk-up ice cream counter. A small white building with ice cream and sherbet flavors posted on wood plaques above the screened order window, the place brings up a nostalgic feeling and you can imagine it has looked the same for several generations.
Most of the flavors are typical favorites, but there are also surprises such as “Coffee Mudpie” and “Superman,” a vanilla-based flavor with red and blue mixed in, similar to Tutti Fruiti. Also available at the counter are burgers and fries and other traditional American fast food options.
Patrons have the choice to put frozen treats in a cup or cone, which comes in regular or sugarcone. At $5, a large is substantial, with scoops of ice cream piled high, creating a delicious, top-heavy dessert.
The public face of a working farm, Fini’s is more than just food and ice cream; the business also sells produce. Parked around the food counter are wagons and carts with flowers and fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, corn, onions and honey.
Fini’s is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. While Fini’s is a cash only operation, there is an easily accessible ATM across the street. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/finisfarmproduce.
Nick’s Nest
1597 Northampton St., Holyoke
Nick’s Nest is an iconic hot dog restaurant in Holyoke that was founded in 1912. Now owned by Kevin and Jenn Chateauneuf, they’ve introduced a soft-serve window during the summer months. The window offers residents a variety of soft-serve flavors such as the classic vanilla, chocolate and twist, as well as flavors such as cake batter, key lime pie, peanut butter cheesecake, cotton candy and many more.
Recently Nick’s Nest also introduced their Nor’Easter to the menu. The item is similar to Dairy Queen’s Blizzard, allowing for toppings such as graham crackers, cookie dough pieces,Oreos peanut butter cups and other candies to be mixed into chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Each month there is a different Nor’East flavor of the month that offers customers a variety of combinations.
Nick’s Nest also offers sundaes, frozen yogurt, sherbet, milkshakes, ice cream cakes and ice cream cupcakes. A full menu and prices can be found online at https://www.nicksnestholyoke.com, while regular updates about flavors of the month and specials can be found on the Nick’s Nest Facebook page.
Randall’s Farm & Greenhouse
631 Center St., Ludlow
Randall’s is well known in Western Massachusetts, with a bakery and greenhouse open year-round and a seasonal creamery. The creamery, which produces small batches of handmade ice cream, hosts more than 30 flavors of ice cream. While there are some tried and true favorites such as vanilla, cookie dough, chocolate, cookies and cream and strawberry offered, there are also unique flavors available to customers.
Such flavors include dark side of the moon, kahlua fudge nut, white chocolate cappuccino, moochew burtch, chocolate banana and captain morgan. Randall’s serves both hard and soft ice cream in addition to hard frozen yogurt, no sugar added options, sorbet and vegan ice cream. While the creamery is a cash-only establishment, the farm is also host to a bakery, greenhouse and produce department that accepts credit cards.
More information about products sold and hours can be found online at https://randallsfarm.net.
Absolute Zero Thai Rolled Ice Cream
229 Main St., Northampton
Right on Main Street in Northampton, Absolute Zero Thai Rolled Ice Cream offers standard creme ice cream rolled together into a variety of different flavors and combinations.
Absolute Zero offers 20 different flavors from Death by Chocolate, which includes brownie bits and chocolate sauce, to Oreo Secret, which has Oreos and Pocky Sticks.
Each flavor comes in the same size with the option for unlimited toppings, all for just $7.50 after taxes.
Along with its signature Thai rolled ice cream, Absolute Zero also offers Japanese crepes and Dragon’s Breath, which are ice cream balls coated in liquid nitrogen to make the customer look like they are breathing smoke like a dragon while eating.
Absolute Zero is open Sunday through Thursday from 12 to 9:30 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 12 to 10:30 p.m.
Herrell’s Ice Cream and Bakery
8 Old South St., Northampton
Northampton’s famous Herrell’s Ice Cream and bakery offers a variety of homemade ice cream, baked goods and its original hot fudge. From peanut butter to mint chocolate chip, Herrell’s has a variety of typical flavors along with specialty flavors such as chocolate bourbon pecan and lemongrass-coconut.
Herrell’s also has a wide selection of ice cream for those with different dietary needs, including frozen yogurt, dairy free ice cream, and ice cream with no sugar added. For the dairy free milk, the ice cream is made with oats.
In addition to ice cream, Herrell’s also offers a variety of baked goods, including pies, ice cream cakes, cookies, and more.
While all of Herrell's staff is vaccinated, in order to protect customers, including those who are unable or choose not to be vaccinated, Herrell’s requires masks for staff and any customers waiting in line.
Herrell’s is open from 12 to 9 p.m. year round and the current flavors can be found online at herrells.com.
McCray’s Creamery
55 Alvord St., South Hadley
McCray’s Farm in South Hadley opens their creamery on a seasonal basis and offers at least thirty flavors of homemade ice cream. In addition to making their own ice cream, McCray’s uses the dairy produced from cows right on the farm, making their ice cream truly a local product. Included in the variety of ice cream flavors offered are maple cream, cookies n’ mint, barnyard blast, orange pineapple, peanut butter cookie crunch and rum raisin.
Ice cream isn’t the only activity offered by the farm though, there is also a free petting zoo that is open year round with calves, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks and geese. Additionally, McCray’s offers lunch food, bakery items and has a mini golf course. In the fall, hay rides, pumpkin picking and a haunted hayride.
McCray’s is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. More information about the farm, their operations and what they offer can be found at www.mccrays-farm.com.
Sheldon’s Ice Cream
285 College Hwy., Southampton
Sheldon’s Ice Cream is located on the historic Manhan River in Southampton and was previously operated as a grist and sawmill in the 1850s, according to their website. The current owner, Glenn West, purchased the abandoned sawmill in December of 1997. Sheldon’s officially opened their doors to the public in September of 1999.
The ice cream shop serves myriad soft serve and hard serve flavors, low fat yogurt, no sugar added ice cream, sorbet, sundaes, floats, milkshakes, razzles, ice cream novelties, puppy cups and non-dairy ice cream. For soft serve, they offer vanilla, chocolate and twist. For homemade hard serve, they serve anywhere from Boston Blackout and S’mores to Mississippi Mud and Chocolate Covered Strawberry. They also have raspberry and lemon sorbet.
One of their most unique items they offer is the River Monster Sundae, which includes nine scoops of ice cream with three different flavors, three toppings, whipped cream and cherries. If someone can finish this in under an hour, then the customer can get their picture taken for Sheldon’s River Monster Wall of Fame.
Sheldon’s also sells a “Continuous Loop of Luck Candle Holder,” which is a horseshoe candle holder that can hold a round jar style candle that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a surface.
For information on the ice cream menu, visit the website for Sheldon's Ice Cream & Deli (sheldonsicecream.com). It is open for pickup and/or window service Sunday through Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m.
The Summer House
552 College Highway, Southwick
Open year-round, The Summer House offers the tastes of summer even in winter! The restaurant features numerous entrees, but when it’s hot out, customers flock there for their ice cream offerings, which include rotating specials such as Cannoli. Coffee, Milky Way, Graham Central and Butter Pecan are local favorites. The Summer House has something for everyone -- sherbet, frozen yogurt, non-dairy and sugar-free options are always on the menu. Whether you want your frosty treat in a cup or cone, there are options for that, too, including plain and sugar cones, waffle cones and even a gluten-free cone. Sauces, candies, dips and sprinkles top off the offerings.
The Summer House offers indoor dining with plexiglass dividers between tables. For those who want to sit outside, there is expansive outdoor seating, with picnic tables around the property, a gazebo with benches and even a wooden train with seats for kids of all ages.
The Summer House is open daily 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.. Call ahead at 569-3581.
Moolicious Farms
258 Feeding Hills Rd, Southwick
Moolicious Farms in Southwick makes their own ice cream in house, and sources many of their ingredients and toppings from local farms. Owner Joseph Deedy said that he finds the pumpkin cheesecake to be his most unique flavor of ice cream. The most popular flavors at Moolicious, according to Deedy, are chocolate peanut butter, coffee, and mud pie. Deedy said that Italian Ices have been particularly popular lately.
In addition to making their own ice cream, Moolicious also makes non-dairy ice cream and yoghurts in-house.
Moolicious Farms also offers burgers, hot dogs, fries, and onion rings, among other food items.
Deedy said one of the biggest problems for Moolicious Farms this year has been getting supplies, as has been the case for many businesses.
“We are fortunate that our strawberries and peaches come from across the street from Calabrese Farms which has helped us tremendously,” said Deedy.
Northside Creamery
519 Southampton Rd., Westfield
Known for its homemade hard ice-cream, Northside Creamery is a seasonal destination that at first-glance is a typical roadside ice-cream spot. But there’s nothing typical about this sweet spot, especially its ice cream flavors and names. The Black Squirrel is a Westfield favorite and a nod to the city’s unofficial mascot, the black squirrel. It’s chocolate ice cream with brownie bits and chocolate chips. The Fluffernutter is a creamy and cold version of the classic New England sandwich made from peanut butter and marshmallow cream.The Cookie Monster is another flavor unique to the creamery, featuring bright blue vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookie chunks that any muppet would love.
For lovers of soft serve, Northside Creamery always offers vanilla and chocolate as well as two other flavors. There is also rotating sherbet and no sugar added flavors. Milkshakes and sundaes, sugar, plain and waffle cones, kiddie sizes and even doggie treats round out the menu.
The Northside Creamery has outdoor seating only, including several picnic tables, tables under a pergola and a few benches and adirondack chairs, however on a hot summer night, be prepared to eat your ice cream tailgate style as it can get crowded.
Assistant Managing Editor Hope Tremblay recommends the peanut butter banana and her son, age 12, gives the Fluffernutter two thumbs-up while her daughter, 11, swears by the classic vanilla soft serve sundae with peanut butter sauce.
Northside Creamery is open daily from 2-9 p.m. and can be found on Facebook.
Classic Burgers
1261 Westfield St.,
West Springfield
Classic Burgers in West Springfield is known for its 50’s style decor with classic cars serving as booth seating, 50’s era music playing over the speaker and vintage decor adorning the walls. What some may not know, however, is that the establishment makes their own hard ice cream that offers a variety of unique flavors. Such flavors include cookie monster, luck of the irish, orange pineapple, blueberry cheesecake and milky way. While there are some flavors are offered regularly, there are some flavors that may be offered on a rotating basis.
In addition to handmade hard ice cream, the restaurant also offers several flavors of soft-serve, sundaes, shakes and ice cream cakes. The sizes are generous ensuring that customers get their money’s worth!
Of course while customers stop in for ice cream they can also stay for burgers, hot dogs, fries, soups, onion rings, beer and salads. A full menu, hours and other information can be found online at https://www.classicburgers.net or on the Classic Burgers Facebook page.
Smokin’ Scoops
1425 Westfield St,
West Springfield
If you’re looking for an ice cream experience like no other, Smokin’ Scoops is where it’s at. Located in West Springfield, Smokin’ Scoops recently became the first liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour in Western Mass. The liquid nitrogen makes for richer, denser, and creamier ice cream.
Their nitro ice cream options include creme de cacao, the crazy cow, coffee, russian honey, matcha green tea (vegan option), blueberry and strawberry (both organic), and the most popular one: cannoli.
The cannoli is vanilla based, blended with chocolate chips, and topped off with cannoli pieces and burnt marshmallow. When tasting this delicious treat, the milky ice cream will first draw you in, followed by the lasting sweetness of the cannoli topping and warm, waffle-like bubble cone.
Additional toppings include house made caramel, nutella and english toffee. Ice cream comes in one, two, or three scoops, either in a bubble cone or by itself.
Smokin’ Scoops received their alcohol license and in the future, they are hoping to make alcohol infused ice cream.
Currently, Smokin’ Scoops is still buttoning up some loose ends as they plan for their grand opening by the end of July. The ice cream parlour is set to be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. In the meantime, their days/hours of operation can be found on Smokin’ Scoops Facebook page.
Gooseberry Farms
201 Gooseberry Rd,
West Springfield
Tucked away next to a luminous greenhouse, Gooseberry Farms in West Springfield has it all. Their colorful, large-scaled menu forces your eyes to visit all their options. At the very top, “Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream” draws you in, with options such as fly fishing fudge, a vanilla base with cookie dough, m&ms, chocolate chips, and fudge swirl; muddy boots, vanilla with caramel swirl and brownie pieces; and of course, moose tracks, a vanilla base with fudge swirl and peanut butter cups.
For yogurt and sherbert options, Gooseberry Farms offers black raspberry chocolate chip yogurt, chocolate peanut butter cup yogurt, and rainbow sherbert. Soft serve comes in chocolate, vanilla, or twist. For both the hard ice creams and soft serve, sizes come in kiddies, one scoop, two scoop, three scoop, or a waffle cone. Prices are relatively fair, ranging from $3.15 up to $5.65, based on the numbers of scoops.
In addition to the standard ice creams, customers may get a milkshake, sundae or float - all available with either soft or hard ice cream. Toppings include crushed butterfingers, snickers, mini gummy bears, and countless others yummy candies.
Gooseberry Farms is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. For more information, visit Gooseberry Farms’ official Facebook page.
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