rev:text
| - TLDR; Ice cream itself okay; but sundaes, pairings, service and overall aesthetic make a visit to this scoop shop recommended.
Be warned the pints of ice cream here are insanely expensive. Expensive as in you wonder if they must have managed to sneak caviar in there somewhere. So, if you're staring down those adorable hand-marked pints of Jeni's ice cream in your nearest Whole Foods, keep on marching by, folks! The quality does not rise to the level of Haagen-Dazs, no matter how many 'happy cows and local farmers' shout-outs you want to make.
As an ice cream snob (I could make your eyes roll with overlong speeches about butterfat ratios and overrun), the ice cream itself here is only okay. The mix can veer a bit icy and flaky, and many scoops melt unevenly, due to poor freezing measures, unbalanced mix-ins or other reasons. Also, most flavors barely miss the perfectly melting tongue coating mouthfeel of the best ice creams. The flavors are often odd, and change often, which means sometimes they hit it very right (like the goat cheese Ice cream with cherries) and sometimes they hit it very wrong (like a very odd medicinal lavender flavor once).
BUT if you're in Chagrin Falls, I would highly encourage a visit to this scoop shop. It does a nice job of transcending the quibbles I have with the ice cream quality by providing a charming overall package.
This shop is special. The seasonal sundaes they can make here are divine. Nothing screams summer more than getting a strawberry shortcake sundae with house made strawberry sauce and fresh whipped cream here, and then taking a walk along the park and falls right next to the shop. The location could not be more picturesque. Jeni may not be the best ice cream maker, but she is a very very savvy business woman with her marketing, store design and location. The staff is young and chirpy and exactly the type of people you want selling you ice cream. They graciously let you try many flavors and deliberate for long enough five ice cream cones would melt in the interim. The place is always hopping. The store itself is light, airy and clean looking. The fresh waffle cones each day are spot on.
|