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| - I first came to Dave and Andy's 9 years ago, during a visit to my cousin, who attended Carnegie Mellon. Being 13 years old at the time, the opportunity for eating of ice cream in a waffle cone with an M&M on the bottom sounded too good to pass up. Maybe my taste buds were too easy to appease back then, but I can still remember how happy I was when I took that first bite. Unfortunately, I don't think I can currently praise the dessert the same way. I've been to this parlor around four times in the past two years and have only had good ice cream in two of the visits. The other two times left me questioning if Dave and Andy's was overhyped.
I judge ice cream based on three qualities: creaminess, flavor, and texture. While a scoop here excelled in creaminess and flavor, I found the texture to be lackluster. The ice cream was sometimes very icy and produced a crunchy texture that was not pleasant. Maybe it was because I usually came later at night, when the ice cream was not as fresh as it was in evening, but for an establishment that specializes in ice cream, the quality should have stayed the same regardless of the time of day. In the other half of my visits, the ice cream was smooth and was not ruined by the ice crystals; it was genuinely delicious and should be the standard of what this place should offer.
Ice cream aside, there were many aspects of the business that I did enjoy. The staff were very friendly and warmly answered any questions I had on the variety of flavors that they offered. Free samples were readily given so that you can find the flavor that is right for you.
One of their biggest strengths was the affordability and sizeable portions of each item on the menu. Just one scoop was sufficient to satisfy any ice cream craving.
While there were many positives, my rating is mainly based on the quality of the ice cream.
However, if I could, I would rate this place a 3.5 stars due to the friendly staff and affordability. The parlor has the potential to be one of the best in Pittsburgh, but inconsistencies in the ice cream may prevent Dave and Andy's from reaching that accolade.
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