A&E

Ice cream represents the delectable taste of summer. Sadly, these days, the deliciously frosty treat has become more commercialized and every flavor tends to taste the same. Luckily, there are still a few places serving ice cream with the fresh, natural zest of summer.

EMACK & BOLIO’S

“I personally recommend the grasshopper pie flavor,” said Robin Mendelwager, owner of the Emack & Bolio’s branch on Houston Street, as she deposited a large scoop of the flavor into a sugar cone lined with Rice Krispies. “People usually say ours is the best ice cream they’ve ever tried,” she said. From healthful smoothies, made with acai fruit berry from the Amazon, to the affogato, made with ice cream and espresso, Emack & Bolio’s choices are endless. And with locations all over the city, from Astoria to Greenwich Village, it doesn’t take long to cool down at this ice cream shop.

CHINATOWN ICE CREAM FACTORY

For almost 30 years, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has been serving ice cream made on the premises. The store offers exotic flavors like lychee, avocado and durian (a large southeast Asian fruit that is notorious for its “stinky-feet” smell—yum!). Everyone is likely to discover something new here. “This place is really great,” said middle-schooler Jennifer Tan as she hurriedly ate her cup of green tea ice cream. Various tourists nodded their heads in agreement with Tan, but quickly turned their attention back to their own ice cream cups. Next time you’re in Chinatown, take a break from the souvenir shops and steaming bakeries and try Chinatown Ice Cream Factory’s new wasabi-flavored ice cream.

L & B SPUMONI GARDENS

L&B Spumoni Gardens, located on 86th street in Brooklyn and run by the Barbati family, has been in business since 1939. When asked about what makes people continue to flock to Spumoni Gardens, current owner Louis Barbati said, “It’s the test of time, really.” In addition to ice cream and Italian ices, the restaurant also offers “spumoni,” which is, according to Barbati, “a milk sherbet, sort of between ices and ice cream.” L&B’s classic pistachio spumoni is a creamy blend of ice cream and sorbet— one taste of this and you’ll understand the genius of spumoni. Whatever spumoni is, it certainly seems to bring people from great distances. “I come here all the time,” said Jaina, a Staten Islander, who declined to give her last name. “Everything’s amazing. The people and the food are so great that they make it absolutely worth the trip,” she said.

CONES

Cones opened in 1988, when two Argentine brothers tasted Häagen-Dazs ice cream and thought they could do better. Today, the store is the ice cream central for Greenwich Village locals as well as tourists. James, who declined to give his last name, is a native of Richmond, Indiana. He said, “[Cones has] the best vanilla I’ve ever tasted.” Cones also serves unique flavors like zabaglione, which is based on a traditional Italian egg custard mixed with Marsala, an Italian wine. Since Cones uses three parts milk to one part gelato, the product has a lightness that the desserts of many commercial ice cream companies lack. With fresh whipped cream on hand to top any Cones creation as well as a variety of exceptional sorbets (try the moist and succulent watermelon sorbet), it’s easy to find the refreshing treat you need here at Cones.

AUSTRALIAN HOMEMADE

Australian Homemade, a Netherlands-based franchise that arrived in New York City only three years ago, has quickly risen in popularity. Australian Homemade uses only natural flavors and real fruit, so that every ice cream treat is light and creamy. They use an Australian recipe for their ice cream—hence the name—and a secret ingredient to achieve unparalleled smoothness in their creations. The mint, vanilla custard and lemon ice cream flavors here are especially delicious. Cindy Nazaria, an ice cream server at Australian Homemade, said, “There’s a lot of restaurants around here, and [Australian Homemade] really makes for a nice place to sit down and have a great dessert.

Emack & Bolio’s
73 W. Houston Street,
Manhattan
(212) 533-5610

Australian Homemade
115 Saint Mark’s Place,
Manhattan
(212) 228-5439