The Inside Scoop on a Timeless Treat

Remember when it was a choice of chocolate, vanilla or strawberry? One scoop or two? (Neither do I. We’re way too young for that.) Ice cream has taken on many styles over the years, from hard scoop to soft serve, and even frozen yogurt has come a long way, baby. We are certainly not deprived on the North Shore of any form or flavor of this classic treat.

Who’s Old Fashioned?

Bobtail Ice Cream in Wilmette will take you back to the days of the ice cream parlor, with bobtail-wielding soda jerks and classic soda fountain favorites. They offer 19 “house” made hard ice cream favorites, as well as shakes, floats and sundaes. Bucking nostalgia a bit, they feature “signature sunset,” a merlot ice cream with dark chocolate chips. No ID required, but please eat responsibly.

While Sweet Pea's Ice Cream in Highwood has only been open since 2003, it has all the nostalgia of an episode of Happy Days. While they run classic movies and TV shows, reflecting on a simpler time, customers select from unique ice cream flavors such as The Fat Elvis: a mix of banana ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Decadent is the word, as this is the full-fat real deal, made on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Low fat and low sugar options are available, “you poor dears.” The specialty of the house at Sweet Pea's is the hand-dipped chocolate-covered frozen bananas, and you’ll also find retro delights like egg creams and ice cream phosphates.

Shirl’s Drive-In in Waukegan has been known to have a line out the door in the summer, with folks who are willing to put in their time for some of the best soft-serve ice cream around. You won’t actually get car window service by a waitress in a bubble-gum pink uniform, but diners can enjoy cones, shakes and mix-in concoctions on the outdoor patio or hit the drive thru if they’re in a hurry. And how’s this for a steal…Shirl serves up a teeny- tiny cone for 49 cents for those post dinner evenings when you just need a little sweet treat!

Homer’s is an institution on the North Shore, serving delicious, homemade ice cream since 1935. Known for their “superpremium” decadent creations (their cappuccino chip would bring a Frappuccino addict to tears), they also have a great selection of fat-free, dairy-free sorbets. And, yes, they deliver by Fed-Ex, packed in dry ice. Your sister in San Fran shall not be denied.

Exotic Scoops!

Looking to treat your palate to some exotic flavors? Village Creamy in Skokie offers classic ice cream with a Far-East twist. The owner incorporates his Filipino culture into his creations by using Asian fruits in many of the flavors. And for you athletes out there, replenish your fluids with “cool down sherbet,” made with Gatorade Thirst Quencher. Clearly, there’s a flavor for everyone.

Red Mango frozen yogurt offers with flavors such as green tea, pomegranate and tangomonium (a citrus blend). Their list of mix-ins features everything from mango to dark chocolate to Fruity Pebbles cereal. Without toppings, this yogurt is fat-free and all natural. Yummy and good for you!

Cream on the Cheap

If you have a yearning for a sweet cream fix that won’t break the bank, North Shore Insiders swear by their old favorites, where a cone or a cup is around a buck. McDonalds makes a heck of a nice little sundae that’s usually featured on their dollar menu. Soft serve cones are available for the purists, and are the just the right size to satisfy the tummy and the wallet.

Insiders in Evanston couldn’t live without the “paleteria” carts that frequent the neighborhood playgrounds and sports fields. Frozen bars for about $1.25 come in all varieties of fruit and non-fruit flavors, and the “Horchata” (tastes like arroz con leche) is truly heaven on a stick.

Who could forget an old favorite like Dairy Queen? Know fondly as the DQ, many folks had their first dipped cone here before anyone knew what Magic Shell was. (And just how DOES that work anyway?) Soft serve is the deal here, and their Blizzards set the standard for candy mix-ins. Kid sized cones are just 79 cents and a single dipped is a steal at $1.25. A sundae with all the fixings won’t even cost you 2 bucks. Now that’s a sweet deal.

Bobtail Ice Cream Company
1114 Central Ave., Wilmette
847.251.0174

Dairy Queen
600 Central Avenue, Highland Park
847.926.0544

2770 Dundee Road #113, Northbrook
847.498.2571

3510 Lake Avenue, Wilmette
847.251.8727

Homer’s
1237 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette
847.251.0477

McDonalds (We think you’ve got this one covered.)

Red Mango
809 Davis St, Evanston
847.866.0998

Shirl's Drive In
2132 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan
847.623.8484

Sweet Peas
764 Sheridan Rd., Highwood
847.266.1116

Village Creamery
4558 Oakton St., Skokie
847.982.1720

Laura Folkl

The Inside Scoop on a Timeless Treat

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