Remarkable ice cream in Brooklyn?

September 16, 2007 6:54 PM

I'm looking for really good ice cream in Brooklyn, NY. I'd be willing to cross the river for something extraordinary, but I'd like to focus on what's available in Brooklyn proper. Personal experience and recommendations are what I'm looking for, rather than a laundry list of places to try.

I'm aware of--but haven't eaten at--The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. I have eaten at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and Ciao Bella Gelato in Manhattan.

I'm used to excellent ice cream here in the Boston area (Christina's, JP Licks, Toscanini's, Rancatore's) and am looking for something along those lines (made on premises, low overrun, inventive flavors, hand-packed pints). Thanks!

posted by cocoagirl to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

Best answer: The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is quite good, though their offering of flavors isn't terribly inventive.
posted by dhammond at 7:03 PM on September 16, 2007

Good luck! Most would say that Boston is way more of an ice cream town than NYC. In fact, NYC seems more like a frozen yogurt/gelato town, these days.

However, Ronnybrook Farms just opened up a shop inside Chelsea Market. That would be the first place I'd try.

If you're willing to eat frozen yogurt go to the cafe in either Bloomingdales. And for gelato, Il Laboratorio de Gelato (LES location and also one inside Bowery Whole Foods). Or Otto's olive oil gelato.
posted by kathryn at 7:09 PM on September 16, 2007

Best answer: 5 Boroughs Ice Cream is great, though you can only get it in certain grocery stores.
posted by hooray at 7:10 PM on September 16, 2007

Seconding Il Laboratorio del Gelato (95 Orchard St., nr. Broome, 212-343-9922). If you have to come into the City, as least it's an easy train ride (B/D-Grand St; F-Delancey; J/M/Z-Bowery).
posted by rob511 at 7:15 PM on September 16, 2007

Best answer: The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is pretty great. Traditional flavors, but the quality kicks the ass of Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. If you're into it, I'd get a cup of butter pecan with the hot fudge. Aww yeah. Also, maybe check out the root beer floats. The price is steep, but you get a pint of ice cream in there.
posted by zackola at 7:52 PM on September 16, 2007

Full disclosure: self link. Ice Cream New York.
posted by Soliloquy at 7:58 PM on September 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

If we're ignoring the Brooklyn restriction: Cones.
posted by Remy at 8:09 PM on September 16, 2007

Emphatically seconding Cones.
posted by doift at 8:13 PM on September 16, 2007

Uncle Louie's has my favorite ice cream flavor ever - Grape Nuts.
posted by skwm at 8:25 PM on September 16, 2007

Next time you're in Greenwich Village, get a scoop of olive oil gelato and a scoop of ricotta gelato at Otto. Although my daughters would steer you toward the concord grape sorbet, but they're philistines.

Otherwise, I only know about Bay Area ice cream.
posted by padraigin at 9:01 PM on September 16, 2007

Oh, and I forgot to mention the Shake Shack for their delicious midwestern-style frozen custard.

There is a daily flavor which changes seasonally and can include brown apple betty, salted caramel, mango lassi, blueberry cheesecake, maple walnut, butternut pecan, chai, blackberry, pumpkin spice...
posted by kathryn at 9:03 PM on September 16, 2007

Best answer: In Park Slope, on 7th Av and 3rd St, the restaurant Tempo has just opened an annex called "Tempo Presto." They have excellent homemade gelato in both expected and quite unexpected flavors; the selection rotates. I highly recommend it.
posted by ROTFL at 8:15 AM on September 17, 2007

Screw it, cross the river. Grom on the UWS is now serving some of the best gelato I have ever, ever had. And I lived in Italy. Pricey, but oh so worth it.
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:30 AM on September 17, 2007