New ice cream shops and favorites in Hampton Roads for National Ice Cream Day and beyond
By Rekaya Gibson, The Virginian-Pilot,
2024-07-17
A flight of ice cream from Sundae Scoop in Virginia Beach. From left, salted caramel buttered pecan, strawberry caramel pecan, pistachio and lavender blueberry. As seen Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot/TNS
Baby, it’s hot outside. Stay cool and hydrated with our pick of ice cream shops to visit. The list isn’t exhaustive but worth a drive in the heat for a chill Sunday, National Ice Cream Day. Check websites and social media pages for updates, though.
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Chesapeake
Bergey’s Breadbasket , a family-owned deli and creamery, makes its own ice cream and milkshakes. Flavors vary each day, but the black raspberry is one of my favorites. Indulge in a flight of four treats or take home a pint or quart.
I Scream U Scream opened a few days ago on Big Bethel in the former Dairy Queen location. It features 24 flavors of Hershey’s ice cream, including pistachio, butter pecan and strawberry. Customers can choose from 13 toppings. The place, owned by Randy Bowman of Bowman’s Soul-N-The Wall, also sells Nathan’s hot dogs. Vegan and turkey dogs are also available.
924 Big Bethel Road.
Sommer Freeze continues to scoop up Blue Bell ice cream after two years in business. Bride’s Cake is a go-to of mine. It’s made with almond ice cream, white cake pieces and an amaretto cream cheese icing swirl. Can’t go wrong with their soft-serve vanilla, either.
Word on the street: Cone Slingers is wanted for the best ice cream in the county. It has a Six Shooter Skink Coffee (coffee ice cream with almond and toffee bits), Cowboy Cookie Dough (Oreo ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough), Chuckwagon Chocolate (chocolate ice cream) and many others. Ride out with your partners for a house-made treat.
Try more than 15 ice cream flavors at The Hilton Creamery, such as the Brown Butter Bourbon Truffle (salty caramel sauce, brown butter ice cream and brown butter bourbon truffles) and Graham Central Station (graham-flavored ice cream with a crunchy graham cracker swirl and chocolate-covered honeycomb candies) — my loves. Create an ice cream sandwich or add the creamery’s newest topping: chocolate hard shell.
Michoacan A Pedir De Boca Ice Cream Shop , a chain, doesn’t have much of an online presence but comes highly recommended by local foodies. It serves not only mouthwatering ice cream but also paletas (ice pops made with fresh fruit) and other Mexican drinks (mangonada) and snacks (churros).
14333 Warwick Blvd. 757-814-4500.
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Norfolk
Can’t talk about frozen treats without mentioning Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue , home of the original waffle cone. It opened in 1934. Pull up and order dessert (banana splits, ice cream floats and hot fudge sundaes), barbecue and fries, either carside or inside. It’s a perfect place for a casual date night.
Inside Scoop Cereal Treats & More recently opened at Colonial Avenue and 29th Street with more than 15 ice cream flavors. Get a cereal-infused milkshake such as Frosted Flake and Fruity Pebbles. Dine in or take it to go.
Paradice had a grand opening for its brick-and-mortar in May. It started as a food truck. The spot serves shaved and Italian ice, ice cream, and milkshakes seven days a week.
Mad Batter Confections & Cones sells goodies including cookies, cupcakes and freeze-dried candy. It also dishes up a banana split parfait and the Cookies & Cream Sky High, with layers of cookies and cream and chocolate ice cream topped with hot fudge and Oreo cookies. Sounds scrumptious.
Enjoy Ice Cream at the Toano Flower Field in the historic Wilkinson House on Richmond Road. It offers strawberry, chocolate, old-fashioned vanilla and other familiars. Customers can pick flowers from the field to take home or take in the sights from the patio.
Gelati Celesti Ice Cream is having a “Midnight Madness” party from 12:01 a.m. to 1 a.m. to celebrate National Ice Cream Day. Everyone gets a free scoop. Patrons also can win prizes during normal business hours. Let the good times roll and the handmade ice cream flow.
754 First Colonial Road. 757-937-0471; 4485 Virginia Beach Blvd. 757-394-8668. Also Chesapeake, 613 Volvo Parkway. 757-410-0315; gelatiicecream.com
Lolly’s Creamery keeps it creative with monthlong flavors and limited releases. Recently, it shared Sarah’s Wedding Cake on social media. It included almond ice cream with strawberry jam and almond wedding cake pieces. Oh my. Don’t worry, all locations always have the classics, such as real deal vanilla, mint chocolate chip and cookie monster (cookies and cream with chocolate chip cookie dough).
414 Virginia Beach Blvd. 757-330-1490; 4000 Virginia Beach Blvd. 757-330-1490. Also Norfolk, 5109 Colley Ave. 757-330-1490; lollyscreamery.com
Head to Sundae Scoop for the salted caramel butter pecan. My past description : A buttery sensation with pecan pieces, ribbons of caramel and a touch of salt in each bite. Daily flavors range from ube to birthday cake to banana pudding. Can’t decide? Choose four and create a flight.
Treat your kids to SuperHeroes Ice Cream . It was inspired by 4-year-old Brantley , the son of owners Coleman and Amberly Ferguson. The parlor has more than 20 ice creams, including Hulk’s Underwear (mint chocolate Oreo). Dine in, take out or book a party.
The SnoBall Shop features more than 60 classic and fun flavors, including cantaloupe, mojito and pink bubble gum. Get the SnoShake and thank me later. This delicious creation includes two flavors, special cream, and flavored drizzle and whip. The idea of getting shaved ice makes me feel cool.
Head to The Swirl, owned by Anna Fiorello, whose husband is the proprietor of Antonio’s Ristorante Italiano next door. It offers more than 10 gelato flavors imported from Italy; I’m a fan of its pistachio. The takeout spot also has soft-serve ice cream and desserts including cakes, cannoli and cookies.
Pelican’s SnoBalls is a franchise with locations throughout Hampton Roads. It sells New Orleans-style shaved ice with more than 100 flavors, including banana, root beer and egg custard. This stand also has hand-dipped ice cream. The season ends in October; get it while you can.
5519 George Washington Memorial Highway. 757-598-2135 . Also Chesapeake, 1124 N. George Washington Highway. 757-774-6707; Newport News, 11075 Warwick Blvd. 757-870-3420; Suffolk, 2332 Pruden Blvd. 757-774-6707; bit.ly/PelicanSnoBallVA
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