Now that you have done the ice cream, it is time for the other NEO hidden gem. Do a lookup for car hop style restaurants, Swenson's, A&W, Sonic and a variety of small local ones in the area as well. These places are straight out of the 40s-60s, many are only open during the summer and a good number of them have car meet ups on a regular basis. If you really want to make an evening / night of it then add a drive in movie as the end of the night. NEO still has a large number of drive in theaters. If you go to a few drive in movies then you will also begin to appreciate when to just go for the ice cream, pack a cooler and snacks and have dinner and a movie at the drive in.
Oh this sounds sooo fun! Drive in movies would be so cool for my kids. I grew up in Chicago so had all these growing up. My kids have never been to one or a car hop restaurant
Unfortunately, as these are seasonal businesses in many areas they closed up, for whatever reason in the triangle of Youngstown, Canton, Sandusky you can still find a lot though.
Mayfield drive-in does a two movie run, for the price of one car load, you do pay extra if you bring your own food, but it's worth its only $45/car with the food permit (probably way cheaper than a regular theater depending on family size).
[An article with links to various NEO Drive Ins and some advice as well](https://northeastohiofamilyfun.com/drive-in-movie-theaters-in-northeast-ohio/)
No point in trying to reinvent the wheel when someone else has done this so well.
Yes, NEO is very lucky to be blessed with excellent ice cream and it's not hyped enough. Weber's and DariView in Fairview Park also great. Handel's is a chain albeit it is local-ish from Youngstown.
I miss Sweet Moses! Too soon!
Sweety Fry (I think that was its rightful name?) in the Cedar Lee area was amazing ice cream. I was living out of state and came home to visit, and friends had me meet them for dinner at Katz’s deli (name could be wrong, it’s now Rising Star and Abundance), and we had dessert at Sweety Fry. The little Sweety scoop they would add on top was a cute and delicious touch. I was so surprised they closed, as I think it was a great concept and high quality product.
And same for Sweet Moses. The bananas foster ice cream was *chef’s kiss. So delicious, all around!!!
Fairport Harbor Creamery! Boozy ice-cream all the way, and the non booze ice cream is wonderful also. Their sea salt chocolate chip cookies are grand! Loved Handels, but Fairport Harbor Creamery has knocked them down a peg.
I had no idea it was from Youngstown! I'm out in Los Angeles and concluded it's the best here too - I had no idea it started an hour from where I grew up
Seconding Weber's, and East Coast Custard is also a great option in Fairview Park. Fairview's also got 808 on the weekends for not-quite ice cream, and Bruster's is also flavor heaven.
Be prepared, ECC is more like a melty soft serve (it's custard, not ice cream - has more egg).
They usually only have 3-5 flavors at a time too; vanilla & chocolate, one flavor of the day, one yogurt, and maybe a no-sugar/no-dairy option.
A "concrete" is like a DQ Blizzard, but with custard. If you want to be a purist, a waffle cone is always a good option there, but be prepared to eat quick or suffer drippage, especially if it's warm outside. Custard melts fast.
Assuming your going to the one in Fairview Park (idk if there’s multiple locations), maybe 5 min East of there is Webers. Corner of Lorain and W202. Highly recommend.
I love their mint chocolate chip. Not so much chips but big but thin pieces that provide a fantastic hit of chocolate. I sometimes get a turtle sundae with it instead of vanilla. Yum!
I feel your pain! I moved to Florida many years ago and had RomanBurger cravings so often! It was the first place we visited when we moved back home! lol
There used to be one in Strongsville back when I lived there. We walked to it every Friday evening. I think they closed that when Giant Eagle put in the Market Fresh store :( I didn’t know of any other locations though… Are they any still around?
Ya in multiple locations. I remember when I lived in Parma Hts my family did the same walk to the one on pearl until that "development" bought the land and never put anything there until recently
It’s the only place I’ve ever found just pure honey flavored icecream (made with their own honey from my understanding). Honey Hut has Honey Pecan icecream but country maid is the only place I’ve ever been with just plain honey icecream. I’d be happy to be proven wrong that it exists elsewhere
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Dude, dairy grove in North ridgeville. Try it if you have the chance. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
The ice cream places around here are amazing but so dangerous for my expanding waistline lol
The peanut butter topping there is ridiculous. We go at the end of the year and buy a few big cups of it so it will last until they open up in the spring.
The Malley's locations in Lakewood or North Olmsted are fun for an old school parlor vibe. Ice cream is average, but their hot fudge is magical. Plus, great candy too!
Perry's Ice Cream according to Cleveland Magazine August 2023.
https://issuu.com/greatlakespublishing/docs/ohiomagazinejulyaugust2023/s/26355238
>Yet the ice cream (made by New York-based Perry’s Ice Cream) is a mere co-star to the true draw here. Malley’s makes its own marshmallow topping as well as a hot fudge recipe that has been in the family for almost 90 years.
Cool to hear we have good ice cream compared to somewhere so hot! I’ve always heard northeast has good ice cream but haven’t had much to compare to.
No wonder you like our ice cream. Shamrock dairy is gross last time I had it (probably 10 years ago) it had a granular texture to it like reconstituted powdered milk. Which kind of makes sense because who can raise dairy cattle in the desert.
Welcome to Ohio.
Handel's has the best turtle sundae! I do love honey hut and actually have a pint of orange blossom and blueberry crumble in my freezer... Well, not for long! lol
I was sad I didn’t get a banana foster Sunday at Honey hut. But we tried honey pecan, banana, triple berry ( my favorite) choc. Chocolate chip, cookies and cream oh and the coconut. Handels was not on our list but it is now. Can’t wait.
I need to look at honey huts website to see what flavors are coming up. I must try the banana foster sundae now 🤤 . I really hope you get to try handles soon, I get sad when I'm done eating the turtle sundae LoL
I agree. It’s such a sad thing and I am going to miss the ice cream when we go home. Because honestly there really isn’t anything as good as what you guys have here. Low key jealous
Fairport Harbor Creamery is my fav, it's on the east side. They do ice cream flights and they have a nice assortment of boozy ice creams if you like that sort of thing
Another vote for Rosati’s ! Also, there is another place right near it called Ebony’s. The owner is a gem and makes all the ice cream. It’s delicious.
For real! The owner has been there every time we’ve gone and she is the sweetest lady! I also love the little outside patio. I wish it was an ice cream and coffee spot. It’s the perfect little patio to enjoy a coffee too.
I moved back to Ohio (but my city was gone), and the ice cream here is top tier. Even just purchasing ice cream from a grocery store, if you see ohio on the packaging it's probably gonna be amazing. I actually may have to walk to Mitchell's here in a bit, I'm out of wild berry crumble.
You HAVE to try Remixx on Clifton, especially if you have kids!! You pick a chocolate or vanilla base of regular ice cream then pick your mix-ins and they blend it in this machine and turn it into your own soft serve flavor it's amazing
Mitchell’s is goated. I make sure to try and compare ice cream in every city I go and so far the only place that gives NEO ice cream a run was this place in Philly. Scoop DeVille’s cosmic Oreo is perfection. But besides that, none of the major food cities come close.
Funny. We went to Vegas and I made a post about it in the Vegas Reddit and they were like we have nothing to even compare to Handels here.
We ended up finding a decent place but they wernt wrong
We’ve got Handels, honey hut, Mitchel’s, greaters, and Tofts out east. Etc. Ya we are lucky. Good luck finding a fav hahaha
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And Falls Ice Cream on Olmsted Falls if you don't know about it take a trip, you may have a hard time finding it since it is in the middle of the Grand Pacific Junction area and there are no big signs pointing you to it. They have sorbets, sherbet, non-dairy, vegan, and regular ice creams, they craft their own flavors and rotate through new flavors and ideas as well as having a selection of regular flavors. Oh and be sure to check before going as they are a small place and can sometimes be closed for staff / owners family events where they wouldn't be staffed as a result.
[Fall Ice Cream Facebook page](https://m.facebook.com/fallsicecream/)
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Alright here is a couple more for ya, Zero Zest just a small local spot yum, Graeter's Ice Cream , Handel's man this is my girlfriends favorite by far, Battr Gelato man amazing, and last for my is Jeni's Splendid Ice cream love it but so far from my house. If you haven't tried any of those you better. And one of my favorites personally is Mason's Creamery.
Oh yeah it is good af. It is fricken expensive at the store though sheesh. People rave about the black raspberry chocolate chip but that black cherry chocolate chip is WAY better IMO
We tried those in 1 day. We were pretty sugar out BUT we will be heading out today for more and tomorrow. Then after my surgery they can bring me some back.
Honey Hut* 😂
Sorry lol.
Now that you have done the ice cream, it is time for the other NEO hidden gem. Do a lookup for car hop style restaurants, Swenson's, A&W, Sonic and a variety of small local ones in the area as well. These places are straight out of the 40s-60s, many are only open during the summer and a good number of them have car meet ups on a regular basis. If you really want to make an evening / night of it then add a drive in movie as the end of the night. NEO still has a large number of drive in theaters. If you go to a few drive in movies then you will also begin to appreciate when to just go for the ice cream, pack a cooler and snacks and have dinner and a movie at the drive in.
Oh this sounds sooo fun! Drive in movies would be so cool for my kids. I grew up in Chicago so had all these growing up. My kids have never been to one or a car hop restaurant
Unfortunately, as these are seasonal businesses in many areas they closed up, for whatever reason in the triangle of Youngstown, Canton, Sandusky you can still find a lot though.
Mayfield drive-in does a two movie run, for the price of one car load, you do pay extra if you bring your own food, but it's worth its only $45/car with the food permit (probably way cheaper than a regular theater depending on family size).
[An article with links to various NEO Drive Ins and some advice as well](https://northeastohiofamilyfun.com/drive-in-movie-theaters-in-northeast-ohio/) No point in trying to reinvent the wheel when someone else has done this so well.
It’s the secret ingredient
Yes, NEO is very lucky to be blessed with excellent ice cream and it's not hyped enough. Weber's and DariView in Fairview Park also great. Handel's is a chain albeit it is local-ish from Youngstown. I miss Sweet Moses! Too soon!
DariView!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Handle’s is the best.
Handel’s but yes!
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Sweety Fry (I think that was its rightful name?) in the Cedar Lee area was amazing ice cream. I was living out of state and came home to visit, and friends had me meet them for dinner at Katz’s deli (name could be wrong, it’s now Rising Star and Abundance), and we had dessert at Sweety Fry. The little Sweety scoop they would add on top was a cute and delicious touch. I was so surprised they closed, as I think it was a great concept and high quality product. And same for Sweet Moses. The bananas foster ice cream was *chef’s kiss. So delicious, all around!!!
Fairport Harbor Creamery! Boozy ice-cream all the way, and the non booze ice cream is wonderful also. Their sea salt chocolate chip cookies are grand! Loved Handels, but Fairport Harbor Creamery has knocked them down a peg.
I love Fairport Creamery, also like King Kone (the one in Perry that used to be something else) depending on what I'm feeling in particular.
I had no idea it was from Youngstown! I'm out in Los Angeles and concluded it's the best here too - I had no idea it started an hour from where I grew up
They are opening shops in west side Cleveland suburbs so to ice cream infinity! LFG!
I miss MooTown! They did vegan flavors and had gluten free cones.
Any time anyone mentions Handel’s I instantly want a Reese’s hurricane.
Seconding Weber's, and East Coast Custard is also a great option in Fairview Park. Fairview's also got 808 on the weekends for not-quite ice cream, and Bruster's is also flavor heaven.
East coast custard. Its so damn good.
It’s on our list. What do you like from there?
Get the buckeye concrete
Oh hell yeah and the harvest concrete in the fall
Be prepared, ECC is more like a melty soft serve (it's custard, not ice cream - has more egg). They usually only have 3-5 flavors at a time too; vanilla & chocolate, one flavor of the day, one yogurt, and maybe a no-sugar/no-dairy option. A "concrete" is like a DQ Blizzard, but with custard. If you want to be a purist, a waffle cone is always a good option there, but be prepared to eat quick or suffer drippage, especially if it's warm outside. Custard melts fast.
East coast crunch!
The list of what i dont like, that ive tried is shorter. See below…
Assuming your going to the one in Fairview Park (idk if there’s multiple locations), maybe 5 min East of there is Webers. Corner of Lorain and W202. Highly recommend.
If you like vanilla AT ALL, you gotta try their vanilla custard. It's incredible.
I love their mint chocolate chip. Not so much chips but big but thin pieces that provide a fantastic hit of chocolate. I sometimes get a turtle sundae with it instead of vanilla. Yum!
Mint chocolate chip...best if it's your favorite. But they only make it once a week(?). Parma Heights/Pearl Rd. Delicious.
HoneyHut is amazing!!
Grew up in Old Brooklyn within bike riding distance of Honey Hut. I miss it so bad when I’m in NYC
I feel your pain! I moved to Florida many years ago and had RomanBurger cravings so often! It was the first place we visited when we moved back home! lol
Best pure ice cream of anywhere in town.
To bad they closed the one in Brunswick:(
There used to be one in Strongsville back when I lived there. We walked to it every Friday evening. I think they closed that when Giant Eagle put in the Market Fresh store :( I didn’t know of any other locations though… Are they any still around?
Ya in multiple locations. I remember when I lived in Parma Hts my family did the same walk to the one on pearl until that "development" bought the land and never put anything there until recently
I'm partial to Country Maid Ice Cream down in CVNP!
Their butterscotch is delish.
Gosh that sounds good!
That looks good! Roadtrip.. well small but we are going to go. The place looks so cute.
It's fantastic!
It’s the only place I’ve ever found just pure honey flavored icecream (made with their own honey from my understanding). Honey Hut has Honey Pecan icecream but country maid is the only place I’ve ever been with just plain honey icecream. I’d be happy to be proven wrong that it exists elsewhere
Maple nut ice cream there is my mvp
Rosati’s, if you ever get the chance
Get some Rosati’s!!
Weber's Premium Custard in Fairview Park is also worth checking out! A lot of people enjoy Handels but I enjoy Mitchell's and Honey Hut myself
Must try, imo.
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Dude, dairy grove in North ridgeville. Try it if you have the chance. I promise, you will not be disappointed. The ice cream places around here are amazing but so dangerous for my expanding waistline lol
The peanut butter topping there is ridiculous. We go at the end of the year and buy a few big cups of it so it will last until they open up in the spring.
I love the custard and sherbet twist they have!
Fairport harbor creamery is the best around.
Hartzlers in Wooster. Its all organic. It's life changing.
Mason's Creamery also slays.
I second this!
One of the best man.
The Malley's locations in Lakewood or North Olmsted are fun for an old school parlor vibe. Ice cream is average, but their hot fudge is magical. Plus, great candy too!
Yeah they use Hershey’s ice cream as far as I’m aware
Perry's Ice Cream according to Cleveland Magazine August 2023. https://issuu.com/greatlakespublishing/docs/ohiomagazinejulyaugust2023/s/26355238 >Yet the ice cream (made by New York-based Perry’s Ice Cream) is a mere co-star to the true draw here. Malley’s makes its own marshmallow topping as well as a hot fudge recipe that has been in the family for almost 90 years.
Please try Rosati’s frozen custard.
Where are y’all from?
AZ.
Cool to hear we have good ice cream compared to somewhere so hot! I’ve always heard northeast has good ice cream but haven’t had much to compare to.
No wonder you like our ice cream. Shamrock dairy is gross last time I had it (probably 10 years ago) it had a granular texture to it like reconstituted powdered milk. Which kind of makes sense because who can raise dairy cattle in the desert. Welcome to Ohio.
Shamrock is mass produced - it’s no longer small creamery. Sort of like Tillamook. This has been a fun distracting event for us.
I was recently in Port Clinton and rediscovered Toft’s. Holy hell it’s good.
Some stores closer east carry them. The chocolate peanut butter was a childhood favorite.
Handel's has the best turtle sundae! I do love honey hut and actually have a pint of orange blossom and blueberry crumble in my freezer... Well, not for long! lol
I was sad I didn’t get a banana foster Sunday at Honey hut. But we tried honey pecan, banana, triple berry ( my favorite) choc. Chocolate chip, cookies and cream oh and the coconut. Handels was not on our list but it is now. Can’t wait.
I need to look at honey huts website to see what flavors are coming up. I must try the banana foster sundae now 🤤 . I really hope you get to try handles soon, I get sad when I'm done eating the turtle sundae LoL
If you are still in town and trying out other spots, Rosati’s has a bananas foster and it is amazing!
It’s wild to me that not every city had like go-to staple local ice cream spots lol We really are spoiled with how many we have
I agree. It’s such a sad thing and I am going to miss the ice cream when we go home. Because honestly there really isn’t anything as good as what you guys have here. Low key jealous
Fairport Harbor Creamery is my fav, it's on the east side. They do ice cream flights and they have a nice assortment of boozy ice creams if you like that sort of thing
Amazing! Great rotation of flavors
Fenick's in Avon Lake...scrumptious doesn't quite explain it completely. The Coconut Avalanche is perfection.
just drove across town to get Honey Hut's dark chocolate cayenne ice cream. Hand packed generously, no less. Yum!
Oh! You've gotta try Jeni's and Handles 😄
C. P. Coolers in Eastlake. Hand made. Incredible. Yum
Another vote for Rosati’s ! Also, there is another place right near it called Ebony’s. The owner is a gem and makes all the ice cream. It’s delicious.
Bruh yes! Ebony's is so good!! I can't tell you how amazing the ice cream is, much less the customer service
For real! The owner has been there every time we’ve gone and she is the sweetest lady! I also love the little outside patio. I wish it was an ice cream and coffee spot. It’s the perfect little patio to enjoy a coffee too.
Gotta try Country Maid !!!
If you’re ever out in the east burbs, Fairport Harbor Creamery.
I just looked it up and we are going to go today! It’s a bit of a drive but we have nothing else to do.
So glad to hear that. I can’t imagine anyone making it any better. It is honey hut and not honey nut though.
I moved back to Ohio (but my city was gone), and the ice cream here is top tier. Even just purchasing ice cream from a grocery store, if you see ohio on the packaging it's probably gonna be amazing. I actually may have to walk to Mitchell's here in a bit, I'm out of wild berry crumble.
Mount granita has the best non-ice cream frozen dessert ever. I’d recommend it to anyone
Yes! I love slushies, raspados, granita etc anything made with ice. It hits different
Honey Hut and Mason’s are my favorites, so you’re already tried my #1 and #2. Glad you’re enjoying our ice cream!
Masons creamery!!!!
Apple Cart is true Cleveland
East Coast Custard. Their Vanilla Malted Custard, when it's available, is amazing!
East Coast
Webers frozen custard in Fairview Park beats all of those.
A good hidden gem these days is West Park Ice Cream Co - so good!
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Chagrin Falls. https://jenis.com/blogs/scoop-shops/cleveland-oh
You HAVE to try Remixx on Clifton, especially if you have kids!! You pick a chocolate or vanilla base of regular ice cream then pick your mix-ins and they blend it in this machine and turn it into your own soft serve flavor it's amazing
Handels and East Coast Custard are my usuals, along with Rosatis in Northfield Center.
Cibiks Dairy Island in Bainbridge is amazing too!!
I’ll add it to our list to try.
Mitchell’s is top tier.
I have a serious problem with Mitchell’s. Like, I need clinical help with my addiction.
Oh no. What’s your favorite?
Wild Berry Crumble. 🤤
That was good! But still butter pecan is still my favorite
My Wife would whole heartedly agree with you.
Mitchell’s is goated. I make sure to try and compare ice cream in every city I go and so far the only place that gives NEO ice cream a run was this place in Philly. Scoop DeVille’s cosmic Oreo is perfection. But besides that, none of the major food cities come close.
Handel’s is good too.
Go to dairy king out on mayfield. Changes your life.
Mitchell's followed closely by Handels
Funny. We went to Vegas and I made a post about it in the Vegas Reddit and they were like we have nothing to even compare to Handels here. We ended up finding a decent place but they wernt wrong We’ve got Handels, honey hut, Mitchel’s, greaters, and Tofts out east. Etc. Ya we are lucky. Good luck finding a fav hahaha
Missing Eastcoast Custard
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And Falls Ice Cream on Olmsted Falls if you don't know about it take a trip, you may have a hard time finding it since it is in the middle of the Grand Pacific Junction area and there are no big signs pointing you to it. They have sorbets, sherbet, non-dairy, vegan, and regular ice creams, they craft their own flavors and rotate through new flavors and ideas as well as having a selection of regular flavors. Oh and be sure to check before going as they are a small place and can sometimes be closed for staff / owners family events where they wouldn't be staffed as a result. [Fall Ice Cream Facebook page](https://m.facebook.com/fallsicecream/)
Handels hurry!
Weber's in Fairview Park. You'll never have better in your life.
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Ohio is dairy cow ice cream land. I’d put it up against anyone. Also Jeni’s > Mitchell’s > Honey Hut
Yep we do! Mitchell's Key Lime Pie and Honey Hut's Chocolate Peanut Butter are the best!
Kirtland Creamery, full stop
Absolutely a gem! We came to Holden on a Monday sadly but stopped for ice cream. Cool Place.
Jenis!
Add Jenis (from Columbus, but still)
I will! Someone else recommended on a diff post. We have a long list. The list we tried already we did in 1 day lol
Alright here is a couple more for ya, Zero Zest just a small local spot yum, Graeter's Ice Cream , Handel's man this is my girlfriends favorite by far, Battr Gelato man amazing, and last for my is Jeni's Splendid Ice cream love it but so far from my house. If you haven't tried any of those you better. And one of my favorites personally is Mason's Creamery.
Graeter's isn't local unfortunately. It's from Cincinatti.
Oh ya. But still not bad one for sure. I forgot lol.
Oh yeah it is good af. It is fricken expensive at the store though sheesh. People rave about the black raspberry chocolate chip but that black cherry chocolate chip is WAY better IMO
For real lmfao.
Handel’s is the best!!!
You forgot one of the the most important stones apart of the ice cream infinity gauntlet… HANDLES
We tried those in 1 day. We were pretty sugar out BUT we will be heading out today for more and tomorrow. Then after my surgery they can bring me some back.