Where’s the best ice cream in Berkeley? You tell us

July 21, 2011 9:00 am by Lance Knobel

Ici certainly attracts the crowds. What do you think? Photo: Kukkurovaca on Flickr

When we asked our readers to weigh in on the best pizza in Berkeley last month, we were floored by the reaction. Over 200 comments, 81 Facebook Likes and dozens of tweets showed you were passionate about pizza in Berkeley. Now that the weather is heating up (at last), we wonder what you think about ice cream.

There’s certainly plenty of choice in our city. You might like braving the lines at Ici or Cream, be attracted by the unbeatable prices at John’s, hanker after national favorite Ben and Jerry’s, or run to Solano Avenue startup iScream or College Avenue alternative Tara’s.

Perhaps your tastes tend more to gelato at Naia, Almare or Lush. Or is the best ice cream hiding in a café or restaurant that specializes in something else? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

A note on the “rules” of our wholly unscientific reader survey. We’re interested in ice cream. But worry not, we’ll give you a chance to vent about frozen yogurt or sorbet some other day. We know there are ways to automate the survey so individuals can only make one choice, but we like the ebb and flow that freeform comments encourages. We’ll compile the results next Thursday.

Have at it.

114 Comments

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  • Lynannejacob

    I love Lush!

  • Bishop Berkeley

    Wow…that’s a bit melodramatic!  We are also a family who walks etc. etc.  With really small kids.  And a dog.  And we live a block from Ici, so we pass the place a gazillion times.

    The folks in the Ici line DO spread out all over, and they DO block the sidewalk without really thinking about foot traffic, and it DOES slow one down (same as passing La Med, incidentally) but that’s where it ends.  “Rude” and “worst [sic] than passing through Telegraph homeless encampments”?  Seriously? 

    Come on.  I’m a Berkeley cynic too (and I’ve got a many-years head start on you), but you can’t let City Council insanity poison every stroll you take down the sidewalk.

  • lauramenard

    Bishop,

    Look I get it , some posters want to blame me for making a complaint about crowd control at ICI. Isn’t is interesting that instead of asking me what was rude about my experience which happened the same day as this story,  I am jumped on.
     
    Why not recommend that ICI post a sign suggesting the crowd line up on one side of the sidewalk and be aware and responsible to folks trying to pass.

    The other night was particularly rude, and the sense of privilege from the customer who refused to be reasonalbe was quite frankly RUDE. In trying to pass I said Hello with a smile and Excuse, the guy refused to budge, and left his foot planted blocking the 8″ of space. I should have crossed the street earlier, but the business I visited was on the same side.

    Enough of this, Alan’s original post violates the blog rules. I made the mistake of forgetting how many people in  Berkeley  can’t tolerate any fractures to their fairy tales.

     

  • DC

    I don’t eat a lot of ice cream, as I’m lactose intolerant.  Based on my small survey I do like Lush. John’s is cheap and fun, but not so tasty. Ici is OK, but I can’t handle their lines and so have only been there once.  Waiting 20 minutes for a tiny scoop isn’t for me. I really like Yogurtland best of all, but since this isn’t a yogurt survey I’d have to say Lush wins for me.

  • Sconstantine

    We love walking over to Lush to see what seasonal flavor my kids will try next. Ice cream is delicious, especially flavors like the cardamom orange zest but even old favorites like mint chocolate, service is friendly and the location is great for us north Berkeley folks

  • Max M O

    It is available on the dessert menu.

  • Max M O

    This was in response to the line about the best ice cream hiding in a restaurant that specializes in something else…O Chame is not an ice cream place nor a cafe.  A fantastic restaurant with this little prize available for dessert.  No cone necessary!

  • Anonymous

    Foster Freeze

  • http://www.webhamster.com/ The Sharkey

    I think your first comment about the rudeness of ICI’s clientele was a little bit melodramatic, but Alan Saldich is certainly being a real a-hole in his responses to you, and hounding your comments across multiple stories.

    I don’t go in for conspiracy theories, but it seems like he’s got some kind of personal vendetta against you.

  • Mike Farrell

    “customers in line OWN the sidewalk”
    Same, same at the Cheeseboard Pizza

  • Mike Farrell

    “customers in line OWN the sidewalk”
    Same, same at the Cheeseboard Pizza

  • Heather W.

    Fiorelli’s — sold at Country Cheese on San Pablo Ave and Hopkins Cheese Market. Anyone who makes chocolate maple bacon ice-cream without a lot of worthless air whipped in gets my vote. Plus, you don’t have to stand in line blocking sidewalks to get it or eat it. 

  • berkeley newcomer

    Tara’s is wonderful.  Lush is good too.  I don’t see the appeal of Ici and won’t be going back – pricey, crowded.  Tara’s is a revelation and made moving to the East Bay and saying goodbye to SFs Mitchell’s, Humphrey Slocombe and Bi-Rite much more tolerable.

  • Guest

    If you’re looking for a cozy, small shop with great sundaes Sugar Cone Cafe up in Kensington is worth a stop. Homemade sauces, fun toppings and (and tons of unique and deeeeelicious cupcakes) make it worth the trip.

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