Lakewood is an ice-cream town.  It's an old-fashioned "stroll on a summer evening" kind of town, and there are enough ice cream places that almost everyone has one within walking distance. Outside of the geographical boundaries of Lakewood exists some of the best ice cream on the planet, so I've taken this guide farther afield. As always, comments and suggestions are welcomed.

 

 

Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Dairy Hut -- 12102 Madison Avenue (corner of Winchester Ave.) -- 216-221-7560
Open from April to October, this classic ice cream stand offers cones, dipped cones, shakes, malts, sundaes, floats, slushes, and packaged frozen treats.  No frills, but they do have brightly painted tables with umbrellas.

Dairy Queen -- 16803 Detroit Avenue (next to the Lakewood Y) -- 216-521-7763
Lakewood has its own Big Brazier outlet, with the famous Blizzard and Peanut Buster Parfait. Includes a drive-through window.

The Sweet Tooth -- 12901 Detroit Avenue (corner of Cohasset Ave.) -- 216-521-9380
Shares a building with Amy Joy donuts, so you can max out on your weekly sugar intake in one stop.

 

Scooped Ice Cream

Malley's Ice Cream Parlor -- 14822 Madison Avenue (just west of Warren Road) -- 216-226-8300
OK, so they serve Pierre's Ice Cream.  They make the hot fudge themselves, and allow you to control its distribution over your sundae. The Lakewood store is the second location of this local confectionary empire, and retains that old ice-cream parlor atmosphere, even after extensive remodelling.

Honey's Gourmet Ice Cream & Hot Dogs -- 14877 Detroit Avenue (in the Marc's Plaza) -- 216-221-4444
NEW in town! All of their ice creams are handmade, sweetened with honey -- with flavors varying regularly -- and delicious! They offer quite an assortment of cones, sundaes, shakes, malts, floats, slushies, smoothies, and mix-ins. Plus, they have authentic Italian gelato, with a variety of flavors -- from watermelon to peach to pistachio to tiramisu -- explosive in flavor and low fat. And, they offer hot dogs, bratwursts, and ice cream cakes and pies. A hearty yum, yum!

United Dairy Farmers -- 16511 Detroit Avenue (next to the Detroit Theater) -- 216-226-1380
If you remember stopping at Franklin's Ice Cream on your way home from the library as a kid, you'll be pleased to know that UDF is Franklin's latest incarnation. A few years ago they added a little parlor so you can eat in.

Tremont Scoops -- 2362 Professor Avenue -- 216-781-0352
Another old-style ice cream parlor is Tremont Scoops, which opened in 2001. They feature Ashby's Sterling Hand Dipped Ice Creams, fair trade coffees and teas, homemade cakes and candies, and custom-made ice cream cakes. They're open year-round (although only Fri.-Sun. from January through March) to serve your needs, including sundaes, shakes, malts, floats and smoothies. Plus, they offer customized birthday parties with activities suited to all age groups -- they've tie-dyed shirts, made jewelry, and let kids scoop their own sundaes.

Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe -- 4674 State Road (Old Brooklyn) -- 6677 Pearl Road (Parma Heights)
Remember your holidays! They open on St. Patrick's Day, and close the Sunday night before Thanksgiving. Pumpkin ice cream on an Indian summer evening is one of life's perfect pleasures. Every batch is homemade, and they will hand-pack a pint or quart to take home. Absolutely worth the drive. Does it surprise you that Drew Carey grew up just down the street? They opened two new locations in the summer of 1998: Brecksville (7304 Chippewa Rd.) and Parma (6250 State Rd.)  Now if they'd only put one in Lakewood . . .  Corporate HQ: (216) 749-7077.

 

Frozen Custard (Soft-Serve)

Rosati's Frozen Custard -- 17615 Detroit Avenue (west of St. James Church, on the south side) -- 440-331-0004
My colleague Mary Ellen says it's "wonderful; really, really creamy and smooth." And she's right, it's delicious!

East Coast Custard -- 18900 Lorain Road (corner of Story Rd), Fairview Park -- 440-331-2009
Mary Ellen raves about their soft serve, calling it a "basic food group."  They have other outlets in the area, on Pearl Road in Parma Heights (the original store) and on Mayfield in the east side.

Weber's Frozen Custard -- 20230 Lorain Road, Fairview Park -- 440-331-0004
Also a seasonal operation, Weber's flavors change daily based on local produce. They make a Granny Smith frozen custard that tasted as if it had just come off the tree.

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