Mmmmm. Summer is so close you can almost taste it.
So why not celebrate summer’s first holiday weekend — Memorial Day — with good ole’ fashioned ice cream?
Americans love ice cream; gulping down an average of 23.2 quarts of the creamy goodness each year, according to marketing research firm Mintel. Did you know more ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week?
Here are a dozen of Omaha’s fantastic parlors that are creating brilliant flavors in no particular order.
1. Petrow’s, 5914 Center St.
Petrow’s, 5914 Center St., makes all its ice cream on the premises, a tradition for the family-run establishment that began in Fremont in 1903. Um, have you seen the outdoor patio they’re building? Yeah. We’re pretty certain they’ll be rolling in business in no time.
2. Ted & Wally’s, 1120 Jackson St.
An Omaha staple since 1984, Ted and Wally’s has been serving high-quality homemade ice cream from scratch to downtown’s finest. The fun thing about Ted and Wally’s is that you never know what flavors to expect since they change daily.
3. eCreamery, 5001 Underwood Ave.
Whether you get it in a cone or a dish, as a sundae or a custom gelato order to go, eCreamery’s homemade ice cream in Dundee is the way to go. If it’s good enough for the Kardashians, it should be good enough for you, right? (Fans of the reality show “Keeping Up With the Kardashains”, caught a glimpse of eCreamery’s frozen treats a couple years ago.
4. Coldstone Creamery, 3220 Farnam St.
Coldstone Creamery is hands down yummy. The parlor’s Cookie Minster Signature Creation, which is made with mint ice cream, Oreos, chocolate syrup and chocolate fudge is to die for — gulp! Omaha has three locations to satisfy your sweet tooth.
5. Zesto’s – three Omaha locations
It’s a College World Series stomping ground favorite with its mountain high twist cones. The Beer Blatt location is closed for the season, but reopens just in time for CWS time. We’re not certain if the Zesto Shoppe at 8608 N. 30th St. is connected but they have amazing shakes and cones! Their summer hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays.
6. Jones Bros., 2121 S. 67th St.
The bakery is more known for cupcakes, but it now has a selection of homemade ice cream.
7. Dairy Queen — several Omaha area locations
It’s hard to pass up such a classic ice cream shop. You can’t go wrong with their popular blizzards or ice cream cake.
8. La Michoacana, 4002 S. 24th St.
Order various fresh flavors, from traditional vanilla and chocolate to strawberry and mango.
9. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — several Omaha area locations
Freddy’s frozen custard is thick and creamy and it’s made fresh daily.
10. Goodrich
It’s safe to say Goodrich knows a thing or two about ice cream. The parlor has been making it since 1932. One of the great things about dropping into a Goodrich shop is on Wednesday they have $1.99 waffle cones.
Honorable Mentions:
South Omaha: Helados Santa Fe, 4807 S. 24th St.
Council Bluffs: Christy Creme, 2853 N. Broadway Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs: Suzy’s ice cream at Tazza di Caffe on Valley View Drive in Council Bluffs.
Elkhorn: Dairy Chef, 3223 N. 204th St. Elkhorn
Bellevue: Dairy Twist, 2211 Lincoln Road Bellevue
Omaha area: TCBY
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WE WANT TO KNOW
But you don’t have to take my word for Omaha’s best ice cream shops. Tell us where you go?
