Top Ice Cream Sundaes In The Philadelphia Area
Ice cream can get you through the dog days of summer, cure broken hearts and, well, solve just about anything. Not all ice cream is created equal though, and if you are going out to enjoy a seriously delicious sundae, you want to make sure you are getting high-quality ingredients. Here are some of the top ice cream sundaes from establishments in Philadelphia.
Avenue Scoop
932 E. Passayunk Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 319-1808
www.facebook.com/Avenue-Scoop
Avenue Scoop serves up Philly's own Breyer's Ice Cream and soft serve custard. This spot is also the dairy king and queen of the waffle sundae. The waffle sundae starts off with a huge made-to-order Belgian waffle, topped with the ice cream of your choice, hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry, or you can vary it with some bananas and Nutella. Sundaes are one thing, but you may also want to try the donut ice cream sandwich, because the idea of putting ice cream in between donuts is pure genius. Oh, and the donuts come from South Philly bakery Frangellis, so they're local, too.
Ice Cream (Credit, Christina Dagnelli)
Capogiro Gelato
119 S. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 351-0900
www.capogirogelato.com
Gelato is sort of an all-in-one sundae because of the way additional ingredients are blended in, and Philly's Capogiro is so delicious because of the freshness and purity of all of those ingredients. Small batches are crafted each morning at this family-owned business, and the menu changes with the seasons. Some examples of the shop's best flavors are the Bourbon Butterscotch (made with a touch of Wild Turkey Bourbon!) and Cilantro Lime (created using cilantro that's grown right in Lansdale). Maybe you never considered putting cilantro on your ice cream, but when you mix it in with limes, it turns out to be deliciously different. Plus, Capogiro was recognized as one of the top places for ice cream in the world by National Geographic magazine, so you know you're getting something truly delicious.
Ice Cream Sandwich (Credit, Christina Dagnelli)
Franklin Fountain
116 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-1899
www.franklinfountain.com
If you want to enjoy some retro soda fountain fun in the city, head over to Franklin Square and check out the Franklin Fountain. This ice cream/soda shop is run by the Berley family and all of the ice cream is made by hand in-house. A popular Philly-themed sundae served at Franklin Fountain is The Lighting Rod, made with coffee ice cream with dark chocolate brownie pieces and zapped with a shot of espresso and coffee beans as well as a pretzel rod. Customers rave about the hot fudge here and say it is some of the best in the city. For something unique, create your own sundae with the shop's infamous Teaberry gum-flavored ice cream. It's pink, it's mint and it's unique.
Related: Top Philadwlphia Ice Cream Shops
Nelson's Ice Cream
627 Main St.
Royersford, PA 19468
(610) 948-3500
www.nelsonsicecream.net
Nelson's makes its own ice cream from scratch and has over 30 flavors (including a few seasonal options like egg nog, pumpkin and key lime pie). This spot also makes its own fresh-baked goods, meaning your brownie sundae just got even better. Sundae favorites from customers are the Hot Fudge with Coconut Almond Joy Sundae, the Death by Chocolate ice cream with peanut butter sauce, or a scoop or two of Cake Batter Swirl with any of Nelson's numerous toppings.
Related: Top Spots For Milkshakes
The Pop Shop
729 Haddon Ave.
Collingswood, NJ 08108
(856) 869-0111
www.thepopshopusa.com
Another option for retro that's a tad less expensive is just across the Ben Franklin in Collingswood, NJ. The Pop Shop has a 40s theme with a fun design. A reminder of the days of soda fountains and juke boxes, The Pop Shop serves up classic American food such as burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches as well as Bassett's ice cream. For those with different nutritional needs, you can even get dairy-free vegan ice cream, as well as sugar-free and gluten-free options. One of the most popular sundaes is the Elvis Has Left The Building, which features chocolate, peanut butter and banana. Another tasty choice is The Lost Weekend, which is three scoops of butter pecan with sautéed bananas, caramel sauce and bits of peanut brittle.
Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.
