So many ice creams, so little time. Which are the best deals? Which taste best? Are the fancy gourmet ice creams really better than good old DQ? The Chicago Tribune’s At Play section headed to the ice cream-dense Southport Avenue corridor (with a detour to Division Street) to taste-test ice creams, ordering two scoops of vanilla at each store (or a medium if that’s the way they serve it). To make it more interesting, we brought along a cheap kitchen scale and weighed them too. The unscientific results:
Baskin-Robbins
1755 W. Addison St. 773-248-4777
baskinrobbins.com
COST: $2.99 for two scoops
WEIGH-IN: 7 ounces; 43 cents per ounce
THE SCOOP: Not the smoothest of the bunch, this mega-chain ice cream does boast a mellow vanilla flavor. And because it’s served very cold and very hard, it lasts a long time on a hot day.
Scooter’s Frozen Custard
1658 W. Belmont Ave.
773-244-6415
scootersfrozencustard.com
COST: $3.49 for a medium frozen custard
WEIGH-IN: 8.5 ounces; 41 cents per ounce
THE SCOOP: Swoon-worthy. With its velvety smooth texture and luxuriant creaminess, the mild vanilla flavor is almost beside the point; this almost soft-serve frozen treat can’t be beat. And, as a bonus, it’s relatively cheap.
Dairy Queen
3811 N. Southport Ave. 773-857-7039
dairyqueen.com
COST: $2.19 for a medium ice cream
WEIGH-IN: 8 ounces; 27 cents per ounce
THE SCOOP: You get your money’s worth with this almost 70-year-old ice cream giant. Creamy, smooth and almost blindingly white, the refreshing vanilla hits the spot but not your wallet.
Cold Stone Creamery
3755 N. Southport Ave.
773-348-0779
www.coldstonecreamery.com
COST: $3.99 for a Love It (medium) ice cream
WEIGH-IN: 8.5 ounces; 47 cents per ounce
THE SCOOP: Almost gelato-like in its pillowy softness, this ice cream boasts a strong vanilla flavor and a satisfying chewiness. Made to be mashed with other stuff, this rich ice cream is tasty enough to be eaten on its own.
Bobtail Ice Cream Company
3425 N. Southport Ave.
773-248-6104
bobtailsodafountain.com
COST: $3.50 for two scoops
WEIGH-IN: 7 ounces; 50 cents per ounce
THE SCOOP: Speckled with tiny vanilla bean seeds, this ice cream is the prettiest of the bunch. But its flavor is bland, and its texture rough. And its price? Too high.
Caffe Gelato
2034 W. Division St. 773-227-7333
COST: $3.50 for two scoops
WEIGH-IN: 5 ounces; 70 cents per ounce
THE SCOOP: Served in a dainty flower-shaped cup, this ice cream is soft and rich and served almost melting. Flavorful with a soft, velvety texture, this plain vanilla feels indulgent. And it should at 70 cents an ounce.
