The best ice cream in Cleveland

Before moving here, we had no idea that Cleveland was such a big ice cream town. There are more ice cream places in Cleveland than there are doughnut shops in Chicago (at least it seems like it). We ate at a variety of ice cream places around town to find our favorite, and of course “best” is subjective, but we think we have landed on a winner: Mitchell’s. We fell in love with Mitchell’s due to their wide variety of flavors, consistently creamy texture and fresh ingredients. They even make the waffle cones right in front of you!

On the face of it Mitchell’s looks like a typical ice cream store with a wide selection. Along with scoops in a cup or cone, you can also make special sundaes, shakes, malts and floats (plus pints and other treats to take home). However, the major difference is the taste. We were blown away by the first two flavors we tried: Salted Caramel and Mint chocolate chip. First off, the mint chocolate chip was NOT green, and it tasted like fresh mint leaves, the caramel was creamy and salty, and not at all overpowering. Other flavors like Key Lime Pie perfectly replicated their real life inspirations. There are even vegan ice creams and frozen yogurts if you are so inclined. Personally, I see a Mitchell’s ice cream cake in our future birthday plans.

We aim to try every flavor they have, currently about 25 regular varieties. There are also seasonal flavors to enjoy, making use of Ohio’s local produce, so there will always be something new (current seasonal flavors include caramelized chocolate, fresh peach and coconut, among others). There are eight Mitchell’s stores now in Cleveland, but our favorite is in the Ohio City neighborhood (located at: 1867 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113), for three important reasons: 1. It is in a converted movie theater; 2. It is the factory where they make all of their ice cream (a process you can watch); 3. There is a miniature train running around the first floor. If you visit Cleveland, be sure to stop by!