On Sunday, October 28th, I visited three ice cream shops in Lake Placid and ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream at each shop. To determine the best ice cream in Lake Placid, I graded them on a scale of 1-10 in four categories: flavor, creaminess, portion size, and expensiveness (cost-to-satisfaction ratio).
1. Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s is a large ice cream chain that specializes in hard ice cream, but also serves milkshakes, smoothies, baked goods, and more. On a busy weekend in town, there are often many people in the store. Located on Main Street, it is a 1.4-mile walk from Northwood.
- Flavor: 8/10
- Creaminess: 9/10
- Portion Size: 4/10
- Expensiveness: 4/10 ($4)
Average Score: 6.25/10
Although the portion size is rather small for $4, the soft and creamy ice cream of Ben & Jerry’s has a flavor that stands out with each bite.
2. Emma’s
Emma’s is a local ice cream shop also located on Main Street. In the summer and on many weekends, there is sometimes a line out the door. The store specializes in soft ice cream but serves Hershey’s hard ice cream as well. It is known for having the “best milkshakes in town.” It is a 1.6-mile walk from Northwood.
- Flavor: 6/10
- Creaminess 6.5/10
- Portion Size 6.5/10
- Expensiveness 7/10 ($3)
Average Score: 6.5/10
Note: I asked for a scoop of hard ice cream in a dish at Emma’s but was informed that there was no hard vanilla ice cream left. To stay true to one flavor, I purchased a small soft vanilla ice cream in a dish instead. The ice cream was very rich. The portion size wasn’t too large, but it was larger than the one at Ben & Jerry’s.
3. Stewart’s
Stewart’s is a well-established chain of convenience stores located primarily in the Adirondacks and North Country. Stewart’s also serves their own brand of dairy products, including hard ice cream in a variety of flavors. Stewart’s has two locations in Lake Placid: one on Main Street right across from the arena and another on Saranac Avenue. The Main Street location is a 1.4-mile walk from Northwood.
- Flavor: 6/10
- Creaminess: 5/10
- Portion Size: 9/10
- Expensiveness: 9/10 ($2.50)
Average Score: 7.25/10
Stewart’s ice cream is the best in town. I grew up in Lake Placid, and I have been to the shop many times. I was interested to see how the ice cream would hold up compared to other stores and was not disappointed. Stewart’s was not only was the cheapest option but also had the largest portion. The flavor and creaminess were not quite as good as the other two stores, but the positives of the ice cream prevailed. If I could go to anywhere in town to get ice cream, it would be Stewart’s.