As we bid spring farewell and welcome in a hot summer, getting the scoop on the best places for a cold, refreshing treat is essential. I visited several ice cream shops around Milpitas on a mission to find the perfect place for a bite on a scorching day.
The first stop on my sugary tour around the city was Foster’s Freeze. Serving cones, sundaes, and much more since 1963, Foster’s Freeze is a classic Milpitas location that proves its prowess. While indoor seating was available, it appeared to be closed off. However, there was ample outdoor seating with enough shade to enjoy a quick snack while staying out of the sun. Now onto the main event: I opted for a simple vanilla soft serve cone dipped in chocolate, which cost $2.39. The chocolate shell had a nice crunch and paired well with the light vanilla ice cream. The ice cream wasn’t overly sweet or rich, and I easily finished the small cone. The only thing to be aware of is how fast the ice cream melts. Within seconds of receiving it from the employee, it had already begun to drip. Overall, I give Foster’s Freeze a 8/10; it’s a great place to cool off with friends during the summer.
The next place I visited was Yogurtland. Yogurtland offers vanilla and chocolate soft serve ice cream along with numerous rotational frozen yogurt flavors. I decided to keep it simple by filling my cup up with a generous swirl of vanilla ice cream and topping it with fresh strawberries, mango, and a chocolate-filled, rolled wafer cookie. The total amounted to roughly $8, but prices depend on weight and differ for every order. Yogurtland offers ample indoor seating in a cool, air conditioned store as well as a few outdoor tables with umbrellas. I took a seat inside and dug into my sweet treat. The ice cream was creamy and denser than their yogurt options with just enough sweetness. Compared to Foster’s Freeze, it melted slower and retained its thicker texture while I was eating. The ice cream has a classic vanilla flavor that will appeal to vanilla lovers or those looking for a neutral flavor to customize with toppings. Having the option to pair the ice cream with fruit was perfect in order to cut through the richness of the ice cream. Yogurtland gets a 8/10 and is perfect for those looking for ice cream or a lighter alternative.
Third on my list was La Dolce Vita Gelato in the Great Mall. Since this spot is located in a mall, it didn’t have its own seating area and is more ideal for shoppers looking for something to snack on while walking around. The location offered a wide variety of flavors from pistachio to “Super Black Chocolate.” I chose to get one scoop of mint chocolate chip and was surprised by the hefty portion size. The gelato itself was decadent and creamy, but slightly on the sweeter side. The mint flavor was strong and the chocolate chips added a delicious variation of texture. It was a bit inconvenient to eat due to the lack of seating or tables which knocked my rating down a few points. Overall, La Dolce Vita Gelato gets 6/10 and is a good spot for avid shoppers looking for a bite on the go.
My last destination was Sugar Mama Desserts. I was excited to try a new spot that I hadn’t heard of before, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Compared to the previous locations I tried, Sugar Mama Desserts offered a more unique flavor selection such as durian and vanilla pistachio crunch. After sampling a few flavors, I chose a scoop of black sesame brittle ice cream.. The store was very small with barely enough room for a small table. Luckily, there were two tables in the shade outside. The ice cream itself was rich with an earthy sesame flavor. The chunks of sesame brittle, were a bit overbearing on their own, but were small enough to allow the ice cream to remain the star of the scoop. Sugar Mama Desserts was greatly enjoyable at a 9/10 and is the perfect location for those looking for a unique flavor to cool off with on a hot day.
Now that you got the rundown on the best places to visit for a nice cold cone, it’s time to get a head start on summer snacking!