Philadelphia has a long history with ice cream. The city claims some of the oldest ice cream shops in the country. It's worth a visit to Philadelphia to find some of the city's award-winning ice cream restaurants.
Founded in 1861 by Lewis Dubois Bassett, Bassetts Ice Cream is "America's oldest ice cream brand that is still in business and still family-owned," according to Chris Fandozzi, Bassetts' executive vice president. Bassetts is the only original merchant left at the Reading Terminal Market (RTA), Philadelphia's historic farmer's market. Bassetts moved in when the market opened in 1893. Although Bassetts is an ice cream stand, not a restaurant, it is a classic in Philadelphia and a must-see. Bassetts Ice Cream offers 40 flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt. Classic vanilla is its most popular flavor. Bassetts Ice Cream's honors include "the world's finest ice cream" from the New York Times and Best Ice Cream/Confections from "Where the Locals Eat" restaurant guide. It's and one of the Travel Channel's 101 Tastiest Places to Chow Down.
Bassetts Ice Cream at the Terminal
Reading Terminal Market
45 North 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 925-4315
bassettsicecream.com
The Franklin Fountain was born in 2004. Its owners named the store in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who was not only an important man in Philadelphia's history, but also the subject of a legend surrounding the invention of ice cream during a hot summer while the Constitutional Convention was in session, according to Ryan Berley, one of the two founders. Voted Philadelphia Magazine's Best of Philly 2006, the shop is open to late-night callers until midnight on weekends. Period antiques furnish the Franklin Fountain, and fountain clerks wear white lab coats and paper hats. Its creatively made and named sundaes include The Franklin Mint, which according to The Franklin Fountain's website, is comprised of "mint chocolate chip and vanilla ice creams covered with chocolate syrup, fluffy marshmallow glaze, and creme de menthe finished with homemade whipped cream and a mint green maraschino cherry."
The Franklin Fountain
116 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-1899
franklinfountainphilly.com
To go with its "Life is short . . . eat dessert first" motto, Scoop DeVille offers an extensive range of ice cream treats, including blends. Scoop DeVille's owner, Sue Shore, says the blends separate Scoop DeVille from other ice cream shops. Dishes of ice cream come in three sizes: coupe, sedan and fleetwood. Scoop DeVille also specializes in other desserts such as cakes, smoothies, chocolates, sugar-free ice cream and pies.
Scoop DeVille
1734 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-9992
scoopdeville.com
