The 4 Best Ice Cream Restaurants Near You in New Jersey

🍦 These are TripAdvisor’s four best ice cream parlors in NJ broken down by region

🍦 Some have not only rich ice cream, but also rich history

🍦 A shop is cash only

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As we prepare to dive into summer, it’s time to start thinking about seasonal staples: burgers, hot dogs, watermelon and, yes, ice cream!

There are so many ice cream parlors in New Jersey that it’s hard to go wrong when ordering a cone, sundae or milkshake.

But TripAdvisor has selected the four best ice cream restaurants in New Jersey by region: North, Central, South and Jersey Shore, of course.

Here are their picks. Do you agree?

North Jersey

Denville Dairy (Morris County)

34 Broadway #A, Denville

Open on Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

In business for over 50 years, Denville Dairy is a family run establishment that prides itself on making the best ice cream, sorbet and gelato possible. According to the website, the Fine family offers over 100 specialty and seasonal flavors. 28 flavors are available at any time.

You can also buy a full range of take-out orders, including pre-packaged cakes, pies and ice cream. Enjoy ice cream sandwiches, mini sundaes, Dixie cups, plus fat-free, low-sugar, and sugar-free fresh produce.

The Sherbet Cooler dessert cake is very popular. For $33.45, you have a choice of two flavored cakes. One is homemade orange sorbet and vanilla ice cream cake topped with orange whipped topping. The other is homemade watermelon sorbet and vanilla ice cream cake topped with watermelon whipped topping.

Expect a wait during the summer!

Here is what some people are saying about Denville Dairy on TripAdvisor:

“The hard and soft ice creams made here exceeded our expectations. Lots of homemade flavors to choose from too!”

“Best ice cream I’ve ever had. Great toppings and variety and excellent. 1,000,000 out of 10. Would definitely suggest going here”

“I must visit Denville Dairy, even on a cold February day. The place is always clean and bright. The service friendly and helpful. There are many flavors to choose from. The ice cream itself is fresh, smooth and creamy…so good.”

“They have great milkshakes and ice cream here and the owners are great people! I hosted a giveaway at this place and everyone who had the ice cream loved it!”

Center jersey

Polar Bear Cub (Hunterdon County)

388 US Highway 22 W, Whitehouse Station

Open 7 days a week from 12 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Polar Cub has been around since the 1950s. Its current owner purchased the store in December 1998.

“We hope to continue to embody the values ​​we instilled approximately 70 years ago and continue to provide every customer with the best experience possible,” according to the website.

Hard and soft ice cream flavors are available, as well as sundaes, shakes, bursts, ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, dipped bananas, and non-dairy options.

Do not forget. It’s cash only!

Some TripAdvisor reviews:

“Polar Cub has the best ice cream in New Jersey! I especially love ice cream. I’ve been a customer for over 20 years.”

“Delicious ice cream, local, for a long time, can be long but goes fast. Amazing prices, lots of variety, small shaded area with tables to sit”

“This is the place for a soft serve sprinkle. The peanut butter shake was smooth and perfect. Lovely and well priced”

“Always a treat. Cash only, fresh ice cream, families have eaten here for generations. Queue moves fast. Excellent soft serve. If you watch your weight, not so bad.”

South of Jersey

Leo Ice Cream Company (Burlington County)

7 Tomlinson Mill Road, Suite 5, Medford

Open Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Leo’s Ice Cream Company is not only rich in ice cream, but also rich in history. The ice cream company has also been the maker of Leo’s Famous Yum Yum since 1936.

What is a Yum Yum? It’s like an Italian popsicle, sorbet and gelato all in one, but not really. It is very unique with a taste all its own. Leo’s famous Yum-Yum was invented by Giovanni Leo, who sold it to street vendors in metal cans packed in wooden barrels surrounded by ice and salt, according to the website.

The dessert lasted about 14 hours on ice and became the main frozen dessert not only in Camden in the 1950s, but in all of South Jersey. No other ice cream shop has been able to copy Yum-Yum’s smooth texture and taste, they wrote.

“Since 1980, using Giovanni’s original recipes, Leo’s Ice Cream Company has helped grow through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” it reads.

There are 28 Yum Yum flavors to choose from, including bubblegum, cotton candy, orange-pineapple, root beer, coconut, and amaretto.

Savor over 75 flavors of ice cream, including Chocolate Chip Mint, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Blueberry, Aged Balsamic Strawberry, Coffee Toffee, and The Sinatra (Peach Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Chunks).

There’s something for everyone at this classic ice cream restaurant!

Here are some TripAdvisor reviews:

“Our family loves Leo’s ice cream. It’s all homemade and it has great flavors. A favorite is ‘Sinatra’, which is peach ice cream with dark chocolate chunks. Can’t beat the sprinkles mint chocolate or coffee nuggets. flavors! It’s a must – from spring to fall.”

“We travel a lot and love ice cream. None of this compares to the quality and balance of Leo’s!!”

“A small place that attracts locals who know about authentic, homemade ice cream. Nothing fancy here, just great freshly made produce, lots of smiles, a few tables inside, a few tables outside, and lots of people enjoying a special treat most summer evenings.If you are in or near Medford, don’t pass this place by.

“Leo’s makes great classic ice cream flavors as well as some unusual and unique flavors. I had a Carmel Sea Salt ice cream and also tasted their Key Lime ice cream. Both were delicious, but I really appreciated my choice. They also do ice cream in several flavors.”

jerseyshore

Ice Cream of the Day (Monmouth County)

48 Pitman Ave, Ocean Grove

Memorial open on Labor Day 7 days a week from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Day’s Ice Cream is a Jersey Shore gem with a long and storied history. In fact, it is the oldest operating business in Ocean Grove.

For 138 years, residents and visitors to Ocean Grove have flocked to Day’s for ice cream.

“Day’s opened in its original and current location on Pitman Avenue in August 1876, according to an undated newspaper article in the archives of the Ocean Grove Historical Society.

After opening the business, brothers William and Pennington Day branched out and opened an ice cream garden in Asbury Park.

For years, customers have wanted another Day’s. So in 2017, Day’s Ice Cream opened its new Ocean Grove outpost at 4 North End Boardwalk at the Dunes Café.

But in April 2019, Dunes Café suffered a massive fire and all was lost. So now Day’s Ice Cream continues to operate from its original location on Pitman Avenue.

Enjoy a piece of Monmouth County history while sampling some of the best ice cream flavors including Toasted Coconut, Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Almond Joy, Salted Caramel Pretzel , hazelnut truffle latte, etc.

There are also milkshakes, floats, low-fat frozen yogurt sundaes, sugar-free ice cream, dairy-free soy, coconut milk, and almond milk.

So go back in time and enjoy…

TripAdvisor review:

“Been here 3 times already this week! Best ice cream. Worth the queue. Fun to meet other people waiting with their dogs.”

“Great variety and creamy ice cream. Very quaint. My grandkids loved it. It reminded me a bit of Disney.”

“I LOVE the ice cream of the day! The only ice cream I eat from May to October. There are so many flavors to choose from, but for this chocolate fan, I repeatedly have salt caramel truffles Chocolate Seafood, Milky Way Bar, Chocolate Midnight Cookie, Chocoholique and Frozen Hot Chocolate (if available) I have been visiting Day’s for years not only because of the outstanding ice cream but also the owners and exceptional staff.Day’s Ice Cream is a great little slice of heaven in Ocean Grove.

“Delicious ice cream! Lots of unique flavors. Quick and friendly service. Nice covered seating area to enjoy on a hot day. Highly recommend”

Do you agree with TripAdvisor’s four New Jersey regional picks? Whatever you decide or wherever you go, you’re sure to get a great ice cream dessert in New Jersey this summer.

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