Cream, Ice Cream Parlor and Café took me back to my childhood. Actually, it’s better than any ice cream hangout I can remember. Besides the scrumptious ice cream, the place is fun, whimsical, comfortable and unlike any other place in Miami. With good reason it has built up a dedicated fan club of all ages – millennials going there on a date, groups of friends and families, and grandparents with their grandchildren. The “look” itself is definitely part of the story, but first let’s talk about the main event – the ice cream.
Get this – flavors include Unicorn poop (a fave with kids as you can imagine), purple rain inspired by Prince, triple chocolate, marshmallow glam rock, and cheesecake. They are among the 14 to 18 varieties at any time. Then every Sunday they bring out a surprise new flavor for the week. The ice cream is creamy — the owners say it has a higher content of butterfat than anything you can find in stores — and not cloyingly sweet, more like a gelato in that respect. If very sweet is your thing, you can choose among two dozen toppings, from cotton candy, cereal and caramel popcorn to penny candies.There’s also a sampler — a flight of four ice creams —of your own choosing.
If ice cream to you means teaming it up with a cookie or brownie, never fear. There are house baked brownies and cookies, fresh daily, flavors such as God Save The Queen with English Toffee and Milk Chocolate and Walking On Chocolate, their Triple Chocolate Fudge cookie. Shakes in any flavor, too. Owners Johnny and Ainsley Tsokos used to give cookie parties in their former home in Toronto where everyone brought their favorite cookie recipe, and people danced. Some of those recipes are the ones featured in Cream Parlor.
There are also open-faced sandwiches on Zak the Baker bread, salads, wraps and breakfast items.
So while you’re enjoying your ice cream (or before or after when you’re lingering), you can choose one of their vinyl records and put the nostalgic tunes on the record player, the kids or grandkids can play with the retro toys, or just take in the eye candy. There’s plenty to look at because everything is mismatched – from the plates and glasses to the tables (one was Johnny’s former desk) and chairs. Then the wall are adorned with family photos and nostalgic art, and on display in a wooden cupboard are all sorts of mugs and retro gifts. There’s also a garden in the back complete with music and lighting to suit the mood. It all works.
Prices are reasonable especially considering you can linger. A single dip cone starts at $3.75; 8 ounce half pint is $5.75; up to $14.25 for 32 ounces.
Cream Parlor and Café, 8224 Biscayne Blvd., T.786-534-4180.
2 Responses
How cute! 🙂
Love the names!