You can't buy happiness but you can buy ice cream and that's pretty much the same thing.
Located on a quaint, bustling corner in Lakeview, Bobtail Ice Cream Co. is a Chicago summertime favorite and a great place to grab a cone or shake on a leisurely walk through the neighborhood. The shop recently celebrated 10 years of business and my friend Brenna and I were thrilled at the opportunity to try the signature flavors that continue to awe returning customers.
Both the atmosphere and the decor of the shop are very original with a small-town feel. From the cute blue-and-white striped awning to the authentic, decorated menu on the wall, the decor is fun. The cashiers are friendly, helpful and more than willing to let you try a couple flavors before purchasing anything. They were sold out of a couple signature flavors when we went (it was a Wednesday night) but there was an overall good selection of flavors, ranging from the stereotypical ice cream flavors to a Chicago special called the "Cubby Crunch". Their signature flavors tend to sell out fairly quickly, however, so I do recommend going early for the best flavor selection.
My two signature flavor recommendations would be the Lakeview Barhopper and/or the Signature Sunset. The Lakeview Barhopper features the strong chocolate flavor of Dutch cocoa beans with the strong kick of Jack Daniels. The Signature Sunset is a must for any wine-lover as it combines the rich flavor of merlot with the bitterness of dark chocolate chips. Both flavors combined well (which was slightly surprising) in a freshly-made waffle cone. The ice cream was reasonably priced with a fair amount of ice cream per scoop.
Bobtail Ice Cream Company was a delicious change from the abundance of over-rated, unoriginal ice cream restaurants in Chicago. I cannot wait to go back and try the "Cubby Crunch" which I hope is better than the Cubs performance this year (although that shouldn't be hard). Overall, a great place to grab a cone on your walk through the beautiful neighborhood of Lakeview!
Until next meal,
Mary
Lakeview Barhopper: Chocolate Bourbon Ice Cream
Signature Sunset: Merlot Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Chips
