Jeannine Abusharkh
Staff Writer

It seems that ever since the weather has been heating up, ice cream has been one of my main food choices. If frozen treats are all you desire, take a stroll down to Ice Cream Bar in Cole Valley. At this classic ice cream shop you can treat yourself to a malt, milkshake, ice cream, soda fountain drinks, or simple lunch items like grilled cheese sandwiches. Jerks serve up your favorite ice cream flavors and treats reminiscent of the 1930s on their wooden counters. 

As you step onto the black and white honeycomb tile floors and listen to the swingy music, you are welcomed back in time. The wooden bar stools, wood paneled ceilings, and art deco light fixtures are all era-appropriate at Ice Cream Bar.

I took a number and gazed at all the flavor options. Their banana split has decadent vanilla, milk chocolate, and Morello cherry ice creams, hot fudge, butterscotch, and cherry sauces, a caramelized banana, and is topped with whipped cream and toasted almonds.

After battling my temptations to try the most gluttonous item on the menu, I decided to go with a single scoop of their vegan coconut ice cream with dark chocolate almonds. It was hard to believe that this ice cream was dairy-free as it was so creamy, and the touch of saltiness from the chocolate almonds gave it a kick.

Ice Cream Bar doesn’t hold back on authenticity, and even makes malts made the old-fashioned way, shaken with milk, egg, and ice. They even serve grown-up concoctions for those 21 and over, like the Sunday Morning. This remedy is made with seasonal fruit sorbet and Mumm Napa sparkling wine. Soda Jerks handcraft their beverages on the spot with their house-made herbal extracts, syrups, specialized acids, and soda waters.

I couldn’t help but be impressed by the authenticity of Ice Cream Bar and see the range of unique ice cream flavors that are made in-house daily. I will definitely return to this charming spot and try another tempting sweet.