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    Annette's Italian Ice

    4.3 (459 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Ashley Z.

    Came here on a Saturday after a street fair. The line was around the block. They had a lot of different flavors to choose from. I'd never had Italian ice before so I tried the lemon flavored Italian ice. It was refreshing but I think if I go back I would want to try an ice cream instead. It is a bummer they only take cash but there is an ATM right next to the window.

    Dragonfruit Pear
    Anthony D.

    I can see why this place is talked about. Great Italian Ice and other frozen treats. The only downside is they only accept cash, otherwise the rest is great! I tried the dragonfruit pear and was delighted.

    BlackBerry lime & froyo
    Miranda C.

    Italian ice spot in the Lincoln Park area. They have a lot of interesting ice flavors and I liked it mixed with the Italian froyo. The lady serving the ice was a bit rude.

    Nolan F.

    Friend and I shared: 1. Italian Fro-Yo - (mango) Italian ice layered in (raspberry) frozen yogurt 2. Puppy Chow ice cream topped with marshmallow sauce & mini m&ms I love the concept of Italian ice layered (not just topped ) with frozen yogurt. Both elements were good. Italian ice was not too sweet and didn't taste terribly artificial. Frozen yogurt and ice cream were creamy and tasty. No issues with service. There's a few tables in front of the order window.

    Italian froyo (vanilla froyo, dragonfruit-pear, lychee)
    Michelle G.

    Annette's Italian Ice is easily in the top two Italian ice places I've had in the city. It would easily be five stars but the older lady who took our order had a really nasty, rude energy (definitely gave off hostile, racist, unwelcoming vibes) when we were placing our order and that put off my friend from ever coming back here. The other girl working the counter definitely seemed nice but we were unlucky to have this woman who is hopefully not The Annette take our order. However, the Italian ice was so good that I was able to still have a delightful time (my friend not so much, sadly). I got the Italian froyo, which was the Italian ice mixed with the froyo. I got vanilla froyo (yum), dragonfruit-pear flavor (super yum), and the lychee (solid but I could skip this flavor).

    Jonathan B.

    Their dessert is to die for! My girlfriend loves going here, so we've already gone twice in such a short period. My favorite thing to get here is the Italian ice with froyo. It gives it such a nice texture, and you get a mix of flavors. My personal favorite is the banana with vanilla froyo. The service was quick and very good. They only take cash, so I'd recommend bringing some on hand. There is an atm there if needed. Theres usually a line when we go, but it moves relatively quick. The ambiance is outdoors, and there's a few seats. However, I noticed that majority of people just take it to-go since it's just a small window to order.

    Outside window
    Mariah C.

    I can't stop thinking about this Italian ice, as an out of town guest, I can't remember the last time I had real Italian ice. I mean I've had it from the freezer section but this place was the real deal. I ordered a small size (wish I had ordered a large) and got two flavors, pomegranate, and mango. The Italian ice had real chunks of fruit, bursting with flavor and an amazing texture. One thing to note is it's cash only. Service was quick, you order and pay at the window. They have picnic tables you can sit at or take your Italian ice to go. I hope one day I can go back and order the entire menu. Such a sweet and refreshing treat on a 95 degree day.

    Pilar G.

    A Chicago summer staple!! Don't be fooled by the long line- it moves quickly. They have a huge selection of ice cream flavors and Italian ice. I really like the piña colada Italian ice, but there are so many good options. Definitely make sure to come here before the end of summer!!

    Line

    The sea turtle is hands down the best ice cream flavor I've ever had, it has chocolate turtles full of caramel which add such a good crunch to the creamy bite. I wouldn't recommend the Italian ice unless you add froyo to it. The line may be intimidating but it goes by quick!

    Banana Pudding ice cream and POG Italian ice
    Bob S.

    I've always believed that a line out the door is a sign a place is worth it. That rule doesn't just apply to restaurants--it holds true for ice cream and Italian ice spots too. And Annette's in Chicago proves it. My daughter lives just a block away, and somehow we still haven't managed to go together. But on Airshow weekend, I joined some family members and made the trek over. We hit the line at 3:30 on a scorching August afternoon and didn't reach the order window until about 30 minutes later. Honestly, the wait felt like part of the experience--the buzz, the anticipation, the smell of fresh waffle cones drifting from the window. Thankfully, I'd been tipped off on what to order: the Banana Pudding ice cream and the POG Italian Ice (Passionfruit, Orange, Guava). Without that advice, I could have spent five minutes just staring at the board trying to decide. I went all in--two large cups of each. Back at our condo, I finally dug into the Banana Pudding. Wow. Creamy, decadent, and loaded with flavor. You get the richness of banana custard with swirls of cookie crumbles and just the right balance of sweetness. It's one of those flavors you don't forget. My daughter said the POG Italian Ice was equally refreshing--bright, tropical, and perfect for a 95-degree day. What blows me away is the price. $7.45 for 12 ounces of premium ice cream that tastes this good feels like a steal in Chicago. No wonder Annette's has lines wrapped around the block all day long--the proof really is in the product. A couple of quirks: it's cash only (everyone seems to accept this as part of the charm), and the ordering process could move faster. Having the same one or two staffers handle orders, make change, and then scoop every single cup feels like a bottleneck. With a couple more hands behind the window, the line might move at a clip that matches the demand. Bottom line: Annette's is worth the wait. The ice cream is incredible, the Italian ice is spot-on, and I can't wait to stand in line again to try new flavors next time I'm in town.

    Superman Ice Cream
    Mike L.

    Didn't come for the Italian ice, came for the Superman ice cream! IYKYK Quick, friendly counter service from the window. Def a must try in L.P. Pro Tip: located right off the Brown line Armitage stop! Also cash only!

    Memu
    Johnny Y.

    Annette's serves up that comforting, no-frills, super solid kind of treat, whether you're in the mood for ice cream, Italian ice, gelato, a sundae, or their magical Italian frozen yogurt. Honestly, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Highly recommend the Italian fro-yo, it's the best of both worlds. Fro-yo on the top and bottom, with Italian ice sandwiched in the middle, so every bite gives you a perfectly curated mix of creamy and refreshing. The Italian ice itself isn't overly sweet, scoops beautifully, and comes in an amazing variety of flavors, not too wild, but enough to make everyone happy. As for the ice cream, I'm obsessed with the amaretto cherry. My boyfriend swears by the red raspberry Italian ice, and to be fair, he hasn't disliked a single flavor yet. Heads up: It's cash only! And yes, the line gets long, especially during peak hours BUT the staff is fast and efficient, so the wait moves quickly. Take it as a chance to chat and soak in the neighborhood vibe. Conclusion: Annette's is the definition of a comfort spot. It's the kind of place you end up going to religiously (like I did all through college and still do now). It's literally a hole in the wall, small and run by an older woman who's been there forever. She's got a no-nonsense vibe that honestly intimidated me at first (I was too scared to ask for a second sample lol), but that's part of the charm now. This place is an institution and it never disappoints.

    Eskimo Kisses Moosetracks
    Priyanka C.

    The line is always insane but a summertime Chicago staple! Cash only but there is an ATM right next to the order window. Tons of ice cream and Italian ice flavors! They also have froyo and soft serve. We tried the Eskimo kisses and moose tracks ice cream which were delicious but I definitely want to come back to try the Italian ice and soft serve! Totally worth the hype.

    Nana's Banana Pudding

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    6 hours ago

    Puppy chow is sooo good! The blood orange with froyo is also delicious. I can't wait to try more flavors

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    Business owner information

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    Annette F.

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    27 days ago

    Tasty ice cream but not a fan of the use of styrofoam bowls/cups! Super popular place, surely they can switch to paper

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    7 months ago

    Annette shows up daily for the customers and to serve the highest quality in the world.

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