This review is for Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and honestly, this one hit me right in the nostalgia…read more
Last night my mom and I were craving a little ice cream. The spots closest to us were closed, so we decided to make it a whole thing--me, my mom, my son, and of course the dog. Full family ice cream scavenger hunt. We ended up at Van Leeuwen, and the moment we saw the shop, we were so excited.
I remember when there wasn't a storefront--when it was just the truck roaming around Brooklyn. My mom and I used to go all the way from Jersey to Brooklyn just for that ice cream. The very first time we tried it, we had just finished dinner at Sweet Chick's, saw the truck, and said, "Let's get a sweet treat." I remember getting a ginger ice cream back then, and it was so good it stuck with me. So seeing the shop now just felt full circle.
We sat inside and ate our ice cream, which made it even better. I loved the bright decor--it's clean, cheerful, and just makes you want to sit and enjoy your scoop instead of rushing out. It felt welcoming and fun, especially with the whole family there.
I got the vegan mango sticky rice, which was absolute perfection. So delicious. I also did the strawberry matcha, and that combination was everything. The flavors at Van Leeuwen are just so good--you really can't go wrong. I also love that you can sample, because sometimes you need to taste first before committing, and both of my choices were a win.
My mom did an espresso flavor paired with peanut butter, which she loved. And of course, my son kept it classic with vanilla and sprinkles--because kids are going to kid. Their vanilla bean is really good too--simple but done right.
I love that you can buy pints inside or even create your own pint if you don't want just one flavor. And then there's Winter Wednesdays--buy two pints, get one free. Like... what are we even talking about? Go get the ice cream. Plus kids eat free on Wednesdays. We're New Yorkers--we eat ice cream in the winter. This just makes sense.
Niya helped us, and she was so sweet and helpful. Great energy. I got my ice cream in a waffle bowl, my mom did too, and my son got a regular cup. The waffle bowl was crispy, fresh, buttery--everything you want.
I also love seeing the growth--from a truck to storefronts to being in supermarkets now. It's nostalgic for me, and the best part is the quality has stayed consistent. The ice cream is always on point.
Go in, sit down, enjoy the vibe, treat yourself, bring your kids, your family--get a scoop, get a waffle bowl, take advantage of Winter Wednesdays. You really can't go wrong.