Yum is the perfect word to describe the Dough melt ice cream donut I had with bourbon toffee caramel crunch! Donuts and ice cream are the perfect mix of sweetness! I didn't put any toppings on my ice cream but love that the menu has so many different options to choose from. The ice cream flavors also change so hopefully the flavor I tried is there if you like bourbon caramel toffee crunch! I can't wait to visit again in the summer for the perfect sweet treat to combat the Arizona heat! read more

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I came here Saturday 3/21/26 around 7:30ish pm and despite there being barely any parking and a long line, the staff was still quick with orders. There's cute seating outdoors and it's located next to a cute hot dog shop and a tattoo place. I love the cozy seating and that the shop looks like a little hut. Plenty of opportunities for photos and a place to relax with the company of others. I had to wait about 20 minutes because my waffles were being freshly made which is nice. My waffle came slightly burnt but my sandwich was still so good! There's a reason this place is always poppin. Novel is definitely an ice cream place of it's own. You just need to try it! read more

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I stopped by on a Friday night for a mini sober adventure by myself. There is a miniature parking lot out front but ample residential curbside parking available. I was surprised how packed it was then learned that it's an award winning ice cream shop voted best in Arizona! I walked up to the main deck and waited in line to be served at the window. I was impressed by the breadth of flavors. I opted for the cookie monster in a dough melt since it's my favorite flavor but was also intrigued by the butter pecan and honey lavender. I'll probably go for those next time! I felt like the sweetness of the glazed donut unfortunately overpowered any ability to appreciate the ice cream itself. Next time I'll either opt for the leslie knope (ice cream in a waffle) or simply in a cup to fully appreciate the flavor and texture of the ice cream. There were many groups of young people hanging out, which I appreciated a lot. There is a patio seating area shared with other businesses available to hang out. Overall I wished I could say I enjoyed my ice cream more, but it's currently inconclusive for me. Definitely willing to try this place out again later to give it a proper chance to be fully appreciated! read more

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Very limited tight parking but love the outdoor seating area and looks like a lot of other cute cool shops right there (I went after everything else had already closed). The ice cream was delicious with good flavor options. A bit on the pricier side. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Novel is always a good visit. I love this location, as it's a cozy spot to grab a scoop and sit with your friends. Parking can be weird sometimes because it's right next to a neighborhood but it seems like they're fine with you parking in front of their houses. The chocolate ice cream here is a dream, it's perfectly creamy and rich in flavor. The texture is akin to some of the great ice cream spots I've been to out on the East coast, and it's no wonder they are award winning! There can be a line sometimes but they're super fast, and the staff is always so nice. Also, love that they're open late, as I am always craving ice cream after dinner! read more

Novel Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I was really excited to try this place and it did not disappoint! Parking is limited, so you may need to find street parking. I ordered the vanilla and strawberry ice cream in a doughnut. The doughnut was fresh, soft, and warm, and the ice cream was delicious. The service was also very friendly. Overall, I highly recommend! read more

Novel Ice Cream - Madagascar Vanilla Doughnut (top) & Strawberry Doughnut (bottom) - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

After going to the First Friday Night Market in the arts District of Downtown Phoenix, we had a hankering for some ice cream, but in a less crowded space. I saw there was a Novel location nearby and decided this was the place! I've been to the location in Mesa and loved it so I was excited to check it out. Pulling up I noticed the charm and character of this spot immediately, which is what I love about the Mesa location. Twinkling lights, old wooden porch and railings, surrounded by a few other shops in similar aesthetics. Both locations are very unique and have their own flare and ambience. Great spot for a date or to sit back and chill with a friend (or more). Service was fast and friendly. The line was long, most likely due to the First Friday crowd, but we didn't wait long. I went with the Bourbon Caramel Toffee Crunch & Peppermint Mocha! It was super creamy and perfect!! Love the ice cream here! On a scale of 1 to 10, yes...I would 100% come here again! Probably my most favorite ice cream out there! read more

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Super cute location! They're open until 1am!!! Cashier was super patient with us, it was our first time, he let us sample a few different ice cream flavors. Our favorite was strawberry and chocolate, dulce de leche was great too. We got the ice cream sandwich (dough melt) it was amaziiiiing! Great experience thanks Novel! read more

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Tiny, but mighty. Novel ice cream isn't novel for the community anymore, but has survived through years of people clamoring for their products: simply delicious ice cream and desserts. Summer is obviously peak season, but the love of ice cream knows no seasonality and we found plenty of people enjoying some sweet treats on the patio on a winter evening. As mentioned by others, Novel is awkwardly tucked off the busy Grand Ave and a residential road, so parking can be tricky. You also need to either climb up a ramp or go up a set of stairs to reach the shop, so may not be the most ADA friendly. There's no indoor space to sit so you'll have to decide if you're going to brave the shaded patio or just take your desserts to go. But the environs are definitely unique, with the small colorful shops making this feel more like a movie set than a real set of businesses. There's only one person manning the small takeout window, with other staff milling around inside scooping and churning out doughnuts. Current flavors are pasted next to the window, and you can try a maximum of 3 flavors per person. If you have your eye on a particular flavor - come earlier to make sure they don't scoop out of it before you arrive. Ice cream flavors are unique and delightful, and the added transformation with a puffy donut or creamy float is an option if you really want to get indulgent. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Single Scoop - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I was only in Phoenix for 36 hours and feel super lucky to have stumbled upon this adorable, super delicious ice cream and doughnut shop! I went on a Saturday afternoon and was able to easily park right in front and not wait in line. Customer service was excellent and since I was going to be on a plane later, opted to stick with non dairy sorbet because I am lactose intolerant and no one wants to risk a gurgling belly on a flight, even with lactaid. Anyway, they have two sorbet flavors every day and I sampled both: strawberry hibiscus and prickly pear. Deeeelicious and I opted for a double scoop of prickly pear, and a separate doughnut, which was also tasty but not like, incredible. Maybe in the morning they are fresher and incredible? I felt like I had to try the doughnut given the award hype but could have skipped it. But the flavors all sounded fantastic and I love that they also have a waffle ice cream sandwich called the Leslie Knope. What else could you ask for?! read more

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Hands down some of the best ice cream you'll try. So fresh and creamy. Unique flavors. The peanut butter is soooo good! As well as the bourbon toffee caramel crunch. Do a two scoop in a waffle cone. Yum!! I like how you can sit outside and enjoy your ice cream. The staff is always friendly and helpful as well. Parking can be hard here if it's busy but it's worth it. read more

Cute little shop in a nice little shopping area just outside downtown. Our server treated quickly and offered several of his favorites. All of the flavors look outstanding and the ones we chose were great. read more

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I can definitely tell why Novel Ice Cream has so many five star reviews! Simple, creamy deliciousness! All of their ice cream is small batch and artisan. They have 12 flavors, 8 regular and 4 rotating. You can have your ice cream in a cup, cone, floats, or stuffed in a doughnut, which I plan to try next time! Reasonably priced and a great selection of toppings. I had the butter pecan topped with Golden Grahams! Service was friendly, and the patio was hopping with everybody having a great time, enjoying quality ice cream on a warm night. Parking lot is small, and there's other businesses in the hub, so I definitely recommend going for street parking. Dough Melt, I'm coming for you next time! read more

Novel Ice Cream - Butter Pecan with Golden Grahams... - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Well this one had a ton of hype behind it. I read an article published by Yelp of the top ice cream spots in the country. To my surprise, the top spot was held my an ice cream parlor in my own city! That was all the motivation I needed. I stopped by for a sweet treat on a Sunday afternoon with my Yelp friend. Novel Ice Cream is housed in a small colorful house, next to several other small colored houses taken up by other businesses including a tattoo parlor, barber shop, and more. There is a small parking lot that fits six or so spots, and luckily I was able to snag one of them. If there aren't any available, you can park on the side street. Novel is located on the outskirts of downtown Phoenix in a predominantly Latino neighborhood. Ambiance (3/5): Novel Ice Cream does not have an interior where you can sit. The house is small and it's only for the staff and all of the equipment. So, you can grab and go or sit outside on the patio where there is room for 20 people or so. This is great when the weather cooperates but not when it's close to 100 degrees in September. That means your ice cream is going to melt very quickly. Service (3.5/5): Pretty standard service. Not terribly friendly, but did offer some recommendations. The cashier upsold my friend with a nice sales tactic on his part. Drinks (N/A): I brought a water with me, the best drink to have when you're eating ice cream, especially in the sun. Food (4.5/5): Novel has an interesting selection of ice cream flavors. You can go the traditional route and have it served in a cone or a cup. Or, if you're feeling overly ambitious, you can do a flight where you select five different flavors. Or, if you're a fat kid at heart like me, you can get a glazed donut stuffed with the ice cream and topping of your choice. I went with the cookie monster ice cream (essentially blue-colored cookies and cream) with Oreo bits. I will say, surprisingly, I've had a ice cream-stuffed donut at another establishment and the one at Novel was much better. In large part because of the quality of the donut. The ice cream was also delicious. And it looks great visually with the blue ice cream. A satisfied treat for sure. Given that I ate my ice cream outside with the weather what it was, my ice cream started melting at the very end. Some melted ice cream was on the parchment paper I had and as I walked to the trash can to throw it away, it started dripping all over the ground. Including on my sneakers. Blue is not easy to get out of your sneakers. Hooray. First world problem. However, still worth it. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Stuffed donut with Cookie Monster ice cream and Oreos - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I came here after seeing such great reviews, and Novel definitely didn't disappoint! I ordered a scoop of the Cookie Monster ice cream with Reese's Puffs added in and it was delicious. Just a heads up, the Cookie Monster ice cream will turn your mouth and tongue blue but if you're cool with that, it's totally worth trying. The service was great. Although the place looks simple, a red shack connecting with other businesses and some seating in a courtyard, definitely don't judge a book by its cover. I highly recommend checking it out. I'll definitely be back to try their dough melt donut ice cream sandwich next! read more

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Such a tiny and cute ice cream shop HOURS: - Tues to Sat - 12pm-1am - Sun - 12pm-8pm CLOSED MONDAY! Parking was challenging because their parking lot is very small and cramped but there was nearby street parking Service was friendly and welcoming Seating was pretty limited but there were a couple benches Menu had a good variety of flavors and there were 11 flavors to choose from. They have 8 staple flavors - bourbon toffee caramel crunch, cookie monster, Madagascar vanilla, chocolate, straight up strawberry, butter pecan, honey lavender, PB Wasted. They have 2 rotating ice cream and shorbet flavors every month and this month, it was Lunch Break, Penna Cherry, and Pina Colada. Prices were reasonable. Expect to pay $5-7 for the scoops! SCOOPS - SINGLE: $4.80 - DOUBLE: $5.80 - TRIPLE: $6.80 - Dough Melt (ice cream stuffed glazed doughnut) - $6.80 - Leslie Knope (ice cream stuffed waffle) - $7.50 - Ice Cream Float - $6.50 - Indecision (5 flight scoops) - $11 - Pint - $12 - Cone (waffle, cake, sugar) - $0.75 - Topping - $0.75 each - Donut - $3.00 There were soda and glass bottle soda available for $3.50! The Butter Pecan was very creamy and delicious! It wasn't too sweet and had lots of pecan bits. This was 8/10 The Honey Lavender didn't taste like honey at all and the lavender bits were too bitter so it wasn't enjoyable. This was 4/10 The Pina Colada was very refreshing and yummy! It tasted like pineapple and it wasn't too sweet. This was 8/10 Would definitely recommend and return! read more

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Went here because I saw it was rated like #1 ice cream store in the country on Yelp. It was good but #1 ehhhh. I also recognize the #1 was probably because of their dough melts and I'm allergic to those sadly. The ice cream shop is in a cute older timey, wood half circle of some other shops like a tattoo parlor. You order and sit outside and boy it was hot out when we went, couldn't stay long. There's maybe six tables outside with four chairs. We got there 7:45 on a Friday and it quickly got busy while we were eating our ice cream. I got the toffee bourbon caramel crunch and pb wasted. About $7 for two very large scoops. The toffee was my favorite!! Couldn't finish my ice cream, very rich and delicious. Nice crunch to both flavors. Like I said, enjoyed it greatly but I don't think I could name it #1. My boyfriend got the straight up strawberry and enjoyed it, he ate all of his one scoop. They changed out the scoopers for me since I have celiac disease it was very nice! All the permanent flavors are gf except for the Cookie Monster read more

Novel Ice Cream - PB Wasted and toffee bourbon caramel crunch - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This spot wasn't named number one nationally for no reason! What a treat to have Novel Ice Cream in Phoenix. We visited tonight around 7:30 pm. Novel is nestled besides a charming courtyard with tables to eat at after you're done ordering. There are a few other shops around as well including a tattoo/piercing shop, coffee shop and wedding planner. Novel offers a menu full of your standard flavors (think Madagascar vanilla and strawberry) and several rotating flavors (matcha and Thai tea were offered today). My partner and I both opted for a Dough Melt -- a glazed donut sandwiches your choice of ice cream. He ordered bourbon toffee and I ordered Thai tea. My daughter ordered strawberry in a cone. Service was quick. The ice creams were creamy and tasted so good! Bourbon toffee was EXCELLENT in a dough melt -- the flavors went so well together and it ended up tasting similar to a maple bar. Thai Tea unfortunately wasn't the best choice for a dough melt but alone is excellent (the donut highlighted the bitterness in the ice cream). The strawberry was very good as well. Prices were fair. We will definitely be back on our own accord but this spot is also being added to the list to take friends and family from out of town. read more

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I hear this place is famous and I can see why!! I was hesitant to commit to a donut ice cream sandwich as it's two very sweet things and I was worried it might be too much but I really loved it and it was well worth the try! We got the strawberry, matcha, mango (I might be remembering the mango wrong), and the thai tea. I personally ordered the thai tea and it was agreed among all present that it was the most genuinely thai tea-tasting ice cream we have ever had. Very pleasantly surprised!! Novel Ice cream shares a casual seating area with a few other establishments and it's a great place to hang out with friends. The line was incredibly long (makes sense, given its notoriety) but actually moved pretty quickly and was worth the wait! read more

Novel Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Very interesting and tasty concept! Basically a donut ice cream sandwich. They also have some pretty cool flavors! I tried the peanut butter glazed donut Give it a try! Won't disappoint! read more

Dinner at Chilte and wanted to give Novel a chance for dessert since we were in the neighborhood. Novel is like a ticket window at the county fair. They are in a small enclave in downtown Phoenix, not the best part of town. Business here was robust with a good sampling of dessert eaters out on a hot summer evening. They are quick and friendly with service. Novel is a grab and go only spot. The menu looks interesting and samples are allowed. The stick here is let's wrap the ice cream in a donut, coat with different toppings and drizzles. The outdoor seating is rough in the Phoenix summer. Prices here are a great value for an after dinner treat. We ordered the Madagascar vanilla with raspberry drizzle in a cone. They are very stingy with the drizzle. The vanilla was good and had a nice flavor. My wife ordered the peanut butter wasted with drizzle. The peanut butter flavor was muted. Novel was fine for the warm Phoenix summer months. We are always looking for cool treats in the summer. They are not in my hood but glad we gave them a chance and do wish them well. read more

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My Arizona family took me here and I'm so glad they did, this place absolutely lives up to the hype. After seeing the order of the customer in front of me, I immediately copied them and went for the ice cream waffle sandwich topped with Cookie Crisp. Best decision ever. The waffle was warm and fresh, the ice cream was rich and creamy, and the whole thing was indulgent, messy, and completely worth it. You can tell this is true small-batch, handcrafted ice cream made with intention. Every bite was balanced and flavorful, not overly sweet, just straight-up delicious. Easy 10/10 and a must-visit if you're in the area. read more

Damn I have to come back here again... this bourbon toffee crunch is calling my name! Hands down the best one. Now that's a personal preference since I love toffee. I did try the honey lavender but I had a lavender piece in my mouth that felt like paper.. not my fave but interesting flavor. The Cookie Monster with the cookies and Oreos were good but they did warn me my mouth would turn blue... he was right. My mouth was blue! Lol Great date night spot or some place to get dessert after a dinner out in Phoenix. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Cookie Monster and bourbon toffee crunch - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We stopped by after dinner on a Thursday night to try their famous dough melt which is an ice cream sandwich made with two warm glazed donuts and a scoop of your choice of ice cream in the middle. I chose a banana nut flavor (I might be remembering it slightly wrong, but it was banana with something crunchy) and it was absolutely amazing. We brought them home, put on Love Island and enjoyed our dough melts. It was the perfect way to end the night. They have some staple flavors and a few rotating ones. I believe the banana was a rotating flavor so go try it while you can! Just a heads up... this place is popular. There were about 10 to 15 people in line ahead of us which was a little intimidating at first, but my sister assured me it would move quickly and it did. Will keep dreaming of that dough melt until we meet again... read more

Novel Ice Cream - Ordering window outside - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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It was our first there. I had the peanut butter ice cream with caramel drizzle on top with a waffle cone. So good. Pretty fast. Always a line. It's an outdoor place. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Their menu - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Ice cream is awesome, service is great. Consistent line, but never a long wait. The most famous is the donut ice cream. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Double scoop, vanilla ice cream. - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I don't get the fuss. It's just ice cream and a dry ol donut. In a shack. Novel for some regular to me.. read more

Went here seeing them in top yelp list. While the ice cream options are good, very unique and delicious but they are a bit expensive and biggest issue is that there is no indoor seating and going here in summer means either you go eat in car or drive back immediately. We sat outside around 3-4 pm during summer and we were so done with the heat exposure. Deducting 1 star for that reason. Otherwise this is a must try place for ice cream. read more

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i've been here a handful of times and it fulfills the cravings everytime! a donut ice cream sandwich is ALWAYS the answer. the donut is sweet, warm, soft and delicious; the ice cream is its perfect compliment. this is the perfect place to go when you don't know whether you want something warm ooey gooey, or cold and creamy for dessert. there can be a line sometimes, but it goes quick!! read more

Novel Ice Cream - donut ice cream sandwich - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The donut icecream was better than I expected! They work really well together and I love the warmth of the donut and the cold of the icecream. Had to get the Cookie Monster - delicious but it does turn your mouth blue. The downtown is a super cute space too! Waited in line but it only took 10-15 minutes or so. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I love ice cream and consider it to be a necessary food group that should be ingested EVERYDAY! After getting a massage, I absolutely needed my ice cream fix. I especially loved the flavors they have listed but what really closed the deal was the Dough Melt. I got my Dough Melt with their Winter Spice and the hubs got their Bourbon Caramel Toffee Crunch. The stop was totally worth it and that Dough Melt was so delicious! The staff was also super friendly and our order came out quickly. read more

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I had a great experience; my ice cream donut sandwich was delicious. The guy who took my order was very kind, the service was fast, and my donut was fluffy and fresh. read more

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One of the things that's always been a bummer for me and my love of beer is that my wife absolutely can't stand it. However today oh today Novel ice cream pulls up in their food truck and creates the most perfect of pairings second only to wifey and me is Novel and the Wren! Thanks for doing this we had a wonderful time read more

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Novel is a walk up ice cream spot that serves soft warm donut with a scoop of ice cream in the middle. Had one with vanilla ice cream, amazing. Can't wait to visit again and try other flavors. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My family and I came here because of how highly reviewed it was. It seemed like THE dessert place in Phoenix based on what we saw online. We're from Texas and made the drive from our hotel to try it. The flavors were fun and interesting. Honey lavender was one of the best ice creams we've ever had. Super reasonably priced. Fun variety. The service, though, wasn't great. I get that they have a line to get through but I watched the gentleman at the window be short with the guest in front of us and again with my entire party. We didn't need 5 star service but he seemed genuinely annoyed that there were people at his ice cream shop.. which was a bummer. Overall, it was fine - I was just shocked at how the cashier handled our transaction. And that's the main thought I'm walking away with, unfortunately. read more

Quirky cool store, just in a not so friendly part of town. Limited parking, but if you can survive getting there and finding a safe place to park, the ice cream is worth it. Their claim-to-fame is their Dough Melt in which they fill a doughnut with your choice of ice cream. They have a variety of ice cream flavors, but I went the basic vanilla. It was fantastic. I am not a fan of doughnuts at all, not seeing the value whether taste or nutrition-wise, but had to try the Dough Melt due to what I had read about it. If you love doughnuts and you love ice cream, this is the place for you. I have to admit, despite my feelings about doughnuts, the Dough Melt is a good as advertised and raved about in reviews. The next time I go I'll probably get just the ice cream, but I'm definitely looking forward to going back. read more

This was my second time visiting this cute establishment. I got the matcha dough melt, which is ice cream smashed in between a doughnut, literally iconic! They also have the Leslie knope which is ice cream in between a freshly made waffle. That was really good too, but it was decided that it's alittle too heavy with the ice cream. The dough melt is the clear winner for me. The ice cream itself is so good and creamy. The bourbon Carmel toffee crunch was my favorite. The matcha is really light and lovely too. Great vibe with some great dessert in this heat! read more

Novel Ice Cream - Menu - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Novel is in a cute place where it's all outdoor seating (so just be prepared on a hotter day or coming during the day). You order at the window. The ice cream was really good! I got the Leslie Nope which is a Belgium waffle ice cream sandwich with their bourbon caramel toffee ice cream. read more

Novel Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Yeah, it really is that good. I got the dough melt with strawberry ice cream and Oreo topping. The doughnut was so warm and light - not heavy at all. I was gonna take it home but ended up eating it all in the car anyway. Long line but it went fast read more

Novel Ice Cream - Dough Melt with strawberry ice cream and Oreo topping - Desserts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I do not know why I did not write a Yelp review for Novel Ice Cream sooner. This year, Novel Ice Cream earned the top spot as the nation's number one ice cream shop, and deservedly so. They were also the top ice cream shop in the United States in 2019, so I am not surprised to see them ranked No. 1 once more. My discovery of Novel Ice Cream was in either late 2017 or early 2018. When I saw the overwhelmingly positive reviews it received on Yelp, I gave it a try. When I arrived there, it was still a good thirty minutes before they opened. I never thought that a tiny red shack would become my favorite ice cream place. There is a reason they say not to judge a book by its cover. When the previous owner, Brandon, saw me patiently waiting outside, he allowed me to come in ten minutes early to sample flavors to see if there was anything I liked. Upon trying my first sample, I realized I had found a new favorite ice cream place, and Novel Ice Cream has been my favorite ice cream shop since. Novel has eight flavors available every day, and four that rotate periodically. Of all the flavors I have tried, not a single one has disappointed me. Not only is their ice cream divine, but their sorbets are also exceptional. Their sorbets are also very refreshing. I also like that they allow samples. The service is friendly. No matter how long the line is, it moves quickly, and the wait is worth it. While I enjoy everything on the menu, my favorite item that Novel offers is the dough melt. While many ice cream flavors go well with the dough melt, the sorbets are hit or miss, depending on the flavor you get. They put a generous scoop of ice cream in the dough melt, along with a topping of your choice. It is their most popular item for a reason. You can never go wrong with the dough melt. For such high-quality ice cream, the prices are very reasonable. That is another thing I appreciate about Novel. I also like that they are a local, family-owned business. You can tell they care about making the best ice cream possible. The current owner, Shawn Allard, purchased Novel in August 2023, and I would like to give him a shout-out for ensuring the quality has remained consistent all these years. I also like the courtyard the shop is in. There are many shops in the area, including a barber shop. It has been a great pleasure being a regular customer for the last several years. If you are looking for a great ice cream shop in the Phoenix area, Novel Ice Cream is the place to go. I will continue to support Novel and spread the word about how great they are. When it comes to ice cream in Arizona, Novel is the king. read more

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