There were four of us who visited tonight and three of us ordered ice cream. But let's start at the beginning. The four of us were heading to Oak Park from the Northwest Suburbs on our way to a Candlelight Concert at the Art Center of Oak Park. We passed Petersen's Ice Cream on the way and began discussing the last time we had visited this ice cream parlor and then agreed we'd stop on our way back. The show ended and we headed to Petersen's. Three of us ordered a scoop in a cup each. One got butter pecan, another got cinnamon, and I got peach. I gotta say, the peach was creamy, filled with large chunks of peaches, and is insanely delicious. It was very refreshing! The woman working behind the counter has been there since 2003. She's gad a nice run in a place that has been around since 1919. Having done no research whatsoever, and not knowing if they've occupied the same space all that time; the one true thing I can say with 100% certainty is that Petersen's Ice Cream is fantastically awesome and needs to be visited more than they are now. And get the peach, it's damn good! read more

Ice was very good . Service was excellent. Shop lay out was comfortable easy to walk around . This is the new store in AZ . Happy Valley & 83rd . Just like I remember in Chicago shop . read more

Pretty cute location definitely an old school vibe! I got the ice cream soda and was pretty good! Maybe a little overpriced in my opinion. Wish they had root beer floats here! read more

Petersen's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Nice neighborhood ice cream shop with quality hard scoop style ice cream. The staff is friendly but usually only has one person working. read more

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It's a good ice cream shop with great service and many options to pick from, Highly recommend read more

Local ice cream shop in Oak Park, located right in the corner. Overall visit was just ok, the staff here are not friendly at all. Ice cream is not a name brand and melts very fast. We had the ice cream inside the business, so the heat would not affect the ice cream. We tried the banana split (Ice Cream flavors were vanilla, chocolate, strawberry), and 2 one scoop Sundae (Ice Cream flavor Blue Moon) . It was nothing special, and you choose your own toppings. read more

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Well I passed by this area several times despite knowing certain ice cream parlors in oak Park Illinois. There were two good ones and I had a craving for banana split. Unfortunately I did not know they close over rice in oak Park and I was going to get their banana Royale. The brown cow which is a competitor so this and oberweis the major team was a little too far for me to travel for ice cream on a motorcycle. So far the banana split was actually decently delicious. Service was really fast and courteousness despite being a busy Friday with kids and the weather being nice. Ambiance felt similar to the brown cow ice cream parlor an oak Park with another ice cream parlor. The only thing about this ice cream parlors are very traditional and they don't have other unusual flavors compared up oberweise and the brown cow ice parlor. otherwise this is now going to be one of my choices when I go to oak Park and want ice cream. Probably if they had much more unusual flavors into traditional ones I would give them four stars. read more

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I'm choosing to start my review addressing Customer Service. In a word, miserable. The older woman behind the counter could drive away hordes were it not for the fine quality product served. It is unacceptable, in my opinion, to have to endure her unfriendly, confrontive attitude just to get an ice cream cone. Is she not familiar with the simple concept of smiling and addressing the customer? The 3 milk shakes from The Creamery on Marion were quite tasty and you can leave without feeling the employee had a gun to their head to serve the public. read more

Gritty ice cream and terrible service. There are better options around the area. Such a shame because it occupies a great location that could host something better. read more

We got two cones of the Rainbow Sherbet and Peach and they were delicious. We were recommended to check out this spot by the lovely guide who gave us a tour of the Frank Lloyd Home and absolutely loved having this icecream and checking out the beautiful sights of the neighborhood. The interior is like a stepping into a historic American ice cream parlor! read more

THE 7-10 (BANANA) SPLIT This old timey ice cream parlor still serves plenty of hand scooped treats as it nears the century mark. I love family owned business, especially those in Oak Park. Though recent trends have brought in more corporate stores to the area (the Target on Lake St), a smattering of places like Petersen's have withstood the test of time. They've been around since 1919 which means they'll be celebrating their 100th anniversary next year, an incredible feat. The parking lot off of Chicago Ave is small, but there's plenty of tables to sit at outside plus a few inside. Selection is fantastic: everything from plain chocolate to praline pecan, mint chip to moose tracks, bubblegum to birthday cake. A single scoop is $3.25 and a double is $4.75. You can get it in a waffle cone or take a pint home, plus they offer malts and floats. Always a sucker for a banana split -- about $7.10, coincidentally -- we picked out a trio of flavors and toppings (not that you'd care, but it was strawberry + french vanilla + cookie dough topped with fresh strawberries, peanuts and whipped cream). Heavenly. Perhaps it's because Petersen's is crazy old, but the commitment to health & cleanliness isn't super. I saw a partially-eaten milkshake just chillin' (literally chillin') inside one of the freezers for no particular reason! Puddles of melted ice cream here and there, flies buzzing around.....ehh. Another reviewer mentioned a woman working here who didn't smile at all, and that's who we got. I'm sure between all of the finicky parents and little kids screaming for free samples, it wears on your patience. She seemed annoyed by having to make our complicated banana split :( :( * TL;DR * Petersen's makes an excellent companion to the Giordanos' directly across the street. Deep dish pizza & ice cream go together like.....I dunno, Peaches 'N Herb. Or Salt 'N Peppa. Or Sniff 'N the Tears because why not? A perfect pairing on a hot summer's eve. Support your local business owners and stop by Petersen's today! (also feel free to flip off Coldstone Creamery and their $18 "love it" concoctions while you're at it) read more

Petersen's Ice Cream - Banana split ($7.10) with three scoops of your choice, plus whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Please don't waste your time or $$ here. In the past this was the place to go to for delicious ice cream & more. The only thing authentic is the inside of the building which is very charming. The ice cream is terrible. You may as well buy ice cream from a grocery store & make your own creations. The ice cream tastes like a very cheap lousy generic brand you can buy at a store. Not good at all. The lady was nice. You might just want to go to McDonalds & get a ice cream cone which is much better than what you get at Petersen's. Is is sad to see a place like this which was top of the line ice cream drop in quality & taste. read more

It is historic and a neat ice cream place with mediocre ice cream. I read reviews of the staff being unfriendly, that is true. I'm not even sure they even asked us what we wanted, just looked at each of us. Do not even remember hearing a total being given. If in the area I'd go there again, but not make a special trip. read more

Limited flavors and the owner is a dour, grumpy woman who you can find outside chain smoking on her breaks. When it's staffed by young people, it's a much better ambiance. read more

This place has a lot of local lore that it really doesn't live up to. For some reason, the owner is extremely mean and perpetually unhappy, and it's become ironically funny to watch her sit outside and smoke cigarettes with a huge frown on her face and a furled brow, while children walk in to get their ice cream. It's also a place that employees a lot of young teenagers, so be ready to wait as they figure out what they're doing. The ice cream is totally fine. I don't think it's anything to write home about. Everything about this is fine, but the place gets a lot more love locally because it's been here since the beginning of time. Sometimes, that's all it takes for people to really gravitate to some thing. read more

I've always really liked Petersen's Ice Cream. Some peppermint with hot fudge in the winter...always an amazing taste delight! I visited recently - and was happy to see lots of safety precautions, and all of the same delicious flavors (maybe even more than I remember). I of course enjoyed the peppermint, but there are plenty of options for everyone's tastes of ice cream...and any type of cone. The spot was not busy when we stopped in, but the outside tables had quite a few people enjoying some deliciousness. For a quick stop, take out or anything in between, Petersen's is a great spot in the area. Crowd pleaser for years! Reasonable prices, friendly staff and plenty of safety precautions for our current environment! read more

This place used to be great but no longer. The ice cream taste freezer burnt- granular with pieces of ice in it. Not fresh tasting. The signs are messy and the freezer looks messy. The lady who runs it looks miserable and unfriendly. She used to be friendly, so hope she's ok, but the place needs some big changes with staff and ice cream. read more

Came in for a chocolate shake recently, and I have to say that it was only OK. Now I need to consider what Petersen's does well, so I'll stick to plain ol' ice cream the next time I stop by. Still, the place has its charms and I liked the person working the counter quite a bit. read more

We are new to Oak Park and are working on trying all of the great restaurants and establishments in the neighborhood. It's a beautiful Saturday night, perfect for some ice cream. So we made our way to this landmark ice cream parlor. I ordered the Praline 'n Pecan ice cream - the description made it sound delicious. Unfortunately, the ice cream didn't come close to matching the description. There were literally chunks of ice in the ice cream. Gross. And the texture was granular, just like you find when the ice cream has freezer burn. For $4 for one scoop, I would expect them to take better care of their customers and their ice cream. What a disappointment. read more

I loved this place! Ice cream was creamy and the hot fudge was kind of ridiculous! I could have eaten the hot fudge by itself as a desert. read more

Petersen's Ice Cream - an ice cream sundae with a cherry on top - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

A neighborhood tradition.... nobody else makes a perfect cinnamon ice cream . There are many unique creations there ... the Arabian Soda.... etc. I do miss the days when it was a double store. As a child , nobody rivaled the egg salad sandwich. Highly recommend! While you are on Chicago Ave. take a stroll into some of the one of the kind shops . read more

Old School Ice Cream parlor. I guess Petersen's has been here a very long time. It's a very nice and clean ice cream parlor. My daughter loves coming here. I think they are open from noon to 10 pm. The young kids that work there are pleasant. I love that they have an extra tiny scoop for the toddlers. Nice to visit if you are dining in Oak Park. read more

I am not an ice cream fan by any means so take my review with a grain of salt but I must say, my experience left quite a bit to be desired. I see reviews saying it's old fashion but the inside looked a bit depressing. It could be due to the whole COVID pandemic (2020) but even the person behind the counter seemed grumpy. She didn't greet us when we walked in, even though we locked eyes. She was also suuuper short and unhelpful which is off for an ice cream shop. Their ice cream display needs some organization. What they have in unacceptable. After the 3 time asking, "what is that?" I stopped and just guessed. I chose my flavor based on looks. I got the pecan praline or something. I DID NOT like the consistency of it. It was gooey..... why is that ice cream... gooey (squints eyes). Now the waffle cone they have. Mmmm. Extremely good. It's thick, holds it's own and it's crispy but soft at the same time. I hate to knock a business but this experience wasn't for me. read more

Our local ice cream place after dinner on summer nights! They are closed for the winter. We enjoy coming here to get ice cream. We also buy them in quarts and pints to take home! They have indoor and outdoor seatings. It is a nice and convenient place to get ice cream over the summer. read more

Great ice cream, if you're looking for something sweet and creamy in the area. In particular, I ordered a waffle cone with a scoop of butter pecan. The lady at the counter was sweet enough to let us sample lots of the flavors they offered, but the butter pecan spoke volumes to me LOL! My sister ordered a banana split with pistachio and butter pecan, which she absolutely loved. I've got to say, the butter pecan ice cream was probably the best I've ever had. Previously, I thought Margie's or Jeni's made an amazing butter pecan.. but after tasting a scoop at Peterson's I was blown away. It tasted exactly as a butter pecan scoop should taste- buttery, creamy, salty and ohh so sweet. I absolutely loved it, as it was the best butter pecan I've ever tasted and I'm not usually a butter pecan fan. I gave the place a 4 though because they need to work more on presentation. The waffle was dry and did not taste good- simple things like amping the flavor and working on storage for the cones could really change the way people enjoy the waffle cones. Additionally, it would help to change the presentation of the menu. Besides that, you could really taste the authentic flavor of their ice cream and all the history behind the ice cream. I will definitely be back and I look forward to showing all my friends the best butter pecan ice cream they could ever try!! read more

Petersen's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I have not been to Peterson's ice cream since I was little so when we came back to town for a visit from Phoenix, AZ we thought we'd give it a try and see if our childhood memories matched up to our now 47 year old reality. My husband and I each ordered two scoops of the chocolate peanut butter in the waffle cone. I have to admit I was a bit surprised when the bill came out to almost $15. But because we were on vacation I just counted it as a vacation expense and sucked it up. However, after sitting outside and feasting on our ice cream cones I told my husband that it was worth every single penny. It was soooooooooo GOOD!! And I was thrilled that my money could go to support this wonderful ice cream shop that has been around for as long as I can remember. In fact, I think it tasted better than my childhood memories. Well done Peterson's!! read more

Sadly, whenever I'm in this area it's always for pizza across the street at Giordano's where I stuff myself and can't even think about ice cream. Sunday though, was National Ice Cream Day and after a meh dinner at another pizza establishment that will not be named, me and my sidekick had to get something to make up that void. Petersen's to the rescue! It's a small shop. It's a basic ice cream shop. But the ice cream creations are what ice cream is all about. Hand scooped, ribbons of fresh whipped cream. And nuts. I know I should think about all the allergy kids, but man, so glad I can get some nuttiness here! These scoops are generous. My one scoop hot fudge sundae was enough for me. Oh and speaking of hot fudge--they layer some of that rich chocolate goodness on the bottom of your sundae as well as on the top. Thank you for knowing how to make an epic sundae! The flavors are so rich too--my son got scoops of some of his favorites--birthday cake and peppermint. Big scoops for his smiley face. Outdoor seating, friendly service. Great place. read more

What a disappointment. This is where deans of old fashioned ice cream parlor experiences and hot fudge sundaes go to die. Came in on a Friday afternoon to surprise my little and boy were we surprised. The older woman with the Eastern European accent was about as friendly as a half drunk Russian that just ran out of Vodka. The bathrooms were not clean. The place was empty. I ordered a banana split with mint chocolate chip ice cream, strawberry, and chocolate. I got chocolate chip. I suspect this is because the woman would not get off the phone to listen to my order. Anyhoo, due to her demeanor, I felt it useless to request her to remake the banana split. The ice cream tasted cheap. It is not the high fat creamy texture that I remembered. It was served in a plastic container instead of the traditional glass boat. The bathrooms were not clean and the soap dispenser in the women's restroom was broken. There were boxes piled around the restaurant and the cases were empty. Either this place is a summer only operation or they are on their way out of business. In any event, I won't return. read more

Petersen's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I picked up 3 pints today on my way to a birthday party and we all enjoyed the vanilla bean and mint chip ice creams and the raspberry sorbet. I appreciate there are a few vegan options. The lady behind the counter was making fresh waffle cones so the place smelled really nice. The freezer was adequately stocked and the prepackaged ice creams tasted as good as the handpacked flavor. Free street parking. No line. A pleasant visit today. Fair price at $5.50 per pint. read more

I was coming from an event in Oak Park and spotted this Ice Cream Parlor at the corner. I pulled over and parked my car. Of Course I Love me some Ice Cream. I went inside to a sweet aroma that filled up my nostrils. It has like an old fashion style to it but in a cute way. They have ribbons on the walls in a frame for customers to view. Petersen's has been around for a decade of years. They make their own waffle cones and ice cream. That's way it smelled so sweet and yummy inside this place. It has like an old school family environment which makes you feel welcoming. The young girl behind the counter was super attentive and friendly. The prices are a bit pricey for a cone. The quality of the ice cream is not all that great. It had like an old taste to it. I was able to get a few samples before I made my selection. There were 2 flavors that looked very interesting to sample The Blue Moon and Superman. The ice cream was bursting with a lot of nice colors and I was sure that I had found my pick of flavors. To my disappoint the ice cream had like a unique taste to it and the excitement that I had went straight out of my mouth. I'm not going to be harsh and give it a poor rating. The customer service was nice and the ice cream parlor is old fashioned but has a family inviting atmosphere. There is even an outside patio where you can sit outside and enjoy your ice cream with the family. read more

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Went here after looking at the Frank Lloyd Wright guided house tour and walking around the neighborhood (Oak Park). Ice cream just sounded so good on this warm summery afternoon. Their ice cream flavor offerings are more on the traditional side and there were so many to choose from that it took us slow decision-makers a bit of time to make-up our minds. My bf and I got a double scoop of mint chip and cookies & cream ($4.75). I preferred the cookies'n cream one because I quickly got tired of the mint (expected) while my bf happily finished the mint flavor since he hasn't had it in so long. There is indoor and outdoor seating available to enjoy your ice cream. read more

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If you are in Oak Park and you love ice cream - you have to go to Petersen's. Petersen's is an old fashioned ice cream shoppe that has been an institution in Oak Park since before I was born. My parents went on a date there once. There is a parking lot that isn't private parking but usually has spaces near by and street parking. It is perfect for a date night or to bring the family. It's also great if you're having a rough day and absolutely need a waffle cone filled with chocolate peanut butter ice cream. The waffle cones are made in the shop. They also dip cake cones in chocolate in house. The ice cream is phenomenal. The trip is worth it just for the moment you walk in and smell the aroma of freshly made waffle cones and hot fudge. It even has the old fashioned seating. Definitely a must go place! read more

I found a dollar on the street in Oak Park, so I promptly made a beeline to spend it on an ice cream cone. Petersen's looks like an old-school ice cream parlor, with vintage stuff on the walls to add to the ambiance. My scoop of vanilla fudge had small cubes of fudge, and it was good but not delicious. The plus was that the one-scoop serving looked almost like two scoops. The odd moment came when I was about to pay for my cone, but the register lady mistakenly rung up my purchase along with that of the attractive young lady behind me with two quarts of hand-packed ice cream. I guess this could have been a "meet cute" moment if I had offered to indeed pay for her purchase too, but my mind does not think straight when I have an ice cream cone in my hand. read more

Petersen's Ice Cream - Petersen's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

This ice cream is sooo yummy! I had Petersen's a couple of weeks ago after a long 2-hours of studying. Lol. I ordered the strawberry milkshake. The shake was delicious. It was thick and flavorful. It took a bit of time to order but that was due to the fact that there was only one person working there. Petersen has a lot of seating and it has a very rich history. Definitely worth going for a ice cream run, to take the family, or to hang with friends. read more

Absolutely superb ice cream. This place is over 100 years old! Best raspberry sorbet I've ever tasted. VERY highly recommended.

Dude, this place is heaven. I sent my husband out for a banana split one night, expecting some soft serve thing from the local hot dog place, but got a piece of heaven from Petersen's instead. The ice cream alone is enough to rave about, but they do the banana split justice here. Fresh strawberries on top of the chocolate ice cream, rich chocolate syrup on top of the strawberry ice cream and fresh pineapple - no syrupy crap from a jar - on the vanilla. I was so excited. I also love that they supply a few local resturants - like Poor Phil's so that I can have this tasty treat more often! Oh Petersen's, please stay where you are! read more

All I need to say is Hot Fudge Turtle Ice Cream!!! Cheers!

Change isn't always a good thing... Still riding high from my trip to AT&T with the P's I decided to treat myself to some ice cream. I grew up in Oak Park and coming to Petersen's was always a treat. I remember sitting in the booth eating my kid's sundae - it came in the old fashioned metal cups and was decorated with animal crackers and a paper umbrella. Blue ribbons and ice cream scoops adorned the walls from state fairs and other competitions won. Sadly today the Petersen's I visited today wasn't the one with all the great old memories. A while ago the restaurant/soda fountain portion of the place closed leaving only the sweet shop open. Here's what I thought of the sweet shop: (1) The sweet shop hasn't aged gracefully, in fact it needs a face lift - desperately. I don't think it's gotten one since some time in the mid-80's. Some fresh paint, new wall paper, and a new menu board would do wonders for the place. It could also stand to improve its curb appeal too, you know like an actual sign or something, just sayin... (2) Ice cream. At least some things stay the same. I got a waffle bowl of the cinnamon ice cream and wasn't disappointed. It was totally worth the stomach ache I got later (stupid lactose intolerance). Thick, rich, creamy with just the perfect amount of cinnamon. (3) Prices. This place is a bit pricey and I'm not sure why. I know the ice cream is homemade, not mass produced like Baskin Robbins, but really. Since they obviously aren't investing in redecorating and there was only one person working the overhead can't be that bad. My single scoop in a waffle cone was nearly $5 and I was in the burbs, ouch! (4) The atmosphere. Maybe it was the decor, but this place had a sad, defeated vibe about it. Except for a table of parents with screaming kids, how is it they know how to scream at just the right octave to make my ears bleed, this place was dead. I know Tuesday afternoon isn't a popular time to get ice cream, but somehow I don't think this place sees much action. Bottom line: The ice cream is as good as it ever was, but the ambiance is lacking. Hopefully, they'll spruce the place up so it's around for a long time to come; I'd really hate to see a place like this die. read more

This is a very unique ice cream place. The ice cream tasted very good. They have some interesting flavors. For example, my son loves the superman flavor ice cream which it has l a raimbow color to it. I had a strawberrie shake and it was super good. The only thing that It could be better would be the attitude of the person that took our order. I'm not sure if it was the owner but she never smiled while we where there. As soon as we got there every one walked in, so there was a line behind us. She was very efficient and I didn't see any one waiting too long. They should have had another person helping. I will be coming here again. I loved the quality of the ice cream and the place is very nice and interesting. Definitely recommend it! read more

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We walked up to the door at 8:45. The hours listed state they are open until 9. We peered inside the locked store to see the girls packing up the store actively avoiding eye contact. I will be taking my business elsewhere from now on. read more