Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Polar Bear

    4.4 (65 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Polar Bear Photos

    POLAR BEAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Polar Bear

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The ladies sitting in the shade
    Jim B.

    My wife and I spent several days in Valparaiso to both visit her sister and introduce me to the town where both of them went to college. I had always wanted to go there and am very happy to say that I totally enjoyed the visit. While there, we visited a lot of places and ate most meals out. This one was actually on the way back to our flight home. We stopped in Chicago to visit a friend in Forest Park before catching our flight home from Midway. She took us for a nice long walk through some graveyards to get to Polar Bear. It was wonderful weather, and the cemeteries had some interesting things to see such as where the victims of the worst train accident involving a circus are buried. There were also lots of birds taking advantage of the trees and shrubs. By the time we got to Polar Bear, I was ready for something cold. I opted for a vanilla flurry with Heath. It was like a blizzard or concrete. The ice cream was very rich and tasty. It was a lot like frozen custard, but the signs never mentioned that. I would walk over there all the time, if I lived in the area. I would love to try a Chicago style hot dog and some of the other options that were shown in photos. I think in the summertime, it would be best to time it so that shade is on the three tables outside. It would probably be hot eating your ice cream in the sun.

    a polar bear on the side of a building
    Maronda H.

    First time coming here and I wasn't a fan. Neighborhood ice cream place in North Riverside that serves ice cream, sundaes, float and food items. There is a small parking lot in the back for you to park. The prices are a bit over the top. I ordered a small swirl ice cream cone with chocolate and vanilla. I never tasted ice cream that didn't have any taste to it. When you place your order you have to speak inside this tape down microphone. I won't be screaming for ice cream here at Polar Bear. I recommend you try other places for some real good and tasty homemade ice cream.

    Large twist with peanut butter dip
    Carolyn T.

    Solid local spot! This is the perfect place to go to get affordable soft serve ice cream. I came here for the first time since I was a teen recently on a particularly hot day after returning from the Brookfield Zoo. This would also be a great stop if you're nearby shopping at the North Riverside Mall. There were three or four picnic tables against a wall in a completely shaded area. If you've never been there, you should know that Polar Bear is a tiny stand, so there's no indoor seating. There is a menu on the outside, as well as on the inside. I didn't remember that Polar Bear also serves savory standard American fare, such as burgers, hotdogs, and fries. We skipped that, however, in favor of the soft serve. You can get your soft serve in three cake cone sizes: small, medium, and large. I opted for a small chocolate-vanilla twist, which was a TON of ice cream for only $2.89. My husband decided to get a peanut butter dip on his cone, which was absolutely delicious. The dip flavor options are peanut butter, chocolate, and cherry. I also tried a sip of the cappuccino freeze, which was excellent. I definitely recommend stopping by, especially in the summer!

    Swirl medium size cone
    Annie I.

    Delicious funnel cake and ice cream swirl. Drove 45 minutes to check this place out and it did not disappoint. Beware they do not sell bottled water but they do offer complimentary tap water. They are only open seasonal but definitely worth a try if you are in the neighborhood and in the mood for some delicious funnel cake fun!

    Chrissy L.

    Suuuuuuper cute little shop. I got the funnel cake sundae and some vanilla milk shakes. Everything was up quick and tasted amazing. They serve definitely an array of foods and desserts. Definitely worth a visit!

    Ice cream cone dipped in PB and Chocolate
    Matt L.

    Definitely a locals place. I'm giving it a star up from what I think it deserves because I feel every neighborhood deserves a place like this and this is as community-oriented as it gets. People are faithful to joints like this, and I dig it. Got a chili dog and it was the standard skinny, cheap dog, with can chili. The bun was soft. The chicken tenders my wife got were fairly good. The soft-served ice cream is where it's at though!

    Polar bear in front
    Mike O.

    It's one of these old-time ice cream shops that's been around for ages. After a trip to Brookfield Zoo, I said we'd stop by for a treat. Despite not passing through the area for nearly 10 years, I was happy to see the little hut with the fading sign of a relaxed polar bear licking a cone. It's a pretty small interior with just an order & pickup counter and no place to sit inside. There's some wooden picnic tables for eating outside, both by the street and next to the parking lot. While ice cream is their main draw, they also have burgers, hot dogs, and brats, along with fries and funnel cakes too. How's this for old school? Their carbonated drink fountain selection consists of Diet Rite, Green River, Splice, and root beer. They have soft-serve chocolate, vanilla, or twist, served in cones or in waffle dishes if you order a sundae. I went for a smoothie - the "Bear Special" which is strawberry-banana. My wife and both kids had choc-vanilla twist ice cream. Total order was under $8. Beat that, DQ or Baskin-Robbins! It's only about a 5-minute drive from the zoo, so it's a great place to stop on the way back. If you come with kids, I recommend sitting on the tables on the side closer to the residential street and not in the parking lot, since cars come racing in from Cermak.

    Menu
    Donna H.

    I've been coming here since I was 5 years old. Ah the memories. I think that's why I love it so much... Yes the soft serve is the bomb dot com but we all know memories attached to outings make a place even better. The second I got picked up from the airport I asked my dad if the Polar Bear was still open and he said "we can go tomorrow" yes! I felt like a kid again just with that answer!! I love the soft serve cone dipped in chocolate- the crunchy shell over the velvety ice cream is perfect. I set aside the fact that I'm lactose intolerant for this place. I took one for the team, being me, ha ha. My parents even ordered something! They never get dessert let alone ice cream. My mom upgraded from the small to medium sundae; the small is very small. 1 hygiene issue: the employee who made our desserts also handled the cash - he did not put on new gloves for our order & he didn't trash them after we paid. Yuck. For this I deducted a star.

    Turtle sundae... my sister couldn't wait for me to take this photo before she took a few bites! :)

    See all

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joy P.
    3
    57
    238

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Amazing smoothies, amazing food! overall great place! 10/10 would definitely recommend!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom S.
    7
    22
    4

    17 years ago

    Best soft serve ice cream I have tasted in years. Plus it's at the end of the Halloween Street!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kia P.
    194
    65
    16

    14 years ago

    This place is a gem.. Their soft serve is so awesome I haven't had anything like it! They are very reasonably priced and friendly.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Theresa C.
    65
    102
    27

    15 years ago

    I like the fake food in the window display. :P The ice cream is great!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Good ice cream. We only had cones and sundaes but they have beefs, burgers, and hot dogs too.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg K.
    13
    51
    1

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Polar Bear is definitely open, but I believe it is seasonal. It is a summer favorite. Good eats and ice cream!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Best milkshake around. So creamy and smooth. Great stop after a long bike ride or late night treat.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Polar Bear

    You might also consider

    Corned Beef Factory - Nice to know that after the move, it's still good

    Corned Beef Factory

    4.3(336 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Known solely for its corned beef, I decided to visit Corned Beef Factory because I am always up for…read moretrying different restaurants in the area. It sits among a strip of restaurants along W. Roosevelt Rd. in Maywood that I am very familiar with. Along with endorsements from Yelp reviewers like Lisa P., Stacy P., and Regena K., its 4.6-star rating from over 160+ reviews on Uber Eats provided the assurance I needed for a quality ordering experience. The menu is not particularly vegan- or vegetarian-friendly. As a pescatarian, I was interested in the tuna salad sandwich and the grilled cheese, which were the only two items I could eat. The day I ordered from Corned Beef, I wanted the tuna salad sandwich, but the price just wasn't worth it for me. I chose the grilled cheese instead, which was very affordable compared to the tuna salad. For my grilled cheese, I ordered it on Italian white bread with Thousand Island dressing, which made my mouth salivate at the thought of the pairing. Whether using Grubhub or Uber Eats, I love ordering online for the convenience and the ability to schedule a pickup time. Most of the time, my orders are ready--or nearly ready--upon arrival. By the time I reached the restaurant, my order was being finished behind the counter. Because of this smooth experience, the likelihood of me ordering online from this location again is very high. My vision of the interior was totally different from what I encountered while picking up my order. The first thing I noticed was a television off to the side of the counter, which completely took me by surprise. Below it on the wooden accent wall featured a custom sign that read, 'Wall of Fame - The Corned Beef Factory Sandwich Shop - Since 1948,' along with framed media features and reviews. The restaurant appeared clean, and the atmosphere had a nice, calm vibe. There were plenty of tables and seats inside the dining area, which made me regret not dining in. Before walking out the door, a video gambling lounge caught my eye--featuring digital slot machines, gaming chairs, and custom-themed wall murals--which I had no idea existed at Corned Beef. Inside, it featured custom-patterned casino-style carpeting, and a large wall mural depicting a packed casino floor. As for my order, I was very pleased with the appearance of the grilled cheese sandwich, which had the crisp, golden grill markings that paninis are known for. Inside was American cheese paired with Thousand Island dressing oozing slightly from the center, which made my mouth salivate in anticipation. Next to it was the bag of Metro Deli hickory barbecue-flavored, kettle-cooked potato chips I ordered, and a dill pickle spear, two of which I ended up finding inside the takeout container. My taste buds enjoyed the combination of cheese and Thousand Island dressing, which complemented each other so well. It's an unheard-of pairing, but you're hearing it from me: I loved it and will definitely pair them again. After this experience with Corned Beef Factory, I am very open to visiting again and exploring options outside of my usual favorites along Roosevelt Rd. With that said, I am happy to share my endorsement of Corned Beef Factory here on Yelp. Ambiance: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Food: 4/5 | Overall: 5/5 ~ Oh darling, let's be adventurers ~ Thomas G

    This was a nice little snack for a wonderful day. The sun was shinning the wind was blowing and a…read morehot pressed sandwich to make it even better. The service was excellent and attentive. The atmosphere is inviting and very open so you got some elbow room to chow down on this delicious treat. The one downside is there's no refills on drinks but it's understandable. I tried it , enjoyed it and hope to try some of the other sandwiches in the near future.

    Photos
    Corned Beef Factory
    Corned Beef Factory - Ruben

    Ruben

    Corned Beef Factory - Corned Beef Sandwich

    See all

    Corned Beef Sandwich

    Johnnie's Beef - Combo Beef & Sausage

    Johnnie's Beef

    4.4(2k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $

    Been wanting to come here since moving to Chicago, but haven't had the opportunity until recently…read morewhen friends were in town. We were already in the area to check out Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and then came here for lunch afterwards. We were lucky that it was a Monday at lunch time and not a more traditional peak time to be there because we got a parking space fairly quickly and even though we saw the line out the door, it moved very fast. It's very much a cash-only and no-frills type of place. Don't come here expecting them to be super friendly to you. You go up there knowing what you want to order and they are quick and on it. When you're paying, they're already getting the other customer's (behind you) order. We went for an Italian beef sandwich to split as well as a side of fries and an Italian ice. Everything was excellent. Definitely the best Italian beef I've ever had and one of my friends said it was one of the best foods he had on his week trip here. Will definitely need to return!

    Ambiance of Johnnies is a quick come-in, order, and head-out kind of spot, quick kind of service,…read morewith a few tables outside if you want to eat there. I tried the Italian beef and sausage combo with sweet and spicy peppers. Tasty, but a mouthful--I'd get the sausage on its own next time and peppers on the side. The lemon Italian ice is a must, especially on a hot summer day!

    Photos
    Johnnie's Beef - Happy customers at the front of the long line.

    Happy customers at the front of the long line.

    Johnnie's Beef - Italian lemonade

    Italian lemonade

    Johnnie's Beef - Outside seating

    See all

    Outside seating

    The Original Chickies - Breaded steak, mozzarella, onion, and giardinera.

    The Original Chickies

    3.7(171 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Love the food and the service, the only thing that really bothers me is the service fee that you…read morewill see the receipt. I think the amount of money charged for the food should be enough to pay the employees, don't look for the customer to pay the staff, i would say 5 stars but i'm taking away 1 star as my service fee

    I was pleased to find that The Original Chickies was listed on Uber Eats when I searched for it. It…read moreis a restaurant that always catches my eye while driving down Roosevelt Road en route to my barber. Its 4.9-star rating out of 20 ratings was the assurance I needed that I would have a quality experience. Looking through the menu at Chickies, I was interested in the Cheese Ravioli, Eggplant Parmigiana with Mozzarella & Red Sauce, Hand-Cut French Fries, and Jumbo Pizza Slice with a drink. I must say that I was surprised to see so many Italian items on the menu at Chickies because I always pictured it as a burger restaurant. I ended up ordering their Eggplant Parmigiana with Mozzarella & Red Sauce because it was the one thing my taste buds desired at the time--other than a slice of pizza, which I can honestly eat every day and not get bored of. I love ordering online for the convenience and the ability to schedule a pickup time. Most of the time, my orders are ready--or nearly ready--upon arrival. By the time I reached the restaurant, my order was being finished behind the counter. While waiting for my order, I just could not resist ordering a cherry milkshake--a rare item for me to see on a menu--while browsing through the menu to kill time. I joked with the employee that it is an item that will surely lure me back to Chickies. Because of this smooth experience, the likelihood of me ordering online from this location again is very high. "Mmmm... That is good!" was my first response after taking a sip of the cherry milkshake, which tasted exactly as it sounds. I had quite a few sips before even driving out of the parking lot at Chickies. It was so good that my mouth watered between sips, and I failed to take any pictures of it--which you will have to forgive me for. I was very pleased with the size of the Eggplant Parmigiana with Mozzarella & Red Sauce. It was beautifully presented and tasted delicious! Each bite offered a perfect blend of savory eggplant and rich red sauce, so I wasted no time finishing it. If you are staring at the Chickies menu and cannot decide what to get, look no further than the Eggplant Parmigiana with Mozzarella & Red Sauce--it will leave you feeling thoroughly satisfied. Being that I had a great ordering experience, I would surely order from The Original Chickies again whether it be Uber Eats delivery or takeout whenever visiting the area. Service: 5 | Ambiance: 5 | Food: 5 | Overall Rating: 5 ~ Think happy thoughts. ~ Thomas G

    Photos
    The Original Chickies - Dining area

    Dining area

    The Original Chickies - Cannoli x 2

    Cannoli x 2

    The Original Chickies - Outside view

    See all

    Outside view

    Polar Bear - icecream - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...