21 Best Ice Cream Shops in Peoria

“very relaxing and enjoyable for before and after work“

“This was really good ice cream. Got monster cookie, birthday cake and raspberry chocolate chunk and cherry. The birthday cake had bits of frosting throughout. The monster cookie had different types of cookies throughout. The raspberry chocolate chunk was very delicious.“

“Our first visit...won't be our last, for sure! The best mussels this side of the Mississippi!!! Amazing, authentic bolognese...and the texture of the pasta, WOW!! Our waitress, Courtney, was outstanding...from carefully explaining specials to the attention she gave our party of 6 throughout dinner!💜“

“It's pretty good! A little expensive but that's pretty standard for boba. Everything was tasty I'd definitely go back. I made my own smoothie with horchata and brown sugar. We also had hazelnut crunch and cookies and cream gelato which were very tasty.“

“Dined in. Greeted warmly by all staff. I had a preference for my meal plan high they executed perfectly. This is my neighborhood Freddy’s and I have a great experience here 100% of the time.

Dietary restrictions: No salt. Which they did accommodate on the burger patty as well as the fries.“

“Great food with something for everyone. My first time having the mashed potato and gravy side—yummy comfort food!“

“I love this spot because it’s chill and it’s never overly full for my toddler who can get easily overstimulated. The snacks are delicious and I love that they have water-based ice cream because she’s also lactose intolerant. The girls are always fast with service and attentive.

Vegetarian options: Fruits (pico de gallo) and water based ice cream“

“Amazing cookies and customer service. We will be back soon❤“

“Last week you had toppings for the cookies- sprinkles and snickers pieces. Earlier in the week I got the one with sprinkles and they used a spoon to top the cookies, later in the week they dipped their hands (w/ gloves) in both the snickers and sprinkles. I totally understand there can be cross contamination with these cookies and that's on the consumer (I usually will ask them to change gloves), but something like this I felt was pure laziness and a little unacceptable. The service here is also lacking. The employees aren't friendly by any means. This is a customer service job. You chose to work here. Needs some improvement.“

“Ice ice baby! Great price on 25 pounds of ice $2.50 they have smaller bags but that's big one is best value compared to all the other places I've researched. On a fixed income you have to research everything that you know you will purchase over and over to get best deal AND best service. I like dealing with local businesses wherever possible. I have met several people that work there. All very laid back and friendly and...their ice cream is incredible. "Thrifty" I think is what the brand was...anyway they got automated water dispenser out front etc....I found my ice store.“

“Just as delicious as any other Cold Stone location but a twist! This location is also a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. We grabbed some mixed ice cream and also a caramel apple, what a combo. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for dessert in the area.“

“Water and Ice – A Cool Treat and an Even Cooler Experience

If you're looking for a place that perfectly combines refreshing treats, nostalgic charm, and genuine customer service, Water and Ice is absolutely worth a visit. My recent experience there was nothing short of delightful, and I felt compelled to share just how much I appreciated everything from the service to the product quality.

My fiancé and I decided to treat ourselves to something cool and flavorful on a warm afternoon, and we both agreed cherry shaved ice was exactly what we were craving. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The staff was attentive and patient, answering a couple of quick questions we had about the flavor options and portion sizes.

We ordered two cherry shaved ices, and I have to say, they were perfectly crafted. First off, the texture of the ice was incredibly smooth and fluffy — not gritty or chunky like some places serve. It melted in your mouth in the most satisfying way, with just the right consistency to hold the syrup without becoming a slushy mess. That alone speaks volumes about the quality and preparation standards Water and Ice holds itself to.

Now, the cherry flavor — it was bold, vibrant, and tasted like a true classic. Not overly sweet or artificial, but rather full-bodied and well-balanced. It had that old-school cherry snow cone vibe but elevated. You could tell the syrup was premium and thoughtfully measured. Each bite was consistently flavored, not just syrup on top and bland ice underneath. It was mixed well, and every spoonful brought that same punch of cherry goodness.

We enjoyed our shaved ices sitting outside, and honestly, it was one of those simple, quiet moments that just hits right. Sharing that moment with my fiancé — two matching cherry treats, a little break in the day, and a cool breeze — made the experience even more memorable.

Also worth mentioning: the pricing was fair, and the portions were generous. For a budget-friendly treat, we definitely felt we got great value. You can tell they care not only about quality but also about giving customers something they’ll want to come back for.

To wrap it up, Water and Ice isn’t just a place to grab a quick cold dessert — it’s a place to enjoy an experience. Whether you’re stopping by for a shaved ice, ice cream, water, or snacks, they make it feel like a treat in more ways than one. If you haven’t tried their cherry shaved ice yet (or any of their other amazing flavors), do yourself a favor and stop by. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Favorites: Cherry Shaved Ice
Would I return? Absolutely — and I’ll be bringing friends next time.“

“I enjoyed my free Birthday ice cream, but they only had one sugar free ice cream choice. Last year it was a regular scoop of ice cream. This year it was just a kiddie scoop.“

“I love this local coffee spot!“

“I like going to DQ after work for a well deserved Turtle Sundae❣️“

“kids love it 🤗🤗 They love samples..then picking and adding toppings!!“

“Please add option to add tip when paying with debit“

“Always a great time to order from Nekter, I always order through the app, very convenient and if I’m honest since it’s not “Fast Food” in a good way there’s no huge demand where your wait would be super long for a smoothie etc.“

“Slushy drinks are not good. They taste artificial and nothing like the actual fruits (we got strawberry and mango).

The boba has no flavor but isn’t bad texture wise.

The drinks take forever to be made but the person is very friendly.“

“customer service was great. they customized an order for me & it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! *took the triple chocolate brownie dessert- replaced the chocolate on top with strawberries... soooo good thank you all“