22 Best Ice Cream Shops near Holden

“Love Meola’s but they need to allow for people to put toppings on ice cream. Come on. Ridiculous that you can’t add a topping on simple ice cream.“

“I give Goodhiles a Five star rating for many reasons. The store is small in size but offers variety of items for customers. Hot and cold breakfast, lunch and dinner menus ranging from breakfast sandwiches to subs, pizza and ect. A massive variety of ice cream flavors. Alcoholic beverages from ice cold beer - wine and a premium Rum such as Captains.
In addition, candy, chips, Tabasco, gum, energy drinks, fruit drinks and ect. There is also two areas to sit and eat and a picnic table outside as well. Great place to stop when traveling. Also the Owner Tony, his son and all staff are extremely friendly and always courteous.“

“This place is the best! I have never been disappointed by their Gelato. So good. 😋“

“Our favorite family spot for ice cream. 🩷🩷“

“I live quite far away, but I still make the drive here regularly because it’s totally worth it. The menu selection is so diverse and truly authentic Vietnamese street food. The bánh tráng trộn (rice paper salad) is delicious! I'm a big fan of rice paper salad. I've tried it in many states and spots, but this one is definitely among the top for me. Highly recommend!“

“Ice cream and gelato differ fundamentally in their formulation, processing, and physical properties, all of which stem from nuanced variations in food chemistry. Both are frozen emulsions of fat, water, and air stabilized by proteins and sugars, but the ratios and techniques used to create them yield distinct textures and flavor profiles.

Ice cream typically contains a higher fat content—often between 10–16%—due to the use of heavy cream. This elevated fat level contributes to a richer mouthfeel and acts as a barrier to flavor release, which is why ice cream often requires more intense flavoring. Additionally, ice cream is churned at higher speeds, incorporating more air (known as overrun), which can reach up to 100%. This results in a lighter, fluffier texture but dilutes flavor intensity.

Gelato, by contrast, uses more milk than cream, resulting in a fat content closer to 4–8%. This lower fat matrix allows for more immediate flavor perception. Gelato is churned more slowly, incorporating less air—typically 20–30% overrun—which gives it a denser, silkier texture. It’s also served at slightly warmer temperatures than ice cream, reducing firmness and enhancing flavor volatility.

From a colloidal chemistry perspective, the differences in fat globule dispersion, air cell size, and freezing point depression all contribute to the sensory divergence between these two frozen desserts.“

“Very friendly and the banana boat is to die for on a hot day or date night. Serves two people easily 😋 Delicioso“

“My kids love the ice cream and we love the north shore style roast beef sandwiches! The fries are amazing“

“Fried scallops and onion rings are to die for. I can’t believe this place gets bad reviews. I live in Sterling and have eaten here for years. I’ve had fried saclllops in a lot of places throughout New England and these are the best!! Food comes out super fast too!“

“Delicious ice cream no matter what you order!“

“MOTW has the best chai in the city. I love the soft, creamy, silky texture of their Yemeni chai. I love the way they decorated the 38th st location, very inclusive and powerful pictures. Great spot to get some work or reading done. Also love their prayer or meditation area. It’s such a wonderful coffee shop. Usually Raadia is there when we go and she’s such a kind and friendly soul, always so helpful and customer focused.“

“Great experience and service“

“The best frozen yogurt and the staff is always super nice and friendly!“

“Enjoyed every bite of fish & chips/onion rings. It came out fast and hot. Waitress Lilly was very attentive and we definitely will be back.“

“Awesome service! Good food and great customer satisfaction! Definitely a place to take my money!“

“Went to Meolas ice cream today only to find out that the hours have changed and they don’t open until 2:15. It was barely 1:00. The owner, Mr Meola, came to the window to tell us about the change and there were no workers there yet. I had two little grandkids and an elderly aunt and uncle that were a little disappointed. Mr Meola took the time to make all 5 ice creams himself as other customers were pulling in also thinking they were open. He took the time to wait on each and every car that pulled up even though he was closed. I had four very happy campers and I’m willing to bet that the other people he helped never even knew he was closed. Thank you, Mr Meola, that was so very kind.“

“The Broadway Restaurant catered our Thanksgiving meal for us, and it was amazing! Every single dish was beyond delicious. What really meant the world to us was how they created a special no/low-fat, low-sugar meal just for my husband. They didn’t just “make it work” they made it delicious. He got to enjoy Thanksgiving without worrying about anything, and that was huge for us. It felt like such a gift…thoughtful, personal, and absolutely delicious from start to finish. We’re just so grateful. They made the holiday feel easy, happy, and honestly… pretty darn perfect. Thank you to everyone who played a part in preparing such a wonderful meal for our family. We appreciate it so much!“

“clean classy fresh and natural cozy vibes and great prices“

“once again this dairy queen decorated my daughters birthday cake and they did an amazing job ! looked identical to the picture i gave them to reference ! ( we didn’t want the purple heart on top or any writhing since we had a cake topper) . my daughter also has a tree nut allergy and they take that very seriously and take the precautions needed during preparing the cake . we are so grateful and so happy with how her cake turns out year after year 💗 thank you so much 💗“

“I was Happy to try the Flamethrower Burger w/Fries,along with a Medium drink/Flurry(Awesome service worthy of 10,000/10,000 of awesomeness)“

“Insomnia cookies seems a bit pricey up front.
But nowhere else can you get your favorite cookies warm and gooey on demand.
You get what you pay for. And you're paying for quality, convenience, and service. This place makes a perfect ending to an evening out.“