April 23, 2014

Wall's Old Fashioned Ice Cream

Heading to Wall’s is like stepping into the past, as the tiny all-white location forces you to park on a dirt lot and sit on the outdoor stone tables. For being a city with such enticing and blistering weather, Miami is lacking when it comes to Ice Cream parlors. You would think that the year-round sun and lack of a distinguished winter season would make people crave refreshing treats all the time. Sadly, this is not the case. Because of it, people that do want ice cream have to settle for multi-national chains like Cold Stone or Marble Slab. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to turn my nose at creations from these stores, but nothing beats going out to a local parlor and indulging in a properly prepared sundae. Thankfully, we do have a few. And by few I mean one or two, and they are separate enough from each other where they don’t even have to compete for costumers.

The first one I would like to bring up is Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream; a family owned and operated business selling local ice cream and homemade fudge. Classic cartoons like old-school Mickey Mouse are on constant replay projected on the walls, and murals of circuses decorate the rest of the building providing a sense of nostalgia. The service is friendly and not rushed, allowing you to sample as much of the ice cream as you would like. I typically come here for a two-scoop cone. The massive softball-sized scoops are enough to satisfy my ice cream craving, but for those looking for a more indulgent treat, they offer sundaes using their homemade cookies and brownies or banana splits. The local ice cream is thick and creamy, leading to the impression that it is of high quality. The flavors offered are a bit more creative than what you would expect in such an old-school type of place, with the selection including things like cinnamon or mamey.

Along with the ice cream, they offer homemade fudge. I think I can name the places that offer fudge in Miami with one hand, so the fact that this is even a consideration is a major draw for me. The fudge is properly prepared and a large variety of flavors are provided, making this a must-stop for me when in the area.

Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream has my heart for offering me a taste of my childhood. Although it is true that I am limited in my choices when it comes to a local ice cream parlor, I can confidently say that Wall’s would be at the top of my list even if there were more places around. It may be my emotions speaking, but I think my loyalty for Wall’s will stay with me for life.