The Ultimate List Of LI's Best Ice Cream Spots: Patch Readers

LONG ISLAND, NY — While summer may be winding down, the current temperatures prove its not over yet.

Patch recently asked readers to share their favorite ice cream spots on Long Island. We received numerous submissions from all around the island on who makes summer's favorite treat best.

Fall officially begins on Saturday, Sept. 23. Before it gets too cold, be sure to check out some of these incredible ice cream establishments, and make your own decision on who does it best.

Nassau County

Scoops & Cones (Farmingdale, Wantagh)

Scoops And Cones Cafe offers dozens of flavors of ice cream served various ways. Try the frozen delight in a cup or cone, infused with cereal, on French toast, over iced coffee, in a brownie bowl, or on a "waffle bowl" or "waffle yacht." The "waffle yacht" is two scoops of ice cream, four waffle sticks and three toppings for $9.50.

"It’s got a ton of butter fat in it, great quality; mom and pop shop, and the owner actually cares about the place and the people who come into the place," owner Thomas Cacciopoli previous told Patch.

Krisch’s Restaurant and Ice Cream (Massapequa)

If you want a traditional American ice cream experience (or wish you went to Rydell High), look no further than Krisch's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour.

Operating for 102 years, the establishment started in Hollis, Queens in 1920 and moved to Massapequa in 1955.

It serves more than 35 homemade ice cream flavors, sundaes, shakes, malts and desserts, all while maintaining "that original 1950s atmosphere."

Their signature "Kitchen Sink" — a whopping sink full of 10 scoops of ice cream, three toppings, a banana, and whipped cream — was featured on "Man v. Food" television show. Brave patrons who take the Kitchen Sink "Challenge" and eat it within one hour receive a free t-shirt and a picture on the wall.

The restaurant also offers a full diner style menu.

Marshall’s Ice Cream Bar (Massapequa)

"Our favorite ice cream is Marshall’s Ice Cream Bar 4276 Merrick Rd Massapequa (family run since the 1950’s). My favorite flavor is homemade banana soft serve. Sometimes I choose a strawberry and banana swirl and top it off with real chocolate jimmies — they are sprinkles made out of real chocolate. This place is a traditional, old-fashioned ice cream shop, when you open the doors you will be greeted with the 60 something years of sweetness. They usually have about 6 flavors of soft serve and many flavors of hard ice cream as well as frozen cakes and novelties. Banana is my favorite, chocolate my husband's."

-Maureen Dolloff

“My family and I love Marshall's Ice Cream Bar in Massapequa on Merrick Road. Their ice cream fudge cakes are our favorite with their variety of flavors. Their most common is the pistachio cake. They also make a spumoni ice cream cake which you need to order 5 days in advance because they only make them once a week! Their cakes are so fresh and delicious, you'll never buy an ice cream cake from anywhere else again!”

-Jess Costabile

Sweet Spot Cafe Long Island (Seaford)

A beloved local spot, Sweet Spot Cafe offers a variety of homemade flavors and gelatos.

Manager Chris Paci said that employees strive to create an inviting environment, where you are greeted "with a smile."

La Carraia Gelateria Cafe (East Meadow)

Get a taste of Italy in this East Meadow gelataria. As part of a Florence chain, and its East Meadow store is its first New York location.

Co-owner Naveed Haroon told Patch that everything is sourced directly from Florence, from their machines, to their ingredients, making it the most "authentic" gelato you can find on Long Island.

They also serve coffee, lattes, and breakfast paninis.

Nana’s Ice Cream And Coffee House (Westbury)

If you're looking for a place to bring your kids or enjoy a conversation with a friend, look no further than Nana's Ice Cream and Coffee House.

"We just wanted we wanted to have a really nice, homey, comfortable and inviting space for everyone," said Tiffany Blair, who co-owns the business with her husband.

What makes Nana's unique is that they focus on using natural ingredients. For example, they make their own waffles and waffle cones fresh daily, using a secret recipie. They also make their own whipped cream for their "pretty extensive" sundae menu.

With a New Orleans inspired full menu, their burgers are always 100 percent grassfed and fries are baked and cripsed.

It was also one of the first spots around to offer bubble tea, as well as ice cream bubble tea drinks. All bubble tea — including their boozy bubble tea shakes — are made natural cane sugar and zero corn syrup.

The establishment also offers trivia on Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm.

Spoons Ice Cream & Cereal Bar (Seaford)

Breakfast for dessert never tasted this good, at Spoons Ice Cream in Seaford. Patrons can pick a vanilla or chocolate base and then choose their favorite cereals and treats for the perfect soft serve or milkshake blend.

Sweet Charlie’s (New Hyde Park)

There's nothing short of "sweet" on the menu at Sweet Charlie's in New Hyde Park. The establishment offers rolled ice cream, ice cream blasters, warmed cookie ice cream sandwiches, liege waffles, and soft serve custards.

It's one of 16 locations throughout the country, and its only New York store.

Let’s Roll! (Merrick)

This rolling ice cream spot is a rocking good time. Start out by picking your base of traditional, non-dairy ice cream or frozen yogurt. Once you pick out a flavor, watch your personal blend magically come together as employees will roll the ice cream in front of you.

Then, enjoy unlimited toppings until your heart's delights.

Owner Craig Fleisher told Patch that he values the quality and service, as they use real milk and cream.

"It’s the place to go, if you like ice cream," he said.

Lengo’s Ice Cream World (Merrick)

Considered a community staple since 1985, Lengo's Ice Cream World makes their own ice cream in a variety of flavors. Run by a Taiwanese couple, it also features frozen yogurt that is low-fat, low-carb and high-protein, as well as Atkins, paleo and keto-friendly choices.

Dolce Gelataria (Bellmore, Franklin, Howard Beach)

This Nassau County based gelataria offers 24 delicious flavors, all homemade in their Franklin Square location. Fan favorite flavors include Ferrero Rocher, smores, rainbow cookie and more.

They also offer coffee, espresso, cookies, pastries and cakes.

Suffolk County

Northport Sweet Shop Luncheonette (Northport)

If you're looking for a timeless ice cream experience, look no further than Northport Sweet Shop Luncheonette. Open since 1929, this family run store serves homemade ice cream and countertop classics like sundaes, ice cream floats, egg creams, soft serves, shakes, chocolates, hardy candy favorites and more.

It also offers classic dine-in meals like notable hamburgers, and bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches.

Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen (Bridgehampton)

Jamie Laggis, manager of Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen, told Patch that the store has been in business for almost 100 years. Established in 1925, her family bought the business in 1981.

The community staple offers home made, old fashion ice cream made with natural ingredients.

"We have the same flavors all year like coffee chip, peppermint, and oreo — with seasonal flavors in the summer like peach and orange sherbert," Laggis said.

They also serve shakes, sundaes, and old-fashioned ice cream sodas, as well as breakfast all day and a full lunch menu in the luncheonette tradition.

While it does not have a website, Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen is open all year round with hours that vary on the season.

Old Fashioned Ice Cream (West Babylon)

Family owned and operated for 50 years, Old Fashioned creates more than 50 flavors of handmade ice cream. They also offer six soft serve flavors, non dairy flavors, as well as alternate feature flavors and year round.

Steven Stoehrer, who co-owns Old Fashioned with his wife, Carol, says that compared to other establishments, they "don't hold back on quality", and use a heavy butter fat ice cream.

"We don't hold back on anything," Stoehrer said. "It's still the same recipe as it was 40 years ago."

Coyle’s Homemade Ice Cream (Bay Shore, Islip)

Founded in 1985 by the Coyle family, Coyle’s Homemade Ice Cream is a true "staple of the community."

Bought by executive turned business owner Kathy Manzione and friend John Proto, the establishment is desribed as an "old fashioned, 50s vibe" with red and white booths, and old-fashioned soda fountains.

It offers about 60 homemade flavors, all made on-site, including vegan, non-dairy, and sorbets, as well as treats for four-legged friends.

Coyle's is also known of its specialty ice cream cakes, like its Banana Split Cake, made up of 20 flavors, crunchies, a banana, and a hot fudge top.

"Every time you take a piece, it's something different," said Manzione.

Close to the Bay Shore ferry, people from all over know Coyles, and are known to take a scoop — or a pint — to their Fire Island adventures.

Ice Cream Social (Commack)

Ice Cream Social specializes in artisanal ice cream handcrafted in house. Owned by Chef Rob McCue and his wife, Christine, an Art Teacher/Master Cake Designer, the establishment creates a whopping 64 flavors of handmade ice cream, including vegan flavors.

One of their fan favorite specialty items is a Dole Whip soft serve, that can transport anyone to a tropical paradise in one bite.

It also offers hand blended shakes, egg creams, floats, malted sodas, and specialty cakes.

Strong Island Ice Cream (Nesconset)

Strong Island Ice Cream boasts 45 homemade flavors, including special ones like Rice Krispy Treat, Smores, Piña colada, as well as other classic ones.

Founded by a former employee of Krisch’s Restaurant and Ice Cream in Massapequa, Featured on this year's Long Island Ice Cream tour.

MilkyWays Ice Cream & Cereal Bar (Huntington, Coram)

Are you a lover of cereal? If so, you need to check out MilkyWays Ice Cream & Cereal Bar in Huntington. Pick from a variety of cereals, and MilkyWays will blend it with an ice cream flavor, creating a perfect union of breakfast and dessert.

Roger’s Frigate (Port Jefferson)

Have you ever wanted to take a tour in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory? At Roger's Frigate, you come pretty close. The establishment protrudes sugar on every wall, from old-fashioned candies, chocolate covered treats, fudge, ice cream, gelato, and a frozen yogurt machine.

Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe (Riverhead)

If you're driving down NY State Rte 25 for a day at the Long Island Aquarium or downtown Riverhead, your trip isn't complete without a pitstop at Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe.

Operated since 1953, this family-owned establishment offers a wide range of flavors of deliciousness, ranging from maple walnut to cookie monster.

They also feature a variety of soft serve flavors, sorbets, sherberts, and ice cream cakes.

In 2019, it was notably been recognized as the #1 ice cream store in New York State.

Shock Ice Cream (Westhampton Beach)

The best way to describe Shock Ice Cream in Westhampton Beach is with one word: fun. Before entering the store, walk or hopscotch down their brightly painted "fun alley." Inside, the fun only continues.

Choose from 50 flavors and pair it with special edible glitter cones decorated with emojis, puppets, sharks, unicorns, holidays and more. One of their unique items, a Carnival Cone, is a sugar cone wrapped with cotton candy, any flavor of ice cream topped with glitter and sprinkles.

The store also features croffles, bubble waffles, spaghetti sundaes, freak shakes, vegan flavors, and non-fat soft serve froyo.

Owner Elyse Richman, has also run adjacent Shock Kids clothing store for, told Patch she opened the ice cream shop 23 years ago when she was pregnant and craved ice cream.

"Everything is in technicolor at Shock," she said. "It's not just a scoop shop. We do a little extra. "

Magic Fountain (Mattituck)

Magic Fountain originally opened as a Dairy Queen in 1966. Eleven years later, the store underwent some changes" including a new owner, a new name, and a new aim—to bring the joy of homemade frozen treats to everyone," its website said.

Today, Magic Fountain "is THE ice cream shop on the North Fork," accoring to our Patch team.

It features 64 homeade ice cream in a variety of flavors, from classics to unique ones, like honey lavender, goat cheese, and kulfi.

Owner Chaudry Ali told Patch that in all of his ice cream, he tries to buy the ingredients as local as possible.

"Quality is the number one thing for us," he said. "Our products speak for itself."

Right now, its funky seasonal flavors include sweet corn, black tahini, and matcha. It also offers a variety of soft serve and vegan options.

Gemelli Gelato & Ice Cream Hampton Bays Gelato Cart (Hampton Bays)

If you find yourself out East but wish you could take a European vacation, look no further than Gemelli Gelato & Ice Cream in Hampton Bays. The store features 25 flavors of delicious gelato.

They also offer a special Gelato Cart for rentals to keep guests entertained at your next event.