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Name: iCream
Address: 1537 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
Telephone: (773) 342-2834
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.36

iCream

1537 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

(773) 342-2834
Store is closed

iCream Menu

Main

Ice Cream

Shakes

Yogurt

Hot Pudding
Favorites

That Guy From Florida

Moms Favorite

Pbomg

Strawberry Cheescake

Cinnamon Something Or Other

Tutti Fruiti

Pearagranate

Pomegranate Tea

Vanilla Graham Berry

White Bob Chocolate Pants
Toppings - Fresh Fruit

Bananas

Blackberries

Blueberries

Raspberries

Strawberries
Topping - Candy

Butterfinger

Chocolate Chips

Haalth Bar

Jelly Bellys

M&ms

Peanutbutter

Gum Balls

Gummi Beanrs

Reese's Pieces

Snickers
Topping - Other Yummy Stuff

Cookie Dough

Cream Cheese

Granila

Nuts

Nutella

Peanutbutter

Pistachios

Oreos

White Chocolate
Flavors

Almond

Anise

Banana

Blackberry

Blueberry

Burnt Sugar

Butter Pecan

Cake

Cayenne

Caramel

Cherry

Chocolate

Cinnamon

Coconut

Coffee

Cream Soda

Curry

Ginger

Green Tea

Irish Cream

Lemon

Lime

Mint

Orange

Peach

Pear

Pomegranate

Raspberry

Root Beer

Strawberry

Vanilla

White Chocolate

Healthy Meal suggestions for iCream

Main

Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Favorites

That Guy From Florida [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moms Favorite [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pbomg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Cheescake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cinnamon Something Or Other [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tutti Fruiti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pearagranate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pomegranate Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vanilla Graham Berry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Bob Chocolate Pants [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Toppings - Fresh Fruit

Bananas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blackberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Raspberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Topping - Candy

Butterfinger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Haalth Bar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jelly Bellys [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

M&ms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanutbutter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gum Balls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gummi Beanrs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Reese's Pieces [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Topping - Other Yummy Stuff

Cookie Dough [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cream Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Granila [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nuts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nutella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanutbutter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pistachios [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oreos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Flavors

Almond [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Anise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Banana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blackberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burnt Sugar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butter Pecan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cayenne [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cherry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cinnamon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cream Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Irish Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lime [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mint [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pomegranate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Raspberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Root Beer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vanilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Whitney S.

This place is the bomb! We go here every time were in Chicago. Its a must. The ice cream is delicious! I wish I could eat here everyday. Its so much fun to watch your order being made right in front of you. Always fun to watch a first timer stop in.
(5)
Matthew C.

Disgusting customer service. I stopped by icream about a month ago during business hours on a Friday or Saturday, at about 6pm when their advertised hours were until 9pm. When I walked up to the counter, the young man repeated quickly over and over "look. Look. Look. Look. Look!" while pointing towards the front of the store. "Do you see that sign up there? The one that says 'open'?" he said while pointing to a sign (about as small as a CD case) set off from the door. "See how it's pointing towards us? That means we're closed. I'm on break." I replied by saying that the sign wasn't in a place where people would notice it (as was evident by the other customers in the shop) and that it might be a better idea to lock the door instead of leaving it open for customers to come in. I mean, who am I to enter an open door during business hours expecting to purchase what a store has to offer? Staff was incredibly rude, he did not give me his name and told me "there's no manager here for you to talk to right now." I've been going to icream for a few years, but your guaranteed to lose customers with treatment like this.
(1)
Alex T.

My wife and I were craving a milkshake yesterday while galavanting around the city. So I asked Siri if there were any in the area - and low and behold we learned of a place called icream. Just the name alone conjured up something of great quality (I.e. iPod, etc.) so I figured we would give it a go. After finding a impromptu space right across the street, my eyes fixed in on a baby blue storefront, that looked so dark, I had to go ask if they were open. The gentleman waiting outside the storefront was super pleasant, for working in what looked like a half-abandoned hole-in-the-wall excuse for an ice cream joint. "Do you want any mixins with that," he said. I ordered what I though was a coffee milkshake with caramel swirl - but I what I actually got was SO far from my expectations: a white blizzard-esque concoction (no offense Dairy Queen, I love you:) , with black specs, which turned out to be bits of coffee. "let me know what you think," the clerk said with a smile." Oh I will, my friend (my subliminal self conscious ruminated) . One sip and I my mouth immediately contorted - what the hell did I just pay almost $7 for? My wife shared my disdain. The drink had the consistency of ice milk and was devoid of any caramel taste at all. What a disappointment. So we wound up getting a malted coffee milkshake from our old standby - Scooters in Lakeview. Maybe I will give iCream another try - or not. . .
(1)
Lawrence Y.

I was rather excited when my fiance told me of this ice cream shop that made your order from scratch (liquid nitrogen and all) which gave me this delusion of grandeur of this really cool, really hip, Willy-Wonka-esque ice cream shop... Prepare for a rude awakening. We walked in and the place was a hole in the wall. The bad/dim fluorescent lighting, the cracked tiles on the floor, the uncomfortable staff... I told my fiance I felt like I was in a combination of a bad Chinese take-out place and an aquarium store, and not a sweet shop. Appearances aside, I decided on ordering a chocolate/marshmallow milkshake with reeses pieces toppings. I understand everything is made from scratch, but my milkshake did not have the consistency or thickness of a milkshake. It was more like an icee. It turned out to be something like if my 5 year old niece put ice and chocolate into a toy blender... and charged you $10. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. The "milkshake" was just awful, I didn't even finish it and tossed it out when we got home. #nope
(1)
Melissa N.

I totally was in love with this idea when I came here a couple of years ago on a Chicago food tour with Chicago Food Planet Food Tours. It is such an awesome idea! I have been there 3 times since and because I so seldomly go, I always get "That Guy From Florida" which is a sweet concoction of cream soda, nutella and stuff (things that I don't particularly like separately). However, the last time I went which was only a couple weeks ago, I was bummed to walk in and see it dirtier than the last time. It smelled like old wet dog or like fat sweat (sorry), but I was bringing my fiance to try this place out since it was his first time in Chicago and I had raved about it so much. We even planned our lodging to be close to it so it was pretty disappointing (and embarassing) for me to bring him here with it like this. Our iCreams were good, but nothing out of this world. The guys behind the counter were nice, but we did not stay. I might come by again if I'm around, but for the price, which is a bit steep anyway, and now the general "look and feel," I'm not rushing back..
(3)
Melanie T.

I read the reviews and wanted to give iCream the benefit of the doubt but man, it was bad. I took my kids here...we literally walked in...looked around...and left. The lights were dimmed. The tables and chairs were dirty. The tiles looked chipped. The condiments/ingredients on the back counters were unorganized and everything was just everywhere. We left and went to Jeni's Ice Cream a few doors down!
(1)
Mel C.

There concept of ice scream is amazing, now the customer service could have been a little better. The place wasn't really clean and had a bad odor. It looked a little ran down all it was very gloomy in there. I will definitely give it another try. It possibly just wasn't a good day for the workers.
(3)
Katie B.

I've been here a number of times, but only twice in the last year since I moved into the neighborhood. My last few visits have been very disappointing. I love the concept, and actually do like the ice cream, but I absolutely can't get over how dirty it was in there! It definitely looks dingy and run down, but on this last visit it was downright dirty. The glass around the mixers was smeared. There was trash and drippings all over the place, and one of the employees wiped his nose with his hand, then didn't wash before making more ice cream.... So aside from that terrible-ness, I do think the ice cream is a little overpriced, but what specialty ice cream isn't? And yes, you do have to wait for them to make your ice cream, so I don't understand why people are disappointed with waiting. They could probably use more staff during busy times though. Overall, I would have recommended it before our last visit, but couldn't do that in good conscience after this last trip. I feel like this place has just declined over the last few years, and it's really too bad.
(2)
Carly P.

I like iCream. I think the concept is fun (I'm sure kids probably love it) and I've never picked a bad combination of flavors. The texture of the ice cream is creamy but also a bit frosty/icy like sorbet, which I think is pretty unique. On paper, four bucks for a small seems pricy, but I feel the portions are very generous and I never feel gouged. I have a lot of fun memories here and generally think pretty fondly of this place. My major gripe is how it consistently looks terrible. 98% of the time there is only one poor person trying to service ten or more people. Even in the the summer. Because this person is obviously mainly focusing on serving people, the rest of the space is severely neglected: sticky counters and tables, trash, etc. The walls are marked with dirt and fingerprints. The tables and chairs are not only visibly cheap but are just beat to hell like old lawn furniture (in fact, I'm sure it is just old lawn furniture). I don't think anyone should get in trouble as it's clear they are doing the best they can, but management should drop in unannounced one day and see how gross it gets when they're under-staffed. If no one is going to clean, then do yourself a favor and don't buy white furniture.
(3)
Heather D.

I'm surprised at all the bad reviews! I've been here twice now and loved my orders both times. There are some great aspects to this place as well as downers. Let's start with the good: Custom made yogurt/ice cream in a bazillion yummy flavor combos made exactly to order? Yes please! Both times I got the nutella chocolate raspberry yogurt one, I think titled 'Mom's Favorite', and went with however they normally put it together. My gosh was it good! My boyfriend is picky as hell about his yogurt/ice cream and he loved it too! He almost wanted to go back that day for one of his own. It was a hot day and I ordered a large. I ate half of it on the drive home then gave the remaining half to my boyfriend and it made it just fine without melting all over the place. Yes it takes them a bit long to make orders.. but again keep in mind they are not scooping your order from a tub.. they are making it custom. Stop being so inpatient! I've always found the staff friendly enough. They don't seem like "AMAZABALLZ! I'M WORKING THE CASHIER AT AN ICE CREAM SHOP HURRAY!!!" but seriously I'd be a bit worried if they did.. Yes the place is a bit pricey.. but have you ever been to any yogurt/ice cream place in Chicago or Oberweis? HELLO!? They are all expensive! At least this yogurt/ice cream is made fresh with fresh ingredients! I'd pay a bit more for that any day. Now why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5: Taste alone I'd go 5 all the way.. but there were a few things I noticed during my last two stops that make me give iCream 4 stars. The place is definitely small, a little too darkly lit, and when I went to the bathroom it was god awful dirty and the toilet was overflowing. I told them about it and I'm sure they fixed it right away but it was definitely gross. This place is a start-up so I'm sure once they get enough hype they'll move to a better, bigger, location and be able to pay employees a bit more and therefore get more quality work out of them. Final Verdict: I'll be going back PLENTY for the 'Mom's Favorite' yogurt! My gawd that was good! Plan to wait a bit for your order, pay around 6 bucks for it, and high tail it outta there once it's in your hands and eat outside. \You'll have a great experience then!
(4)
Ryan G.

The first time I went there, it was fantastic. I got peach ice cream with strawberries mixed in and it was fantastic. Went again just now, asked for the same thing and it tastes like bland porridge out of a freezer. What happened?!
(1)
Mallory Z.

Pretty cool place to check out. The ice cream is good, not the greatest you will ever have though. Got the recommended one with peanut butter. Loved the texture of it. It was about $9 for a medium. Split it so it was about average price for overpriced ice cream. Seems like a good place to try once or bring someone from out of town. Won't be back often though.
(3)
Abishek M.

Cool concept! But the reality of it is, that the ice cream itself, is very ordinary. The staff made no effort of explaining what they were doing or what made the ice cream unique. The store is also pretty badly maintained and almost dirty. Oh and did I mention that it is overpriced? A small serving with 1 mix-in cost around $5. Ridiculous!! I will not be back.
(2)
Morgan Richelle M.

Not my favorite in the world by any means. I-cream made it onto an article for "Ice Creams in America that you Must Try." We were in the neighborhood, so out of curiosity we decided to stop in and see what it's all about! I guess I'm just not a fan of the whole entering the order into a computer screen and seeing a bunch of mystery chemicals shooting out into a bowl that is to be something I will ingest. It took a while to make, and the shop itself smelled weird. I don't know, I just wasn't feeling it. We stepped outside and the ice cream was already melting like crazy. We tasted it and it didn't taste like real food. I picked up strong chemical flavors. I didn't care for it at all and threw it away. The concept is neat, but severely overrated.
(2)
Christina C.

Overpriced due to the sort-of-cool idea of making your own ice cream with liquid nitrogen. The place is cramped and dirty, honestly looks like an out of date ice cream place that should've upgraded or renovated their place a long time ago. I ordered a green tea raspberry mix and I didn't enjoy the flavor or the texture. It was melting already as I received it and the flavors tasted kind of fake. Avoid, and head to other and better dessert places in the neighborhood.
(2)
T T.

Been coming here for quite some time now. Very interesting concept on how they make the ice cream right before your eyes. Not your standard look down in a freezer to pick what kind you want! The menu is unlimited- from soy base to every mix in you can think of. One of my staples!
(5)
Carina A.

This review is LONG overdue, but you know what they say--better late than never! I was looking through some old pictures I took for my school project, and I remembered what a fantastic time I had here. The project was for a class entitled "Discover Chicago: Experiencing Art," and the assignment was to find a 'hidden gem.' This was definitely accomplished. Not only was I able to take pictures of the employees having fun and working hard, but I was also able to interview one of the associates to ask about the process of the work they do...and of course, I got to partake in the eating of a delicious dessert! I'm from Southern California, so hot pudding has never even been mentioned. I came here during my first month in Chicago, and I can honestly say that it left a lasting impression. The warmth of the employees' hearts was as warm as their pudding! And equally as sweet. A big thank you to everyone! Thanks for starting my experience in Chicago off right. Thank you for an A on my project. Thank you for a happy tummy...Most of all, thank you for a great memory! I can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Marti M.

2 guys working with only 1 machine turned on. Took 30 minutes to get our ice cream (2). My son's was SOUR, I gave it to the employee and asked for either a different one or a refund. After another10 minutes of waiting, we left and lost the 6 bucks. During our time in the "shop", we watched at least 20 people enter, wait, and leave. One of the 2 employees actually left his partner alone for about 10 minutes!! The worst part, however, was how filthy this place is. Even the chairs are dirty!! One redeeming factor: the 2 guys were pleasant.
(1)
Laura N.

Liquid Nitrogen ice cream? What!? YES. It's real. Since I was in the neighborhood, which is rare, I wanted to hit up all the spots I bookmarked on Yelp. This was one of them -- I was pretty excited to finally try it! iCream itself was smaller than I expected -- a counter with a narrow aisle, a couple tables in the back, and a small waiting area in front with a television playing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (which was kind of appropriate). The menu works like this: pick (1): ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, shake, or hot pudding; (2): dessert base of regular, light, organic, soy (VEGAN!), regular or non-fat yogurt; (3): pick one or two flavors and fruit or candy mix-ins from the toppings selection. There were quite a lot of options, but I wanted to stick with something simple that I knew I'd like. I had a cherry-flavored ice cream with gummy bears. My husband had a chocolate ice cream with Reese's Pieces. Our total was $13 -- my jaw dropped. All I had was a small, but my husband had a large -- and I guess they're not cheap. This definitely isn't the place to go for a $1 ice cream cone. We waited ten minutes while our ice cream was being made. Upon watching the ice cream transformation, my husband remarked, "I feel like I'm in a science experiment." I was inclined to agree a little bit. The silver hoses coming down from the wall (some covered in frost) connected to the giant machines that oozed with liquid nitrogen smoke (dry ice?) was pretty neat. And seeing that it made a yummy dessert in the bowl was even better. So the ice cream? It was good -- I have no complaints, but it wasn't spectacular. It was just ice cream. Made with liquid nitrogen. Although that's pretty cool, that's all they had going for them here. Other than the way it's made, it's just another small, over-priced ice cream shop in the neighborhood. Since I'm rarely in the area, I doubt I'll be back unless a friend of mine wants to try it out. But hey, at least I tried it! Sweet.
(3)
Sofia J.

I struggle with the amount of stars to give iCream. My first experience (within months of opening) was fantastic. Last weekend was awful. How does it take these incompetent people 30 minutes to make ice cream?!?! There are 4 guys behind the counter and only 2 are actually working. 4 machines but only 1 is used at a time. What kind of process is this?! I wouldn't be surprised if they were high, one guy was walking back and forth from the kitchen, the one taking our order didn't comprehend it the first time and re-asked each of the ingredients. They blamed the delay on it being busy, which is absurd because there were only about 5 people ahead of us in line. Btw, green tea and blueberry frozen yogurt with raspberries mixed in is a great combination.
(3)
Brian F.

Ended up coming here with some friends last night that seemed like big fans. We walked out, treats in hand after waiting over 30 minutes. 2/3 of us threw out what we got within a single taste. I had a pomegranate blueberry sorbet that somehow tasted bitter and was void of any sweetness. Also, there was a line of 4 people patiently waiting behind us that were told after 15 minutes the store was closed and they would not be helped. Poor product + poor service = poor rating.
(1)
D P.

yeah... no. Slushy milk instead of something even close to resembling ice cream and awful artificial flavors... mine (toasted marshmallow/pistachio) tasted like hand lotion and my friend's (pomegranate/mango) tasted like NutraSweet and soap... within 3 bites we tossed it in the bin and headed to Stanley's for a much tastier and cheaper dessert. Never again.
(1)
Ron Ron J.

Damn, what a let down... Way overpriced, non helpful staff, and the place was DIRTY.... Dirty dishes everywhere and we were 2 of the 3 customers in the store. It was obviously slow that day so maybe you should clean up guys. The ice cream was nothing special and it melted almost immediately. $7 for a small ice cream with 1 dollop of Nutella and 3 rasberries. We will not go back.
(1)
S A.

I will be honest, their ice cream, when available, isn't bad. I used to have good experiences here, maybe 2-3 years ago. That said, I cannot in good conscience recommend this place any longer. I have been there maybe 6 or 7 times in the last year, and at least on 5 occasions I was not able to eat because they simply do not remain stocked enough to support their business, a problem I did not encounter with them until the past year. I have tried going there at least 1.5 hours before they close. On 3 occasions, they ran out of liquid nitrogen - absurd, since this is the most important part of their recipe. On a couple more occasions, they ran out of other ingredients. Today I went hoping that they returned to form. First, I wanted hot pudding, but their espresso machine was broken. Not terrible, I thought, because that's not their main product. But when I tried getting ice cream, they were out on all but 1 ingredient I asked for (nutella and chocolate chips, which aren't exactly exotic ingredients) and the flavor I wanted (hazelnut). I had hoped these were one-off issues, but they have really been the norm on multiple visits. I hope one day their management learns how to stock a dessert store, but until then, I implore people to simply turn away and search for a more consistent option.
(1)
Bo Y.

It's a great to see how they make the ice cream. Very cool. - The wait is long tho. - People work here are very nice. - Taste: I had vanilla bean ice cream with Nutella. It's very tasty & sweet. - Price: $6 for the medium cup (which is very small actually)
(3)
Emily D.

The wait is long. The froyo is terrible. The shop smells like a dank swimming pool in a poorly-maintained YMCA. Because of this place, I can now honestly say I've eaten ice cream and disliked. Even the meager Nutella in my whatever-concoction-of-terrible couldn't save this ill-begotten horror. As someone else in my party who inflicted iCream on themselves said, "Our pizza took less time than that ice cream." I threw mine out and waste the $6 because, honestly, I would have paid someone $6 NOT to have to eat that. Seriously, how bad could white chocolate and Nutella actually be. The answer is: it should never be bad. Somehow this place made it bad. Really, really bad.
(1)
Jami R.

I love this place. Where else can you get a legitimately customized dessert that you basically just created yourself? Plus I can say i've eaten somewhere I've seen on The Food Network :) If I ever move to the city it would be so i could be closer to iCream.
(5)
Jennifer K.

Faaantastic! I got a medium Blueberry, green tea frozen yogurt with blueberries and what a delight! This is a great spot, that uses liquid nitrogen to make the dreams come true. Also, peter pan was on while I was there which, I greatly appreciated of course. Great service!!!
(5)
Sheila X.

LOVE LOVE the product!! My sister lives in Chicago and I go to ICREAM every time! I did vanilla bean with graham crackers and topped with strawberries! My sister did chocolate with nutella and reeses cups. Delish! Some times I don't enjoy the wait, but that's how you know it's good. Usually a long line. Last Saturday there were only four people ahead of us and it was worth the wait. They only had one guy working on a Saturday night, which I didn't think was a good idea, but he was very nice! Can't wait to go back again! 4 out of 5 stars, because I hate waiting. Haha, but this place is great! Intersting art work in restroom as well.
(4)
Shradha A.

Once the novelty of the style of ice cream creation wears off, you realize the texture and flavor aren't the best! It's really cool how they make your ice cream! The ice cream then melts real quick! It also has an ice-like texture, not like sorbet but not as creamy as ice cream generally is. It was fun one time, no reason I'll return any time soon.
(3)
Ashley B.

I love this place! The liquid nitrogen is pretty cool, obviously. But unlike some of the reviewers on here, I actually think the ice cream itself is good too.
(4)
Stephanie M.

Great stop. Was happy with the experience - they have some memorable flavors and funny names for them. Didn't change my life.
(3)
Anna K.

yogurt vanilla and white chocolate pick your base and have flavors mixed in. in it all goes into a kitchenaid mixer with liquid nitrogen gas infusing into the treat. the end result was smooth and rich yet light texture with strong flavors.
(4)
Liza P.

Taking a concept usually reserved for science demos and making a restaurant out of it is an interesting idea, but I just don't think it delivers. Making liquid nitrogen ice cream yourself is a lot of fun, but after a couple minutes of watching the nitrogen steam coming out of the dewars, I was bored and just wanted my ice cream already. As many others have pointed out, you pay a lot of money and wait a long time for a rather small amount of ice cream. It tastes different from regular ice cream because the freezing process is much faster, but it also melts quicker. Basically this is a place you go to once for the gimmick and in the future head over to a traditional ice cream place.
(3)
Natalie V.

The concept of iCream is pretty cool. The girl making my yogurt was multitasking between 3 different mixers. I got vanilla nonfat yogurt with raspberries and white chocolate with a white chocolate topping. You tasted every single mix-in. The texture was perfect. I would like to go back and try the ice cream, probably with soy milk. It takes about 6 mins for them to create your order and I'm not sure why people would complain about that because they ARE making this from scratch. On a very busy night it takes them about 10 mins. Well, again it's being custom-made for you from scratch. I guess the only thing I wish is that they had a bigger menu of concoctions so you can choose from them instead of deciding what to make.
(4)
Sam L.

I was very excited to try iCream. I finally made it in today and it took 20 minutes to get my milkshake. The shake was fairly mealy. Coffee and cream soda was a good choice. The owner was around. Instead of jumping into help, he just sat with potential investors and let the one guy working struggle to get orders out. The guy behind the counter was super unenthusiastic. Granted it is hot out and he is by himself in a fairly busy neighborhood. His lack of personality may have been rooted in extreme terror. The owner walked out and wished the guy luck. Just tacky. The process is cool but it took too long and was not really worth the wait. Had I not seen the whole thing happening I probably would have concluded that the employee was in the back milking the cow or something considering the wait. They did have a "Now Hiring" sign, so maybe the staffing problem will be solved. "If you want IC in a hurry, you are in the wrong place" should be written on the door. Glad I was in no rush. Pricey too!
(2)
Troy B.

I was in the neighborhood of iCream recently and wouldn't have stopped by based on the mediocre reviews, but we happened to walk right by and decided to stop in. The store is small inside with only a few places to sit and not much space for a line. There were a few people ahead of us and it still took a decent amount of time to order. I do believe I'm used to immediate gratification with ice cream so it's probably unfair to judge the slowness given that they're preparing a custom concoction. I had a cherry ice cream with chocolate chips. They didn't ask to color it so it came out pure white. The flavor and texture were actually awesome and I'd love to eat it again. It did melt rather quickly in comparison to other ice cream, maybe that's why they don't serve cones. The biggest disappointment was the customer experience. The two staff seemed to epitomize low job satisfaction. They were polite enough but were throwing and clanging the mixers and acted as if they wished they were somewhere else. Also, a third employee joined as were there and was called out for not adhering to proper dress code. The store was messy, some parts dirty, and just felt poorly managed. As others have said, it's a shame as the idea is super cool, the product delicious, but the experience severely lacking. I would stop by myself again but would never specifically bring someone with me, too many caveats to give.
(3)
Kasia L.

The amount of entitlement these people are leaving in reviews is absolutely disgusting. First of all- ice cream used to take over an hour to actually make. These guys took a concept and made it quicker. If you want instant ice cream go to the yogurt place down the road or better yet buy some Breyers at CVS and eat it straight out of the tub! Next to the people complaining about consistency and texture: if you ever made ice actual ice cream (not the garbage you buy at the store filled with preservatives and other unknown chemicals) then you would know that it comes out smooth with a icy texture. The guy behind the counter was cheery and nice. Exactly what I would expect of an ice cream man. The place could use a little revamp. The color needs a new coat of paint. And then the only bad thing is the prices, $5.29 is much too much for a medium ice cream!
(4)
Grant P.

I feel so conflicted whenever I review a place in the city. There's usually 18 million reviews for every place I go, so whatever I'm going to say has probably already been said. I know I don't read EVERY SINGLE REVIEW when there's that many. Do you? Didn't think so. But still they're on my bookmarks list to try, and I want to be a good little Yelper and give my honest opinion. Even when I do so and some jerk disagrees with me and decides to send me hate mail. Gah. Sorry. On to iCream. A friend went here several years ago and each time I've passed it since I've wanted to go in. I'm not going to go into the details here because as I've explained, you've probably read them 500 times by the point that you've reached my lil' review anyway. However, I'm going to say that I wasn't impressed. Part of that, I think is my fault because I picked a weird flavor. I mixed toasted marshmallow with vanilla. And all I could taste was the vanilla. I was longing for the toasted marshmallow milkshake I used to be able to get in New York till my favorite place closed down. Sad face. I'm kind of all over the place with this review. Hopefully that'll at least amuse you if you've gotten here. Topic jumping. Wheeee! Um, and also, my ice cream wasn't done. It was kind of hard and frozen on the outside and liquid-y in the middle. So each bite I took kind of popped in my mouth. It was an interesting experience. That doesn't happen with regular ice cream because it freezes from the inside out. With iCream's process, it freezes from the outside in. It was expensive and I probably won't return. Sorry.
(3)
Patrick D.

Much better experience than I read from other yelpers The server was knowledgeable and worked all four machines at once. Each of us got the exact flavor we were looking for and were very satisfied. I want to go back for more but don't want to blow up. One other note several people expressed concern about the wait it does take a few minutes to develop your own ice cream from scratch Also several people said it was small that was not the experience that my party of nine had in fact my small was huge. That is not a complaint.
(5)
Vrati D.

Finally made it and worth the 45 min wait! There are sooo many combinations of ice cream and toppings available, it's impossible to not find something you'll like! I had the cake ice cream with graham cracker and peanut butter! Yum! Great for kids!
(4)
Lu Y.

Ugh what a disappointment. I think this is one of the greater culinary let-downs I've had all year. In fact, I was even thinking about having a part of my bachelorette party here - how awesome would it be to make liquid nitrogen ice cream??? Well, I decided not quite so awesome once I tasted their hot pudding and ice cream... Service: When I went, there was one guy working there, and he totally knew what he was doing. Plus, he was really nice! Ambience: With the lighting, it's kinda like walking into a cafe on a spaceship. It's very casual and there are some tables along the wall and a counter along the window to eat your dessert at. Food: So this is where I had issues. It's freezing in Chicago, and we got a red velvet and strawberry hot pudding. It was made using an espresso machine looking device, and the outcome was a viscous, bright pink "liquid". I can't even explain how strange and artificial it tasted. I'm not sure if it was our combination or if hot pudding at iCream is just plain bad. We also got the liquid nitrogen ice cream (banana and white chocolate topped with raspberries), and it's cool watching it being made in the kitchenaid mixers with a liquid nitrogen attachment (ya, I wish I had one of those...!). But the result is a sub-par ice cream. I've never had a liquid nitrogen ice cream that didn't satisfy my taste buds until this trip to iCream =(
(3)
Rebecca N.

Really good. Really expensive. Fun place to try out in wicker part--you can make your own ice cream with a bunch of different toppings. Similar to a blizzard.
(4)
Jessica J.

Was super excited to finally try icream! Stopped by at 7:10 and there was a sign posted on the door saying closed for dinner until 8?! Would have never expected that! Thanks for the 30min drive :( Definitely disappointed.
(1)
Kimberly L.

So so so delicious! Most times, I get ice cream and it's nothing special - it's just like everywhere else. This place, however, proved me wrong. You tasted everything they put into the ice cream. They had interesting flavors too. It wasn't too expensive either. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Sarah T.

My first time trying Nitrogen Ice Cream and it was delish! It was made-to-order and you get to pick 2 flavors and 2 mix-ins. I ordered the cinnamon coffee ice cream with no mix-ins and it was really good. I like the texture and extra coolness. I will definitely be coming back to try more flavors and maybe even the frozen yogurt.
(4)
Cassandra W.

iCream is one of my consistent favorites. It is one of the few places which serves ice cream and caters to the lactose intolerant crowd. There are nearly endless flavor/color/add-in options. Their soy ice cram is the best. Creamy, flavorful and dairy-free I can't get enough. They get backed up sometimes as everything is made to order in front of you but it is well worth waiting. I went one day when they had been particularly busy and ran out of soy and the owner Cora was nothing short of perfection. she offered me a sample of sorbet and a free soy ice cream for my next visit. The customer service is just as wonderful as the ice cream. I take all my friends to iCream and my only disappointment is that I can't afford to come in weekly.
(5)
Kathleen O.

Overrated. So, the liquid nitrogen is pretty sweet an the only reason for the 2-star review, but the ice cream isn't worth the wait. Last time I came to Icream, I ordered the cake ice cream and it was bitter. I ended up throwing it out because I couldn't even bring myself to eat it... I wouldn't recommend trying this place. Straight up bogus...
(2)
Melissah L.

LOL- came here last night and paid $9.23 for a medium cup of PB OMG. What? I got a soy ice cream base with all the toppings listed on the recipe on the wall and was really surprised when I was charged almost $10 for a teeny little cup. It's definitely my fault for not adding everything up in my head ahead of time, though. To be fair, the soy ice cream was pretty decent, and the fillings were nice-- but really, my business is going to Red Mango next time I need a fro-yo fix (only a few doors down), where I can get something much bigger and more tasty for $5-6. Sorry, iCream-- I really wanted to like you!
(2)
Shan D.

After all the bells and whistles, it still tastes just like any other ice cream. I guess it was fun to try once, but there's better and more creative ice cream spots in the city.
(3)
Chloe C.

Delicious! I always get the frozen yogurt - you choose whole or skim milk (or bring your own! I've been wanting to try it with almond milk), as well as a base flavor (vanilla, white chocolate, cherry, etc) and they make it on the spot. The yogurt is kinda tart but with fruit and candy mixed in, it still definitely hits the spot for sugar lovers. My favorite combo is the vanilla low fat froyo with fresh strawberries and PB cups. Mm.
(5)
Monty M.

Delish ice cream meets a mad scientist and u get a bundle of joy named...iCream!Strawberry cheesecake for me & blueberry flavor with graham crackers for her.
(5)
jennifer j.

It was the perfect hot July day for ice cream. I pulled up Yelp and this place was the closest, with a decent overall score. I hadn't read much further than the rating, but this place must purely exist on its own novelty, which is on the spot, custom ordered, nitrogen ice cream. This gimmick is not enough. As we looked around for a place to sit (only 3 tables) there was garbage, dirty tables and cardboard boxes everywhere. When we finally chose the least offensive table, there was a big black hair right in the middle of it, which turned my stomach. The scientists completed my vanilla with mint chip concoction and tried to auction it off to several kids who had their greasy faces pressed against the glass. I wish I could say the day was saved by this complicated ice cream process. Unfortunately, my concoction was the most flavorless and uninspiring dessert I have ever tasted. In fact, 2 bites in and my cup was in the trash can. I'm probably the only person that used the trash can that day and that includes the employee's. Out of respect for the next patron, I took all my hair with me when I left.
(1)
Kimsy S.

Pretty neat stuff, that liquid nitrogen. And my white chocolate ice cream was pretty tasty. But for the $5 I spent for a small-scoop-sized frozen treat, this place is best served as a novelty. The staff was very friendly and helpful, all with smiles. The dining areas weren't very clean. The sitting area by the window was sticky. And what used to be a garbage can but is now an accurate replica of Mt. Trashmore was overflowing, with lots of those disgusting flying insect critters. I took my chances with the sticky counter. I'd come back, if only to experience liquid nitrogen ice cream, or as a tourist stop with friends. But for a truly decadent frozen dessert, I will go to Scooter's or Oberweis.
(3)
Michael C.

I really wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. This place is special for the amount of flavors and toppings they offer as well as soy and frozen yogurt choices. Variety is certainly not a problem here. When you walk in to this store though, you start at one end of the counter, and the prices of the actual yogurts are towards the front of the store where you pay and are in very light font. By the time you figure out what you want to order, you might not have realized how much you are actually paying by the time the cashier is ready to take your order. So on to the actual ice cream, I have slight lactose intolerance problems and opted for the soy yogurt pb special which had grahm crackers, cream cheese, peanut butter, and vanilla ice cream. It was pretty damn good and soy ice cream is hard to find, but the price was a whopping $9.23 for a medium cup. I can't say I was too happy about that and was maybe naively hoping there was a discount for picking one of their signature mixes. Value here is harder to find but the ice cream itself gets 4 stars!
(3)
Sonny S.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ICREAM! Located in Wicker Park, this little ice cream shop isn't serving your run-of-the-mill ice cream. Unlike other ice creameries, they make your ice cream to order with liquid nitrogen so each frozen treat is made to order! Who would've thunk?? The concept is genius and I can see why they have so many loyal patrons. I came with some friends to catch up and hang out. The set up resembles something you would find in a chemistry lab with their use of beakers and syringes to make the custard base. When choosing your ice cream, it couldn't be more simple. You choose your size, flavor, color and any toppings or mix ins you want. Then, they head over to their KitchenAid stand mixers fitted with nozzles to a vat of liquid nitrogen. They dump the liquid concoction in and let it rip then VOILA! That liquid mixture you saw two seconds ago has become some of the creamiest ice cream I've ever tasted. Here are some great flavor combos: STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE This was delish. We opted for blueberry flavor ice cream with bits of cheesecake, strawberries, graham crackers. The mix-ins really made this! POMEGRANATE WITH RASPBERRIES Again, I loved the fruit-y and refreshing taste of this combination. It was perfect after having such a heavy meal beforehand. The waits can get long especially because they make each ice cream to order, but it's well worth it. There's even a TV that was showing Wall E so you can kill some time that way. Some consider this place pricey, but it's a great experience either way. Try it out!
(4)
Jayluis R.

I came here for ice cream thinking is going to be the best place ever , and it turns out I will not be coming back ever again , I will rather go to baskin Robins or forever yogurt, I went on Sunday and the store was a mess with dirty tables , the guy making our ice cream was just making gestures and bad faces as customers came in this guy seemed like he didn't even wanted to be there , and to the worst I ordered soy milk ice cream for 2 and he literally half filled my cup , which I ordered a medium , and it seem like a small cup , and for that price no thank you .I will tell friends and family to not go to this place .
(1)
Andy N.

Liquid Nitrogen ice cream! That's the reason to try this place. The way your ice cream is made in front of you is the selling point. It tastes pretty good as well. They should've promoted it better as I walked in and they just told me how to order. They kept the surprise of the smoke blowing from the machine! I got the strawberry vanilla and added some other random items in it. The texture just melts right in your mouth. It has a melty cold feeling. I enjoyed it. It's something to try because you don't get this type of iCream anywhere else. Recommendation: Get your cameras ready for the show!
(4)
jen l.

My kids had seen Icream on the food network and begged us to take them there. The concept looked interesting, so we went. The second we walked in we noticed how dirty, dingy and unkempt the place was. SO bad that my teen daughter asked if we could leave. So we leave we did. She got ice cream at Jenis down the block. Unfortunately, the two younger brothers weren't to be dissuaded. Back we went to Icream. The place is undeniably a pit, but the two young men behind the counter were very helpful and genial and chatty. They mixed my children's requests and we all dared to have a taste. It certainly isn't anything superior. It tastes like grainy ice milk. Glad they got to try it, we don't ever need to go back.
(1)
Tom M.

Most of their flavors can be made with soymilk!!! Vegan ice cream heaven!!! The store uses liquid nitrogen and stand mixers to combine soymilk (or regular milk if you are so inclined) with flavor and mix-ins to make a great product. My wife and I tried cake with graham cracker and toasted marshmallow with oreo. Both were great. Know that it takes a few minutes for each order so do not go when you are in a hurry.
(5)
Heather H.

I found this place on a food tour when I lived here. After that, I brought anyone who visited me to this place. Quite simply, nothing like this place. It's a unique experience and a great adventure for your foodie palate. Kids will love seeing the ice cream being made right in front of them. I always prefer to order one of the pre-selected mixes. Otherwise, I might be there a while trying to make a decision- so many choices. A must go place if you are in Chicago. And if you live in Chicago and haven't been yet, shame on you!!
(5)
Ed S.

Very cool idea for an ice cream parlor. I am not a fan of the environment, the staff, or the cleanliness of the place. The ice cream was good, my family enjoyed the flavors, but the actual shop was disappointing. Maybe if it was cleaner and the staff was friendlier we would've enjoyed it more. It was a bit pricey for ice cream, but we were expecting that.
(3)
Jane R.

LOVE this place! i wish the employees explained what was going on, it's a very interesting concept. vegan friendly, i chose the chocolate and pistachio flavor with pie crust and oreos with a soy ice cream base. it was delicious, but steep at $6. lots of options for all eaters!
(4)
Bob M.

This is the worst ice cream I ever had. Totally unnatural taste! This place should go out of business
(1)
Terri G.

Great place ice cream was very tasty. There is a bit of a wait but it is well worth it and my daughter really enjoyed watching them make her ice cream he'll I did too lol
(4)
Mary B.

Heard about this place on a website about some of the coolest dessert/icecream/froyo spots around the US. My friend and I decided to go check it out. Place is a little small and to get to the end of the line, you have to pass through the throng of people already in line. The concept of picking your own ice creams, mix-ins, and toppings is awesome, but it is expensive here! There were only two people working and only one was actually making/mixing the ice cream. We waited over 25minutes!!! We finally got our ice cream; there were no napkins or extra spoons anywhere upfront; my friend had to make his way through the crowd to the back of the store to get some. Ice cream was just okay. If you want fast, custom ice cream, i'd suggest Coldstone. And if you want custom froyo, i'd suggest any other place. Will definitely not be going back.
(2)
G S.

The product tasted like cleaning chemicals. The store was very dirty and poorly lit. An employee was passed out in the back.
(1)
Lauren E.

The ice cream is absolutely delicious. 5 stars. I give it 3 because of the service. The guys walk around so sluggish & unhappy to be there (all of the times I've gone). The ice cream takes about 3 minutes to make, then you add in the 7 minutes of shuffling to get a spoon, like it's the most difficult thing to do.
(3)
Julie Y.

The concept is pretty awesome. But the 'ice cream' was AWFUL. You get about 1/2 scoop worth of ice cream for an astounding $5. And what's more astounding about it is that it doesn't even have the texture of ice cream. It was like icy, solidified milk. Maybe the lady who made it made it wrong. Because the people didn't seem very well trained. Not only did they mess up taking the order, they messed up making the orders too. Thoroughly thoroughly disappointed. :(
(1)
Grace E.

The liquid nitrogen ice cream making is a neat parlor trick and four stars for the experience. The staff is informative and friendly, helping you make the best flavor combinations based on popularity and your persona preferences. However, the finished product itself doesn't stand out from store-bought ice creams. If i were given a cup of iCream without having seen it being made, I wouldn't give it more than 2/5 stars. But again, it's a treat to come here once or to show it to a friend just for the experience.
(3)
Allan M.

So I probably (well, almost) was the last person in Chicago to get around to trying this place out. It wasn't bad(got one of the suggested ice cream creations on the wall I can't remember the name of, and the website didn't show pics of them for whatever strange reason), but when I remember the price and options you can get for a similar price at other places(i.e. Oberweis, not to mention vs. Lickity Split or Scooter's), I feel those options(vs. iCream) are a better value, sadly. I had been wavering between 2 and 3 stars, but it's closer to 2 as I didn't feel it was a good value for the money. Plus, it was something like $4 something(barely short of $5) for a small size. The staff was very nice, I'll give them that. Also, the service was fine, since I hit it on a winter Friday night when there wasn't an issue with the wait, and imagine the wait would probably be different(and longer) if you hit it during spring, summer, or fall. Not writing this place off, I'd love it if I could try something here that finally changes my mind about this place feeling more like a gimmick after my initial visit, and maybe push my opinion up to 3 stars?
(2)
Shin M.

5 stars for their ice cream- I forgot what was part of "that Florida guy" creation but I think it was vanilla? cream soda and Nutella . It was sooooo good. The texture of the ice cream was smooth and I thought the Nutella was melted chocolate chips! It was cool watching the liquid nitrogen running in the mixer. My husband and I got "That guy from florida" again. It was only o.k. this time... so my star rating goes down...
(3)
Sarah B.

This place has seriously downgraded. They no longer carry my favorite flavors (the girl behind the counter assured me they just renamed the burnt sugar to marshmallow so I ordered it, absolutely nothing like it used to be) so I'm over it. Won't be back.
(2)
Erin Y.

I think the ice cream is just okay, but the concept is pretty cool. Getting to combine whatever flavors you want and watching it being made in front of you with liquid nitrogen is fun. I came here on a chemistry field trip, and the simple combination of chocolate and strawberry was tasty. Since then, I've been here a couple more times and have had decent experiences with decent ice cream. Overall, worth coming to at least once!
(3)
Kislev A.

I've never seen this before: Ice cream from scratch in front of you! They started with a cup of milk, added chocolate syrup, put the whole thing in a KitchenAid mixer then liquid Nitrogen was automatically squirted by a machine to freeze the mixture and turn it into ice cream! Sure it wasn't the best or richest ice cream, but it's just so cool!!!!!
(5)
Vishal P.

Food and technology?! Sign me up! Friendly staff and a cool menu. They have a list of Ice Creams, Frozen Yogurts and desserts with little markers for toppings and mix-ins. The menu is broken down for the best flavor combinations and helps those that don't know if they want something sweet, fruity, creamy or sour. They use REAL YOGURT too. Not the fake stuff so it has a real frozen yogurt taste... not the stuff that you get at the chain frozen yogurt places. I love watching them make the cups and watching the machines shoot the Liquid Nitrogen into the mixing bowl. Very unique concept.
(5)
Amy D.

I was severely under-impressed. iCream on the face of it, sounds really cool--custom made liquid nitrogen ice cream made right in front of you. In practice, iCream has a long way to go. I ordered a green tea soy with almond chips. First off, you get three options between (if my memory serves me correctly) organic, non-organic, or soy. Something along those lines. Why would ANYBODY choose non-organic? Moving on, the flavor jsut wasn't there. Rather than using a matcha powder for the green tea, a suspicious looking dark green concentrate was used (whereas matcha is a beautiful pale green). The sugar is added on the side via sugar shaker, which in itself, just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Two tiny shakes later, my ice cream ended up being extremely flavorless, like plain ice. I generally find desserts too sweet but this was completely flavorless. Because they used liquid nitrogen, the ice cream ended up being too cold and burned my tongue. In general, the shop is awkwardly set up with the pick-up counter in a dark hidden corner. The colors looks dingy and the service is extremely slow (although wonderfully friendly and helpful). For $5, I expected much better and will not be back.
(1)
Brian H.

A collision between food and chemistry... sign me up. Venturing out last night, there was originally one person working and as we entered the store and waited on line, I was pleased to see 3 more people emerge from the back. Hold the applause. We were greeted with a rude cashier listing all of the ingredients they were out of. Wonderful. Glad to be here. Upon placing our order, I was watching how quickly the price climbed for each person in my party. On average, $7-8 a pop. The guy making the ice cream, sorbet and yogurt lacked any personality or showmanship. I mean, is it lost that this is theater? Everyone's deserts were lackluster (taste, consistency, temperature). Great concept, gone bad. Clearly the owner has moved onto other things.
(1)
F H.

Great ice cream and great concept, as long as you have no where else to be. With only 2 other patrons in the place, I still had to wait 10 mins to be acknowledged. No hello, no welcome to i cream, and not even one of the 2 employees looked at me for ten mins after walking in and standing at the register. It upsetting because the product and concpet are good, but so poorly executed. I'll eat store brand the next time I want ice cream.
(1)
Bernice R.

Oh hey customized ice cream of deliciousness maker. Way to make totally smooth and creamy ice cream with liquid nitrogen! I mixed chocolate and banana ice cream and added pecans and gram crackers. Sounds amazing right? Well, it is and you're welcome to copy this creation. On a lighter but equally flavorful combination, my brother made a plain frozen yogurt and mango concoction. That too was mighty good. They have at least 20 different flavors and 20 toppings. Easily, that place can make thousands of different ice creams, fro-yos and shakes. Plus, they got hot pudding which I'm intrigued about and may try it next time. As far as I can tell, you can't really go wrong with this place. Similar prices to any other high quality ice cream or fro-yo place! Plus when they make it, I love the cool white cloud! I would come back if I'm in the area. :)
(4)
Bri A.

I wasn't feeling very adventurous and went with pear frozen yogurt with gummy bears, but it was delicious! The place was empty since it was a rainy day so I didn't have to wait very long. It was cool to see them hand make the ice cream using liquid nitrogen! Next time I will try something unique. Curry ice cream? Why not!
(4)
Shirley W.

I LOVE this place! I don't usually crave/eat/love ice cream all that much. But this place makes everything taste SO FRESH!(because they do make it in front of your face). I always crave for it. I usually get GreenTea flavored ice cream with Nutella mixed in. It's soooo good. Only thing is you might have to wait a little longer than regular ice cream shops, because they have to make it fresh. So be patient with that. It's street parking, and I don't recommend going on saturday nights because Wicker Park is way too crowded on sat nights with all those people going to the bar/clubs. But I love this place. Melts in your mouth.
(5)
Kathleen M.

Liquid nitrogen makes me think of evil scientists doing dastardly deeds which is one of the reasons I loved this place - what a unique concept to make the ice cream experience even more fun. Fresh ingredients, artisan preparation plus all the fun made the price worth it to me. We came here in the middle of a hot Friday afternoon and the shop was calm, no line at all. We got to have the whole process explained to us and even had a tiny sample of Some guy from Florida. It was delicious but I selected Mom's Favorite and it was just divine. (Anything named Mom's favorite has to be great, right?) I watched them make my treat and the quick freeze made the nutella into something even more delicious than it already is. While we were in the back consuming our delicacies, a tour group came in and I got to hear the spiel again but from their guide. It was fun to be someplace that was worthy of a food tour in Chicago! I want to return and try their yogurt and create my own concoctions and if I am really good do you think they will let me play with the liquid nitrogen? (Evil scientist laugh) They can trust me - I just would make more yummy treats!
(4)
Aja G.

I was excited to try this place, but I don't think the novelty of liquid nitrogen infused ice cream grabbed me or maybe it did but it wasn't spectacular enough for me to care/notice. The place reminded me of cold stone as they have base flavors which you add to at an inflated cost.They have a mighty list of add ins, but call me old school for regarding dumping candy and chocolate chunks in ice cream as lazy. The ice cream itself is alright, but no better than any tub of ice cream I have finished from my grocers freezer. Overall I say go if you are around and you have 5 bucks burning a hole in your pocket. But if you go to Jewel and spend the same 5 bucks on Bryers ice cream you will have the same taste bud delight. without the line.
(3)
Sarah S.

The ice cream here is fairly expensive but they are open on weekdays until 10pm! Yay! It's also surrounded by a lot of cute shops and food places in this Wicker Park neighborhood. I got chocolate ice cream with cookie dough. I really wanted to try some more unique flavors but it's not really like they can give you samples here, everything is made to order. So I wanted to go with a some flavors I knew I would love and next plan on trying some of the more crazy flavors (like curry!). I went last Thursday night and I felt kind of bad because their was just one lady working and a long line, tons of customers. It was like 9pm but pretty busy! Expect to wait for your ice cream to be made (took ours 7-10 minutes) and if there is a line expect to wait a lot longer because only 3 can be made at a time. The process is so cool though! The liquid nitrogen getting everywhere looks all scientific! :P When I got the ice cream it was super cold! And it tasted really fresh and definitely different then the usual ice cream. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back!
(4)
Brett M.

So many options...flavors, milk types, toppings and add in's!!!! It's ice cream/sorbet/frozen yogurt by NASA!!!! Super Tasty!!! Going back soon.
(5)
Msu D.

Nice selection of yogurt and toppings , real ice cream is still the best, but this place is pretty good.
(3)
Jenny H.

This place is cool and is worth the experience at least once! They make the ice cream with liquid nitrogen right in front of you, and are open late. I ordered one of the recommended ones, green at pomegranate with blueberries, and I have to say, it was delicious! It was a little pricey though. The guy making the ice cream was friendly and funny, but the cashier seemed like he didn't want to be there.
(3)
Palak Q.

I've been there at least a couple times, and each time I've had a satisfying experience. I literally freaked out by the row of injections hanging at the back of the counter. What were those for? To infuse flavors and coloring into the ice cream. Ugh, not a huge fan. They make ice cream from dry ice, instantly. Tastes good too. I did the frozen yogurt, which they warned me would be a little tangy. But I enjoyed it. The best part about it is the creativity of making an ice cream. I don't think there's another ice cream store of this kind.
(4)
Shannon S.

Super fun place to go when you want a treat. You get to see everything and you can sit right in front of the big window to people watch. Staff is super nice.
(5)
Michelle I.

Obsessions can be dangerous. Especially when it comes to ice cream. I will proudly admit that my husband and I both have an obsession with ice cream. However, I have some standards. My husband, not so much. That's why we came here. He found the whole liquid nitrogen made-to-order ice cream thing to be enticing. I found it gimmicky and reminding me of cheesy scenes from Terminator 2. He ordered some concoction of cream soda flavored ice cream with some other type of flavoring. It was cool watching it be made and the guy helping us was cool. But for the ice cream....meh? It wasn't great. Immediately it looked the cheap generic off-brand ice cream you get at the grocery store. You know, not creamy or smooth. And at first bite, it kind of felt like the cheap kind until you let it melt in your mouth for about a half a second. Then I tasted some of the creaminess and flavor. Overall, I wasn't impressed and I don't think he was either but he claims it was "ok." This is one of those places that you have to check it out just because it sounds good in theory but in reality it falls flat on its iCream covered face.
(2)
Vidya M.

Eager!! to see all the smokey ice cream (actually liquid nitrogen) from scratch made me try this ICream. I never thought waiting lines would be this big. Decided my flavors. Unfortunately they we out of strawberry at that time. Order one . but tastes jus eating colored snow. no taste Would be good if your on a diet.
(1)
Egan V.

Ice cream made-to-order with liquid nitrogen means that it can be made vegan very easily. The ice cream can be made with non-dairy with soy, and the sorbet is already vegan by nature. The hot puddings can also be done vegan, which is a nice treat in the winter. Just make sure to ask about the individual flavors and mix-ins, as not all are vegan even if you're using soy. Soy is not magic people. The science is not just all steam and excitement, it actually is tasty. The nitrogen makes smaller ice crystals, and makes the desserts creamier even without cream. However there is very little seating in the shop, and the ice cream takes a bit, so it can get crowded.
(5)
Danny G.

ICream is unique... That's about all I can say. The presentation is different since they are pumping liquid nitrogen into your customize cream treat. But the overall quality of the product?... Is decent... But not at a different playing field than other places out there. Essentially, you end up paying 6 bucks minimum for a neat presentation that is a different way of making ice cream. Ultimately, a $1 gelato from Mariano's will yield the same quality of product, maybe even better quality. I will still bring friends here because it is unique. But the normal consensus is that there are much better place to go for this category of culinary delight. The store also seems to be... Not in the best of shape. Counters are cracked and there is graffiti to be found on the wall out side the building and their windows.
(3)
Gina S.

Seriously awesome for little kids. There might be too many options for little kids to choose from: base, flavor, add-in, etc. But they loved that they could make it any color, blue...because blue is not your average ice cream color. Nothing beats the bug-eyed look of a 3 and 7 year old as they watch how their cream turns to ice cream. They enjoyed it. But my sis and I agree, it has a weird taste.
(3)
Twylla S.

I love that you can personalize every aspect of your ice cream experience. From the type of milk, sugar, flavors, and fillings. It's like coldstone...but next, NEXT level. My boyfriend made an interesting mix of ginger, raspberry and chocolate balls. I was a little jealous that I had not been more experimental with my mix. I definitely suggest that if you are going to spend your time going to an ice cream shop like this that you really step outside of your box and mix something you've never had before... and that's definitely what I'm going to do next time!
(4)
Tania R.

Ewww (Jimmy Fallon voice). Tried the coffee flavored ice cream made with soy milk. It tasted like ice with a couple mix-ins, totally lacked flavor. On top of that it was $13 for 2 smalls. Say whaaat?! No thanks.
(1)
Bri B.

They're pretty good. I went once on a day when I really wanted icrecream. I had no idea what I was walking into, but the guy that helped me was really nice and I enjoyed the icecream. So I was all for ICream. So I went back a second time with my partner and the second time I wasn't so thrilled. It's an interesting concept, but no one welcomed her the way I was welcomed. They just treated it as a regular old ice cream place where you just give the scoop and call it a day. This could be a really awesome place, but it's all about the experience. When you create that experience for a new person, it makes all the difference. The first guy did that for me and if I were just rating him, he'd have 5 stars, BUT since this is about the entire business, not to much. The rest of the staff didn't seem to enjoy being there and my partner got her icecream with graham crackers and blackberries. She nor I tasted any berries in there. She said she noticed the woman only put in about 3 berries. So that was a bit of a rip off. Middle of the road place, okay icecream depending on WHO makes it. Very hit or miss place.
(3)
Mike B.

Tastes are Really REally good. The process of making the ice cream is pretty unorthodox but very interesting to watch. You can mix and match literally a million different combinations and that variety always bodes well. It's a little pricey, but liquid nitrogen is expensive. It's a wait since they make things to order and that is an additional price to pay, but I think that it's worth it. If you're in the area, you need to try it once and get one of the recommendations on the wall.
(4)
Genevieve L.

The whole idea of making your own ice cream or frozen yogurt sounds cool, but it's a bit time consuming. I was in the mood for frozen yogurt so we decided to check this place out. I made my own frozen yogurt and 10 minutes later, it was ready to eat. I'd maybe try this place again for ice cream, but if you want frozen yogurt, forever yogurt and pinkberry are a better bet.
(3)
Kavi P.

Concept was pretty cool. Ice cream was OK but would probably stick to other ice cream places-especially because of the high price. Worth trying it out just for the once.
(3)
johnny b.

Slow
(3)
Rainey S.

This is the best I've cream I've ever had. It's so much better (in both flavor and texture) than regular ice cream that it's almost it's one separate thing, like gelato or frozen yogurt. The "strawberry cheesecake" and "that guy from Florida" flavors are unbelievable. Go here, even if you're not a huge ice cream fan!
(5)
Michael G.

It's sort of a shame that this place isn't closer to Wicker Park - the park itself I mean. Not that being on Damen as opposed to Milwaukee would increase its foot traffic or anything (as if it needs more people to know about it since the waits here approach those at Hot Doug's). No, why it needs to be closer to the nearest green space is because I can't make it there without finishing my ice cream. See, I was having an awful day on Labor Day Sunday. I needed to draft my Yelp fantasy football team and found every internet cafe on the northwest side closed (and Kinko's wanting $15.00 an hour for internet). Being too early to drink (okay, just barely), but needing to soothe my frustrations, I decided some ice cream in the park might cheer me up. A mixologist I'm not, so I was worried I'd make my day worse by choosing a bad flavor combination at iCream. But I needn't have fretted. One thing that can be said about the employees here is that they've tried and enjoyed their product. Like the finest bartenders, they made suggestions to each other when I asked for help in crafting a tasty combination. I was in the mood for root beer flavoring and the mixer told the cashier that if they added vanilla flavoring, it would taste just like a root beer float. And by gosh, it did! It really did! I mean, maybe it was power of suggestion, but this fact made my day. And that I made it (almost) myself was pretty life affirming. But in the end - things to tell my new therapist aside - I love this place for one simple reason: it's one of the few places in Chicago that satisfies the kid in me. It's one of few places where someone can leave their maturity at the door. If someone wants to get blue ice cream (I'm a literalist so my root beer was brown, but it *could* have been blue), no one looks askew. And if someone stares at the liquid nitrogen area creating their ice cream (or frozen yogurt or sorbet) in front of their eyes, they're just part of the general wonderment that everyone seems to have in the place. About the only thing that I'm guessing that the employees and other customers don't abide by is throwing a temper tantrum about the wait (kids or grownups alike). Or the prices (they are a bit high but not out of line with many Italian ice or gourmet ice cream places - hey, this isn't exactly a Baskin Robbins). I don't have a problem with either. Now if only they made it more difficult to eat so I could enjoy it in the park during the last few warm days of the year.
(4)
Dominique A.

This place is awesome!!! The experience is enough to keep you coming back and they go far beyond that by having great customer service and great tasting creations!!! Wonderful place surely a must visit!!!!
(5)
Rowena L.

I was researching liquid nitrogen ice cream for a story and figured I'd try the first Chicago place to use that technology. Frankly I didn't taste that much of a difference and the service was slow as hell. The only thing giving it the third star is the cool spectacle you get to watch...as you're waiting years for your ice cream (not bc of the technique but the service - they were seriously understaffed).
(3)
Jacob G.

The ice cream at iCream is alright. But, it doesn't taste natural at all. There are too many chemicals in it. Go somewhere else if you want ice cream that tastes like it's real.
(3)
Faith C.

What a great, original idea! And it's so delicious! The ice cream tastes very fresh and it's great that you can choose your own flavors! if you're a little worried about making the wrong flavor- try one of their recommended recipes (posted on the wall). By far the "wild ting" is the best!! The sorbet is so smooth! the mango sorbet is just like eating a real mango but without the hairiness you get with real mangos! And best of all, the staff is friendly and fun!! Great place to go for dessert! Just be a little patient since they are making each person's ice cream from scratch!
(5)
Daniel M.

Psh. I like this place simply because I like feeling like a little kid throwing a bunch of crap on my ice cream, then watching them make the actual ice cream. The novelty pulled me in. Guess I'm easy to please... I got the soy ice cream just to see what it would taste like. It was light, but not watery, which I enjoyed. It tasted a little "chemically", but I could get past that. It was overall good. The parking here can really suck if you go in the evening so bring someone to circle or something while you go in and grab the goods.
(4)
Thad P.

OMG! I can make my own ice cream / yogurt / shake from scratch just by mixing stuff together? I love it. And it's not your usual create-your-own-ice-cream place. You're seriously concocting your own special creation. Nitrogen infusion + 20 secs later = you get to try your own designer ice cream. It's super neat. Just be wary about adding berries: for the cost, you get 5-6 and it may not be worth it. I went twice while up in Chicago for 3 days. Haha, yeah, that's how much we liked it!
(4)
Shelly A.

"I thought we were going out to get ice cream!?" Don't get me wrong, iCream has a very awesome and interesting concept. Literally they make any kind of ice cream or frozen yogurt for you right in front of your eyes. However, Baskin Robbin's has 31 flavors (isn't that enough?); I don't really need a place to have unlimited ice cream possibilities, I need a place that does ice cream right and delicious...and honestly iCream kinda fails at that. Yeah it's cool and exciting inside their store, and when they make the treat it looks pretty neat. However, when you stick your spoon in your mouth, it kinda just ends. The ice cream just doesn't have that delicious kick in the mouth that you're looking for. I had fun the first time, but I'd be hard pressed to drive out to Wicker Park again for this. If your ice cream is going to take 10 minutes to make, it should be worth the wait...and unfortunately, it's not here :/
(2)
Kevin A.

I was extremely disappointed when I was unable to try iCream on a recent trip to Chicago. I was in town on business from South Carolina. I had read about the iCream franchise and was excited that I would finally get to try their product. I checked the website to verify their hours of operation since I would be traveling via the subway system from downtown out to their location. I arrived at the store about 10 minutes before the scheduled opening. I was determined to wait until someone arrived to open the store since this would be my only chance to try the iCream. I finally gave up at 2:05 after waiting for an hour and fifteen minutes. I don't know how a business survives when they don't even open their doors for business on a day that should have been their biggest revenue day of the week. It was Saturday the 9th of August. A beautiful day and a great day for some ice cream.
(1)
Adam K.

I feel like all the places I go to regularly, I either reviewed in 1998 or just assume I reviewed it already. Yo holler at this place, so many permutations is will drive you insane. A few of my fav's are: Ice Cream: Burnt Sugar, Coconut, Lemon, Blue berry. Raspberry, Ginger, Butterfinger, Oreo Chocolate, Peanut Butter, butterfinger, marshmallow You get it, I am fat. They also have shakes, I reccommend everything, the staff is nice, its always clean, they are fairly quick even with a long line. Love.
(5)
Diane G.

4 stars for having such a unique product! Liquid nitrogen ice cream--whaaa?? Icream is one of those hip, innovative spots with a modern feel. I had the curry Icream with coconut..I was hesitant about curry icecream at first, but the employee recommended it. It was offputting, but in a good day! They have a lot of unique flavors, and you can order regular, soy, lite, or organic ice cream. Lots of choices, just like we Americans like 'em. They also let you choose the color of your icream, which umm is AWESOME! Everything tastes better orange. P.S. I find it hilarious that they have a sign noting "This is REAL yogurt, it's tangy and works best with fruit." LOL. Aww you're cute Chicago. Clearly froyo is not as big here as it is in California.
(4)
Yvonne B.

This is a really, really fun concept place. I would go again to impress out-of-town guests or small children. My friend and I made the trek on a Friday evening (around 9:00 PM) and quickly found parking right across the street from iCream. Inside was smaller than I expected. There was a short row of stools along the front window, a flat screen tv showing muted Star Wars, and one or two tables way in the back. I would naaaaat go there to hang out - even to eat my ice-cream after it's made for me. It is just too crowded. The line stretches along the counter and moves with purpose. It does take a few minutes for your treat to be made for you, but the time goes quickly as you watch the process (or the muted Star Wars). My friend and I both agreed that it was worth the wait. We loved our ice-cream concoctions! Our two treats costs a little over $9. We both got small cups. I would have liked to get shnazzy with my ice-cream experience, but thought that the additional mix-ins and toppings were pricey. Weird points: - the menu was a bit confusing: * it was numbered (as if in steps), but number 4 was drinks. * I know that you can get pudding there too, but I didn't see it on the menu. * the prices weren't really that clear. - there was no background music or tv sounds. - the waiting area (in the front by those tall stools) was pretty crowded. - it took me a while to figure out where to collect my treat. Eventually I spotted a small window opening pushed back on the wall with the tv.
(3)
Dani K.

When you come in, there are signs that warn, "Hey, you're gonna be waiting a while, so don't be in a hurry after ordering." That's cool, thanks for the heads up! Except that what I waited for was hardly worth it. The concept is cool, the interior is cool, everything is cool...but the ice cream itself wasn't what I expected nor was it beyond mediocre. It wasn't bad but wasn't great. For the price that I paid and the time I waited, I expected more and this place fell short.
(3)
Aaron B.

Great ice cream. Clean store, fast and efficient checkout. -1 star for the long time it took for our order to arrive.
(4)
Caroline M.

Tasted like a DQ Blizzard, which is totally a compliment. My friend found two pieces of foil in her ice cream (Eerrrr.....no thanks). I like cupcakes so maybe my opinion doesn't even count.
(2)
Wendy E.

Really great idea-needs to franchised or set up around the country at select locations-great concept and fun to watch....yummy to boot!
(5)
Mary T.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for iCream! Is there a rule that create-your-own-flavor ice cream places must be small and narrow? Do they do it so you feel pressured to make a choice rather than standing there for hours staring at the vast menu of choices? After my last create-your-own-flavor fiasco I decided to play it safe going with a small mint, Oreo ice cream - a flavor combo I knew I liked. What's cool is you can make your ice cream/yogurt/sorbet/hot pudding(???) any color you want. How cool is that?! I thought about getting mine red or blue just to shake things up, but in the end I decided to be boring and get green. My small treat ran me $4, which wasn't bad since I thought the portion was pretty darn generous. After I placed my order I settled in to watch the show. When the liquid Nitrogen, courtesy of a long tube running from the ceiling, goes in the mixer transforms into an icy cauldron with a cloud-like fog pouring out. I felt like a little kid wanting to jump up and down clapping and screaming "again, again!" It didn't take long after fetching my treat to devour it. It was really good, the ice cream seemed really light and airy and it was the regular, full fat stuff! My safe flavor choice didn't fail me, maybe next time I'll study the menu online and come prepared with something a little more adventurous. My only complaint/critique is regarding the output of the treats. The process looks pretty involved and therefor is kind of slow, it doesn't take much to create a crowd of people waiting. Also, the pick up window is in the far front corner meaning you have to push through the crowd to get your ice cream and then back again to the door. I foresee this setup being a bit of a clusterfuck in the warm months when people flock to this place. Bottom line: Lots of choices; lots of tasty, yummy, delicious choices!
(4)
JJ T.

Amazing concept. Great ice cream!
(5)
Dan D.

This is a cool place. Neat idea. Original concept. Making ice cream using Liquid Nitrogen, choices of milk, types of dessert, and mix-ins. Come here for the novelty... not for the taste persay. It is the experience that is worth it. Once you order either icecream, pudding, sorbet, or frozo-yogo, its put into a blender, they add a syringe of your flavor(s), and liquid nitrogen blasts into the mixer. Bada-bing, Bada-boom, you have instant ice-cream in about a minute. Cool to bring friends from out of town. They will love it and will have a cool story to bring home too! My combo was actually pretty good. Raspberry and Lime icecream with Cookie Dough mixin. Yea... actually tasted pretty darn good as a combo.
(4)
Domi H.

The best froyo in town!! So original, love that they make the froyo to order, have so many choices and that they incorporate the toppings into the yogurt
(5)
Monica L.

Most awesome part is watching them use the liquid nitrogen! They have a variety of flavors and toppings
(4)
Kedar D.

This is a pretty cool, futuristic ice cream shop. It looks and feels very much like Stogo in New York City, and even has the same pod-style bar stools. However, unlike Stogo, and unlike any other ice cream shop I've been to, iCream doesn't have any tubs full of flavors to choose from. Instead, you choose what flavor(s) you want and the staff then makes the ice cream on the spot, with fancy machines (which you can watch through glass) and sophisticated computer touch-screens. It was like something out of Star Trek. They have vegan soy varieties of every flavor (except for white chocolate). I asked them to produce a mixture of chocolate and hazelnut which came out tasting pretty good, though not great (iCream is definitely not of the quality of Lula's or Stogo, both in NYC): the texture was a little bit icy, and the flavors didn't gel quite properly. This was especially true of my friend's combination of "burnt sugar" flavor and hazelnut, which had an overpowering after-taste of the hazelnut. That said, I like the concept of the place. Single scoops cost $4 (there's an extra charge for soy), and we waited at least 10 or 15 minutes for our order (it was sort of busy, but not packed by any means). Like most things veg-related in Chicago, iCream is a compromise: it still serves dairy ice cream and isn't 100% vegan. Similarly, the "upscale" (mostly) veg. place in Chicago (Green Zebra) is heavily lacto-ovo and even serves fish; and the flagship veg. restaurant, The Chicago Diner, is still happy to serve dairy and eggs. I guess I can't expect more out of a city built on slaughterhouses, but it always disappoints me that my hometown can't do anything properly when it comes to vegan dining.
(3)
Anita M.

Came here after Bikram yoga once as a reward for all the hard work that day and while I was aware it totally defeats the point of the workout, every bite was worth it! What a novel idea- creating your own ice cream/frozen yogurt/ sorbet and being able to watch it transform from liquid to solid form in minutes! The i cream "lab" is basically a bunch of kitchen aid type mixers but decked out - its hooked up to liquid nitrogen which helps freeze the ingredients and create ice cream at a ridiculously fast rate. As with any place that allows you to "create your own" flavors, sometimes it can be a hit or miss depending on what you mix together. I opted for what I considered "safe" - pomegranate flavored ice cream, while my friend choose peanut butter and something else. Both turned out really well- not too sweet which is something I appreciate.Can't wait to try other flavors next time!
(4)
Sara L.

My friend always raves and constantly talking about this place..kinda makes me thinks she secretly working as them ..haha. Finally tried the place out a week or two ago. Boy oh boy she was right! I love how you can create your own ice cream and customize it! I got the cake flavor with cookie dough..yumm..if I could I probably would've bought it in a gallon size. Would I come back -you betcha!!
(4)
Derrick T.

Liquid nitrogen? Making ice cream? Mix ins? This dream/goal of this place is ambitious... how was it? Let's see... Got here with three others about an hour before it closed and checked out the menu for the first time. Pick a size, flavor, and color for free. Mix ins are cost extra per mix in as you go. After much deliberation, we each chose a medium with a variety of mix ins, only to find that three out of the four of ours we would likely not get again. The one that was actually quite good was the hazelnut/burnt sugar ice cream that one of our friends picked out. The straight coffee was somewhat weak in flavor, the cider was average... and even though we requested colors, they came out odd looking (orange turned into brown, blue turned into green, etc.) While it's true you make your own flavors, paying six dollars for ice cream that you don't really enjoy that much just doesn't cut it for me. If you're going to claim to be able to color the ice cream, make sure you have a formula to perfect that color. (I expected bright orange ice cream, not light brown, much like my fiancee expected bright blue ice cream, not green). Also, the idea of using commercial food extracts to create the flavors is well... not quite tasty. While these flavoroids work well in dishes, using them as the basis for the flavor to be highlighted (like ice cream) leaves you realizing just how fake the flavor is. Excellent idea, but requiring refinement... may I suggest you incorporate the food in a fresh form directly some how (use actual roasted coffee with milk, or cider, not just a few drop of flavoring) so that the ice cream's flavors aren't generically commercial. Verdict: Would I go back? Not for the price and for the ingredients used... while the concept of using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream is neat, we really don't get to see much of anything except the "smoke" from the production... and be disappointed with the taste/flavor there after.
(2)
Joseph M.

We went there twice. Ever time we were meet with nothing but pure amazingness. The varieties are infinite and the taste is divine. Fresh ice cream is something every one should experience. The one star lost because their crew is composed of one maybe two if lucky. They need more staff. But people that work there are really nice they are just way over worked.
(4)
Richie D.

Any place that sells ice cream and frozen yogurt and remains unique from the rest of its competition gets 5 stars from me! Picture a chemistry lab specializing in dessert. My kinda place! Create your own frozen yogurt, ice cream, sorbet, or hot pudding with a huge variety of flavors (about 30), add-ins (candy and more) and even colors (yes, perfect for kids with creative minds) to choose from. To take advantage of the Autumn, I had the pumpkin and burnt sugar frozen yogurt, mmm mmm. Oh and per their website, they also do field trips. Heck, I wish my elementary school knew that years and years ago! As for the name...I'm going to behave myself and won't go there. Hopefully a northside location opens up soon.
(5)
Ria A.

Tons of dessert options to choose from. Hot pudding, cold pudding, ice cream, yogurt. Tons of toppings. Tons of flavors. A variety of milk options to choose from, including soy. It takes a while to make but they are customizing your dessert. A family friend had her son's birthday party here and the kids loved it. The liquid nitrogen machine was definitely a hit. Creative, tasty, and different.
(4)
Nancy H.

This place looks like it could be expensive, but it's not. $3.50 for a customized small ice cream / froyo w/o any toppings isn't bad. I think adding toppings would take away from enjoying the flavor of the ice cream creation, unless you're trying to recreate something like key lime pie (in which case, the pie crust toppings would be necessary!). So I had the honey + cinnamon w/o toppings, and it was divine! Next time, I want to concentrate on just one flavor. They fixed their big machine, so now it really only takes 5 minutes to make. And the wait isn't bad, especially since you get to witness the dry ice smoking from the mixers! We were kind of overwhelmed at first, but basically here's what you need to know: 1) Choose from regular ice cream, reduced fat ice cream, low-fat froyo, non-fat froyo, soy, or sorbet 2) Choose 2 unique flavors to mix together + food dye (optional) 3) Toppings are optional and cost extra They can also make hot pudding and Italian cream soda!
(4)
Christine L.

on a late thursday afternoon, the service was quick. however, don't expect quick service all the time. the store has a sign warning the customers that during the busy weekend hours, there may be a 10-15 minute wait. as a icream newbie, i took a while to finally decide on my masterpiece creation-orange and strawberry froyo w/ mango mix-in. if you are ever lacking inspiration, take a look along the walls to find pre-made combinations that look delicious! watching the creation of my froyo was a very entertaining experience. perfect for those easily amused. when i finally got to try my froyo, i was not impressed. i could not taste the strawberry flavor and there was very little mango added. i think i will leave my froyo cravings to be satisfied by the pros next time (pinkberry and berry moon). visually appealing, but not spectacularly pleasing to the palate. i'm glad i finally got to check this place out!
(2)
Eric M.

I was really nervous that the use of chemicals and liquid nitrogen was going to make this dessert taste more like a plastic toy, but it was excellent! I love the insane amount of combinations you can make. Just in step one you have yogurt, soy ice cream, light ice cream, regular ice cream, even pudding! I went with a light ice cream with a chocolate & caramel flavoring then added in some peanut butter and bananas as toppings. It was creamy and delicious. I'm looking to coming back here and trying so many different combinations. I will agree with many others, it does take some time to create the desserts to do plan on a wait, especially if there's a line.
(4)
Tim F.

Liked the nonfat frozen yogurt flavored with burnt sugar, cherry, and blueberries at this place. Expensive? A bit, but they are using freaking liquid nitrogen in a custom mixer rig to make ice cream on the spot.
(4)
Leda G.

What a disappointment! I came here with friends who had raved about it. I found Icream so underwhelming! The ice cream was really bland and not creamy at all. It tasted like ice chips. It is also very expensive. There is way better ice cream sold in the freezer section at whole foods!
(1)
Albert H.

Now that's a name. Or at least a name I'd hesitate to mention among certain crowds of friends for fear of a ribbing. We stopped by one afternoon during our week in Chicago - two interlopers from the SF Bay Area ready for a faceoff of two very different LN2 ice cream shops. You see, there's another place in San Francisco that does the same thing in a very different way. Chicago being all avant-garde and molecular gastronomy oriented yet midwest has iCream with zillions of flavors and colors mixed on the spot in kitchenaid mixers. San Francisco has Smitten, with custom designed mixers and something like four all-natural all-organic flavors with no added coloring and a limited number of handmade waffle cones. The shop was pretty empty when we got there, walking from the nearest "L" station through a neighborhood that seemed very much like home. Staff was friendly and gave us plenty of time to make our choices from the vast menu. Something like two flavors and a color come standard per ice cream. You can choose a healthy or less healthy ice cream base, or frozen yogurt, which we feared to try. We hemmed and hawed and thought and eventually got a pinkish cherry/almond thing and a yellow curry/peanut butter concoction. The process was a joy to behold, fog rising from the mixing bowls. The engineer in me enjoyed looking at all the liquid nitrogen piping and valves, and admired the ingenuity of the way they had integrated it with off-the-shelf mixers. ( Smitten has their own custom designed machines, which result in a better consistency, but which are no doubt more prone to breaking down. ) The ice cream was decent. Not great by any means, but good. The flavors in the cherry almond were way too mild, though the curry ice cream was more clearly flavored. Which of course brings up the issue: what is the utility, other than the spectacle? Certainly, the ice cream is no better than you could get elsewhere - sometimes worse. The answer is - you can make almost anything you want here - it might not come out the best, but if you are into mixing strange concoctions, this is an amazing place.
(4)
k e.

Very fun science experiment. The ice cream was very good, but not my favorite ever. It's a fun place to take someone and I'd love to come back here with kids.
(3)
Michael S.

Orange colored ice cream!!! (or whatever your favorite color is), Enough said! Well I guess one could go on to talk about how they don't use real ingredients for the flavors, but instead use commercial extracts.. Not too big of a deal as the mix-ins are quite real.. It would be nice to use the actual ingredients though.. Then there is the really cool concept with the liquid nitrogen! It added some flair to the ice cream making process that easily entertained me.. If you want premium quality ice cream go elsewhere, but for the novelty this place can't be beat!!
(4)
Gayatri D.

I'm not a dessert person. I'd pick savory over sweet any day! But iCream made me re-think that stand! It's an innovative idea and a great concept. The ability to pick your flavors and toppings and watch your dessert as it's made is pretty cool. I've had chocolate, strawberry, mango, lime sorbet & ice cream and it's hard to pick favorites because they're all so good!!! The only problem is that the lines are wayyyyy toooo long on weekends and evenings. They move fast enough, but I wish they'd hire a few more people.
(4)
Sneha P.

So fun! Yummy ice cream, and really cool. You can add your own milk and flavors in there. I enjoy going there every once in a while.
(5)
Trina A.

I ended up getting a low-fat pumpkin ice cream with nutella and grahm crackers. The process was amazing, I was in awe. I took so many damn pics; watching the KitchenAid Mixer spin and spin with smoke all around it!, and of the crazy tools and such. I even took vids of Cora making my ice cream...I swear, I was jumping around, I was really excited to try this mysterious concoction.... ....sadly, the consistency kind of reminded me of parafin wax. It was smooth, and it lacked texture. Taste-wise, it was pretty yummy, fresh pumpkin flavor, and the infusion of choco and grahms added a lil texture, and a whole lotta yummy-ness. Overall, I was happy with the experience, the ice cream on the other hand, not so much. But I do not know of any other place where you can get nitrogen made ice cream, so kudos for that!
(3)
Andrew H.

18 bucks for a PB OMG and a strawberry shortcake made my wallet go OMG. Great concept, terrible product.
(2)
Meridith E.

For grown-up kiddies and actual kiddies alike. Went here for the 1st time with a friend and had a great time. Being able to customize the flavors and mix-ins is great, especially when you have such a great selection to choose from!!! My only problem was figuring out exactly what I wanted. You can choose traditional ice cream or yogurt/sorbet. The science of making your cold concoction is amazing to watch as the gurus behind the counter mix and match to your tastebuds' desires. Seeing the liquid nitrogen billow from the Kitchen Aid was AWESOME. Being that I hated science because I thought it didn't matter in everyday life, it was like a kick in the face to see how it was used to make my frozen yogurt. (I can just hear my HS chemistry teacher laughing at me.) Only downfall is that it is a bit pricy, and the wait kind of sucks. It can take up to 10 mins to get your ice cream on a slow day, and even longer in the summer. And there is limited seating. HOWEVER, it's a great place for everyone, which is nice for a whole family or even a kids' b-day party.
(3)
Joanne Y.

I scream for iiiiiiiiiiiiicream! You can customize your flavors as you wish and make your own flavored ice cream on the spot! (Technically, they still make it for you, though.) Although not really tasty for ice cream, this place is pretty cool. The concept of making ice cream on the spot is just something you have to try once while in Chicago. You choose your flavors, and then wham-bam you see the mixer going and the nitrogen gas spraying into the mixer. Viola! Like a childhood wish come true--instant ice cream on the spot!
(3)
Ashley S.

I love this place. I will drive out of my way to stop here. It is a bit pricey for the amount, but anything that I can add Nutella and bananas to, I am down with. I tell my friends about this place whenever they are in Wicker Park.
(4)
Chelsey L.

When was the last time you walked into an ice cream parlor that makes awesome colored- mind blowing flavor combinations- and all made to order in front of you...not to mention using liquid nitrogen! My point exactly...any place that makes soy ice cream with a swirl of nutella and colored neon pink wins in my book. Over priced? yes, but totally worth the experience...I reccomend going early in the afternoon on a weekday, it usually takes 5-7 mins on a slow day and during summer the place is jam packed! They play great music, and last time I was in there they were watching star wars. This place is legit!
(5)
Erin Z.

Jonesin' for a treat after grabbing dinner in Wicker Park, some friends recommended we check this place out. I must say, without their guidance to hold my hand through the menu and the process I would have been an anxiety mess at the register upon ordering. There are multiple flavors and mix-ins... sometimes I think too many choices just creates confusion and mind screws you. I think I changed my mind in what I wanted a good 3 - 4 times during the solid 10 - 15 minute line. As an added bonus, this place will make custom soy flavored ice cream... a rare gem indeed. For customizability and the amount of work that goes into that small dish of ice cream, I somewhat understand the high prices but I don't know if I would make a habit of frequenting this spot.
(3)
Amanda S.

I drive up to Wicker Park from my 'hood- Bridgeport, maybe 2 times a week for frozen yogurt. Last night, upon finding my favorite spot (Forever Yogurt) closed, I desperately searched for a substitute place. My criteria was only that it was frozen yogurt and open late (it was already 9:45!) iCream was open until 10, and when I walked in, the man behind the counter was wonderfully nice, and very helpful as he explained how everything works. After making my decision, I watched him create my magically frozen treat. I gave this place two stars for the actual product. While all the flavors to choose from sounded good, and watching the magic happen was fun... I have to say, I was craving yogurt, and my yogurt just tasted like really bland ice cream. My friend got a banana flavored yogurt, and when I asked to try a bite, I could hardly even swallow... the banana tasted like chemicals to me...not like real banana. To me, it's just not worth the $20+ that was spent. I would much rather get my money's worth buying Breyer's in a carton, or hitting up Cold Stone Creamery... my frozen yogurt cravings are a serious business, and need to be treated with only the best of the best yogurt. Also, because each yogurt is created individually, it takes a long time for each creation to be made. I now understand the lines I have seen outside of this place in the summer....
(2)
Ed A.

This ice cream shop while innovative in its approach offers ice cream that is pretty good but just does not live up to the hype it has created for itself. A wider range of flavors then some ice cream shops in the city but the texture and flavor discernible only by foodies, one of which I am not. The store is in a location quite surprising for the way it markets itself. Located in Wicker Park, home of the hipster, the shop looks so clean, bright, white, modern and aesthetically devoid of character that I'm sure the patrons in the area thought the store to be some kind of public restroom or bathroom showroom. The ice cream at the shop is pretty good but it is advisable to walk around the corner and get the good old-fashioned kind of ice cream at cold Stone creamery. PS The store is easily accessible for wheelchairs.
(3)
Gina F.

I thought this was really neat & I realy enjoyed my ice cream! My fiance, who is lactose intolerant & got soy ice cream, declared it the best ice cream he's ever had. It does take a little time, since each order is custom made & frozen with liquid nitrogen when you order it. They literally take whole milk or soy milk, your mix ins, & pumps of flavors, mix & freeze it on the spot. It's a little exepensive, but given the process I understand. The one thing I would change is nutritional info! You're touting something as light...lighter than what? Obviously it would be impossible to consider the various options, but just for the basic stuff and sizes: ice cream S, M, L, yogurt S, M, L, light S, M, L, soy S, M, L, etc.
(4)
Christina M.

iCream is located in the hipster part of town referred to as Wicker Park. What I like about iCream is that I can finally meet up with friends and eat ice cream on a hot summer day - yay! All of the ice cream is custom made from scratch. You have the ability to choose your base (i.e. soy milk), flavor (i.e. chocolate, hazelnut, etc), and a mix in (there are several vegan mix ins). They put your ingredients in a mixer (in a cleaned container - so there is no chance of cross contamination) and you can watch through the window as your ice cream undergoes their 'rapid freezing' process. It's pretty neat and would be a great place to bring kids if you have them. They also have various sorbets and puddings that can all be made vegan.
(3)
Elina S.

This place was pretty cool and def. the most unique ice cream we've ever had. We had the white chocolate ice cream flavor- a little on the sweet side but def. good :) If we weren't full from all the all u can eat sushi we had a few blocks down, we would have added some toppings such as the amazing and prolly my fave of all time, nutella. If I'm in the area I will def. be back, just because it's sooo different, but a little on the pricey side for a small cup of ice cream.
(4)
Kathy J.

Loved this place. Was able to make my own flavor choices...pomegranate/cherry ice cream with blackberries. Friend had pomegranate/cream soda with blackberries. Ice cream was extremely smooth. Very neat to see your ice cream made fresh, just for you. I didn't think is was any more expensive than Cold Stone or Oberwise. Would like to go back if we are ever in Chicago again.
(4)
Cristina T.

This place is like stepping into one big science experiment. I was lucky enough to go with a friend who had already been there before, otherwise I would have been incredibly intimidated by the menu at iCream. Between the flavors, the mix-ins and the toppings, its almost impossible to choose what you want! First you pick whether you want ice cream, fro-yo, a milkshake or a sorbet. Then you pick one of their dozens of flavors and some mix-ins. There are some suggestions of flavors on the wall, but I would just figure out what you want to try the best and go for it. I opted for the fro-yo that was vanilla flavored. I added in nutella and reese's peanut butter cups and dyed it blue. Be warned: it does take about 10 minutes for your dessert to be prepared since its made to order. Literally it goes from liquid to solid in their state of the art Kitchen Aid mixers. This is the most interactive dessert place I have ever been to. The workers are extremely helpful and I cannot see how your end product could be anything less than delicious. I can't wait to try out more combinations next time I go!
(4)
T M.

Interesting concept... HORRIBLE execution. When I walked in, there were two people in line ahead of me. After 20 minutes of waiting, one of the clowns working behind the counter took my order. After another 20 minutes, my order was finally complete. Had I not paid $20 for the two ice creams I ordered, I would have walked out. In retrospect, I wish I would. The product I received tasted nothing like ice cream. My girlfriend actually likened it to dish soap mixed with milk. If you're in the neighborhood, I recommend talking a walk down Milwaukee to Oberweis. At least then you'll get ice cream that taste like it should and you wont waste your night waiting around for sub-par service / ice cream. - Interesting Concept - Horrible Service - Poor Product
(1)
David G.

Mist rises from the contraptions like a mad scientist's lair as they churn away. You're all excited to try it. It's like your creation. It's like you told Dr. Frankenstein what body parts to use in his abomination. This place is pretty innovative, probably the closest thing you can get to DIY ice cream besides making it at home. You choose the flavor, mix-in and color if that's your poison. I guess if the mixture is nasty, it's your fault. Takes accountability away from the nice guy behind the counter. Luckly the mixture I created was pretty good at my first visit. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to the hype. It was just a good cup of ice cream, but nothing about it made me want to proclaim it the best ice cream in the land. The facility itself looks sterilized like a surgery theater or a Mac store. My biggest issue was the space. The place is cramped and I can't imagine being there when the place is busy. There would virtually be nowhere to sit. There's no outdoor seating. I guess this place is a victim of it's own location. The bustling Wicker Park sidewalk doesn't provide a very good environment for chilling outside and eating ice cream. Unless you want to get stampeded by hipsters.
(3)
Stella C.

I love frozen yogurt and anywhere I go, I always get the same thing:vanilla yogurt, bananas, strawberries, pineapples and topped with nuts. What I loved about iCream's version of my favorite froyo concoction was that all the ingredients were perfectly blended so that every bite from start to finish had some fruit or nuts and I was never let with just a plain bite of vanilla froyo. The fruit tastes ripe and sweet and the nuts were not your rinky dinky small chopped nuts, they were bigger than the norm and I loved them. There was only one person ahead of us in line at 8:30pm on Friday but soon after we got our order, it seems another wave hit. They do move pretty quickly though. I'd definitely come back again but I loved my concoction so much I doubt I'd be brave enough to try something more exciting, like root beer or sprite flavored ice cream! The price is also comparable to those bigger chain creameries. It's alright.
(5)
Jean Z.

Love love love it. Try the key lime
(5)
Michael R.

iCream is an awesome concept but a one stop shop for me. I won't be returning unless I am in the area and need some ice cream. We went on a slow day and it took almost 30 minutes from the time we walked in until we walked out. The concept is cool but the end result is nothing special. It is more the experience than anything and how many time do you need to live that? There is nothing like it though so everyone should go at least once and check it out.
(5)
Matt L.

My mom told me she and my father went to iCream the other night and she got some froyo and it was good. She lied. About it being good, not about going to iCream. I think... In honor of muthas day, I picked up three large yogurts for the apres-main sweet course of the meal, known in some circles as dessert. This, however, was not what you would call "dessert," unless you eat dessert in hell. I'm talking about the kind of food that tastes like it should result in a net calorie loss by consuming it. Yep, I think I'll stick to celery for that. It's cheaper. The flavors I ordered were: white chocolate with graham cracker pie crust, raspberry with raspberries in it, and vanilla. Each was was worse than the next, and by the time we got to the vanilla, which was fast since the first two sucked, my face was completely red with embarrassment. My countenance quickly changed its hue though when my sister tried the vanilla and had a seizure induced by its nastiness. Okay, that didn't happen, but I was afraid it might, and she isn't even epileptic. The vanilla was an embarrassment to human consumption. Truly rank. The ice cream isn't bad here though if you don't mind waiting a long time. iCream's got that going for it.
(2)
Chrissy C.

*DO NOT go for the classic ice cream flavors here (i.e., strawberry, etc). but, i do take heavy stock on an ice cream joint that cant pull off the classics. hence the 1* dock. howeverrrrrrrrrrrr, the mixed flavors are pretty amazing. the nitro is really fun to watch as well!
(4)
Jackie H.

I have to echo the seniment of a lot of previous reviews--very cool concept, tasty treats, but it's hella expensive for ice cream. Likes: Endless possibilites for flavor combos! They even have popular combos displayed--you can easily take a half-hour trying to figure out what to order but having creative suggestions helps! The frozen yogurt option (which I had) if you're feeling the need to be a little healthier. The staff seemed very cheery and helpful. Dislikes: The price. Spent about $7 for a medium serving to share with my husband. I thought the place could've been bigger--it was kinda cramped when we went there. I wish it was easier to see the magic happen--meaning the making of the concoctions with the liquid nitrogen. I definitely liked the place, but with it being so expensive, I unfortunately probably wouldn't go again.
(3)
D P.

I had a feeling that this was going to be some awesome ice cream but figured I would be disappointed. I was totally utterly and completely not. I got a medium, soy-based, ice cream with banana and burnt sugar flavorings, pink color (!) and shredded coconut mixed in. It is so deliciously smooth and yummy and tasted just like bubblegum (my goal). My mom got almond-burnt sugar hot pudding with graham cracker and pistachio which she also loved. Totally worth the wait time! Wish we had a place like this in NYC.
(5)
Cynthia C.

First time ever trying rice pudding... lol I know I'm a little late. But icream made it really good! We got the almond and cinnamon flavor since my friend said rice pudding should always have cinnamon. their ice cream process is really unique too! It was cool watching them make individual ice creams by liquid nitrogen :) This is true food science!
(4)
Chris S.

I was very very skeptical at first. I thought this was really gimmicky and hokey and hesitant to try it, despite my kid sister's over excitement about this place. We gave this place a spin and I genuinely liked it. The final results were tasty and it brought me back a second time. Advice: the first few times you go, stick with flavors you know go well together. For example: Chocolate and strawberry, chocolate and peanut butter, vanilla and raspberry, vanilla and mint, etc. Keep it simple for fair evaluation's sake. Beyond that, start experimenting. OH... also, their frozen yogurt is made from real yogurt, so it's a little tart, rather than sweet like you'd find at one of those mall yogurt places. Maybe compliment it with a sweet flavor?
(4)
nikki s.

So yummy on a sunshiney day! I'm not typically a fan of mashed up ice cream and toppings (ie cold stone creamery), but this stuff is the bizness!I don't know what it is that makes their ice cream taste so much better. The liquid nitrogen maybe? Crack? All I know is that I'll stand in line darn near a half hour to get it. I don't get the whole icream name, nor do I understand why there's a flatscreen with a playlist in the waiting area. It's a tiny little place, loud and the process and topping options can be a little overwhelming. There are so many to choose from, after ten minutes of attempting to match multiple toppings, I stopped trying to make it a project and just ordered one of the suggestions they have pictured on the wall. My favorite is the vanilla icecream with raspberries and graham cracker. Is it pricey? I'll say. For two smalls I paid a little over $10! But I'll pay for that which is off the beaten path.
(5)
Kent S.

This place is mind boggling. The selection has evolved a lot since I first poked my head through here. My last iCream experiment involved, curry, cinnamon, cayenne and dark cherries. Such a flavor explosion to be had. The option of adding some sort of color is something the I always opt out of. More recently, they had a spot on the Food Network which has caused a spike in business that is great for them and less so for me, just because my usual early afternoon visit is no longer predictably peaceful. Heh. When possible, I strongly recommend you try the following ice cream combo: pumpkin, cream cheese, and crushed graham cracker. Pumpkin cheesecake ice cream! Add peanut butter to it if you just want some extra tongue smacking good times. Mmm... I want ice cream now.
(5)
Angelica E.

Wow this place is really cool! I really liked that you see how your ice cream is being made plus the lil smoke affect is kinda cool. Kinda on the pricy side but its a really cool treat to have on a nice summer day in Wicker Park.
(4)
Liz O.

Aside from the long lines, I LOVE iCream! My inner child is always excited to watch the "creation" of each dish. In terms of flavor, it is definitely a unique product! Something that you cannot get anywhere else! One recommendation to new costumers: Ask the employees for suggestions & help. You'll be MUCH happier.
(4)
Mimi S.

Today was my first time visiting iCream and it was just awesome. It is a small establishment but there is seating for about 10 or so people inside and 3-4 people outside. There is also a couple of places to lock up your bike outside. I ordered the mango sorbet and added pomegranate and gummi bears (sorry, I was feeling my inner child today...I don't think that came out right)...Anywho, let me tell you, this liquid nitrogen thing is just awesome and when they began mixing my concoction, the entire place smelled like you could literally lick the air! This was certainly a tasty treat! I went alone and cannot wait to take my family next weekend. And when I do, I will remember to say, "I saw you on Yelp" for the discount. One last thing, I paid about $6.50 for my creation, size: Medium...
(5)
Laura F.

Meh. Cool concept but not great flavor or quality. Had the "Florida Guy" special which is white chocolate and cream soda extract with nutella mixed in. I was good but the extract just makes it taste really artificial to me since I'm used to natural ingredients. But very mesmerizing to see the liquid nitrogen smoke as the ice cream is made in kitchen aid mixers. Great concept and fun for novelty but I will probably not return.
(3)
Kori E.

I've been wanting to check this place out for a while, and we went there last night on our way home from dinner. I like that you can choose between ice cream and frozen yogurt and then you can choose regular, light, soy, etc. I've never seen that anywhere and I thought that was great. After you choose your base you then choose your flavor! We went for the traditional mint and added oreos as our topping. Its our standard ice cream of choice! It was very light and tasty. My boyfriend said he didn't taste the mint, but I certainly did. I would definitely go here over Fat Bagel on North Ave. It definitely is a fun place to come, especially if you are feeling experimental, you can make any ice cream/yogurt concoction you could ever thing of...even curry!
(4)
Janie H.

I got the "Va-Tella" (vanilla ice cream with Nutella) during the busy Wicker Park fest yesterday. Not a single complaint! The line was long but once I put my order in it was pretty quick from there, maybe only a 5-7 minute wait. I got a small scoop in a paper cup and I think the price was about $4, which is worth it for more of the experience. I would recommend this place to people who maybe have visitors in from out of town since this is a new concept.
(4)
Jessica S.

Ice cream = yummy! Yogurt = disgusting (and I like Pinkberry, Starfruit, etc.)
(3)
Richie a.

Really fun place to go to. The liquid nitrogen, make it right in front of you effect is really cool. I also have always liked the actual end product as well
(4)
Len L.

I thought I was entering into a mad science lab experiment - liquid nitrogen being injected with raw material to form your favorite ice cream/yogurt/sorbet flavors. - It looks like magic - weird looking items thrown into a big bowl and blasted with liquid nitrogen and presto - ice cream. It was pricey for a small cup, which I had and I would have been happy with a pint of Ben and Jerry's. - basically cost the same but I would have more ice cream left over for the next day.
(3)
Ashray L.

I might as well be the brand ambassador for this place. I have recommended - no, forced - so many of my friends and colleagues to go to this place that they might as well start giving me a commission. One of my colleagues had referred me to this place in the Winter of 2010 and I have never looked back since. When I first entered, the place looked like a set of a Sci-fi movie with smoke bellowing out of pots churning delicious tasting ice creams. It can be a little intimidating for a first-timer with the hundreds of permutations and combinations of flavors, mix-ins and add-ins. My all-time favorite is the "That guy from Florida". Top it of with some cinnamon and you have a winner. Friendly-service is a huge bonus.
(5)
Jenna S.

This place is definitely cool, but the flavor of the creations just falls short. It's fun to watch them actually freeze yogurt for you at the end of the counter. It's also fun to pick a bunch of stuff to put in your creation. However, the yogurt just didn't blow me away. It was pretty bland, which is to be expected, but it was still bland with toppings galore. Kind of bizarre. It's pretty cramped in here, so prepare for a wait on hot summer days. There's only like six chairs so it's best to just take your yogurt to go.
(3)
Dana A.

AWESOME! Great fro-yo and ice cream!! Plus they have soy ice cream! Liquid nitrogen such a fun idea! I have been wanting to try this place since I heard about it! I love love frozen yogurt and the fact that I got to choose everything about it! The whole choose what you want is for sure the crave in every type of food so why not I Cream. Though I do feel the name is a little odd balls! At first I was overwhelmed by all the options but I thought thats what makes this place so great! Sooooo H OW IT WORKS! 1. Pick Ice cream, Frozen Yogurt or Soy ice cream, then you get to chose the option of light for ice cream, frozen yogurt option of fat free. 2. Pick the flavor! You get to choose two! What we picked! I picked fro-yo strawberry and white chocolate, you can pick if you want a color but I didn't find it necessary! My boyfriend did chocolate and mint ice cream. He was really craving some great ice cream and that he received! 3. Then you pick you add your mix-ins! I put chocolate chips in mine with strawberries it was a great compliant to the strawberry and white chocolate flavor! My boyfriend added nutella to his and he loved loved it!!! He couldn't stop talking about how amazing the ice cream was! We ordered med would recommend that size because its frozen yogurt/or ice cream and you know you want more than a small! There was a line but honestly sooo worth it! its such a great experience. Great place for a first date, any date at that! Plus there is a patio to sit outside or you can go on a romantic walk hand in hand and with your ice cream! :)
(5)
Mary Y.

This is one of the most interesting dessert spots in Chicago. The owner had the idea back in business school and I'm told was encouraged to open it up as an business idea. And boy, are we glad she did. There are so many different options, I can't even list them. You basically pick your flavor and decide whether you want ice cream, sorbet, rice pudding or even frozen yogurt. Pick you toppings and/or mix-ins. An average dessert will set you back about $4-$5. They then mix it in a Kitchenaid mixer and toss the liquid nitrogen in it and boom... you have a perfectly made custom dessert. It's so fresh and delicious. Not to mention super cool the way they make it. You can even watch them behind clear windows. The only problem is it takes about 4-5minutes to make 1 dessert, so be prepared to wait. I wish I could have thought of this idea!
(5)
Liang H.

Coool concept, bad execution. Unfortunately, my pistachio ice cream was not creamy and tasted very hard- like the edges had freezer burn. All the liquid nitrogen's doing, I suppose :P If you've never been to iCream, it is one of those novelty places that you should visit at least once. Am I coming back though? Nah
(2)
Annie C.

Okay, yes, super cool! They make your ice cream with nitrogen and funky stuff like that right in front of you. But man that shit's expensive!!! And not that good either... A little overrated don't you think. And yes, I went because I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and I came out disappointed.
(1)
Nessie V.

Screw that pellet stuff. THIS is the ice cream of the future! Liquid nitrogen not only allows the ice cream to be made with a cloud-like consistency, but it allows everything to be made to order while-u-wait. They have a large selection of flavors but it's a little fruit-heavy: They do have stuff like almond, green tea, hazelnut, burnt sugar... They also have many add-ins like gumballs and chocolate chips. I got the latter and they had tons in there. They also have a wide selection of media that can be used: You want Soy Cream? Sure! You want hot pudding on a cold day? Got it! And then the most fun part is you get to pick a color. I ordered blue in my green tea, but the tea made it more teal. Still fun! Can't wait to go back... to the future!
(5)
Phill C.

Cool concept and fun to watch the process. Made-to-order ice cream, mixed and frozen right there on the spot, with a large computer controlled Kitchen Aid mixer & a liquid nitrogen dispenser. It's on the expensive side, but definitely fun to watch the liquid nitro fog coming out of the mixer. Too many choices to choose from. Even to start off, you need to choose a base for your icream, with regular & reduced fat ice cream, soymilk, yogurt, and sorbet. I think I also saw some hot pudding. Then you have the huge list of flavors, mix-ins, and colorings to choose from. I couldn't decide, so just went with one of the pre-made mashups. I got the Momma's favorite, which was made of chocolate ice cream, nutella, and raspberries. It took a little less then 10 minutes to make and I line was quickly forming, since the owner was working alone that night. It was worth the wait, as I really enjoyed my ice cream and definitely notice the unique texture. I'll definitely try some of the crazier ingredients next time, maybe some curry?
(4)
Laura G.

Ice cream, I can take it or leave it. This is adult ice cream. I like that you can mix and match or go with tried and true. We tried "that guy from Florida" with Nutella and it was great. So good we wanted to try a few more. I LOVE Black Licoice - they had Anise flavor. I LOVE Coconut - they had Coconut flavor WHY NOT MIX MY 2 FAVORITES?? Oh, and a topping, I didn't want to get crazy so I had them mix in coconut. My nephew tried Green Tea and Root Beer with Coconut topping. The girl taking his order said "REALLY?" It was different but actually good. You can taste the Root Beer and the Green Tea. This is real stuff, not flavoring. REAL Anise, REAL Coconut. DELICIOUS. And fun to watch them make it!
(4)
Mike D.

Make your own blizzard.... With flavors, colors, topping.... Pick ice cream or yogurt. you can go healthy or not here... and everything is made from scratch right in front of your eyes using a mix and liquid nitrogen... my cake and coffee flavored blue ice cream with cookie dough and cream cheese topping was killer. my only detraction was that its a bit slow (homemade ice cream takes time)... so if they're busy, expect to wait.
(4)
Rose A.

Saw this place on TV (I think on the Cooking Channel's Unique Sweets) and it looked really interesting, plus I thought my daughter would get a kick out of seeing the ice cream. This is how it works: 1. Choose if you want ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, or a milkshake. 2. Choose your flavor(s) of ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. 3. Choose the color you want it to be (yes, you can pick your color). 4. Then you can select which mix-ins you'd like They have many flavors & mix-ins to choose from. My husband and daughter shared a chocolate & hazelnut milkshake with graham cracker. It was really good. I choose to have PURPLE chocolate & hazelnut ice cream with nutella. It was absolutely delicious (my husband almost finished my ice cream) BUT the purple was more like specks of red and blue. Boo! = ( Nonetheless, it was pretty cool to see the milkshake and ice cream made to order in a mixing bowl and the "smoke" that was created with the use of liquid nitrogen. I wouldn't mind going back to try other flavor combinations...
(4)
Keith A.

iCream is 3.5 stars for me, but the liquid nitrogren show totally makes me want to put it into the 4* category. What's cool is that they have both ice cream and frozen yogurt along with a lot of flavors for both. I was more in the mood for yogurt, so yogurt it was. The sizes didn't seem too much different from each other and the medium was what seems normally a small at many places. Absolutely fine by me, seriously more places need to make smaller portions in the first place. Onto the yogurt itself. I decided on almond and cherry flavors and I was pretty pleased with my choices. Nevermind the awesome liquid nitro display, the flavors were pretty damn good. There were obviously a lot of cherries, but the almonds turned out to be a real nice touch too. This is me now patting myself on the back for choosing such an awesome combination. I do have to comment on the liquid nitro for this. It's sooooooooo friggin cool to watch. Yea, it's as cool as the pic for iCream shows. It almost seems like it's out of a sci-fi show or film and is kinda hypnotic. I definitely dig iCream. The location makes it easy to pop in on and get some yogurt or ice cream. There's that and the cool liquid nitrogen show.
(4)
Jaime G.

Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream (to order). Nice ice cream concept with regular, soy, sorbet, yogurt and all sorts shakes at iCream in Wicker Park. They essentially make ice cream from scratch, to order, while you wait. Combinations include Carmel and curry with ginger and all sorts of toppings. A little pricy but good.
(4)
Phil F.

When I heard that there was a place that combined two deep loves of mine (science and ice cream), I had to try it. I've never been a huge fan of froyo: If I am going to splurge, I want to do so extravagantly. However, I really just wanted to see the liquid nitrogen. You get to choose a flavor of ice cream or yogurt (you can blend two), followed by mix-ins, followed by selecting a color (which I did not know about). I previously made the mistake at Andy's Custards of not having enough mix-ins and regretting it later. I figured that it was worth the extra cost to have something truly memorable. I got a medium caramel and white chocolate ice cream, with peanut butter, peanut butter cup, and nutella mix-ins. I anxiously awaited as they moved my cup towards the vat of liquid nitrogen. It actually didn't take to long, but it looked awesome. I was wondering how this would affect my concoction as I got my first spoonful. It was honestly magnificent. The quick freezing really does add texture. There were slightly frozen chunks of nutella and everything was mixed in so well. Each bite was decadent. The price tag was a little high, which normally ends in me docking the rating, but the experience on a whole in tandem with the quality of the product deserves a 5 star rating. I wouldn't come back here monthly, but you should definitely try it if you haven't. Liquid nitrogen is awesome, as is the ice cream! They have enough toppings and flavors that you could come back every day and try something new. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
(5)
David S.

Weird and pricey and good. The frozen yogurt comes out really cold, but it's very tasty and the liquid-nitrogen setup is unique.
(4)
Flor D.

I don't think I've ever had That Guy From Florida...and If I did, I don't remember. Until now. Clearly, the man left an impression, and he was delicious. Everything a girl could hope for and then some. ICream is an ice cream lover's paradise. A place where 2 lovers meet for the very first time. Please don't call me Madonna, but I truly felt like a virgin to the liquid nitrogen LAB. Don't be intimidated. It truly is as easy as 1. select your base (fro yo, ice cream) 2. select the mix-in's (toppings or extra's) 3. select a color (neon purple) I opted for something simple, something alluring. Rich ice cream, cream soda & white chocolate all mixed up with Nutella. If that isn't the most perfect guy...then I don't know what is.... You tell me.
(4)
Sarah R.

Yes, I'm adding another review to the hundred this place has, but I want to add my two cents. This place is awesome. No wonder there's always a line. It's such a neat concept! The flavor combinations are all great and I agree, the stall is very nice. It's a great place to teach kids about science and enjoy a nice treat at the same time. It's friendly to all (i.e. Vegan and dairy consumers).
(5)
Aimee M.

2.5 stars really. I like the concept. Choose IceCream/Frozen Yogurt/Low fat frozen yogurt, then Choose a flavor, then choose some mix-ins (including color), then choose some toppings if you so desire. Watch them create your order in a cloud of dry ice mist. That's kind of cool. But the product itself....meh. I would rather get a pint of ice cream from the grocers. I opted for the Raspberry low fat frozen yogurt, topped with fresh raspberries and crushed graham crackers. The frozen yogurt was hard, not creamy at all, and had hardly any raspberry flavor. My cousin shared her strawberry low fat yogurt--that tasted a bit better. I think the bro won with his concoction of coconut ice-cream with pineapple mixed in--that was pretty good. But all three didn't impress me very much when you compare it to what's out there for home-made ice cream and frozen yogurt. There are some nice discounts for students, CTA riders and folks that dined at Piece (show receipt)--check out the placard on the counter.
(3)
Natalie G.

iCream you fancy huh? This place is just breeding on trendy trendy. Capitalizing on the hope that if you add a "i" in front of it, all the hipster apple kids will come a flocking.. and I am sure they did. On top of fancy liquid nitrogen ice cream.. this place is saying, "Let's be trendy in all ways possible." But alas, I sport an iphone and I use a Mac, and yes I'm a diehard Top Chef fan, and I consider myself a foodie, so I flocked. Gotta give it up. It's unique. The unique customizations on taste, mix-ins, and even color are good. An almond and hazelnut ice cream blend with nutella and almonds mixed it was a good combo for me! But bad on yellow as the color choice.. it looked wierd. My friends strawberry, berry, and chocolate mix was good too. To continue the experience, we got the rice pudding which was pretty good. We kept it basic with just cinnamon added in. But I had to try it. They had a legit Asian rice cooker on the counter. You know, the Tiger ones that are white, with pink flowers. Mad legit Asian ones. It caught my eye, I had to try. All in all. It's an experience. The texture of the ice cream is a little funky, but it's something to see.
(3)
Lisa H.

Finally found my favorite iCream combo!! Are you ready? 1. Treat: Organic Ice Cream 2. Flavor: Almond & Burnt Sugar (both sugar-free, surprisingly!) 3. Add-ins: Graham Cracker Crush & Mangoes! Trust me, if you like Almond flavor anything, you are gonna love this combo! It's an innovative Ice Cream store, and I am glad the founders chose to start their adventure in Chicago! Great place to bring out-of-towners or kids ;) Had to take 1 star off cuz the ice creams are incredibly pricy...! Again, worthy splurge after a day of shopping / people watching / Renegade Fair hunting in Wicker Park!
(4)
Kevin W.

So many possibilities!!! I think this could be my favorite icecream/yogurt place.. Its right up there with the best froyo places but maybe even above since you could get fresh rice pudding, ice cream or froyo. I had the organic ice cream, with almond and burnt sugar flavor, colored it purple, and added strawberries to it. Excellent combo I have to say. I could easily taste the almond and burnt sugar. I'd have to try the regular ice cream instead of the organic next time to see if there is really a difference between the two. The ice cream is actually liquid form when they blend it and then they spray liquid nitrogen "steam/smoke" into the blender which freezes it to a more solid state. Really cool stuff, and again the possibilities of type of dessert, flavor, color and toppings are almost endless.
(4)
Lauren P.

I love how they make purple hazelnut ice cream!. Athela was so helpful in selecting the perfect combo of decadent ice cream. My combo: hazelnut ice cream, nutella, and graham crackers! And the best part is when they mix it all together, and all this crazy steam comes out. The best part was the mini window they had on the other wall. My friend and I couldn't find the hole where they were calling out people's names. Cute decor by the way! - rather modern seating. Outdoor seating could be better.
(4)
Virginia T.

After dinner nearby we stopped in for a novelty experience. We got that- but it didn't blow me away. The place seemed to be disorganized and ran slowly. It says that a sign inside that on the weekends you can expect long waits. The custom options are nearly endless it seems. When you order you: Choose ice cream, yogurt or a shake Choose a base: (regular, light, organic, soy, regular or non-fat yogurt (which they have signs up that say "it is tangy!!")) Pick 1 or 2 flavors, a color, and fruit or candy mix-in We split a yogurt base with peach flavor and raspberries. They blend the items into the base, but it was a little light on the raspberries. The order did take a while, but then they also forgot the name on the order, so they were awkwardly calling out entire orders and it was a little crazy. The overall flavor was good, it wasn't really as fake as I expected it to be. The texture wasn't bad either. It was pricey though. I think this is one place everyone should go to- if only to create some crazy custom concoction and try a frozen treat made with liquid nitrogen. I just don't see myself going back for a 2nd visit.
(3)
Katherine T.

What the fuck, open 3 days a week? Screw your hipster hours. I'll go get some goddamn froyo instead.
(1)
Kat L.

i love how inventive and ingenius this spot is. I mean, how crazy is it that you can get yourself pink or blue banana ice cream? My combo: White chocolate and almond with banana and nutella mixed in. Soooo awesome. These guys are great. Even if you're a little unsure, they'll give you great recommendations. Check out the walls; there are recommendations from other diners there too! I suggest for anyone to pick maybe only one or two flavors to mix in together for your base. Otherwise it can get a little crazy. And be careful too if you're choosing frozen yogurt instead of ice cream; it'll give a more sour taste to your concoction. My friends had a burnt sugar frozen yogurt.... kinda suspicious tasting (but I don't blame the place.... that just doesn't sound right together! ) In that sense, it can be a hit or miss. Like I said. Don't get too crazy with flavor bases if it's your first time here. A mix-in can always save the day to give your cup a kick. That said, it's an exciting place to bring friends or family from out of town. A great wow factor for Chicago; there's really no other place like it! The only trouble is, watch what times you try and head over. It's pretty tough to park in the area, especially if you're heading over on a weekend night. Try this place out! you won't forget it. And there's no way to get tired of it either.
(5)
Darren F.

2 words... liquid nitrogen.. how often do you hear people use liquid nitrogen to make your ice cream?! the place is pretty small and simple.. but something about the place makes me not wanting to sit down and eat there.. maybe its the layout of the place?.. anyways.. the service was nice.. and when they see you looking at the menu for awhile, they will ask if its your first time and then go over the menu for you... i choose orange and peach ice cream with strawberry and mango fruits for my mix.. it was a great combination! i would recommend that to anyone! altho its not even near the best ice cream i ever had nor seem like a comfortable place to eat.. i still give it a 4 star for service and the fact they use liquid nitrogen.. its a good experience..
(4)
Sean C.

The strawberry cheesecake mix that I ordered was the best ice cream ever! Line moved fast, wait wasn't too long, and the show of them making them is a treat in itself. The ice cream colors (if you pick one) are a little creepy.
(5)
Corissa B.

Awesome place! I saw this on a food channel and I had to try it when I visited Chicago. I had the almond ice cream with light milk, chocolate chips and pistachio nuts...and it was PURPLE! So good, I'm glad I got to come here twice before I had to go back to LA!
(4)
Rich K.

I really enjoyed the show and the ice cream. The employees are very efficent, I don't think our wait was more than twenty minutes. If you go, remember that the process of making the ice cream flavors is half the fun.
(3)
Zugey K.

Came on a tour group so we were introduced to the owner and concept. Only flavor we had was "That Guy From Florida" and it was ridiculously delicious and smooth.
(4)
Charlie S.

It was a cool experience, but this place is no more than a novelty.
(3)
Maaya Y.

Omg, I've only tried this place once but my first experience was AMAZING!! Of course I wouldn't expect this place to be cheap like McDonald's ice cream cheap but for the quality of their ice cream I think the price is decent. There was a line when I went but really, after tasting it I totally think it was worth being in the line waiting. If I remember, I got a strawberry cheese cake or something like that and I had a wonderful experience here! Being able to see how they're making the ice cream is quite the entertainment as well. One bite and I was engaging in conversations about the ice cream with strangers so that was fun too! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Stephanie G.

Sooooo Delish every time I go. Nutella and strawberry is the way to go !!
(5)
Sheresse S.

FORGET COLD STONE! ICream Is where it's at! There is really no way to describe how much of an orgasm in your mouth this place is. I love the customized yogurt and the fact you can make it anyway you want! Just wonderful. If anything ever happens to this place I just might crawl into a cave for the rest of my life.
(5)
Danny M.

Cool concept (no pun intended). A fun treat for summer if you want to be out with your tight jean pants being all hipster. Close to the Damen Blue line stop. You can create whatever combination you want with your choice of many types of yogurt/icecream. You can't knock the amount of options at iCream. They give you some choices on the wall, but you are free to create your own. That sort of process stresses me out because I tend to want everything and it gets costly. Bring tourists for a rare treat, but other than that, other fro yo places in the city where you get more bang for your buck. Plan to wait - During busy times, you might be waiting up to 20 minutes for your treat. Booo! I need instant gratification.
(3)
Carolynne M.

I kind of love the concept - ice cream made to order and totally customizable! I am such a whore for that. I took my niece here because I thought she would dig the semi-futuristic decor and the (smoke? steam? whatever it is called) that the mixers made when the liquid nitrogen was poured in. I was paying attention to the fact that one of the flavours for the ice cream was Cayenne, and I knew I had to have that. So I ended up with Cayenne, chocolate chips and pistachio. It was pretty damn good. Niece-y wasn't as adventurous as me, but she liked what she ordered too. It's not cheap, but if you don't come on a regular basis it is totally worth it. So many choices, there is literally something for everyone!
(4)
Josh V.

I popped in here on a Friday afternoon, having only a vague idea of what to expect from reading other people's Yelp reviews. I glanced up at the big menu board, and much have looked a bit overwhelmed, as the girl behind the counter inquired if I'd ever been to iCream before. I said I hadn't and she explained the process to me. I think other reviewers have adequately covered the process, so I won't repeat that. I went with a low fat frozen yogurt with white chocolate flavor and peanut butter mixed in. After watching my special creation made in what I can only assume was a magic witch's cauldron, it was ready to eat. First impression: it looked a little soupy. The taste? Very good. Maybe I just have a knack for mixing flavors or I got lucky, but I was very happy with the taste of my little (ok medium) treat. The texture was smooth and creamy and the peanut butter was mixed in evenly. But like I said, it was soupy. It was already a bit melty when it was handed to me and it continued to liquifty rapidly. It only took me a few minutes to eat, but at the end I had to drink what was left out of the bowl. If that is the norm, I understand why they don't offer cones; they would never hold up. The process of making my treat was pretty quick. Not much longer than it would take to make a Blizzard at the DQ. However, I was the only one in the store at the time, and I could see it getting backed up quickly if there's a rush. In fact when I walked past the place later over the weekend there were a bunch of people waiting in the front. So while I'd like my frozen treat to be a bit more frozen, I love the customization options and the rather unique gimmick of freezing your ice cream (or yogurt) right there on the spot for you.
(4)
Linda D.

It's a good thing that this place has great ice cream, because they are definitely in the running for worst store name. "iCream" sounds like the favorite phrase of either a baby or a pervert. Nominal issues aside, the crazy liquid nitrogen flash-frozen mad scientist ice cream they serve here is a pretty great snack for these hot Chicago summer days. They have a pretty large list of flavors and they can make them into a yogurt, ice cream, or sorbet. You pick the flavor, what kind of frozen whutevathang you want, some toppings, and sit back and enjoy the spectacle. I went in around 5 PM on a weekday, and with a few customers ahead of me, it took around 7 minutes to get my lime ice cream with strawberries and gummy bears (don't judge me). While the staff is making iCream - I don't feel so comfortable saying that - you can watch as the fog pours out of the bowls like a witch's cauldron, without all the worms, warts, and stuff. The ice cream itself is super refreshing, and because of the liquid nitrogen, it's smoother than regular ice cream, with less air pockets, if that makes any sense. There's not much seating in the shop, save for like three little butt-hugger stools (you'll know what I mean when you see them), but it's located right in the heart of Wicker Park, so grabbing a cup and walking around or crazy-people watching outside isn't a terrible option. A small with two toppings set me back about $6, which I think is on the pricey side, so I probably wouldn't go there every day. But it's a good place for a little frozen indulgence.
(4)
Chris H.

As most of the folks have been commenting, you want to like this place. It's cool, it's modern, it's quirky, it's icecream that's quick freezed with liquid nitrogen for cripes sake! It's as if Ben, Jerry and Grant Achatz had some freaky love child, and left it up for adoption in Wicker Park. But it's another case of great concept and flawed execution. When they're busy, the wait can be stupidly long. I ordered a 'green machine' sorbet and an iced coffee, and was told that coffee would be a 30 minute wait. 30 mins?!? Double-you tee eff, mate?! In addition to the wait, the shop is just plain dirty. Spent napkins, drops of spilled ice cream, and other random strata besmirched the otherwise snowy white counters. Worst of all, some of their creations just don't taste that great. The green machine sorbet, enhanced with lime and peach, was cloyingly sweet. A real shame, because the quick freeze process leaves the product with a beautifully creamy texture, due to under-developed ice crystals. However, a creation of soy ice cream with chocolate and coffee flavoring was exceptional. Cool as liquid nitrogen may be, it's going to need a lot more than that to elevate this place from a mere gimmick to a legitimate destination for frozen confections.
(3)
Liz L.

This place is pretty awesome, despite the slightly grungy look of the place. The windows could use a good scrub and everything inside, although clean, looks a little dated. However, the people here are nice and the product is DELICIOUS! I love the mint flavor with raspberry mix-ins. It's so much fun to try combinations you might not normally see together but that taste great anyway. Also, the freshly made ice cream tastes way fresher than anything you can buy at a store, even the yummy locally made organic pint-type products that I normally go for.
(4)
Andre W.

Getting ice cream at this place is a totally different experience. I once stood by as others were ordering ice cream and did not partake in the activity of ice cream buying, but I was amazed at the laboratory like process of ice creamery this place has. My girl and I decided to stop by and check it out. I ordered the medium sized regular ice cream. The two flavors I chose were vanilla and honey along with reeses pb cup and butterfinger toppings. My girl got meduim sized regular icream as well with the flavors of pamegrante and grape. Her flavors were actually better than mine, but mine was still good. Lots of choices for flavors and toppings here. They have a very small sitting area inside as well as outside, so we decided to sit outside and enjoy our treats. Out total amount came out to $12. When they call your name to give you your icream they are really nie, but it can be a 10 minute wait before you recieve it. While were sitting outside, a guy stopped and asked, "is that really good"? I said yeah its pretty good. He replied "well is it life changing"? I said not really, buts its good ice cream and worth a try.
(4)
James L.

OMG (Meet George Jetson). iCream is a space-age ice cream that isn't Dippin Dots (His boy, Elroy). It's a bunch of chemicals mixed together and frozen with another chemical - liquid nitrogen (Daughter Judy). Viola! From the chemicals comes custom-made ice cream (Jane, his Wife). It's the precursor to the meal-in-a-pill. It might not be organic, but, man, is it cutting-edge!
(1)
shannon s.

It's so wacky and different! ! ... .. but so very not good. I took my brother there as a treat the other night because both Cold Stone Creamery and Dairy Queen are closed in our neighborhood. It looked pretty hokey from the outside, but their signature combination suggestions sounded pretty good, so we decided to try it out. Bad choice. After spending 11 dollars for two small ice creams, all we ended with was some strange concoction that tasted pretty much like nothing and had the consistency of freezer-burned ice cream. And white chocolate/irish-creme and oreos sounded like a delish combo! Such a disappointment: we ended up throwing half of it away after repeatedly asking one another "does yours taste like anything?" The only redeeming factor was "Princess Bride" playing on their completely unnecessary flat screen television.
(1)
Gia S.

So fun! What a great interactive experience. The staff was great, friendly and helpful. I love the fresh ingredients and the ability to go fat free, no sugar added. A must try if you are nearby.
(5)
Jerry L.

*it was fun and exciting seeing (and inhaling) all the liquid nitrogen in the air. *Staff was helpful and friendly *We went on a busy night after dinner. Line wait about 25 minutes, and another 25 minutes after putting in the order... which was... NOT WORTH it! *The flavors were made from liquid sauces.. so some of them tasted too artificial to me.. *I don't think it's that expensive, considering it that it also take them super long time to make each order. *2 star simply because the flavor wasn't all there.
(2)
Jen B.

Props to iCream for taking something that's already really fun - ice cream - and making it, like, infinitely more enjoyable. I mean, who doesn't want their ice cream: (a) made any color they want, (b) topped with every possible sprinkle, nut, candy or fruit imaginable, (c) created in a Willy Wonka-style all white science lab, and (d) served by possibly the friendliest food service professionals on Earth? It's for sure not the tastiest variety I've ever had, I'm guessing because they don't use gobs upon gobs of pure dairy fat and sugar like some of my all-time favs. But come on, ice cream is ice cream, and unless something goes horribly wrong, it's going to taste great to me. I have no bones about the wait time or the cost. You want a cheap, thrown together cone? Go elsewhere.
(4)
Brianna L.

YUM! YUM! YUM! THats all I can say for iCream. I not only love the name, but the ice cream they serve. Yes, you have to wait, but I promise the wait is well worth it :). I had vanilla ice cream, with almond, and nutella. OMG it was mouth watering goodness. My friend went with the mint chocochip Nothing special about it except the fact that we got to watch it be made! I guess I'm a kid in that way and thought it was totally awesome! :) I left with a big ear to ear grin on my face after that yummy treat!
(5)
matt b.

You scream, I scream, we all scream!: ICREAAAAAAAAAAAAM!@#!@# (running from McDonald's reject staff carrying "BURNT SUGAR" syringes, liquid nitrogen fog pooling over the horizon). Ended a great father's day here. Came for ice cream, stayed to observe them knock a stack of serving cups onto an absolutely filthy floor and then proceed to place them back on the counter to serve to customers. There was actually a deft fake-swish into the trash can before they went back into rotation. Presumably they were out of the size, or just too lazy to go get more in the back. I pointed it out to someone behind the counter which was met with incredulity... then when I was about to be served my iCream (rofl!) in said container, I became more insistent, at which point their incredulity turned to braindead lashing out as they threatened to call the police. "uhhh... ok, call the police. What?" resulted in them physically coming around the counter to remove me. *wow* location + gimmick + unsupervised staff + filth + insane attitude = surefire success! wait. no.
(1)
rock c.

This place is ridiculously cool (no pun) !! The line seemed a bit long (doubled back to the door) but it went decently quick. My wife and I shared a berry blast sorbet flavored with white chocolate and cream cheese mixed in, which seemed to shock the staff but it was outrageous! The texture they achieve with the nitrogen is nothing short of perfect. The flavors are your own choice, so if you don't like that it's your own fault, right? I will come back every time I go to Chicago.
(5)
Natalie M.

Liquid Nitrogen ice cream- great concept, fun shop. They have tons of flavors, ice cream types (i.e. fat, non fat, frozen yogurt), and mix ins. There is something here for everyone. My Mom had the lemon ginger ice cream with gummi bears- colored GREEN (she was tickled PINK by the idea that you can color your ice cream hehe). I had the vanilla almond with M&M's as a mix in- colored purple. The liquid nitrogen gives the ice cream a VERY smooth texture and picking your own color makes me feel creative. Granted, this ice cream is a novelty- it is not something I plan on having every day, or even every week. Given this, I am not too upset about the price ($10 for our two ice creams). I think the fun concept is worth it.
(4)
Lakshmi R.

I wasn't impressed. To be honest, I didn't really understand what was going on: iCream has some gimmicky thing involving liquid nitrogen and ice cream whose color you can choose, and a bizarre set of what look like vials of food coloring with needles in them, the kind nurses use to stab you in the arm. All this drama just to get you what you basically can get at Cold Stone: ice cream with mix-ins. I never really DID understand what the color thing was about: there were no signs, at least as far as I could see, explaining what iCream was going for. I wondered, though: do I really want pink-tinted vanilla ice cream with Oreos in it? That sounded so....disturbing. What annoyed me most of all was the impression that the place was all smoke and mirrors: it took us a good 10 minutes to get our ice cream after ordering. The store was almost empty when we entered, though a line had formed by the time we placed our order--so it was totally mysterious to as to what all 4 or so staff were up to behind the counter that caused them such a delay. So yeah. Just another unimpressive, vaguely irritating addition to Wicker Park. Skip it.
(2)
Don J.

I've been to iCream 3 or 4 times and it is the most unique ice cream parlour in Chicago. On your first visit to iCream you should play it safe and try the "that guy from Florida" ice cream. It is one of the best ice creams they have and a very good option for people daunted by picking their own milk, topping, mix ins, color etc of ice cream. The liquid nitrogen does make a great ice cream but it also ensures that you will always wait nearly 15 minutes before you get your ice cream due to the back log of orders. Also, iCream isn't cheap and should be viewed as more of a treat as opposed to your regular ice cream parlour. Street parking can be difficult to find but the staff are really friendly and if you have friends from out of town visit Chicago, iCream is a great option.
(4)
Sandra T.

I love to come here for I cream. I get the organic milk choice, strawberry flavor with cream cheese and graham cracker as add ins. It is great. Be prepared to wait. The ice cream needs to be made it isn't in some container waiting to be scooped out. So bring someone along that you love talking to.
(5)
Evangeline L.

Fun? yes. Delicious? No way. I was excited to go to icream because of all the different options like low fat non fat splenda or soy whatever. Plus you can decorate it green yellow pink etc...however not sure why one would want yellow ice cream. Anyway, I can't even remember what flavor combo I had but I do remember it didn't taste, well, tasty...and I swear I didn't attempt a wacko flavor combo! For delicious ice cream go somewhere else. For a fun place to get your kid some pink ice cream go here.
(2)
ZZ K.

Ok...I would say iCream is a solid 3.5 stars! So did I? No.....but it was still pretty darn good! We were actually eating dinner at Rotan across the street and my friend suggested I run over and check them out before we finished our dinner. It was an option for dessert! So yes, mid dinner I ran over to iCream to check them out and chat up the staff. Staff super friendly and helpful...check! Option extravaganza...check! Prices that won't make you pass out from shock....check! Ok, so we would definitely be back after dinner and we were! The staff was really excited to see me and welcomed me back like I was a long time client. :) I guess they didn't think they sold me on their product, but they sure did. I was curious and mesmerized by the smoke in the mixers. It was so cool to watch and make your crazy choice combinations...it might even get a bit overwhelming. The line was getting long so we opted to order quickly and went for one of the options they had posted on their wall which included: white chocolate, strawberries and choc chips. We went with the low fat ice cream since we wanted all sweet and no tangy...but a little less of the fat. :) We also tried the ever popular cinnamon and almond pudding...it was warm, creamy and hit the spot. I think this is a MUST for winter and fall..steaming pudding on those cold days would be dynamite! I will be back to try some of their other flavor combinations....both the ice cream and pudding!
(3)
Crelatia K.

Nice Mad Scientist in the kitchen vibe! My daughter and I stopped by iCream on a Sunday evening. The place was packed when we walked in, but we were at the cashier before I could figure out exactly what I wanted (5-8min.). My 13 year old daughter was ready so we decided to share. She ordered cookie dough, chocolate chip in purple. It took about 5-10 min. to get our dish. The ice cream was great. I wasn't a fan of the color but El was. While it was not the best ice cream I've ever had it was very good. The novelty/innovation, service and good product makes it a 5 star for me. I will be back...
(5)
J J.

So Expensive! So Good (sometimes). Long Lines (sometimes) Good Customer Service Though. $10 for ice cream? Sure. When it is done right. I've had some inconsistencies here but they've been quickly and cheerily rectified by the owner. It is a neat idea. The new, better Coldstone.
(4)
Cathy H.

The good: novelty, tons of flavors, tons of base options (I went with regular ice cream--why have ice cream if you're getting low-fat?!), novelty, very smooth. The bad: took forever (there were maybe 5 people ahead of us in line, max, and it took us about 20 minutes to get our ice cream), the parking situation was miserable (my own fault for going on a Saturday night--be warned!), not large portions for the price, and the flavors (I got burnt sugar and hazelnut with chocolate sauce and orange color) left an unpleasant aftertaste reminiscent of really cheap toffee candy. Ultimately, only two issues made me not really want to go back: the long wait and the weird aftertaste. That said, it might be somewhere I take people for the novelty, esp. if it's during a non-crazy-parking time.
(3)
Lyn C.

iCream= iFail. This place looks really cool, trendy, and sleek. I liked how the ice cream making process was inspired by Alton Brown and seeing syringes lined up on the wall with all the different flavors. Watching them make the ice cream was neat too. I had no idea what to order, so the cashier asked me if I liked nutella (which I looove) and suggested I get "the guy from florida". It took a while for them to make my ice cream, about 15 mins, and the end result? Bleeh. It was really rich. Also, the consistency was really really weird. I've tried to figure out how to explain it, but I think it would be equal to chewing a slug. Cool concept, poor product.
(2)
Olivia M.

Went in here for the first time today and was impressed. It's a little expensive ($4.91 for a small chocolate mint w/ chocolate chips) but the ice cream was really rich/creamy/tasty and totally worth it. The people working there were also really friendly and willing to answer any questions.
(4)
Manuela Z.

Tart peargranate yogurt you say? Don't mind if I do. The ordering and making of this recommended treat was incredible. Note - NOT for the indecisive. But the taste? Whoa what was that? Not tart and not a huge fan. The pear was overwhelming and the pomegranate must've gone on vacation because there wasn't even a hint of it. Will pinkberry please come to Chicago!?
(2)
Robin W.

You know, it wouldn't kill you guys to offer cones. Otherwise, it's nice that a vegan can go out and get a fancy shmancy icecream made for her right on the spot! They actually use liquid nitrogen to freeze flavored soy milk, add mix-ins like oreo cookies (vegan) and fresh fruit, and you got yourself a cup of sweetness. But seriously, why no cones? Not being able to get a great waffle cone is going to keep me from coming back.
(3)
Tish N.

The staff was beyond nice and answered all of my questions...gold star for that. I got the vanilla with nutella and I just wasn't thrilled. The line was so long, I just knew I was in for something great. It's was just okay...meh even. I'll probably try another option before I completely count it out. I'd prefer a place like Berry Chill over this.
(2)
Gaurang S.

I want to like you. I want you to do well. I love the concept. I want people to spend tons of money and make your owners fabulously wealthy. Just that I don't want to be one of those people. Just like Conan O'Brien, you'll be one of those things I'll appreciate, but never really experience more than a few times. Because you're ok, but not really all that great. And you're a little too high maintenance, I think.
(3)
Jen S.

This place exceeded my expectations. First, they have endless options. You can have ice cream, fro yo, or sorbet, whic are available regular, light, organic, and soy. Then you pick up to two flavors. They will add in the mixers you choose, and if yoy want, you can add toppings for an additional cost. Then, voila, deliciosness! I went with a key lime pie suggestion they had on their back wall. It was made with lime ice cream and mix ins in graham crackers and cream cheese. Loved it! You can choose something more adventurous if you like, but this hit the spot for me! I will say, I wouldn't expect to find any seating at most times. It is pretty limited.
(5)
Emily D.

Magic! I went to iCream the day after my 30th birthday party. A party at which my wonderful friends hired a magician for my gift. I'm not kidding. A magician came to the bar and did tons of tricks and left my jaw (literally) on the floor and me yelling "how did he do that??" numerous times. Anyway, the next day my roommates and I were in the mood for something sweet and decided to walk up Milwaukee to iCream. Being that I was hungover, I was a little hesitant about the walk at first, but figured that the reward at the finish line would be worth it. And boy was I right. We walked in and the place was moderately busy and very clean. I ordered regular ice cream with raspberry flavor, red coloring, and white chocolate chips as a mix-in. There are SO many possibilities; I wish that the "recipes" were more visible and obvious. I didn't even notice them until I had already ordered and the cashier brought them to my attention. I was set on what I wanted, but still would have been nice to see. They started making my order and I stood there, nose practically pressed up against the glass, watching the mixers spin while white, cold vapor emerged from the bowls. Minutes later, I got my ice cream, had my first taste and once again found myself with my jaw dropped to the floor asking "how did they do that???" iCream is an experience. A delicious experience and the kind of place that you can go to again and again and never get bored. It's magic!!!
(4)
Lauren H.

Walking by here on my way to dinner, I remembered having read about this shop, so I couldn't wait to try it for dessert. I creamed myself like a kid in a candy shop--or rather, in an ice cream shop. I loved the scientific feel to it, like witches cauldrons brewing, liquid nitrogen smoke blowing around, ingredients poured in beakers. The concept thrilled me. First, you choose the dessert you want--ice cream, frozen yogurt, warm pudding, or sorbet. Then, you pick your flavor and an optional color (no flavor), then top it off with toppings. I chose low fat burnt sugar fro-yo colored purple, with blueberries mixed in, and topped with caramel sauce. It was good, but the experience was somewhat ruined for me by the really long wait, and I was irked that several people who ordered after me were given their desserts before me, no explanation offered. I am sure I will go back though, so many combinations to create!
(4)
Anne M.

One word: Nutella. We stopped here on one of our food tours and I was stuffed and not willing to eat another bite. BUT then our guide told us our liquid nitrogen ice cream was cream soda and Nutella flavored, so I told my stomach to suck it up. I didn't find ice cream fitting for this day (50 deg) but it was sweet and the server was a doll. Glad I went with a guide, cuz to order seemed like a chore. A fun one though. Good stuff.
(3)
Brian L.

Why the heck is this place pricey for some froyo? Oh and they literally take 15-20 mins in making your order (hence the long lines). Moreover, the staff was very slow when I went, and they seem a bit lost and confused when you are ordering (maybe they were still in training?). The unique twist is, they add food coloring to your dessert to make it colorful, but that just stains your teeth. Although, I got to admit the place is pretty decent and their menu is very creative. I was somewhat overwhelmed in choosing what to order everything looked tasty! It's definitely a cute place to take your date to after a movie or dinner.
(3)
Leanne M.

yay- FINALLY, like a vegan's coldstone creamery! This place is all about experience, customizing, and OPTIONS. & I'm so proud of them for reopening after a premature start, so. proud. I had: blueberry soy ice cream with fresh blueberries & graham crackers. It reminded me of the best bowl of coldest cereal ever. (but that probably says more about the way I eat my cereal.) Anyway, the Deal is... 1. TONS of vegan options: ice cream, smoothies, and hot pudding! 2. TONS of sugar free options: choose the natural sugar alternative! 3. TONS of sweetness and real gosh darn love from the peeps here. NOTE: don't be misled by my vegan-focused review, this place offers all types of dairy ice cream too (though I think you'd love the soy stuff- you adventurer you!) Oh, and the defacto sweetener is liquid cane juice. (in my best Ahnold voice)... I'll be bahck.
(5)
christine c.

yah, i have no idea what the big deal is about this place. yah, ok, it's kind of cool to see smoke smoke come out of the kitchenaid mixer when they're making the ice cream - but that wears off really fast. REALLY FAST. i think this is a place to go if you want to see what ice cream would taste like if it were made from liquid nitrogen, but other than that, it don't be expecting ice cream when you go here. the texture is weird, the flavors are weird, the colors are weird. no no no, just go to your local grocery store next time you have a craving, or coldstones if you absolutely must choose your own mixins.h
(3)
Jinna H.

A not so great day, I decided to pick myself up with the new ice cream place in the neighborhood. I thought 'Sure, why not?' I studied the menu hard. I decided to get cake flavored ice cream with Reese's peanut butter cups and chocolate chips. So, the long wait sucked. 15 minutes on a weekend. There were a ton of people, and quite a few kids. But I was patient and watched the ice cream get made. Liquid nitrogen is pretty cool. Then my name was called. What would it taste like? Apparently, like awesome. It was a pretty freaking good ice cream! Smooth, sweet, but mellow too. Something I appreciate in an ice cream. I took just as long as I waited to finish it. They seem to have a small, dedicated staff who are ace at what they do and very patient but focused. I definitely want to come back with friends and try out more stuff.
(4)
Kevin A.

LIQUID NITROGEN IS F*CKIN' COOL And making ice cream with it is just an awesome idea. THE CONCEPT: Basically they have Dr. Octopus arms hanging from the ceiling that dispense liquid nitrogen into Kitchen-Aid mixers filled with your ingredients of choice. Extra points for letting people choose between milk, yogurt, or soy. THE SHOW: Once the liquid nitrogen starts flowing, it's a fun sight to behold. The billowing wisps of super-chilled air, the whirl of the mixers, and the chilling thought in the back of your head that the person making your ice cream could potentially turn into a popsicle in a tragic liquid nitrogen accident. THE PRODUCT: Delicious! The liquid nitrogen freezes the milk instantly and the result is very tiny ice crystals that give the ice cream a smooth, velvety mouth feel. The liquid nitrogen method also opens the door for a ton of new flavors and possibilities. Love gummy bears? You could add the gummy bears w/ the liquid nitrogen up front, pulverizing them and incorporating their flavor into the ice cream itself instead of just being a topping. Regarding all the negative reviews early on...it appears that iCream just had a grand reopening perhaps because things didn't go smoothly the first time around. I'd give them a do-over.
(4)
Aaron B.

They take a liquid mixture and right before your eyes use a Kitchenaid mixer and liquid nitrogen and turn it into ice cream/frozen yogurt/hot pudding/sorbet...coolness Went here the other night for the first time with a tough crowd - fellow Yelpers - and was thoroughly impressed. They have like six mixers going constantly and watching them make your ice cream is half the fun. You pick what kind you want from the following: - ice cream - frozen yogurt - hot pudding (i have no idea what this is) - sorbet and then you pick the flavor and color (cool) and lastly you pick the guts, i.e. butterfingers, fruit, nuts....etc... I had a frozen yogurt, strawberry with butterfinger, which was surprisingly good. I heard this place had a rough opening and actually closed and then reopened. Whatever they may have been dealing with has been fixed because it rocks now. The only thing hampering this place is the awkward way they have the line setup which creates a bottle neck at the front of the place and makes for a congested line up. Aside from this minor inconvenience I really liked this place and will mos def be back.
(4)
Elaine C.

I guess its kind of fun. It took me like 10 minutes to decide on a flavor combo and it took them another 15 to make it. I don't normally think of spending that much time in an ice cream shop, but i guess ice cream shops are normally not a spectacle. I picked regular ice cream (I mean, how can you judge flavor fairly if you go for "healthy" options? ;) with chocolate and hazelnut "flavor" injections, and bananas mixed in. They made it. It tasted pretty good. It was really rich in hazelnut flavor, and i enjoyed it. I guess I just don't understand the appeal of getting all science-class with your ice cream. I'd rather go to Star Fruit on Division and get frozen Kefir which I know is pretty good for me, even though there's probably more behind the scene science stuff happening in those frozen kefir machines that I don't see. Or Oberweiss down the street. It just seems so opposite of the whole natural movement. They say that the injections at icream are all natural extracts, and they only put milk and cream or whatever you want in there, but I just and not completely on board with it. But, it was a fun thing to do on a rainy afternoon. Definitely something to check out.
(3)
Erin B.

Yeah, I've never had lime frozen yogurt, until today. It was fricken awesome! I loved the fact that there were so many options, and that I changed my mind a thousand times before I decided upon the Lime frozen yogurt with pineapple toppings. Yeah, it sounds weird, but it was gone in record time!! Yeah!!
(4)
Donna J.

They bring DIY to a new level. Get the regular ice cream flavored burnt sugar and put in anything! Don't Get froyo flavored like cream soda. If you complain about the flavor, it is YOUR OWN FAULT.
(4)
Michelle S.

Inspired by Food Network's Alton Brown, this ice cream shop reinvents the wheel. You get to pick if your milk, your flavors, your color, your mix-ins. The ice cream is made to order. It's a fun concept, and worth the wait if you can stand the crowd and make up your mind. The owner is delightful and so helpful. The best part: if you dream up a concoction and it's horrible, they'll let you "exchange" it for something that they know works. I tried "That Guy from Florida" -- ice cream with cream soda and white chocolate flavoring, along with Nutella. Heaven.
(5)
Kika K.

I heard about this store from one of my blogs and I knew I had to check it out, especially since my sister was in town. We went Friday afternoon and I was surprised at how busy it was since it was cold and everyone was supposed to be at work or school. There was also a news crew filming. Since the place isn't very big, it seemed crowded. The employees were incredibly friendly and they took the time to explain how the process works and how the menu worked, even though I thought it was pretty self explanatory. Because I was getting over food poisoning I thought it would be best to have a fruit smoothie. I had the mango based smoothie, with banana and peaches added. Because of the aforementioned illness, I decided to skip anything solid in my drink even though I had that option. My sister had ice cream, pomegranate based, flavored with green tea, blueberries on top, colored purple. The cashier took our name and we went and sat down on the bench to wait. The girl next to us already had her pink ice cream concoction, and while I thought it looked pretty disgusting, she absolutely loved it and couldn't stop gushing about it. After 5 minutes, our names were called and we got our treats. My smoothie was pretty safe, so of course it was amazing. I was a little hesitant on the green tea pomegranate, but it was pretty amazing as well. I didn't try and of the blueberries on top, but they were giant and looked very fresh. My sister approved of them. I absolutely loved this place. The prices were cheap too, considering all your options and everything you can get. It's also open until midnight, which is great if you want a treat after a couple drinks. I'd be a little concerned during the summer though. The place seemed crowded enough; I'd hate to see it when it's hot outside.
(5)
BenoitTro W.

This place creams, oops, I mean screams, "we've got a clever concept, we're going to overprice everything and FRANCHISE, FRANCHISE, FRANCHISE! C'mon gimme' a friggin' break, $6 for a little (they call it medium) cup of hot chocolate pudding with some pistachios in it, fool me once, shame on you! First of all, the design of this place requires you to squeeze by people already in line, then order, squeeze back to the front and then crowdedly stand between the Plexiglas of the counter and where the 3 or 4 window seats are positioned. There is a little space to the left of the counter where the "product" is delivered, where "preparers" appear, one after the other, to suggest alternative/better ways to have what had already been ordered. Nicely, mind you, but corrections nonetheless. Here's a "free" idea iCream people, have the f*cking order takers better assist/suggest at the point of sale or better yet, have some stellar signature suggestions w/ alternative and/or added ingredients. Wait a minute, is this some sort beta/marketing testing site or, again, simply some "smartest guys in the room" MBAs who spent 3-years honing this brilliance? Won't go back, will strongly suggest others don't bother & will patiently wait for this complete and utter failure to completely and utterly fail! PS Wheelchair Accessible: an able bodied person can barely maneuver in and out of this place, a wheel chair wouldn't get past the 3-seat seating area!
(1)
Daniel W.

I'm sorry but 6 dollars to have soy milk and some flavoring turned into ice cream isnt for me. Ok and another thing do you really go to an ice cream shop to try to figure out what might be a good mix of flavors. Perhaps they could add on the menu some flavor designs that are known to be good. So I assume if the place gets busy that I would have to wait 10-15 minutes to get something that I didnt particularly like.
(1)
Vicki W.

Since this place has had plenty of reviews, I'm keeping mine brief. I was there on a Sunday evening with little to no crowd. I ordered the regular sized ice cream (~$6) with almond flavor, strawberries (since they ran out of peaches), nutella and granola. I would've chosen a color, but it wasn't offered to me. The liquid nitrogen show was fun, but too short lived to be the highlight of this place. Like some of the other reviewers I felt that the ice cream itself lacked flavor. It was more of an ice milk. The nutella didn't mix very well and seemed clumpy. The granola was a bit hard to the bite. However, I will say that the almond taste was distinct and I did like the combination of flavors. Since I love ice cream, I will give it another chance but only if I happen to be in Wicker Park. Maybe next time I'll have pudding or froyo.
(3)
Jennifer B.

Disappointment. 2 stars for the ice cream and 4 stars for the service.... iCream staff really tries. They are proud of their product and very informative. They will answer questions until the cows come home and they are very personable. So, I think it is worth mentioning that iCream has really great service. We ordered the low-fat frozen yogurt with heath bars mixed in. Now, I'm not quite sure how that could come out tasting horrible. But it did! Horrible like we couldn't eat it (and, if you knew me, you'd know that to be a rarity). The frozen yogurt isn't creamy and delicious, or even more tart and icy (like alot of Chicago places); it's just bad. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what made it taste bad....but alas, I threw it away after a couple bites. It's a shame too, because iCream is one of the only places in Chicago that can make ANY item sugar-free. Since they make the product from scratch made-to-order, they can substitute sugar-free sweetener for actual sugar. That right there deserves at least 3 stars.
(3)
Julia H.

Needed to update my review, as promised, though it's taken forever. After going in after they first opened (and while they were still having machine troubles), I was offered a free icream dish. However, I put off going in because of life and weather and finally went in the other day, with the intention of using the Groupon that I had purchased. I was telling the wonderful woman at the counter about how excited I was, and the first time I came in, and she said, "well I'm the owner, and I want to make sure you still get what I promised you." She refused to take my Groupon but proceeded to take my order. Well, I'm sad I waited so long, because it was absolutely delicious, and I can't wait to go back in. Stop by, and get some, because you can't go wrong when you are making your own flavors. Yum yum yum! (oh- and if you are wondering, I got strawberry with Nutella and graham cracker mixed in...)
(5)
Tammy H.

I love iCream. I've been pretty lucky with the concoctions that I've decided upon, always quite yummy. However, I see a lot of bad reviews. I hope these aren't the people who are complaining because their low-fat/fat free/soy ice cream doesn't taste good... That would make me angry. The owners are cool here and don't mind some conversation. And they recognize you when you come back. They have all sorts of ice cream bases and warm pudding and rice pudding... I always stick to the cold stuff, and lately I'm a fan of the frozen yogurt because I like the tanginess and prefer fruity over richly sweet. It is a neat show that I don't really pay much attention to anymore, it's more of an adventure for me to mix stuff up and eat it :) Just like my mashed potatoes and corn.
(5)
Eli S.

I love this place SOOOOO MUCH. So much. I love this place like crazy. I have been here three times in the past three weeks. I find the ice-cream inexpensive for what it is and I love picking my own flavors and if I'm honest, I'm easily swayed by anything science-y. It's not just i-cream, it's sci-cream! /unfunny. Their hot pudding is also delicious, but their ice-cream is so lovely. How can you beat ice-cream to your very specifications in all sorts of flavors? Burnt sugar matcha green tea? In purple? With gummi bears? SURE! Honey almond with heath bar and granola? YESS'M! Think of all the millions of combinations you could have and in how many styles? You can even choose the type of ice-cream you'd prefer: organic, whole, non-fat, low or non-fat yogurt, soy! And then there's great billowing smoke served to you by really sweet employees. They remember me every time! (I also got to meet the owner and her husband, they're fantastic). Go try it!
(5)
Jillian S.

It's a good thing I am moving soon, because otherwise I would come here everyday this summer and break my bank and my belly! What I wanted when I first came here was Pink Berry and it was definitely not that! But it was still a refreshing treat, and far from your typical ice cream joint.
(3)
Jenna S.

I return to this place almost a year after discovering it, with a continued love of what I like to call "Freedom of Ice Cream People!" What's not to love about making your own 'brand' of creamy goodness?! I will admit, service here always seems a little frantic whether it's just you or packed to the gills. I would also add that sometimes, your ingredients get mixed up and you have to wait for them to remake it. Grrr. This has happened several times, to which they are happy to oblige; but what if you're in a hurry and your 'cream is put back into the que with all the other patiently waiting concoctions? But I digress, truth be told...I love me some skim milk/splenda chocolate ice cream with nutella and bananas! Until I can save up enough pennies to by my own hydrogen gas mixer, I guess i'll be trudging down to iCream for my next PB/Nutella fix.
(3)
Tera D.

I was soooo excited to go here, so I'm really bummed I didn't love it. I always feel bad giving bad reviews to places where I made up my own recipe, but I can't help it here. I ordered the Chai flavor, with graham crackers and chocolate chips. After like 10 minutes of waiting, they brought it to me with no graham crackers or chocolate chips. So I gave it back, and instead of fixing it correctly, they just poured the stuff on top and handed it back to me. On top of that, I found the chai flavor pretty gross. And the ice cream is a little soft and weird, since it was made minutes ago using liquid nitrogen. One good thing I will say, is it's not very expensive. But I guess you get what you pay for.
(2)
Peter V.

Interesting concept, but not great ice cream for the price. Ice cream tasted like it had freezer burn.
(1)
Han Y.

Best ice cream places I've been to. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jeff A.

Worst ice cream ever. Also, worst topical ointment ever.
(1)
Lauren M.

I recently went to iCream with a friend since we were in the mood for a sweet treat and wanted to try something new in the area. I remembered seeing a segment on Metromix about iCream and thought we could give it a try. Overall, iCream is a pretty good tasting treat. I'm sure the liquid nitrogen process gives it it's great consistency. In fact, it was one of the best textured ice creams I've ever had. However, I don't think the 15 minute wait on this Saturday afternoon helped its cause. Sure, there are three or four space-aged Kichen-Aid mixers going, but with only one overwhelmed guy working them it could be a long wait. I'm glad I went, but probably won't go again ... even as the weather gets nicer.
(3)
Jessica Y.

A for effort, C+ for the result. iCream is a great concept: You walk in to the store, get a quick tutorial on the process, and get to customize your own ice cream treat. They have a great variety of ice cream bases (low fat, soy, ice cream, yogurt) and many flavors that can be mixed and matched. Lastly, add some toppings and a fun color and you've got your very own creation. Also, watching the cryo-freeze "stuff" at work is pretty fascinating. A couple of cons: Sometimes you're IDEA of a good tasting treat doesn't manifest itself quite right in real life. Also, making your treat purple or blue seems like the coolest idea, however, when it's chocolate or Irish cream flavored, your brain just doesn't process it right. I could see how the wait for your ice cream could get excruciatingly long since its not a simple scoop and serve process. Overall, its quite a novel idea, I'm just not sure how sustainable it is. Although I don't live right around the corner, if I did, I probably wouldn't make iCream a regular stop on my search for sweets. But, I think you definitely need to go experience iCream at least once for yourself!
(3)
Maggie F.

Ice cream: good marks for creaminess and theoretically interesting flavors (curry, ginger, burnt sugar); bad marks for excessive sugariness, poorly executed flavors (flat, artificial), waxy residue, and cost. Store: long wait in line, longer to get my order, poorly designed for traffic flow, hot and humid inside even in October. Kids will like the liquid nitrogen clouds and dyeing their ice cream wacky colors... if they don't have a melt down while waiting.
(2)
Jean M.

FABULOUS ice cream created from scratch with a little help from liquid nitrogen! The "show" is great and the end result is worth every penny. FREE ice cream on your birthday was a money saving surprise!
(4)
Jacqueline M.

I saw this place on some late-night Chicago-tourism show hosted by a couple of news anchors. I just happened to have a meeting the following day down the street and decided to check it out. I agree with the reviews that say iCream is cool in concept but poor in execution. This place has all the drama needed to get people in the door (oooooh... billows of smoke wafting over the cauldron of ice-cream goodness) but....not much substance to keep you coming back (food dye? lab-created flavorings? medicore mix ins? ick.) It feels like the owners are trying too hard to sell the world on their concept and not on the product itself. Bad move since the former will most certainly lead them down the path of one-hit-wonder infamy.
(2)
Bridget S.

Neat concept, SO many options. It's the kind of place you should try a couple times if you're in the area (and luckily, I'm always in the area). It's not the cheapest snack indulgence out there, but the flavor possibilities seem endless. I went with a grape light ice cream with gummi bears. I felt like I was 7 and that's why it was so fun. I feel like this is a better (and possibly healthier?) alternative to Cold Stone.
(4)
Jennifer P.

I used to be one of those cool kids who lived in Wicker Park. In the unbearable cold of winter, I would still somehow find myself strolling down Milwaukee Ave. in hopes of spending money that I didn't have. I remember constantly passing this place called "iCream" and thinking "what the heck kind of new invention from Apple is that supposed to be?" Alas, it was never open-leaving the place a mystery. Only recently had I found myself back in my old neighborhood since the warm weather has graced this lovely city...and guess what, folks? iCream was OPEN! I nearly knocked over 5 people in excitement while running in (ice cream is a very, VERY important part of my existence). So many CHOICES! Liquid nitrogen! White EVERYTHING! Friendly staff! The ice cream was the perfect consistency. I got burnt sugar with some berries and the second visit chocolate with berries...it's just my sort of thing. Delicious! There are also vegan options, which is nice. The only criticism I have is when they called my name (announcing to the world my ice cream creation was ready) i hadn't a clue where the yelling woman was coming from! Later did I find she was hiding between a crevice in the wall and not behind a curtain like Oz (disappointment). Great place for a funky late night meet up with your friends and ice cream enthusiasts. Bad place for the indecisive.
(4)
Crystal P.

Yowza a little pricey but worth the experience... I love the fact that you can have your creation in dairy or soy.. I had a Blue banana soy creation with granola and it was good. The small was large enough .. almost too large for me.. The techs were very friendly as well!
(3)
Janet E.

I love this place! It was so cool watching them make the ice cream with the liquid nitrogen. AWESOME! I was here during a food tour and was so happy we stopped in for a visit! We tried the flavor "That guy from Florida". It had nutella in it! Anything with nutella tastes great! I forget what other flavors they had in that flavor but it was really delicious. I am coming back here soon!
(4)
Kriss S.

Maybe I'm just easily impressed by high falutin' gadgetry or maybe I just think this establishment borrows alot from molecular gastronomy - either way I was impressed. And the ice cream was alright too... I got the soy with oreos. I'll be back again.
(5)
Colleen R.

The KitchenAid mixers caught my eye first. Oh, what's that, an ice cream joint that's open after midnight? And it's all space-agey and fancy-looking? Awesome. The final product is not quite as cool as I had hoped, probably because I'm a little slow and didn't quite know how to order. So many choices! I even get to pick the food coloring? I went with a jumble of berry options, and after about ten minutes of waiting for the futuristic technology to produce my space-age snack, I received an itty-bitty scoop of something vaguely pomegranate-y. Nice, but next time I think I'll just hit up Red Mango. They make it easier to decide.
(3)
Jeff A.

OFF the Hook! OFF the Chain! its so sweet it is Off the dessert menu! OK soo I went with three friends and we started with 4 different combos then after trying them all had to get a few more... I am an ice-cream lover...and this is just the most unique approach to ice cream... I will say this it is not my favorite ice cream of all time for that I sadly turn to more corporate pre packaged pints of creamy goodness...If you are looking for creative fun and combinations that could never be made in your kitchen or on a frozen stone this is where your ice cream dreams will surely come true! I look forward to heading back for more... if you want a happy creamy surprise ask for the guy from Florida combo and they will know what you are talking about...I am not the guy from Florida but in our flavor tour they let us sample that and it was amazing... ICream for ice cream!
(4)
Kee V.

Liquid nitrogen is the new bacon it seems. While the concept is fun and entertaining to watch, the end product just ain't all that. The one key thing that keeps this ice cream from being a winner is the lack of creaminess. Ben and Jerrys this is not. I feel like this ice cream melts way too easily on your tongue, almost like it dissolves. However, The array of flavor combinations and colors makes this an interesting experiment to at least try once. I chose a burnt sugar and banana with black coloring. It looked like squid ink in a cup. Your mind thinks it'll taste a certain way but ends up tasting totally different. I guess that the whole idea behind this concept...playing the mad scientist. It doesn't always work out though, which probably happens at least a few times a night. My friend chose honey and lavender, which he described as Ricola in a cup. He did not mean this as a compliment. Thanks....pass. The girl behind the counter did offer to make him something else if he didn't his combination choice, which we appreciated because his ice cream was, for lack of a better term, crap. I think the best thing to do is to take kids or people visiting from out of town here because it's different and fun than the normal ice cream shop. However, I don't think I'll be going back here on my own. I will be back though, only with my nephew/niece and out of town guests.
(2)
Brenna M.

It's hard to even call this an "icecream shop" because there isn't much of the ambiance I've come to expect when I order my cones and sundaes. The asthetic is very laboratory-esque. Which is probably the intent. Ascetic White walls, counters; complete with beakers and dry ice fumes billowing up from behind the counter. Add in overly simplistic signage and the package is complete. The atmosphere would not be a deal-breaker, but unfortunately the icecream itself did not deliver. The organic melted extraordinarily fast, and my friends and I thought the flavors were only ok. The workers behind "the bar" were very nice though. And they make each icecream to order from cream, flavoring and toppings, which is very unique (and time-consuming...) Maybe I am just bitter they had run out of Reeses Pieces at 3:00pm on a Saturday, but I think I'll continue to feed my icecream habit at Oberweis down the street.
(2)
Lauren M.

"Underwhelmed" is the word Michael Kors would use. The store is situated in sort of a mall-ish looking part of Wicker Park (as in how the stores are arranged and connected, not IN a mall), which perhaps makes sense on the interior being so depressing. It's not YogoBerry (which I do not advocate for either) minimal, just kinda sad and dusty minimal. I expected a big vat to mix in but it was a straight up Kitchen Aid domestic mixer with metal concert dry ice fumes coming out. As much as the guy wearing the magician hat was trying, it wasn't all that impressive. I ordered something simple, the cookies and cream, which was adequate but not worth the price. Plus, what in the hell kind of ice cream place doesn't have cones? That is deplorable. My friend ordered one of those Nutella deals which he said was good but because of the liquid nitrogen froze into clumps which were too strong. There's lots of options and everything for people to experiment, but generally unimpressive.
(2)
Richa A.

Ugh. This stuff is gross. 2 stars because the whole experience is kind of fun, I guess? But mostly it just takes too long to be served sub-par ice cream.
(2)
Chaz A.

OH MY GOD. For gimmicky ice cream f**k cold stone, this is the next big thing. FIRST: The Ice Cream is of fantastic quality. SECOND: It's custom. THIRD: Cora is extremely nice. BUT, Please more toppings and flavors and colors.
(5)
Natasha P.

I cannot believe I've held off for three weeks before writing this review. When I first wanted to pop into iCream, one of my local ice creameries, they were closed. Some months later, as in three weeks ago, I stopped in with my sister after some midweek drinks were had after work. We couldn't prepare ourselves for what we were about to enjoy. I can't even tell you what I concocted on my first visit because I came right back three days in a row making all different kinds of ice cream. It's like Coldstone but so much better, it's all made from scratch right in front of you. And who doesn't enjoy a little liquid nitrogen action? The ONLY con: you can't dye chocolate another color, though I suppose there's nothing they can do about that!
(5)
Luis L.

This place is MAGICAL. They MAKE whatever you want, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! I had the fro-yo and treated a friend to ice cream. The taste for both the fro-yo and the ice cream was AMAZING! Lemon/Strawberry low fat FRO YO! She had Pomegranate ice cream with Blueberries on top. I can't get over the fact that the stuff is MADE right THERE! In a matter of seconds! SIMPLY AMAZING. My gal pal said, "THIS IS LIKE THE BEST ICE CREAM I'VE EVER HAD!" Ha! Well, it should be. It was made like a MINUTE AGO! Seriously, MADE from scratch, like, a MINUTE ago! If I had known chemistry could be so FUN, I'd have tried harder to actually learn something in Chem class. Liquid Nitrogen is SO cool! Give this place a try. Not only is it an experience, but what they sell is also quite good!
(5)
Ali T.

im so happy i found this place, think i saw it on abc7 or something.... it a cool experience and the taste is so fresh, taken multiple people there to play aorund with different flavors and mixes, sometimes i dont always choose wisely.... downside is sometimes it gets really busy (4+ people) and u have to wait a while... plus there isnt a lot of space to sit and eat....
(5)
Leah P.

We came in at 12:30 am on a Saturday night and we weren't expecting anything special because they were closing in a half hour. The young guy working behind the counter was ridiculously nice, to the point that I thought he was messing with us, as he explained their strange method of making ice cream. He didn't even balk at the million questions we had. When do you get service like that in Wicker Park on a Saturday night? I'll answer that for you. Never! On to the ice cream. HOLY CRAP. They make it in front of you. There is an endless amount of choices/combinations. And they'll even add an unappetizing color to your ice cream should you decide you want your chocolate ice cream to taste like chocolate ice cream but look like purple play-doh. I had green tea frozen yogurt with fresh blackberries. And the next day I went back for chocolate ice cream with fresh strawberries. Their chocolate ice cream is hands-down, the best chocolate ice cream I've EVER HAD. Go for the light ice cream. It's refreshing and not too creamy because they use skim milk!
(5)
Keerthi A.

This is my favorite ice cream place. That Guy from Florida is the BEST!! It has cream soda and hazelnut, which is truly mind blowing. They make the ice cream once you order it in nitrogen mixers and it turns out to be creamy and just pure heavenly. There are other options like pudding and sorbet for people who want something different as well, but the ice cream is the creamiest. Definitely a must-try!!
(5)
Anna P.

Cool to watch, disgusting to eat.
(2)
Jacqueline S.

Disclaimer: I'm only rating their soy ice cream. First off I would like to say that I really really wanted to like this place. I remember reading about it when it first opened (it closed shortly after its first opening I believe because of equipment issues and then reopened a year later). Their soy ice cream was vegan with tons of flavor options, how could that go wrong? Well it did. I have tried 3 different flavors now and I was not impressed by any of them. To add insult to injury the ice cream is not cheap. It is really sad and disappointing to be super excited about ice cream, shell out $7 and then really dislike the outcome. Also, I don't remember the exact price of the toppings (I think like a $1), but they are not worth the expense given the small amount they give you. One good note: they will make you a new ice cream if you don't like what you ordered. I think I just didn't like the soy ice cream, which is a major bummer. : (
(1)
Dave H.

Very unique, but certainly not a novelty. I never thought fresh ice cream was possible, but this place has crafted an approach to it using liquid nitrogen which is very mad scientist feeling when you see it all go down behind the glass and the big mixers. The line and the wait can be annoying when you need some ice cream quick, but worth it. The end product doesn't have that freezer packed taste some places have from the their cartons sitting all day. Legit homie!
(4)
Dee H.

Take my advice and just go to Cold Stone. This place is a great idea that is poorly executed and has staff members that seem to be pretending to be polite. Now about the icecream. I guess the whole nitrogen freezing process makes the texture kinda weird..like frozen solid and watery at the same time. The flavor was okay, but how do you screw up vanilla.
(2)
Esther Y.

Listen, I kind of wanted to hate this place...I admit it. I don't even know why...I thought that the whole thing was going to be overhyped and I was going to go in there and prove to the husband that it was not as cool as it sounded. I was wrong. I admit it. This place is great. You can make your own ice cream flavor and add in all your favorite toppings. I went with a mint flavored ice cream with cookie dough and oreo. Sound weird? Well, it wasn't. It was AWESOME. I think this may be my summer ice cream spot....way better than fro yo to me, and better flavors than coldstones.
(4)
Will V.

Yes, you may wait 10-20 minutes or more for your ice cream, people, but that's because they don't make it until you order it! They don't have buckets of pre-made ice cream sitting around. I ordered chocolate ice cream made with organic milk, and bananas. It was amazing. I cannot imagine why anyone would prefer Cold Stone or Berry Chill (yuck!) over this. It's awesome!
(4)
Clare K.

So it took a looooong time for this place to open. And now that it has, it's OK...nothing amazing. I feel the only real reason to go here is if you want to get a crazy combo of flavors and ingredients. If you just go standard, it's not that exciting and kind of over-priced due to the novelty. I am the person who is afraid to pay $7 for a small bowl of gross ice cream, so I tend to go with standard stuff that I know I will like...so I doubt I will be back too often. It is the smoothest textured ice cream I have ever experienced, for sure. My REAL complaint, though, is the name. I don't like the fact that icream is "eye cream" in my head and the phrase "let's go get some icream (eye cream)" just doesn't work so well.
(3)
Lauren G.

Succinctly stated: Go for the experience and the options galore. It's worth it to try for creativity's sake. Ooh and aah over the fact that if you want caramel colored pomegranate soy ice cream, you can have it. Stay for the...sigh... 15-20 minutes, waiting for your treat. Receive subtly flavored ice cream, froyo, hot pudding, or soy ice cream in a decent sized portion with fresh fruits and other mixins. Kvetch about them going way UNDER on the amount of the mixin. Chalk it up as something you've tried, and something you can talk about to your fellow ice-cream obsessed friends. This place is more about the unique experience than the product. (Yeah, that bummed me out too).
(3)
Lisa F.

I love pretty much anything chocolate, gimicky and frozen so when I heard about iCream opening (Last year, but I wont go there) I was thrilled. I mean, a place where you can create your own ice cream flavor and color like a mad scientist just screams fun so I was very eager to get myself in there and start experimenting. All in all it's good fun but waiting 15-20 mins AFTER you order to get your ice cream is kinda rough. The employees, however, are very sweet and enthusiastic! What I got: Type: Fat Free Flavor: Coffee Add in: Nutella Color: Pink
(3)
Julie B.

Yuck. I didn't realize frozen yogurt could taste so bad. The consistency was more like that of ice than ice cream, and there wasn't much of a flavor at all. I ordered a berry flavor and it tasted so artificial. I would give it less stars, but I'm a sucker for unique concepts, and watching them blast liquid with nitrogen and turning it into something edible is kind of fun. I would say it's worth going to once just to see, and ordering the smallest size (because it may not be good enough to finish).
(3)
Jessica B.

Went here on a Friday night after dinner. Needless to say, the place was packed. The line was wrapped around, and we waited at least 20 minutes to even place our order. I got vanilla, dyed pink (I'm a girl, what do you want from me?), with sprinkles. Nothing fancy, i just like color. :) After ordering, we waited another 15 minutes for our ice cream. No big though, it was sooo interesting to see how they make it. I was amazed. The ice cream tasted, for lack of a better word, fresh. The bf didnt like his vanilla with banana and graham cracker. But i love this place, i will definitely be back. Complaints: A little dirty. The place is almost all white, and with all the kids and different color ice cream, you have to expect something is going to get spilled. The glass was full of fingerprints, but i guess i should have expected that. A little expensive, but actually watching my ice cream being made is so cool.
(4)
Sharlene K.

Dirtiest advertising ever. I have to believe the owners know exactly the double-entendres they're invoking with a name like "I Cream" and with ads that say "I Cream - Instant Gratification". I'm kind of just waiting for one to say something even dirtier. It's either they're doing this on purpose or they have nobody with any sense of strategy and marketing there (exemplifying why you don't hire your cousin/in-law/nephew/brother to do graphic design solely because of a relation). The ice cream is okay and the fact that Wicker Park has a fresh frozen yogurt option now is good, but part of me feels pretty odd asking a kid, "Do you want to go I Cream?" Though it is funny to ask your drunk friend, "Do you want to go I Cream? There's instant gratification!"
(3)
Elisha P.

I SCREAM U SCREAM!!! ICream was an amazing delectatastic experience! The owner Cora was so sincere, genuine, and patient when telling us about Icream and making our creations. I got pumpkin cheesecake which was really AWESOME. texture was smooth and refreshing with the appropriate crunch from the gram cracker mix in. A true delight. Not too sweet- very fresh- perfect. My roomate got oreo mint ice cream and was just as thrilled. The sizes are generous- got a small thinking it would be too small but the small was the best size. Not too little. So definetly GO, try it out it will be a $4 well spent (well more like $5 I got a small icecream w/ 2 mixins)
(5)
Mckenzie G.

This place is unique and really cool. My friend, who is vegan, and I came upon it in our chicago adventure and we have never seen anything like it. Sadly, I was so stuffed from our amazing lunch that I didn't get to order my own creation, but she was excited at the options, and her hot pudding - yes, hot pudding - was made by the owner and inventor herself. The owner said that she's looking to franchise in either Boston or Providence - my vote PROVIDENCE, please!
(4)
Kim M.

Ice cream isn't the best ever-knock-your-socks-off ice cream ever, (tasted slightly chemical to me) but I have to say the whole concept is super fun, especially with kids. What's not to love about choosing your own everything, color, flavor and mixins, then watching it turn from a liquid instantly to ice cream? Super cool. Should be experienced at least once. Parking can be a little dicey, metered street parking only, if you can find it.
(4)
jamie k.

Admittedly I was a little hesitant at first and thought the whole idea was silly, the name was ridiculous...and well, I don't really like Ice Cream a lot anyway. (ok, my stomach doesn't really like ice cream so much) Then, one day I went. Um...It's pretty awesome! Thankfully the evening we went it wasn't packed. The layout of the store is not really fit for long lines. The line was just long enough though for me to really figure out what I wanted. They have Soy Ice Cream, along with other kinds of frozen dairy products. Ultimately I decided on Green Tea soy ice cream and mixed in fresh strawberries and mango. mmmmm...So great!!! It's like a laboratory in there and really fun to watch the guy who is making the mixture into something solid. But I think something that would make it even cooler is if they had either pamphlets about the process or a sign that explained it. It's pretty cool and intriguing to watch, but it would be even better to follow along and understand. If I were kid, I'd insist on going here all the time. So, I got over my snobby Wicker Park attitude and embraced new local "ice cream shop" and you'll probably see me in line a couple times over the summer.
(4)
Bleu W.

What a wonderful find! This place is an innovative and delightful place for a delicious somewhat healthy treat! Pomegranate Tea with pomegranate, green tea, blueberries and yogurt. The service is also really friendly and helpful with any questions or suggestions. A new favorite place for me. Yay! :0)
(5)
Dean K.

I have read quite a bit of the reviews and I am not going to go over the process of how they do the ice cream. We saw a couple of reports on the store and came there from the suburbs. We thought this would be a very cool place to go to. A lot of people thought it was overpriced and for a small scoop in the burbs we probably pay about $3-$3.50 so that was not an issue. We were lucky that the total wait was not as bad as a lot of others experienced but can see where that could be a very big issue. Of course I was done by the time the 4th person in our group got theirs. My son did not like the Vanilla. When I tasted it there was actually too much flavor. My wife had banana and it tasted like the fake banana. That was a turn off for me. The big problem for this place is that there are a lot of people working there and they cannot get the orders out quick enough. I find it hard that they will be able to get repeat business when there are so many other choices. I am also sorry to give this review as I am sure the owner has put a lot into the concept. Hopefully things will work out for them.
(2)
Sara A.

icream, you cream....eh, you finish the saying and let your mind wander Went here for desert tonight and it was dreamy and scientific! Who ever came up with the idea to make your own individual ice cream within seconds is a genius and should be paid exorbitant amounts of money. Seriously, I want to buy into this franchise. Pretty please with whip cream and a cherry on top? Seriously, great concept. I had the warm pudding, with spiced pumpkin and caramel. My friends had the chocolate, bananas with real peanut butter cup chips. Sure, the food is processed, and used chemical flavoring, but THIS IS AMERICA! We process all our food here. Good stuff. Cant wait to go back and have the pomegranate and pear icream , made to order with liquid nitrogen. I am in love with instant gratification(simple things make me happy)
(5)
Abhist D.

I went to this place after I saw the special on the Food Network about there unique way of making ice cream. Apparenlty that's what the rest of Chicago thought to because I went here on a Saturday and it was a ridiculously long wait (partly because of the tours that were going in and out!). Basing my review off of one visit, I wasn't too impressed. I mean, the creation process was pretty cool to see, but the actual ice cream was okay. I think maybe its because of the flavors I had which at the moment I can't really remember. But I'll have to reserve any more stars for this place until after my next visit.
(3)
Stacey P.

Great concept... Ice cream is meh. I have mentioned my obsession with PB/Banana ice cream/yogurt before. I thought going to i cream would remedy my local need for such treats. No. So, you pick a flavor for your ice cream (or a couple). The flavors are juices they inject (although, they said they are extracts, i.e. banana flavor would be extracted from a real banana). So the flavor isn't "fresh banana" i.e. it's not blended smooth to make the ice cream a new flavor. Then, you pick mix ins or toppings. These are mix ins just like you'd have at cold stone or in a blizzard. They're just mixed really well, not blended (so the ice cream will have chunks of your mix in). I had Vanilla flavor ice cream with PB/Banana mix in. 1. The vanilla flavor was cheap. It didn't taste vanilla-y. 2. I liked the texture of the ice cream, yay liquid nitrogen. 3. The PB and banana was chunky mix-in, like cold stone. The bonus is that they HAVE peanut butter as a mix in (most places don't), the drawback is that .the ice cream itself just isn't that good. However, it IS fun watching them freeze your ice cream in a magical bowl of mist.
(3)
Emily W.

Yum. Yum. and more Yum. You pick the flavor, toppings, and even the color you want your creation to be. I ordered the honey ice cream with bananas and strawberries. My friend got burnt sugar with bananas and blueberries. So tasty! The workers were really patient while we pondered what to order and they all looked like they enjoyed working there. After we ordered they asked us how we liked it and told us that if we ever ordered something and weren't 100% satisfied that they would make us something else. Along the walls are reviews from school kids who went there which are adorable and some quite hilarious. In conclusion, custom made ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet loosely translates to get off your computer and go to iCream NOW. You can thank me later. UPDATE: Honey ice cream with nutella and bananas is delicious! UPDATE: Coffee ice cream with heath and strawberries is delicious! UPDATE: Cream Soda & White Chocolate ice cream with nutella and strawberries is delicious!
(5)
Nicole B.

I went there the first day they had opened, and I expected, much, much more. After waiting for 40+ minutes, I finally received my order. A simple caramel sundae and a butter pecan shake. The shake was for me and actually tasted very good. My friend/boss had the caramel sundae. She let me have a taste, and omg, it was the MOST disgusting ice cream I've ever had in my entire life. It actually had an aftertaste. Ew, ew, ew! We're very close to this ice cream shop, and everytime we go back, their ice cream machine is broken down. Get it together, people!!!! I'll try you once more in a few weeks, hopefully you'll have your shit together by then. Otherwise, Cold Stone Creamery it is!
(2)
Monzter N.

I read another yelper review about things to do in chicago.. she said beside Chicago deep dish pizza, i should try this place too... So.. in the crazy cold weather, we took subs from the loop and voila.. we found this place... a liquid nitrogen ice cream, which in a simple word... u can turn anything into ice cream! my sister order chocolate ice cream with nutella, which is turn okay... the ice cream is very soft... but still for me ben and jerry's or coldstone has a better taste... for myself, i tried order yogurt with peach and banana flavor.. for color.. i picked blue.. but apparently, it doesn't turn out good.. the server asked how my ice cream and i said i picked wrong flavor... and surprisingly, the server made me a new one with strawberry and banana , which is recommended and it turns out so good! Will visiting again if I go to Chicago....
(4)
Lori Taylor R.

Absolutely, a cool concept. I loved watching them make my own special concoction. The flavor the ice cream had was decent, but nothing to make me crave this on a regular basis. I like my ice cream with a real creamy consistency. I just didn't get that here. The concept is fascinating and it's a good spot to take people visiting Chicago. Unfortunately, I can't say it will be my go to ice cream spot.
(3)
Roger W.

I like the idea of using new technique (liquid nitrogen) to create traditional treat (ice cream). Unfortunately, I am a little disappointed with the end product. The strawberry cheesecake ice cream lacked creaminess. The pear ice cream lacked fruitiness. It didn't help when the countertop was quite messy. If the flavor isn't there, progressive technique on its own becomes just a gimmick. Definitely worth one visit for the experience, but I probably won't return with better choices out there.
(2)
Rachel F.

This place is hard to find. After almost 45 minutes of walking up and down several streets in the area, my anticipation was building. The line was long. But i needed all the time i could get to figure out what i wanted to make out of my ice cream. I love the fact that you can choose a base, your flavor and the color of your ice cream. This is not only cool for children but Adults too. Who doesn't love blue colored ice cream when the flavor is white chocolate pom. with raspberries WHICH WAS AWESOME and some coco powder on top!! The prices are higher than cold stone but there is a lot more customization. Two ice creams came out to $14. REALLY! I was shocked.
(4)
Lauren H.

Brought a friend here tonight for birthday dessert. After hearing a description of the place from a coworker, the level of geekery seemed like a good fit for the birthday friend. The staff was terribly nice and explained the process well. I had chocolate cinnamon ice cream with chocolate chips. Thought the flavor was a little lacking in intensity (I couldn't really taste it after a few bites), the texture was nice (but almost greasy..? milkfat content, maybe?) and I certainly don't worry about price when I'm paying for novelty. Speaking of novelty, watching my ice cream being made before my very eyes with neato sciencey gadgets was funky cool. However, ice cream that I wasn't wild about probably won't be enough to bring me back.
(3)
Ali O.

I'll admit it. i was intrigued by the smoke and mirrors. Well, really just the smoke. No mirrors to speak of. Plus one point for having a "cream soda" flavor. Yum. Minus one point, however, because I was encouraged to pair it with pomegranate. Perhaps it was my mistake for following their advice? But, I was so overwhelmed by all of their options that I just followed their directions blindly. The end result was light and fruity. The ice-cream was not very creamy or rich, so it was easy to eat the whole cup. And I felt their "small" size was very generous. Downside? 5 dollars for a small!!! That is some expensive so-so ice-cream. I am somewhat interested in finding out about the hot pudding though. I do love me some puddin'.
(3)
Amy X.

price is too high. how about this -- watch those other schmucks make their own "original" flavor combinations for about 30 seconds, and then go elsewhere to actually buy your frozen treats. wooooo, liquid nitrogen... that's really the extent of the appeal. artificial flavors and food coloring? no thanks. if i'm going to pay something exorbitant for frozen desserts, i'll go to black dog gelato for something of quality.
(2)
Ramya P.

I visited iCream on probably one of their busiest days of the year, when it was a 100 degrees outside on a Saturday afternoon during the Wicker Park fest. The staff was surprisingly chilled out, friendly and yet were going as fast as they could. Since this place could be a hit or a miss, I would suggest trying out one of their tried and tested combinations. I had the "Mom's favorite", which I really enjoyed. Plus its really cool to see them make the ice cream.
(4)
Lauren H.

A friend recommended this place to me and I was impressed how they really make the ice cream right in front of you.. I'm picky when it comes to ice cream but this is one of my favorites because it's not too sweet and just right for my taste buds. I always hate finding parking when I come here but I know it worth it.. I can't wait when they have their summer hours and are open late since sometimes it take me a long time to find parking!
(5)
Jack A.

I absolutely hate two things (well, actually I absolutely hate more than two things, but these two things are relevant to this review): wasting money and shitty ice cream. I suffered both indignities on a recent trip to this gimmicky ice "cream" shop. Chances are if this is best ice cream you've ever tasted, you haven't had sex. Or, at the very least, good sex. As much as I love anything involving fog and liquid nitrogen, both of those be damned: Not only was the place sterile and uninviting (essentially a narrow bar with a few dingy white stools and large nitrogen dispensers), but the staff seemed positively unenthusiastic. I imagine its a similar feeling shared by KISS' pyroteam: the wonder wore off after the first world tour and now they just want the check. Speaking of my love of fog (which I'm certain stems from a deep-rooted appreciation of the aforementioned band) the only grace -- and not even a saving one as it was far too fleeting -- was the liquid nitrogen mists billowing from the food processors. It was purdy. In the end though, my Small cup of chocolate, soy (or rice, I can't recall) milk based iced concoction was less creamy treat and more frost-bitten, taupe colored chunks of disaster. Lifeless, passionless, with a similar taste to the cardboard HALP ME sign the Crusties who haunt Wicker Park keep in tow... I assume. I rarely throw away food I purchase while eating out; even if its bad I try to reach some kind of compromise with the establishment to reach a culinary conclusion that's satisfactory to all parties. Even more rare is tossing out a dessert. Despite its flavor or lack thereof and the somewhat hefty price tag (paid more than 6 bucks for a small chocolate soy/rice milk with blahtastic raspberries) I carried that mess around with me for a good 45 minutes, trying my damndest to nibble in search of redemption. The damn thing didn't even melt in a timely manner and I caved, deserting it in a trashbin near the venue. This ice cream is what I'm sure having sex with Gene Simmons is like nowadays: surrounded by fog to conceal the fact that, beyond the seemingly compelling experience, its impotent. The fog IS pretty neat though...
(1)
Dave L.

This place is awesome minus the price! $11 dollars for two medium ice creams.....YIKES! Besides the price, everything else was perfect. Parking is ample outside and fairly inexpensive and the Strawberry Cheesecake tasted heavenly. Mango Rush wasn't too bad either, but yum, yum, yum for the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor ice cream!
(4)
Ngoc H.

Went here with my sister a while back. The way the make the ice cream, is awesome. There is a pretty big variety of flavors to choose from. Watching them actually make the ice ream is like watching a science teacher fill beakers with crazy chemicals that produce a delicious concoction of goondess. Prices are very reasonable. The downfalls are the crazy lines in the summer and parking SUCKS!
(5)
Ben K.

There isn't really a better dessert moment in my recent history than when the ingredients for your ice cream creation are placed into a large metal blender bowl and the liquid nitrogen starts foaming in like an overflowing container of dry ice. After a brief but frenzied session of mixing and congealing, your fantastically fresh and delicious ice cream is ready for consumption. It's an awesome experience. I could watch these guys make ice cream all day long. Tastes good too.
(5)
Becky S.

I've been waiting to try this place ever since last summer, and they've been closed since then because their liquid nitrogen machine was broken for FOREVER. I can't imagine what they paid in rent for all those months with basically no product to sell. First time I visited iCream, i got raspberry frozen yogurt, no mix-ins, with a yellow color. It literally was yogurt, poured into a mixer with liquid nitrogen to freeze it. It tasted like I was eating Dannon that had been in the freezer. It was actually kind of bland though. Not very tangy, not very sweet, not very much of anything except a faint raspberry flavor. The yellow was super bright and pretty though. Second time I went, I wanted chocolate ice cream, but I was informed that the red color I wanted wouldn't show up in chocolate. I guess I should have known that, since chocolate is obviously very dark brown. But I had hope, and I'm glad the girl at the counter told me ahead of time so i didnt end up with some nasty reddish brown ice cream. So i got peppermint ice cream, with chocolate chips, and a red color. The girl comped the additional 75 cents for the chocolate chips because the whole red chocolate thing didnt work out, which was unnecessary but nice. My boyfriend got green vanilla with gummy bears. My red turned out to be pink, and with no chocolate chips, so I told the girl. She offered to make it over again for me but I said it would be fine if she just poured some chips over the top, I'm not that difficult. The vanilla flavor of my boyfriend's order was very good, but my peppermint was again a little bland. So far the best part about this place is the texture: I'm in love with the smooth creaminess. The flavors need some work. Also they must have made some changes because they are now taking names, and my wait time was only 5 minutes or so, and it was fairly busy being about 11:30 PM on a Friday night.
(3)
Shakira E.

Fun experience, but I don't have to go back there for anything other than the experience. I prefer Berry Chill, Red Mango or Cold Stone Creamery.
(2)
L L.

I will be amazed if this plays is still open in a year. Gross-ish product, hilariously bad name, and costs something around five bucks. Huh??
(1)
Jason G.

We got chocolate soy ice cream and added berries. It was fantastic. Went on a slow night, didn't have to wait, people were polite and the ice cream was tasty. Worth a trip into the hipster haven of Wicker Park.
(5)
Ray J.

I wanted something simpler than the desserts at Taxim so we wandered over to iCream for a post-dinner treat. I ordered full-fat vanilla iced cream with heath bar and peanut-butter. Sounds delicious, right? My wife had a pomegranate, peach, and blackberry yogurt. Both were okay, but not great. The ice cream just didn't seem as good as it should have and the peanut butter wasn't mixed in enough. My wife didn't love hers either, but couldn't put a finger on what it was. It was a cool place and we enjoyed watching the desserts get made, but the product wasn't good enough for a return trip.
(2)
Vickie L.

I'm moving to the neighborhood and now will be less than 2 blocks away from icream. Hmmm, pretty dangerous. But I guess not too dangerous because it's $3.50 for the small, and that doesn't include mix-ins. Plus Coldstone is on North Ave, and on Milwaukee and Paulina there's Oberweiss and Baskin Robbins.... Really cute idea to make your own ice cream, fro yo, sorbet or hot pudding. They also have coffee drinks too. Everything is a bit pricey, but it's custom, and the cost of the equipment is rolled into the price. 3 of us went last night, ordered 1 small and 2 mediums, and it was about $17. First time I went I got green tea flavored frozen yogurt. No mix-ins. It was pretty awful. I was expecting sweet fro yo, like TCBY, but instead got that Pinkberry stuff that's sour, like real yogurt. Gross. I kept adding the powdered vanilla to it to make it palatable. I will never get the fro yo again. That night was cold and my friend got the hot pudding, it was surprising good! It got a little TOO pudding-y at the end though, I kind of wish it had a hard top though, like a souffle, to breakup the consistency. Went for the 2nd time last night. I was smarter this time and kept with the basics. Ice cream (light) with white chocolate flavor, and strawberries mixed in. It was lovely. One "complaint" is that the strawberries were mixed in too early so the ones on the bottom were frozen solid. I ordered a small, and it was maybe 10-12 oz? There was actually so much it came out over an inch above the top of the cup. Do NOT order the gum ball mix-in. It's not like the chewy little gum pieces you get in bubble gum candy. They were actually big gum balls they put in at the last minute. You can get them mixed in or just on top. My friend actually spit them all out because it was too much. At least it didn't add/subtract to the flavor of the actual ice cream. There were about 7 people in line before us, our wait wasn't that bad, maybe 10 min, but the wait goes by fast because it's fun watching all the stuff get made, and figuring out "is that mine?" But when it's not, boo. The people taking the orders at the register both times were very nice, had a lot of patience, and were very helpful. I guess it's their job when pretty much everyone that comes in doesn't know what they're in for. My bf wants to write "my pants" underneath their sign
(3)
Ginny L.

I think this place is such a cool idea, and I hope to go back soon to try out more things... My experience here was on a Tuesday evening, and my group of friends were the only ones there, so we only had to wait for each other so that wasn't bad. I had honey ice cream with graham crackers, and it was delicious. My friends got some odd combinations of things and had mixed thoughts of the experience, but a lot of the issue was the choices they made and not at all the fault of iCream itself. Oh, and the guys working there were playing They Might Be Giants. Awesome.
(4)
Bryan H.

Neat idea, but tooooo expensive! The flavors were good, and I think it's "deliciousness" is determined by your skill at creating ice cream. My wife went with mint and green tea ice cream, the worker recommended throwing in some white chocolate chips. It tasted great, although you couldn't taste the tea part - but it was $5.83. Outdoor seating was 2 small tables, 4 good chairs, and one broken one.
(3)
M N.

Pros: 1. VEGAN ICE CREAM WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS 2. Decent selection of flavors and toppings. 3. Staff knew what vegan means and even knew what stuff had vanilla extract in it for my uber-edge buddy. 4. Decent portions. Cons: 1. Very slow. (I acknowledge it's a process and it takes time but we were told 10 minutes and it was easily 15 or 20) 2. Expensive (Again, good sized portion but still price-y). 3. The place is really small and there isn't really anywhere to wait. Overall: Vegan Ice Cream is the name of the game for me. I will go again but I'll try to find a time when they aren't as busy. The price will prevent it from being a regular stop but it's an option for now and then. At least it's not Earwax.
(3)
K E.

The ice cream did not taste good, but it is a fun novelty. I had the blueberry pie flavor (burnt sugar ice cream, blueberry, and graham cracker crust, which the server recommended). I think my friend who just had chocolate soy ice cream liked his better than I did. If the concept intrigues you, I would recommend going there once just for the experience, but I'm in no rush to return.
(3)
Sonya X.

I've been to iCream four times now, and to be honest I think the concept of it is what I like more than the actual ice cream/ fro-yo/hot pudding. They have a great selection of flavors and mix-ins that it's definately a litte overwhelming when you first walk in- even if it's not your first visit there! But great to know that you can customize your order to exactly how you want it. I've had the fro-yo and hot pudding. I wasn't really a fan of the fro-yo because each time I had it, you coudl really taste that the flavoring was made from some kind of concentrate. The hot pudding on the other hand was the exact opposite it tasted more real, though I do believei t's made from the same concentrate shots that everythign else is. Maybe just cause it's hot the flavor blends in better. But like I said, I totally go there because i think the concept is cool, plus it's super fun to watch the ice cream and fro-yo be made in the kitchen aid mixers as dry ice is blow into it. It looks very science experiment like.
(3)
Steve N.

Went here after Piece. Got the strawberry with graham cracker flavor. Thought it was ok, so did Bella. Tastes kinda like dippin dots. They make the ice cream on the spot using liquid nitrogen, which was kinda cool. Try some ice cream here if youre a Terminator 2 fan.
(3)
Mike L.

I am not sure how I feel about iCream. On one had, the ice cream was pretty good. I had a chocolate/burnt sugar with nutella. Neither flavor was very strong. While you get to flavors. It might be wise to stick to one. The issue is, I am a big fan of dense flavorful ice cream. iCream's ice cream is more closely resembles Dip'in Dots. The other reviews are pretty much cover the rest. It is a tad pricey and there isn't much room inside. But, it is like getting your ice cream from some mad scientists, iCream might be the place.
(3)
Liz S.

Meh. The ice cream is deliciously creamy - especially nice if you go the frozen yogurt route. However, the taste is just ok and, given the wait and the price, it's just not feeling that fantastic to me. It's a cool gimmick, and you can make a few cool flavor combos, but it hasn't surpassed my love for any of my other area ice cream favorites.
(3)
Jae M.

Yummy and fun!
(5)
Ryan B.

Good idea, poor execution. The liquid nitrogen process does give it a nice texture, given how fast it freezes, and thus preventing the formation of ice crystals and such (as a footnote, you can even use liquid nitrogen to freeze high alcohol content liquids- I would go back if they offered that option). Not going back though, the flavors are VERY artificial. Like "Jelly Belly bean" artificial. If they stuck to a small selection of pre-made bases, instead of adding flavors to order, it might work. Or maybe if they used better flavors? C'mon folks, it's not rocket science. It's barely year one Chemistry class.
(2)
Jen R.

I was excited because they make soy ice cream-- however, after waiting 20 minutes for my ice cream to be made, the actual ice cream had no flavor to it. it also costs more for the soy ice cream, so the soy ice cream, plus one mix-in (m&ms) and one topping, it was almost $8 for a medium scoop of ice cream. highly doubt i will return.
(2)
Alf O.

Cool concept, but the 5 stars are for how delicious the ice cream is.
(5)
caroline k.

Overhyped and overrated. Just think Cold Stone meets science lab - but with much less yummy results. We had the vanilla ice cream with cinnamon 'flavor' and graham cracker mix in (good), low-fat frozen yogurt with green tea with truvia (gross), and the vanilla ice cream with strawberry flavor and chocolate chips (ok). Don't be drawn in by the white kitchen aids and clouds of liquid nitrogen smoke - you're much better off going to oberweis down the street.
(1)
Jen M.

I'm addicted to Food Network and discovered iCream after watching an episode of Chef vs. City in Chicago. It's been on my list to checkout for sometime and I finally got a chance to become an ice cream scientist! The concept is an ice cream store we can pick everything from the type of frozen treat (ice cream, soy ice cream, yogurt, etc.) and then you pick flavors and toppings. Sounds like Cold stone right? WRONG! The catch is that everything is made from scratch. They use rapid freezing techniques to make your treat frozen right in front of your eyes! I got a medium strawberry non fat frozen yogurt with nutella & graham crackers! It was excellent and I can't believe I finished it all. I would suggest a small to visitors that's what I will stick with next time. I thought the prices were reasonable, I was expecting it to be very expensive due to the concept and I find that most ice cream parlors these days (besides baskin robbins) is really pricey. Will definitely back when I'm in the neighborhood. I look forward to my next creation!
(4)
Andria M.

Really?? What am I missing? This was the worst ice cream I've ever had. I know this may sound overly dramatic, cause,really, who has bad ice cream? (unless of course you buy some crap grocery store ice cream with fake ass ingredients) I went a couple months ago and honestly I can't remember exactly what I ordered, it was so flavorless. I was, though, permanently scared by the pathetic watery syrup that was supposed to serve as caramel sauce....ugh! Unexcusable for $6 ! Unexcusable in the name of ice cream! I threw it away. I'm still pissed about this! Oh and the plastic bottles of colored liquids? Completely unappealing. Are these bottles of flavorless flavoring???
(2)
Alicia C.

The beat part of this place is watching them make the ice cream but it's too expensive ant it tasted ok.nothing exceptional
(3)
Claire S.

Not only did I have to wait forever to get my froyo at iCream, but when I ended up getting it (after about 30 minutes), it wasn't even that great. I can appreciate that they are trying to do something different, but I would really never think to visit iCream again...
(1)
Patrick C.

Alright, this place is slightly pricey, but I still thought it was pretty good ice cream. The process they go through to make it is definitely something to see if you're into creative food making.
(3)
Livia N.

My husband and I just tried this place and had a really fun experience. I had a vanilla, coconut ice cream with nutella and pistachio topping. My husband had a hazelnut, purple ice cream with graham cracker crust and nutella. We both liked our ice creams so much that we didn't really want to share it with each other. For the ice cream alone I would have given this place 4 stars, but the whole experience is what counts and I must say that the place needs better lighting. It looks like it is closed from the outside because it is so dark. There are very few places to sit down and only one actual small table. Since we had a baby, we sat at the only table that was placed in one of the darkest spots in the place.
(3)
Eme L.

The truth: you are paying to wait in line to observe a dry-ice show. Nothing more. The yogurt has absolutely no flavor, aside from an oddly off-putting aftertaste. We had: irish cream low-fat yogurt and vanilla non-fat yogurt. If it wasn't for the snickers mixed into the vanilla yogurt, there would have been no discernible flavor at all. I've had the "tart" non-fat yogurt before (red mango, pinkberry, etc.) It actually has flavor. If anything, it's usually pretty strong tasting. This, I just don't get. It might be fun for the kids to watch, but I can't think of any other reason to come here.
(1)
Amie W.

This place is amazing!!! I am a girl who loves her ice cream, but after a long winter of hibernating, I thought Fro Yo would probably be a better choice. I had a raspberry, chocolate combo (with sprinkles) it was fantastic! The raspberries were so yummy and the texture was great too, something hard to get with frozen yogurt at other places. My husband had the guy from Florida, any time you can get Nutella in Ice Cream is a good day. The prices are very reasonable for the size you get. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Josh C.

Go here if you hate the following things: flavor, good deals, and fast service. I got the pear flavored ice cream. The smallest size was $4, and it was about the size of a cupcake. It lacked flavor, was half melted when I got it, and was a complete rip off. I admit that the concept is unique, but I'm tired of places around here which focus on selling the gimmick, rather than focusing on selling good products. Next time I feel like ice cream, I'll pick up a half gallon and sit at home alone in the dark and eat the entire thing while I weep... as usual. But at least I'll be happier than I was after I went to iCream.
(1)
Nhu N.

Yes, you will have to wait to get your damn ice cream if it's nice out and everyone and their mothers want it too. I like watching the liquid nitro as I am lured towards all things chemical. I love the mix in and color options. Your kids will love it too. Yay for nutella! It is some damn good ice cream, I just wish I didn't have to spend so much for it.
(5)
Michael M.

They get points for being original and fresh tasting, and pretty much guaranteeing they'll have something you will like: everything gets made custom, and the choices are endless and a little overwhelming: ice cream, soy, yogurt, pudding. This is a place you want to go to at least once so you can say you've been. Smoky liquid nitrogen, plastic measuring cups, and syringes of ingredients are cool in a weird science kind of way. But I'm not sure its a place I can fall in love with, get a craving for, or have nostalgic fond memories of.
(3)
Alan W.

I can't even begin to explain how awesome this place is. The only way this place can suck is when you make your own combination that's really crappy.
(5)
Kristen P.

Eh. Nutella is supposed to be good in everything, right? Stopped here over the summer for Nutella and Raspberry iCream, it was okay at best. Should have hit up the Flat Iron for a cold one of theirs instead.
(2)
Fawn D.

Love the lab concept: syringes of flavors/colors, test tubes, flasks and liquid nitrogen all in the name of "ice cream". i have only tried the low fat frozen yogurt and it tastes like the less healthy regular frozen yogurt even though it is made from real yogurt. win! it's a nice place to bring out of towners to show them something different
(4)
Jourdan S.

That's what she said.
(3)
Grace L.

I feel I should give 5 stars to make up for my past review. They now have ice cream machines that work and and assembly line of well-trained employees carrying out the process with wonderful efficiency. It was fast and not that expensive...and the amusement of designing your own ice cream and then watching it come to life is quite a novelty. As for the ice cream...the texture is a lot lighter, almost to a whipped consistency, and the flavor is a lot subtler than regular ice cream, but it's still tasty. The soy ice cream is one of the better non-dairy ice creams I've had.
(5)
Tim K.

Great concept. Had the mango madness with caramel sauce. Super tasty and very entertaining. Kudos. Owner/Inventor was enthusiastic and interesting. Looked like the combinations were endless. I think this might do well, if the liquid nitrogen didn't look so shady, in a "Dirty Bomb" sort of way.
(4)
Tim S.

Whenever my daughter is in town we try to make it to ICream. The selections are endless, the process fun to watch and for us soy milk only folks it is one of the few places for us to get our ice cream fix. Parking can be a hassle and it is not cheap, but it is well worth the visit
(4)
Lara Y.

if you hate long lines to sample unique kinds of food, don't go here. if you're a classicist when it comes to ice cream, don't go here. if you don't like or don't know how to create great flavorful combinations and you rely heavily on pre-set menus and flavors when you go to ice cream places, don't go here. if you can spare 30 minutes to try something new, do go. if you're open to new ways and technologies in the ice cream world, do go. if you know your flavors well, and could think up crazy combinations and be happy with it (or try again if you missed the 1st time), do go. anyways, my 1st time i got a burnt sugar/vanilla ice cream w strawberry toppings. AWESOME! my 2nd time i got burnt sugar/banana ice cream w chocolate chip toppings. AWESOME! the texture is definitely different from regular ice cream, but i think that's a given because they make the ice cream using liquid nitrogen. of course it's gonna be different! when i first went here i waited for about 30 minutes, from lining up to getting my ice cream. 2nd time i came midday on a monday and waited 15minutes from lining up to getting my fix. so just be prepared and plan accordingly. nobody likes waiting in long lines. all in all, a cool and unique place to go to if you want something that's not cold stone, not pinkberry, not red mango, not baskin, not b&j, etc. 4 stars because it's a bit pricey and the wait is a bit long for ice cream but hey, i'm lovin the burnt sugar flavor and i'd go back here even if it's just for that.
(4)
Avery D.

What's so wrong with regular hand dipped ice cream in a cone? Why do we feel the need to complicate everything to an extreme? I just wanted some ice cream. What I got- smoke, tubes and vials. A long wait. Bland frozen play- dough with a spoon. Weird.
(2)
Christina G.

Loved the Idea behind I cream.... the flavor shots were not powerful enough to flavor the yogurt . I went with a group of people at 9:30 on a Saturday and the store could not serve the 20 people in the store at a timely manner. The price was high and i cream was stingy with fruit toppings. I'd like to visit again in a year or so when they've got their formula right.
(2)
Maria O.

ice cream shop or chem lab? walking in you see the mixers and their overflowing steam..which is actually the liquid nitrogen freezing the ice cream before your eyes. pretty cool. love the fact that you make it the way you want....you can have bright blue strawbery flavored yogurt with gummy bears and nutella. i wouldn't actually recommend this, but you could make it if you want. you have your choice of base[ice cream, yogurt, soy ice cream] and your flavor and your mix-ins. you can even make it whatever color you'd like. if you get fresh fruit, do NOT have them mix it in before the freezing process; you'll have frozen rocks that hurt to bite. just have them add it at the end. it's a fun place and the staff is friendly and helpful. they need more seating area, but you can grab your icream and go wander around the neighborhood. i'd go back again and my 3 year old loved to watch the mixers almost as much as he enjoyed eating his ice cream. there was a massive line while we were there, but that just tells you that people like it.
(4)
Annie W.

It looks cool, sounds cool, but honestly it's not a well oiled machine. You shouldn't have to wait 20 min. I can surely expect a wait when it's a busy night but management should prepare and plan for that. Many of the workers seemed like they were still in training. I expect more if I'm paying that much for some sugar, cream, and ice... My product also tasted nasty--which you really can't fault them for...or can you? I wasn't a fan of their frozen yogurt--it was sour (and I'm usually a fan of sourness) and left an awful after taste. We flavored it with honey and mixed-in nutella which a horrible combination. All three flavors including the yogurt were overpowering. Anyway, I probably won't be back again.
(3)
S Y.

This is by far my favorite ice cream place in Chicago. Even though the place is constantly crowded - especially on nice days outside - it is worth the wait. I find extraordinary delight in the fact that you can pick the color of your ice cream and even though the flavor is hazelnut, you are putting a purple colored spoonful into your mouth. They have pretty unique flavors and mix-ins, but I am satisfied to stick to the hazelnut soy ice cream with nutella and gummy bears. The kid inside of me is always satisfied!!
(4)
Marti G.

WOW!! The coolest ice cream store EVER! They make it fresh from scratch and you can customize everything....color, flavor, toppings, type of ice cream/yogurt etc. Low fat, fat free, regular etc. It's just never ending -- you could spend all day picking out the perfect ice cream! It was awesome to see blue cookies n' cream ice cream -- how fun. What an awesome concept. Loved it!
(4)
Shirese L.

Ever since I heard of molecular gastronomy, I have been a little "wowed." But, I place that whole science in the same place that I place drum machines and electronic guitar machines. Yes those "phony" instruments may imitate the real deal, but I would simply prefer the real deal unless you can produce something better. I Cream does not produce anything better than real ice cream or frozen yogurt. In fact, I would say the flavors are much blander.
(3)
Swarup B.

a pretty cool concept and we can see this type of ice cream shop opening country wide, should the price of liquid nitrogen drop. all the ice cream here is made in front of you. you pick the type of base you want (ice cream, fro-yo, sorbet) and the flavors, color and mixins you want and the whip it up for you and freeze it w/ a dose of liquid nitrogen to make it ice cream. it's a pretty cool process to watch. i got the a purple honey hazelnut ice cream w/ graham crackers and wifey got white chocolate hazelnut ice cream w/ nutella, chocolate chips and strawberries. we both really liked our concoctions but mine could've had a bit more hazelnut flavor. the texture was nice but the funny part was when it melted. instead of a creamy liquid we ended up w/ a very water liquid, probably because the lack of fat and no actual churning. overall a great idea and like i said, i'd like to see more places like this!
(4)
Monique O.

It's expensive but it's pretty freakin tasty. Last week on an 80 degree day in March I had my favorite concoction yet, honey ice cream with raspberries. I can't wait for the weather to warm up again!
(4)
c w.

i think the best way to approach picking your flavor out here is to work backwards.. look over the toppings first, find what you like then try to pick a flavor you think that will work with it best. before i realized this i had picked out about a million flavor combos then couldnt find a topping that sounded good with it. (a big reason due to the fact i was only looking at the vegan toppings which were mainly fruit or nuts.) anyway, i finally settled on almond flavored soy ice cream topped with blueberries. it turned out really delicious.. the almond flavor tasted very cherry-ish and it was nice with the berries. like others have said, it's not the creamiest vegan ice cream, but it is nice and light & feels low-fat (although im sure it's full of sugar). my friend got a cinnamon flavored dairy ice cream and holy crap - they need to cut back on the flavor quantities sometimes! i could smell his cinnamon breath a mile away.. it was like he was chewing an entire pack of Big Red.. i could only imagine what it tasted like but he said it was way overpowering. he also mentioned that on a previous trip a friend of his got the burnt sugar which was also way too strong. we were wondering if they just put the same amount of flavoring into each one or if they use smaller amounts when it comes to the really potent flavors. it seems like they need to do some flavor:ice cream ratio research with certain syrups. my only other complaint is the 50 cent extra charge to use soymilk, it's not like it's any more expensive than cows milk these days so it just seems like another way to get you. also, for 50 cents i got probably 1 tbsp of tiny blueberries. 4.50 for a small scoop with 1 tbsp of blueberries is a tad high.. Just Indulge on north ave is a better deal for a way richer product.
(3)
Tim W.

This place is really cool to see your icream made in the liquid nitrogen and it tastes good too. I love that you can make your icream any color (I'm easily amused). Only down side is that it's over priced. $5 for a small? Kind of pricey for ice cream.
(4)
Fred S.

So we got frozen yogurt. It was bland and didn't have any of the flavor we chose to mix in. The concept is kinda cool though. I'll probably try it again. Eh, no I won't.
(2)
Ally A.

I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars, so I suppose this is really a 3.5-star review. Pros: SO many choices! I like that they have light options, although the cashier said that the soy milk ice cream actually had less fat than the light ice cream - interesting... You can add flavors to the ice cream (the liquids other people mentioned), as well as mix-ins (pieces of fruit, candy, etc.). The staff is super friendly and patient as you try to cope with the overload of choices. Most importantly, if you've chosen wisely, it tastes REALLY good. I've had the light ice cream twice, and my husband had the soy twice - both super yummy. Cons: The texture is a little off - not gross, but as someone who is very aware of the texture of my food (weird, I know), it isn't quite the same as the ice cream you will get at the grocery store. This is not a pop-in-on-the-way-to-somewhere-else joint. It is an experience, so don't go in with the thought that you'll be out of there in less than 10 minutes. The place is small, and it gets crowded and loud so also don't expect to hang out and eat your ice cream there. All that said, I would definitely go back. They have warm pudding in addition to ice cream, so I have to give that a try now that it's getting cold.
(3)
Chris W.

This place is lame. Smoke and mirrors. The spoon they gave me shredded my mouth open. And the Ice Cream was to hard and lumpy! Boo Icream you suck!
(1)
Kelly C.

Okay. I went back and changed up the flavor. It was awesome!!! I got cream soda/white chocolate flavor with oreo.
(4)
rebecca g.

it's possible i just ordered the wrong variation (frozen yogurt) and it's possible i just ordered the wrong flavor (fresh pear)...but i doubt i've ever experienced a dessert more inedible, up until this moment. it basically tasted (and felt) like rubbery, artificial vaguely-pear-flavored bubble gum. it was so nauseating that i (an inveterate food-saver) had no other choice but to toss my shamefully-priced $4 'small' cup after 3 bites. and all this after waiting in line for a good 15 minutes. what good are all the chemical bells and whistles if the product doesn't even taste good? iSCream for iCream, indeed...
(1)
John S.

My GF and I visited icream on Sunday March 22 after seeing it mentioned on the tv show Chicago 24/7 and ordered a Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream with no toppings (I wanted to see what the ice cream tasted like it its purest form). The idea is interesting....you use liquid nitrogen to freeze the cream and thus you have ice cream on the spot, however, our experience of the product was sub par....I didn't finish it. The ice cream lacked taste, was bland and the consistency was similar to cheese curds vs a creamy blend of ice cream. If I was consulting for their business, I would recommend to analyze if they are getting repeat customers. I know they just opened, but If you're only getting first timers like myself -- you have a problem and this metric will alert you. I want to see their biz succeed, I think the idea sells but the product doesn't. Vanilla and chocolate are the most common types of ice cream, start improving those first. Yes, like some other people on her mentioned, it may take you some time to order. I timed it, it took 13 minutes. The location is good though.
(2)
Tara A.

this is, hands down, the worst "ice cream" i have ever had... usually an ice cream is lacking because the flavour you picked didn't impress you. unfortunately for icream i don't think there is a single flavour that would be enjoyable because hi, this isn't real ice cream, it is test tube ice cream. not only do their ice cream cauldrons remind me of the movie version of "war of the worlds" with tom cruise, but the resulting witches brew tastes fake and does not have that nice creamy texture that all real ice creams possess. how far is too far when it comes to technology people? do you really need to add food into the equation? blah no thanks!
(1)
Aneta K.

Loved the many choices I had between flavors and types of ice cream. Loved the design! The only downside is the wait time during a hot day when they're are lots of customers.
(4)
Whitney P.

Mmmm i felt like i was watching mad scientists hard at work. I got blackberry pomegranate flavored nonfat yogurt with bananas mixed in and i chose to make it YELLOW! Boy, what a tasty creation. The boy taking orders was super friendly, and they were playing LCD soundsystem. Two thumbs up
(5)
Melanie M.

It's interesting frozen...cream, milk, yogurt, something. I really mean to give this 3.5 stars...I'm a sucker for frozen treats. I got the green tea and raspberry, which was interesting. I would be willing to try to get more - I just haven't had the chance. It's worth a try, peeps.
(3)
Justin H.

Wow the ice cream tastes fresher than any Ice cream i have had before. The staff is very friendly and I will continue to go back. be creative with your flavors I had a strawberry/pomegranate and a burnt sugar/pear. both yummy.
(5)
Jay H.

If one is looking for customizable ice cream or frozen yogurt, iCream is certainly a good option. I went there on a Sunday evening, and it was packed. However, the waiting time for my order was under ten minutes, not too bad. I ordered a hazelnut and green tea ice cream, and a Green Machine sorbet. One has the option of adding an additional flavor to the Naked juice base; I just opted not to. The hazelnut flavored overpowered the green tea a bit, but it was still tasty. The sorbet tasted exactly like the juice base. The prices are a bit expensive (~$4 each), but for an occasional treat, it's worthwhile.
(4)
Jill P.

I had no idea about this spot until my sister and I were strolling in Wicker one night. I ve seen it but didnt know they made the ice cream to order. The ice cream was amazing, watching it be created was great and getting to color my ice cream was icing on the cake. Love the suggestions given and the free sample. Def going back soon!
(5)
Meagan L.

This place just re-opened on Saturday so I stopped in to give it a try. The science behind it is cool and the selection is huge but the price is a bit high for the end result. I think I'll probably wait till summer to try this place again and even then at $3.50 for a small cup of ice cream is pretty expensive. The liquid nitrogen doesn't give it any special taste, it just makes ice cream instantly. I don't see this place lasting too long past the summer unless they lower their prices a bit.
(3)
M Y.

it was fun. why not love fun? i order pear flavor with blackberries. i don't care if it wan't real pear flavoring, it still taste good. good is good enough for me. big props to i cream for being "fun".
(5)
Erin M.

Delish! Yes, it may take a little longer than your average ice cream shop, but does your average ice cream shop incorporate nutella in your concoction? Does it make the ice cream in front of you with cool machines that rock out the freezing process right before your eyes? Right. The 12 minute wait is definitely worth it. AND - I love that they offer many different flavors, toppings, and types of ice cream (froyo, organic, soy). Awesome.
(4)
Carol L.

Actually they are still as open as can be, I don't know why it says the store is closed. Maybe its a brand new reopening. Anyways, we walked in there with a decent amount of people but not overcrowded. Definitely not considered "busy". We ordered our stuff and watched as only one person behind the counter was trying to manage the orders and putting them into the kitchenaid bowls while others were either standing around waiting to catch the frozen bowls or just standing around. Like the other reviewer wrote, they call out INGREDIENTS for the orders. Um, when you list out a bunch of ingredients, chances probably are that someone would get something similar to yours...so many times we had to talk to other patrons to figure out whose is whose. On top of that, the cashier guy that took our orders were just as confused himself. I ordered a frozen yogurt, banana flavor, with nutella. That's it. The lady called out "um..chocolate icecream, banana, and blueberry"...clearly did not sound like mine so I just stood there. No one owned up so I thought I'd ask about the chocolate part and see if she meant nutella. She didn't even have the order receipt to tell me definitively if it was. And blueberries?? When I asked the cashier about whether that was my order (since I was the last person that he took order from)...he was very confused and was like, did you want banana and nutella? I said yes, but I didn't order blueberries. He was like, "huh??" seriously dude, confused much? I just took that order and left. It was nutella...with blueberries. I didn't mind the mix up, but was just thinking...if someone was allergic to blueberries and you are as confused about the order as the people that made it for you, wouldn't that be a little shady? I guess I had a really really confusing experience and they definitely need to tighten up their ship or people would be very turned off. The frozen yogurt I got was so-so. I really wanted to like it. But the yogurt "powdeR" that they used formed little flour balls in my ice cream, so it was kinda like having mini tapioca balls in my yogurt ice cream. yum.
(2)
Taylor O.

Liquid nitrogen belongs in Terminator 2... as well as ice cream. Super points for customization and instant creation. My friend went with the added purple coloring... crazy fun. I went with coffee, soy, unsweetened with blackberries... admittedly bitter but I like it that way; sugar is poison.
(5)
Lauren W.

As a dairy allergy sufferer, I have to say that I was beyond thrilled to get to order SOY ice cream at an ice cream shop. Not only is this the only place I've seen that does this, but it was delicious as well! The owner was awesome and answered all of my ingredient questions confidently (she knows her products well) and it was absolutely worth the wait. I felt like a little kid again! Check this place out!!!
(5)
Shauna M.

Terrible product that doesn't deserve to be called ice creme. Sugary soft serve, long wait, and way overpriced.
(1)
Colt E.

iCream is definitely a novelty ice cream shop. But beyond being able to have your ice cream any color you like and watching it being made with liquid nitrogen, iCream misses the mark. Maybe it's due to the low fat nature of the ice cream, but I thought it lacked taste and flavor, even though I packed the ice cream with all kinds of mix ins. You can taste the flavors you ordered, but then there seems to be this weird taste of nothingness in your mouth. Definitely not something that you can savor the flavor of. I probably wouldn't go back again, since I expected it to be a little more interesting and found it rather expensive. I would say it's worth checking out once if you're in the area though and the friendly staff makes for a nice visit.
(3)
A K.

It's a cool concept. I talked to the owner for awhile and she said that she was inspired by Flattop, which she loves, and wanted to create something similar for ice cream, where everything--from the fat content to the sugar content to the mix-ins to the flavor--was DIY. This is how it works. You pick a base: ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt. Within those categories, you have a choice of fat content (i.e. I had frozen yogurt and could choice low-fat or no-fat). Then you pick a flavor (there are about 20: the normal ones plus a few innovative ones like white mocha, etc.). The flavors are in the form of a liquid base. And then you can add a mix-in, like butterfingers or chocolate chips or the like. And then a topping and a color (some of the flavors are not colored, so Chris got chocolate but then added a brown color to make it look like normal chocolate). All of this is just liquid, so they mix it together and put it in a blender with liquid nitrogen. Mix, mix, mix, and it turns into a frozen mass. I would give the place an A for effort and innovativeness. But the product was not great. My husband got chocolate with peanut-butter-cup mix-in. The chocolate was very very bitter. Almost unsweetened. It was tolerable, but only for a few bites. I got pistachio and it was completely inedible. Like, I walked out of the store and threw it away. There was a number of people there that were complaining about the taste and they were re-doing them. I really WANT them to succeed. It's a cool idea. Molecular gastronomy for ice cream is nothing short of innovative. Plus, I liked the owner. She was very attentive to what people thought and how to change the product. But in the meantime, there are a LOT of kinks to be worked out, including flavor.... Maybe if you plan to go, I'd recommend sticking with the simple flavors for now--i.e. not pistachio.
(3)
Jamie S.

This place was great! I went on the second day and there were certainly some hang ups as there will be when something as new as iCream comes around but my mixture was great. A huge "medium" sized regular ice cream with white chocolate flavor and nutella mixed in. Even though it took a while for it to come out, when it did it was fantastic. The way it's made (see A.K.'s review) makes the ice cream really soft and creamy and when it gets in your mouth it melts instantly. Great idea. As soon as they get everything up and running smoothly, this place is going to do really really well.
(5)
Tom P.

Pros: Interesting to look at the "science" of how this particular parlor makes their ice cream. Also, patrons have a large selection to customize their order. Cons: Waited for 10 minutes to put my order in. There were two people in front of me. Waited another 25 minutes (no joke) to get my ice cream. And I've had better ice cream. And a small ice cream was $5. Summary: Cool to see once, but if you want ice cream, go somewhere else that quicker, better, and cheaper. And I agree with Brian M. - if you want to see the artificial vials of "flavor" mixed with your cryogenically engineering ice cream, then maybe this is a place for you... For me? I was waiting for Sylvester Stallone from Demolition Man to appear in bowl....
(1)
Joyce B.

I, too, has read a lot about this place and was really excited to go. The concept is cool, but their execution is horrible. Maybe I'm biased because I work in the food industry, but they need a lesson in how to run a business. When I went there were slow-moving high school kids behind the counter doing everything. I got a small caramel ice cream with Nutella. This kid takes the tiniest melon-baller scoop to pinch out a dab of nutella and then puts it in a plastic cup. They mix up the flavor in the KitchenAid and then said kid takes another teeny spoon to take the Nutella from the plastic cup into the mixer, leaving half of the already puny amount behind. Then they scrap the beater, then they scrape the bowl; it's a long process for a cup of ice cream, and I spent $4 on less than a tablespoon of a topping? The caramel flavor was too sweet, but the combo was good and the ice cream quality was up there. My boyfriend got vanilla with reese's and it was horribly bland, and they topped it with straight up Hersey's syrup. C'mon, you gotta do better than that. So now I've gone, and I'll never go again. There are much better places, Starfruit, pinkberry, Margies, hell, I'll go to DairyQueen before I go back here.
(2)
Nycole H.

I love trying things I see on TV, I sure am the gullible person marketers go after. I saw it on 190 North I think. Anyhow I brought my grandma whose in town from Ohio, and this is something way different for her so I thought it'd be fun. I got the ice cream with raspberry flavor and bananas on top. My grandma got yogurt with cinnamon flavor and bananas on top. As you can tell we weren't all that adventurous but both were very good. I think it's fun to make your own but as far as real quality I'd still go with Oberweiss 100%. They have such a smooth taste to their ice cream that still can't be matched!! I'd of course come back though because I love random things like this that are outside the norm!
(4)
M D.

This place is fun the first time you go. The second time around the novelty of your liquid nitrogen ice cream wears off and you realize you just paid $5 bucks for a tiny cup of ice cream...
(2)
lauren s.

this place is awesome. it's like a little science lab, only you can eat the results! there was only one worker there when we went on a sunday afternoon, so it wasn't the fastest service...but who cares when it's all made from scratch right in front of you! (+ you need time to concoct the ultimate scoop) as a vegan (+ as someone with food allergies, to boot), i felt a rare moment of joy in a food establishment as i pondered what i wanted...i am not used to having so many choices! i noticed that he uses organic soy milk for the soy version of the ice cream, + you can even ask to have yours made with raw turbinado sugar (or none at all, which he warned me against). if you like being adventurous with your palette, (or have a penchant for liquid nitrogen!), hurry up + get in there. + try the burnt sugar flavor...mmmm.
(4)
Alanna K.

Not gonna lie...it's not the best tasting ice cream. I can't even really describe it. I liked the flavors, but it just didn't have that really creamy factor, that I think a lot of people miss. I did find it to be an enjoyable place...and it's really cool to watch them make it! The people working there were super nice and told you all the steps to take. It's a little on the pricey side, but I would go back again. If you're trying it for the first time, just remember...DON'T think COLDSTONE CREAMERY. Keep an open mind, and try our own concoction of flavors!!
(3)
Shakeia T.

I can't even write an accurate review. I went to this place on Wednesday, 8/20 and their machines were down. I can't even believe they were even open. The guy behind the counter had to explain to us and the other people who were there that we could only get hot pudding. =( I may/may not go back. First impressions mean alot in business.
(1)
Maggie C.

Part of the appeal of iCream for me personally, is that I feel like I'm in the future whenever I go there, which makes it a pretty fun experience for me. Also, I love having all of the options for what I want in my ice cream (coffee flavored soy ice cream with nutella mixed in? Yes, please!). While the ice cream is not the best I've ever had, it's quite good and an overall an enjoyable and novel experience.
(4)
Spenser K.

So I've been to iCream twice, strangely in the winter too! The concept is interesting but more importantly, the owner is so sweet. She was very open about how things work and how the business runs. The products are fabulous there as well. Everything seems very fresh and fruity with many options because it is sort if a "create your own" concept (and I've only had sorbet there). For friendly service and a delish treat this is the place to go in Wicker Park (even in the deep cold of winter!)
(4)
Katie M.

This place has such a cool concept. I love that you pick every single thing about your ice cream and then they make it right there. It has a slightly crumbly texture but tastes sooo good!
(4)
Stefan S.

Order "That guy from Florida"....NUFF SAID!!!!!
(5)
Josh M.

Seriously, why wouldn't anyone not want to design their own ice cream (or sorbet)? I visited here as part of tour group and sampled a pumpkin cheesecake flavored concoction as well as something called "The Florida Guy". I could easily imagine trying something new every week if a place like this existed where I live. A great original idea and a more than friendly staff complete the experience.
(4)
Juan B.

Quite gross...the concept is unique, but wish their ice cream didn't taste like fresh plastic off an assembly line.
(2)
Joscelyn M.

No, it doesn't TASTE any better than your average ice cream place, but where else can you get caramel fro yo with nutella? And yes, it takes longer, but because you invent your very own flavor, they make it from scratch! The only thing I don't like are the surly servers, but I honestly can't blame them for being cranky-pants when people bother them about 15 min being too long to make ice cream!
(4)
Jenny Z.

I got a recommendation from the person working the counter to get pear pomegranite fro yo and it was delicious. However....I ordered a medium and I got a small sized serving in a medium bowl. I saw everyone else's mediums and they were filled to the brim.....I have a hard time paying $5.50 for ice cream to begin with so when I didn't get the full portion, I was slightly annoyed. Also, this place would be great if it had an extra 500 square feet...maybe I have space bubble issues, I dunno. It was cramped and everyone was taking pictures of the liquid nitrogen....lots of people were confused where they were supposed to pick up their ice cream and it just made for a mess. I thought the place was pretty cool but much too small in portion size and standing room. The ice cream/fro yo I would give a five though.
(3)
Rebecca S.

This place was very, very tasty! The guy who took my order was also very friendly... it was overall a great experience! I got the green tea/pomegranate ice cream with white chocolate chips... really good. My boyfriend got almond/cherry ice cream with bananas and nuts... even better! The ice cream was really good and creamy, without being too rich. I'll definitely be returning.
(5)
Casey B.

This place was pretty cool! So many choices from using yogurt, milk, soy for the base of the ice cream. Then there are flavor and color choices! I ordered fat free yogurt, banana flavoring, green color and gram cracker crumbs. The ice cream was pretty good not the best but it was a blast just watching the process. That make's it work going to by itself. I would recommend going if your in Wicker Park and looking for a sweet treat.
(4)
Amanda T.

Overall this place actual ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. is just definitely not the best I've ever had, but this place is FUN! There's so much variety and you have the option to let your inner Picasso go wild and come up with some wacky frozen concoctions. I'm 23 and I'm amazed that I still find myself fascinated with pink white chocolate ice cream. It' a little overpriced and you have to wait awhile to get your creation made, but it makes for a very interesting experience.
(3)
StanLee T.

I really wanted to go to I Cream after I saw Chef vs City. Science and Ice Cream, how could it get better? First off I have to say the staff was EXTREMELY friendly, they explained everything clearly and were eager to help us. I got peach/pear pink ice cream with strawberries in it. The ice cream or should I say I Cream was good, but not great. Part of it is my fault. I think I should have thought out my choices a little longer. The best part of the whole process is watching them make your treat. Its like Mr. Wizard meets Coldstone. This is a great tourist stop and I can see myself taking many visitors there.
(4)
Jacqui M.

Let's face it, everything is better fresh. Icream has the freshness down in spades. You create if from the base to the flavors, to the mix-ins. I am not even a sweets person, so I wouldnt think I'd ever be down to wait 25 minutes for ice cream... but I am so happy I did and would be happy to do it again. I created a low-fat yogurt, green tea and granola mix and it was delish! I already concocted a few different combos in my head that I cant wait to try... I am sure that I'm bound to have a bad combo here and there, but that certainly wont stop me from trying again...
(4)
Alex K.

I wanted to really really like it. They have all the nerdy things I love - liquid nitrogen, lab coats, and little bottle full of mixed chemicals. The Staff was SUPER friendly. I just realized after getting it that I really just like my ice cream simple and well, more natural. I got caramel and heath and something called burnt sugar. I got basically a coffee flavoring with heath bar pieces. I realized that the ice cream had to caramel at all - just the flavoring. And no pieces of burnt sugar. Just chemical flavoring. While I love liquid nitrogen and little bottles of chemicals I prefer them in the lab. I like scooters or even cold stone - I can have REAL caramel, real strawberry, real ingredients. I could be biased, but combining lab and food is just not a good idea. I mean i was taught to never put the stuff i worked with in my mouth. So maybe I'm biased just a bit. The ice cream was ok tasting but i think it was because of the Heath bar. makes everything good. To each their own. I like my food full of flavor not "flavoring" sorry.
(3)
alicia g.

LOL at the ice cream snobs yelping. This place gets 5 stars for being able to provide me the best ice cream combination: chocolate, nutella, oreos & strawberry. I love the whole notion of using liquid nitrogen and fancy machines to compact the ice cream as well, cooler than some boring person using a dirty spoon to scoop ice cream on a cone. I consider myself an avid fan of ice cream and this place definitely hits the spot. I even place it up with the likes of Pinkberry, and that place just sells froyo.
(5)
andrew c.

some of you that gave this place one or two stars are trippin!!! this is easily the best ice cream i've had...in a loooong time. order this, very simple: white chocolate, nutella, and raspberries. (maybe add a touch of cream soda flavor) then make sure they BLEND them all TOGETHER, and use real ice cream. the end result will satisfy you. TRUST. (yeah, lines suck. but i never hit places like this at peak hours anyway, so it doesnt bother me that they're popular.)
(4)
greg r.

The mad scientist of icream produced a major abortion. Cool to watch, terrible to taste. Not even close to the likes of Pinkberry or any other true yogurt or for that matter any store bought ice cream.
(1)
tracy r.

Yeah - this is all hype. I got the yogurt with burnt sugar and cookie dough and had to go back and have them "fix it" because it was disgusting. If you like flat top gril and the 13.7% chance that you'll think a ton about what you're eating and possibly come up with a combination that isn't disgusting then go for it. Otherwise...stick to Berry Chill/Red Mango/myriad of fantastic ice cream shops this city already has to offer.
(1)
heather d.

hmmm. i dont know, overwhelming is an understatement. there really should be a suggestion board or something. the girl was trying to give me flavor suggestions that really sounded gross so i went with something simple - burnt sugar and graham cracker in frozen yogurt. it was not good at all and took about 10 minutes to make. I cannot imagine if there was a line as i would have been there forever. maybe i am more of a traditionalist and would rather spend my $4 on a peanut butter parfait at dairy queen.....
(2)
Y K.

My boyfriend and I were really excited to try this place out. We'd heard all kinds of great things. So I wish that I could actually say that this review was about the ice cream, unfortunately, we weren't even able to try it. I called ahead around 8:30 on a Sunday to see how late they were open. The gentleman that answered said 11pm. Perfect I thought, that would give us enough time to still get there. I got to the door at 10:15pm and they were mopping up the floors but the door was still open. Go in, and the young lady behind the counter informs us that they're closed. I mentioned that I called earlier to check and she said they'd already counted out the cash register. The hours listed even said 11pm. I've worked in retail for 20 years and having the register counted out doesn't mean you turn customers away. It really seemed like they were all cleaned up for the night and too lazy to get their equipment dirty again. If the sign on your door says 11pm, I really believe you should honor that. I realize that it probably involves a good deal of clean up for what they do. However, this IS what you do and it's part of the job. With 3 employees there, you'd think they'd have plenty of time to clean a mixer before 11pm. Disappointed with the terrible service.
(1)
Meredith S.

Was enjoying a great day in Lincoln Park when a friend suggested we go for ice cream, but not in that neighborhood because i cream was awesome and an experience. So we trecked up to North Ave and took the bus. I really enjoyed it. I kept it pretty simple with ice cream and since the owner was there and working behind the counter, let her offer a suggestion, instead of trying to come up with something on my own. Some people might complain that it takes too long to make, but be real, they are making it completely from scratch and lots of people have no clue what they want and there are not a lot of examples. That is something that would be nice to see more of , kind of like coldstone, they give lots of examples of concoctions, instead of just 3.
(4)
Roxy A.

so this weekend it was snowing, but oddly enough i ended up @ i cream!!! i went w/ my family & it was our first time trying i cream, we actually thought it was closed for the winter at first b/c it was empty inside, but i guess we were the only crazy people getting ice cream while it's snowing haha. the employee working there was very helpful & explained the menu along with how the flavors and toppings go. basically you start off with your choice of dessert (cold desserts: ice cream, fro-yo, sorbet; hot desserts: hot pudding, rice pudding) then you choose the flavors (reccomends up to 2 flavors) & pick a color just for fun..it doesn't change the flavor; finally you choose the toppings (candies, fruits, cookies, nuts, etc.) theguy reccomended to order something hot since it was freezing..so i ordered a small rice pudding w/ the "burnt sugar" flavor, purple color w/ strawberry toppings. it was a really fun looking dessert & pretty tasty..reminded me of rice to riches in NYC. it was nice warm treat & definitely something different! my sister ordered a burnt sugar chocolate pudding & you also have the option of getting it w/ soy milk which is great for those who are lactose intolerant! =P i can see how this place can get very crowded over the summer/busy rush b/c it is a bit of a process to concoct the dessert in the "i lab." i might be a little bias since there was no wait, but i think this place is worth trying if you've never been here. also the employee did say that if we didn't like what we ordered then he would make something else for us..but it wasn't necessary since we liked what we ordered!
(4)
Jackie C.

A pretty gimmicky place, but I wanted to try it once since I saw it on the Food Network. The place was exactly as I expected: choose your base (ice cream/yogurt), flavor and add ons. It was fun watching them custom make our orders but for the price and size of the order, it's not really worth it when comparing it to other chains or even independent establishments. I think out of everything, the thing that probably turned me off the most, was the wait for the ice cream. On slow days it can take around 10-15 minutes and on busy days, I think it took about 20-30 minutes. The wait to place the order and wait for the ice cream to be frozen created one hell of a wait and a large crowd in the waiting area. Since the place is so unique, I would recommend trying this place at least once if you're in the chicago area, but try to go weekdays when it tends to be less busy.. less you enjoy 30 minute waits for your frozen confection.
(3)
Kelli P.

A really fun concept! My God kids saw this place on the Food Network and convinced me to take them here on their spring break! They (6 and 12) LOVED this place - loved the liquid nitro aspect, love that you could make your ice cream any color and add any toppings. I liked it, but didn't think it was the best tasting ice cream I've ever had. I still remain a fan however, because I like just how customizable you can make everything! It's a place I would go to just to bring kids or friends who have never been there just to experience the concept - would never go alone, as there are way better tasting ice cream options in the Chi!
(4)
Irene O.

I don't have much a a sweet tooth, but this is such an orignal experience. I take anyone visiting me to iCream. You'll always walk away with a smile... * For those who want to cut the sweetness, use soy milk! Have fun!
(5)
Candace S.

Soy ice cream? Yes please! Since I don't eat dairy it's been a long, long time since I have had ice cream & was stoked to hear that somewhere in Chicago had vegan ice cream. All of the options were beyond overwhelming. After a good 10 minutes of indecision I decided to be adventurous & go w/ the soy curry coconut ice cream w/ granola on top... dyed green. Crazy? yes I know. My boyfriend tried to recreate a key lime pie & had lime ice cream w/ cream cheese & graham crackers. He said my weird curry concoction was even better than his! As someone who is more of a savory than sweet person I was in heaven. Go to Icream. Get adventurous. Try curry. Do it I dare you.
(5)
Mabrie B.

I can't believe all the poor reviews! SO glad I didn't read Yelp first or I may have passed over going to this delicious icream lab!!!! GIVE IT A CHANCE! Since you are creating your own flavor it's good to be careful and not try a weird combo. I had ice cream with chocolate, banana and peanut butter....It was outstanding!!!! Smooth and not too sweet. It did take a while but in their defense they remade my friends cause it just didn't "look right" according to one of the owners. I can't wait to go back and try something else! DELISH!
(5)
Allan C.

The possibilities are endless!!!!!! No longer do you have to just hope some place has your favorite flavor combination, you can just freaking do it right there! The plethora of flavors and mix-ins had me contemplating quite a bit until the wife proclaimed, "hazelnut pear ice cream with strawberries, mango, and gnutella mixed in." Now seriously, where else are you gonna get something like that. The service was excellent as well. We had a dog with us, so I ordered while the wife was waiting outside and I forgot to order strawberries! No worries, the person a couple people after me in line didn't mind my butting in to change my order and changing my order wasn't a big deal at all for the guy at the cash register. I was thoroughly impressed. I, myself, got burnt sugar blueberry ice cream with graham cracker and Oreos. It was pretty freaking amazing. I'd be interested if they experimented with new flavor/mix-ins... like a flavor and mix-in of the month?
(4)
Nicolas H.

I'm a big fan of ice cream, but I hate to say that this place doesn't do it justice. Oberweis is ice cream. Ben and Jerrys is ice cream. iCream is something created in a fancy mixing bowl combined with liquid nitrogin and injections of "flavors" and colors to dazzle the easily impressionable minds that walk through the door. I ordered the small "ice cream" with chocolate and cherry "flavors" with chocolate chips mixed in. Unfortunately this concoction did not taste like chocolate/cherry ice cream at all, I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. But it was not creamy at all. The only "cream" I experienced unfortunately developed in my stomach and came out the bottom end of my body shortly after eating said frozen experiment...
(2)
Hallie L.

Hmm... I really wanted to like this place, and to some degree, I did, but it simply didn't blow me away. It's a very cool concept - like taking ColdStone Creamery to the extreme (where I used to work, by the way). I had the Peargranate something something frozen yogurt, which was delicious and unique (not something you'd be able to find in any other ice cream parlour, for sure), but I felt like there was something left to be desired, especially considering the price that I paid for it. It's got a fun interior, and it's cool watching the servers make your ice cream with the stand mixers and liquid nitrogen. The servers are very friendly and helpful, especially if you're a newbie. Thankfully, the place wasn't very full when we arrived, although a little bit of a line ended up forming behind us. All in all, this place is kitschy and fun, but not - in my opinion - substantial enough to qualify the priciness. Good ice cream, but just not GREAT. Kids would probably love this place though, and I can see this as a great place to bring a group of kids for a birthday or something.
(3)
Roxanne B.

There's no way of predicting how busy/crowded this place will be at any given time, but a long line is probably a good thing because you'll need the time to chose between the endless combinations. Love that there's something for everyone-organic, yogurt, vegan, etc. I wish I could go everyday to try out all of the options (burnt sugar flavor?!). My biggest issue is the price-my medium ice cream (which, truthfully, was way more than I needed) ended up costing me $8, as they charge per mix-in, and the price per mix-in increases with ice-cream size. If you absolutely love ice-cream though like me, this place is definitely worth it!
(4)
Jess P.

If you want ice cream, froyo or sorbet DO NOT GO HERE. seriously...I was intrigued by the idea, but do not make the same mistake I did.... I order a raspberry/banana ice cream with cookie dough...TERRIBLE. Took one bite....no raspberry all it tasted like was creamy fake banana ---like a hint of banana runt flavor....disgusting. I walk up tell the girl that i ordered RASPBERRY banana.....her reply "so you want me to make you another one?" UM YES! I would like what I ordered. .... 5 min later someone else comes out and calls me over..."you know that our raspberry flavoring is clear right?" ummm YES, it doesn't matter what color it is there was not any in there...."ok" another 5 mins later...hand me virtually the same thing. IF they put raspberry in there, it tastes like nothing...it tasted like nasty banana flavoring and that's it. GROSS. WASTE OF MONEY. even the cream was terrible!! I had a nutritional biochem class in high school....we made ice cream...and it was WAY better than the crap at icream. seriously...how does this place stay open? do people just like to watch the liquid nitrogen? The two people I was with also thought theirs was terrible (peach froyo & green tea/pomogranite "ice cream" with blueberries)...seriously.. it was hot outside, i saw this place and got really excited and it is REALLY difficult to f up ice cream or yogurt...but icream takes the cake. i will NEVER be returning, worst idea ever...I mean how can anyone even argue, how does this place have stars! if you think this is good you should make your own ice cream---it will taste 84357438974x better. This place should seriously close...just because you have a lot of artificial flavors, doesn't mean you can make tasty ice cream. GROSS. there is a place that uses real fruit on North Ave. nearby...GO THERE!
(1)
Kyle B.

This place is probably the trendiest ice cream shop you will ever visit. First of all, there is more than an ample amount of variety with flavors and mixers and what nots for every taste bud. It can even be, at times, extremely overwhelming. But a great mix of flavors can always be discovered. I opted to go with the "That Guy From Florida" which is ice cream, cream soda & white chocolate flavors with Nutella mixed in. It was incredibly mouth-gasmic. Since the ice cream starts as cream and is then flash frozen with liquid nitrogen, you truly are getting the freshest ice cream. However, this freshness comes at a cost. You are a looking at a 15 minute wait (if you're lucky) and a whole crowd of people waiting for their tasty treats. It's like a time-bomb for sweaty impatient people to wait in a room about the size of walk-in closet for a cup of sugar. I was thoroughly impressed with the ice cream (it's crazy delicious), but the logistics could use some help. Go here on a week night because the weekends are crazy. The ice cream is worth a taste!
(3)
Jessica E.

Liquid nitrogen ice cream is a pretty cool concept. It was interesting to watch them make it, so you almost don't notice the twenty minutes it takes for your order. You choose flavors, colors, and toppings. The end result is dippin' dots-esque in after taste, but not as cool in texture. It is really rich and creamy, but mine didn't taste like strawberries how I wanted it to. It was purple though! Fascinating.
(3)
Jenny A.

Oy. Is this place ever a gimick. I have to say, making ice cream with liquid nitrogen is pretty neat the first time, but each subsequent time it gets more annoying to wait 15 minutes in a crowded tiny doorway for your scoop. They are really stingy with the add-ins too. For crying out loud, I'm paying upwards of $7 for this stuff and I get THREE raspberries? For real? That's just highway robbery. And then to top it all off, after the price, the wait and the low add-ins quantity, its still just kinda plain and blah. Even the smallest size I had trouble finishing, since my mouth just got bored. I wasn't impressed, in fact of all the 5 times I've been there, I've been disappointed. But, they get one star for the decent variety of mix-ins, even if they don't put enough in the ice cream.
(1)
Dan M.

This place is damn fantastically delicious. It's so good it has ruined my ability to write awesome sentences that aren't not awesome what. Anyway, this place is a must for anyone that likes to devour ice cream. It is literally the most delicious ice cream/frozen yogurt I've ever had the pleasure of putting in my maw. I can't express enough how great it is. Perfect texture and the ingredients are mixed to just the right taste. SERIOUSLY JUST GO. You can't go wrong, even if it is expensive. I cream over iCream. (See what I did there? Shut up.)
(5)
Ryan S.

This place sucks. I waited for my yogurt for almost 15 minutes! I understand they custom make what you order but who wants to wait any amount of time for ice cream?! They goofed my order two different ways cuz the cashier was clowning around and eating toppings while ringing me up. It is also way over priced. I went in thinking i would get one small of one kind and if i wanted more, come back and get a second order but I was robbed from ordering just the small! The menu is confusing and its loud and disorganized in there. I will not be going back to iCream, regardless of their "customized tasty treats." No thanks.
(1)
angela p.

Feh. My friends and I went here one afternoon. They got something, I didn't, but I tried a bite of each of theirs. It was so good I decided to come back later that night for dessert. Got the same exact thing as one of my friends had got (soy, almond, Nutella). It was flavorless- an absolute chore to eat. So I took it back and asked to make me another, which they gladly did. The second one, however, was barely an improvement. For the price they charge you for a small, just go ahead and get a pint of Ben and Jerry's.
(2)
Michelle M.

yes, it's gimmicky, but it's still really fun, getting to customize every single aspect of your ice cream dessert, from the base (yogurt, soy ice cream, organic ice cream, etc.) to the flavors (they have a HUGE selection), to the the toppings (the usual, with a few more inventive choices) and even the color (i picked pink!). i ordered banana-flavored pink frozen yogurt with peanut butter and chocolate chips. there was a longish line when i went, but it moved quickly. my only complaint is that they forgot to put in my chocolate chips. it was still yummy, though. my banana ice cream had a fresh banana flavor, not overly sweet or candy-like.
(4)
Saba A.

Wicker Park is my favorite---I like it better than Lake, Rogers, and Lincoln Park. This is also my favorite ice cream stop. Tons of variety--quick service--I love the white decor and furniture.
(5)
Caitlin G.

Truthfully, I had mostly weened myself off of ice cream. The sweet, cold creaminess of a good scoop had lost the allure it once held for me. But then, on a blustery February day, I went to iCream. Welcome back, Sweet Tooth. We were only two customers in a small handful that had wandered in off Milwaukee that winter day, but the employees were super attentive and helpful as we stood with our mouths gaping open at the menu. One guy even grabbed one of the flavor extracts--Burnt Sugar--so I could get a sense of it since he said most people either love it or hate it. I loved it and ordered ice cream with Burnt Sugar and Honey, mixed with crumbled graham crackers. DELICIOUS. I think next time I might even order caramel sauce for topping. My friend ordered a green tea and honey mix, which was delightfully light and tasted like a green tea smoothee thickened and sweetened up. I will say that I expected the consistency of the ice cream to be noticeably different from regular ice cream. I didn't really notice that, but the joys of getting to choose my own flavors was enough to really satisfy me. My only other slightly negative comment would be that I am so not a fan of fluorescent lighting and don't like feeling like I'm in a laboratory when I'm devouring a treat that reminds me of my childhood. The base options are extensive outside of regular ice cream, even with low-fat and soy ice creams, sorbets and frozen yogurts. If ice cream on a February day isn't your thing like it is apparently mine, try ordering the hot pudding or other warm options. Another customer had ordered hot pudding with banana and Nutella and was loving it. I'll see if I can handle the summer crowds here, but with little to no wait, this place is so absolutely worth it. Definitely check it out.
(5)
Willie B.

Went here today and had my mind blown. It's pretty much like a coldstone in that you design your own mix ins and select a flavor. From there it gets weird in a good way. They mix your ice cream in kitchen-aid mixers with giant nitrogen tubes filling the place with this crazy mist. I love key lime pie so I went went with lime flavored fro-yo with graham cracker crust and cream cheese. It was amazing. My GF came and she actually got really weird and selected the curry and coconut flavored soy ice creams (they have vegan options) and mixed in green coloring and granola. I had a few bites and it was surprisingly delicious.
(4)
Cycette H.

I love to make strange ice cream creations like Chocolate with Curry and Mangoes at ICream. And then it's super FUN and INTERESTING to watch them make it with there chemically rigged blenders. I don't go very often, however, because you pay a pretty penny for what you get. During the winter they serve warm pudding- YUMMY too. I recommend going, just once, for the experience.
(5)
Kristi T.

Anytime I get to do a custom ice cream creation with liquid nitrogen...what's not to love? Always showing a fun movie up front & if there's a line, it's worth the wait. I suggest a Thai inspired creation of Cayenne/ginger based ice cream with peanut mix-in. Yum. Oh, it's also great for kids or anyone who is a kid or mad scientist at heart.
(5)
Nancy P.

This is probably the only that you can get the freshest ice cream. The ice cream is made in front of you! They have so many different flavors you can chose from, even curry! I think that's weird but the worker said it's good. If only I was able to sample it... I chose almond and green tea as my flavors with almond mix in. SO YUM! My friend chose green tea and peach which was good as well. Another friend chose cinnamon and chocolate which was okay (I'm not a fan of chocolate ice cream). Another chose pear and green tea which was really good. I think the sweetest of the ice cream will depend on how much syrup the worker puts in. We went on a Sunday night and got our ice cream within 15 mins. At least 3 or 4 groups of 6+ people came in after us who had to wait over 30 mins for their ice cream because there was only 1 guy working. I felt bad for him but he kept calm and was still happy serving people (which is really rare and nice). There's a sign that warns you that wait times for ice cream during the weekends are longer than usual. Overall, I really like this place and would bring my friends when they visit me in Chicago. :)
(4)
Dave F.

On a day in Wicker Park which had my girlfriend and I entering a lot of places just to warm up, we initially skipped iCream. Yeah, the wind chill is bringing the temperature to -3, but we're going to get ice cream. No, thank you. Then, on the way back, Diana said something that made my mind change very quickly. "Warm pudding?" Wha? Yes, please. This place was awesome. The man working the counter explained the process to us (which wasn't totally clear from the sign, so it's a good thing they have a planned spiel for newcomers). You pick between ice cream, sorbet or pudding, then a flavor or two, then mix-ins, then a color (yeah, I didn't get the point of the color, but it's kind of cool that you can do it if you want). We ordered and he went to work on the fairly elaborate process of making the pudding. I got an Irish cream pudding, and Diana got a chocolate and banana flavored pudding. Both of them were fantastic, but Diana's was actually a mistake. She wanted a chocolate pudding with bananas mixed in, but got a half banana, half chocolate flavored pudding instead. No stars off for that, though, because that probably had more to do with how I worded the order than anything else, and anyway, it cost less as a result. Maybe it was for the best that she didn't get the mix-in. The next day we came back so Diana's mom could try it, and that time she ordered hazelnut pudding with bananas mixed in. She was disappointed when she only got five tiny slices of banana in it. When you can get a pound of bananas for $.50 at the store, paying the same amount for a few small pieces seems like a bit much. But that does not change the fact that it all tasted very good. The pudding was smooth and creamy and perfect for such a cold day. It seemed like a tiny space heater resting in my stomach, filling me with warmth and the courage to brave the winter cold again.
(4)
Denise N.

What is up with people being so impressed by liquid nitrogen? Didn't your chemisty teacher in high school dip some shit in liquid nitrogen and then break that bitch? A rose, a banana, squash balls perhaps? I'm just saying. I don't care at all about the liquid nitrogen, I wanted to know what the hell non-dairy/ dairy Guar was ( the little shakers that they use to season every batch of frozen wonderfulness) Anyway, so I ordered the Green Machine sorbet with gummy bears cause I don't jive with lactose. Places like this rarely impress me, but let me say that my sorbet was fantastic. If you're thinking about checking this spot out, but the pomp and circumstance is a turn off, do it for the ice cream, sorbet or hot pudding ( and yeah I still don't know what that is... not here to judge). the shit is delicious. Oh, and to the employee/ Beyonce stan: Please, don't ever dance like that to a slow ballad in a public space. It was weird.
(4)
Janeen A.

Yum! I tried icream and got the OMG (i think it was called that)...vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, cream cheese and graham cracker crust mixed in. It was delish. My husband got caramel ice cream with Heath bar bits mixed in. It was neat to watch the staff mixing the liquids in the Kitchenaid mixers with the pumped in liquid nitrogen, which resulted in a big haze. A unique ice cream experience.
(4)
Erica C.

Price was a little high for the amount of icecream you get it, but it was really good. It was worth it to me to be able to go out for icecream for the first time with my fiance who is allergic to dairy since they can use soy milk to make the icecream!!
(5)
cate r.

I SO badly want to love this place. After seeing it showcased on 190 North, I waited all winter to thaw out and give myself an excuse to head up North, deal with the parking and get me some yummy, made to order, ice cream. When took out 3 kids along for the experience after getting them pumped up with the website. It showed the cool computers where you put in all you ice cream info. Alas, we didn't get to use the computers for whatever reason we weren't told. Instead we got a surly, short haired girl who didn't seem to like the fact that I polluted the earth with my kids and their indecisive minds. When I made a comment about using the computer, she asked if I didn't want to deal with her. Awkward silence. I made sure to have my kids know exactly what they wanted before stepping up to the counter to make the process move quicker. They have a great selection of ice cream, yougurt and soy based products. Any flavor you could ask for was available and the add in's we numerous. It does take awhile for your creation to get made but it was a quiet night in there so it wasn't too cramped waiting. The ice cream was good, not great. I think it was very comparable to Cold Stone in taste, size, and price. I don't think I'll go back. It wasn't an awe aspiring experience. I would be just as happy at Dairy Queen a few blocks down, Cold Stone or Baskin Robins.
(2)
David T.

I was excited to see that this place is finally up and running since it had been teasing me for some time. It's a cool concept, and the actual product absolutely does not disappoint. I actually expected the ice cream to taste and feel a little icy, but it was creamy and the texture was perfect. The staff was extremely friendly and patient (there is an endless number of flavor/topping/mix-in combinations), and the place was very clean. I'll be back to try the hot pudding, yogurt, and sorbet.
(5)
Emily T.

Icream ( the word) makes me giggle. That was about all the smiling i did. So from what I gather about this place is that it's about the experience. The borrowed "i" concept, giving you the feeling that you create your own icecream in the I-lab. Well you don't. You ask them for yogurt or ice cream and flavor and toppings and the fun part for kids is the color. You can have Pink coffee icecream if you want. But the experience really does stop there. You wait in a line for a cashier to smile and ask for your order, you feel nothing but pressure to pick just the right flavors without pissing off the line behind you. The Icream lab techies or employees are all bunched up behind a clear plastic wall with 4 liquid nitrogen ice cream making machines working swiftly...........and they really don't look like they are having fun, the experience of me being able to see from start to finish is lost in their fury. AND it doesn't taste good, it tastes like it shouldn't be made that fast and you are possibly doing serious damage to your body. I was totally bummed.
(2)
J P.

The thing about I-cream is that you have to pick the right combos, if you pick a disgustng combo its not going to be good at i-cream or anywhere else! I used my groupon so that made my total a whopping $3. I got a medium sized vanilla and white chocolate mixed ice cream with nutella and strawberries, and since it was flash frozen it was so fun to watch as well as eat, the nutella didn't blend in but stayed in little globes it was delicious!!! And I colored it purple :) Yum!
(5)
Steve S.

Great experience. Friendly staff and great ice cream.
(4)
Michelle F.

ummmm....no. we waited about a half hour for our ice cream and i paid about $5 for a small. what i got was....mediocre at best. I had the burnt sugar ice cream with nutella and really...anything should be good with nutella. The flavor of the ice cream was very artificial and left a weird aftertaste. It also didn't have a creamy, ice cream texture, it was more icy. I shan't be returning.
(2)
Kristyn C.

The first bite was great.....but then things just started to taste like chemicals.
(1)
Lisa P.

I was not at all impressed by i cream. Whatever their technique may be, the results are not impressive. I was going for a flavorful dessert and did not fill my craving. I order yogurt and was warned that it was tangy. It wasn't the flavor (or lack thereof) that was the problem, but the texture. It was firm and difficult to eat. I added chocolate chips and graham cracker in but the chips were too frozen to chew and the graham cracker didn't add much flavor. I really wanted Cold Stone and was bummed by this unimpressive pretentious spot.
(1)
Gina G.

I didn't intend to write a review of this place, but good God, all the prior reviewers are apparently luddites with a strange devotion to Cold Stone Creamery. I just had to speak up and defend iCream. I will admit that this place does not have the best ice cream I've ever had, but it does have some things going for it. If all you're looking for is your basic ice cream with toppings (or "mix-ins" in the odious Cold Stone vernacular), then yes, I guess you can just go to Cold Stone or any number of places. But if you're interested in unique flavors, iCream is the place to go. I got grape, because I am on a neverending quest for the grape ice cream of my youth, purchased at Handel's ice cream in NE Ohio. iCream's grape wasn't exactly the same (no one will ever beat Handel's), but it was close enough to make me happy. I'm excited to go back and try other flavors, like pear, lemon, and pomegranate. The one thing I will say is that the texture is a bit off. It seemed like I occasionally got little globs of just cream. But it's barely noticeable, and I'm willing to put up with it to get the grape flavor I love. I thought the ice cream-making process was neat to witness, but it has apparently horrified many people here who see as too lab-like. I guess these people believe that someone is hand-churning the ice cream they buy at Cold Stone?
(4)
Jacob F.

I have some advice to the folks that panned this place because it didn't meet your expectations in terms of flavor. If you didn't like it, you should give it another shot and try one of their recommended flavors. It's pretty obvious that the ability to get ANY flavor combo you want can potentially be a minefield, but there should be some stuff that obviously doesn't go together. A month before I went to iCream, my parents (who were in town for the weekend) had gone and my mother foolishly got peach and peanut flavors mixed (I'd call it the Georgia special). Heeding her warning, I took a bit more conservative tack. I got a peanut butter and burnt sugar base with heath bars and reese's peanut butter cups. While the wait was long, I was with friends, so it wasn't a huge big deal. And since I'm kind of incredibly nerdy, the whole process was enjoyable, because watching them make people's orders is actually quite cool. It did come out a little soft, but it was really tasty. So the ice cream is solid and the concept is cool. Just come at off-peak hours.
(5)
Christine N.

I give this place one star for the show. Otherwise it was terrible! Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen is a fairly new technique for the common public, but chefs have been using this technique for years. It looks cool, but in the end, the ice cream is not the same caliber as normally churned ice cream. Plus it is supposed to be quick-but this is definately not true. I waited over 45 minutes for my treat! And, after all that waiting-it was almost inedible. I got the pear-egranate house creation with blackberries on top. It was frozen yogurt with pear and pomegranate flavorings. It tasted like cheap bubble gum and the texture was akin to silly putty. The berries on top would have been a nice touch-if they were ripe, and if there were more than 4 of them. In the end, I paid over 5 dollars for it. This place is a poor excuse for an ice cream parlor. Go in to see the show, and then go buy your ice cream somewhere else!
(1)
Miss O.

i want real creamy ice cream. like the novelty of it, just not the taste.
(2)
Diana M.

OBSESSED!! In the summer I probably went 1000 times. It is the perfect place to create your very own icey masterpiece. There are so many options it's almost tiring trying to think up what to have. The sorbets are so great too, made with Naked Juice. And they have amazing signature ice cream selections for those who hate making decisions. The concept was from the owner for a school project that she made come to life.. So cool! I always bring my friends and family there when they visit from home and everyone falls in love with it. The first time I went I thought something was breaking with all the smokey looking mist that comes out of the Kitchen Aid mixing bowls, but then realized that was how my ice cream was getting cold, and fell in love.. Go check this place out, if anything just for the novelty of it, it is truly an experience there. Choose your flavors and mix-ins wisely but I would stay away from the soy... not as creamy. But if your concoction is thought out right, you will absolutely fall in love too.
(5)
Nicole W.

I have a "weird thing" with ice cream. I crave it every day, but only treat myself to it 1-2 times per week, and any ice cream is yummy IMHO. That being said, I'm a fan a huge fan of iCream. The options of ice cream flavors, toppings, and mix-ins are seemingly endless. It's so fun to pick something unique that you cannot get anywhere else. After visiting iCream, I began to think how I'd love a career as an ice cream flavor maker-upper..... Anyways, we did wait about 15-20 minutes on a Thursday night, but it was very much worth it. If you pick a combination that won't be good or work out well, the associates behind the counter will let you know and offer better suggestions. It wasn't crazy expensive like I thought it would be, given the location and novelty. I think it came out to about $6-8 for me and my boyfriend. I can't wait to return to try more varieties.
(4)
andrea l.

Maybe I'm biased b/c i did such an awesome job of creating a flavor (cinnamon ice cream, graham cracker crust, and caramel topping try it) but this place was awesome! The employees were very nice and helpful. I agree the set up isn't ideal but it's such a fun idea and well executed!
(5)
Annie B.

I created a Yelp account to write this review. This place is hilarious. Not in a good way. Well, sort of in a good way. a) They really ought to have rethought the name. I mean ew. b) I guess it's supposed to be Apple-y, but really, all I could think of in this place was the TV room from Willy Wonka. Which is actually cool, although not, you know, that welcoming. c) I went on a warm Saturday evening with two friends. I'd heard good things, and, as it was my first trip, I went with something simple: organic ice cream in the burnt sugar flavor, having been told the flavor was good ("like creme brulee") by the girl (woman) behind the counter. The idea of blue-dyed ice cream did not appeal, so I went with no color, as did my friends. One friend ordered the light ice cream in hazelnut with chocolate chips, and the other ordered the frozen yogurt in burnt sugar with cookie dough. The wait wasn't long and the service was really friendly and helpful. Although there's not much you can do to "help" a product which is so terrible that it makes you laugh out loud. My iCream (see, gross) came out (sorry) first. It tasted like burnt plastic frosting, which had then been frozen. The texture, I guess, was fine, but who could tell when the ice cream was so sweet that I got that tickly feeling in my cheeks and jaw. I took another bite. I could not help making a face and laughing. I passed it to my friends. Same reaction. We decided to withhold final judgment, because if you order something called "burnt sugar ice cream," it seems sort of stupid to be surprised when it's absurdly sweet. I acknowledge this. The hazelnut ice cream, when it was ready, tasted no better. It was like the hazelnut syrup they use in coffee shops had been passed through a tin foil strainer and added to an even more plasticky-tasting ice cream. Inedible. Equally sweet. "Maybe the frozen yogurt is better," we said to the last friend. This friend is very polite and easy-to-please, unlike, arguably, the first two of us. She took a bite. "No," she said quietly. "It is not." It was not. I don't know if I can explain the offensive nature of this frozen yogurt, but for one thing, it had the texture--the EXACT texture--of the paste you use for collages, etc., when you are in kindergarten. I know this because I widely sampled the paste inventory of my kindergarten classroom. And the flavor was . . . worse. Awful. "Let's talk about this outside," said hazelnut friend, because we didn't want to be rude. We moved toward the exit. This next part I feel really bad about, and that's why iCream, despite selling, across the three samples I tried, the worst ice cream I have ever eaten, receives two stars: The girl who had sold us the ice cream had overheard us, although I really do think we were talking at a reasonably discreet level (although, uh, I guess not), and stopped us at the door. "I don't want you to leave unhappy," she said. "Please let us make you something else." She didn't say it in a sassy way at all, but really kindly, as though she just believed in the product and wanted us to enjoy it. We said we felt terrible that she had heard us, but that we would come back another time to try again. "No you won't," she said. "Please let us make you something else." She was still really nice, but sounded, after about 60 seconds, almost desperate. We promised to go back sometime and finally escaped. I would like to emphasize the helpful, fast, and enthusiastic service. I would also like to emphasize that I am the sort of person who will eat anything, especially if it's ice cream. ESPECIALLY if someone has offered to make me new, free ice cream. But I won't eat this. It's so bad that we couldn't pawn it off on some drunk guys who asked us for directions to a hookah bar (although, yeah, you might not trust that sort of judgment). I feel bad about writing this review because the girl at the counter was so earnest. But not so bad that I'm not going to write it. I do not recommend iCream based on the unsurpassed heinousness of the product. But I think of it fondly, because of the entertainment it has provided me. Every time today that I have thought back on that burnt sugar monstrosity, I get that tingly, horrible feeling of TOO SWEET, and I laugh. And when I think about the frozen yogurt, it makes me nostalgic. Justin King-Warren, I always had a crush on you in kindergarten. I never understood why you didn't like me. Only now do I realize that it was probably because my breath smelled like craft paste. Fair enough.
(2)
Nikki L.

So, finally tried iCream this past Sunday. I had heard about the liquid nitrogen concept and thought it sounded pretty kewl, and honestly watching them make your custom dessert is pretty kewl. However, the result kinda sucks. It is much ado about nothing. My friend got the "Va-tella" ice cream (one of few suggestions on the wall for a "formula" - Vanilla ice cream with Nutella mixed in). The taste was a solid "meh" and the texture was pretty gross - crumbly ice cream! I got vanilla fro-yo after being discouraged by the cashier to get my original choice of green tea with some chocolate chips mixed in. I liked the fro-yo because it was real yogurt with that real, sour yogurt taste but I went through so much to get it! Didn't seem worth it. Feedback for the store: They should definitely have some signage explaining the concept. Everyone in there was confused. They should also have some signage about where the line starts. Another point of confusion. Finally, they should have more suggestions for flavor "formulas" because it's just too overwhelming the first time you go there.
(2)
Made N.

i've been itching for a warm day when i was in the neighborhood to try this place out after reading about it when it opened. finally got the right combo yesterday. i was so drawn to it precisely because, as a vegan, i can no longer enjoy the richness of coldstone given that they have no vegan-base ice cream, so i thought this was my ticket. the set up in there is a bit odd in terms of traffic flow and they could be a bit clearer about what the heck you're supposed to do since you don't really SEE things, like at coldstone, where it's pretty self-explanatory. but we figured it out and i got a hazelnut soy-cream (pay extra for the soy...grrr) with graham cracker crumbs (and extra for the mix in...). when asked if i wanted color (no charge), was told it would be white unless i chose a color, so to make it look more normal i chose a carmel color. my partner, however, ordered a vanilla and chose pink. most color options are of the unnatural variety (like pepto bismal pink). the staff was a bit too friendly, like college students with no friends or something. guess they're maybe just really into this we make the ice cream as you order it deal. given all the "steam" that comes off the bowls as they're creating your creation, i really think they should be themed like a witches brew, making it in black cauldrons or something - given the white, antiseptic look of things in there, it just made it seem like a weird chemistry lab (like an easy bake oven experiment, only it made ice cream with a lot of drama). once all is said and done, my soycream was pretty good. not the best i've had and nothing i couldn't buy for the same price in quart size at whole foods, but not bad. as it melted, however, it melted back into a watery milk liquid, which was a bit weird. glad i got to try this place, but don't feel the need to go back.
(2)
Mary T.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for iCream! Is there a rule that create-your-own-flavor ice cream places must be small and narrow? Do they do it so you feel pressured to make a choice rather than standing there for hours staring at the vast menu of choices? After my last create-your-own-flavor fiasco I decided to play it safe going with a small mint, Oreo ice cream - a flavor combo I knew I liked. What's cool is you can make your ice cream/yogurt/sorbet/hot pudding(???) any color you want. How cool is that?! I thought about getting mine red or blue just to shake things up, but in the end I decided to be boring and get green. My small treat ran me $4, which wasn't bad since I thought the portion was pretty darn generous. After I placed my order I settled in to watch the show. When the liquid Nitrogen, courtesy of a long tube running from the ceiling, goes in the mixer transforms into an icy cauldron with a cloud-like fog pouring out. I felt like a little kid wanting to jump up and down clapping and screaming "again, again!" It didn't take long after fetching my treat to devour it. It was really good, the ice cream seemed really light and airy and it was the regular, full fat stuff! My safe flavor choice didn't fail me, maybe next time I'll study the menu online and come prepared with something a little more adventurous. My only complaint/critique is regarding the output of the treats. The process looks pretty involved and therefor is kind of slow, it doesn't take much to create a crowd of people waiting. Also, the pick up window is in the far front corner meaning you have to push through the crowd to get your ice cream and then back again to the door. I foresee this setup being a bit of a clusterfuck in the warm months when people flock to this place. Bottom line: Lots of choices; lots of tasty, yummy, delicious choices!
(4)
JJ T.

Amazing concept. Great ice cream!
(5)
Dan D.

This is a cool place. Neat idea. Original concept. Making ice cream using Liquid Nitrogen, choices of milk, types of dessert, and mix-ins. Come here for the novelty... not for the taste persay. It is the experience that is worth it. Once you order either icecream, pudding, sorbet, or frozo-yogo, its put into a blender, they add a syringe of your flavor(s), and liquid nitrogen blasts into the mixer. Bada-bing, Bada-boom, you have instant ice-cream in about a minute. Cool to bring friends from out of town. They will love it and will have a cool story to bring home too! My combo was actually pretty good. Raspberry and Lime icecream with Cookie Dough mixin. Yea... actually tasted pretty darn good as a combo.
(4)
Domi H.

The best froyo in town!! So original, love that they make the froyo to order, have so many choices and that they incorporate the toppings into the yogurt
(5)
Monica L.

Most awesome part is watching them use the liquid nitrogen! They have a variety of flavors and toppings
(4)
Kedar D.

This is a pretty cool, futuristic ice cream shop. It looks and feels very much like Stogo in New York City, and even has the same pod-style bar stools. However, unlike Stogo, and unlike any other ice cream shop I've been to, iCream doesn't have any tubs full of flavors to choose from. Instead, you choose what flavor(s) you want and the staff then makes the ice cream on the spot, with fancy machines (which you can watch through glass) and sophisticated computer touch-screens. It was like something out of Star Trek. They have vegan soy varieties of every flavor (except for white chocolate). I asked them to produce a mixture of chocolate and hazelnut which came out tasting pretty good, though not great (iCream is definitely not of the quality of Lula's or Stogo, both in NYC): the texture was a little bit icy, and the flavors didn't gel quite properly. This was especially true of my friend's combination of "burnt sugar" flavor and hazelnut, which had an overpowering after-taste of the hazelnut. That said, I like the concept of the place. Single scoops cost $4 (there's an extra charge for soy), and we waited at least 10 or 15 minutes for our order (it was sort of busy, but not packed by any means). Like most things veg-related in Chicago, iCream is a compromise: it still serves dairy ice cream and isn't 100% vegan. Similarly, the "upscale" (mostly) veg. place in Chicago (Green Zebra) is heavily lacto-ovo and even serves fish; and the flagship veg. restaurant, The Chicago Diner, is still happy to serve dairy and eggs. I guess I can't expect more out of a city built on slaughterhouses, but it always disappoints me that my hometown can't do anything properly when it comes to vegan dining.
(3)
Anita M.

Came here after Bikram yoga once as a reward for all the hard work that day and while I was aware it totally defeats the point of the workout, every bite was worth it! What a novel idea- creating your own ice cream/frozen yogurt/ sorbet and being able to watch it transform from liquid to solid form in minutes! The i cream "lab" is basically a bunch of kitchen aid type mixers but decked out - its hooked up to liquid nitrogen which helps freeze the ingredients and create ice cream at a ridiculously fast rate. As with any place that allows you to "create your own" flavors, sometimes it can be a hit or miss depending on what you mix together. I opted for what I considered "safe" - pomegranate flavored ice cream, while my friend choose peanut butter and something else. Both turned out really well- not too sweet which is something I appreciate.Can't wait to try other flavors next time!
(4)
Derrick T.

Liquid nitrogen? Making ice cream? Mix ins? This dream/goal of this place is ambitious... how was it? Let's see... Got here with three others about an hour before it closed and checked out the menu for the first time. Pick a size, flavor, and color for free. Mix ins are cost extra per mix in as you go. After much deliberation, we each chose a medium with a variety of mix ins, only to find that three out of the four of ours we would likely not get again. The one that was actually quite good was the hazelnut/burnt sugar ice cream that one of our friends picked out. The straight coffee was somewhat weak in flavor, the cider was average... and even though we requested colors, they came out odd looking (orange turned into brown, blue turned into green, etc.) While it's true you make your own flavors, paying six dollars for ice cream that you don't really enjoy that much just doesn't cut it for me. If you're going to claim to be able to color the ice cream, make sure you have a formula to perfect that color. (I expected bright orange ice cream, not light brown, much like my fiancee expected bright blue ice cream, not green). Also, the idea of using commercial food extracts to create the flavors is well... not quite tasty. While these flavoroids work well in dishes, using them as the basis for the flavor to be highlighted (like ice cream) leaves you realizing just how fake the flavor is. Excellent idea, but requiring refinement... may I suggest you incorporate the food in a fresh form directly some how (use actual roasted coffee with milk, or cider, not just a few drop of flavoring) so that the ice cream's flavors aren't generically commercial. Verdict: Would I go back? Not for the price and for the ingredients used... while the concept of using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream is neat, we really don't get to see much of anything except the "smoke" from the production... and be disappointed with the taste/flavor there after.
(2)
Joseph M.

We went there twice. Ever time we were meet with nothing but pure amazingness. The varieties are infinite and the taste is divine. Fresh ice cream is something every one should experience. The one star lost because their crew is composed of one maybe two if lucky. They need more staff. But people that work there are really nice they are just way over worked.
(4)
Richie D.

Any place that sells ice cream and frozen yogurt and remains unique from the rest of its competition gets 5 stars from me! Picture a chemistry lab specializing in dessert. My kinda place! Create your own frozen yogurt, ice cream, sorbet, or hot pudding with a huge variety of flavors (about 30), add-ins (candy and more) and even colors (yes, perfect for kids with creative minds) to choose from. To take advantage of the Autumn, I had the pumpkin and burnt sugar frozen yogurt, mmm mmm. Oh and per their website, they also do field trips. Heck, I wish my elementary school knew that years and years ago! As for the name...I'm going to behave myself and won't go there. Hopefully a northside location opens up soon.
(5)
Ria A.

Tons of dessert options to choose from. Hot pudding, cold pudding, ice cream, yogurt. Tons of toppings. Tons of flavors. A variety of milk options to choose from, including soy. It takes a while to make but they are customizing your dessert. A family friend had her son's birthday party here and the kids loved it. The liquid nitrogen machine was definitely a hit. Creative, tasty, and different.
(4)
Wendy E.

Really great idea-needs to franchised or set up around the country at select locations-great concept and fun to watch....yummy to boot!
(5)
Nancy H.

This place looks like it could be expensive, but it's not. $3.50 for a customized small ice cream / froyo w/o any toppings isn't bad. I think adding toppings would take away from enjoying the flavor of the ice cream creation, unless you're trying to recreate something like key lime pie (in which case, the pie crust toppings would be necessary!). So I had the honey + cinnamon w/o toppings, and it was divine! Next time, I want to concentrate on just one flavor. They fixed their big machine, so now it really only takes 5 minutes to make. And the wait isn't bad, especially since you get to witness the dry ice smoking from the mixers! We were kind of overwhelmed at first, but basically here's what you need to know: 1) Choose from regular ice cream, reduced fat ice cream, low-fat froyo, non-fat froyo, soy, or sorbet 2) Choose 2 unique flavors to mix together + food dye (optional) 3) Toppings are optional and cost extra They can also make hot pudding and Italian cream soda!
(4)
Christine L.

on a late thursday afternoon, the service was quick. however, don't expect quick service all the time. the store has a sign warning the customers that during the busy weekend hours, there may be a 10-15 minute wait. as a icream newbie, i took a while to finally decide on my masterpiece creation-orange and strawberry froyo w/ mango mix-in. if you are ever lacking inspiration, take a look along the walls to find pre-made combinations that look delicious! watching the creation of my froyo was a very entertaining experience. perfect for those easily amused. when i finally got to try my froyo, i was not impressed. i could not taste the strawberry flavor and there was very little mango added. i think i will leave my froyo cravings to be satisfied by the pros next time (pinkberry and berry moon). visually appealing, but not spectacularly pleasing to the palate. i'm glad i finally got to check this place out!
(2)
Albert H.

Now that's a name. Or at least a name I'd hesitate to mention among certain crowds of friends for fear of a ribbing. We stopped by one afternoon during our week in Chicago - two interlopers from the SF Bay Area ready for a faceoff of two very different LN2 ice cream shops. You see, there's another place in San Francisco that does the same thing in a very different way. Chicago being all avant-garde and molecular gastronomy oriented yet midwest has iCream with zillions of flavors and colors mixed on the spot in kitchenaid mixers. San Francisco has Smitten, with custom designed mixers and something like four all-natural all-organic flavors with no added coloring and a limited number of handmade waffle cones. The shop was pretty empty when we got there, walking from the nearest "L" station through a neighborhood that seemed very much like home. Staff was friendly and gave us plenty of time to make our choices from the vast menu. Something like two flavors and a color come standard per ice cream. You can choose a healthy or less healthy ice cream base, or frozen yogurt, which we feared to try. We hemmed and hawed and thought and eventually got a pinkish cherry/almond thing and a yellow curry/peanut butter concoction. The process was a joy to behold, fog rising from the mixing bowls. The engineer in me enjoyed looking at all the liquid nitrogen piping and valves, and admired the ingenuity of the way they had integrated it with off-the-shelf mixers. ( Smitten has their own custom designed machines, which result in a better consistency, but which are no doubt more prone to breaking down. ) The ice cream was decent. Not great by any means, but good. The flavors in the cherry almond were way too mild, though the curry ice cream was more clearly flavored. Which of course brings up the issue: what is the utility, other than the spectacle? Certainly, the ice cream is no better than you could get elsewhere - sometimes worse. The answer is - you can make almost anything you want here - it might not come out the best, but if you are into mixing strange concoctions, this is an amazing place.
(4)
k e.

Very fun science experiment. The ice cream was very good, but not my favorite ever. It's a fun place to take someone and I'd love to come back here with kids.
(3)
Michael S.

Orange colored ice cream!!! (or whatever your favorite color is), Enough said! Well I guess one could go on to talk about how they don't use real ingredients for the flavors, but instead use commercial extracts.. Not too big of a deal as the mix-ins are quite real.. It would be nice to use the actual ingredients though.. Then there is the really cool concept with the liquid nitrogen! It added some flair to the ice cream making process that easily entertained me.. If you want premium quality ice cream go elsewhere, but for the novelty this place can't be beat!!
(4)
Gayatri D.

I'm not a dessert person. I'd pick savory over sweet any day! But iCream made me re-think that stand! It's an innovative idea and a great concept. The ability to pick your flavors and toppings and watch your dessert as it's made is pretty cool. I've had chocolate, strawberry, mango, lime sorbet & ice cream and it's hard to pick favorites because they're all so good!!! The only problem is that the lines are wayyyyy toooo long on weekends and evenings. They move fast enough, but I wish they'd hire a few more people.
(4)
Sneha P.

So fun! Yummy ice cream, and really cool. You can add your own milk and flavors in there. I enjoy going there every once in a while.
(5)
Sara L.

My friend always raves and constantly talking about this place..kinda makes me thinks she secretly working as them ..haha. Finally tried the place out a week or two ago. Boy oh boy she was right! I love how you can create your own ice cream and customize it! I got the cake flavor with cookie dough..yumm..if I could I probably would've bought it in a gallon size. Would I come back -you betcha!!
(4)
Eric M.

I was really nervous that the use of chemicals and liquid nitrogen was going to make this dessert taste more like a plastic toy, but it was excellent! I love the insane amount of combinations you can make. Just in step one you have yogurt, soy ice cream, light ice cream, regular ice cream, even pudding! I went with a light ice cream with a chocolate & caramel flavoring then added in some peanut butter and bananas as toppings. It was creamy and delicious. I'm looking to coming back here and trying so many different combinations. I will agree with many others, it does take some time to create the desserts to do plan on a wait, especially if there's a line.
(4)
Tim F.

Liked the nonfat frozen yogurt flavored with burnt sugar, cherry, and blueberries at this place. Expensive? A bit, but they are using freaking liquid nitrogen in a custom mixer rig to make ice cream on the spot.
(4)
Leda G.

What a disappointment! I came here with friends who had raved about it. I found Icream so underwhelming! The ice cream was really bland and not creamy at all. It tasted like ice chips. It is also very expensive. There is way better ice cream sold in the freezer section at whole foods!
(1)
Trina A.

I ended up getting a low-fat pumpkin ice cream with nutella and grahm crackers. The process was amazing, I was in awe. I took so many damn pics; watching the KitchenAid Mixer spin and spin with smoke all around it!, and of the crazy tools and such. I even took vids of Cora making my ice cream...I swear, I was jumping around, I was really excited to try this mysterious concoction.... ....sadly, the consistency kind of reminded me of parafin wax. It was smooth, and it lacked texture. Taste-wise, it was pretty yummy, fresh pumpkin flavor, and the infusion of choco and grahms added a lil texture, and a whole lotta yummy-ness. Overall, I was happy with the experience, the ice cream on the other hand, not so much. But I do not know of any other place where you can get nitrogen made ice cream, so kudos for that!
(3)
Andrew H.

18 bucks for a PB OMG and a strawberry shortcake made my wallet go OMG. Great concept, terrible product.
(2)
Meridith E.

For grown-up kiddies and actual kiddies alike. Went here for the 1st time with a friend and had a great time. Being able to customize the flavors and mix-ins is great, especially when you have such a great selection to choose from!!! My only problem was figuring out exactly what I wanted. You can choose traditional ice cream or yogurt/sorbet. The science of making your cold concoction is amazing to watch as the gurus behind the counter mix and match to your tastebuds' desires. Seeing the liquid nitrogen billow from the Kitchen Aid was AWESOME. Being that I hated science because I thought it didn't matter in everyday life, it was like a kick in the face to see how it was used to make my frozen yogurt. (I can just hear my HS chemistry teacher laughing at me.) Only downfall is that it is a bit pricy, and the wait kind of sucks. It can take up to 10 mins to get your ice cream on a slow day, and even longer in the summer. And there is limited seating. HOWEVER, it's a great place for everyone, which is nice for a whole family or even a kids' b-day party.
(3)
Joanne Y.

I scream for iiiiiiiiiiiiicream! You can customize your flavors as you wish and make your own flavored ice cream on the spot! (Technically, they still make it for you, though.) Although not really tasty for ice cream, this place is pretty cool. The concept of making ice cream on the spot is just something you have to try once while in Chicago. You choose your flavors, and then wham-bam you see the mixer going and the nitrogen gas spraying into the mixer. Viola! Like a childhood wish come true--instant ice cream on the spot!
(3)
Ashley S.

I love this place. I will drive out of my way to stop here. It is a bit pricey for the amount, but anything that I can add Nutella and bananas to, I am down with. I tell my friends about this place whenever they are in Wicker Park.
(4)
Chelsey L.

When was the last time you walked into an ice cream parlor that makes awesome colored- mind blowing flavor combinations- and all made to order in front of you...not to mention using liquid nitrogen! My point exactly...any place that makes soy ice cream with a swirl of nutella and colored neon pink wins in my book. Over priced? yes, but totally worth the experience...I reccomend going early in the afternoon on a weekday, it usually takes 5-7 mins on a slow day and during summer the place is jam packed! They play great music, and last time I was in there they were watching star wars. This place is legit!
(5)
Erin Z.

Jonesin' for a treat after grabbing dinner in Wicker Park, some friends recommended we check this place out. I must say, without their guidance to hold my hand through the menu and the process I would have been an anxiety mess at the register upon ordering. There are multiple flavors and mix-ins... sometimes I think too many choices just creates confusion and mind screws you. I think I changed my mind in what I wanted a good 3 - 4 times during the solid 10 - 15 minute line. As an added bonus, this place will make custom soy flavored ice cream... a rare gem indeed. For customizability and the amount of work that goes into that small dish of ice cream, I somewhat understand the high prices but I don't know if I would make a habit of frequenting this spot.
(3)
Amanda S.

I drive up to Wicker Park from my 'hood- Bridgeport, maybe 2 times a week for frozen yogurt. Last night, upon finding my favorite spot (Forever Yogurt) closed, I desperately searched for a substitute place. My criteria was only that it was frozen yogurt and open late (it was already 9:45!) iCream was open until 10, and when I walked in, the man behind the counter was wonderfully nice, and very helpful as he explained how everything works. After making my decision, I watched him create my magically frozen treat. I gave this place two stars for the actual product. While all the flavors to choose from sounded good, and watching the magic happen was fun... I have to say, I was craving yogurt, and my yogurt just tasted like really bland ice cream. My friend got a banana flavored yogurt, and when I asked to try a bite, I could hardly even swallow... the banana tasted like chemicals to me...not like real banana. To me, it's just not worth the $20+ that was spent. I would much rather get my money's worth buying Breyer's in a carton, or hitting up Cold Stone Creamery... my frozen yogurt cravings are a serious business, and need to be treated with only the best of the best yogurt. Also, because each yogurt is created individually, it takes a long time for each creation to be made. I now understand the lines I have seen outside of this place in the summer....
(2)
Ed A.

This ice cream shop while innovative in its approach offers ice cream that is pretty good but just does not live up to the hype it has created for itself. A wider range of flavors then some ice cream shops in the city but the texture and flavor discernible only by foodies, one of which I am not. The store is in a location quite surprising for the way it markets itself. Located in Wicker Park, home of the hipster, the shop looks so clean, bright, white, modern and aesthetically devoid of character that I'm sure the patrons in the area thought the store to be some kind of public restroom or bathroom showroom. The ice cream at the shop is pretty good but it is advisable to walk around the corner and get the good old-fashioned kind of ice cream at cold Stone creamery. PS The store is easily accessible for wheelchairs.
(3)
Gina F.

I thought this was really neat & I realy enjoyed my ice cream! My fiance, who is lactose intolerant & got soy ice cream, declared it the best ice cream he's ever had. It does take a little time, since each order is custom made & frozen with liquid nitrogen when you order it. They literally take whole milk or soy milk, your mix ins, & pumps of flavors, mix & freeze it on the spot. It's a little exepensive, but given the process I understand. The one thing I would change is nutritional info! You're touting something as light...lighter than what? Obviously it would be impossible to consider the various options, but just for the basic stuff and sizes: ice cream S, M, L, yogurt S, M, L, light S, M, L, soy S, M, L, etc.
(4)
Christina M.

iCream is located in the hipster part of town referred to as Wicker Park. What I like about iCream is that I can finally meet up with friends and eat ice cream on a hot summer day - yay! All of the ice cream is custom made from scratch. You have the ability to choose your base (i.e. soy milk), flavor (i.e. chocolate, hazelnut, etc), and a mix in (there are several vegan mix ins). They put your ingredients in a mixer (in a cleaned container - so there is no chance of cross contamination) and you can watch through the window as your ice cream undergoes their 'rapid freezing' process. It's pretty neat and would be a great place to bring kids if you have them. They also have various sorbets and puddings that can all be made vegan.
(3)
Elina S.

This place was pretty cool and def. the most unique ice cream we've ever had. We had the white chocolate ice cream flavor- a little on the sweet side but def. good :) If we weren't full from all the all u can eat sushi we had a few blocks down, we would have added some toppings such as the amazing and prolly my fave of all time, nutella. If I'm in the area I will def. be back, just because it's sooo different, but a little on the pricey side for a small cup of ice cream.
(4)
Kathy J.

Loved this place. Was able to make my own flavor choices...pomegranate/cherry ice cream with blackberries. Friend had pomegranate/cream soda with blackberries. Ice cream was extremely smooth. Very neat to see your ice cream made fresh, just for you. I didn't think is was any more expensive than Cold Stone or Oberwise. Would like to go back if we are ever in Chicago again.
(4)
Cristina T.

This place is like stepping into one big science experiment. I was lucky enough to go with a friend who had already been there before, otherwise I would have been incredibly intimidated by the menu at iCream. Between the flavors, the mix-ins and the toppings, its almost impossible to choose what you want! First you pick whether you want ice cream, fro-yo, a milkshake or a sorbet. Then you pick one of their dozens of flavors and some mix-ins. There are some suggestions of flavors on the wall, but I would just figure out what you want to try the best and go for it. I opted for the fro-yo that was vanilla flavored. I added in nutella and reese's peanut butter cups and dyed it blue. Be warned: it does take about 10 minutes for your dessert to be prepared since its made to order. Literally it goes from liquid to solid in their state of the art Kitchen Aid mixers. This is the most interactive dessert place I have ever been to. The workers are extremely helpful and I cannot see how your end product could be anything less than delicious. I can't wait to try out more combinations next time I go!
(4)
T M.

Interesting concept... HORRIBLE execution. When I walked in, there were two people in line ahead of me. After 20 minutes of waiting, one of the clowns working behind the counter took my order. After another 20 minutes, my order was finally complete. Had I not paid $20 for the two ice creams I ordered, I would have walked out. In retrospect, I wish I would. The product I received tasted nothing like ice cream. My girlfriend actually likened it to dish soap mixed with milk. If you're in the neighborhood, I recommend talking a walk down Milwaukee to Oberweis. At least then you'll get ice cream that taste like it should and you wont waste your night waiting around for sub-par service / ice cream. - Interesting Concept - Horrible Service - Poor Product
(1)
David G.

Mist rises from the contraptions like a mad scientist's lair as they churn away. You're all excited to try it. It's like your creation. It's like you told Dr. Frankenstein what body parts to use in his abomination. This place is pretty innovative, probably the closest thing you can get to DIY ice cream besides making it at home. You choose the flavor, mix-in and color if that's your poison. I guess if the mixture is nasty, it's your fault. Takes accountability away from the nice guy behind the counter. Luckly the mixture I created was pretty good at my first visit. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to the hype. It was just a good cup of ice cream, but nothing about it made me want to proclaim it the best ice cream in the land. The facility itself looks sterilized like a surgery theater or a Mac store. My biggest issue was the space. The place is cramped and I can't imagine being there when the place is busy. There would virtually be nowhere to sit. There's no outdoor seating. I guess this place is a victim of it's own location. The bustling Wicker Park sidewalk doesn't provide a very good environment for chilling outside and eating ice cream. Unless you want to get stampeded by hipsters.
(3)
Stella C.

I love frozen yogurt and anywhere I go, I always get the same thing:vanilla yogurt, bananas, strawberries, pineapples and topped with nuts. What I loved about iCream's version of my favorite froyo concoction was that all the ingredients were perfectly blended so that every bite from start to finish had some fruit or nuts and I was never let with just a plain bite of vanilla froyo. The fruit tastes ripe and sweet and the nuts were not your rinky dinky small chopped nuts, they were bigger than the norm and I loved them. There was only one person ahead of us in line at 8:30pm on Friday but soon after we got our order, it seems another wave hit. They do move pretty quickly though. I'd definitely come back again but I loved my concoction so much I doubt I'd be brave enough to try something more exciting, like root beer or sprite flavored ice cream! The price is also comparable to those bigger chain creameries. It's alright.
(5)
Jean Z.

Love love love it. Try the key lime
(5)
Michael R.

iCream is an awesome concept but a one stop shop for me. I won't be returning unless I am in the area and need some ice cream. We went on a slow day and it took almost 30 minutes from the time we walked in until we walked out. The concept is cool but the end result is nothing special. It is more the experience than anything and how many time do you need to live that? There is nothing like it though so everyone should go at least once and check it out.
(5)
Matt L.

My mom told me she and my father went to iCream the other night and she got some froyo and it was good. She lied. About it being good, not about going to iCream. I think... In honor of muthas day, I picked up three large yogurts for the apres-main sweet course of the meal, known in some circles as dessert. This, however, was not what you would call "dessert," unless you eat dessert in hell. I'm talking about the kind of food that tastes like it should result in a net calorie loss by consuming it. Yep, I think I'll stick to celery for that. It's cheaper. The flavors I ordered were: white chocolate with graham cracker pie crust, raspberry with raspberries in it, and vanilla. Each was was worse than the next, and by the time we got to the vanilla, which was fast since the first two sucked, my face was completely red with embarrassment. My countenance quickly changed its hue though when my sister tried the vanilla and had a seizure induced by its nastiness. Okay, that didn't happen, but I was afraid it might, and she isn't even epileptic. The vanilla was an embarrassment to human consumption. Truly rank. The ice cream isn't bad here though if you don't mind waiting a long time. iCream's got that going for it.
(2)
Chrissy C.

*DO NOT go for the classic ice cream flavors here (i.e., strawberry, etc). but, i do take heavy stock on an ice cream joint that cant pull off the classics. hence the 1* dock. howeverrrrrrrrrrrr, the mixed flavors are pretty amazing. the nitro is really fun to watch as well!
(4)
Jackie H.

I have to echo the seniment of a lot of previous reviews--very cool concept, tasty treats, but it's hella expensive for ice cream. Likes: Endless possibilites for flavor combos! They even have popular combos displayed--you can easily take a half-hour trying to figure out what to order but having creative suggestions helps! The frozen yogurt option (which I had) if you're feeling the need to be a little healthier. The staff seemed very cheery and helpful. Dislikes: The price. Spent about $7 for a medium serving to share with my husband. I thought the place could've been bigger--it was kinda cramped when we went there. I wish it was easier to see the magic happen--meaning the making of the concoctions with the liquid nitrogen. I definitely liked the place, but with it being so expensive, I unfortunately probably wouldn't go again.
(3)
D P.

I had a feeling that this was going to be some awesome ice cream but figured I would be disappointed. I was totally utterly and completely not. I got a medium, soy-based, ice cream with banana and burnt sugar flavorings, pink color (!) and shredded coconut mixed in. It is so deliciously smooth and yummy and tasted just like bubblegum (my goal). My mom got almond-burnt sugar hot pudding with graham cracker and pistachio which she also loved. Totally worth the wait time! Wish we had a place like this in NYC.
(5)
Cynthia C.

First time ever trying rice pudding... lol I know I'm a little late. But icream made it really good! We got the almond and cinnamon flavor since my friend said rice pudding should always have cinnamon. their ice cream process is really unique too! It was cool watching them make individual ice creams by liquid nitrogen :) This is true food science!
(4)
Chris S.

I was very very skeptical at first. I thought this was really gimmicky and hokey and hesitant to try it, despite my kid sister's over excitement about this place. We gave this place a spin and I genuinely liked it. The final results were tasty and it brought me back a second time. Advice: the first few times you go, stick with flavors you know go well together. For example: Chocolate and strawberry, chocolate and peanut butter, vanilla and raspberry, vanilla and mint, etc. Keep it simple for fair evaluation's sake. Beyond that, start experimenting. OH... also, their frozen yogurt is made from real yogurt, so it's a little tart, rather than sweet like you'd find at one of those mall yogurt places. Maybe compliment it with a sweet flavor?
(4)
nikki s.

So yummy on a sunshiney day! I'm not typically a fan of mashed up ice cream and toppings (ie cold stone creamery), but this stuff is the bizness!I don't know what it is that makes their ice cream taste so much better. The liquid nitrogen maybe? Crack? All I know is that I'll stand in line darn near a half hour to get it. I don't get the whole icream name, nor do I understand why there's a flatscreen with a playlist in the waiting area. It's a tiny little place, loud and the process and topping options can be a little overwhelming. There are so many to choose from, after ten minutes of attempting to match multiple toppings, I stopped trying to make it a project and just ordered one of the suggestions they have pictured on the wall. My favorite is the vanilla icecream with raspberries and graham cracker. Is it pricey? I'll say. For two smalls I paid a little over $10! But I'll pay for that which is off the beaten path.
(5)
Kent S.

This place is mind boggling. The selection has evolved a lot since I first poked my head through here. My last iCream experiment involved, curry, cinnamon, cayenne and dark cherries. Such a flavor explosion to be had. The option of adding some sort of color is something the I always opt out of. More recently, they had a spot on the Food Network which has caused a spike in business that is great for them and less so for me, just because my usual early afternoon visit is no longer predictably peaceful. Heh. When possible, I strongly recommend you try the following ice cream combo: pumpkin, cream cheese, and crushed graham cracker. Pumpkin cheesecake ice cream! Add peanut butter to it if you just want some extra tongue smacking good times. Mmm... I want ice cream now.
(5)
Angelica E.

Wow this place is really cool! I really liked that you see how your ice cream is being made plus the lil smoke affect is kinda cool. Kinda on the pricy side but its a really cool treat to have on a nice summer day in Wicker Park.
(4)
Liz O.

Aside from the long lines, I LOVE iCream! My inner child is always excited to watch the "creation" of each dish. In terms of flavor, it is definitely a unique product! Something that you cannot get anywhere else! One recommendation to new costumers: Ask the employees for suggestions & help. You'll be MUCH happier.
(4)
Mimi S.

Today was my first time visiting iCream and it was just awesome. It is a small establishment but there is seating for about 10 or so people inside and 3-4 people outside. There is also a couple of places to lock up your bike outside. I ordered the mango sorbet and added pomegranate and gummi bears (sorry, I was feeling my inner child today...I don't think that came out right)...Anywho, let me tell you, this liquid nitrogen thing is just awesome and when they began mixing my concoction, the entire place smelled like you could literally lick the air! This was certainly a tasty treat! I went alone and cannot wait to take my family next weekend. And when I do, I will remember to say, "I saw you on Yelp" for the discount. One last thing, I paid about $6.50 for my creation, size: Medium...
(5)
Laura F.

Meh. Cool concept but not great flavor or quality. Had the "Florida Guy" special which is white chocolate and cream soda extract with nutella mixed in. I was good but the extract just makes it taste really artificial to me since I'm used to natural ingredients. But very mesmerizing to see the liquid nitrogen smoke as the ice cream is made in kitchen aid mixers. Great concept and fun for novelty but I will probably not return.
(3)
Kori E.

I've been wanting to check this place out for a while, and we went there last night on our way home from dinner. I like that you can choose between ice cream and frozen yogurt and then you can choose regular, light, soy, etc. I've never seen that anywhere and I thought that was great. After you choose your base you then choose your flavor! We went for the traditional mint and added oreos as our topping. Its our standard ice cream of choice! It was very light and tasty. My boyfriend said he didn't taste the mint, but I certainly did. I would definitely go here over Fat Bagel on North Ave. It definitely is a fun place to come, especially if you are feeling experimental, you can make any ice cream/yogurt concoction you could ever thing of...even curry!
(4)
Roxy A.

so this weekend it was snowing, but oddly enough i ended up @ i cream!!! i went w/ my family & it was our first time trying i cream, we actually thought it was closed for the winter at first b/c it was empty inside, but i guess we were the only crazy people getting ice cream while it's snowing haha. the employee working there was very helpful & explained the menu along with how the flavors and toppings go. basically you start off with your choice of dessert (cold desserts: ice cream, fro-yo, sorbet; hot desserts: hot pudding, rice pudding) then you choose the flavors (reccomends up to 2 flavors) & pick a color just for fun..it doesn't change the flavor; finally you choose the toppings (candies, fruits, cookies, nuts, etc.) theguy reccomended to order something hot since it was freezing..so i ordered a small rice pudding w/ the "burnt sugar" flavor, purple color w/ strawberry toppings. it was a really fun looking dessert & pretty tasty..reminded me of rice to riches in NYC. it was nice warm treat & definitely something different! my sister ordered a burnt sugar chocolate pudding & you also have the option of getting it w/ soy milk which is great for those who are lactose intolerant! =P i can see how this place can get very crowded over the summer/busy rush b/c it is a bit of a process to concoct the dessert in the "i lab." i might be a little bias since there was no wait, but i think this place is worth trying if you've never been here. also the employee did say that if we didn't like what we ordered then he would make something else for us..but it wasn't necessary since we liked what we ordered!
(4)
Jackie C.

A pretty gimmicky place, but I wanted to try it once since I saw it on the Food Network. The place was exactly as I expected: choose your base (ice cream/yogurt), flavor and add ons. It was fun watching them custom make our orders but for the price and size of the order, it's not really worth it when comparing it to other chains or even independent establishments. I think out of everything, the thing that probably turned me off the most, was the wait for the ice cream. On slow days it can take around 10-15 minutes and on busy days, I think it took about 20-30 minutes. The wait to place the order and wait for the ice cream to be frozen created one hell of a wait and a large crowd in the waiting area. Since the place is so unique, I would recommend trying this place at least once if you're in the chicago area, but try to go weekdays when it tends to be less busy.. less you enjoy 30 minute waits for your frozen confection.
(3)
Kelli P.

A really fun concept! My God kids saw this place on the Food Network and convinced me to take them here on their spring break! They (6 and 12) LOVED this place - loved the liquid nitro aspect, love that you could make your ice cream any color and add any toppings. I liked it, but didn't think it was the best tasting ice cream I've ever had. I still remain a fan however, because I like just how customizable you can make everything! It's a place I would go to just to bring kids or friends who have never been there just to experience the concept - would never go alone, as there are way better tasting ice cream options in the Chi!
(4)
Irene O.

I don't have much a a sweet tooth, but this is such an orignal experience. I take anyone visiting me to iCream. You'll always walk away with a smile... * For those who want to cut the sweetness, use soy milk! Have fun!
(5)
Candace S.

Soy ice cream? Yes please! Since I don't eat dairy it's been a long, long time since I have had ice cream & was stoked to hear that somewhere in Chicago had vegan ice cream. All of the options were beyond overwhelming. After a good 10 minutes of indecision I decided to be adventurous & go w/ the soy curry coconut ice cream w/ granola on top... dyed green. Crazy? yes I know. My boyfriend tried to recreate a key lime pie & had lime ice cream w/ cream cheese & graham crackers. He said my weird curry concoction was even better than his! As someone who is more of a savory than sweet person I was in heaven. Go to Icream. Get adventurous. Try curry. Do it I dare you.
(5)
Mabrie B.

I can't believe all the poor reviews! SO glad I didn't read Yelp first or I may have passed over going to this delicious icream lab!!!! GIVE IT A CHANCE! Since you are creating your own flavor it's good to be careful and not try a weird combo. I had ice cream with chocolate, banana and peanut butter....It was outstanding!!!! Smooth and not too sweet. It did take a while but in their defense they remade my friends cause it just didn't "look right" according to one of the owners. I can't wait to go back and try something else! DELISH!
(5)
Allan C.

The possibilities are endless!!!!!! No longer do you have to just hope some place has your favorite flavor combination, you can just freaking do it right there! The plethora of flavors and mix-ins had me contemplating quite a bit until the wife proclaimed, "hazelnut pear ice cream with strawberries, mango, and gnutella mixed in." Now seriously, where else are you gonna get something like that. The service was excellent as well. We had a dog with us, so I ordered while the wife was waiting outside and I forgot to order strawberries! No worries, the person a couple people after me in line didn't mind my butting in to change my order and changing my order wasn't a big deal at all for the guy at the cash register. I was thoroughly impressed. I, myself, got burnt sugar blueberry ice cream with graham cracker and Oreos. It was pretty freaking amazing. I'd be interested if they experimented with new flavor/mix-ins... like a flavor and mix-in of the month?
(4)
Nicolas H.

I'm a big fan of ice cream, but I hate to say that this place doesn't do it justice. Oberweis is ice cream. Ben and Jerrys is ice cream. iCream is something created in a fancy mixing bowl combined with liquid nitrogin and injections of "flavors" and colors to dazzle the easily impressionable minds that walk through the door. I ordered the small "ice cream" with chocolate and cherry "flavors" with chocolate chips mixed in. Unfortunately this concoction did not taste like chocolate/cherry ice cream at all, I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. But it was not creamy at all. The only "cream" I experienced unfortunately developed in my stomach and came out the bottom end of my body shortly after eating said frozen experiment...
(2)
Hallie L.

Hmm... I really wanted to like this place, and to some degree, I did, but it simply didn't blow me away. It's a very cool concept - like taking ColdStone Creamery to the extreme (where I used to work, by the way). I had the Peargranate something something frozen yogurt, which was delicious and unique (not something you'd be able to find in any other ice cream parlour, for sure), but I felt like there was something left to be desired, especially considering the price that I paid for it. It's got a fun interior, and it's cool watching the servers make your ice cream with the stand mixers and liquid nitrogen. The servers are very friendly and helpful, especially if you're a newbie. Thankfully, the place wasn't very full when we arrived, although a little bit of a line ended up forming behind us. All in all, this place is kitschy and fun, but not - in my opinion - substantial enough to qualify the priciness. Good ice cream, but just not GREAT. Kids would probably love this place though, and I can see this as a great place to bring a group of kids for a birthday or something.
(3)
Jess P.

If you want ice cream, froyo or sorbet DO NOT GO HERE. seriously...I was intrigued by the idea, but do not make the same mistake I did.... I order a raspberry/banana ice cream with cookie dough...TERRIBLE. Took one bite....no raspberry all it tasted like was creamy fake banana ---like a hint of banana runt flavor....disgusting. I walk up tell the girl that i ordered RASPBERRY banana.....her reply "so you want me to make you another one?" UM YES! I would like what I ordered. .... 5 min later someone else comes out and calls me over..."you know that our raspberry flavoring is clear right?" ummm YES, it doesn't matter what color it is there was not any in there...."ok" another 5 mins later...hand me virtually the same thing. IF they put raspberry in there, it tastes like nothing...it tasted like nasty banana flavoring and that's it. GROSS. WASTE OF MONEY. even the cream was terrible!! I had a nutritional biochem class in high school....we made ice cream...and it was WAY better than the crap at icream. seriously...how does this place stay open? do people just like to watch the liquid nitrogen? The two people I was with also thought theirs was terrible (peach froyo & green tea/pomogranite "ice cream" with blueberries)...seriously.. it was hot outside, i saw this place and got really excited and it is REALLY difficult to f up ice cream or yogurt...but icream takes the cake. i will NEVER be returning, worst idea ever...I mean how can anyone even argue, how does this place have stars! if you think this is good you should make your own ice cream---it will taste 84357438974x better. This place should seriously close...just because you have a lot of artificial flavors, doesn't mean you can make tasty ice cream. GROSS. there is a place that uses real fruit on North Ave. nearby...GO THERE!
(1)
Kyle B.

This place is probably the trendiest ice cream shop you will ever visit. First of all, there is more than an ample amount of variety with flavors and mixers and what nots for every taste bud. It can even be, at times, extremely overwhelming. But a great mix of flavors can always be discovered. I opted to go with the "That Guy From Florida" which is ice cream, cream soda & white chocolate flavors with Nutella mixed in. It was incredibly mouth-gasmic. Since the ice cream starts as cream and is then flash frozen with liquid nitrogen, you truly are getting the freshest ice cream. However, this freshness comes at a cost. You are a looking at a 15 minute wait (if you're lucky) and a whole crowd of people waiting for their tasty treats. It's like a time-bomb for sweaty impatient people to wait in a room about the size of walk-in closet for a cup of sugar. I was thoroughly impressed with the ice cream (it's crazy delicious), but the logistics could use some help. Go here on a week night because the weekends are crazy. The ice cream is worth a taste!
(3)
Jessica E.

Liquid nitrogen ice cream is a pretty cool concept. It was interesting to watch them make it, so you almost don't notice the twenty minutes it takes for your order. You choose flavors, colors, and toppings. The end result is dippin' dots-esque in after taste, but not as cool in texture. It is really rich and creamy, but mine didn't taste like strawberries how I wanted it to. It was purple though! Fascinating.
(3)
Jenny A.

Oy. Is this place ever a gimick. I have to say, making ice cream with liquid nitrogen is pretty neat the first time, but each subsequent time it gets more annoying to wait 15 minutes in a crowded tiny doorway for your scoop. They are really stingy with the add-ins too. For crying out loud, I'm paying upwards of $7 for this stuff and I get THREE raspberries? For real? That's just highway robbery. And then to top it all off, after the price, the wait and the low add-ins quantity, its still just kinda plain and blah. Even the smallest size I had trouble finishing, since my mouth just got bored. I wasn't impressed, in fact of all the 5 times I've been there, I've been disappointed. But, they get one star for the decent variety of mix-ins, even if they don't put enough in the ice cream.
(1)
Dan M.

This place is damn fantastically delicious. It's so good it has ruined my ability to write awesome sentences that aren't not awesome what. Anyway, this place is a must for anyone that likes to devour ice cream. It is literally the most delicious ice cream/frozen yogurt I've ever had the pleasure of putting in my maw. I can't express enough how great it is. Perfect texture and the ingredients are mixed to just the right taste. SERIOUSLY JUST GO. You can't go wrong, even if it is expensive. I cream over iCream. (See what I did there? Shut up.)
(5)
Ryan S.

This place sucks. I waited for my yogurt for almost 15 minutes! I understand they custom make what you order but who wants to wait any amount of time for ice cream?! They goofed my order two different ways cuz the cashier was clowning around and eating toppings while ringing me up. It is also way over priced. I went in thinking i would get one small of one kind and if i wanted more, come back and get a second order but I was robbed from ordering just the small! The menu is confusing and its loud and disorganized in there. I will not be going back to iCream, regardless of their "customized tasty treats." No thanks.
(1)
angela p.

Feh. My friends and I went here one afternoon. They got something, I didn't, but I tried a bite of each of theirs. It was so good I decided to come back later that night for dessert. Got the same exact thing as one of my friends had got (soy, almond, Nutella). It was flavorless- an absolute chore to eat. So I took it back and asked to make me another, which they gladly did. The second one, however, was barely an improvement. For the price they charge you for a small, just go ahead and get a pint of Ben and Jerry's.
(2)
Michelle M.

yes, it's gimmicky, but it's still really fun, getting to customize every single aspect of your ice cream dessert, from the base (yogurt, soy ice cream, organic ice cream, etc.) to the flavors (they have a HUGE selection), to the the toppings (the usual, with a few more inventive choices) and even the color (i picked pink!). i ordered banana-flavored pink frozen yogurt with peanut butter and chocolate chips. there was a longish line when i went, but it moved quickly. my only complaint is that they forgot to put in my chocolate chips. it was still yummy, though. my banana ice cream had a fresh banana flavor, not overly sweet or candy-like.
(4)
Saba A.

Wicker Park is my favorite---I like it better than Lake, Rogers, and Lincoln Park. This is also my favorite ice cream stop. Tons of variety--quick service--I love the white decor and furniture.
(5)
Caitlin G.

Truthfully, I had mostly weened myself off of ice cream. The sweet, cold creaminess of a good scoop had lost the allure it once held for me. But then, on a blustery February day, I went to iCream. Welcome back, Sweet Tooth. We were only two customers in a small handful that had wandered in off Milwaukee that winter day, but the employees were super attentive and helpful as we stood with our mouths gaping open at the menu. One guy even grabbed one of the flavor extracts--Burnt Sugar--so I could get a sense of it since he said most people either love it or hate it. I loved it and ordered ice cream with Burnt Sugar and Honey, mixed with crumbled graham crackers. DELICIOUS. I think next time I might even order caramel sauce for topping. My friend ordered a green tea and honey mix, which was delightfully light and tasted like a green tea smoothee thickened and sweetened up. I will say that I expected the consistency of the ice cream to be noticeably different from regular ice cream. I didn't really notice that, but the joys of getting to choose my own flavors was enough to really satisfy me. My only other slightly negative comment would be that I am so not a fan of fluorescent lighting and don't like feeling like I'm in a laboratory when I'm devouring a treat that reminds me of my childhood. The base options are extensive outside of regular ice cream, even with low-fat and soy ice creams, sorbets and frozen yogurts. If ice cream on a February day isn't your thing like it is apparently mine, try ordering the hot pudding or other warm options. Another customer had ordered hot pudding with banana and Nutella and was loving it. I'll see if I can handle the summer crowds here, but with little to no wait, this place is so absolutely worth it. Definitely check it out.
(5)
Willie B.

Went here today and had my mind blown. It's pretty much like a coldstone in that you design your own mix ins and select a flavor. From there it gets weird in a good way. They mix your ice cream in kitchen-aid mixers with giant nitrogen tubes filling the place with this crazy mist. I love key lime pie so I went went with lime flavored fro-yo with graham cracker crust and cream cheese. It was amazing. My GF came and she actually got really weird and selected the curry and coconut flavored soy ice creams (they have vegan options) and mixed in green coloring and granola. I had a few bites and it was surprisingly delicious.
(4)
Cycette H.

I love to make strange ice cream creations like Chocolate with Curry and Mangoes at ICream. And then it's super FUN and INTERESTING to watch them make it with there chemically rigged blenders. I don't go very often, however, because you pay a pretty penny for what you get. During the winter they serve warm pudding- YUMMY too. I recommend going, just once, for the experience.
(5)
Kristi T.

Anytime I get to do a custom ice cream creation with liquid nitrogen...what's not to love? Always showing a fun movie up front & if there's a line, it's worth the wait. I suggest a Thai inspired creation of Cayenne/ginger based ice cream with peanut mix-in. Yum. Oh, it's also great for kids or anyone who is a kid or mad scientist at heart.
(5)
Roxanne B.

There's no way of predicting how busy/crowded this place will be at any given time, but a long line is probably a good thing because you'll need the time to chose between the endless combinations. Love that there's something for everyone-organic, yogurt, vegan, etc. I wish I could go everyday to try out all of the options (burnt sugar flavor?!). My biggest issue is the price-my medium ice cream (which, truthfully, was way more than I needed) ended up costing me $8, as they charge per mix-in, and the price per mix-in increases with ice-cream size. If you absolutely love ice-cream though like me, this place is definitely worth it!
(4)
Nancy P.

This is probably the only that you can get the freshest ice cream. The ice cream is made in front of you! They have so many different flavors you can chose from, even curry! I think that's weird but the worker said it's good. If only I was able to sample it... I chose almond and green tea as my flavors with almond mix in. SO YUM! My friend chose green tea and peach which was good as well. Another friend chose cinnamon and chocolate which was okay (I'm not a fan of chocolate ice cream). Another chose pear and green tea which was really good. I think the sweetest of the ice cream will depend on how much syrup the worker puts in. We went on a Sunday night and got our ice cream within 15 mins. At least 3 or 4 groups of 6+ people came in after us who had to wait over 30 mins for their ice cream because there was only 1 guy working. I felt bad for him but he kept calm and was still happy serving people (which is really rare and nice). There's a sign that warns you that wait times for ice cream during the weekends are longer than usual. Overall, I really like this place and would bring my friends when they visit me in Chicago. :)
(4)
Dave F.

On a day in Wicker Park which had my girlfriend and I entering a lot of places just to warm up, we initially skipped iCream. Yeah, the wind chill is bringing the temperature to -3, but we're going to get ice cream. No, thank you. Then, on the way back, Diana said something that made my mind change very quickly. "Warm pudding?" Wha? Yes, please. This place was awesome. The man working the counter explained the process to us (which wasn't totally clear from the sign, so it's a good thing they have a planned spiel for newcomers). You pick between ice cream, sorbet or pudding, then a flavor or two, then mix-ins, then a color (yeah, I didn't get the point of the color, but it's kind of cool that you can do it if you want). We ordered and he went to work on the fairly elaborate process of making the pudding. I got an Irish cream pudding, and Diana got a chocolate and banana flavored pudding. Both of them were fantastic, but Diana's was actually a mistake. She wanted a chocolate pudding with bananas mixed in, but got a half banana, half chocolate flavored pudding instead. No stars off for that, though, because that probably had more to do with how I worded the order than anything else, and anyway, it cost less as a result. Maybe it was for the best that she didn't get the mix-in. The next day we came back so Diana's mom could try it, and that time she ordered hazelnut pudding with bananas mixed in. She was disappointed when she only got five tiny slices of banana in it. When you can get a pound of bananas for $.50 at the store, paying the same amount for a few small pieces seems like a bit much. But that does not change the fact that it all tasted very good. The pudding was smooth and creamy and perfect for such a cold day. It seemed like a tiny space heater resting in my stomach, filling me with warmth and the courage to brave the winter cold again.
(4)
Denise N.

What is up with people being so impressed by liquid nitrogen? Didn't your chemisty teacher in high school dip some shit in liquid nitrogen and then break that bitch? A rose, a banana, squash balls perhaps? I'm just saying. I don't care at all about the liquid nitrogen, I wanted to know what the hell non-dairy/ dairy Guar was ( the little shakers that they use to season every batch of frozen wonderfulness) Anyway, so I ordered the Green Machine sorbet with gummy bears cause I don't jive with lactose. Places like this rarely impress me, but let me say that my sorbet was fantastic. If you're thinking about checking this spot out, but the pomp and circumstance is a turn off, do it for the ice cream, sorbet or hot pudding ( and yeah I still don't know what that is... not here to judge). the shit is delicious. Oh, and to the employee/ Beyonce stan: Please, don't ever dance like that to a slow ballad in a public space. It was weird.
(4)
Janeen A.

Yum! I tried icream and got the OMG (i think it was called that)...vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, cream cheese and graham cracker crust mixed in. It was delish. My husband got caramel ice cream with Heath bar bits mixed in. It was neat to watch the staff mixing the liquids in the Kitchenaid mixers with the pumped in liquid nitrogen, which resulted in a big haze. A unique ice cream experience.
(4)
Erica C.

Price was a little high for the amount of icecream you get it, but it was really good. It was worth it to me to be able to go out for icecream for the first time with my fiance who is allergic to dairy since they can use soy milk to make the icecream!!
(5)
cate r.

I SO badly want to love this place. After seeing it showcased on 190 North, I waited all winter to thaw out and give myself an excuse to head up North, deal with the parking and get me some yummy, made to order, ice cream. When took out 3 kids along for the experience after getting them pumped up with the website. It showed the cool computers where you put in all you ice cream info. Alas, we didn't get to use the computers for whatever reason we weren't told. Instead we got a surly, short haired girl who didn't seem to like the fact that I polluted the earth with my kids and their indecisive minds. When I made a comment about using the computer, she asked if I didn't want to deal with her. Awkward silence. I made sure to have my kids know exactly what they wanted before stepping up to the counter to make the process move quicker. They have a great selection of ice cream, yougurt and soy based products. Any flavor you could ask for was available and the add in's we numerous. It does take awhile for your creation to get made but it was a quiet night in there so it wasn't too cramped waiting. The ice cream was good, not great. I think it was very comparable to Cold Stone in taste, size, and price. I don't think I'll go back. It wasn't an awe aspiring experience. I would be just as happy at Dairy Queen a few blocks down, Cold Stone or Baskin Robins.
(2)
David T.

I was excited to see that this place is finally up and running since it had been teasing me for some time. It's a cool concept, and the actual product absolutely does not disappoint. I actually expected the ice cream to taste and feel a little icy, but it was creamy and the texture was perfect. The staff was extremely friendly and patient (there is an endless number of flavor/topping/mix-in combinations), and the place was very clean. I'll be back to try the hot pudding, yogurt, and sorbet.
(5)
Emily T.

Icream ( the word) makes me giggle. That was about all the smiling i did. So from what I gather about this place is that it's about the experience. The borrowed "i" concept, giving you the feeling that you create your own icecream in the I-lab. Well you don't. You ask them for yogurt or ice cream and flavor and toppings and the fun part for kids is the color. You can have Pink coffee icecream if you want. But the experience really does stop there. You wait in a line for a cashier to smile and ask for your order, you feel nothing but pressure to pick just the right flavors without pissing off the line behind you. The Icream lab techies or employees are all bunched up behind a clear plastic wall with 4 liquid nitrogen ice cream making machines working swiftly...........and they really don't look like they are having fun, the experience of me being able to see from start to finish is lost in their fury. AND it doesn't taste good, it tastes like it shouldn't be made that fast and you are possibly doing serious damage to your body. I was totally bummed.
(2)
J P.

The thing about I-cream is that you have to pick the right combos, if you pick a disgustng combo its not going to be good at i-cream or anywhere else! I used my groupon so that made my total a whopping $3. I got a medium sized vanilla and white chocolate mixed ice cream with nutella and strawberries, and since it was flash frozen it was so fun to watch as well as eat, the nutella didn't blend in but stayed in little globes it was delicious!!! And I colored it purple :) Yum!
(5)
Steve S.

Great experience. Friendly staff and great ice cream.
(4)
Michelle F.

ummmm....no. we waited about a half hour for our ice cream and i paid about $5 for a small. what i got was....mediocre at best. I had the burnt sugar ice cream with nutella and really...anything should be good with nutella. The flavor of the ice cream was very artificial and left a weird aftertaste. It also didn't have a creamy, ice cream texture, it was more icy. I shan't be returning.
(2)
Kristyn C.

The first bite was great.....but then things just started to taste like chemicals.
(1)
Lisa P.

I was not at all impressed by i cream. Whatever their technique may be, the results are not impressive. I was going for a flavorful dessert and did not fill my craving. I order yogurt and was warned that it was tangy. It wasn't the flavor (or lack thereof) that was the problem, but the texture. It was firm and difficult to eat. I added chocolate chips and graham cracker in but the chips were too frozen to chew and the graham cracker didn't add much flavor. I really wanted Cold Stone and was bummed by this unimpressive pretentious spot.
(1)
Gina G.

I didn't intend to write a review of this place, but good God, all the prior reviewers are apparently luddites with a strange devotion to Cold Stone Creamery. I just had to speak up and defend iCream. I will admit that this place does not have the best ice cream I've ever had, but it does have some things going for it. If all you're looking for is your basic ice cream with toppings (or "mix-ins" in the odious Cold Stone vernacular), then yes, I guess you can just go to Cold Stone or any number of places. But if you're interested in unique flavors, iCream is the place to go. I got grape, because I am on a neverending quest for the grape ice cream of my youth, purchased at Handel's ice cream in NE Ohio. iCream's grape wasn't exactly the same (no one will ever beat Handel's), but it was close enough to make me happy. I'm excited to go back and try other flavors, like pear, lemon, and pomegranate. The one thing I will say is that the texture is a bit off. It seemed like I occasionally got little globs of just cream. But it's barely noticeable, and I'm willing to put up with it to get the grape flavor I love. I thought the ice cream-making process was neat to witness, but it has apparently horrified many people here who see as too lab-like. I guess these people believe that someone is hand-churning the ice cream they buy at Cold Stone?
(4)
Jacob F.

I have some advice to the folks that panned this place because it didn't meet your expectations in terms of flavor. If you didn't like it, you should give it another shot and try one of their recommended flavors. It's pretty obvious that the ability to get ANY flavor combo you want can potentially be a minefield, but there should be some stuff that obviously doesn't go together. A month before I went to iCream, my parents (who were in town for the weekend) had gone and my mother foolishly got peach and peanut flavors mixed (I'd call it the Georgia special). Heeding her warning, I took a bit more conservative tack. I got a peanut butter and burnt sugar base with heath bars and reese's peanut butter cups. While the wait was long, I was with friends, so it wasn't a huge big deal. And since I'm kind of incredibly nerdy, the whole process was enjoyable, because watching them make people's orders is actually quite cool. It did come out a little soft, but it was really tasty. So the ice cream is solid and the concept is cool. Just come at off-peak hours.
(5)
Christine N.

I give this place one star for the show. Otherwise it was terrible! Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen is a fairly new technique for the common public, but chefs have been using this technique for years. It looks cool, but in the end, the ice cream is not the same caliber as normally churned ice cream. Plus it is supposed to be quick-but this is definately not true. I waited over 45 minutes for my treat! And, after all that waiting-it was almost inedible. I got the pear-egranate house creation with blackberries on top. It was frozen yogurt with pear and pomegranate flavorings. It tasted like cheap bubble gum and the texture was akin to silly putty. The berries on top would have been a nice touch-if they were ripe, and if there were more than 4 of them. In the end, I paid over 5 dollars for it. This place is a poor excuse for an ice cream parlor. Go in to see the show, and then go buy your ice cream somewhere else!
(1)
Miss O.

i want real creamy ice cream. like the novelty of it, just not the taste.
(2)
Diana M.

OBSESSED!! In the summer I probably went 1000 times. It is the perfect place to create your very own icey masterpiece. There are so many options it's almost tiring trying to think up what to have. The sorbets are so great too, made with Naked Juice. And they have amazing signature ice cream selections for those who hate making decisions. The concept was from the owner for a school project that she made come to life.. So cool! I always bring my friends and family there when they visit from home and everyone falls in love with it. The first time I went I thought something was breaking with all the smokey looking mist that comes out of the Kitchen Aid mixing bowls, but then realized that was how my ice cream was getting cold, and fell in love.. Go check this place out, if anything just for the novelty of it, it is truly an experience there. Choose your flavors and mix-ins wisely but I would stay away from the soy... not as creamy. But if your concoction is thought out right, you will absolutely fall in love too.
(5)
Nicole W.

I have a "weird thing" with ice cream. I crave it every day, but only treat myself to it 1-2 times per week, and any ice cream is yummy IMHO. That being said, I'm a fan a huge fan of iCream. The options of ice cream flavors, toppings, and mix-ins are seemingly endless. It's so fun to pick something unique that you cannot get anywhere else. After visiting iCream, I began to think how I'd love a career as an ice cream flavor maker-upper..... Anyways, we did wait about 15-20 minutes on a Thursday night, but it was very much worth it. If you pick a combination that won't be good or work out well, the associates behind the counter will let you know and offer better suggestions. It wasn't crazy expensive like I thought it would be, given the location and novelty. I think it came out to about $6-8 for me and my boyfriend. I can't wait to return to try more varieties.
(4)
andrea l.

Maybe I'm biased b/c i did such an awesome job of creating a flavor (cinnamon ice cream, graham cracker crust, and caramel topping try it) but this place was awesome! The employees were very nice and helpful. I agree the set up isn't ideal but it's such a fun idea and well executed!
(5)
Annie B.

I created a Yelp account to write this review. This place is hilarious. Not in a good way. Well, sort of in a good way. a) They really ought to have rethought the name. I mean ew. b) I guess it's supposed to be Apple-y, but really, all I could think of in this place was the TV room from Willy Wonka. Which is actually cool, although not, you know, that welcoming. c) I went on a warm Saturday evening with two friends. I'd heard good things, and, as it was my first trip, I went with something simple: organic ice cream in the burnt sugar flavor, having been told the flavor was good ("like creme brulee") by the girl (woman) behind the counter. The idea of blue-dyed ice cream did not appeal, so I went with no color, as did my friends. One friend ordered the light ice cream in hazelnut with chocolate chips, and the other ordered the frozen yogurt in burnt sugar with cookie dough. The wait wasn't long and the service was really friendly and helpful. Although there's not much you can do to "help" a product which is so terrible that it makes you laugh out loud. My iCream (see, gross) came out (sorry) first. It tasted like burnt plastic frosting, which had then been frozen. The texture, I guess, was fine, but who could tell when the ice cream was so sweet that I got that tickly feeling in my cheeks and jaw. I took another bite. I could not help making a face and laughing. I passed it to my friends. Same reaction. We decided to withhold final judgment, because if you order something called "burnt sugar ice cream," it seems sort of stupid to be surprised when it's absurdly sweet. I acknowledge this. The hazelnut ice cream, when it was ready, tasted no better. It was like the hazelnut syrup they use in coffee shops had been passed through a tin foil strainer and added to an even more plasticky-tasting ice cream. Inedible. Equally sweet. "Maybe the frozen yogurt is better," we said to the last friend. This friend is very polite and easy-to-please, unlike, arguably, the first two of us. She took a bite. "No," she said quietly. "It is not." It was not. I don't know if I can explain the offensive nature of this frozen yogurt, but for one thing, it had the texture--the EXACT texture--of the paste you use for collages, etc., when you are in kindergarten. I know this because I widely sampled the paste inventory of my kindergarten classroom. And the flavor was . . . worse. Awful. "Let's talk about this outside," said hazelnut friend, because we didn't want to be rude. We moved toward the exit. This next part I feel really bad about, and that's why iCream, despite selling, across the three samples I tried, the worst ice cream I have ever eaten, receives two stars: The girl who had sold us the ice cream had overheard us, although I really do think we were talking at a reasonably discreet level (although, uh, I guess not), and stopped us at the door. "I don't want you to leave unhappy," she said. "Please let us make you something else." She didn't say it in a sassy way at all, but really kindly, as though she just believed in the product and wanted us to enjoy it. We said we felt terrible that she had heard us, but that we would come back another time to try again. "No you won't," she said. "Please let us make you something else." She was still really nice, but sounded, after about 60 seconds, almost desperate. We promised to go back sometime and finally escaped. I would like to emphasize the helpful, fast, and enthusiastic service. I would also like to emphasize that I am the sort of person who will eat anything, especially if it's ice cream. ESPECIALLY if someone has offered to make me new, free ice cream. But I won't eat this. It's so bad that we couldn't pawn it off on some drunk guys who asked us for directions to a hookah bar (although, yeah, you might not trust that sort of judgment). I feel bad about writing this review because the girl at the counter was so earnest. But not so bad that I'm not going to write it. I do not recommend iCream based on the unsurpassed heinousness of the product. But I think of it fondly, because of the entertainment it has provided me. Every time today that I have thought back on that burnt sugar monstrosity, I get that tingly, horrible feeling of TOO SWEET, and I laugh. And when I think about the frozen yogurt, it makes me nostalgic. Justin King-Warren, I always had a crush on you in kindergarten. I never understood why you didn't like me. Only now do I realize that it was probably because my breath smelled like craft paste. Fair enough.
(2)
Nikki L.

So, finally tried iCream this past Sunday. I had heard about the liquid nitrogen concept and thought it sounded pretty kewl, and honestly watching them make your custom dessert is pretty kewl. However, the result kinda sucks. It is much ado about nothing. My friend got the "Va-tella" ice cream (one of few suggestions on the wall for a "formula" - Vanilla ice cream with Nutella mixed in). The taste was a solid "meh" and the texture was pretty gross - crumbly ice cream! I got vanilla fro-yo after being discouraged by the cashier to get my original choice of green tea with some chocolate chips mixed in. I liked the fro-yo because it was real yogurt with that real, sour yogurt taste but I went through so much to get it! Didn't seem worth it. Feedback for the store: They should definitely have some signage explaining the concept. Everyone in there was confused. They should also have some signage about where the line starts. Another point of confusion. Finally, they should have more suggestions for flavor "formulas" because it's just too overwhelming the first time you go there.
(2)
Made N.

i've been itching for a warm day when i was in the neighborhood to try this place out after reading about it when it opened. finally got the right combo yesterday. i was so drawn to it precisely because, as a vegan, i can no longer enjoy the richness of coldstone given that they have no vegan-base ice cream, so i thought this was my ticket. the set up in there is a bit odd in terms of traffic flow and they could be a bit clearer about what the heck you're supposed to do since you don't really SEE things, like at coldstone, where it's pretty self-explanatory. but we figured it out and i got a hazelnut soy-cream (pay extra for the soy...grrr) with graham cracker crumbs (and extra for the mix in...). when asked if i wanted color (no charge), was told it would be white unless i chose a color, so to make it look more normal i chose a carmel color. my partner, however, ordered a vanilla and chose pink. most color options are of the unnatural variety (like pepto bismal pink). the staff was a bit too friendly, like college students with no friends or something. guess they're maybe just really into this we make the ice cream as you order it deal. given all the "steam" that comes off the bowls as they're creating your creation, i really think they should be themed like a witches brew, making it in black cauldrons or something - given the white, antiseptic look of things in there, it just made it seem like a weird chemistry lab (like an easy bake oven experiment, only it made ice cream with a lot of drama). once all is said and done, my soycream was pretty good. not the best i've had and nothing i couldn't buy for the same price in quart size at whole foods, but not bad. as it melted, however, it melted back into a watery milk liquid, which was a bit weird. glad i got to try this place, but don't feel the need to go back.
(2)
alicia g.

LOL at the ice cream snobs yelping. This place gets 5 stars for being able to provide me the best ice cream combination: chocolate, nutella, oreos & strawberry. I love the whole notion of using liquid nitrogen and fancy machines to compact the ice cream as well, cooler than some boring person using a dirty spoon to scoop ice cream on a cone. I consider myself an avid fan of ice cream and this place definitely hits the spot. I even place it up with the likes of Pinkberry, and that place just sells froyo.
(5)
andrew c.

some of you that gave this place one or two stars are trippin!!! this is easily the best ice cream i've had...in a loooong time. order this, very simple: white chocolate, nutella, and raspberries. (maybe add a touch of cream soda flavor) then make sure they BLEND them all TOGETHER, and use real ice cream. the end result will satisfy you. TRUST. (yeah, lines suck. but i never hit places like this at peak hours anyway, so it doesnt bother me that they're popular.)
(4)
greg r.

The mad scientist of icream produced a major abortion. Cool to watch, terrible to taste. Not even close to the likes of Pinkberry or any other true yogurt or for that matter any store bought ice cream.
(1)
tracy r.

Yeah - this is all hype. I got the yogurt with burnt sugar and cookie dough and had to go back and have them "fix it" because it was disgusting. If you like flat top gril and the 13.7% chance that you'll think a ton about what you're eating and possibly come up with a combination that isn't disgusting then go for it. Otherwise...stick to Berry Chill/Red Mango/myriad of fantastic ice cream shops this city already has to offer.
(1)
heather d.

hmmm. i dont know, overwhelming is an understatement. there really should be a suggestion board or something. the girl was trying to give me flavor suggestions that really sounded gross so i went with something simple - burnt sugar and graham cracker in frozen yogurt. it was not good at all and took about 10 minutes to make. I cannot imagine if there was a line as i would have been there forever. maybe i am more of a traditionalist and would rather spend my $4 on a peanut butter parfait at dairy queen.....
(2)
Y K.

My boyfriend and I were really excited to try this place out. We'd heard all kinds of great things. So I wish that I could actually say that this review was about the ice cream, unfortunately, we weren't even able to try it. I called ahead around 8:30 on a Sunday to see how late they were open. The gentleman that answered said 11pm. Perfect I thought, that would give us enough time to still get there. I got to the door at 10:15pm and they were mopping up the floors but the door was still open. Go in, and the young lady behind the counter informs us that they're closed. I mentioned that I called earlier to check and she said they'd already counted out the cash register. The hours listed even said 11pm. I've worked in retail for 20 years and having the register counted out doesn't mean you turn customers away. It really seemed like they were all cleaned up for the night and too lazy to get their equipment dirty again. If the sign on your door says 11pm, I really believe you should honor that. I realize that it probably involves a good deal of clean up for what they do. However, this IS what you do and it's part of the job. With 3 employees there, you'd think they'd have plenty of time to clean a mixer before 11pm. Disappointed with the terrible service.
(1)
Meredith S.

Was enjoying a great day in Lincoln Park when a friend suggested we go for ice cream, but not in that neighborhood because i cream was awesome and an experience. So we trecked up to North Ave and took the bus. I really enjoyed it. I kept it pretty simple with ice cream and since the owner was there and working behind the counter, let her offer a suggestion, instead of trying to come up with something on my own. Some people might complain that it takes too long to make, but be real, they are making it completely from scratch and lots of people have no clue what they want and there are not a lot of examples. That is something that would be nice to see more of , kind of like coldstone, they give lots of examples of concoctions, instead of just 3.
(4)
Janie H.

I got the "Va-Tella" (vanilla ice cream with Nutella) during the busy Wicker Park fest yesterday. Not a single complaint! The line was long but once I put my order in it was pretty quick from there, maybe only a 5-7 minute wait. I got a small scoop in a paper cup and I think the price was about $4, which is worth it for more of the experience. I would recommend this place to people who maybe have visitors in from out of town since this is a new concept.
(4)
Jessica S.

Ice cream = yummy! Yogurt = disgusting (and I like Pinkberry, Starfruit, etc.)
(3)
Richie a.

Really fun place to go to. The liquid nitrogen, make it right in front of you effect is really cool. I also have always liked the actual end product as well
(4)
Christina C.

Overpriced due to the sort-of-cool idea of making your own ice cream with liquid nitrogen. The place is cramped and dirty, honestly looks like an out of date ice cream place that should've upgraded or renovated their place a long time ago. I ordered a green tea raspberry mix and I didn't enjoy the flavor or the texture. It was melting already as I received it and the flavors tasted kind of fake. Avoid, and head to other and better dessert places in the neighborhood.
(2)
T T.

Been coming here for quite some time now. Very interesting concept on how they make the ice cream right before your eyes. Not your standard look down in a freezer to pick what kind you want! The menu is unlimited- from soy base to every mix in you can think of. One of my staples!
(5)
Carina A.

This review is LONG overdue, but you know what they say--better late than never! I was looking through some old pictures I took for my school project, and I remembered what a fantastic time I had here. The project was for a class entitled "Discover Chicago: Experiencing Art," and the assignment was to find a 'hidden gem.' This was definitely accomplished. Not only was I able to take pictures of the employees having fun and working hard, but I was also able to interview one of the associates to ask about the process of the work they do...and of course, I got to partake in the eating of a delicious dessert! I'm from Southern California, so hot pudding has never even been mentioned. I came here during my first month in Chicago, and I can honestly say that it left a lasting impression. The warmth of the employees' hearts was as warm as their pudding! And equally as sweet. A big thank you to everyone! Thanks for starting my experience in Chicago off right. Thank you for an A on my project. Thank you for a happy tummy...Most of all, thank you for a great memory! I can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Laura N.

Liquid Nitrogen ice cream? What!? YES. It's real. Since I was in the neighborhood, which is rare, I wanted to hit up all the spots I bookmarked on Yelp. This was one of them -- I was pretty excited to finally try it! iCream itself was smaller than I expected -- a counter with a narrow aisle, a couple tables in the back, and a small waiting area in front with a television playing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (which was kind of appropriate). The menu works like this: pick (1): ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, shake, or hot pudding; (2): dessert base of regular, light, organic, soy (VEGAN!), regular or non-fat yogurt; (3): pick one or two flavors and fruit or candy mix-ins from the toppings selection. There were quite a lot of options, but I wanted to stick with something simple that I knew I'd like. I had a cherry-flavored ice cream with gummy bears. My husband had a chocolate ice cream with Reese's Pieces. Our total was $13 -- my jaw dropped. All I had was a small, but my husband had a large -- and I guess they're not cheap. This definitely isn't the place to go for a $1 ice cream cone. We waited ten minutes while our ice cream was being made. Upon watching the ice cream transformation, my husband remarked, "I feel like I'm in a science experiment." I was inclined to agree a little bit. The silver hoses coming down from the wall (some covered in frost) connected to the giant machines that oozed with liquid nitrogen smoke (dry ice?) was pretty neat. And seeing that it made a yummy dessert in the bowl was even better. So the ice cream? It was good -- I have no complaints, but it wasn't spectacular. It was just ice cream. Made with liquid nitrogen. Although that's pretty cool, that's all they had going for them here. Other than the way it's made, it's just another small, over-priced ice cream shop in the neighborhood. Since I'm rarely in the area, I doubt I'll be back unless a friend of mine wants to try it out. But hey, at least I tried it! Sweet.
(3)
Sofia J.

I struggle with the amount of stars to give iCream. My first experience (within months of opening) was fantastic. Last weekend was awful. How does it take these incompetent people 30 minutes to make ice cream?!?! There are 4 guys behind the counter and only 2 are actually working. 4 machines but only 1 is used at a time. What kind of process is this?! I wouldn't be surprised if they were high, one guy was walking back and forth from the kitchen, the one taking our order didn't comprehend it the first time and re-asked each of the ingredients. They blamed the delay on it being busy, which is absurd because there were only about 5 people ahead of us in line. Btw, green tea and blueberry frozen yogurt with raspberries mixed in is a great combination.
(3)
Brian F.

Ended up coming here with some friends last night that seemed like big fans. We walked out, treats in hand after waiting over 30 minutes. 2/3 of us threw out what we got within a single taste. I had a pomegranate blueberry sorbet that somehow tasted bitter and was void of any sweetness. Also, there was a line of 4 people patiently waiting behind us that were told after 15 minutes the store was closed and they would not be helped. Poor product + poor service = poor rating.
(1)
Marti M.

2 guys working with only 1 machine turned on. Took 30 minutes to get our ice cream (2). My son's was SOUR, I gave it to the employee and asked for either a different one or a refund. After another10 minutes of waiting, we left and lost the 6 bucks. During our time in the "shop", we watched at least 20 people enter, wait, and leave. One of the 2 employees actually left his partner alone for about 10 minutes!! The worst part, however, was how filthy this place is. Even the chairs are dirty!! One redeeming factor: the 2 guys were pleasant.
(1)
D P.

yeah... no. Slushy milk instead of something even close to resembling ice cream and awful artificial flavors... mine (toasted marshmallow/pistachio) tasted like hand lotion and my friend's (pomegranate/mango) tasted like NutraSweet and soap... within 3 bites we tossed it in the bin and headed to Stanley's for a much tastier and cheaper dessert. Never again.
(1)
Ron Ron J.

Damn, what a let down... Way overpriced, non helpful staff, and the place was DIRTY.... Dirty dishes everywhere and we were 2 of the 3 customers in the store. It was obviously slow that day so maybe you should clean up guys. The ice cream was nothing special and it melted almost immediately. $7 for a small ice cream with 1 dollop of Nutella and 3 rasberries. We will not go back.
(1)
S A.

I will be honest, their ice cream, when available, isn't bad. I used to have good experiences here, maybe 2-3 years ago. That said, I cannot in good conscience recommend this place any longer. I have been there maybe 6 or 7 times in the last year, and at least on 5 occasions I was not able to eat because they simply do not remain stocked enough to support their business, a problem I did not encounter with them until the past year. I have tried going there at least 1.5 hours before they close. On 3 occasions, they ran out of liquid nitrogen - absurd, since this is the most important part of their recipe. On a couple more occasions, they ran out of other ingredients. Today I went hoping that they returned to form. First, I wanted hot pudding, but their espresso machine was broken. Not terrible, I thought, because that's not their main product. But when I tried getting ice cream, they were out on all but 1 ingredient I asked for (nutella and chocolate chips, which aren't exactly exotic ingredients) and the flavor I wanted (hazelnut). I had hoped these were one-off issues, but they have really been the norm on multiple visits. I hope one day their management learns how to stock a dessert store, but until then, I implore people to simply turn away and search for a more consistent option.
(1)
Bo Y.

It's a great to see how they make the ice cream. Very cool. - The wait is long tho. - People work here are very nice. - Taste: I had vanilla bean ice cream with Nutella. It's very tasty & sweet. - Price: $6 for the medium cup (which is very small actually)
(3)
Emily D.

The wait is long. The froyo is terrible. The shop smells like a dank swimming pool in a poorly-maintained YMCA. Because of this place, I can now honestly say I've eaten ice cream and disliked. Even the meager Nutella in my whatever-concoction-of-terrible couldn't save this ill-begotten horror. As someone else in my party who inflicted iCream on themselves said, "Our pizza took less time than that ice cream." I threw mine out and waste the $6 because, honestly, I would have paid someone $6 NOT to have to eat that. Seriously, how bad could white chocolate and Nutella actually be. The answer is: it should never be bad. Somehow this place made it bad. Really, really bad.
(1)
Jami R.

I love this place. Where else can you get a legitimately customized dessert that you basically just created yourself? Plus I can say i've eaten somewhere I've seen on The Food Network :) If I ever move to the city it would be so i could be closer to iCream.
(5)
Jennifer K.

Faaantastic! I got a medium Blueberry, green tea frozen yogurt with blueberries and what a delight! This is a great spot, that uses liquid nitrogen to make the dreams come true. Also, peter pan was on while I was there which, I greatly appreciated of course. Great service!!!
(5)
Sheila X.

LOVE LOVE the product!! My sister lives in Chicago and I go to ICREAM every time! I did vanilla bean with graham crackers and topped with strawberries! My sister did chocolate with nutella and reeses cups. Delish! Some times I don't enjoy the wait, but that's how you know it's good. Usually a long line. Last Saturday there were only four people ahead of us and it was worth the wait. They only had one guy working on a Saturday night, which I didn't think was a good idea, but he was very nice! Can't wait to go back again! 4 out of 5 stars, because I hate waiting. Haha, but this place is great! Intersting art work in restroom as well.
(4)
Shradha A.

Once the novelty of the style of ice cream creation wears off, you realize the texture and flavor aren't the best! It's really cool how they make your ice cream! The ice cream then melts real quick! It also has an ice-like texture, not like sorbet but not as creamy as ice cream generally is. It was fun one time, no reason I'll return any time soon.
(3)
Ashley B.

I love this place! The liquid nitrogen is pretty cool, obviously. But unlike some of the reviewers on here, I actually think the ice cream itself is good too.
(4)
Stephanie M.

Great stop. Was happy with the experience - they have some memorable flavors and funny names for them. Didn't change my life.
(3)
Anna K.

yogurt vanilla and white chocolate pick your base and have flavors mixed in. in it all goes into a kitchenaid mixer with liquid nitrogen gas infusing into the treat. the end result was smooth and rich yet light texture with strong flavors.
(4)
Liza P.

Taking a concept usually reserved for science demos and making a restaurant out of it is an interesting idea, but I just don't think it delivers. Making liquid nitrogen ice cream yourself is a lot of fun, but after a couple minutes of watching the nitrogen steam coming out of the dewars, I was bored and just wanted my ice cream already. As many others have pointed out, you pay a lot of money and wait a long time for a rather small amount of ice cream. It tastes different from regular ice cream because the freezing process is much faster, but it also melts quicker. Basically this is a place you go to once for the gimmick and in the future head over to a traditional ice cream place.
(3)
Natalie V.

The concept of iCream is pretty cool. The girl making my yogurt was multitasking between 3 different mixers. I got vanilla nonfat yogurt with raspberries and white chocolate with a white chocolate topping. You tasted every single mix-in. The texture was perfect. I would like to go back and try the ice cream, probably with soy milk. It takes about 6 mins for them to create your order and I'm not sure why people would complain about that because they ARE making this from scratch. On a very busy night it takes them about 10 mins. Well, again it's being custom-made for you from scratch. I guess the only thing I wish is that they had a bigger menu of concoctions so you can choose from them instead of deciding what to make.
(4)
Sam L.

I was very excited to try iCream. I finally made it in today and it took 20 minutes to get my milkshake. The shake was fairly mealy. Coffee and cream soda was a good choice. The owner was around. Instead of jumping into help, he just sat with potential investors and let the one guy working struggle to get orders out. The guy behind the counter was super unenthusiastic. Granted it is hot out and he is by himself in a fairly busy neighborhood. His lack of personality may have been rooted in extreme terror. The owner walked out and wished the guy luck. Just tacky. The process is cool but it took too long and was not really worth the wait. Had I not seen the whole thing happening I probably would have concluded that the employee was in the back milking the cow or something considering the wait. They did have a "Now Hiring" sign, so maybe the staffing problem will be solved. "If you want IC in a hurry, you are in the wrong place" should be written on the door. Glad I was in no rush. Pricey too!
(2)
Troy B.

I was in the neighborhood of iCream recently and wouldn't have stopped by based on the mediocre reviews, but we happened to walk right by and decided to stop in. The store is small inside with only a few places to sit and not much space for a line. There were a few people ahead of us and it still took a decent amount of time to order. I do believe I'm used to immediate gratification with ice cream so it's probably unfair to judge the slowness given that they're preparing a custom concoction. I had a cherry ice cream with chocolate chips. They didn't ask to color it so it came out pure white. The flavor and texture were actually awesome and I'd love to eat it again. It did melt rather quickly in comparison to other ice cream, maybe that's why they don't serve cones. The biggest disappointment was the customer experience. The two staff seemed to epitomize low job satisfaction. They were polite enough but were throwing and clanging the mixers and acted as if they wished they were somewhere else. Also, a third employee joined as were there and was called out for not adhering to proper dress code. The store was messy, some parts dirty, and just felt poorly managed. As others have said, it's a shame as the idea is super cool, the product delicious, but the experience severely lacking. I would stop by myself again but would never specifically bring someone with me, too many caveats to give.
(3)
Kasia L.

The amount of entitlement these people are leaving in reviews is absolutely disgusting. First of all- ice cream used to take over an hour to actually make. These guys took a concept and made it quicker. If you want instant ice cream go to the yogurt place down the road or better yet buy some Breyers at CVS and eat it straight out of the tub! Next to the people complaining about consistency and texture: if you ever made ice actual ice cream (not the garbage you buy at the store filled with preservatives and other unknown chemicals) then you would know that it comes out smooth with a icy texture. The guy behind the counter was cheery and nice. Exactly what I would expect of an ice cream man. The place could use a little revamp. The color needs a new coat of paint. And then the only bad thing is the prices, $5.29 is much too much for a medium ice cream!
(4)
Grant P.

I feel so conflicted whenever I review a place in the city. There's usually 18 million reviews for every place I go, so whatever I'm going to say has probably already been said. I know I don't read EVERY SINGLE REVIEW when there's that many. Do you? Didn't think so. But still they're on my bookmarks list to try, and I want to be a good little Yelper and give my honest opinion. Even when I do so and some jerk disagrees with me and decides to send me hate mail. Gah. Sorry. On to iCream. A friend went here several years ago and each time I've passed it since I've wanted to go in. I'm not going to go into the details here because as I've explained, you've probably read them 500 times by the point that you've reached my lil' review anyway. However, I'm going to say that I wasn't impressed. Part of that, I think is my fault because I picked a weird flavor. I mixed toasted marshmallow with vanilla. And all I could taste was the vanilla. I was longing for the toasted marshmallow milkshake I used to be able to get in New York till my favorite place closed down. Sad face. I'm kind of all over the place with this review. Hopefully that'll at least amuse you if you've gotten here. Topic jumping. Wheeee! Um, and also, my ice cream wasn't done. It was kind of hard and frozen on the outside and liquid-y in the middle. So each bite I took kind of popped in my mouth. It was an interesting experience. That doesn't happen with regular ice cream because it freezes from the inside out. With iCream's process, it freezes from the outside in. It was expensive and I probably won't return. Sorry.
(3)
Patrick D.

Much better experience than I read from other yelpers The server was knowledgeable and worked all four machines at once. Each of us got the exact flavor we were looking for and were very satisfied. I want to go back for more but don't want to blow up. One other note several people expressed concern about the wait it does take a few minutes to develop your own ice cream from scratch Also several people said it was small that was not the experience that my party of nine had in fact my small was huge. That is not a complaint.
(5)
Vrati D.

Finally made it and worth the 45 min wait! There are sooo many combinations of ice cream and toppings available, it's impossible to not find something you'll like! I had the cake ice cream with graham cracker and peanut butter! Yum! Great for kids!
(4)
Lu Y.

Ugh what a disappointment. I think this is one of the greater culinary let-downs I've had all year. In fact, I was even thinking about having a part of my bachelorette party here - how awesome would it be to make liquid nitrogen ice cream??? Well, I decided not quite so awesome once I tasted their hot pudding and ice cream... Service: When I went, there was one guy working there, and he totally knew what he was doing. Plus, he was really nice! Ambience: With the lighting, it's kinda like walking into a cafe on a spaceship. It's very casual and there are some tables along the wall and a counter along the window to eat your dessert at. Food: So this is where I had issues. It's freezing in Chicago, and we got a red velvet and strawberry hot pudding. It was made using an espresso machine looking device, and the outcome was a viscous, bright pink "liquid". I can't even explain how strange and artificial it tasted. I'm not sure if it was our combination or if hot pudding at iCream is just plain bad. We also got the liquid nitrogen ice cream (banana and white chocolate topped with raspberries), and it's cool watching it being made in the kitchenaid mixers with a liquid nitrogen attachment (ya, I wish I had one of those...!). But the result is a sub-par ice cream. I've never had a liquid nitrogen ice cream that didn't satisfy my taste buds until this trip to iCream =(
(3)
Rebecca N.

Really good. Really expensive. Fun place to try out in wicker part--you can make your own ice cream with a bunch of different toppings. Similar to a blizzard.
(4)
Jessica J.

Was super excited to finally try icream! Stopped by at 7:10 and there was a sign posted on the door saying closed for dinner until 8?! Would have never expected that! Thanks for the 30min drive :( Definitely disappointed.
(1)
Kimberly L.

So so so delicious! Most times, I get ice cream and it's nothing special - it's just like everywhere else. This place, however, proved me wrong. You tasted everything they put into the ice cream. They had interesting flavors too. It wasn't too expensive either. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Sarah T.

My first time trying Nitrogen Ice Cream and it was delish! It was made-to-order and you get to pick 2 flavors and 2 mix-ins. I ordered the cinnamon coffee ice cream with no mix-ins and it was really good. I like the texture and extra coolness. I will definitely be coming back to try more flavors and maybe even the frozen yogurt.
(4)
Cassandra W.

iCream is one of my consistent favorites. It is one of the few places which serves ice cream and caters to the lactose intolerant crowd. There are nearly endless flavor/color/add-in options. Their soy ice cram is the best. Creamy, flavorful and dairy-free I can't get enough. They get backed up sometimes as everything is made to order in front of you but it is well worth waiting. I went one day when they had been particularly busy and ran out of soy and the owner Cora was nothing short of perfection. she offered me a sample of sorbet and a free soy ice cream for my next visit. The customer service is just as wonderful as the ice cream. I take all my friends to iCream and my only disappointment is that I can't afford to come in weekly.
(5)
Kathleen O.

Overrated. So, the liquid nitrogen is pretty sweet an the only reason for the 2-star review, but the ice cream isn't worth the wait. Last time I came to Icream, I ordered the cake ice cream and it was bitter. I ended up throwing it out because I couldn't even bring myself to eat it... I wouldn't recommend trying this place. Straight up bogus...
(2)
Melissah L.

LOL- came here last night and paid $9.23 for a medium cup of PB OMG. What? I got a soy ice cream base with all the toppings listed on the recipe on the wall and was really surprised when I was charged almost $10 for a teeny little cup. It's definitely my fault for not adding everything up in my head ahead of time, though. To be fair, the soy ice cream was pretty decent, and the fillings were nice-- but really, my business is going to Red Mango next time I need a fro-yo fix (only a few doors down), where I can get something much bigger and more tasty for $5-6. Sorry, iCream-- I really wanted to like you!
(2)
Shan D.

After all the bells and whistles, it still tastes just like any other ice cream. I guess it was fun to try once, but there's better and more creative ice cream spots in the city.
(3)
Chloe C.

Delicious! I always get the frozen yogurt - you choose whole or skim milk (or bring your own! I've been wanting to try it with almond milk), as well as a base flavor (vanilla, white chocolate, cherry, etc) and they make it on the spot. The yogurt is kinda tart but with fruit and candy mixed in, it still definitely hits the spot for sugar lovers. My favorite combo is the vanilla low fat froyo with fresh strawberries and PB cups. Mm.
(5)
Monty M.

Delish ice cream meets a mad scientist and u get a bundle of joy named...iCream!Strawberry cheesecake for me & blueberry flavor with graham crackers for her.
(5)
jennifer j.

It was the perfect hot July day for ice cream. I pulled up Yelp and this place was the closest, with a decent overall score. I hadn't read much further than the rating, but this place must purely exist on its own novelty, which is on the spot, custom ordered, nitrogen ice cream. This gimmick is not enough. As we looked around for a place to sit (only 3 tables) there was garbage, dirty tables and cardboard boxes everywhere. When we finally chose the least offensive table, there was a big black hair right in the middle of it, which turned my stomach. The scientists completed my vanilla with mint chip concoction and tried to auction it off to several kids who had their greasy faces pressed against the glass. I wish I could say the day was saved by this complicated ice cream process. Unfortunately, my concoction was the most flavorless and uninspiring dessert I have ever tasted. In fact, 2 bites in and my cup was in the trash can. I'm probably the only person that used the trash can that day and that includes the employee's. Out of respect for the next patron, I took all my hair with me when I left.
(1)
Kimsy S.

Pretty neat stuff, that liquid nitrogen. And my white chocolate ice cream was pretty tasty. But for the $5 I spent for a small-scoop-sized frozen treat, this place is best served as a novelty. The staff was very friendly and helpful, all with smiles. The dining areas weren't very clean. The sitting area by the window was sticky. And what used to be a garbage can but is now an accurate replica of Mt. Trashmore was overflowing, with lots of those disgusting flying insect critters. I took my chances with the sticky counter. I'd come back, if only to experience liquid nitrogen ice cream, or as a tourist stop with friends. But for a truly decadent frozen dessert, I will go to Scooter's or Oberweis.
(3)
Michael C.

I really wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. This place is special for the amount of flavors and toppings they offer as well as soy and frozen yogurt choices. Variety is certainly not a problem here. When you walk in to this store though, you start at one end of the counter, and the prices of the actual yogurts are towards the front of the store where you pay and are in very light font. By the time you figure out what you want to order, you might not have realized how much you are actually paying by the time the cashier is ready to take your order. So on to the actual ice cream, I have slight lactose intolerance problems and opted for the soy yogurt pb special which had grahm crackers, cream cheese, peanut butter, and vanilla ice cream. It was pretty damn good and soy ice cream is hard to find, but the price was a whopping $9.23 for a medium cup. I can't say I was too happy about that and was maybe naively hoping there was a discount for picking one of their signature mixes. Value here is harder to find but the ice cream itself gets 4 stars!
(3)
Sonny S.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ICREAM! Located in Wicker Park, this little ice cream shop isn't serving your run-of-the-mill ice cream. Unlike other ice creameries, they make your ice cream to order with liquid nitrogen so each frozen treat is made to order! Who would've thunk?? The concept is genius and I can see why they have so many loyal patrons. I came with some friends to catch up and hang out. The set up resembles something you would find in a chemistry lab with their use of beakers and syringes to make the custard base. When choosing your ice cream, it couldn't be more simple. You choose your size, flavor, color and any toppings or mix ins you want. Then, they head over to their KitchenAid stand mixers fitted with nozzles to a vat of liquid nitrogen. They dump the liquid concoction in and let it rip then VOILA! That liquid mixture you saw two seconds ago has become some of the creamiest ice cream I've ever tasted. Here are some great flavor combos: STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE This was delish. We opted for blueberry flavor ice cream with bits of cheesecake, strawberries, graham crackers. The mix-ins really made this! POMEGRANATE WITH RASPBERRIES Again, I loved the fruit-y and refreshing taste of this combination. It was perfect after having such a heavy meal beforehand. The waits can get long especially because they make each ice cream to order, but it's well worth it. There's even a TV that was showing Wall E so you can kill some time that way. Some consider this place pricey, but it's a great experience either way. Try it out!
(4)
Jayluis R.

I came here for ice cream thinking is going to be the best place ever , and it turns out I will not be coming back ever again , I will rather go to baskin Robins or forever yogurt, I went on Sunday and the store was a mess with dirty tables , the guy making our ice cream was just making gestures and bad faces as customers came in this guy seemed like he didn't even wanted to be there , and to the worst I ordered soy milk ice cream for 2 and he literally half filled my cup , which I ordered a medium , and it seem like a small cup , and for that price no thank you .I will tell friends and family to not go to this place .
(1)
Andy N.

Liquid Nitrogen ice cream! That's the reason to try this place. The way your ice cream is made in front of you is the selling point. It tastes pretty good as well. They should've promoted it better as I walked in and they just told me how to order. They kept the surprise of the smoke blowing from the machine! I got the strawberry vanilla and added some other random items in it. The texture just melts right in your mouth. It has a melty cold feeling. I enjoyed it. It's something to try because you don't get this type of iCream anywhere else. Recommendation: Get your cameras ready for the show!
(4)
jen l.

My kids had seen Icream on the food network and begged us to take them there. The concept looked interesting, so we went. The second we walked in we noticed how dirty, dingy and unkempt the place was. SO bad that my teen daughter asked if we could leave. So we leave we did. She got ice cream at Jenis down the block. Unfortunately, the two younger brothers weren't to be dissuaded. Back we went to Icream. The place is undeniably a pit, but the two young men behind the counter were very helpful and genial and chatty. They mixed my children's requests and we all dared to have a taste. It certainly isn't anything superior. It tastes like grainy ice milk. Glad they got to try it, we don't ever need to go back.
(1)
Tom M.

Most of their flavors can be made with soymilk!!! Vegan ice cream heaven!!! The store uses liquid nitrogen and stand mixers to combine soymilk (or regular milk if you are so inclined) with flavor and mix-ins to make a great product. My wife and I tried cake with graham cracker and toasted marshmallow with oreo. Both were great. Know that it takes a few minutes for each order so do not go when you are in a hurry.
(5)
Heather H.

I found this place on a food tour when I lived here. After that, I brought anyone who visited me to this place. Quite simply, nothing like this place. It's a unique experience and a great adventure for your foodie palate. Kids will love seeing the ice cream being made right in front of them. I always prefer to order one of the pre-selected mixes. Otherwise, I might be there a while trying to make a decision- so many choices. A must go place if you are in Chicago. And if you live in Chicago and haven't been yet, shame on you!!
(5)
Ed S.

Very cool idea for an ice cream parlor. I am not a fan of the environment, the staff, or the cleanliness of the place. The ice cream was good, my family enjoyed the flavors, but the actual shop was disappointing. Maybe if it was cleaner and the staff was friendlier we would've enjoyed it more. It was a bit pricey for ice cream, but we were expecting that.
(3)
Jane R.

LOVE this place! i wish the employees explained what was going on, it's a very interesting concept. vegan friendly, i chose the chocolate and pistachio flavor with pie crust and oreos with a soy ice cream base. it was delicious, but steep at $6. lots of options for all eaters!
(4)
Bob M.

This is the worst ice cream I ever had. Totally unnatural taste! This place should go out of business
(1)
Terri G.

Great place ice cream was very tasty. There is a bit of a wait but it is well worth it and my daughter really enjoyed watching them make her ice cream he'll I did too lol
(4)
Mary B.

Heard about this place on a website about some of the coolest dessert/icecream/froyo spots around the US. My friend and I decided to go check it out. Place is a little small and to get to the end of the line, you have to pass through the throng of people already in line. The concept of picking your own ice creams, mix-ins, and toppings is awesome, but it is expensive here! There were only two people working and only one was actually making/mixing the ice cream. We waited over 25minutes!!! We finally got our ice cream; there were no napkins or extra spoons anywhere upfront; my friend had to make his way through the crowd to the back of the store to get some. Ice cream was just okay. If you want fast, custom ice cream, i'd suggest Coldstone. And if you want custom froyo, i'd suggest any other place. Will definitely not be going back.
(2)
G S.

The product tasted like cleaning chemicals. The store was very dirty and poorly lit. An employee was passed out in the back.
(1)
Lauren E.

The ice cream is absolutely delicious. 5 stars. I give it 3 because of the service. The guys walk around so sluggish & unhappy to be there (all of the times I've gone). The ice cream takes about 3 minutes to make, then you add in the 7 minutes of shuffling to get a spoon, like it's the most difficult thing to do.
(3)
Julie Y.

The concept is pretty awesome. But the 'ice cream' was AWFUL. You get about 1/2 scoop worth of ice cream for an astounding $5. And what's more astounding about it is that it doesn't even have the texture of ice cream. It was like icy, solidified milk. Maybe the lady who made it made it wrong. Because the people didn't seem very well trained. Not only did they mess up taking the order, they messed up making the orders too. Thoroughly thoroughly disappointed. :(
(1)
Allan M.

So I probably (well, almost) was the last person in Chicago to get around to trying this place out. It wasn't bad(got one of the suggested ice cream creations on the wall I can't remember the name of, and the website didn't show pics of them for whatever strange reason), but when I remember the price and options you can get for a similar price at other places(i.e. Oberweis, not to mention vs. Lickity Split or Scooter's), I feel those options(vs. iCream) are a better value, sadly. I had been wavering between 2 and 3 stars, but it's closer to 2 as I didn't feel it was a good value for the money. Plus, it was something like $4 something(barely short of $5) for a small size. The staff was very nice, I'll give them that. Also, the service was fine, since I hit it on a winter Friday night when there wasn't an issue with the wait, and imagine the wait would probably be different(and longer) if you hit it during spring, summer, or fall. Not writing this place off, I'd love it if I could try something here that finally changes my mind about this place feeling more like a gimmick after my initial visit, and maybe push my opinion up to 3 stars?
(2)
Shin M.

5 stars for their ice cream- I forgot what was part of "that Florida guy" creation but I think it was vanilla? cream soda and Nutella . It was sooooo good. The texture of the ice cream was smooth and I thought the Nutella was melted chocolate chips! It was cool watching the liquid nitrogen running in the mixer. My husband and I got "That guy from florida" again. It was only o.k. this time... so my star rating goes down...
(3)
Sarah B.

This place has seriously downgraded. They no longer carry my favorite flavors (the girl behind the counter assured me they just renamed the burnt sugar to marshmallow so I ordered it, absolutely nothing like it used to be) so I'm over it. Won't be back.
(2)
Erin Y.

I think the ice cream is just okay, but the concept is pretty cool. Getting to combine whatever flavors you want and watching it being made in front of you with liquid nitrogen is fun. I came here on a chemistry field trip, and the simple combination of chocolate and strawberry was tasty. Since then, I've been here a couple more times and have had decent experiences with decent ice cream. Overall, worth coming to at least once!
(3)
Kislev A.

I've never seen this before: Ice cream from scratch in front of you! They started with a cup of milk, added chocolate syrup, put the whole thing in a KitchenAid mixer then liquid Nitrogen was automatically squirted by a machine to freeze the mixture and turn it into ice cream! Sure it wasn't the best or richest ice cream, but it's just so cool!!!!!
(5)
Vishal P.

Food and technology?! Sign me up! Friendly staff and a cool menu. They have a list of Ice Creams, Frozen Yogurts and desserts with little markers for toppings and mix-ins. The menu is broken down for the best flavor combinations and helps those that don't know if they want something sweet, fruity, creamy or sour. They use REAL YOGURT too. Not the fake stuff so it has a real frozen yogurt taste... not the stuff that you get at the chain frozen yogurt places. I love watching them make the cups and watching the machines shoot the Liquid Nitrogen into the mixing bowl. Very unique concept.
(5)
Amy D.

I was severely under-impressed. iCream on the face of it, sounds really cool--custom made liquid nitrogen ice cream made right in front of you. In practice, iCream has a long way to go. I ordered a green tea soy with almond chips. First off, you get three options between (if my memory serves me correctly) organic, non-organic, or soy. Something along those lines. Why would ANYBODY choose non-organic? Moving on, the flavor jsut wasn't there. Rather than using a matcha powder for the green tea, a suspicious looking dark green concentrate was used (whereas matcha is a beautiful pale green). The sugar is added on the side via sugar shaker, which in itself, just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Two tiny shakes later, my ice cream ended up being extremely flavorless, like plain ice. I generally find desserts too sweet but this was completely flavorless. Because they used liquid nitrogen, the ice cream ended up being too cold and burned my tongue. In general, the shop is awkwardly set up with the pick-up counter in a dark hidden corner. The colors looks dingy and the service is extremely slow (although wonderfully friendly and helpful). For $5, I expected much better and will not be back.
(1)
Brian H.

A collision between food and chemistry... sign me up. Venturing out last night, there was originally one person working and as we entered the store and waited on line, I was pleased to see 3 more people emerge from the back. Hold the applause. We were greeted with a rude cashier listing all of the ingredients they were out of. Wonderful. Glad to be here. Upon placing our order, I was watching how quickly the price climbed for each person in my party. On average, $7-8 a pop. The guy making the ice cream, sorbet and yogurt lacked any personality or showmanship. I mean, is it lost that this is theater? Everyone's deserts were lackluster (taste, consistency, temperature). Great concept, gone bad. Clearly the owner has moved onto other things.
(1)
F H.

Great ice cream and great concept, as long as you have no where else to be. With only 2 other patrons in the place, I still had to wait 10 mins to be acknowledged. No hello, no welcome to i cream, and not even one of the 2 employees looked at me for ten mins after walking in and standing at the register. It upsetting because the product and concpet are good, but so poorly executed. I'll eat store brand the next time I want ice cream.
(1)
Bri A.

I wasn't feeling very adventurous and went with pear frozen yogurt with gummy bears, but it was delicious! The place was empty since it was a rainy day so I didn't have to wait very long. It was cool to see them hand make the ice cream using liquid nitrogen! Next time I will try something unique. Curry ice cream? Why not!
(4)
Kathleen M.

Liquid nitrogen makes me think of evil scientists doing dastardly deeds which is one of the reasons I loved this place - what a unique concept to make the ice cream experience even more fun. Fresh ingredients, artisan preparation plus all the fun made the price worth it to me. We came here in the middle of a hot Friday afternoon and the shop was calm, no line at all. We got to have the whole process explained to us and even had a tiny sample of Some guy from Florida. It was delicious but I selected Mom's Favorite and it was just divine. (Anything named Mom's favorite has to be great, right?) I watched them make my treat and the quick freeze made the nutella into something even more delicious than it already is. While we were in the back consuming our delicacies, a tour group came in and I got to hear the spiel again but from their guide. It was fun to be someplace that was worthy of a food tour in Chicago! I want to return and try their yogurt and create my own concoctions and if I am really good do you think they will let me play with the liquid nitrogen? (Evil scientist laugh) They can trust me - I just would make more yummy treats!
(4)
Aja G.

I was excited to try this place, but I don't think the novelty of liquid nitrogen infused ice cream grabbed me or maybe it did but it wasn't spectacular enough for me to care/notice. The place reminded me of cold stone as they have base flavors which you add to at an inflated cost.They have a mighty list of add ins, but call me old school for regarding dumping candy and chocolate chunks in ice cream as lazy. The ice cream itself is alright, but no better than any tub of ice cream I have finished from my grocers freezer. Overall I say go if you are around and you have 5 bucks burning a hole in your pocket. But if you go to Jewel and spend the same 5 bucks on Bryers ice cream you will have the same taste bud delight. without the line.
(3)
Sarah S.

The ice cream here is fairly expensive but they are open on weekdays until 10pm! Yay! It's also surrounded by a lot of cute shops and food places in this Wicker Park neighborhood. I got chocolate ice cream with cookie dough. I really wanted to try some more unique flavors but it's not really like they can give you samples here, everything is made to order. So I wanted to go with a some flavors I knew I would love and next plan on trying some of the more crazy flavors (like curry!). I went last Thursday night and I felt kind of bad because their was just one lady working and a long line, tons of customers. It was like 9pm but pretty busy! Expect to wait for your ice cream to be made (took ours 7-10 minutes) and if there is a line expect to wait a lot longer because only 3 can be made at a time. The process is so cool though! The liquid nitrogen getting everywhere looks all scientific! :P When I got the ice cream it was super cold! And it tasted really fresh and definitely different then the usual ice cream. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back!
(4)
Brett M.

So many options...flavors, milk types, toppings and add in's!!!! It's ice cream/sorbet/frozen yogurt by NASA!!!! Super Tasty!!! Going back soon.
(5)
Grace E.

The liquid nitrogen ice cream making is a neat parlor trick and four stars for the experience. The staff is informative and friendly, helping you make the best flavor combinations based on popularity and your persona preferences. However, the finished product itself doesn't stand out from store-bought ice creams. If i were given a cup of iCream without having seen it being made, I wouldn't give it more than 2/5 stars. But again, it's a treat to come here once or to show it to a friend just for the experience.
(3)
Shirley W.

I LOVE this place! I don't usually crave/eat/love ice cream all that much. But this place makes everything taste SO FRESH!(because they do make it in front of your face). I always crave for it. I usually get GreenTea flavored ice cream with Nutella mixed in. It's soooo good. Only thing is you might have to wait a little longer than regular ice cream shops, because they have to make it fresh. So be patient with that. It's street parking, and I don't recommend going on saturday nights because Wicker Park is way too crowded on sat nights with all those people going to the bar/clubs. But I love this place. Melts in your mouth.
(5)
Msu D.

Nice selection of yogurt and toppings , real ice cream is still the best, but this place is pretty good.
(3)
Jenny H.

This place is cool and is worth the experience at least once! They make the ice cream with liquid nitrogen right in front of you, and are open late. I ordered one of the recommended ones, green at pomegranate with blueberries, and I have to say, it was delicious! It was a little pricey though. The guy making the ice cream was friendly and funny, but the cashier seemed like he didn't want to be there.
(3)
Shannon S.

Super fun place to go when you want a treat. You get to see everything and you can sit right in front of the big window to people watch. Staff is super nice.
(5)
Michelle I.

Obsessions can be dangerous. Especially when it comes to ice cream. I will proudly admit that my husband and I both have an obsession with ice cream. However, I have some standards. My husband, not so much. That's why we came here. He found the whole liquid nitrogen made-to-order ice cream thing to be enticing. I found it gimmicky and reminding me of cheesy scenes from Terminator 2. He ordered some concoction of cream soda flavored ice cream with some other type of flavoring. It was cool watching it be made and the guy helping us was cool. But for the ice cream....meh? It wasn't great. Immediately it looked the cheap generic off-brand ice cream you get at the grocery store. You know, not creamy or smooth. And at first bite, it kind of felt like the cheap kind until you let it melt in your mouth for about a half a second. Then I tasted some of the creaminess and flavor. Overall, I wasn't impressed and I don't think he was either but he claims it was "ok." This is one of those places that you have to check it out just because it sounds good in theory but in reality it falls flat on its iCream covered face.
(2)
Vidya M.

Eager!! to see all the smokey ice cream (actually liquid nitrogen) from scratch made me try this ICream. I never thought waiting lines would be this big. Decided my flavors. Unfortunately they we out of strawberry at that time. Order one . but tastes jus eating colored snow. no taste Would be good if your on a diet.
(1)
Egan V.

Ice cream made-to-order with liquid nitrogen means that it can be made vegan very easily. The ice cream can be made with non-dairy with soy, and the sorbet is already vegan by nature. The hot puddings can also be done vegan, which is a nice treat in the winter. Just make sure to ask about the individual flavors and mix-ins, as not all are vegan even if you're using soy. Soy is not magic people. The science is not just all steam and excitement, it actually is tasty. The nitrogen makes smaller ice crystals, and makes the desserts creamier even without cream. However there is very little seating in the shop, and the ice cream takes a bit, so it can get crowded.
(5)
Danny G.

ICream is unique... That's about all I can say. The presentation is different since they are pumping liquid nitrogen into your customize cream treat. But the overall quality of the product?... Is decent... But not at a different playing field than other places out there. Essentially, you end up paying 6 bucks minimum for a neat presentation that is a different way of making ice cream. Ultimately, a $1 gelato from Mariano's will yield the same quality of product, maybe even better quality. I will still bring friends here because it is unique. But the normal consensus is that there are much better place to go for this category of culinary delight. The store also seems to be... Not in the best of shape. Counters are cracked and there is graffiti to be found on the wall out side the building and their windows.
(3)
Twylla S.

I love that you can personalize every aspect of your ice cream experience. From the type of milk, sugar, flavors, and fillings. It's like coldstone...but next, NEXT level. My boyfriend made an interesting mix of ginger, raspberry and chocolate balls. I was a little jealous that I had not been more experimental with my mix. I definitely suggest that if you are going to spend your time going to an ice cream shop like this that you really step outside of your box and mix something you've never had before... and that's definitely what I'm going to do next time!
(4)
Tania R.

Ewww (Jimmy Fallon voice). Tried the coffee flavored ice cream made with soy milk. It tasted like ice with a couple mix-ins, totally lacked flavor. On top of that it was $13 for 2 smalls. Say whaaat?! No thanks.
(1)
Bri B.

They're pretty good. I went once on a day when I really wanted icrecream. I had no idea what I was walking into, but the guy that helped me was really nice and I enjoyed the icecream. So I was all for ICream. So I went back a second time with my partner and the second time I wasn't so thrilled. It's an interesting concept, but no one welcomed her the way I was welcomed. They just treated it as a regular old ice cream place where you just give the scoop and call it a day. This could be a really awesome place, but it's all about the experience. When you create that experience for a new person, it makes all the difference. The first guy did that for me and if I were just rating him, he'd have 5 stars, BUT since this is about the entire business, not to much. The rest of the staff didn't seem to enjoy being there and my partner got her icecream with graham crackers and blackberries. She nor I tasted any berries in there. She said she noticed the woman only put in about 3 berries. So that was a bit of a rip off. Middle of the road place, okay icecream depending on WHO makes it. Very hit or miss place.
(3)
Genevieve L.

The whole idea of making your own ice cream or frozen yogurt sounds cool, but it's a bit time consuming. I was in the mood for frozen yogurt so we decided to check this place out. I made my own frozen yogurt and 10 minutes later, it was ready to eat. I'd maybe try this place again for ice cream, but if you want frozen yogurt, forever yogurt and pinkberry are a better bet.
(3)
Kavi P.

Concept was pretty cool. Ice cream was OK but would probably stick to other ice cream places-especially because of the high price. Worth trying it out just for the once.
(3)
Bernice R.

Oh hey customized ice cream of deliciousness maker. Way to make totally smooth and creamy ice cream with liquid nitrogen! I mixed chocolate and banana ice cream and added pecans and gram crackers. Sounds amazing right? Well, it is and you're welcome to copy this creation. On a lighter but equally flavorful combination, my brother made a plain frozen yogurt and mango concoction. That too was mighty good. They have at least 20 different flavors and 20 toppings. Easily, that place can make thousands of different ice creams, fro-yos and shakes. Plus, they got hot pudding which I'm intrigued about and may try it next time. As far as I can tell, you can't really go wrong with this place. Similar prices to any other high quality ice cream or fro-yo place! Plus when they make it, I love the cool white cloud! I would come back if I'm in the area. :)
(4)
Palak Q.

I've been there at least a couple times, and each time I've had a satisfying experience. I literally freaked out by the row of injections hanging at the back of the counter. What were those for? To infuse flavors and coloring into the ice cream. Ugh, not a huge fan. They make ice cream from dry ice, instantly. Tastes good too. I did the frozen yogurt, which they warned me would be a little tangy. But I enjoyed it. The best part about it is the creativity of making an ice cream. I don't think there's another ice cream store of this kind.
(4)
Gina S.

Seriously awesome for little kids. There might be too many options for little kids to choose from: base, flavor, add-in, etc. But they loved that they could make it any color, blue...because blue is not your average ice cream color. Nothing beats the bug-eyed look of a 3 and 7 year old as they watch how their cream turns to ice cream. They enjoyed it. But my sis and I agree, it has a weird taste.
(3)
Mike B.

Tastes are Really REally good. The process of making the ice cream is pretty unorthodox but very interesting to watch. You can mix and match literally a million different combinations and that variety always bodes well. It's a little pricey, but liquid nitrogen is expensive. It's a wait since they make things to order and that is an additional price to pay, but I think that it's worth it. If you're in the area, you need to try it once and get one of the recommendations on the wall.
(4)
johnny b.

Slow
(3)
Rainey S.

This is the best I've cream I've ever had. It's so much better (in both flavor and texture) than regular ice cream that it's almost it's one separate thing, like gelato or frozen yogurt. The "strawberry cheesecake" and "that guy from Florida" flavors are unbelievable. Go here, even if you're not a huge ice cream fan!
(5)
Michael G.

It's sort of a shame that this place isn't closer to Wicker Park - the park itself I mean. Not that being on Damen as opposed to Milwaukee would increase its foot traffic or anything (as if it needs more people to know about it since the waits here approach those at Hot Doug's). No, why it needs to be closer to the nearest green space is because I can't make it there without finishing my ice cream. See, I was having an awful day on Labor Day Sunday. I needed to draft my Yelp fantasy football team and found every internet cafe on the northwest side closed (and Kinko's wanting $15.00 an hour for internet). Being too early to drink (okay, just barely), but needing to soothe my frustrations, I decided some ice cream in the park might cheer me up. A mixologist I'm not, so I was worried I'd make my day worse by choosing a bad flavor combination at iCream. But I needn't have fretted. One thing that can be said about the employees here is that they've tried and enjoyed their product. Like the finest bartenders, they made suggestions to each other when I asked for help in crafting a tasty combination. I was in the mood for root beer flavoring and the mixer told the cashier that if they added vanilla flavoring, it would taste just like a root beer float. And by gosh, it did! It really did! I mean, maybe it was power of suggestion, but this fact made my day. And that I made it (almost) myself was pretty life affirming. But in the end - things to tell my new therapist aside - I love this place for one simple reason: it's one of the few places in Chicago that satisfies the kid in me. It's one of few places where someone can leave their maturity at the door. If someone wants to get blue ice cream (I'm a literalist so my root beer was brown, but it *could* have been blue), no one looks askew. And if someone stares at the liquid nitrogen area creating their ice cream (or frozen yogurt or sorbet) in front of their eyes, they're just part of the general wonderment that everyone seems to have in the place. About the only thing that I'm guessing that the employees and other customers don't abide by is throwing a temper tantrum about the wait (kids or grownups alike). Or the prices (they are a bit high but not out of line with many Italian ice or gourmet ice cream places - hey, this isn't exactly a Baskin Robbins). I don't have a problem with either. Now if only they made it more difficult to eat so I could enjoy it in the park during the last few warm days of the year.
(4)
Dominique A.

This place is awesome!!! The experience is enough to keep you coming back and they go far beyond that by having great customer service and great tasting creations!!! Wonderful place surely a must visit!!!!
(5)
Rowena L.

I was researching liquid nitrogen ice cream for a story and figured I'd try the first Chicago place to use that technology. Frankly I didn't taste that much of a difference and the service was slow as hell. The only thing giving it the third star is the cool spectacle you get to watch...as you're waiting years for your ice cream (not bc of the technique but the service - they were seriously understaffed).
(3)
Jacob G.

The ice cream at iCream is alright. But, it doesn't taste natural at all. There are too many chemicals in it. Go somewhere else if you want ice cream that tastes like it's real.
(3)
Faith C.

What a great, original idea! And it's so delicious! The ice cream tastes very fresh and it's great that you can choose your own flavors! if you're a little worried about making the wrong flavor- try one of their recommended recipes (posted on the wall). By far the "wild ting" is the best!! The sorbet is so smooth! the mango sorbet is just like eating a real mango but without the hairiness you get with real mangos! And best of all, the staff is friendly and fun!! Great place to go for dessert! Just be a little patient since they are making each person's ice cream from scratch!
(5)
Daniel M.

Psh. I like this place simply because I like feeling like a little kid throwing a bunch of crap on my ice cream, then watching them make the actual ice cream. The novelty pulled me in. Guess I'm easy to please... I got the soy ice cream just to see what it would taste like. It was light, but not watery, which I enjoyed. It tasted a little "chemically", but I could get past that. It was overall good. The parking here can really suck if you go in the evening so bring someone to circle or something while you go in and grab the goods.
(4)
Thad P.

OMG! I can make my own ice cream / yogurt / shake from scratch just by mixing stuff together? I love it. And it's not your usual create-your-own-ice-cream place. You're seriously concocting your own special creation. Nitrogen infusion + 20 secs later = you get to try your own designer ice cream. It's super neat. Just be wary about adding berries: for the cost, you get 5-6 and it may not be worth it. I went twice while up in Chicago for 3 days. Haha, yeah, that's how much we liked it!
(4)
Shelly A.

"I thought we were going out to get ice cream!?" Don't get me wrong, iCream has a very awesome and interesting concept. Literally they make any kind of ice cream or frozen yogurt for you right in front of your eyes. However, Baskin Robbin's has 31 flavors (isn't that enough?); I don't really need a place to have unlimited ice cream possibilities, I need a place that does ice cream right and delicious...and honestly iCream kinda fails at that. Yeah it's cool and exciting inside their store, and when they make the treat it looks pretty neat. However, when you stick your spoon in your mouth, it kinda just ends. The ice cream just doesn't have that delicious kick in the mouth that you're looking for. I had fun the first time, but I'd be hard pressed to drive out to Wicker Park again for this. If your ice cream is going to take 10 minutes to make, it should be worth the wait...and unfortunately, it's not here :/
(2)
Kevin A.

I was extremely disappointed when I was unable to try iCream on a recent trip to Chicago. I was in town on business from South Carolina. I had read about the iCream franchise and was excited that I would finally get to try their product. I checked the website to verify their hours of operation since I would be traveling via the subway system from downtown out to their location. I arrived at the store about 10 minutes before the scheduled opening. I was determined to wait until someone arrived to open the store since this would be my only chance to try the iCream. I finally gave up at 2:05 after waiting for an hour and fifteen minutes. I don't know how a business survives when they don't even open their doors for business on a day that should have been their biggest revenue day of the week. It was Saturday the 9th of August. A beautiful day and a great day for some ice cream.
(1)
Adam K.

I feel like all the places I go to regularly, I either reviewed in 1998 or just assume I reviewed it already. Yo holler at this place, so many permutations is will drive you insane. A few of my fav's are: Ice Cream: Burnt Sugar, Coconut, Lemon, Blue berry. Raspberry, Ginger, Butterfinger, Oreo Chocolate, Peanut Butter, butterfinger, marshmallow You get it, I am fat. They also have shakes, I reccommend everything, the staff is nice, its always clean, they are fairly quick even with a long line. Love.
(5)
Diane G.

4 stars for having such a unique product! Liquid nitrogen ice cream--whaaa?? Icream is one of those hip, innovative spots with a modern feel. I had the curry Icream with coconut..I was hesitant about curry icecream at first, but the employee recommended it. It was offputting, but in a good day! They have a lot of unique flavors, and you can order regular, soy, lite, or organic ice cream. Lots of choices, just like we Americans like 'em. They also let you choose the color of your icream, which umm is AWESOME! Everything tastes better orange. P.S. I find it hilarious that they have a sign noting "This is REAL yogurt, it's tangy and works best with fruit." LOL. Aww you're cute Chicago. Clearly froyo is not as big here as it is in California.
(4)
Yvonne B.

This is a really, really fun concept place. I would go again to impress out-of-town guests or small children. My friend and I made the trek on a Friday evening (around 9:00 PM) and quickly found parking right across the street from iCream. Inside was smaller than I expected. There was a short row of stools along the front window, a flat screen tv showing muted Star Wars, and one or two tables way in the back. I would naaaaat go there to hang out - even to eat my ice-cream after it's made for me. It is just too crowded. The line stretches along the counter and moves with purpose. It does take a few minutes for your treat to be made for you, but the time goes quickly as you watch the process (or the muted Star Wars). My friend and I both agreed that it was worth the wait. We loved our ice-cream concoctions! Our two treats costs a little over $9. We both got small cups. I would have liked to get shnazzy with my ice-cream experience, but thought that the additional mix-ins and toppings were pricey. Weird points: - the menu was a bit confusing: * it was numbered (as if in steps), but number 4 was drinks. * I know that you can get pudding there too, but I didn't see it on the menu. * the prices weren't really that clear. - there was no background music or tv sounds. - the waiting area (in the front by those tall stools) was pretty crowded. - it took me a while to figure out where to collect my treat. Eventually I spotted a small window opening pushed back on the wall with the tv.
(3)
Dani K.

When you come in, there are signs that warn, "Hey, you're gonna be waiting a while, so don't be in a hurry after ordering." That's cool, thanks for the heads up! Except that what I waited for was hardly worth it. The concept is cool, the interior is cool, everything is cool...but the ice cream itself wasn't what I expected nor was it beyond mediocre. It wasn't bad but wasn't great. For the price that I paid and the time I waited, I expected more and this place fell short.
(3)
Aaron B.

Great ice cream. Clean store, fast and efficient checkout. -1 star for the long time it took for our order to arrive.
(4)
Caroline M.

Tasted like a DQ Blizzard, which is totally a compliment. My friend found two pieces of foil in her ice cream (Eerrrr.....no thanks). I like cupcakes so maybe my opinion doesn't even count.
(2)
Len L.

I thought I was entering into a mad science lab experiment - liquid nitrogen being injected with raw material to form your favorite ice cream/yogurt/sorbet flavors. - It looks like magic - weird looking items thrown into a big bowl and blasted with liquid nitrogen and presto - ice cream. It was pricey for a small cup, which I had and I would have been happy with a pint of Ben and Jerry's. - basically cost the same but I would have more ice cream left over for the next day.
(3)
Ashray L.

I might as well be the brand ambassador for this place. I have recommended - no, forced - so many of my friends and colleagues to go to this place that they might as well start giving me a commission. One of my colleagues had referred me to this place in the Winter of 2010 and I have never looked back since. When I first entered, the place looked like a set of a Sci-fi movie with smoke bellowing out of pots churning delicious tasting ice creams. It can be a little intimidating for a first-timer with the hundreds of permutations and combinations of flavors, mix-ins and add-ins. My all-time favorite is the "That guy from Florida". Top it of with some cinnamon and you have a winner. Friendly-service is a huge bonus.
(5)
Jenna S.

This place is definitely cool, but the flavor of the creations just falls short. It's fun to watch them actually freeze yogurt for you at the end of the counter. It's also fun to pick a bunch of stuff to put in your creation. However, the yogurt just didn't blow me away. It was pretty bland, which is to be expected, but it was still bland with toppings galore. Kind of bizarre. It's pretty cramped in here, so prepare for a wait on hot summer days. There's only like six chairs so it's best to just take your yogurt to go.
(3)
Dana A.

AWESOME! Great fro-yo and ice cream!! Plus they have soy ice cream! Liquid nitrogen such a fun idea! I have been wanting to try this place since I heard about it! I love love frozen yogurt and the fact that I got to choose everything about it! The whole choose what you want is for sure the crave in every type of food so why not I Cream. Though I do feel the name is a little odd balls! At first I was overwhelmed by all the options but I thought thats what makes this place so great! Sooooo H OW IT WORKS! 1. Pick Ice cream, Frozen Yogurt or Soy ice cream, then you get to chose the option of light for ice cream, frozen yogurt option of fat free. 2. Pick the flavor! You get to choose two! What we picked! I picked fro-yo strawberry and white chocolate, you can pick if you want a color but I didn't find it necessary! My boyfriend did chocolate and mint ice cream. He was really craving some great ice cream and that he received! 3. Then you pick you add your mix-ins! I put chocolate chips in mine with strawberries it was a great compliant to the strawberry and white chocolate flavor! My boyfriend added nutella to his and he loved loved it!!! He couldn't stop talking about how amazing the ice cream was! We ordered med would recommend that size because its frozen yogurt/or ice cream and you know you want more than a small! There was a line but honestly sooo worth it! its such a great experience. Great place for a first date, any date at that! Plus there is a patio to sit outside or you can go on a romantic walk hand in hand and with your ice cream! :)
(5)
Mary Y.

This is one of the most interesting dessert spots in Chicago. The owner had the idea back in business school and I'm told was encouraged to open it up as an business idea. And boy, are we glad she did. There are so many different options, I can't even list them. You basically pick your flavor and decide whether you want ice cream, sorbet, rice pudding or even frozen yogurt. Pick you toppings and/or mix-ins. An average dessert will set you back about $4-$5. They then mix it in a Kitchenaid mixer and toss the liquid nitrogen in it and boom... you have a perfectly made custom dessert. It's so fresh and delicious. Not to mention super cool the way they make it. You can even watch them behind clear windows. The only problem is it takes about 4-5minutes to make 1 dessert, so be prepared to wait. I wish I could have thought of this idea!
(5)
Liang H.

Coool concept, bad execution. Unfortunately, my pistachio ice cream was not creamy and tasted very hard- like the edges had freezer burn. All the liquid nitrogen's doing, I suppose :P If you've never been to iCream, it is one of those novelty places that you should visit at least once. Am I coming back though? Nah
(2)
Annie C.

Okay, yes, super cool! They make your ice cream with nitrogen and funky stuff like that right in front of you. But man that shit's expensive!!! And not that good either... A little overrated don't you think. And yes, I went because I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and I came out disappointed.
(1)
Nessie V.

Screw that pellet stuff. THIS is the ice cream of the future! Liquid nitrogen not only allows the ice cream to be made with a cloud-like consistency, but it allows everything to be made to order while-u-wait. They have a large selection of flavors but it's a little fruit-heavy: They do have stuff like almond, green tea, hazelnut, burnt sugar... They also have many add-ins like gumballs and chocolate chips. I got the latter and they had tons in there. They also have a wide selection of media that can be used: You want Soy Cream? Sure! You want hot pudding on a cold day? Got it! And then the most fun part is you get to pick a color. I ordered blue in my green tea, but the tea made it more teal. Still fun! Can't wait to go back... to the future!
(5)
Phill C.

Cool concept and fun to watch the process. Made-to-order ice cream, mixed and frozen right there on the spot, with a large computer controlled Kitchen Aid mixer & a liquid nitrogen dispenser. It's on the expensive side, but definitely fun to watch the liquid nitro fog coming out of the mixer. Too many choices to choose from. Even to start off, you need to choose a base for your icream, with regular & reduced fat ice cream, soymilk, yogurt, and sorbet. I think I also saw some hot pudding. Then you have the huge list of flavors, mix-ins, and colorings to choose from. I couldn't decide, so just went with one of the pre-made mashups. I got the Momma's favorite, which was made of chocolate ice cream, nutella, and raspberries. It took a little less then 10 minutes to make and I line was quickly forming, since the owner was working alone that night. It was worth the wait, as I really enjoyed my ice cream and definitely notice the unique texture. I'll definitely try some of the crazier ingredients next time, maybe some curry?
(4)
Laura G.

Ice cream, I can take it or leave it. This is adult ice cream. I like that you can mix and match or go with tried and true. We tried "that guy from Florida" with Nutella and it was great. So good we wanted to try a few more. I LOVE Black Licoice - they had Anise flavor. I LOVE Coconut - they had Coconut flavor WHY NOT MIX MY 2 FAVORITES?? Oh, and a topping, I didn't want to get crazy so I had them mix in coconut. My nephew tried Green Tea and Root Beer with Coconut topping. The girl taking his order said "REALLY?" It was different but actually good. You can taste the Root Beer and the Green Tea. This is real stuff, not flavoring. REAL Anise, REAL Coconut. DELICIOUS. And fun to watch them make it!
(4)
Mike D.

Make your own blizzard.... With flavors, colors, topping.... Pick ice cream or yogurt. you can go healthy or not here... and everything is made from scratch right in front of your eyes using a mix and liquid nitrogen... my cake and coffee flavored blue ice cream with cookie dough and cream cheese topping was killer. my only detraction was that its a bit slow (homemade ice cream takes time)... so if they're busy, expect to wait.
(4)
Rose A.

Saw this place on TV (I think on the Cooking Channel's Unique Sweets) and it looked really interesting, plus I thought my daughter would get a kick out of seeing the ice cream. This is how it works: 1. Choose if you want ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, or a milkshake. 2. Choose your flavor(s) of ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. 3. Choose the color you want it to be (yes, you can pick your color). 4. Then you can select which mix-ins you'd like They have many flavors & mix-ins to choose from. My husband and daughter shared a chocolate & hazelnut milkshake with graham cracker. It was really good. I choose to have PURPLE chocolate & hazelnut ice cream with nutella. It was absolutely delicious (my husband almost finished my ice cream) BUT the purple was more like specks of red and blue. Boo! = ( Nonetheless, it was pretty cool to see the milkshake and ice cream made to order in a mixing bowl and the "smoke" that was created with the use of liquid nitrogen. I wouldn't mind going back to try other flavor combinations...
(4)
Keith A.

iCream is 3.5 stars for me, but the liquid nitrogren show totally makes me want to put it into the 4* category. What's cool is that they have both ice cream and frozen yogurt along with a lot of flavors for both. I was more in the mood for yogurt, so yogurt it was. The sizes didn't seem too much different from each other and the medium was what seems normally a small at many places. Absolutely fine by me, seriously more places need to make smaller portions in the first place. Onto the yogurt itself. I decided on almond and cherry flavors and I was pretty pleased with my choices. Nevermind the awesome liquid nitro display, the flavors were pretty damn good. There were obviously a lot of cherries, but the almonds turned out to be a real nice touch too. This is me now patting myself on the back for choosing such an awesome combination. I do have to comment on the liquid nitro for this. It's sooooooooo friggin cool to watch. Yea, it's as cool as the pic for iCream shows. It almost seems like it's out of a sci-fi show or film and is kinda hypnotic. I definitely dig iCream. The location makes it easy to pop in on and get some yogurt or ice cream. There's that and the cool liquid nitrogen show.
(4)
Jaime G.

Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream (to order). Nice ice cream concept with regular, soy, sorbet, yogurt and all sorts shakes at iCream in Wicker Park. They essentially make ice cream from scratch, to order, while you wait. Combinations include Carmel and curry with ginger and all sorts of toppings. A little pricy but good.
(4)
Phil F.

When I heard that there was a place that combined two deep loves of mine (science and ice cream), I had to try it. I've never been a huge fan of froyo: If I am going to splurge, I want to do so extravagantly. However, I really just wanted to see the liquid nitrogen. You get to choose a flavor of ice cream or yogurt (you can blend two), followed by mix-ins, followed by selecting a color (which I did not know about). I previously made the mistake at Andy's Custards of not having enough mix-ins and regretting it later. I figured that it was worth the extra cost to have something truly memorable. I got a medium caramel and white chocolate ice cream, with peanut butter, peanut butter cup, and nutella mix-ins. I anxiously awaited as they moved my cup towards the vat of liquid nitrogen. It actually didn't take to long, but it looked awesome. I was wondering how this would affect my concoction as I got my first spoonful. It was honestly magnificent. The quick freezing really does add texture. There were slightly frozen chunks of nutella and everything was mixed in so well. Each bite was decadent. The price tag was a little high, which normally ends in me docking the rating, but the experience on a whole in tandem with the quality of the product deserves a 5 star rating. I wouldn't come back here monthly, but you should definitely try it if you haven't. Liquid nitrogen is awesome, as is the ice cream! They have enough toppings and flavors that you could come back every day and try something new. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
(5)
David S.

Weird and pricey and good. The frozen yogurt comes out really cold, but it's very tasty and the liquid-nitrogen setup is unique.
(4)
Flor D.

I don't think I've ever had That Guy From Florida...and If I did, I don't remember. Until now. Clearly, the man left an impression, and he was delicious. Everything a girl could hope for and then some. ICream is an ice cream lover's paradise. A place where 2 lovers meet for the very first time. Please don't call me Madonna, but I truly felt like a virgin to the liquid nitrogen LAB. Don't be intimidated. It truly is as easy as 1. select your base (fro yo, ice cream) 2. select the mix-in's (toppings or extra's) 3. select a color (neon purple) I opted for something simple, something alluring. Rich ice cream, cream soda & white chocolate all mixed up with Nutella. If that isn't the most perfect guy...then I don't know what is.... You tell me.
(4)
Aimee M.

2.5 stars really. I like the concept. Choose IceCream/Frozen Yogurt/Low fat frozen yogurt, then Choose a flavor, then choose some mix-ins (including color), then choose some toppings if you so desire. Watch them create your order in a cloud of dry ice mist. That's kind of cool. But the product itself....meh. I would rather get a pint of ice cream from the grocers. I opted for the Raspberry low fat frozen yogurt, topped with fresh raspberries and crushed graham crackers. The frozen yogurt was hard, not creamy at all, and had hardly any raspberry flavor. My cousin shared her strawberry low fat yogurt--that tasted a bit better. I think the bro won with his concoction of coconut ice-cream with pineapple mixed in--that was pretty good. But all three didn't impress me very much when you compare it to what's out there for home-made ice cream and frozen yogurt. There are some nice discounts for students, CTA riders and folks that dined at Piece (show receipt)--check out the placard on the counter.
(3)
Natalie G.

iCream you fancy huh? This place is just breeding on trendy trendy. Capitalizing on the hope that if you add a "i" in front of it, all the hipster apple kids will come a flocking.. and I am sure they did. On top of fancy liquid nitrogen ice cream.. this place is saying, "Let's be trendy in all ways possible." But alas, I sport an iphone and I use a Mac, and yes I'm a diehard Top Chef fan, and I consider myself a foodie, so I flocked. Gotta give it up. It's unique. The unique customizations on taste, mix-ins, and even color are good. An almond and hazelnut ice cream blend with nutella and almonds mixed it was a good combo for me! But bad on yellow as the color choice.. it looked wierd. My friends strawberry, berry, and chocolate mix was good too. To continue the experience, we got the rice pudding which was pretty good. We kept it basic with just cinnamon added in. But I had to try it. They had a legit Asian rice cooker on the counter. You know, the Tiger ones that are white, with pink flowers. Mad legit Asian ones. It caught my eye, I had to try. All in all. It's an experience. The texture of the ice cream is a little funky, but it's something to see.
(3)
Lisa H.

Finally found my favorite iCream combo!! Are you ready? 1. Treat: Organic Ice Cream 2. Flavor: Almond & Burnt Sugar (both sugar-free, surprisingly!) 3. Add-ins: Graham Cracker Crush & Mangoes! Trust me, if you like Almond flavor anything, you are gonna love this combo! It's an innovative Ice Cream store, and I am glad the founders chose to start their adventure in Chicago! Great place to bring out-of-towners or kids ;) Had to take 1 star off cuz the ice creams are incredibly pricy...! Again, worthy splurge after a day of shopping / people watching / Renegade Fair hunting in Wicker Park!
(4)
Kevin W.

So many possibilities!!! I think this could be my favorite icecream/yogurt place.. Its right up there with the best froyo places but maybe even above since you could get fresh rice pudding, ice cream or froyo. I had the organic ice cream, with almond and burnt sugar flavor, colored it purple, and added strawberries to it. Excellent combo I have to say. I could easily taste the almond and burnt sugar. I'd have to try the regular ice cream instead of the organic next time to see if there is really a difference between the two. The ice cream is actually liquid form when they blend it and then they spray liquid nitrogen "steam/smoke" into the blender which freezes it to a more solid state. Really cool stuff, and again the possibilities of type of dessert, flavor, color and toppings are almost endless.
(4)
Sarah R.

Yes, I'm adding another review to the hundred this place has, but I want to add my two cents. This place is awesome. No wonder there's always a line. It's such a neat concept! The flavor combinations are all great and I agree, the stall is very nice. It's a great place to teach kids about science and enjoy a nice treat at the same time. It's friendly to all (i.e. Vegan and dairy consumers).
(5)
Lauren P.

I love how they make purple hazelnut ice cream!. Athela was so helpful in selecting the perfect combo of decadent ice cream. My combo: hazelnut ice cream, nutella, and graham crackers! And the best part is when they mix it all together, and all this crazy steam comes out. The best part was the mini window they had on the other wall. My friend and I couldn't find the hole where they were calling out people's names. Cute decor by the way! - rather modern seating. Outdoor seating could be better.
(4)
Virginia T.

After dinner nearby we stopped in for a novelty experience. We got that- but it didn't blow me away. The place seemed to be disorganized and ran slowly. It says that a sign inside that on the weekends you can expect long waits. The custom options are nearly endless it seems. When you order you: Choose ice cream, yogurt or a shake Choose a base: (regular, light, organic, soy, regular or non-fat yogurt (which they have signs up that say "it is tangy!!")) Pick 1 or 2 flavors, a color, and fruit or candy mix-in We split a yogurt base with peach flavor and raspberries. They blend the items into the base, but it was a little light on the raspberries. The order did take a while, but then they also forgot the name on the order, so they were awkwardly calling out entire orders and it was a little crazy. The overall flavor was good, it wasn't really as fake as I expected it to be. The texture wasn't bad either. It was pricey though. I think this is one place everyone should go to- if only to create some crazy custom concoction and try a frozen treat made with liquid nitrogen. I just don't see myself going back for a 2nd visit.
(3)
Katherine T.

What the fuck, open 3 days a week? Screw your hipster hours. I'll go get some goddamn froyo instead.
(1)
Kat L.

i love how inventive and ingenius this spot is. I mean, how crazy is it that you can get yourself pink or blue banana ice cream? My combo: White chocolate and almond with banana and nutella mixed in. Soooo awesome. These guys are great. Even if you're a little unsure, they'll give you great recommendations. Check out the walls; there are recommendations from other diners there too! I suggest for anyone to pick maybe only one or two flavors to mix in together for your base. Otherwise it can get a little crazy. And be careful too if you're choosing frozen yogurt instead of ice cream; it'll give a more sour taste to your concoction. My friends had a burnt sugar frozen yogurt.... kinda suspicious tasting (but I don't blame the place.... that just doesn't sound right together! ) In that sense, it can be a hit or miss. Like I said. Don't get too crazy with flavor bases if it's your first time here. A mix-in can always save the day to give your cup a kick. That said, it's an exciting place to bring friends or family from out of town. A great wow factor for Chicago; there's really no other place like it! The only trouble is, watch what times you try and head over. It's pretty tough to park in the area, especially if you're heading over on a weekend night. Try this place out! you won't forget it. And there's no way to get tired of it either.
(5)
Darren F.

2 words... liquid nitrogen.. how often do you hear people use liquid nitrogen to make your ice cream?! the place is pretty small and simple.. but something about the place makes me not wanting to sit down and eat there.. maybe its the layout of the place?.. anyways.. the service was nice.. and when they see you looking at the menu for awhile, they will ask if its your first time and then go over the menu for you... i choose orange and peach ice cream with strawberry and mango fruits for my mix.. it was a great combination! i would recommend that to anyone! altho its not even near the best ice cream i ever had nor seem like a comfortable place to eat.. i still give it a 4 star for service and the fact they use liquid nitrogen.. its a good experience..
(4)
Sean C.

The strawberry cheesecake mix that I ordered was the best ice cream ever! Line moved fast, wait wasn't too long, and the show of them making them is a treat in itself. The ice cream colors (if you pick one) are a little creepy.
(5)
Corissa B.

Awesome place! I saw this on a food channel and I had to try it when I visited Chicago. I had the almond ice cream with light milk, chocolate chips and pistachio nuts...and it was PURPLE! So good, I'm glad I got to come here twice before I had to go back to LA!
(4)
Rich K.

I really enjoyed the show and the ice cream. The employees are very efficent, I don't think our wait was more than twenty minutes. If you go, remember that the process of making the ice cream flavors is half the fun.
(3)
Zugey K.

Came on a tour group so we were introduced to the owner and concept. Only flavor we had was "That Guy From Florida" and it was ridiculously delicious and smooth.
(4)
Charlie S.

It was a cool experience, but this place is no more than a novelty.
(3)
Maaya Y.

Omg, I've only tried this place once but my first experience was AMAZING!! Of course I wouldn't expect this place to be cheap like McDonald's ice cream cheap but for the quality of their ice cream I think the price is decent. There was a line when I went but really, after tasting it I totally think it was worth being in the line waiting. If I remember, I got a strawberry cheese cake or something like that and I had a wonderful experience here! Being able to see how they're making the ice cream is quite the entertainment as well. One bite and I was engaging in conversations about the ice cream with strangers so that was fun too! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Stephanie G.

Sooooo Delish every time I go. Nutella and strawberry is the way to go !!
(5)
Sheresse S.

FORGET COLD STONE! ICream Is where it's at! There is really no way to describe how much of an orgasm in your mouth this place is. I love the customized yogurt and the fact you can make it anyway you want! Just wonderful. If anything ever happens to this place I just might crawl into a cave for the rest of my life.
(5)
Danny M.

Cool concept (no pun intended). A fun treat for summer if you want to be out with your tight jean pants being all hipster. Close to the Damen Blue line stop. You can create whatever combination you want with your choice of many types of yogurt/icecream. You can't knock the amount of options at iCream. They give you some choices on the wall, but you are free to create your own. That sort of process stresses me out because I tend to want everything and it gets costly. Bring tourists for a rare treat, but other than that, other fro yo places in the city where you get more bang for your buck. Plan to wait - During busy times, you might be waiting up to 20 minutes for your treat. Booo! I need instant gratification.
(3)
Carolynne M.

I kind of love the concept - ice cream made to order and totally customizable! I am such a whore for that. I took my niece here because I thought she would dig the semi-futuristic decor and the (smoke? steam? whatever it is called) that the mixers made when the liquid nitrogen was poured in. I was paying attention to the fact that one of the flavours for the ice cream was Cayenne, and I knew I had to have that. So I ended up with Cayenne, chocolate chips and pistachio. It was pretty damn good. Niece-y wasn't as adventurous as me, but she liked what she ordered too. It's not cheap, but if you don't come on a regular basis it is totally worth it. So many choices, there is literally something for everyone!
(4)
Josh V.

I popped in here on a Friday afternoon, having only a vague idea of what to expect from reading other people's Yelp reviews. I glanced up at the big menu board, and much have looked a bit overwhelmed, as the girl behind the counter inquired if I'd ever been to iCream before. I said I hadn't and she explained the process to me. I think other reviewers have adequately covered the process, so I won't repeat that. I went with a low fat frozen yogurt with white chocolate flavor and peanut butter mixed in. After watching my special creation made in what I can only assume was a magic witch's cauldron, it was ready to eat. First impression: it looked a little soupy. The taste? Very good. Maybe I just have a knack for mixing flavors or I got lucky, but I was very happy with the taste of my little (ok medium) treat. The texture was smooth and creamy and the peanut butter was mixed in evenly. But like I said, it was soupy. It was already a bit melty when it was handed to me and it continued to liquifty rapidly. It only took me a few minutes to eat, but at the end I had to drink what was left out of the bowl. If that is the norm, I understand why they don't offer cones; they would never hold up. The process of making my treat was pretty quick. Not much longer than it would take to make a Blizzard at the DQ. However, I was the only one in the store at the time, and I could see it getting backed up quickly if there's a rush. In fact when I walked past the place later over the weekend there were a bunch of people waiting in the front. So while I'd like my frozen treat to be a bit more frozen, I love the customization options and the rather unique gimmick of freezing your ice cream (or yogurt) right there on the spot for you.
(4)
Linda D.

It's a good thing that this place has great ice cream, because they are definitely in the running for worst store name. "iCream" sounds like the favorite phrase of either a baby or a pervert. Nominal issues aside, the crazy liquid nitrogen flash-frozen mad scientist ice cream they serve here is a pretty great snack for these hot Chicago summer days. They have a pretty large list of flavors and they can make them into a yogurt, ice cream, or sorbet. You pick the flavor, what kind of frozen whutevathang you want, some toppings, and sit back and enjoy the spectacle. I went in around 5 PM on a weekday, and with a few customers ahead of me, it took around 7 minutes to get my lime ice cream with strawberries and gummy bears (don't judge me). While the staff is making iCream - I don't feel so comfortable saying that - you can watch as the fog pours out of the bowls like a witch's cauldron, without all the worms, warts, and stuff. The ice cream itself is super refreshing, and because of the liquid nitrogen, it's smoother than regular ice cream, with less air pockets, if that makes any sense. There's not much seating in the shop, save for like three little butt-hugger stools (you'll know what I mean when you see them), but it's located right in the heart of Wicker Park, so grabbing a cup and walking around or crazy-people watching outside isn't a terrible option. A small with two toppings set me back about $6, which I think is on the pricey side, so I probably wouldn't go there every day. But it's a good place for a little frozen indulgence.
(4)
Chris H.

As most of the folks have been commenting, you want to like this place. It's cool, it's modern, it's quirky, it's icecream that's quick freezed with liquid nitrogen for cripes sake! It's as if Ben, Jerry and Grant Achatz had some freaky love child, and left it up for adoption in Wicker Park. But it's another case of great concept and flawed execution. When they're busy, the wait can be stupidly long. I ordered a 'green machine' sorbet and an iced coffee, and was told that coffee would be a 30 minute wait. 30 mins?!? Double-you tee eff, mate?! In addition to the wait, the shop is just plain dirty. Spent napkins, drops of spilled ice cream, and other random strata besmirched the otherwise snowy white counters. Worst of all, some of their creations just don't taste that great. The green machine sorbet, enhanced with lime and peach, was cloyingly sweet. A real shame, because the quick freeze process leaves the product with a beautifully creamy texture, due to under-developed ice crystals. However, a creation of soy ice cream with chocolate and coffee flavoring was exceptional. Cool as liquid nitrogen may be, it's going to need a lot more than that to elevate this place from a mere gimmick to a legitimate destination for frozen confections.
(3)
Liz L.

This place is pretty awesome, despite the slightly grungy look of the place. The windows could use a good scrub and everything inside, although clean, looks a little dated. However, the people here are nice and the product is DELICIOUS! I love the mint flavor with raspberry mix-ins. It's so much fun to try combinations you might not normally see together but that taste great anyway. Also, the freshly made ice cream tastes way fresher than anything you can buy at a store, even the yummy locally made organic pint-type products that I normally go for.
(4)
Andre W.

Getting ice cream at this place is a totally different experience. I once stood by as others were ordering ice cream and did not partake in the activity of ice cream buying, but I was amazed at the laboratory like process of ice creamery this place has. My girl and I decided to stop by and check it out. I ordered the medium sized regular ice cream. The two flavors I chose were vanilla and honey along with reeses pb cup and butterfinger toppings. My girl got meduim sized regular icream as well with the flavors of pamegrante and grape. Her flavors were actually better than mine, but mine was still good. Lots of choices for flavors and toppings here. They have a very small sitting area inside as well as outside, so we decided to sit outside and enjoy our treats. Out total amount came out to $12. When they call your name to give you your icream they are really nie, but it can be a 10 minute wait before you recieve it. While were sitting outside, a guy stopped and asked, "is that really good"? I said yeah its pretty good. He replied "well is it life changing"? I said not really, buts its good ice cream and worth a try.
(4)
James L.

OMG (Meet George Jetson). iCream is a space-age ice cream that isn't Dippin Dots (His boy, Elroy). It's a bunch of chemicals mixed together and frozen with another chemical - liquid nitrogen (Daughter Judy). Viola! From the chemicals comes custom-made ice cream (Jane, his Wife). It's the precursor to the meal-in-a-pill. It might not be organic, but, man, is it cutting-edge!
(1)
shannon s.

It's so wacky and different! ! ... .. but so very not good. I took my brother there as a treat the other night because both Cold Stone Creamery and Dairy Queen are closed in our neighborhood. It looked pretty hokey from the outside, but their signature combination suggestions sounded pretty good, so we decided to try it out. Bad choice. After spending 11 dollars for two small ice creams, all we ended with was some strange concoction that tasted pretty much like nothing and had the consistency of freezer-burned ice cream. And white chocolate/irish-creme and oreos sounded like a delish combo! Such a disappointment: we ended up throwing half of it away after repeatedly asking one another "does yours taste like anything?" The only redeeming factor was "Princess Bride" playing on their completely unnecessary flat screen television.
(1)
Gia S.

So fun! What a great interactive experience. The staff was great, friendly and helpful. I love the fresh ingredients and the ability to go fat free, no sugar added. A must try if you are nearby.
(5)
Jerry L.

*it was fun and exciting seeing (and inhaling) all the liquid nitrogen in the air. *Staff was helpful and friendly *We went on a busy night after dinner. Line wait about 25 minutes, and another 25 minutes after putting in the order... which was... NOT WORTH it! *The flavors were made from liquid sauces.. so some of them tasted too artificial to me.. *I don't think it's that expensive, considering it that it also take them super long time to make each order. *2 star simply because the flavor wasn't all there.
(2)
Jen B.

Props to iCream for taking something that's already really fun - ice cream - and making it, like, infinitely more enjoyable. I mean, who doesn't want their ice cream: (a) made any color they want, (b) topped with every possible sprinkle, nut, candy or fruit imaginable, (c) created in a Willy Wonka-style all white science lab, and (d) served by possibly the friendliest food service professionals on Earth? It's for sure not the tastiest variety I've ever had, I'm guessing because they don't use gobs upon gobs of pure dairy fat and sugar like some of my all-time favs. But come on, ice cream is ice cream, and unless something goes horribly wrong, it's going to taste great to me. I have no bones about the wait time or the cost. You want a cheap, thrown together cone? Go elsewhere.
(4)
Brianna L.

YUM! YUM! YUM! THats all I can say for iCream. I not only love the name, but the ice cream they serve. Yes, you have to wait, but I promise the wait is well worth it :). I had vanilla ice cream, with almond, and nutella. OMG it was mouth watering goodness. My friend went with the mint chocochip Nothing special about it except the fact that we got to watch it be made! I guess I'm a kid in that way and thought it was totally awesome! :) I left with a big ear to ear grin on my face after that yummy treat!
(5)
matt b.

You scream, I scream, we all scream!: ICREAAAAAAAAAAAAM!@#!@# (running from McDonald's reject staff carrying "BURNT SUGAR" syringes, liquid nitrogen fog pooling over the horizon). Ended a great father's day here. Came for ice cream, stayed to observe them knock a stack of serving cups onto an absolutely filthy floor and then proceed to place them back on the counter to serve to customers. There was actually a deft fake-swish into the trash can before they went back into rotation. Presumably they were out of the size, or just too lazy to go get more in the back. I pointed it out to someone behind the counter which was met with incredulity... then when I was about to be served my iCream (rofl!) in said container, I became more insistent, at which point their incredulity turned to braindead lashing out as they threatened to call the police. "uhhh... ok, call the police. What?" resulted in them physically coming around the counter to remove me. *wow* location + gimmick + unsupervised staff + filth + insane attitude = surefire success! wait. no.
(1)
rock c.

This place is ridiculously cool (no pun) !! The line seemed a bit long (doubled back to the door) but it went decently quick. My wife and I shared a berry blast sorbet flavored with white chocolate and cream cheese mixed in, which seemed to shock the staff but it was outrageous! The texture they achieve with the nitrogen is nothing short of perfect. The flavors are your own choice, so if you don't like that it's your own fault, right? I will come back every time I go to Chicago.
(5)
Natalie M.

Liquid Nitrogen ice cream- great concept, fun shop. They have tons of flavors, ice cream types (i.e. fat, non fat, frozen yogurt), and mix ins. There is something here for everyone. My Mom had the lemon ginger ice cream with gummi bears- colored GREEN (she was tickled PINK by the idea that you can color your ice cream hehe). I had the vanilla almond with M&M's as a mix in- colored purple. The liquid nitrogen gives the ice cream a VERY smooth texture and picking your own color makes me feel creative. Granted, this ice cream is a novelty- it is not something I plan on having every day, or even every week. Given this, I am not too upset about the price ($10 for our two ice creams). I think the fun concept is worth it.
(4)
Lakshmi R.

I wasn't impressed. To be honest, I didn't really understand what was going on: iCream has some gimmicky thing involving liquid nitrogen and ice cream whose color you can choose, and a bizarre set of what look like vials of food coloring with needles in them, the kind nurses use to stab you in the arm. All this drama just to get you what you basically can get at Cold Stone: ice cream with mix-ins. I never really DID understand what the color thing was about: there were no signs, at least as far as I could see, explaining what iCream was going for. I wondered, though: do I really want pink-tinted vanilla ice cream with Oreos in it? That sounded so....disturbing. What annoyed me most of all was the impression that the place was all smoke and mirrors: it took us a good 10 minutes to get our ice cream after ordering. The store was almost empty when we entered, though a line had formed by the time we placed our order--so it was totally mysterious to as to what all 4 or so staff were up to behind the counter that caused them such a delay. So yeah. Just another unimpressive, vaguely irritating addition to Wicker Park. Skip it.
(2)
Don J.

I've been to iCream 3 or 4 times and it is the most unique ice cream parlour in Chicago. On your first visit to iCream you should play it safe and try the "that guy from Florida" ice cream. It is one of the best ice creams they have and a very good option for people daunted by picking their own milk, topping, mix ins, color etc of ice cream. The liquid nitrogen does make a great ice cream but it also ensures that you will always wait nearly 15 minutes before you get your ice cream due to the back log of orders. Also, iCream isn't cheap and should be viewed as more of a treat as opposed to your regular ice cream parlour. Street parking can be difficult to find but the staff are really friendly and if you have friends from out of town visit Chicago, iCream is a great option.
(4)
Sandra T.

I love to come here for I cream. I get the organic milk choice, strawberry flavor with cream cheese and graham cracker as add ins. It is great. Be prepared to wait. The ice cream needs to be made it isn't in some container waiting to be scooped out. So bring someone along that you love talking to.
(5)
Evangeline L.

Fun? yes. Delicious? No way. I was excited to go to icream because of all the different options like low fat non fat splenda or soy whatever. Plus you can decorate it green yellow pink etc...however not sure why one would want yellow ice cream. Anyway, I can't even remember what flavor combo I had but I do remember it didn't taste, well, tasty...and I swear I didn't attempt a wacko flavor combo! For delicious ice cream go somewhere else. For a fun place to get your kid some pink ice cream go here.
(2)
ZZ K.

Ok...I would say iCream is a solid 3.5 stars! So did I? No.....but it was still pretty darn good! We were actually eating dinner at Rotan across the street and my friend suggested I run over and check them out before we finished our dinner. It was an option for dessert! So yes, mid dinner I ran over to iCream to check them out and chat up the staff. Staff super friendly and helpful...check! Option extravaganza...check! Prices that won't make you pass out from shock....check! Ok, so we would definitely be back after dinner and we were! The staff was really excited to see me and welcomed me back like I was a long time client. :) I guess they didn't think they sold me on their product, but they sure did. I was curious and mesmerized by the smoke in the mixers. It was so cool to watch and make your crazy choice combinations...it might even get a bit overwhelming. The line was getting long so we opted to order quickly and went for one of the options they had posted on their wall which included: white chocolate, strawberries and choc chips. We went with the low fat ice cream since we wanted all sweet and no tangy...but a little less of the fat. :) We also tried the ever popular cinnamon and almond pudding...it was warm, creamy and hit the spot. I think this is a MUST for winter and fall..steaming pudding on those cold days would be dynamite! I will be back to try some of their other flavor combinations....both the ice cream and pudding!
(3)
Crelatia K.

Nice Mad Scientist in the kitchen vibe! My daughter and I stopped by iCream on a Sunday evening. The place was packed when we walked in, but we were at the cashier before I could figure out exactly what I wanted (5-8min.). My 13 year old daughter was ready so we decided to share. She ordered cookie dough, chocolate chip in purple. It took about 5-10 min. to get our dish. The ice cream was great. I wasn't a fan of the color but El was. While it was not the best ice cream I've ever had it was very good. The novelty/innovation, service and good product makes it a 5 star for me. I will be back...
(5)
J J.

So Expensive! So Good (sometimes). Long Lines (sometimes) Good Customer Service Though. $10 for ice cream? Sure. When it is done right. I've had some inconsistencies here but they've been quickly and cheerily rectified by the owner. It is a neat idea. The new, better Coldstone.
(4)
Cathy H.

The good: novelty, tons of flavors, tons of base options (I went with regular ice cream--why have ice cream if you're getting low-fat?!), novelty, very smooth. The bad: took forever (there were maybe 5 people ahead of us in line, max, and it took us about 20 minutes to get our ice cream), the parking situation was miserable (my own fault for going on a Saturday night--be warned!), not large portions for the price, and the flavors (I got burnt sugar and hazelnut with chocolate sauce and orange color) left an unpleasant aftertaste reminiscent of really cheap toffee candy. Ultimately, only two issues made me not really want to go back: the long wait and the weird aftertaste. That said, it might be somewhere I take people for the novelty, esp. if it's during a non-crazy-parking time.
(3)
Lyn C.

iCream= iFail. This place looks really cool, trendy, and sleek. I liked how the ice cream making process was inspired by Alton Brown and seeing syringes lined up on the wall with all the different flavors. Watching them make the ice cream was neat too. I had no idea what to order, so the cashier asked me if I liked nutella (which I looove) and suggested I get "the guy from florida". It took a while for them to make my ice cream, about 15 mins, and the end result? Bleeh. It was really rich. Also, the consistency was really really weird. I've tried to figure out how to explain it, but I think it would be equal to chewing a slug. Cool concept, poor product.
(2)
Olivia M.

Went in here for the first time today and was impressed. It's a little expensive ($4.91 for a small chocolate mint w/ chocolate chips) but the ice cream was really rich/creamy/tasty and totally worth it. The people working there were also really friendly and willing to answer any questions.
(4)
Manuela Z.

Tart peargranate yogurt you say? Don't mind if I do. The ordering and making of this recommended treat was incredible. Note - NOT for the indecisive. But the taste? Whoa what was that? Not tart and not a huge fan. The pear was overwhelming and the pomegranate must've gone on vacation because there wasn't even a hint of it. Will pinkberry please come to Chicago!?
(2)
Robin W.

You know, it wouldn't kill you guys to offer cones. Otherwise, it's nice that a vegan can go out and get a fancy shmancy icecream made for her right on the spot! They actually use liquid nitrogen to freeze flavored soy milk, add mix-ins like oreo cookies (vegan) and fresh fruit, and you got yourself a cup of sweetness. But seriously, why no cones? Not being able to get a great waffle cone is going to keep me from coming back.
(3)
Tish N.

The staff was beyond nice and answered all of my questions...gold star for that. I got the vanilla with nutella and I just wasn't thrilled. The line was so long, I just knew I was in for something great. It's was just okay...meh even. I'll probably try another option before I completely count it out. I'd prefer a place like Berry Chill over this.
(2)
Gaurang S.

I want to like you. I want you to do well. I love the concept. I want people to spend tons of money and make your owners fabulously wealthy. Just that I don't want to be one of those people. Just like Conan O'Brien, you'll be one of those things I'll appreciate, but never really experience more than a few times. Because you're ok, but not really all that great. And you're a little too high maintenance, I think.
(3)
Emily D.

Magic! I went to iCream the day after my 30th birthday party. A party at which my wonderful friends hired a magician for my gift. I'm not kidding. A magician came to the bar and did tons of tricks and left my jaw (literally) on the floor and me yelling "how did he do that??" numerous times. Anyway, the next day my roommates and I were in the mood for something sweet and decided to walk up Milwaukee to iCream. Being that I was hungover, I was a little hesitant about the walk at first, but figured that the reward at the finish line would be worth it. And boy was I right. We walked in and the place was moderately busy and very clean. I ordered regular ice cream with raspberry flavor, red coloring, and white chocolate chips as a mix-in. There are SO many possibilities; I wish that the "recipes" were more visible and obvious. I didn't even notice them until I had already ordered and the cashier brought them to my attention. I was set on what I wanted, but still would have been nice to see. They started making my order and I stood there, nose practically pressed up against the glass, watching the mixers spin while white, cold vapor emerged from the bowls. Minutes later, I got my ice cream, had my first taste and once again found myself with my jaw dropped to the floor asking "how did they do that???" iCream is an experience. A delicious experience and the kind of place that you can go to again and again and never get bored. It's magic!!!
(4)
Lauren H.

Walking by here on my way to dinner, I remembered having read about this shop, so I couldn't wait to try it for dessert. I creamed myself like a kid in a candy shop--or rather, in an ice cream shop. I loved the scientific feel to it, like witches cauldrons brewing, liquid nitrogen smoke blowing around, ingredients poured in beakers. The concept thrilled me. First, you choose the dessert you want--ice cream, frozen yogurt, warm pudding, or sorbet. Then, you pick your flavor and an optional color (no flavor), then top it off with toppings. I chose low fat burnt sugar fro-yo colored purple, with blueberries mixed in, and topped with caramel sauce. It was good, but the experience was somewhat ruined for me by the really long wait, and I was irked that several people who ordered after me were given their desserts before me, no explanation offered. I am sure I will go back though, so many combinations to create!
(4)
Anne M.

One word: Nutella. We stopped here on one of our food tours and I was stuffed and not willing to eat another bite. BUT then our guide told us our liquid nitrogen ice cream was cream soda and Nutella flavored, so I told my stomach to suck it up. I didn't find ice cream fitting for this day (50 deg) but it was sweet and the server was a doll. Glad I went with a guide, cuz to order seemed like a chore. A fun one though. Good stuff.
(3)
Brian L.

Why the heck is this place pricey for some froyo? Oh and they literally take 15-20 mins in making your order (hence the long lines). Moreover, the staff was very slow when I went, and they seem a bit lost and confused when you are ordering (maybe they were still in training?). The unique twist is, they add food coloring to your dessert to make it colorful, but that just stains your teeth. Although, I got to admit the place is pretty decent and their menu is very creative. I was somewhat overwhelmed in choosing what to order everything looked tasty! It's definitely a cute place to take your date to after a movie or dinner.
(3)
Leanne M.

yay- FINALLY, like a vegan's coldstone creamery! This place is all about experience, customizing, and OPTIONS. & I'm so proud of them for reopening after a premature start, so. proud. I had: blueberry soy ice cream with fresh blueberries & graham crackers. It reminded me of the best bowl of coldest cereal ever. (but that probably says more about the way I eat my cereal.) Anyway, the Deal is... 1. TONS of vegan options: ice cream, smoothies, and hot pudding! 2. TONS of sugar free options: choose the natural sugar alternative! 3. TONS of sweetness and real gosh darn love from the peeps here. NOTE: don't be misled by my vegan-focused review, this place offers all types of dairy ice cream too (though I think you'd love the soy stuff- you adventurer you!) Oh, and the defacto sweetener is liquid cane juice. (in my best Ahnold voice)... I'll be bahck.
(5)
christine c.

yah, i have no idea what the big deal is about this place. yah, ok, it's kind of cool to see smoke smoke come out of the kitchenaid mixer when they're making the ice cream - but that wears off really fast. REALLY FAST. i think this is a place to go if you want to see what ice cream would taste like if it were made from liquid nitrogen, but other than that, it don't be expecting ice cream when you go here. the texture is weird, the flavors are weird, the colors are weird. no no no, just go to your local grocery store next time you have a craving, or coldstones if you absolutely must choose your own mixins.h
(3)
Jinna H.

A not so great day, I decided to pick myself up with the new ice cream place in the neighborhood. I thought 'Sure, why not?' I studied the menu hard. I decided to get cake flavored ice cream with Reese's peanut butter cups and chocolate chips. So, the long wait sucked. 15 minutes on a weekend. There were a ton of people, and quite a few kids. But I was patient and watched the ice cream get made. Liquid nitrogen is pretty cool. Then my name was called. What would it taste like? Apparently, like awesome. It was a pretty freaking good ice cream! Smooth, sweet, but mellow too. Something I appreciate in an ice cream. I took just as long as I waited to finish it. They seem to have a small, dedicated staff who are ace at what they do and very patient but focused. I definitely want to come back with friends and try out more stuff.
(4)
Kevin A.

LIQUID NITROGEN IS F*CKIN' COOL And making ice cream with it is just an awesome idea. THE CONCEPT: Basically they have Dr. Octopus arms hanging from the ceiling that dispense liquid nitrogen into Kitchen-Aid mixers filled with your ingredients of choice. Extra points for letting people choose between milk, yogurt, or soy. THE SHOW: Once the liquid nitrogen starts flowing, it's a fun sight to behold. The billowing wisps of super-chilled air, the whirl of the mixers, and the chilling thought in the back of your head that the person making your ice cream could potentially turn into a popsicle in a tragic liquid nitrogen accident. THE PRODUCT: Delicious! The liquid nitrogen freezes the milk instantly and the result is very tiny ice crystals that give the ice cream a smooth, velvety mouth feel. The liquid nitrogen method also opens the door for a ton of new flavors and possibilities. Love gummy bears? You could add the gummy bears w/ the liquid nitrogen up front, pulverizing them and incorporating their flavor into the ice cream itself instead of just being a topping. Regarding all the negative reviews early on...it appears that iCream just had a grand reopening perhaps because things didn't go smoothly the first time around. I'd give them a do-over.
(4)
Aaron B.

They take a liquid mixture and right before your eyes use a Kitchenaid mixer and liquid nitrogen and turn it into ice cream/frozen yogurt/hot pudding/sorbet...coolness Went here the other night for the first time with a tough crowd - fellow Yelpers - and was thoroughly impressed. They have like six mixers going constantly and watching them make your ice cream is half the fun. You pick what kind you want from the following: - ice cream - frozen yogurt - hot pudding (i have no idea what this is) - sorbet and then you pick the flavor and color (cool) and lastly you pick the guts, i.e. butterfingers, fruit, nuts....etc... I had a frozen yogurt, strawberry with butterfinger, which was surprisingly good. I heard this place had a rough opening and actually closed and then reopened. Whatever they may have been dealing with has been fixed because it rocks now. The only thing hampering this place is the awkward way they have the line setup which creates a bottle neck at the front of the place and makes for a congested line up. Aside from this minor inconvenience I really liked this place and will mos def be back.
(4)
Elaine C.

I guess its kind of fun. It took me like 10 minutes to decide on a flavor combo and it took them another 15 to make it. I don't normally think of spending that much time in an ice cream shop, but i guess ice cream shops are normally not a spectacle. I picked regular ice cream (I mean, how can you judge flavor fairly if you go for "healthy" options? ;) with chocolate and hazelnut "flavor" injections, and bananas mixed in. They made it. It tasted pretty good. It was really rich in hazelnut flavor, and i enjoyed it. I guess I just don't understand the appeal of getting all science-class with your ice cream. I'd rather go to Star Fruit on Division and get frozen Kefir which I know is pretty good for me, even though there's probably more behind the scene science stuff happening in those frozen kefir machines that I don't see. Or Oberweiss down the street. It just seems so opposite of the whole natural movement. They say that the injections at icream are all natural extracts, and they only put milk and cream or whatever you want in there, but I just and not completely on board with it. But, it was a fun thing to do on a rainy afternoon. Definitely something to check out.
(3)
Erin B.

Yeah, I've never had lime frozen yogurt, until today. It was fricken awesome! I loved the fact that there were so many options, and that I changed my mind a thousand times before I decided upon the Lime frozen yogurt with pineapple toppings. Yeah, it sounds weird, but it was gone in record time!! Yeah!!
(4)
Kika K.

I heard about this store from one of my blogs and I knew I had to check it out, especially since my sister was in town. We went Friday afternoon and I was surprised at how busy it was since it was cold and everyone was supposed to be at work or school. There was also a news crew filming. Since the place isn't very big, it seemed crowded. The employees were incredibly friendly and they took the time to explain how the process works and how the menu worked, even though I thought it was pretty self explanatory. Because I was getting over food poisoning I thought it would be best to have a fruit smoothie. I had the mango based smoothie, with banana and peaches added. Because of the aforementioned illness, I decided to skip anything solid in my drink even though I had that option. My sister had ice cream, pomegranate based, flavored with green tea, blueberries on top, colored purple. The cashier took our name and we went and sat down on the bench to wait. The girl next to us already had her pink ice cream concoction, and while I thought it looked pretty disgusting, she absolutely loved it and couldn't stop gushing about it. After 5 minutes, our names were called and we got our treats. My smoothie was pretty safe, so of course it was amazing. I was a little hesitant on the green tea pomegranate, but it was pretty amazing as well. I didn't try and of the blueberries on top, but they were giant and looked very fresh. My sister approved of them. I absolutely loved this place. The prices were cheap too, considering all your options and everything you can get. It's also open until midnight, which is great if you want a treat after a couple drinks. I'd be a little concerned during the summer though. The place seemed crowded enough; I'd hate to see it when it's hot outside.
(5)
BenoitTro W.

This place creams, oops, I mean screams, "we've got a clever concept, we're going to overprice everything and FRANCHISE, FRANCHISE, FRANCHISE! C'mon gimme' a friggin' break, $6 for a little (they call it medium) cup of hot chocolate pudding with some pistachios in it, fool me once, shame on you! First of all, the design of this place requires you to squeeze by people already in line, then order, squeeze back to the front and then crowdedly stand between the Plexiglas of the counter and where the 3 or 4 window seats are positioned. There is a little space to the left of the counter where the "product" is delivered, where "preparers" appear, one after the other, to suggest alternative/better ways to have what had already been ordered. Nicely, mind you, but corrections nonetheless. Here's a "free" idea iCream people, have the f*cking order takers better assist/suggest at the point of sale or better yet, have some stellar signature suggestions w/ alternative and/or added ingredients. Wait a minute, is this some sort beta/marketing testing site or, again, simply some "smartest guys in the room" MBAs who spent 3-years honing this brilliance? Won't go back, will strongly suggest others don't bother & will patiently wait for this complete and utter failure to completely and utterly fail! PS Wheelchair Accessible: an able bodied person can barely maneuver in and out of this place, a wheel chair wouldn't get past the 3-seat seating area!
(1)
Daniel W.

I'm sorry but 6 dollars to have soy milk and some flavoring turned into ice cream isnt for me. Ok and another thing do you really go to an ice cream shop to try to figure out what might be a good mix of flavors. Perhaps they could add on the menu some flavor designs that are known to be good. So I assume if the place gets busy that I would have to wait 10-15 minutes to get something that I didnt particularly like.
(1)
Vicki W.

Since this place has had plenty of reviews, I'm keeping mine brief. I was there on a Sunday evening with little to no crowd. I ordered the regular sized ice cream (~$6) with almond flavor, strawberries (since they ran out of peaches), nutella and granola. I would've chosen a color, but it wasn't offered to me. The liquid nitrogen show was fun, but too short lived to be the highlight of this place. Like some of the other reviewers I felt that the ice cream itself lacked flavor. It was more of an ice milk. The nutella didn't mix very well and seemed clumpy. The granola was a bit hard to the bite. However, I will say that the almond taste was distinct and I did like the combination of flavors. Since I love ice cream, I will give it another chance but only if I happen to be in Wicker Park. Maybe next time I'll have pudding or froyo.
(3)
Jennifer B.

Disappointment. 2 stars for the ice cream and 4 stars for the service.... iCream staff really tries. They are proud of their product and very informative. They will answer questions until the cows come home and they are very personable. So, I think it is worth mentioning that iCream has really great service. We ordered the low-fat frozen yogurt with heath bars mixed in. Now, I'm not quite sure how that could come out tasting horrible. But it did! Horrible like we couldn't eat it (and, if you knew me, you'd know that to be a rarity). The frozen yogurt isn't creamy and delicious, or even more tart and icy (like alot of Chicago places); it's just bad. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what made it taste bad....but alas, I threw it away after a couple bites. It's a shame too, because iCream is one of the only places in Chicago that can make ANY item sugar-free. Since they make the product from scratch made-to-order, they can substitute sugar-free sweetener for actual sugar. That right there deserves at least 3 stars.
(3)
Julia H.

Needed to update my review, as promised, though it's taken forever. After going in after they first opened (and while they were still having machine troubles), I was offered a free icream dish. However, I put off going in because of life and weather and finally went in the other day, with the intention of using the Groupon that I had purchased. I was telling the wonderful woman at the counter about how excited I was, and the first time I came in, and she said, "well I'm the owner, and I want to make sure you still get what I promised you." She refused to take my Groupon but proceeded to take my order. Well, I'm sad I waited so long, because it was absolutely delicious, and I can't wait to go back in. Stop by, and get some, because you can't go wrong when you are making your own flavors. Yum yum yum! (oh- and if you are wondering, I got strawberry with Nutella and graham cracker mixed in...)
(5)
Tammy H.

I love iCream. I've been pretty lucky with the concoctions that I've decided upon, always quite yummy. However, I see a lot of bad reviews. I hope these aren't the people who are complaining because their low-fat/fat free/soy ice cream doesn't taste good... That would make me angry. The owners are cool here and don't mind some conversation. And they recognize you when you come back. They have all sorts of ice cream bases and warm pudding and rice pudding... I always stick to the cold stuff, and lately I'm a fan of the frozen yogurt because I like the tanginess and prefer fruity over richly sweet. It is a neat show that I don't really pay much attention to anymore, it's more of an adventure for me to mix stuff up and eat it :) Just like my mashed potatoes and corn.
(5)
Fawn D.

Love the lab concept: syringes of flavors/colors, test tubes, flasks and liquid nitrogen all in the name of "ice cream". i have only tried the low fat frozen yogurt and it tastes like the less healthy regular frozen yogurt even though it is made from real yogurt. win! it's a nice place to bring out of towners to show them something different
(4)
Jourdan S.

That's what she said.
(3)
Grace L.

I feel I should give 5 stars to make up for my past review. They now have ice cream machines that work and and assembly line of well-trained employees carrying out the process with wonderful efficiency. It was fast and not that expensive...and the amusement of designing your own ice cream and then watching it come to life is quite a novelty. As for the ice cream...the texture is a lot lighter, almost to a whipped consistency, and the flavor is a lot subtler than regular ice cream, but it's still tasty. The soy ice cream is one of the better non-dairy ice creams I've had.
(5)
Lara Y.

if you hate long lines to sample unique kinds of food, don't go here. if you're a classicist when it comes to ice cream, don't go here. if you don't like or don't know how to create great flavorful combinations and you rely heavily on pre-set menus and flavors when you go to ice cream places, don't go here. if you can spare 30 minutes to try something new, do go. if you're open to new ways and technologies in the ice cream world, do go. if you know your flavors well, and could think up crazy combinations and be happy with it (or try again if you missed the 1st time), do go. anyways, my 1st time i got a burnt sugar/vanilla ice cream w strawberry toppings. AWESOME! my 2nd time i got burnt sugar/banana ice cream w chocolate chip toppings. AWESOME! the texture is definitely different from regular ice cream, but i think that's a given because they make the ice cream using liquid nitrogen. of course it's gonna be different! when i first went here i waited for about 30 minutes, from lining up to getting my ice cream. 2nd time i came midday on a monday and waited 15minutes from lining up to getting my fix. so just be prepared and plan accordingly. nobody likes waiting in long lines. all in all, a cool and unique place to go to if you want something that's not cold stone, not pinkberry, not red mango, not baskin, not b&j, etc. 4 stars because it's a bit pricey and the wait is a bit long for ice cream but hey, i'm lovin the burnt sugar flavor and i'd go back here even if it's just for that.
(4)
Avery D.

What's so wrong with regular hand dipped ice cream in a cone? Why do we feel the need to complicate everything to an extreme? I just wanted some ice cream. What I got- smoke, tubes and vials. A long wait. Bland frozen play- dough with a spoon. Weird.
(2)
Christina G.

Loved the Idea behind I cream.... the flavor shots were not powerful enough to flavor the yogurt . I went with a group of people at 9:30 on a Saturday and the store could not serve the 20 people in the store at a timely manner. The price was high and i cream was stingy with fruit toppings. I'd like to visit again in a year or so when they've got their formula right.
(2)
Maria O.

ice cream shop or chem lab? walking in you see the mixers and their overflowing steam..which is actually the liquid nitrogen freezing the ice cream before your eyes. pretty cool. love the fact that you make it the way you want....you can have bright blue strawbery flavored yogurt with gummy bears and nutella. i wouldn't actually recommend this, but you could make it if you want. you have your choice of base[ice cream, yogurt, soy ice cream] and your flavor and your mix-ins. you can even make it whatever color you'd like. if you get fresh fruit, do NOT have them mix it in before the freezing process; you'll have frozen rocks that hurt to bite. just have them add it at the end. it's a fun place and the staff is friendly and helpful. they need more seating area, but you can grab your icream and go wander around the neighborhood. i'd go back again and my 3 year old loved to watch the mixers almost as much as he enjoyed eating his ice cream. there was a massive line while we were there, but that just tells you that people like it.
(4)
Annie W.

It looks cool, sounds cool, but honestly it's not a well oiled machine. You shouldn't have to wait 20 min. I can surely expect a wait when it's a busy night but management should prepare and plan for that. Many of the workers seemed like they were still in training. I expect more if I'm paying that much for some sugar, cream, and ice... My product also tasted nasty--which you really can't fault them for...or can you? I wasn't a fan of their frozen yogurt--it was sour (and I'm usually a fan of sourness) and left an awful after taste. We flavored it with honey and mixed-in nutella which a horrible combination. All three flavors including the yogurt were overpowering. Anyway, I probably won't be back again.
(3)
S Y.

This is by far my favorite ice cream place in Chicago. Even though the place is constantly crowded - especially on nice days outside - it is worth the wait. I find extraordinary delight in the fact that you can pick the color of your ice cream and even though the flavor is hazelnut, you are putting a purple colored spoonful into your mouth. They have pretty unique flavors and mix-ins, but I am satisfied to stick to the hazelnut soy ice cream with nutella and gummy bears. The kid inside of me is always satisfied!!
(4)
Marti G.

WOW!! The coolest ice cream store EVER! They make it fresh from scratch and you can customize everything....color, flavor, toppings, type of ice cream/yogurt etc. Low fat, fat free, regular etc. It's just never ending -- you could spend all day picking out the perfect ice cream! It was awesome to see blue cookies n' cream ice cream -- how fun. What an awesome concept. Loved it!
(4)
Shirese L.

Ever since I heard of molecular gastronomy, I have been a little "wowed." But, I place that whole science in the same place that I place drum machines and electronic guitar machines. Yes those "phony" instruments may imitate the real deal, but I would simply prefer the real deal unless you can produce something better. I Cream does not produce anything better than real ice cream or frozen yogurt. In fact, I would say the flavors are much blander.
(3)
Swarup B.

a pretty cool concept and we can see this type of ice cream shop opening country wide, should the price of liquid nitrogen drop. all the ice cream here is made in front of you. you pick the type of base you want (ice cream, fro-yo, sorbet) and the flavors, color and mixins you want and the whip it up for you and freeze it w/ a dose of liquid nitrogen to make it ice cream. it's a pretty cool process to watch. i got the a purple honey hazelnut ice cream w/ graham crackers and wifey got white chocolate hazelnut ice cream w/ nutella, chocolate chips and strawberries. we both really liked our concoctions but mine could've had a bit more hazelnut flavor. the texture was nice but the funny part was when it melted. instead of a creamy liquid we ended up w/ a very water liquid, probably because the lack of fat and no actual churning. overall a great idea and like i said, i'd like to see more places like this!
(4)
Monique O.

It's expensive but it's pretty freakin tasty. Last week on an 80 degree day in March I had my favorite concoction yet, honey ice cream with raspberries. I can't wait for the weather to warm up again!
(4)
Tim K.

Great concept. Had the mango madness with caramel sauce. Super tasty and very entertaining. Kudos. Owner/Inventor was enthusiastic and interesting. Looked like the combinations were endless. I think this might do well, if the liquid nitrogen didn't look so shady, in a "Dirty Bomb" sort of way.
(4)
Tim S.

Whenever my daughter is in town we try to make it to ICream. The selections are endless, the process fun to watch and for us soy milk only folks it is one of the few places for us to get our ice cream fix. Parking can be a hassle and it is not cheap, but it is well worth the visit
(4)
c w.

i think the best way to approach picking your flavor out here is to work backwards.. look over the toppings first, find what you like then try to pick a flavor you think that will work with it best. before i realized this i had picked out about a million flavor combos then couldnt find a topping that sounded good with it. (a big reason due to the fact i was only looking at the vegan toppings which were mainly fruit or nuts.) anyway, i finally settled on almond flavored soy ice cream topped with blueberries. it turned out really delicious.. the almond flavor tasted very cherry-ish and it was nice with the berries. like others have said, it's not the creamiest vegan ice cream, but it is nice and light & feels low-fat (although im sure it's full of sugar). my friend got a cinnamon flavored dairy ice cream and holy crap - they need to cut back on the flavor quantities sometimes! i could smell his cinnamon breath a mile away.. it was like he was chewing an entire pack of Big Red.. i could only imagine what it tasted like but he said it was way overpowering. he also mentioned that on a previous trip a friend of his got the burnt sugar which was also way too strong. we were wondering if they just put the same amount of flavoring into each one or if they use smaller amounts when it comes to the really potent flavors. it seems like they need to do some flavor:ice cream ratio research with certain syrups. my only other complaint is the 50 cent extra charge to use soymilk, it's not like it's any more expensive than cows milk these days so it just seems like another way to get you. also, for 50 cents i got probably 1 tbsp of tiny blueberries. 4.50 for a small scoop with 1 tbsp of blueberries is a tad high.. Just Indulge on north ave is a better deal for a way richer product.
(3)
Tim W.

This place is really cool to see your icream made in the liquid nitrogen and it tastes good too. I love that you can make your icream any color (I'm easily amused). Only down side is that it's over priced. $5 for a small? Kind of pricey for ice cream.
(4)
Fred S.

So we got frozen yogurt. It was bland and didn't have any of the flavor we chose to mix in. The concept is kinda cool though. I'll probably try it again. Eh, no I won't.
(2)
Ally A.

I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars, so I suppose this is really a 3.5-star review. Pros: SO many choices! I like that they have light options, although the cashier said that the soy milk ice cream actually had less fat than the light ice cream - interesting... You can add flavors to the ice cream (the liquids other people mentioned), as well as mix-ins (pieces of fruit, candy, etc.). The staff is super friendly and patient as you try to cope with the overload of choices. Most importantly, if you've chosen wisely, it tastes REALLY good. I've had the light ice cream twice, and my husband had the soy twice - both super yummy. Cons: The texture is a little off - not gross, but as someone who is very aware of the texture of my food (weird, I know), it isn't quite the same as the ice cream you will get at the grocery store. This is not a pop-in-on-the-way-to-somewhere-else joint. It is an experience, so don't go in with the thought that you'll be out of there in less than 10 minutes. The place is small, and it gets crowded and loud so also don't expect to hang out and eat your ice cream there. All that said, I would definitely go back. They have warm pudding in addition to ice cream, so I have to give that a try now that it's getting cold.
(3)
Chris W.

This place is lame. Smoke and mirrors. The spoon they gave me shredded my mouth open. And the Ice Cream was to hard and lumpy! Boo Icream you suck!
(1)
Kelly C.

Okay. I went back and changed up the flavor. It was awesome!!! I got cream soda/white chocolate flavor with oreo.
(4)
rebecca g.

it's possible i just ordered the wrong variation (frozen yogurt) and it's possible i just ordered the wrong flavor (fresh pear)...but i doubt i've ever experienced a dessert more inedible, up until this moment. it basically tasted (and felt) like rubbery, artificial vaguely-pear-flavored bubble gum. it was so nauseating that i (an inveterate food-saver) had no other choice but to toss my shamefully-priced $4 'small' cup after 3 bites. and all this after waiting in line for a good 15 minutes. what good are all the chemical bells and whistles if the product doesn't even taste good? iSCream for iCream, indeed...
(1)
John S.

My GF and I visited icream on Sunday March 22 after seeing it mentioned on the tv show Chicago 24/7 and ordered a Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream with no toppings (I wanted to see what the ice cream tasted like it its purest form). The idea is interesting....you use liquid nitrogen to freeze the cream and thus you have ice cream on the spot, however, our experience of the product was sub par....I didn't finish it. The ice cream lacked taste, was bland and the consistency was similar to cheese curds vs a creamy blend of ice cream. If I was consulting for their business, I would recommend to analyze if they are getting repeat customers. I know they just opened, but If you're only getting first timers like myself -- you have a problem and this metric will alert you. I want to see their biz succeed, I think the idea sells but the product doesn't. Vanilla and chocolate are the most common types of ice cream, start improving those first. Yes, like some other people on her mentioned, it may take you some time to order. I timed it, it took 13 minutes. The location is good though.
(2)
Tara A.

this is, hands down, the worst "ice cream" i have ever had... usually an ice cream is lacking because the flavour you picked didn't impress you. unfortunately for icream i don't think there is a single flavour that would be enjoyable because hi, this isn't real ice cream, it is test tube ice cream. not only do their ice cream cauldrons remind me of the movie version of "war of the worlds" with tom cruise, but the resulting witches brew tastes fake and does not have that nice creamy texture that all real ice creams possess. how far is too far when it comes to technology people? do you really need to add food into the equation? blah no thanks!
(1)
Aneta K.

Loved the many choices I had between flavors and types of ice cream. Loved the design! The only downside is the wait time during a hot day when they're are lots of customers.
(4)
Whitney P.

Mmmm i felt like i was watching mad scientists hard at work. I got blackberry pomegranate flavored nonfat yogurt with bananas mixed in and i chose to make it YELLOW! Boy, what a tasty creation. The boy taking orders was super friendly, and they were playing LCD soundsystem. Two thumbs up
(5)
Melanie M.

It's interesting frozen...cream, milk, yogurt, something. I really mean to give this 3.5 stars...I'm a sucker for frozen treats. I got the green tea and raspberry, which was interesting. I would be willing to try to get more - I just haven't had the chance. It's worth a try, peeps.
(3)
Justin H.

Wow the ice cream tastes fresher than any Ice cream i have had before. The staff is very friendly and I will continue to go back. be creative with your flavors I had a strawberry/pomegranate and a burnt sugar/pear. both yummy.
(5)
Jay H.

If one is looking for customizable ice cream or frozen yogurt, iCream is certainly a good option. I went there on a Sunday evening, and it was packed. However, the waiting time for my order was under ten minutes, not too bad. I ordered a hazelnut and green tea ice cream, and a Green Machine sorbet. One has the option of adding an additional flavor to the Naked juice base; I just opted not to. The hazelnut flavored overpowered the green tea a bit, but it was still tasty. The sorbet tasted exactly like the juice base. The prices are a bit expensive (~$4 each), but for an occasional treat, it's worthwhile.
(4)
Jill P.

I had no idea about this spot until my sister and I were strolling in Wicker one night. I ve seen it but didnt know they made the ice cream to order. The ice cream was amazing, watching it be created was great and getting to color my ice cream was icing on the cake. Love the suggestions given and the free sample. Def going back soon!
(5)
Meagan L.

This place just re-opened on Saturday so I stopped in to give it a try. The science behind it is cool and the selection is huge but the price is a bit high for the end result. I think I'll probably wait till summer to try this place again and even then at $3.50 for a small cup of ice cream is pretty expensive. The liquid nitrogen doesn't give it any special taste, it just makes ice cream instantly. I don't see this place lasting too long past the summer unless they lower their prices a bit.
(3)
M Y.

it was fun. why not love fun? i order pear flavor with blackberries. i don't care if it wan't real pear flavoring, it still taste good. good is good enough for me. big props to i cream for being "fun".
(5)
Carol L.

Actually they are still as open as can be, I don't know why it says the store is closed. Maybe its a brand new reopening. Anyways, we walked in there with a decent amount of people but not overcrowded. Definitely not considered "busy". We ordered our stuff and watched as only one person behind the counter was trying to manage the orders and putting them into the kitchenaid bowls while others were either standing around waiting to catch the frozen bowls or just standing around. Like the other reviewer wrote, they call out INGREDIENTS for the orders. Um, when you list out a bunch of ingredients, chances probably are that someone would get something similar to yours...so many times we had to talk to other patrons to figure out whose is whose. On top of that, the cashier guy that took our orders were just as confused himself. I ordered a frozen yogurt, banana flavor, with nutella. That's it. The lady called out "um..chocolate icecream, banana, and blueberry"...clearly did not sound like mine so I just stood there. No one owned up so I thought I'd ask about the chocolate part and see if she meant nutella. She didn't even have the order receipt to tell me definitively if it was. And blueberries?? When I asked the cashier about whether that was my order (since I was the last person that he took order from)...he was very confused and was like, did you want banana and nutella? I said yes, but I didn't order blueberries. He was like, "huh??" seriously dude, confused much? I just took that order and left. It was nutella...with blueberries. I didn't mind the mix up, but was just thinking...if someone was allergic to blueberries and you are as confused about the order as the people that made it for you, wouldn't that be a little shady? I guess I had a really really confusing experience and they definitely need to tighten up their ship or people would be very turned off. The frozen yogurt I got was so-so. I really wanted to like it. But the yogurt "powdeR" that they used formed little flour balls in my ice cream, so it was kinda like having mini tapioca balls in my yogurt ice cream. yum.
(2)
Taylor O.

Liquid nitrogen belongs in Terminator 2... as well as ice cream. Super points for customization and instant creation. My friend went with the added purple coloring... crazy fun. I went with coffee, soy, unsweetened with blackberries... admittedly bitter but I like it that way; sugar is poison.
(5)
Lauren W.

As a dairy allergy sufferer, I have to say that I was beyond thrilled to get to order SOY ice cream at an ice cream shop. Not only is this the only place I've seen that does this, but it was delicious as well! The owner was awesome and answered all of my ingredient questions confidently (she knows her products well) and it was absolutely worth the wait. I felt like a little kid again! Check this place out!!!
(5)
Shauna M.

Terrible product that doesn't deserve to be called ice creme. Sugary soft serve, long wait, and way overpriced.
(1)
Colt E.

iCream is definitely a novelty ice cream shop. But beyond being able to have your ice cream any color you like and watching it being made with liquid nitrogen, iCream misses the mark. Maybe it's due to the low fat nature of the ice cream, but I thought it lacked taste and flavor, even though I packed the ice cream with all kinds of mix ins. You can taste the flavors you ordered, but then there seems to be this weird taste of nothingness in your mouth. Definitely not something that you can savor the flavor of. I probably wouldn't go back again, since I expected it to be a little more interesting and found it rather expensive. I would say it's worth checking out once if you're in the area though and the friendly staff makes for a nice visit.
(3)
A K.

It's a cool concept. I talked to the owner for awhile and she said that she was inspired by Flattop, which she loves, and wanted to create something similar for ice cream, where everything--from the fat content to the sugar content to the mix-ins to the flavor--was DIY. This is how it works. You pick a base: ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt. Within those categories, you have a choice of fat content (i.e. I had frozen yogurt and could choice low-fat or no-fat). Then you pick a flavor (there are about 20: the normal ones plus a few innovative ones like white mocha, etc.). The flavors are in the form of a liquid base. And then you can add a mix-in, like butterfingers or chocolate chips or the like. And then a topping and a color (some of the flavors are not colored, so Chris got chocolate but then added a brown color to make it look like normal chocolate). All of this is just liquid, so they mix it together and put it in a blender with liquid nitrogen. Mix, mix, mix, and it turns into a frozen mass. I would give the place an A for effort and innovativeness. But the product was not great. My husband got chocolate with peanut-butter-cup mix-in. The chocolate was very very bitter. Almost unsweetened. It was tolerable, but only for a few bites. I got pistachio and it was completely inedible. Like, I walked out of the store and threw it away. There was a number of people there that were complaining about the taste and they were re-doing them. I really WANT them to succeed. It's a cool idea. Molecular gastronomy for ice cream is nothing short of innovative. Plus, I liked the owner. She was very attentive to what people thought and how to change the product. But in the meantime, there are a LOT of kinks to be worked out, including flavor.... Maybe if you plan to go, I'd recommend sticking with the simple flavors for now--i.e. not pistachio.
(3)
Jamie S.

This place was great! I went on the second day and there were certainly some hang ups as there will be when something as new as iCream comes around but my mixture was great. A huge "medium" sized regular ice cream with white chocolate flavor and nutella mixed in. Even though it took a while for it to come out, when it did it was fantastic. The way it's made (see A.K.'s review) makes the ice cream really soft and creamy and when it gets in your mouth it melts instantly. Great idea. As soon as they get everything up and running smoothly, this place is going to do really really well.
(5)
Whitney S.

This place is the bomb! We go here every time were in Chicago. Its a must. The ice cream is delicious! I wish I could eat here everyday. Its so much fun to watch your order being made right in front of you. Always fun to watch a first timer stop in.
(5)
Matthew C.

Disgusting customer service. I stopped by icream about a month ago during business hours on a Friday or Saturday, at about 6pm when their advertised hours were until 9pm. When I walked up to the counter, the young man repeated quickly over and over "look. Look. Look. Look. Look!" while pointing towards the front of the store. "Do you see that sign up there? The one that says 'open'?" he said while pointing to a sign (about as small as a CD case) set off from the door. "See how it's pointing towards us? That means we're closed. I'm on break." I replied by saying that the sign wasn't in a place where people would notice it (as was evident by the other customers in the shop) and that it might be a better idea to lock the door instead of leaving it open for customers to come in. I mean, who am I to enter an open door during business hours expecting to purchase what a store has to offer? Staff was incredibly rude, he did not give me his name and told me "there's no manager here for you to talk to right now." I've been going to icream for a few years, but your guaranteed to lose customers with treatment like this.
(1)
Alex T.

My wife and I were craving a milkshake yesterday while galavanting around the city. So I asked Siri if there were any in the area - and low and behold we learned of a place called icream. Just the name alone conjured up something of great quality (I.e. iPod, etc.) so I figured we would give it a go. After finding a impromptu space right across the street, my eyes fixed in on a baby blue storefront, that looked so dark, I had to go ask if they were open. The gentleman waiting outside the storefront was super pleasant, for working in what looked like a half-abandoned hole-in-the-wall excuse for an ice cream joint. "Do you want any mixins with that," he said. I ordered what I though was a coffee milkshake with caramel swirl - but I what I actually got was SO far from my expectations: a white blizzard-esque concoction (no offense Dairy Queen, I love you:) , with black specs, which turned out to be bits of coffee. "let me know what you think," the clerk said with a smile." Oh I will, my friend (my subliminal self conscious ruminated) . One sip and I my mouth immediately contorted - what the hell did I just pay almost $7 for? My wife shared my disdain. The drink had the consistency of ice milk and was devoid of any caramel taste at all. What a disappointment. So we wound up getting a malted coffee milkshake from our old standby - Scooters in Lakeview. Maybe I will give iCream another try - or not. . .
(1)
Lawrence Y.

I was rather excited when my fiance told me of this ice cream shop that made your order from scratch (liquid nitrogen and all) which gave me this delusion of grandeur of this really cool, really hip, Willy-Wonka-esque ice cream shop... Prepare for a rude awakening. We walked in and the place was a hole in the wall. The bad/dim fluorescent lighting, the cracked tiles on the floor, the uncomfortable staff... I told my fiance I felt like I was in a combination of a bad Chinese take-out place and an aquarium store, and not a sweet shop. Appearances aside, I decided on ordering a chocolate/marshmallow milkshake with reeses pieces toppings. I understand everything is made from scratch, but my milkshake did not have the consistency or thickness of a milkshake. It was more like an icee. It turned out to be something like if my 5 year old niece put ice and chocolate into a toy blender... and charged you $10. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. The "milkshake" was just awful, I didn't even finish it and tossed it out when we got home. #nope
(1)
Melissa N.

I totally was in love with this idea when I came here a couple of years ago on a Chicago food tour with Chicago Food Planet Food Tours. It is such an awesome idea! I have been there 3 times since and because I so seldomly go, I always get "That Guy From Florida" which is a sweet concoction of cream soda, nutella and stuff (things that I don't particularly like separately). However, the last time I went which was only a couple weeks ago, I was bummed to walk in and see it dirtier than the last time. It smelled like old wet dog or like fat sweat (sorry), but I was bringing my fiance to try this place out since it was his first time in Chicago and I had raved about it so much. We even planned our lodging to be close to it so it was pretty disappointing (and embarassing) for me to bring him here with it like this. Our iCreams were good, but nothing out of this world. The guys behind the counter were nice, but we did not stay. I might come by again if I'm around, but for the price, which is a bit steep anyway, and now the general "look and feel," I'm not rushing back..
(3)
Melanie T.

I read the reviews and wanted to give iCream the benefit of the doubt but man, it was bad. I took my kids here...we literally walked in...looked around...and left. The lights were dimmed. The tables and chairs were dirty. The tiles looked chipped. The condiments/ingredients on the back counters were unorganized and everything was just everywhere. We left and went to Jeni's Ice Cream a few doors down!
(1)
Mel C.

There concept of ice scream is amazing, now the customer service could have been a little better. The place wasn't really clean and had a bad odor. It looked a little ran down all it was very gloomy in there. I will definitely give it another try. It possibly just wasn't a good day for the workers.
(3)
Katie B.

I've been here a number of times, but only twice in the last year since I moved into the neighborhood. My last few visits have been very disappointing. I love the concept, and actually do like the ice cream, but I absolutely can't get over how dirty it was in there! It definitely looks dingy and run down, but on this last visit it was downright dirty. The glass around the mixers was smeared. There was trash and drippings all over the place, and one of the employees wiped his nose with his hand, then didn't wash before making more ice cream.... So aside from that terrible-ness, I do think the ice cream is a little overpriced, but what specialty ice cream isn't? And yes, you do have to wait for them to make your ice cream, so I don't understand why people are disappointed with waiting. They could probably use more staff during busy times though. Overall, I would have recommended it before our last visit, but couldn't do that in good conscience after this last trip. I feel like this place has just declined over the last few years, and it's really too bad.
(2)
Carly P.

I like iCream. I think the concept is fun (I'm sure kids probably love it) and I've never picked a bad combination of flavors. The texture of the ice cream is creamy but also a bit frosty/icy like sorbet, which I think is pretty unique. On paper, four bucks for a small seems pricy, but I feel the portions are very generous and I never feel gouged. I have a lot of fun memories here and generally think pretty fondly of this place. My major gripe is how it consistently looks terrible. 98% of the time there is only one poor person trying to service ten or more people. Even in the the summer. Because this person is obviously mainly focusing on serving people, the rest of the space is severely neglected: sticky counters and tables, trash, etc. The walls are marked with dirt and fingerprints. The tables and chairs are not only visibly cheap but are just beat to hell like old lawn furniture (in fact, I'm sure it is just old lawn furniture). I don't think anyone should get in trouble as it's clear they are doing the best they can, but management should drop in unannounced one day and see how gross it gets when they're under-staffed. If no one is going to clean, then do yourself a favor and don't buy white furniture.
(3)
Heather D.

I'm surprised at all the bad reviews! I've been here twice now and loved my orders both times. There are some great aspects to this place as well as downers. Let's start with the good: Custom made yogurt/ice cream in a bazillion yummy flavor combos made exactly to order? Yes please! Both times I got the nutella chocolate raspberry yogurt one, I think titled 'Mom's Favorite', and went with however they normally put it together. My gosh was it good! My boyfriend is picky as hell about his yogurt/ice cream and he loved it too! He almost wanted to go back that day for one of his own. It was a hot day and I ordered a large. I ate half of it on the drive home then gave the remaining half to my boyfriend and it made it just fine without melting all over the place. Yes it takes them a bit long to make orders.. but again keep in mind they are not scooping your order from a tub.. they are making it custom. Stop being so inpatient! I've always found the staff friendly enough. They don't seem like "AMAZABALLZ! I'M WORKING THE CASHIER AT AN ICE CREAM SHOP HURRAY!!!" but seriously I'd be a bit worried if they did.. Yes the place is a bit pricey.. but have you ever been to any yogurt/ice cream place in Chicago or Oberweis? HELLO!? They are all expensive! At least this yogurt/ice cream is made fresh with fresh ingredients! I'd pay a bit more for that any day. Now why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5: Taste alone I'd go 5 all the way.. but there were a few things I noticed during my last two stops that make me give iCream 4 stars. The place is definitely small, a little too darkly lit, and when I went to the bathroom it was god awful dirty and the toilet was overflowing. I told them about it and I'm sure they fixed it right away but it was definitely gross. This place is a start-up so I'm sure once they get enough hype they'll move to a better, bigger, location and be able to pay employees a bit more and therefore get more quality work out of them. Final Verdict: I'll be going back PLENTY for the 'Mom's Favorite' yogurt! My gawd that was good! Plan to wait a bit for your order, pay around 6 bucks for it, and high tail it outta there once it's in your hands and eat outside. \You'll have a great experience then!
(4)
Ryan G.

The first time I went there, it was fantastic. I got peach ice cream with strawberries mixed in and it was fantastic. Went again just now, asked for the same thing and it tastes like bland porridge out of a freezer. What happened?!
(1)
Mallory Z.

Pretty cool place to check out. The ice cream is good, not the greatest you will ever have though. Got the recommended one with peanut butter. Loved the texture of it. It was about $9 for a medium. Split it so it was about average price for overpriced ice cream. Seems like a good place to try once or bring someone from out of town. Won't be back often though.
(3)
Abishek M.

Cool concept! But the reality of it is, that the ice cream itself, is very ordinary. The staff made no effort of explaining what they were doing or what made the ice cream unique. The store is also pretty badly maintained and almost dirty. Oh and did I mention that it is overpriced? A small serving with 1 mix-in cost around $5. Ridiculous!! I will not be back.
(2)
Morgan Richelle M.

Not my favorite in the world by any means. I-cream made it onto an article for "Ice Creams in America that you Must Try." We were in the neighborhood, so out of curiosity we decided to stop in and see what it's all about! I guess I'm just not a fan of the whole entering the order into a computer screen and seeing a bunch of mystery chemicals shooting out into a bowl that is to be something I will ingest. It took a while to make, and the shop itself smelled weird. I don't know, I just wasn't feeling it. We stepped outside and the ice cream was already melting like crazy. We tasted it and it didn't taste like real food. I picked up strong chemical flavors. I didn't care for it at all and threw it away. The concept is neat, but severely overrated.
(2)
Donna J.

They bring DIY to a new level. Get the regular ice cream flavored burnt sugar and put in anything! Don't Get froyo flavored like cream soda. If you complain about the flavor, it is YOUR OWN FAULT.
(4)
Michelle S.

Inspired by Food Network's Alton Brown, this ice cream shop reinvents the wheel. You get to pick if your milk, your flavors, your color, your mix-ins. The ice cream is made to order. It's a fun concept, and worth the wait if you can stand the crowd and make up your mind. The owner is delightful and so helpful. The best part: if you dream up a concoction and it's horrible, they'll let you "exchange" it for something that they know works. I tried "That Guy from Florida" -- ice cream with cream soda and white chocolate flavoring, along with Nutella. Heaven.
(5)
Jen S.

This place exceeded my expectations. First, they have endless options. You can have ice cream, fro yo, or sorbet, whic are available regular, light, organic, and soy. Then you pick up to two flavors. They will add in the mixers you choose, and if yoy want, you can add toppings for an additional cost. Then, voila, deliciosness! I went with a key lime pie suggestion they had on their back wall. It was made with lime ice cream and mix ins in graham crackers and cream cheese. Loved it! You can choose something more adventurous if you like, but this hit the spot for me! I will say, I wouldn't expect to find any seating at most times. It is pretty limited.
(5)
Eli S.

I love this place SOOOOO MUCH. So much. I love this place like crazy. I have been here three times in the past three weeks. I find the ice-cream inexpensive for what it is and I love picking my own flavors and if I'm honest, I'm easily swayed by anything science-y. It's not just i-cream, it's sci-cream! /unfunny. Their hot pudding is also delicious, but their ice-cream is so lovely. How can you beat ice-cream to your very specifications in all sorts of flavors? Burnt sugar matcha green tea? In purple? With gummi bears? SURE! Honey almond with heath bar and granola? YESS'M! Think of all the millions of combinations you could have and in how many styles? You can even choose the type of ice-cream you'd prefer: organic, whole, non-fat, low or non-fat yogurt, soy! And then there's great billowing smoke served to you by really sweet employees. They remember me every time! (I also got to meet the owner and her husband, they're fantastic). Go try it!
(5)
Jillian S.

It's a good thing I am moving soon, because otherwise I would come here everyday this summer and break my bank and my belly! What I wanted when I first came here was Pink Berry and it was definitely not that! But it was still a refreshing treat, and far from your typical ice cream joint.
(3)
Jenna S.

I return to this place almost a year after discovering it, with a continued love of what I like to call "Freedom of Ice Cream People!" What's not to love about making your own 'brand' of creamy goodness?! I will admit, service here always seems a little frantic whether it's just you or packed to the gills. I would also add that sometimes, your ingredients get mixed up and you have to wait for them to remake it. Grrr. This has happened several times, to which they are happy to oblige; but what if you're in a hurry and your 'cream is put back into the que with all the other patiently waiting concoctions? But I digress, truth be told...I love me some skim milk/splenda chocolate ice cream with nutella and bananas! Until I can save up enough pennies to by my own hydrogen gas mixer, I guess i'll be trudging down to iCream for my next PB/Nutella fix.
(3)
Tera D.

I was soooo excited to go here, so I'm really bummed I didn't love it. I always feel bad giving bad reviews to places where I made up my own recipe, but I can't help it here. I ordered the Chai flavor, with graham crackers and chocolate chips. After like 10 minutes of waiting, they brought it to me with no graham crackers or chocolate chips. So I gave it back, and instead of fixing it correctly, they just poured the stuff on top and handed it back to me. On top of that, I found the chai flavor pretty gross. And the ice cream is a little soft and weird, since it was made minutes ago using liquid nitrogen. One good thing I will say, is it's not very expensive. But I guess you get what you pay for.
(2)
Peter V.

Interesting concept, but not great ice cream for the price. Ice cream tasted like it had freezer burn.
(1)
Han Y.

Best ice cream places I've been to. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jeff A.

Worst ice cream ever. Also, worst topical ointment ever.
(1)
Lauren M.

I recently went to iCream with a friend since we were in the mood for a sweet treat and wanted to try something new in the area. I remembered seeing a segment on Metromix about iCream and thought we could give it a try. Overall, iCream is a pretty good tasting treat. I'm sure the liquid nitrogen process gives it it's great consistency. In fact, it was one of the best textured ice creams I've ever had. However, I don't think the 15 minute wait on this Saturday afternoon helped its cause. Sure, there are three or four space-aged Kichen-Aid mixers going, but with only one overwhelmed guy working them it could be a long wait. I'm glad I went, but probably won't go again ... even as the weather gets nicer.
(3)
Jessica Y.

A for effort, C+ for the result. iCream is a great concept: You walk in to the store, get a quick tutorial on the process, and get to customize your own ice cream treat. They have a great variety of ice cream bases (low fat, soy, ice cream, yogurt) and many flavors that can be mixed and matched. Lastly, add some toppings and a fun color and you've got your very own creation. Also, watching the cryo-freeze "stuff" at work is pretty fascinating. A couple of cons: Sometimes you're IDEA of a good tasting treat doesn't manifest itself quite right in real life. Also, making your treat purple or blue seems like the coolest idea, however, when it's chocolate or Irish cream flavored, your brain just doesn't process it right. I could see how the wait for your ice cream could get excruciatingly long since its not a simple scoop and serve process. Overall, its quite a novel idea, I'm just not sure how sustainable it is. Although I don't live right around the corner, if I did, I probably wouldn't make iCream a regular stop on my search for sweets. But, I think you definitely need to go experience iCream at least once for yourself!
(3)
Maggie F.

Ice cream: good marks for creaminess and theoretically interesting flavors (curry, ginger, burnt sugar); bad marks for excessive sugariness, poorly executed flavors (flat, artificial), waxy residue, and cost. Store: long wait in line, longer to get my order, poorly designed for traffic flow, hot and humid inside even in October. Kids will like the liquid nitrogen clouds and dyeing their ice cream wacky colors... if they don't have a melt down while waiting.
(2)
Jean M.

FABULOUS ice cream created from scratch with a little help from liquid nitrogen! The "show" is great and the end result is worth every penny. FREE ice cream on your birthday was a money saving surprise!
(4)
Jacqueline M.

I saw this place on some late-night Chicago-tourism show hosted by a couple of news anchors. I just happened to have a meeting the following day down the street and decided to check it out. I agree with the reviews that say iCream is cool in concept but poor in execution. This place has all the drama needed to get people in the door (oooooh... billows of smoke wafting over the cauldron of ice-cream goodness) but....not much substance to keep you coming back (food dye? lab-created flavorings? medicore mix ins? ick.) It feels like the owners are trying too hard to sell the world on their concept and not on the product itself. Bad move since the former will most certainly lead them down the path of one-hit-wonder infamy.
(2)
Bridget S.

Neat concept, SO many options. It's the kind of place you should try a couple times if you're in the area (and luckily, I'm always in the area). It's not the cheapest snack indulgence out there, but the flavor possibilities seem endless. I went with a grape light ice cream with gummi bears. I felt like I was 7 and that's why it was so fun. I feel like this is a better (and possibly healthier?) alternative to Cold Stone.
(4)
Jennifer P.

I used to be one of those cool kids who lived in Wicker Park. In the unbearable cold of winter, I would still somehow find myself strolling down Milwaukee Ave. in hopes of spending money that I didn't have. I remember constantly passing this place called "iCream" and thinking "what the heck kind of new invention from Apple is that supposed to be?" Alas, it was never open-leaving the place a mystery. Only recently had I found myself back in my old neighborhood since the warm weather has graced this lovely city...and guess what, folks? iCream was OPEN! I nearly knocked over 5 people in excitement while running in (ice cream is a very, VERY important part of my existence). So many CHOICES! Liquid nitrogen! White EVERYTHING! Friendly staff! The ice cream was the perfect consistency. I got burnt sugar with some berries and the second visit chocolate with berries...it's just my sort of thing. Delicious! There are also vegan options, which is nice. The only criticism I have is when they called my name (announcing to the world my ice cream creation was ready) i hadn't a clue where the yelling woman was coming from! Later did I find she was hiding between a crevice in the wall and not behind a curtain like Oz (disappointment). Great place for a funky late night meet up with your friends and ice cream enthusiasts. Bad place for the indecisive.
(4)
Crystal P.

Yowza a little pricey but worth the experience... I love the fact that you can have your creation in dairy or soy.. I had a Blue banana soy creation with granola and it was good. The small was large enough .. almost too large for me.. The techs were very friendly as well!
(3)
Janet E.

I love this place! It was so cool watching them make the ice cream with the liquid nitrogen. AWESOME! I was here during a food tour and was so happy we stopped in for a visit! We tried the flavor "That guy from Florida". It had nutella in it! Anything with nutella tastes great! I forget what other flavors they had in that flavor but it was really delicious. I am coming back here soon!
(4)
Kriss S.

Maybe I'm just easily impressed by high falutin' gadgetry or maybe I just think this establishment borrows alot from molecular gastronomy - either way I was impressed. And the ice cream was alright too... I got the soy with oreos. I'll be back again.
(5)
Jeff A.

OFF the Hook! OFF the Chain! its so sweet it is Off the dessert menu! OK soo I went with three friends and we started with 4 different combos then after trying them all had to get a few more... I am an ice-cream lover...and this is just the most unique approach to ice cream... I will say this it is not my favorite ice cream of all time for that I sadly turn to more corporate pre packaged pints of creamy goodness...If you are looking for creative fun and combinations that could never be made in your kitchen or on a frozen stone this is where your ice cream dreams will surely come true! I look forward to heading back for more... if you want a happy creamy surprise ask for the guy from Florida combo and they will know what you are talking about...I am not the guy from Florida but in our flavor tour they let us sample that and it was amazing... ICream for ice cream!
(4)
Kee V.

Liquid nitrogen is the new bacon it seems. While the concept is fun and entertaining to watch, the end product just ain't all that. The one key thing that keeps this ice cream from being a winner is the lack of creaminess. Ben and Jerrys this is not. I feel like this ice cream melts way too easily on your tongue, almost like it dissolves. However, The array of flavor combinations and colors makes this an interesting experiment to at least try once. I chose a burnt sugar and banana with black coloring. It looked like squid ink in a cup. Your mind thinks it'll taste a certain way but ends up tasting totally different. I guess that the whole idea behind this concept...playing the mad scientist. It doesn't always work out though, which probably happens at least a few times a night. My friend chose honey and lavender, which he described as Ricola in a cup. He did not mean this as a compliment. Thanks....pass. The girl behind the counter did offer to make him something else if he didn't his combination choice, which we appreciated because his ice cream was, for lack of a better term, crap. I think the best thing to do is to take kids or people visiting from out of town here because it's different and fun than the normal ice cream shop. However, I don't think I'll be going back here on my own. I will be back though, only with my nephew/niece and out of town guests.
(2)
Brenna M.

It's hard to even call this an "icecream shop" because there isn't much of the ambiance I've come to expect when I order my cones and sundaes. The asthetic is very laboratory-esque. Which is probably the intent. Ascetic White walls, counters; complete with beakers and dry ice fumes billowing up from behind the counter. Add in overly simplistic signage and the package is complete. The atmosphere would not be a deal-breaker, but unfortunately the icecream itself did not deliver. The organic melted extraordinarily fast, and my friends and I thought the flavors were only ok. The workers behind "the bar" were very nice though. And they make each icecream to order from cream, flavoring and toppings, which is very unique (and time-consuming...) Maybe I am just bitter they had run out of Reeses Pieces at 3:00pm on a Saturday, but I think I'll continue to feed my icecream habit at Oberweis down the street.
(2)
Lauren M.

"Underwhelmed" is the word Michael Kors would use. The store is situated in sort of a mall-ish looking part of Wicker Park (as in how the stores are arranged and connected, not IN a mall), which perhaps makes sense on the interior being so depressing. It's not YogoBerry (which I do not advocate for either) minimal, just kinda sad and dusty minimal. I expected a big vat to mix in but it was a straight up Kitchen Aid domestic mixer with metal concert dry ice fumes coming out. As much as the guy wearing the magician hat was trying, it wasn't all that impressive. I ordered something simple, the cookies and cream, which was adequate but not worth the price. Plus, what in the hell kind of ice cream place doesn't have cones? That is deplorable. My friend ordered one of those Nutella deals which he said was good but because of the liquid nitrogen froze into clumps which were too strong. There's lots of options and everything for people to experiment, but generally unimpressive.
(2)
Richa A.

Ugh. This stuff is gross. 2 stars because the whole experience is kind of fun, I guess? But mostly it just takes too long to be served sub-par ice cream.
(2)
Chaz A.

OH MY GOD. For gimmicky ice cream f**k cold stone, this is the next big thing. FIRST: The Ice Cream is of fantastic quality. SECOND: It's custom. THIRD: Cora is extremely nice. BUT, Please more toppings and flavors and colors.
(5)
Natasha P.

I cannot believe I've held off for three weeks before writing this review. When I first wanted to pop into iCream, one of my local ice creameries, they were closed. Some months later, as in three weeks ago, I stopped in with my sister after some midweek drinks were had after work. We couldn't prepare ourselves for what we were about to enjoy. I can't even tell you what I concocted on my first visit because I came right back three days in a row making all different kinds of ice cream. It's like Coldstone but so much better, it's all made from scratch right in front of you. And who doesn't enjoy a little liquid nitrogen action? The ONLY con: you can't dye chocolate another color, though I suppose there's nothing they can do about that!
(5)
Luis L.

This place is MAGICAL. They MAKE whatever you want, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! I had the fro-yo and treated a friend to ice cream. The taste for both the fro-yo and the ice cream was AMAZING! Lemon/Strawberry low fat FRO YO! She had Pomegranate ice cream with Blueberries on top. I can't get over the fact that the stuff is MADE right THERE! In a matter of seconds! SIMPLY AMAZING. My gal pal said, "THIS IS LIKE THE BEST ICE CREAM I'VE EVER HAD!" Ha! Well, it should be. It was made like a MINUTE AGO! Seriously, MADE from scratch, like, a MINUTE ago! If I had known chemistry could be so FUN, I'd have tried harder to actually learn something in Chem class. Liquid Nitrogen is SO cool! Give this place a try. Not only is it an experience, but what they sell is also quite good!
(5)
Ali T.

im so happy i found this place, think i saw it on abc7 or something.... it a cool experience and the taste is so fresh, taken multiple people there to play aorund with different flavors and mixes, sometimes i dont always choose wisely.... downside is sometimes it gets really busy (4+ people) and u have to wait a while... plus there isnt a lot of space to sit and eat....
(5)
Leah P.

We came in at 12:30 am on a Saturday night and we weren't expecting anything special because they were closing in a half hour. The young guy working behind the counter was ridiculously nice, to the point that I thought he was messing with us, as he explained their strange method of making ice cream. He didn't even balk at the million questions we had. When do you get service like that in Wicker Park on a Saturday night? I'll answer that for you. Never! On to the ice cream. HOLY CRAP. They make it in front of you. There is an endless amount of choices/combinations. And they'll even add an unappetizing color to your ice cream should you decide you want your chocolate ice cream to taste like chocolate ice cream but look like purple play-doh. I had green tea frozen yogurt with fresh blackberries. And the next day I went back for chocolate ice cream with fresh strawberries. Their chocolate ice cream is hands-down, the best chocolate ice cream I've EVER HAD. Go for the light ice cream. It's refreshing and not too creamy because they use skim milk!
(5)
Keerthi A.

This is my favorite ice cream place. That Guy from Florida is the BEST!! It has cream soda and hazelnut, which is truly mind blowing. They make the ice cream once you order it in nitrogen mixers and it turns out to be creamy and just pure heavenly. There are other options like pudding and sorbet for people who want something different as well, but the ice cream is the creamiest. Definitely a must-try!!
(5)
Anna P.

Cool to watch, disgusting to eat.
(2)
Jacqueline S.

Disclaimer: I'm only rating their soy ice cream. First off I would like to say that I really really wanted to like this place. I remember reading about it when it first opened (it closed shortly after its first opening I believe because of equipment issues and then reopened a year later). Their soy ice cream was vegan with tons of flavor options, how could that go wrong? Well it did. I have tried 3 different flavors now and I was not impressed by any of them. To add insult to injury the ice cream is not cheap. It is really sad and disappointing to be super excited about ice cream, shell out $7 and then really dislike the outcome. Also, I don't remember the exact price of the toppings (I think like a $1), but they are not worth the expense given the small amount they give you. One good note: they will make you a new ice cream if you don't like what you ordered. I think I just didn't like the soy ice cream, which is a major bummer. : (
(1)
Dave H.

Very unique, but certainly not a novelty. I never thought fresh ice cream was possible, but this place has crafted an approach to it using liquid nitrogen which is very mad scientist feeling when you see it all go down behind the glass and the big mixers. The line and the wait can be annoying when you need some ice cream quick, but worth it. The end product doesn't have that freezer packed taste some places have from the their cartons sitting all day. Legit homie!
(4)
Dee H.

Take my advice and just go to Cold Stone. This place is a great idea that is poorly executed and has staff members that seem to be pretending to be polite. Now about the icecream. I guess the whole nitrogen freezing process makes the texture kinda weird..like frozen solid and watery at the same time. The flavor was okay, but how do you screw up vanilla.
(2)
Colleen R.

The KitchenAid mixers caught my eye first. Oh, what's that, an ice cream joint that's open after midnight? And it's all space-agey and fancy-looking? Awesome. The final product is not quite as cool as I had hoped, probably because I'm a little slow and didn't quite know how to order. So many choices! I even get to pick the food coloring? I went with a jumble of berry options, and after about ten minutes of waiting for the futuristic technology to produce my space-age snack, I received an itty-bitty scoop of something vaguely pomegranate-y. Nice, but next time I think I'll just hit up Red Mango. They make it easier to decide.
(3)
Esther Y.

Listen, I kind of wanted to hate this place...I admit it. I don't even know why...I thought that the whole thing was going to be overhyped and I was going to go in there and prove to the husband that it was not as cool as it sounded. I was wrong. I admit it. This place is great. You can make your own ice cream flavor and add in all your favorite toppings. I went with a mint flavored ice cream with cookie dough and oreo. Sound weird? Well, it wasn't. It was AWESOME. I think this may be my summer ice cream spot....way better than fro yo to me, and better flavors than coldstones.
(4)
Will V.

Yes, you may wait 10-20 minutes or more for your ice cream, people, but that's because they don't make it until you order it! They don't have buckets of pre-made ice cream sitting around. I ordered chocolate ice cream made with organic milk, and bananas. It was amazing. I cannot imagine why anyone would prefer Cold Stone or Berry Chill (yuck!) over this. It's awesome!
(4)
Clare K.

So it took a looooong time for this place to open. And now that it has, it's OK...nothing amazing. I feel the only real reason to go here is if you want to get a crazy combo of flavors and ingredients. If you just go standard, it's not that exciting and kind of over-priced due to the novelty. I am the person who is afraid to pay $7 for a small bowl of gross ice cream, so I tend to go with standard stuff that I know I will like...so I doubt I will be back too often. It is the smoothest textured ice cream I have ever experienced, for sure. My REAL complaint, though, is the name. I don't like the fact that icream is "eye cream" in my head and the phrase "let's go get some icream (eye cream)" just doesn't work so well.
(3)
Lauren G.

Succinctly stated: Go for the experience and the options galore. It's worth it to try for creativity's sake. Ooh and aah over the fact that if you want caramel colored pomegranate soy ice cream, you can have it. Stay for the...sigh... 15-20 minutes, waiting for your treat. Receive subtly flavored ice cream, froyo, hot pudding, or soy ice cream in a decent sized portion with fresh fruits and other mixins. Kvetch about them going way UNDER on the amount of the mixin. Chalk it up as something you've tried, and something you can talk about to your fellow ice-cream obsessed friends. This place is more about the unique experience than the product. (Yeah, that bummed me out too).
(3)
Lisa F.

I love pretty much anything chocolate, gimicky and frozen so when I heard about iCream opening (Last year, but I wont go there) I was thrilled. I mean, a place where you can create your own ice cream flavor and color like a mad scientist just screams fun so I was very eager to get myself in there and start experimenting. All in all it's good fun but waiting 15-20 mins AFTER you order to get your ice cream is kinda rough. The employees, however, are very sweet and enthusiastic! What I got: Type: Fat Free Flavor: Coffee Add in: Nutella Color: Pink
(3)
Julie B.

Yuck. I didn't realize frozen yogurt could taste so bad. The consistency was more like that of ice than ice cream, and there wasn't much of a flavor at all. I ordered a berry flavor and it tasted so artificial. I would give it less stars, but I'm a sucker for unique concepts, and watching them blast liquid with nitrogen and turning it into something edible is kind of fun. I would say it's worth going to once just to see, and ordering the smallest size (because it may not be good enough to finish).
(3)
Jessica B.

Went here on a Friday night after dinner. Needless to say, the place was packed. The line was wrapped around, and we waited at least 20 minutes to even place our order. I got vanilla, dyed pink (I'm a girl, what do you want from me?), with sprinkles. Nothing fancy, i just like color. :) After ordering, we waited another 15 minutes for our ice cream. No big though, it was sooo interesting to see how they make it. I was amazed. The ice cream tasted, for lack of a better word, fresh. The bf didnt like his vanilla with banana and graham cracker. But i love this place, i will definitely be back. Complaints: A little dirty. The place is almost all white, and with all the kids and different color ice cream, you have to expect something is going to get spilled. The glass was full of fingerprints, but i guess i should have expected that. A little expensive, but actually watching my ice cream being made is so cool.
(4)
Sharlene K.

Dirtiest advertising ever. I have to believe the owners know exactly the double-entendres they're invoking with a name like "I Cream" and with ads that say "I Cream - Instant Gratification". I'm kind of just waiting for one to say something even dirtier. It's either they're doing this on purpose or they have nobody with any sense of strategy and marketing there (exemplifying why you don't hire your cousin/in-law/nephew/brother to do graphic design solely because of a relation). The ice cream is okay and the fact that Wicker Park has a fresh frozen yogurt option now is good, but part of me feels pretty odd asking a kid, "Do you want to go I Cream?" Though it is funny to ask your drunk friend, "Do you want to go I Cream? There's instant gratification!"
(3)
Elisha P.

I SCREAM U SCREAM!!! ICream was an amazing delectatastic experience! The owner Cora was so sincere, genuine, and patient when telling us about Icream and making our creations. I got pumpkin cheesecake which was really AWESOME. texture was smooth and refreshing with the appropriate crunch from the gram cracker mix in. A true delight. Not too sweet- very fresh- perfect. My roomate got oreo mint ice cream and was just as thrilled. The sizes are generous- got a small thinking it would be too small but the small was the best size. Not too little. So definetly GO, try it out it will be a $4 well spent (well more like $5 I got a small icecream w/ 2 mixins)
(5)
Mckenzie G.

This place is unique and really cool. My friend, who is vegan, and I came upon it in our chicago adventure and we have never seen anything like it. Sadly, I was so stuffed from our amazing lunch that I didn't get to order my own creation, but she was excited at the options, and her hot pudding - yes, hot pudding - was made by the owner and inventor herself. The owner said that she's looking to franchise in either Boston or Providence - my vote PROVIDENCE, please!
(4)
Kim M.

Ice cream isn't the best ever-knock-your-socks-off ice cream ever, (tasted slightly chemical to me) but I have to say the whole concept is super fun, especially with kids. What's not to love about choosing your own everything, color, flavor and mixins, then watching it turn from a liquid instantly to ice cream? Super cool. Should be experienced at least once. Parking can be a little dicey, metered street parking only, if you can find it.
(4)
jamie k.

Admittedly I was a little hesitant at first and thought the whole idea was silly, the name was ridiculous...and well, I don't really like Ice Cream a lot anyway. (ok, my stomach doesn't really like ice cream so much) Then, one day I went. Um...It's pretty awesome! Thankfully the evening we went it wasn't packed. The layout of the store is not really fit for long lines. The line was just long enough though for me to really figure out what I wanted. They have Soy Ice Cream, along with other kinds of frozen dairy products. Ultimately I decided on Green Tea soy ice cream and mixed in fresh strawberries and mango. mmmmm...So great!!! It's like a laboratory in there and really fun to watch the guy who is making the mixture into something solid. But I think something that would make it even cooler is if they had either pamphlets about the process or a sign that explained it. It's pretty cool and intriguing to watch, but it would be even better to follow along and understand. If I were kid, I'd insist on going here all the time. So, I got over my snobby Wicker Park attitude and embraced new local "ice cream shop" and you'll probably see me in line a couple times over the summer.
(4)
Bleu W.

What a wonderful find! This place is an innovative and delightful place for a delicious somewhat healthy treat! Pomegranate Tea with pomegranate, green tea, blueberries and yogurt. The service is also really friendly and helpful with any questions or suggestions. A new favorite place for me. Yay! :0)
(5)
Dean K.

I have read quite a bit of the reviews and I am not going to go over the process of how they do the ice cream. We saw a couple of reports on the store and came there from the suburbs. We thought this would be a very cool place to go to. A lot of people thought it was overpriced and for a small scoop in the burbs we probably pay about $3-$3.50 so that was not an issue. We were lucky that the total wait was not as bad as a lot of others experienced but can see where that could be a very big issue. Of course I was done by the time the 4th person in our group got theirs. My son did not like the Vanilla. When I tasted it there was actually too much flavor. My wife had banana and it tasted like the fake banana. That was a turn off for me. The big problem for this place is that there are a lot of people working there and they cannot get the orders out quick enough. I find it hard that they will be able to get repeat business when there are so many other choices. I am also sorry to give this review as I am sure the owner has put a lot into the concept. Hopefully things will work out for them.
(2)
Sara A.

icream, you cream....eh, you finish the saying and let your mind wander Went here for desert tonight and it was dreamy and scientific! Who ever came up with the idea to make your own individual ice cream within seconds is a genius and should be paid exorbitant amounts of money. Seriously, I want to buy into this franchise. Pretty please with whip cream and a cherry on top? Seriously, great concept. I had the warm pudding, with spiced pumpkin and caramel. My friends had the chocolate, bananas with real peanut butter cup chips. Sure, the food is processed, and used chemical flavoring, but THIS IS AMERICA! We process all our food here. Good stuff. Cant wait to go back and have the pomegranate and pear icream , made to order with liquid nitrogen. I am in love with instant gratification(simple things make me happy)
(5)
Abhist D.

I went to this place after I saw the special on the Food Network about there unique way of making ice cream. Apparenlty that's what the rest of Chicago thought to because I went here on a Saturday and it was a ridiculously long wait (partly because of the tours that were going in and out!). Basing my review off of one visit, I wasn't too impressed. I mean, the creation process was pretty cool to see, but the actual ice cream was okay. I think maybe its because of the flavors I had which at the moment I can't really remember. But I'll have to reserve any more stars for this place until after my next visit.
(3)
Stacey P.

Great concept... Ice cream is meh. I have mentioned my obsession with PB/Banana ice cream/yogurt before. I thought going to i cream would remedy my local need for such treats. No. So, you pick a flavor for your ice cream (or a couple). The flavors are juices they inject (although, they said they are extracts, i.e. banana flavor would be extracted from a real banana). So the flavor isn't "fresh banana" i.e. it's not blended smooth to make the ice cream a new flavor. Then, you pick mix ins or toppings. These are mix ins just like you'd have at cold stone or in a blizzard. They're just mixed really well, not blended (so the ice cream will have chunks of your mix in). I had Vanilla flavor ice cream with PB/Banana mix in. 1. The vanilla flavor was cheap. It didn't taste vanilla-y. 2. I liked the texture of the ice cream, yay liquid nitrogen. 3. The PB and banana was chunky mix-in, like cold stone. The bonus is that they HAVE peanut butter as a mix in (most places don't), the drawback is that .the ice cream itself just isn't that good. However, it IS fun watching them freeze your ice cream in a magical bowl of mist.
(3)
Emily W.

Yum. Yum. and more Yum. You pick the flavor, toppings, and even the color you want your creation to be. I ordered the honey ice cream with bananas and strawberries. My friend got burnt sugar with bananas and blueberries. So tasty! The workers were really patient while we pondered what to order and they all looked like they enjoyed working there. After we ordered they asked us how we liked it and told us that if we ever ordered something and weren't 100% satisfied that they would make us something else. Along the walls are reviews from school kids who went there which are adorable and some quite hilarious. In conclusion, custom made ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet loosely translates to get off your computer and go to iCream NOW. You can thank me later. UPDATE: Honey ice cream with nutella and bananas is delicious! UPDATE: Coffee ice cream with heath and strawberries is delicious! UPDATE: Cream Soda & White Chocolate ice cream with nutella and strawberries is delicious!
(5)
Nicole B.

I went there the first day they had opened, and I expected, much, much more. After waiting for 40+ minutes, I finally received my order. A simple caramel sundae and a butter pecan shake. The shake was for me and actually tasted very good. My friend/boss had the caramel sundae. She let me have a taste, and omg, it was the MOST disgusting ice cream I've ever had in my entire life. It actually had an aftertaste. Ew, ew, ew! We're very close to this ice cream shop, and everytime we go back, their ice cream machine is broken down. Get it together, people!!!! I'll try you once more in a few weeks, hopefully you'll have your shit together by then. Otherwise, Cold Stone Creamery it is!
(2)
Monzter N.

I read another yelper review about things to do in chicago.. she said beside Chicago deep dish pizza, i should try this place too... So.. in the crazy cold weather, we took subs from the loop and voila.. we found this place... a liquid nitrogen ice cream, which in a simple word... u can turn anything into ice cream! my sister order chocolate ice cream with nutella, which is turn okay... the ice cream is very soft... but still for me ben and jerry's or coldstone has a better taste... for myself, i tried order yogurt with peach and banana flavor.. for color.. i picked blue.. but apparently, it doesn't turn out good.. the server asked how my ice cream and i said i picked wrong flavor... and surprisingly, the server made me a new one with strawberry and banana , which is recommended and it turns out so good! Will visiting again if I go to Chicago....
(4)
Lori Taylor R.

Absolutely, a cool concept. I loved watching them make my own special concoction. The flavor the ice cream had was decent, but nothing to make me crave this on a regular basis. I like my ice cream with a real creamy consistency. I just didn't get that here. The concept is fascinating and it's a good spot to take people visiting Chicago. Unfortunately, I can't say it will be my go to ice cream spot.
(3)
Roger W.

I like the idea of using new technique (liquid nitrogen) to create traditional treat (ice cream). Unfortunately, I am a little disappointed with the end product. The strawberry cheesecake ice cream lacked creaminess. The pear ice cream lacked fruitiness. It didn't help when the countertop was quite messy. If the flavor isn't there, progressive technique on its own becomes just a gimmick. Definitely worth one visit for the experience, but I probably won't return with better choices out there.
(2)
Rachel F.

This place is hard to find. After almost 45 minutes of walking up and down several streets in the area, my anticipation was building. The line was long. But i needed all the time i could get to figure out what i wanted to make out of my ice cream. I love the fact that you can choose a base, your flavor and the color of your ice cream. This is not only cool for children but Adults too. Who doesn't love blue colored ice cream when the flavor is white chocolate pom. with raspberries WHICH WAS AWESOME and some coco powder on top!! The prices are higher than cold stone but there is a lot more customization. Two ice creams came out to $14. REALLY! I was shocked.
(4)
Lauren H.

Brought a friend here tonight for birthday dessert. After hearing a description of the place from a coworker, the level of geekery seemed like a good fit for the birthday friend. The staff was terribly nice and explained the process well. I had chocolate cinnamon ice cream with chocolate chips. Thought the flavor was a little lacking in intensity (I couldn't really taste it after a few bites), the texture was nice (but almost greasy..? milkfat content, maybe?) and I certainly don't worry about price when I'm paying for novelty. Speaking of novelty, watching my ice cream being made before my very eyes with neato sciencey gadgets was funky cool. However, ice cream that I wasn't wild about probably won't be enough to bring me back.
(3)
Ali O.

I'll admit it. i was intrigued by the smoke and mirrors. Well, really just the smoke. No mirrors to speak of. Plus one point for having a "cream soda" flavor. Yum. Minus one point, however, because I was encouraged to pair it with pomegranate. Perhaps it was my mistake for following their advice? But, I was so overwhelmed by all of their options that I just followed their directions blindly. The end result was light and fruity. The ice-cream was not very creamy or rich, so it was easy to eat the whole cup. And I felt their "small" size was very generous. Downside? 5 dollars for a small!!! That is some expensive so-so ice-cream. I am somewhat interested in finding out about the hot pudding though. I do love me some puddin'.
(3)
Amy X.

price is too high. how about this -- watch those other schmucks make their own "original" flavor combinations for about 30 seconds, and then go elsewhere to actually buy your frozen treats. wooooo, liquid nitrogen... that's really the extent of the appeal. artificial flavors and food coloring? no thanks. if i'm going to pay something exorbitant for frozen desserts, i'll go to black dog gelato for something of quality.
(2)
Ramya P.

I visited iCream on probably one of their busiest days of the year, when it was a 100 degrees outside on a Saturday afternoon during the Wicker Park fest. The staff was surprisingly chilled out, friendly and yet were going as fast as they could. Since this place could be a hit or a miss, I would suggest trying out one of their tried and tested combinations. I had the "Mom's favorite", which I really enjoyed. Plus its really cool to see them make the ice cream.
(4)
Jack A.

I absolutely hate two things (well, actually I absolutely hate more than two things, but these two things are relevant to this review): wasting money and shitty ice cream. I suffered both indignities on a recent trip to this gimmicky ice "cream" shop. Chances are if this is best ice cream you've ever tasted, you haven't had sex. Or, at the very least, good sex. As much as I love anything involving fog and liquid nitrogen, both of those be damned: Not only was the place sterile and uninviting (essentially a narrow bar with a few dingy white stools and large nitrogen dispensers), but the staff seemed positively unenthusiastic. I imagine its a similar feeling shared by KISS' pyroteam: the wonder wore off after the first world tour and now they just want the check. Speaking of my love of fog (which I'm certain stems from a deep-rooted appreciation of the aforementioned band) the only grace -- and not even a saving one as it was far too fleeting -- was the liquid nitrogen mists billowing from the food processors. It was purdy. In the end though, my Small cup of chocolate, soy (or rice, I can't recall) milk based iced concoction was less creamy treat and more frost-bitten, taupe colored chunks of disaster. Lifeless, passionless, with a similar taste to the cardboard HALP ME sign the Crusties who haunt Wicker Park keep in tow... I assume. I rarely throw away food I purchase while eating out; even if its bad I try to reach some kind of compromise with the establishment to reach a culinary conclusion that's satisfactory to all parties. Even more rare is tossing out a dessert. Despite its flavor or lack thereof and the somewhat hefty price tag (paid more than 6 bucks for a small chocolate soy/rice milk with blahtastic raspberries) I carried that mess around with me for a good 45 minutes, trying my damndest to nibble in search of redemption. The damn thing didn't even melt in a timely manner and I caved, deserting it in a trashbin near the venue. This ice cream is what I'm sure having sex with Gene Simmons is like nowadays: surrounded by fog to conceal the fact that, beyond the seemingly compelling experience, its impotent. The fog IS pretty neat though...
(1)
Becky S.

I've been waiting to try this place ever since last summer, and they've been closed since then because their liquid nitrogen machine was broken for FOREVER. I can't imagine what they paid in rent for all those months with basically no product to sell. First time I visited iCream, i got raspberry frozen yogurt, no mix-ins, with a yellow color. It literally was yogurt, poured into a mixer with liquid nitrogen to freeze it. It tasted like I was eating Dannon that had been in the freezer. It was actually kind of bland though. Not very tangy, not very sweet, not very much of anything except a faint raspberry flavor. The yellow was super bright and pretty though. Second time I went, I wanted chocolate ice cream, but I was informed that the red color I wanted wouldn't show up in chocolate. I guess I should have known that, since chocolate is obviously very dark brown. But I had hope, and I'm glad the girl at the counter told me ahead of time so i didnt end up with some nasty reddish brown ice cream. So i got peppermint ice cream, with chocolate chips, and a red color. The girl comped the additional 75 cents for the chocolate chips because the whole red chocolate thing didnt work out, which was unnecessary but nice. My boyfriend got green vanilla with gummy bears. My red turned out to be pink, and with no chocolate chips, so I told the girl. She offered to make it over again for me but I said it would be fine if she just poured some chips over the top, I'm not that difficult. The vanilla flavor of my boyfriend's order was very good, but my peppermint was again a little bland. So far the best part about this place is the texture: I'm in love with the smooth creaminess. The flavors need some work. Also they must have made some changes because they are now taking names, and my wait time was only 5 minutes or so, and it was fairly busy being about 11:30 PM on a Friday night.
(3)
Shakira E.

Fun experience, but I don't have to go back there for anything other than the experience. I prefer Berry Chill, Red Mango or Cold Stone Creamery.
(2)
L L.

I will be amazed if this plays is still open in a year. Gross-ish product, hilariously bad name, and costs something around five bucks. Huh??
(1)
Vickie L.

I'm moving to the neighborhood and now will be less than 2 blocks away from icream. Hmmm, pretty dangerous. But I guess not too dangerous because it's $3.50 for the small, and that doesn't include mix-ins. Plus Coldstone is on North Ave, and on Milwaukee and Paulina there's Oberweiss and Baskin Robbins.... Really cute idea to make your own ice cream, fro yo, sorbet or hot pudding. They also have coffee drinks too. Everything is a bit pricey, but it's custom, and the cost of the equipment is rolled into the price. 3 of us went last night, ordered 1 small and 2 mediums, and it was about $17. First time I went I got green tea flavored frozen yogurt. No mix-ins. It was pretty awful. I was expecting sweet fro yo, like TCBY, but instead got that Pinkberry stuff that's sour, like real yogurt. Gross. I kept adding the powdered vanilla to it to make it palatable. I will never get the fro yo again. That night was cold and my friend got the hot pudding, it was surprising good! It got a little TOO pudding-y at the end though, I kind of wish it had a hard top though, like a souffle, to breakup the consistency. Went for the 2nd time last night. I was smarter this time and kept with the basics. Ice cream (light) with white chocolate flavor, and strawberries mixed in. It was lovely. One "complaint" is that the strawberries were mixed in too early so the ones on the bottom were frozen solid. I ordered a small, and it was maybe 10-12 oz? There was actually so much it came out over an inch above the top of the cup. Do NOT order the gum ball mix-in. It's not like the chewy little gum pieces you get in bubble gum candy. They were actually big gum balls they put in at the last minute. You can get them mixed in or just on top. My friend actually spit them all out because it was too much. At least it didn't add/subtract to the flavor of the actual ice cream. There were about 7 people in line before us, our wait wasn't that bad, maybe 10 min, but the wait goes by fast because it's fun watching all the stuff get made, and figuring out "is that mine?" But when it's not, boo. The people taking the orders at the register both times were very nice, had a lot of patience, and were very helpful. I guess it's their job when pretty much everyone that comes in doesn't know what they're in for. My bf wants to write "my pants" underneath their sign
(3)
Ginny L.

I think this place is such a cool idea, and I hope to go back soon to try out more things... My experience here was on a Tuesday evening, and my group of friends were the only ones there, so we only had to wait for each other so that wasn't bad. I had honey ice cream with graham crackers, and it was delicious. My friends got some odd combinations of things and had mixed thoughts of the experience, but a lot of the issue was the choices they made and not at all the fault of iCream itself. Oh, and the guys working there were playing They Might Be Giants. Awesome.
(4)
Bryan H.

Neat idea, but tooooo expensive! The flavors were good, and I think it's "deliciousness" is determined by your skill at creating ice cream. My wife went with mint and green tea ice cream, the worker recommended throwing in some white chocolate chips. It tasted great, although you couldn't taste the tea part - but it was $5.83. Outdoor seating was 2 small tables, 4 good chairs, and one broken one.
(3)
M N.

Pros: 1. VEGAN ICE CREAM WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS 2. Decent selection of flavors and toppings. 3. Staff knew what vegan means and even knew what stuff had vanilla extract in it for my uber-edge buddy. 4. Decent portions. Cons: 1. Very slow. (I acknowledge it's a process and it takes time but we were told 10 minutes and it was easily 15 or 20) 2. Expensive (Again, good sized portion but still price-y). 3. The place is really small and there isn't really anywhere to wait. Overall: Vegan Ice Cream is the name of the game for me. I will go again but I'll try to find a time when they aren't as busy. The price will prevent it from being a regular stop but it's an option for now and then. At least it's not Earwax.
(3)
K E.

The ice cream did not taste good, but it is a fun novelty. I had the blueberry pie flavor (burnt sugar ice cream, blueberry, and graham cracker crust, which the server recommended). I think my friend who just had chocolate soy ice cream liked his better than I did. If the concept intrigues you, I would recommend going there once just for the experience, but I'm in no rush to return.
(3)
Sonya X.

I've been to iCream four times now, and to be honest I think the concept of it is what I like more than the actual ice cream/ fro-yo/hot pudding. They have a great selection of flavors and mix-ins that it's definately a litte overwhelming when you first walk in- even if it's not your first visit there! But great to know that you can customize your order to exactly how you want it. I've had the fro-yo and hot pudding. I wasn't really a fan of the fro-yo because each time I had it, you coudl really taste that the flavoring was made from some kind of concentrate. The hot pudding on the other hand was the exact opposite it tasted more real, though I do believei t's made from the same concentrate shots that everythign else is. Maybe just cause it's hot the flavor blends in better. But like I said, I totally go there because i think the concept is cool, plus it's super fun to watch the ice cream and fro-yo be made in the kitchen aid mixers as dry ice is blow into it. It looks very science experiment like.
(3)
Steve N.

Went here after Piece. Got the strawberry with graham cracker flavor. Thought it was ok, so did Bella. Tastes kinda like dippin dots. They make the ice cream on the spot using liquid nitrogen, which was kinda cool. Try some ice cream here if youre a Terminator 2 fan.
(3)
Mike L.

I am not sure how I feel about iCream. On one had, the ice cream was pretty good. I had a chocolate/burnt sugar with nutella. Neither flavor was very strong. While you get to flavors. It might be wise to stick to one. The issue is, I am a big fan of dense flavorful ice cream. iCream's ice cream is more closely resembles Dip'in Dots. The other reviews are pretty much cover the rest. It is a tad pricey and there isn't much room inside. But, it is like getting your ice cream from some mad scientists, iCream might be the place.
(3)
Liz S.

Meh. The ice cream is deliciously creamy - especially nice if you go the frozen yogurt route. However, the taste is just ok and, given the wait and the price, it's just not feeling that fantastic to me. It's a cool gimmick, and you can make a few cool flavor combos, but it hasn't surpassed my love for any of my other area ice cream favorites.
(3)
Jae M.

Yummy and fun!
(5)
Dave L.

This place is awesome minus the price! $11 dollars for two medium ice creams.....YIKES! Besides the price, everything else was perfect. Parking is ample outside and fairly inexpensive and the Strawberry Cheesecake tasted heavenly. Mango Rush wasn't too bad either, but yum, yum, yum for the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor ice cream!
(4)
Ngoc H.

Went here with my sister a while back. The way the make the ice cream, is awesome. There is a pretty big variety of flavors to choose from. Watching them actually make the ice ream is like watching a science teacher fill beakers with crazy chemicals that produce a delicious concoction of goondess. Prices are very reasonable. The downfalls are the crazy lines in the summer and parking SUCKS!
(5)
Ben K.

There isn't really a better dessert moment in my recent history than when the ingredients for your ice cream creation are placed into a large metal blender bowl and the liquid nitrogen starts foaming in like an overflowing container of dry ice. After a brief but frenzied session of mixing and congealing, your fantastically fresh and delicious ice cream is ready for consumption. It's an awesome experience. I could watch these guys make ice cream all day long. Tastes good too.
(5)
Jason G.

We got chocolate soy ice cream and added berries. It was fantastic. Went on a slow night, didn't have to wait, people were polite and the ice cream was tasty. Worth a trip into the hipster haven of Wicker Park.
(5)
Ray J.

I wanted something simpler than the desserts at Taxim so we wandered over to iCream for a post-dinner treat. I ordered full-fat vanilla iced cream with heath bar and peanut-butter. Sounds delicious, right? My wife had a pomegranate, peach, and blackberry yogurt. Both were okay, but not great. The ice cream just didn't seem as good as it should have and the peanut butter wasn't mixed in enough. My wife didn't love hers either, but couldn't put a finger on what it was. It was a cool place and we enjoyed watching the desserts get made, but the product wasn't good enough for a return trip.
(2)
Lauren H.

A friend recommended this place to me and I was impressed how they really make the ice cream right in front of you.. I'm picky when it comes to ice cream but this is one of my favorites because it's not too sweet and just right for my taste buds. I always hate finding parking when I come here but I know it worth it.. I can't wait when they have their summer hours and are open late since sometimes it take me a long time to find parking!
(5)
Ryan B.

Good idea, poor execution. The liquid nitrogen process does give it a nice texture, given how fast it freezes, and thus preventing the formation of ice crystals and such (as a footnote, you can even use liquid nitrogen to freeze high alcohol content liquids- I would go back if they offered that option). Not going back though, the flavors are VERY artificial. Like "Jelly Belly bean" artificial. If they stuck to a small selection of pre-made bases, instead of adding flavors to order, it might work. Or maybe if they used better flavors? C'mon folks, it's not rocket science. It's barely year one Chemistry class.
(2)
Jen R.

I was excited because they make soy ice cream-- however, after waiting 20 minutes for my ice cream to be made, the actual ice cream had no flavor to it. it also costs more for the soy ice cream, so the soy ice cream, plus one mix-in (m&ms) and one topping, it was almost $8 for a medium scoop of ice cream. highly doubt i will return.
(2)
Alf O.

Cool concept, but the 5 stars are for how delicious the ice cream is.
(5)
caroline k.

Overhyped and overrated. Just think Cold Stone meets science lab - but with much less yummy results. We had the vanilla ice cream with cinnamon 'flavor' and graham cracker mix in (good), low-fat frozen yogurt with green tea with truvia (gross), and the vanilla ice cream with strawberry flavor and chocolate chips (ok). Don't be drawn in by the white kitchen aids and clouds of liquid nitrogen smoke - you're much better off going to oberweis down the street.
(1)
Jen M.

I'm addicted to Food Network and discovered iCream after watching an episode of Chef vs. City in Chicago. It's been on my list to checkout for sometime and I finally got a chance to become an ice cream scientist! The concept is an ice cream store we can pick everything from the type of frozen treat (ice cream, soy ice cream, yogurt, etc.) and then you pick flavors and toppings. Sounds like Cold stone right? WRONG! The catch is that everything is made from scratch. They use rapid freezing techniques to make your treat frozen right in front of your eyes! I got a medium strawberry non fat frozen yogurt with nutella & graham crackers! It was excellent and I can't believe I finished it all. I would suggest a small to visitors that's what I will stick with next time. I thought the prices were reasonable, I was expecting it to be very expensive due to the concept and I find that most ice cream parlors these days (besides baskin robbins) is really pricey. Will definitely back when I'm in the neighborhood. I look forward to my next creation!
(4)
Andria M.

Really?? What am I missing? This was the worst ice cream I've ever had. I know this may sound overly dramatic, cause,really, who has bad ice cream? (unless of course you buy some crap grocery store ice cream with fake ass ingredients) I went a couple months ago and honestly I can't remember exactly what I ordered, it was so flavorless. I was, though, permanently scared by the pathetic watery syrup that was supposed to serve as caramel sauce....ugh! Unexcusable for $6 ! Unexcusable in the name of ice cream! I threw it away. I'm still pissed about this! Oh and the plastic bottles of colored liquids? Completely unappealing. Are these bottles of flavorless flavoring???
(2)
Alicia C.

The beat part of this place is watching them make the ice cream but it's too expensive ant it tasted ok.nothing exceptional
(3)
Claire S.

Not only did I have to wait forever to get my froyo at iCream, but when I ended up getting it (after about 30 minutes), it wasn't even that great. I can appreciate that they are trying to do something different, but I would really never think to visit iCream again...
(1)
Patrick C.

Alright, this place is slightly pricey, but I still thought it was pretty good ice cream. The process they go through to make it is definitely something to see if you're into creative food making.
(3)
Livia N.

My husband and I just tried this place and had a really fun experience. I had a vanilla, coconut ice cream with nutella and pistachio topping. My husband had a hazelnut, purple ice cream with graham cracker crust and nutella. We both liked our ice creams so much that we didn't really want to share it with each other. For the ice cream alone I would have given this place 4 stars, but the whole experience is what counts and I must say that the place needs better lighting. It looks like it is closed from the outside because it is so dark. There are very few places to sit down and only one actual small table. Since we had a baby, we sat at the only table that was placed in one of the darkest spots in the place.
(3)
Eme L.

The truth: you are paying to wait in line to observe a dry-ice show. Nothing more. The yogurt has absolutely no flavor, aside from an oddly off-putting aftertaste. We had: irish cream low-fat yogurt and vanilla non-fat yogurt. If it wasn't for the snickers mixed into the vanilla yogurt, there would have been no discernible flavor at all. I've had the "tart" non-fat yogurt before (red mango, pinkberry, etc.) It actually has flavor. If anything, it's usually pretty strong tasting. This, I just don't get. It might be fun for the kids to watch, but I can't think of any other reason to come here.
(1)
Amie W.

This place is amazing!!! I am a girl who loves her ice cream, but after a long winter of hibernating, I thought Fro Yo would probably be a better choice. I had a raspberry, chocolate combo (with sprinkles) it was fantastic! The raspberries were so yummy and the texture was great too, something hard to get with frozen yogurt at other places. My husband had the guy from Florida, any time you can get Nutella in Ice Cream is a good day. The prices are very reasonable for the size you get. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Josh C.

Go here if you hate the following things: flavor, good deals, and fast service. I got the pear flavored ice cream. The smallest size was $4, and it was about the size of a cupcake. It lacked flavor, was half melted when I got it, and was a complete rip off. I admit that the concept is unique, but I'm tired of places around here which focus on selling the gimmick, rather than focusing on selling good products. Next time I feel like ice cream, I'll pick up a half gallon and sit at home alone in the dark and eat the entire thing while I weep... as usual. But at least I'll be happier than I was after I went to iCream.
(1)
Nhu N.

Yes, you will have to wait to get your damn ice cream if it's nice out and everyone and their mothers want it too. I like watching the liquid nitro as I am lured towards all things chemical. I love the mix in and color options. Your kids will love it too. Yay for nutella! It is some damn good ice cream, I just wish I didn't have to spend so much for it.
(5)
Michael M.

They get points for being original and fresh tasting, and pretty much guaranteeing they'll have something you will like: everything gets made custom, and the choices are endless and a little overwhelming: ice cream, soy, yogurt, pudding. This is a place you want to go to at least once so you can say you've been. Smoky liquid nitrogen, plastic measuring cups, and syringes of ingredients are cool in a weird science kind of way. But I'm not sure its a place I can fall in love with, get a craving for, or have nostalgic fond memories of.
(3)
Alan W.

I can't even begin to explain how awesome this place is. The only way this place can suck is when you make your own combination that's really crappy.
(5)
Kristen P.

Eh. Nutella is supposed to be good in everything, right? Stopped here over the summer for Nutella and Raspberry iCream, it was okay at best. Should have hit up the Flat Iron for a cold one of theirs instead.
(2)
Erin M.

Delish! Yes, it may take a little longer than your average ice cream shop, but does your average ice cream shop incorporate nutella in your concoction? Does it make the ice cream in front of you with cool machines that rock out the freezing process right before your eyes? Right. The 12 minute wait is definitely worth it. AND - I love that they offer many different flavors, toppings, and types of ice cream (froyo, organic, soy). Awesome.
(4)
Tom P.

Pros: Interesting to look at the "science" of how this particular parlor makes their ice cream. Also, patrons have a large selection to customize their order. Cons: Waited for 10 minutes to put my order in. There were two people in front of me. Waited another 25 minutes (no joke) to get my ice cream. And I've had better ice cream. And a small ice cream was $5. Summary: Cool to see once, but if you want ice cream, go somewhere else that quicker, better, and cheaper. And I agree with Brian M. - if you want to see the artificial vials of "flavor" mixed with your cryogenically engineering ice cream, then maybe this is a place for you... For me? I was waiting for Sylvester Stallone from Demolition Man to appear in bowl....
(1)
Joyce B.

I, too, has read a lot about this place and was really excited to go. The concept is cool, but their execution is horrible. Maybe I'm biased because I work in the food industry, but they need a lesson in how to run a business. When I went there were slow-moving high school kids behind the counter doing everything. I got a small caramel ice cream with Nutella. This kid takes the tiniest melon-baller scoop to pinch out a dab of nutella and then puts it in a plastic cup. They mix up the flavor in the KitchenAid and then said kid takes another teeny spoon to take the Nutella from the plastic cup into the mixer, leaving half of the already puny amount behind. Then they scrap the beater, then they scrape the bowl; it's a long process for a cup of ice cream, and I spent $4 on less than a tablespoon of a topping? The caramel flavor was too sweet, but the combo was good and the ice cream quality was up there. My boyfriend got vanilla with reese's and it was horribly bland, and they topped it with straight up Hersey's syrup. C'mon, you gotta do better than that. So now I've gone, and I'll never go again. There are much better places, Starfruit, pinkberry, Margies, hell, I'll go to DairyQueen before I go back here.
(2)
Nycole H.

I love trying things I see on TV, I sure am the gullible person marketers go after. I saw it on 190 North I think. Anyhow I brought my grandma whose in town from Ohio, and this is something way different for her so I thought it'd be fun. I got the ice cream with raspberry flavor and bananas on top. My grandma got yogurt with cinnamon flavor and bananas on top. As you can tell we weren't all that adventurous but both were very good. I think it's fun to make your own but as far as real quality I'd still go with Oberweiss 100%. They have such a smooth taste to their ice cream that still can't be matched!! I'd of course come back though because I love random things like this that are outside the norm!
(4)
M D.

This place is fun the first time you go. The second time around the novelty of your liquid nitrogen ice cream wears off and you realize you just paid $5 bucks for a tiny cup of ice cream...
(2)
lauren s.

this place is awesome. it's like a little science lab, only you can eat the results! there was only one worker there when we went on a sunday afternoon, so it wasn't the fastest service...but who cares when it's all made from scratch right in front of you! (+ you need time to concoct the ultimate scoop) as a vegan (+ as someone with food allergies, to boot), i felt a rare moment of joy in a food establishment as i pondered what i wanted...i am not used to having so many choices! i noticed that he uses organic soy milk for the soy version of the ice cream, + you can even ask to have yours made with raw turbinado sugar (or none at all, which he warned me against). if you like being adventurous with your palette, (or have a penchant for liquid nitrogen!), hurry up + get in there. + try the burnt sugar flavor...mmmm.
(4)
Alanna K.

Not gonna lie...it's not the best tasting ice cream. I can't even really describe it. I liked the flavors, but it just didn't have that really creamy factor, that I think a lot of people miss. I did find it to be an enjoyable place...and it's really cool to watch them make it! The people working there were super nice and told you all the steps to take. It's a little on the pricey side, but I would go back again. If you're trying it for the first time, just remember...DON'T think COLDSTONE CREAMERY. Keep an open mind, and try our own concoction of flavors!!
(3)
Shakeia T.

I can't even write an accurate review. I went to this place on Wednesday, 8/20 and their machines were down. I can't even believe they were even open. The guy behind the counter had to explain to us and the other people who were there that we could only get hot pudding. =( I may/may not go back. First impressions mean alot in business.
(1)
Maggie C.

Part of the appeal of iCream for me personally, is that I feel like I'm in the future whenever I go there, which makes it a pretty fun experience for me. Also, I love having all of the options for what I want in my ice cream (coffee flavored soy ice cream with nutella mixed in? Yes, please!). While the ice cream is not the best I've ever had, it's quite good and an overall an enjoyable and novel experience.
(4)
Spenser K.

So I've been to iCream twice, strangely in the winter too! The concept is interesting but more importantly, the owner is so sweet. She was very open about how things work and how the business runs. The products are fabulous there as well. Everything seems very fresh and fruity with many options because it is sort if a "create your own" concept (and I've only had sorbet there). For friendly service and a delish treat this is the place to go in Wicker Park (even in the deep cold of winter!)
(4)
Katie M.

This place has such a cool concept. I love that you pick every single thing about your ice cream and then they make it right there. It has a slightly crumbly texture but tastes sooo good!
(4)
Stefan S.

Order "That guy from Florida"....NUFF SAID!!!!!
(5)
Josh M.

Seriously, why wouldn't anyone not want to design their own ice cream (or sorbet)? I visited here as part of tour group and sampled a pumpkin cheesecake flavored concoction as well as something called "The Florida Guy". I could easily imagine trying something new every week if a place like this existed where I live. A great original idea and a more than friendly staff complete the experience.
(4)
Juan B.

Quite gross...the concept is unique, but wish their ice cream didn't taste like fresh plastic off an assembly line.
(2)
Joscelyn M.

No, it doesn't TASTE any better than your average ice cream place, but where else can you get caramel fro yo with nutella? And yes, it takes longer, but because you invent your very own flavor, they make it from scratch! The only thing I don't like are the surly servers, but I honestly can't blame them for being cranky-pants when people bother them about 15 min being too long to make ice cream!
(4)
Jenny Z.

I got a recommendation from the person working the counter to get pear pomegranite fro yo and it was delicious. However....I ordered a medium and I got a small sized serving in a medium bowl. I saw everyone else's mediums and they were filled to the brim.....I have a hard time paying $5.50 for ice cream to begin with so when I didn't get the full portion, I was slightly annoyed. Also, this place would be great if it had an extra 500 square feet...maybe I have space bubble issues, I dunno. It was cramped and everyone was taking pictures of the liquid nitrogen....lots of people were confused where they were supposed to pick up their ice cream and it just made for a mess. I thought the place was pretty cool but much too small in portion size and standing room. The ice cream/fro yo I would give a five though.
(3)
Rebecca S.

This place was very, very tasty! The guy who took my order was also very friendly... it was overall a great experience! I got the green tea/pomegranate ice cream with white chocolate chips... really good. My boyfriend got almond/cherry ice cream with bananas and nuts... even better! The ice cream was really good and creamy, without being too rich. I'll definitely be returning.
(5)
Casey B.

This place was pretty cool! So many choices from using yogurt, milk, soy for the base of the ice cream. Then there are flavor and color choices! I ordered fat free yogurt, banana flavoring, green color and gram cracker crumbs. The ice cream was pretty good not the best but it was a blast just watching the process. That make's it work going to by itself. I would recommend going if your in Wicker Park and looking for a sweet treat.
(4)
Amanda T.

Overall this place actual ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. is just definitely not the best I've ever had, but this place is FUN! There's so much variety and you have the option to let your inner Picasso go wild and come up with some wacky frozen concoctions. I'm 23 and I'm amazed that I still find myself fascinated with pink white chocolate ice cream. It' a little overpriced and you have to wait awhile to get your creation made, but it makes for a very interesting experience.
(3)
StanLee T.

I really wanted to go to I Cream after I saw Chef vs City. Science and Ice Cream, how could it get better? First off I have to say the staff was EXTREMELY friendly, they explained everything clearly and were eager to help us. I got peach/pear pink ice cream with strawberries in it. The ice cream or should I say I Cream was good, but not great. Part of it is my fault. I think I should have thought out my choices a little longer. The best part of the whole process is watching them make your treat. Its like Mr. Wizard meets Coldstone. This is a great tourist stop and I can see myself taking many visitors there.
(4)
Jacqui M.

Let's face it, everything is better fresh. Icream has the freshness down in spades. You create if from the base to the flavors, to the mix-ins. I am not even a sweets person, so I wouldnt think I'd ever be down to wait 25 minutes for ice cream... but I am so happy I did and would be happy to do it again. I created a low-fat yogurt, green tea and granola mix and it was delish! I already concocted a few different combos in my head that I cant wait to try... I am sure that I'm bound to have a bad combo here and there, but that certainly wont stop me from trying again...
(4)
Alex K.

I wanted to really really like it. They have all the nerdy things I love - liquid nitrogen, lab coats, and little bottle full of mixed chemicals. The Staff was SUPER friendly. I just realized after getting it that I really just like my ice cream simple and well, more natural. I got caramel and heath and something called burnt sugar. I got basically a coffee flavoring with heath bar pieces. I realized that the ice cream had to caramel at all - just the flavoring. And no pieces of burnt sugar. Just chemical flavoring. While I love liquid nitrogen and little bottles of chemicals I prefer them in the lab. I like scooters or even cold stone - I can have REAL caramel, real strawberry, real ingredients. I could be biased, but combining lab and food is just not a good idea. I mean i was taught to never put the stuff i worked with in my mouth. So maybe I'm biased just a bit. The ice cream was ok tasting but i think it was because of the Heath bar. makes everything good. To each their own. I like my food full of flavor not "flavoring" sorry.
(3)

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Address : 1537 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL, 60622
Phone (773) 342-2834
Website https://www.icreamcafe.com/
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Opening Hours

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Specialities

Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free

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iCream

1537 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

iCream Menu

Main

Favorites

Toppings - Fresh Fruit

Topping - Candy

Topping - Other Yummy Stuff

Flavors

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Main

Favorites

Toppings - Fresh Fruit

Topping - Candy

Topping - Other Yummy Stuff

Flavors

Whitney S.

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Lawrence Y.

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Melanie T.

Mel C.

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Heather D.

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Abishek M.

Morgan Richelle M.

Christina C.

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Bo Y.

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Jami R.

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Sheila X.

Shradha A.

Ashley B.

Stephanie M.

Anna K.

Liza P.

Natalie V.

Sam L.

Troy B.

Kasia L.

Grant P.

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Kimberly L.

Sarah T.

Cassandra W.

Kathleen O.

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Chloe C.

Monty M.

jennifer j.

Kimsy S.

Michael C.

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Andy N.

jen l.

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Heather H.

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