now, you may be tempted to accuse me of including a chain into my list of notre dame favorites. however, one visit to ritter's and you will understand why it deserves a coveted spot on this blog! first of all, contrary to visits to other local ice cream establishments, you will be greeted by a staff of pristine, wholesome teenagers eager to serve you with a smile. you might feel like you are in the 50s for a second...think eddie haskell from "leave it to beaver" minus the annoying, but sometimes flattering, brown nosing. needless to say, it is comforting to know that genuinely polite teenagers do exist. enough about the service, let's get to the good stuff! ritter's offers regular flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and a lite vanilla (for the calorie conscious) on a daily basis. in addition, they add about three other flavors each day...a perfect number. in my opinion, few choices are usually a sign of higher quality. the custard is noticeably thicker and creamier than your basic ice cream, providing a rich texture. while ritter's offers the basics: sundaes, toppings, fresh waffle cones, etc., they also include some unique items. the glacier is their version of a blizzard, mcflurry, cyclone, you get the idea. however, they serve this dessert upside down to the eager customer in an effort to set themselves apart from the competition. you just have to love the creativity! while i have enjoyed many days and nights of being a "normal" ritter's customer, simply ordering one item from their enticing menu, i must reveal the real secret to ritter's success. FROZEN CUSTARD PIES! these are, without a doubt, the number one reason to take a visit to ritter's. each pie includes an oreo-like crust, piled high with scoops of custard, loaded with delicious toppings! what more could an ice cream-lover want?! i must confess that, on more than one occasion, my mom and i have enjoyed a pie without even slicing it...why bother? all you need are some spoons! the pies come in several varieties: turtle (vanilla custard with caramel, pecans, and chocolate fudge), peanut butter mountain (vanilla custard with reeses cups, peanut butter sauce, and chocolate syrup), mud (chocolate custard with marshmallow creme, crushed oreos, and chocolate fudge), to name a few (this should be enough to tempt your palate). in addition to pies, ritter's offers cakes with a generous helping of custard layered in between spongy cake. you can have your cake and eat your custard, too! finally, the most important feature of ritter's, exclusively available to notre dame students (maybe st. mary's and holy cross, too, but i'm not certain): with a student id, your frozen treat can be purchased for half price! what a deal...with exceptional customer service, high quality, and low prices, ritter's really canNOT be beat!
(5)
G. H.
Chris has the best custard from the depths of a best kept family secret recipe. Try your favorite. You won't be disappointed. Amazing place!
(5)
Douglas K.
Awesome custard....get the vanilla. We also had the cookies and cream ice cream cake, delicious but heavy. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Julie T.
Went to your establishment tonight on 7-4-15 at 9:22pm. I'm giving you the date and time in hopes when you read this you give a HUGE KUDOS to your employee working the drive-thru. I didn't get her name, but she was the sweetest and her customer service was OUTSTANDING!!! Love your place and great job hiring great employees!!!
(5)
Thomas M.
When will visit family we make sure to visit Ritter's with our sons! We all enjoy it and the Key Lime is AWESOME! It's nice to sit outside and chill.
(4)
Vanni T.
Mmm. This was pretty tasty but the diet vanilla version tasted a bit bitter...
(4)
Heather H.
So delicious! Creamy and full-flavored, it's just darn tasty. I love that they post their flavors for the week at their window. If you don't mind the extra calories for it being a custard, it is such a good treat. Sadly, it isn't open year round, but you sure know it is warming up when they open their doors. I remember skating and then getting custard, oh childhood memories. **the flavors change often, but the peanut butter is top notch! and the orange/pineapple is refreshing and a delight.**
(5)
Danny M.
Ritters is good! This is an old-fashioned frozen custard stand. They have around 7 flavors per night (also chocolate, vanilla, and lite vanilla). I got the Mud Sundae which is a chocolate lovers dream. It had chocolate ice cream, oreos, chocolate sauce, marshmallow cream, and other goodies. Wow, I could barely finish half of it! Go check this out if in the South Bend area ...
(4)
David L.
This place isn't bad. Good soft serve ice cream, or frozen custard, or whatever you want to call it. Like most places of its kind, there aren't as many flavors as an ice cream joint, but they are good and fresh, and change every day (except for vanilla and chocolate). It's kind of on the sweet side for my tastes, but good, and the kid really liked it. They have cakes and sundaes and a dedicated kid's menu. The patio has a few nice tables. I'll go back when I'm on that side of town again.
(4)
Ryan F.
We live in California and when I come out to visit my sister and her family, I always stop here for some "Turtle Something". They rock.
(5)
Kimberly B.
I've had frozen custard in my hometown in Los Angeles, but never had flavored ones. Usually they make flurries out of chocolate or vanilla. This location has 3 new flavors a day and they are AWESOME. I have tried Dreamsicle, Butter Pecan, Chocolate Banana, and the list goes on. I try to come here every time I visit South Bend, and I would recommend it as a HEALTHY(er) frozen treat that will make you and your family want to come back for more! :)
(5)
Myra S.
Ritter's is the best frozen custard I've ever had. I haven't found any better anywhere!!! When I lived in the area I visited Ritter's at least twice a week. Yummy yummy!!!
(5)
David T.
The Oreo Glacier is so delicious... a great place to waste away a hot summer night.
(5)
Christina M.
Frozen custard is one of those delightful diabetes-inducing food specialties of the Midwest. It's definitely NOT the same thing as ice cream, but richer and more decadent. Ritter's is one of my favorite places to indulge when I'm jonesing for frozen custard. There is not a huge selection of flavors, but I find it hard to beat classic vanilla. And for those who are watching their weight (LOLOLOL) they have pretty tasty Italian ices. They do a Notre Dame student discount with ID. As far as I'm concerned this is one of the best places in town to blow your diet.
(5)
kristen e.
Best. Frozen Custard. Ever. I'm a huge fan of frozen custard, and this really is the best I've tasted. So rich and smooth, perfect texture, and all the flavors they dream up are wonderful! My current obsession is the buttered almond. DELICIOUS! I much prefer custard to soft-serve, and I prefer ice cream/custard stands to restaurants that serve ice cream/custard (I'm looking at you, Dairy Queen). Stands are more specialized, have a bigger menu, and are more summer-y. This custard stand takes the cake. If they're open, I'll still be eating their excellent custard when the snow is falling.
(5)
peter C.
fat Peter rating system. as follows: STARS- standard yelp CHANCE I WILL BE BACK- YES Why I went- somehow I was there It was very good. Like frozen custard should be creamy and smooth delicious. THIS IS NOT ICE CREAM its better .
(4)
John S.
When you live in the Midwest, summers can be oppressively hot and humid. This is especially true in cities like South Bend, in which most older buildings don't have air conditioning. When the temperature starts to rise and the air gets thicker, all you want to do is take off your clothes and eat ice cream. The former wasn't (and isn't) an option for me--and even if it were, the locals don't take kindly to nudity--so I just usually ate ice cream. Ritter's doesn't sell ice cream, but their custard is like ice cream, or at least it is to me, but then what do I know? Expect a long wait during hot summer nights, especially while local schools are still out. Sitting at one of the outdoor tables or leaning against your car, you'll feel like you're thirteen and grew up in a small town.
(4)
Pam J.
After eating at Ritter's for the first time, all I could say was "Yum!!" The frozen custard is thick and creamy, and fresh made on the premises. The limited selection is a perfect exchange because of the outstanding quality of the custard. I love to get the Vanilla hot fudge sundae with Spanish peanuts, or the Oreo Glacier. The German Chocolate is decadent and perfect for a summer night. I love their outdoor seating area, but if it's a chilly night, be sure to bring a sweater! Bring your student id and get a 25% discount! Make sure you mention it, though, because they don't advertise it!
(5)
Bella D.
If you bring your doggy here the first Monday of each month, they will give him a free ice cream treat. Just ask at the window. :-)
Ally P.
now, you may be tempted to accuse me of including a chain into my list of notre dame favorites. however, one visit to ritter's and you will understand why it deserves a coveted spot on this blog! first of all, contrary to visits to other local ice cream establishments, you will be greeted by a staff of pristine, wholesome teenagers eager to serve you with a smile. you might feel like you are in the 50s for a second...think eddie haskell from "leave it to beaver" minus the annoying, but sometimes flattering, brown nosing. needless to say, it is comforting to know that genuinely polite teenagers do exist. enough about the service, let's get to the good stuff! ritter's offers regular flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and a lite vanilla (for the calorie conscious) on a daily basis. in addition, they add about three other flavors each day...a perfect number. in my opinion, few choices are usually a sign of higher quality. the custard is noticeably thicker and creamier than your basic ice cream, providing a rich texture. while ritter's offers the basics: sundaes, toppings, fresh waffle cones, etc., they also include some unique items. the glacier is their version of a blizzard, mcflurry, cyclone, you get the idea. however, they serve this dessert upside down to the eager customer in an effort to set themselves apart from the competition. you just have to love the creativity! while i have enjoyed many days and nights of being a "normal" ritter's customer, simply ordering one item from their enticing menu, i must reveal the real secret to ritter's success. FROZEN CUSTARD PIES! these are, without a doubt, the number one reason to take a visit to ritter's. each pie includes an oreo-like crust, piled high with scoops of custard, loaded with delicious toppings! what more could an ice cream-lover want?! i must confess that, on more than one occasion, my mom and i have enjoyed a pie without even slicing it...why bother? all you need are some spoons! the pies come in several varieties: turtle (vanilla custard with caramel, pecans, and chocolate fudge), peanut butter mountain (vanilla custard with reeses cups, peanut butter sauce, and chocolate syrup), mud (chocolate custard with marshmallow creme, crushed oreos, and chocolate fudge), to name a few (this should be enough to tempt your palate). in addition to pies, ritter's offers cakes with a generous helping of custard layered in between spongy cake. you can have your cake and eat your custard, too! finally, the most important feature of ritter's, exclusively available to notre dame students (maybe st. mary's and holy cross, too, but i'm not certain): with a student id, your frozen treat can be purchased for half price! what a deal...with exceptional customer service, high quality, and low prices, ritter's really canNOT be beat!
(5)G. H.
Chris has the best custard from the depths of a best kept family secret recipe. Try your favorite. You won't be disappointed. Amazing place!
(5)Douglas K.
Awesome custard....get the vanilla. We also had the cookies and cream ice cream cake, delicious but heavy. Definitely recommend!
(5)Julie T.
Went to your establishment tonight on 7-4-15 at 9:22pm. I'm giving you the date and time in hopes when you read this you give a HUGE KUDOS to your employee working the drive-thru. I didn't get her name, but she was the sweetest and her customer service was OUTSTANDING!!! Love your place and great job hiring great employees!!!
(5)Thomas M.
When will visit family we make sure to visit Ritter's with our sons! We all enjoy it and the Key Lime is AWESOME! It's nice to sit outside and chill.
(4)Vanni T.
Mmm. This was pretty tasty but the diet vanilla version tasted a bit bitter...
(4)Heather H.
So delicious! Creamy and full-flavored, it's just darn tasty. I love that they post their flavors for the week at their window. If you don't mind the extra calories for it being a custard, it is such a good treat. Sadly, it isn't open year round, but you sure know it is warming up when they open their doors. I remember skating and then getting custard, oh childhood memories. **the flavors change often, but the peanut butter is top notch! and the orange/pineapple is refreshing and a delight.**
(5)Danny M.
Ritters is good! This is an old-fashioned frozen custard stand. They have around 7 flavors per night (also chocolate, vanilla, and lite vanilla). I got the Mud Sundae which is a chocolate lovers dream. It had chocolate ice cream, oreos, chocolate sauce, marshmallow cream, and other goodies. Wow, I could barely finish half of it! Go check this out if in the South Bend area ...
(4)David L.
This place isn't bad. Good soft serve ice cream, or frozen custard, or whatever you want to call it. Like most places of its kind, there aren't as many flavors as an ice cream joint, but they are good and fresh, and change every day (except for vanilla and chocolate). It's kind of on the sweet side for my tastes, but good, and the kid really liked it. They have cakes and sundaes and a dedicated kid's menu. The patio has a few nice tables. I'll go back when I'm on that side of town again.
(4)Ryan F.
We live in California and when I come out to visit my sister and her family, I always stop here for some "Turtle Something". They rock.
(5)Kimberly B.
I've had frozen custard in my hometown in Los Angeles, but never had flavored ones. Usually they make flurries out of chocolate or vanilla. This location has 3 new flavors a day and they are AWESOME. I have tried Dreamsicle, Butter Pecan, Chocolate Banana, and the list goes on. I try to come here every time I visit South Bend, and I would recommend it as a HEALTHY(er) frozen treat that will make you and your family want to come back for more! :)
(5)Myra S.
Ritter's is the best frozen custard I've ever had. I haven't found any better anywhere!!! When I lived in the area I visited Ritter's at least twice a week. Yummy yummy!!!
(5)David T.
The Oreo Glacier is so delicious... a great place to waste away a hot summer night.
(5)Christina M.
Frozen custard is one of those delightful diabetes-inducing food specialties of the Midwest. It's definitely NOT the same thing as ice cream, but richer and more decadent. Ritter's is one of my favorite places to indulge when I'm jonesing for frozen custard. There is not a huge selection of flavors, but I find it hard to beat classic vanilla. And for those who are watching their weight (LOLOLOL) they have pretty tasty Italian ices. They do a Notre Dame student discount with ID. As far as I'm concerned this is one of the best places in town to blow your diet.
(5)kristen e.
Best. Frozen Custard. Ever. I'm a huge fan of frozen custard, and this really is the best I've tasted. So rich and smooth, perfect texture, and all the flavors they dream up are wonderful! My current obsession is the buttered almond. DELICIOUS! I much prefer custard to soft-serve, and I prefer ice cream/custard stands to restaurants that serve ice cream/custard (I'm looking at you, Dairy Queen). Stands are more specialized, have a bigger menu, and are more summer-y. This custard stand takes the cake. If they're open, I'll still be eating their excellent custard when the snow is falling.
(5)peter C.
fat Peter rating system. as follows: STARS- standard yelp CHANCE I WILL BE BACK- YES Why I went- somehow I was there It was very good. Like frozen custard should be creamy and smooth delicious. THIS IS NOT ICE CREAM its better .
(4)John S.
When you live in the Midwest, summers can be oppressively hot and humid. This is especially true in cities like South Bend, in which most older buildings don't have air conditioning. When the temperature starts to rise and the air gets thicker, all you want to do is take off your clothes and eat ice cream. The former wasn't (and isn't) an option for me--and even if it were, the locals don't take kindly to nudity--so I just usually ate ice cream. Ritter's doesn't sell ice cream, but their custard is like ice cream, or at least it is to me, but then what do I know? Expect a long wait during hot summer nights, especially while local schools are still out. Sitting at one of the outdoor tables or leaning against your car, you'll feel like you're thirteen and grew up in a small town.
(4)Pam J.
After eating at Ritter's for the first time, all I could say was "Yum!!" The frozen custard is thick and creamy, and fresh made on the premises. The limited selection is a perfect exchange because of the outstanding quality of the custard. I love to get the Vanilla hot fudge sundae with Spanish peanuts, or the Oreo Glacier. The German Chocolate is decadent and perfect for a summer night. I love their outdoor seating area, but if it's a chilly night, be sure to bring a sweater! Bring your student id and get a 25% discount! Make sure you mention it, though, because they don't advertise it!
(5)Bella D.
If you bring your doggy here the first Monday of each month, they will give him a free ice cream treat. Just ask at the window. :-)
(5)