It's ice cream, and it's at the Mall of America! Yes, I know, it's a chain. I know it's not gourmet like Izzy's or Sebastian Joes...but it's located in the best Mall in America! It's wholesome. It's good. There's lines, which moves quickly. If Customer Service is nil, it's because they're working hard making our orders per menu or unique requests of customers... yes, they're busy, they have good business. Thank goodness! The ice cream is wholesome good, and it's fun to watch the Servers sing, when they slab the ice cream on their "Cold Stone", to make their creations. The Japanese (yes I am one, actually a Japanese who grew up and lived in both Japan and US as a child and as an adult - I go back and forth) call it "Teppanyaki style" ice cream because the ice cream creator makes up, tossing and sauteing your sundae like they do at Benihana. I love this phrase, because it's oh so true! My favorite is the Apple Pie A La Cold Stone (Sweet cream ice cream, cinnamon, graham cracker pie crust, apple pie filling, caramel, dipped waffle), something about apple pie and ice cream goes so well together...I gotta have it. This is one of those stops at the mall, when I want an occasional treat...or on a fun shopping outing with a friend or two, it's ice cream that's fun to share, too. So glad that it's in the Mall of America, love the teppanyaki style ice cream, and I love taking out of town Japanese visitors here..and yes, they do get a kick out of the teppanyaki style yummy wholesome goodness of this ice cream. I lived in Minnesota so long, and almost Minnesotan (you betcha..well, kind of) and I still get a kick out of it, too.
(4)
Tutti S.
Founder's Favorite: Sweet Cream Ice Cream with Pecans, Brownie, Fudge and Caramel- This is what I had and I loved it; I'm seriously craving more!!!
(5)
John W.
No wonder this business didnt make it in many markets. The small had to go in a medium cup and the medium was twice as tall as the cup. Sloppy service and overpriced.
(1)
Amy R.
Wow. People seem to despise this place. Lines are long- yes, but they move pretty quickly. Its a busy mall. Half the time its a cluster (rhymes with duck) of people trying to make up their minds. Staff is young and doing a job most teens do for their first job. They were all pleasant and trying to get people helped as fast as they could. I give it to anyone dealing day in and out with the public. We had a good experience. I ordered the small portion of the chocolate lovers dream thingy and it was a lot of ice cream. Other's ordered the Cake batter remix, coffee and raspberry which were all good. For four items, the total was pretty reasonable for what we all had. They got us in quickly and they were pleasant and trying to get everyone's orders taken quickly. For "mall" ice cream, it was just fine. Had I wanted a better caliber of ice cream, I would have waited to go to a different place. It turned out fine for what it was.
(4)
Jonathan E.
Im pretty shocked how many bad reviews that this place has gotten... It seems that we Minnesotans have been spoiled by amazing, local ice creams like Izzy's, Grand Ole Creamery, and Sebastian Joe's. However, it appears that this location in particular really hasnt stacked up to some of the others which have gotten a much higher score. In general though, I can't say one Cold Stone is better than another--they are all the same to me. I do think Im biased in a way... Having been exposed to delicious frozen yogurts in NYC, soft serve in Japan, and locally made ice cream shops like Izzy's here in Minnesota, it's just hard to get excited about Cold Stone. There is nothing particularly unique about it. Anything that differentiates Cold Stone from other ice cream shops comes across as touristy... Which I guess is ok for a place like the Mall of America, but it's not ok to a foodie. Ice cream really is never "bad" so I cant say to avoid Cold Stone at all costs... But I think there are so many better options, particularly in the Twin Cities. For the price you pay you could just as easily get an amazing waffle cone at Grand Ole Creamery and be way happier. Pros: It's in the mall, ice cream is ok Cons: It's in the mall, ice cream is ok
(2)
Jess F.
Wow, what a horrible staff! I realize the location can be busy, tiring, and loud; but wow, no need to be rude, unhelpful, and put such a small amount of ice cream in my container. Damn, what a rip-off. I was given two vouchers, and hell if I care to even use the second one.
(1)
Jaymi W.
I don't go to the Mall much but, when I do, there is always an unbelievably long line at this place. We really wanted ice cream the other night and, if you consider your options at the MOA (Kemps, really?) Cold Stone seems like the obvious choice... ...Except that it was a really bad one. Really, really bad (for me anyway.) I should have ran away once I saw how they slap the ice cream on the little board and it was all melty looking. I decided to be adventurous and got the cheesecake flavor with Oreos (I need NOTHING else in my ice cream, thankyouverymuch) and it just proved that I should never try anything new. The boyfriend commented that it tasted like butter. Then I realized it looked like butter with some mashed up Oreos thrown in and I tossed it in the garbage. Also, $12 for two people? I don't care how many Oreos you threw in that pile of cat puke before you put it in the cup. Thanks, jerkbags.
(1)
Hyojin O.
Yes, I admit I caved into my craving, and walked up here to get some extra 1000 calories. No big deal. I got the "Like It" size of sweet cream and brownies in a cup. Guess how much that cost me, $4.50! WTF? I didn't even get the waffle cone? Has this recession made me a scrooge? I would rather add 50 cents and get the five-dollor-effin-foot-long at subway with that money. It was unnecessary but delicious, however, thanks to cold stone now my bottoms are heavier and my wallet is $4.50 lighter. I will pass next time...
Risa Y.
It's ice cream, and it's at the Mall of America! Yes, I know, it's a chain. I know it's not gourmet like Izzy's or Sebastian Joes...but it's located in the best Mall in America! It's wholesome. It's good. There's lines, which moves quickly. If Customer Service is nil, it's because they're working hard making our orders per menu or unique requests of customers... yes, they're busy, they have good business. Thank goodness! The ice cream is wholesome good, and it's fun to watch the Servers sing, when they slab the ice cream on their "Cold Stone", to make their creations. The Japanese (yes I am one, actually a Japanese who grew up and lived in both Japan and US as a child and as an adult - I go back and forth) call it "Teppanyaki style" ice cream because the ice cream creator makes up, tossing and sauteing your sundae like they do at Benihana. I love this phrase, because it's oh so true! My favorite is the Apple Pie A La Cold Stone (Sweet cream ice cream, cinnamon, graham cracker pie crust, apple pie filling, caramel, dipped waffle), something about apple pie and ice cream goes so well together...I gotta have it. This is one of those stops at the mall, when I want an occasional treat...or on a fun shopping outing with a friend or two, it's ice cream that's fun to share, too. So glad that it's in the Mall of America, love the teppanyaki style ice cream, and I love taking out of town Japanese visitors here..and yes, they do get a kick out of the teppanyaki style yummy wholesome goodness of this ice cream. I lived in Minnesota so long, and almost Minnesotan (you betcha..well, kind of) and I still get a kick out of it, too.
(4)Tutti S.
Founder's Favorite: Sweet Cream Ice Cream with Pecans, Brownie, Fudge and Caramel- This is what I had and I loved it; I'm seriously craving more!!!
(5)John W.
No wonder this business didnt make it in many markets. The small had to go in a medium cup and the medium was twice as tall as the cup. Sloppy service and overpriced.
(1)Amy R.
Wow. People seem to despise this place. Lines are long- yes, but they move pretty quickly. Its a busy mall. Half the time its a cluster (rhymes with duck) of people trying to make up their minds. Staff is young and doing a job most teens do for their first job. They were all pleasant and trying to get people helped as fast as they could. I give it to anyone dealing day in and out with the public. We had a good experience. I ordered the small portion of the chocolate lovers dream thingy and it was a lot of ice cream. Other's ordered the Cake batter remix, coffee and raspberry which were all good. For four items, the total was pretty reasonable for what we all had. They got us in quickly and they were pleasant and trying to get everyone's orders taken quickly. For "mall" ice cream, it was just fine. Had I wanted a better caliber of ice cream, I would have waited to go to a different place. It turned out fine for what it was.
(4)Jonathan E.
Im pretty shocked how many bad reviews that this place has gotten... It seems that we Minnesotans have been spoiled by amazing, local ice creams like Izzy's, Grand Ole Creamery, and Sebastian Joe's. However, it appears that this location in particular really hasnt stacked up to some of the others which have gotten a much higher score. In general though, I can't say one Cold Stone is better than another--they are all the same to me. I do think Im biased in a way... Having been exposed to delicious frozen yogurts in NYC, soft serve in Japan, and locally made ice cream shops like Izzy's here in Minnesota, it's just hard to get excited about Cold Stone. There is nothing particularly unique about it. Anything that differentiates Cold Stone from other ice cream shops comes across as touristy... Which I guess is ok for a place like the Mall of America, but it's not ok to a foodie. Ice cream really is never "bad" so I cant say to avoid Cold Stone at all costs... But I think there are so many better options, particularly in the Twin Cities. For the price you pay you could just as easily get an amazing waffle cone at Grand Ole Creamery and be way happier. Pros: It's in the mall, ice cream is ok Cons: It's in the mall, ice cream is ok
(2)Jess F.
Wow, what a horrible staff! I realize the location can be busy, tiring, and loud; but wow, no need to be rude, unhelpful, and put such a small amount of ice cream in my container. Damn, what a rip-off. I was given two vouchers, and hell if I care to even use the second one.
(1)Jaymi W.
I don't go to the Mall much but, when I do, there is always an unbelievably long line at this place. We really wanted ice cream the other night and, if you consider your options at the MOA (Kemps, really?) Cold Stone seems like the obvious choice... ...Except that it was a really bad one. Really, really bad (for me anyway.) I should have ran away once I saw how they slap the ice cream on the little board and it was all melty looking. I decided to be adventurous and got the cheesecake flavor with Oreos (I need NOTHING else in my ice cream, thankyouverymuch) and it just proved that I should never try anything new. The boyfriend commented that it tasted like butter. Then I realized it looked like butter with some mashed up Oreos thrown in and I tossed it in the garbage. Also, $12 for two people? I don't care how many Oreos you threw in that pile of cat puke before you put it in the cup. Thanks, jerkbags.
(1)Hyojin O.
Yes, I admit I caved into my craving, and walked up here to get some extra 1000 calories. No big deal. I got the "Like It" size of sweet cream and brownies in a cup. Guess how much that cost me, $4.50! WTF? I didn't even get the waffle cone? Has this recession made me a scrooge? I would rather add 50 cents and get the five-dollor-effin-foot-long at subway with that money. It was unnecessary but delicious, however, thanks to cold stone now my bottoms are heavier and my wallet is $4.50 lighter. I will pass next time...
(3)