As the New England thaw progresses and warm weather finally takes hold, my gluttonous mind immediately starts wandering to one thing—ice cream. That’s right—I scream, you scream, we all scream for that dang ice cream. Some of my favorite childhood summer memories are going to old-school, homemade seasonal spots like Dr. Davis Ice Cream in Pepperell (hint hint on future review) or The Sundae School on the Cape. Nothing beat a scoop on a warm night, and there was always something about the somber allure of passing those ice cream stands when they were shuttered during the winter, almost like an old farm tractor tucked away in the barn waiting for brighter days. Luckily for us in Harvard, we have a year-round place that makes top-notch homemade, small-batch ice cream in our very own backyard.
Breadth of flavors
West Side Creamery is located at 537 Mass. Ave. in West Acton and was opened by a group of friends in 2019. Though still a newcomer compared to the previously mentioned veterans, West Side is not lacking in quality, creativity, or offerings. As soon as you walk into the quaint shop, you can pretty much tell you’re going to be happy with your tasty treat. That familiar smell of sugary waffle cones hangs in the air as you try to convince yourself to read every flavor on the board instead of jumping at the first one that gets you excited. For a small-batch store, the breadth of flavors is impressive. You have your staples, but then there are seasonal flavors, rotating flavors, and even vegan and sorbet options. On top of traditional ice cream and sundaes, West Side also offers frappes, cookie sandwiches, cakes, and pints to-go. Hosting a get-together? West Side even has its own Ice Cream Truck catering available.
As you could probably guess, I visited West Side Creamery a handful of times before writing this column. Did I need that many visits to ensure a fair and proper review? No. Did I want to have that many visits? You better believe it. Each time I tried a new flavor, and I was impressed by all of them.
Visit 1 was a personal favorite of mine, Coffee Oreo. Great balance between the chocolate, Oreo pieces, and slight bitterness from the coffee. I always have to order marshmallow sauce on top if a shop has it, and that really turned it up a notch. Visit 2 with my 2-year-old son was Chocolate Peanut Butter, a creamy delight of chocolate and gobs of peanut butter that any child, or adult for that matter, would enjoy. Visit 3 was time to try a seasonal flavor, and I was lucky enough to snag Battle Road, a chocolate ice cream base with a raspberry swirl and chocolate truffles with raspberry filling. The classic chocolate-and-raspberry combo was decadent, but I just wanted a few more truffles in my scoop. All three flavors were winners in my book, which leads me to believe the rest of the menu is just as consistent. For reference, my Visit 3 order was three mini-cups, one with marshmallow sauce, which came to almost $18. Like many things these days, I would consider that a bit steep. But the portion size for a mini is generous, and the quality is worth it.
A cozy feel
As I mentioned earlier, the shop is quaint. There are only a handful of tables and high tops inside the store. But it’s cozy and feels like a small-town ice cream shop, which I love. There are some picnic tables outside for the good weather, and it is located directly across the street from the Gardner Field Playground. Street parking is available, or there is plenty of parking in the lot behind the building.
I wholeheartedly believe we all deserve really good ice cream after enduring a long winter. Anyone who lives in a climate where ice cream is a warm-weather treat year-round just can’t understand. Whether it’s braving the cold for ice cream, or waiting patiently until the weather allows you to enjoy it freely, you gotta earn it up here! And when that time comes, West Side Creamery is certainly a spot I would add to your list.
Greg Schneider is a dedicated home cook, a former bartender, and a devoted patron of area restaurants. He currently blogs about local breweries at The Hotter Upper.
