Ralph's Famous Italian Ices, Flavors you'll crave
Written: Oct 09 '03 (Updated Sep 26 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Many great flavors.
Cons: They are not open year round.
The Bottom Line: There is nothing as refreshing as a water ice on a hot summer day or a cream ice on a balmy summer evening.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Ralph's Famous Italian Ices |
On any summer evening down at Freeport's Nautical Mile there is a line of people waiting to get their favorite desserts. I'm sure this is the same scene at the other 36 or so franchises in the New York, New Jersey, and two in North Carolina. They will be opening some new franchises this coming spring.
WHY DO PEOPLE GO THERE?
I like Italian ices. I LOVE Ralph's Italian Ices. They make an unbelievably tasty and delicious product that is diverse in flavors and consistency. They have water ices and cream ices. They even have sugar free ices. They are all made full of flavor and texture. I'll tell you of some of the flavors in a bit.
A LITTLE BACK GROUND
In 1928 a fellow came over from Italy and started a business in New York by making and selling Italian Ices. He did this for years handing down his secret recipes to his family. I believe its the grand children that now run it. The family has added to the selection and the quality is still there. I only knew of a couple of pizza places that sold them. These had a very limited selection in flavors.
They no longer distribute to pizza places and the like. They now have franchise stores.
Going back a few years ago a small place opened up in Freeport along what is known as the Nautical Mile. This is a stretch of street by the name of Woodcleff Ave along the Woodcleff Canal. There are numerous restaurants, boating and fishing opportunities, a nautical museum, and small nautical theme shops. This is also where two boats that offer gambling at sea depart from.
When the place opened it posted its sign with over 50 different flavors. The crowds started coming right away.
FAVORITES
When I'm on line my mouth waters thinking of the taste of the Canoli flavored Cream ice I'm about to order. That is my favorite. I also like the Jelly Ring. It has chunks of chocolate and raspberry jell throughout. Pistachio and Spumoni are on my honorable mention list.
On a hot day I like refreshing lemon-lime ice and orange ice. You can feel little pieces of lemon, lime, and orange in them. They are very refreshing and satisfying.
My wife happens to go for the Mudslide. On occasion she has Chocolate Reeses.
My daughter likes the Cotton Candy and Bubble Gum flavors.
STEP UP and ORDER
Welcome to Ralph's Famous Italian Ices. We have three sizes small @ $1.75 medium @ $2.25 or large. That size is $3.00. What size do you prefer? Oh, I see. A pint is $4.25 and a quart is $7.00
OK, please tell me the flavors you would like. OK, I'll tell you what we offer.
WATER ICES Do know, these are fat free and cholesterol free. OK the chocolate has just a touch of these two things, but the rest are definitely free of them!
Lemon..Orange..Cherry..Chocolate..Rainbow..Cotton Candy..
Water Melon..Blue Hawaii..Root Beer..Lime..Lemon Lime..Citrus Twist..Grape..Strawberry..Blackberry .Peach..Pineapple..Blueberry.. Passion Fruit.. Bubble Gum//Caribbean Splash.. Mai Tai..Margarita.. Malibu Bay breeze.. Strawberry Margarita..Mango
CREAM ICES
Here's where most of my favorites are.
Vanilla Chip..Cremelata..Pina Colada..Coco Nut Pistachio..Chocolate Mouse..Cappaccino..Mint Chip..Banana..Spumoni.. Cremecicle..Peanutbutter..Key Lime..Cookie Cream..Chocolate Cookie Cream..Canoli..Java Chip..Chocolate Reeses..Vanilla Reeses. Mud Slide..Milky Way..Chocolate Hazelnut..Cherry Garcia..Cookie Dough..Jelly Ring Vanilla
Yes, you may have a sample taste, no problem. Which one? All of them! Hey, I'll be happy to let you try some.
Now that you have had your tastes, which one do you like?
OK, one quart of each coming up!
I have tried samples of most of these flavors over the years they are all excellent!! They have chunks and pieces of the flavors and candies in them. You actually get pieces of fruit, sometimes even a small chunk or two. All I can say is, YUM!
IT'S NOT OVER, THERE'S MORE!!
They also have special flavors that change from time to time. Try these.
Chocolate Fudge Brownie..Peanutbutter Cookie Dough..Chocolate Raspberry tart..Banana Fudge..Snickers.. Strawberry Cheesecake..
THEY WON'T LET YOU SUGAR FREE FOLKS DOWN
They do have a number of sugar free offering too!
Cappaccino and Chocolate Mousse are two of their special flavors. They also have Cherry and Chocolate
OTHER CHOICES
For those who would like something different they do sell some ice cream. I don't know anything about it. Never tried it. The Smoothies are offered in a variety of flavors too. They have Strawberry..Peach..Blue Hawaii..Tropical Blend..Mango and frozen Lemonade.
If you would like coffee they also have their own specials of Cappaccino, Mocha, Latte, and other choices. At the Freeport Ralph's you can enjoy it out back, sitting at a small table, looking out on the water.
Most people get their ices and have them while walking up and down the canal. It's a wonderful place to do it. If you like you can also sit down on one of the benches out front. We have dinner on the canal regularly during the summer and afterward will go to Ralph's for dessert. We do this often and many times we meet fellow Freeporters and we chat a while. I have even been known to get another ice after the first one is finished.
CLOSING SHOP
The real downer about Ralph's is that it is a seasonal business. Ours is closed right now and the sign says they will reopen in April. They are open from March/April to Late September/Early October. Ralph's stops manufacturing during the winter month's. I wonder if they are thinking of opening places down south and manufacturing all year? Sounds like a good deal for some possible franchise owners down there.
And most of all, maybe I could get my Ralph's Ices Fix during the long winter months. I miss them already.
UPDATE, MAY, 2004
The Freeport Ralph's is open again!! Be sure to go down and order your favorite flavors, but please know which you are ordering by the time you get to the window. :)
Rita's Italian Ices My new favorite!
Other local reviews by popsrocks
Freeport's Nautical Mile A great destination with dozens of fine restaurants and home of Ralph's Ices
The Crab Shack
RACHEL'S WATERSIDE GRILL Fine Fare on the Canal
Otto's Sea Grillon Freeport's Nautical Mile. Live music and good food.
Bracco's Clam and Oyster Bar
Montana's pizzeria and restaurant Good Italian food near Nautical Mile
South Street Seaport @ Freeport an interesting nautical museum
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's
OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster
The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips /
Friendly's / Cold Stone Creamery / Dunkin' Donuts / Krispy Kreme / Ralph's Famous Ices / Baskin Robbins
Recommended:
Yes
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